Name/Title
Waupun Historical SocietyScope and Content
Historical information on Waupun Historical Society for 1976 Bicentennial Celebration in Waupun, WI by Agnes Hoard Bertsch.
WAUPUN HISTORICAL SOCIETY HISTORY
The Waupun Historical Society was first organized October 25, 1956 with a meeting of six persons interested in recording and preserving the heritage of the community. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hooker, Dr. H. E. Luck, Miss Ethel Pinkerton, John Preston, and Robert K. Pohl.
Of those who joined during the first year, the following persons are currently members of the Society: Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hooker, Mrs. Ruth Davison, and Mrs. Edith Donovan.
At the time of the organizing of the Society, there already had been numerous bequests of artifacts given to the city. Mr. henry Pope, president of the Paramont Knitting Company, Waupun, had, at one time, purchased a collection of arrowheads and other Indian relics found in the vicinity. Shells, weapons, geological specimans and many other things from the private collection of Thurston Wilcox, one of the first settlers of Waupun. The collection was priced at $300.00 of which amount Mr. Pope gave $250.00 and the library board made up the balance.
This was the first large collection to be presented to the library, which for many years housed it's museum collection in the Beach Room. Later, due to space limitations, various parts of the collection were housed in the library attic, at the high school, and in private homes. Much of the original priceless and irreplaceable collection is now missing.
In the early days of the Historical collections, the Waupun Chapter Daughters of American Revolution was put in charge of its care, but apparently responsibility for the collection was never very carefully delineated until after the Historical Society was formed and assumed such responsibility. Among those early museum articles were the Wilcox collection of Indian relics, the Merriam collection of South American artifacts and Africian curiosities and Anne B. Kelly's Chinese art objects.
In the depression years of the mid 1930's a WPA Crew, under the supervision of the Milwaukee Public Library, came to the Waupun library and labeled museum items. This increased the value of the artifacts.
In February 1959, the Library Board gave the Society "full permission to use the historical papers and artifacts any way the Historical Society thought wise."
It was not until October 5, 1971, after the new Waupun public Library had been built, and the Waupun school district office moved from the old Carnegie library, that the city voted to lease the old library building to the Historical Society for use as a museum. Because the building was a Carnegie library, it is a landmark itself, and through the Society's efforts, has become a noteworthy repository of historical treasures. By 1975 there are only nine Carnegie buildings left in Wisconsin.
On November 9, 1971 the Waupun Historical Society held their first meeting in the Brooks room on the lower level of the Waupun Heritage Museum. All persons interested in the museum and the Historical Society are welcomed to attend the regular monthly meetings held at 7:30 P.M. the second Tuesday of each month in the Heritage Museum.
Before the old library was available as a museum, the Society's chief efforts were directed toward organizing and preserving records of early families, businesses, professionals, and organizations, and to researching material about the various ethnic groups which settled in the areas German, Norweigian, Dutch, Welsh, Irish, English, and Scotch. Reports given at some of the early meetings were on diaries of local residents who participated in the Gold Rush; Indian Mounds of the area; reminiscences of Civil War Veterans.
The Society has consistently cooperated with important events in the city: the Jubilee Celebration (125th anniversary of founding); Wild Goose Days; Midwest Sculpture Show: Trail Days and every other citywide function which has taken place.
Prior to operation of the Heritage Museum, store windows decorated with historic exhibits, parade floats, and markers at historic sites have been the most prominent means of keeping interest in historical meaning alive in the community.
In November 1971, upon the suggestion of Ervin Fletcher, the slogan "LIVE FOR TODAY - DREAM FOR TOMORROW - LEARN FROM YESTERDAY" was adopted as a guideline for the Waupun Heritage Museum and the Waupun Historical Society and its work.
As the interest in the Heritage Museum has grown, so too has the membership roll of the Historical Society. In just nineteen brief years, from the six members of 1956, the 1975 membership reached the all time high of 118 members.
For many years, the Society struggled along with very few members and little funds but with valiant determination to keep the interest alive until future events and leadership might spark a more widespread support. With the backing of the City Council, increased membership, the untiring efforts of Earl and Lena Luck, and many generous gifts from local businesses and individuals, much has been accomplished.
A noteworthy contribution by a member who has never held an office is that of John Stenz, in his expert restoration of furniture and equipment given to the Museum. Many times these gifts are in deplorable, almost worthless condition, but under his sensitive reconstruction, they become valuable exhibits of the life of yesterday.Acquisition
Accession
2016.0075Source or Donor
Waupun Area Chamber of CommerceAcquisition Method
Donation
