The FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society board of directors includes

Officers: Bernie Long – Waunakee – President, Penny Kleinhans – Whitewater – 1st Vice-President, Riene Wells – Eagle – 2nd Vice-President, Pat Raap – Oconomowoc – Treasurer, Philip Schauer – Janesville – Secretary

Members: Frank Beaman – Mineral Point, Laura Cramer – Oconomowoc, Walt Diedrick – Edgerton, Arial Ford – Madison, Lisa Hay – Mineral Point, Frances Kavenik – Kenosha, Kathleen Krause – East Troy, Debbie McArdle – Manitowish Waters, Brad Steinmetz – La Farge, Rose E. Sterk – Janesville, Ruth Trowbridge – Green Bay, Beverly Wassam – Delavan

Past-President: Chuck Hatfield – La Farge

Donations of antiques and vintage items for the “30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction”, sponsored by the FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society, are now being accepted.  Contributions of antiques (more than 99 years old) and vintage items (50-99 years old) are being gathered from across mid-America.  Large or small, desks to fountain pens, tables to porcelain – your donations are WELCOME for this fund-raiser.  In keeping with the goal of the FRIENDS of WHS, each item donated to the auction will be accompanied by a Provenance Statement, and tax deductible receipts will be used.  The auction catalog will note the history of each piece as well as the donor’s name, if desired.

To make a donation or for more information, contact Riene Wells, 262 362-4700 and info@eaglehouse.com or Debbie McArdle, 815 575-1272 or jjmcard@comcast.net

Rural historian Jerry Apps is the featured speaker at the Gala Preview Dinner for the “30th Star Benefit Antique Auction” to be held at the Clausing Barn at Old World Wisconsin on April 27, 2012.  Doors will open at 4:30 for the gala evening, which includes a fish dinner with dessert, Silent Auction, door prizes, and complimentary appraisals by Debbie McArdle.  Jerry Apps will be the featured speaker and will talk about “Barns of Wisconsin” and his other books on Wisconsin’s rural history.  A display of photos taken by Steve Apps, which were used in his dad’s book, will also be on display for the evening.  To order tickets for the Gala ($39 each), contact Riene Wells at 262 363-4700 or info@eaglehouse.com.

If you are looking for a worthwhile presentation for your club or organization, the WHS FRIENDS has a timely suggestion: an illustrated talk that melds together the holiday season, the beauty of fine antiques and an interesting chapter of American History.  It’s a captivating visit to the “Christmas Rooms of the Daughters of the American Revolution” in Washington D.C.  FRIENDS board member Debbie McArdle is Correspondent/Docent of the DAR and her lively lecture, with its visual catalog of the DAR’s historic toys and treasures, will surely please any audience.

Debbie’s talk about the DAR Rooms is one of several programs that she has prepared for presenting to groups interested in history.  Her fellow FRIENDS board member, Riene Wells, has also developed other historic programs with an appeal that combines facts and fun.

For details on all the programs from the growing inventory of the “FRIENDS Speakers Road Show”, visit friendswisconsinhistory.org, call Debbie McArdle at 815-575-1272 or e-mail Riene Wells at info@eagle-house.com.

The FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society has made a $10,000 donation to the Historic Preservation Web Initiative, an online resource being developed by the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS).  The WHS web initiative project is part of an entirely new Internet website for the historical society, constructed at a cost of $2.5 million that will be ready for use in the summer of 2012.  The new WHS site will enhance browsing and searching capabilities to make retrieving data from the encyclopedic website a simpler, more “user-friendly” process.

The WHS FRIENDS utilized the proceeds from last year’s successful “30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction” to make the donation.

Old World Wisconsin teams with the Eagle Centre House Bed & Breakfast to offer visitors a very special dinner-theater/lodging package for the holidays.  Guests are invited to visit Old World Wisconsin to see the dinner theater production of “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol”, playing weekends from November 25 thru December 18 and extend their visit with an overnight stay at the nearby Eagle Centre House B & B.

The special holiday package rates begin at $210 per couple and include a pair of tickets to the dinner theater and luxurious lodging and breakfast at the Eagle Centre House.  For more information on this fantastic holiday treat or to make reservations call 262-363-4700.

Save The Date!  The “30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction” will be held April 27 & 28, 2012 at Old World Wisconsin.  Hundreds of treasures, from classic to kitschy, will be available to the highest bidder as the FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society sponsor this amazing event.  Come to the “Gala Preview Dinner” held at the Clausing Barn at Old World Wisconsin on April 27 for public viewing of the auction items.  The featured speaker at the dinner will be Jerry Apps, who will speak about barns of Wisconsin.

Contributions of antiques and vintage items are being gathered from across mid-America for this wonderful fund-raising auction for the FRIENDS of the WHS.  Large or small, desks to fountain pens, tables to porcelain – your donations to this fabulous auction would be welcome!  Contact Riene Wells, 262-363-4700 or info@eagle-house.com or Debbie McArdle, 815-575-1272 or jjmcard@comcast.net for more information.

The deadline for signing up for the FWHS sponsored autumn excursion, “Travel The Ethnic Settlement Trail” quickly approaches.  The three day, two night excursion is planned for September 19-21 and includes a variety of experiences and features.  The application deadline for the excursion is Monday, August 12 so make your reservations NOW!  Download your application and mail it in right away.

Would you and your group like to learn more about the history of neighborhood “Mom & Pop” stores?  Explore that history and the birth of modern advertising with the latest program addition to the FWHS Speakers Road Show.  Debbie McArdle, owner of Iron Horse Antiques & Appraisals, will present this fascinating program which will illustrate the furnishings and offerings of the old fashioned stores frequented by our great-grandparents.  The program will feature classic wares from the stores of the past for hands-on inspection.  If your group might be interested in this NEW program, contact Debbie at jjmcard@comcast.net or 815 575-1272 for more information on booking a date.