FRIENDS’ “30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction” coming up April 26, 2014, gets a Helping Hand from the Wisconsin

Antiques Dealers Association as event sponsors ~ AGAIN!

Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association is the oldest, continually-functioning state antiques organization in America, and now are active with 48 of the top antiques professionals in the area.

Funded by admissions charged at their February & October antiques shows, the Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association has been able to provide grants for Wisconsin preservation endeavors and scholarships for college-bound Wisconsin students.

This autumn with a grant provided by W.A.D.A., FRIENDS was able to restore an important oil painting at Wisconsin Historical Society’s newest Historic Site, the Black Point Estate, on Lake Geneva, also the site that the FRIENDS’ “30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction” will benefit in 2014.

FWHS is also grateful for a booth at WADA’s show, October 4 & 5 in Waukesha to promote the FWHA 2014 benefit Auction.

For a list of dealers, scholarship recipients, and Antique Show dates, go to: www.WisconsinAntiquesDealers.com.

Too soon we lost our Rose to Heaven.

Too soon we miss her smile ~

And her ideas and her energy

That took us through every trial.

Not afraid to speak her mind

And keep us on the right trail,

That blooming Rose is in our hearts

As she has always been ~

There is no one to take her place ~

We know that without fail.

A FRIEND of ours forever…

Until we meet again.

FWHS Board Member Rose Ellen Sterk ~ laid to rest November 12, 2013

 GET YOUR TAX BREAK NOW!

Wisconsin Historical Society’s newest Historic Site, the Black Point Estate, on Lake Geneva is the focus of the FRIENDS April 26, 2014 auction. And  YOU can aid the cause!

The estate, built in 1888, was the summer home of Chicago brewer baron, Conrad Seipp and his family.  All profits from the auction will go directly to Black Point for important restoration projects.

Need donations NOW!  Seeking Vintage (50-99 years old) and Antique

(100+ years old) items AND Tax Exempt Receipts are provided, and you can include a provenance for your donated items to pass their personal history along into the future!

Contact Riene at 262/363-4700 or info@eagle-house.com  -  or Debbie at 815/575-1272 or jjmcard@comcast.net to make arrangements.

The 2013 Fall Three-Day Excursion was centered on Wisconsin in the Civil War.

Mysteries were unraveled along the way. Like how did Confederate Soldiers end up in a Wisconsin Cemetery? How did Runaway Slaves enter and leave the state safely? What part did our state play in the Civil War? What was life like during that time?

Some of these questions were answered personally for the FWHS travelers by people deeply involved in the war like: President Lincoln (Fritz Klein), General Grant (Frank Beaman), and Wisconsin’s First Lady Cordelia Harvey (Mary Kabakik.)

At one of the dinners, Costume Designer, Bev Wassam, along with volunteers (including some of our FWHS Board members) put on an 1860’s Fashion Show.

As our Excursionists were visiting Wade House and our Union Camps, a skirmish broke out as the Confederate artillery opened fire. A rousing cavalry battle repelled the Rebel advance, but the 1863 Battle of Chickamauga had begun.

Later that afternoon, the battle began in earnest with an artillery duel between the Union and Rebel artillery pieces. Cannons blasted away at each other. A sudden infantry attack by a large army of Confederates from the woods lead to the death of all our Wisconsin Artillery Unit.

The cannon from the Wisconsin artillery unit was captured and all members of the ordinance crew were killed.  Charge after charge by the Rebels was repulsed, but eventually the Confederacy carried the day and drove the Boys in Blue from the field.

The Southern army had won the battle and stopped the Union campaign from moving into Georgia, and the Union, with the help of our staunchly brave soldiers from the Wisconsin Iron Brigade, would have a hard time ahead of them to defeat the South.

Autumn Excursion:

Did you miss the deadline? If You Hurry You Can Still Get In!

There is still a small window of opportunity to join the FRIENDS on this year’s Annual Excursion.

The adventure into “Hands On” History this year is Wisconsin’s connections to the Civil War.

It’s a Three Day Tour with all meals included.

Questions? Call Chuck Hatfield 608-625-4042.

Brochure and Registration Form (click here)

30th Star Benefit Antique Auction: 

Got Junque? Get a Tax Break!

FWHS is seeking Vintage and Antique Items for their 2014 Benefit Auction.

Pass your story along through the donation of these items and get your tax deduction too!

To offer an item, call Riene Wells 262-363-2225.

Columbus Carriage Festival:

Bands, Balls, Contests, and Tons of Fun!

FRIENDS brought the First Brigade Band to the Columbus Wisconsin Carriage Festival in June.

The Festival this year had a Civil War theme and carriage driving competitions in true antique style!

Our booth had contests running for the two days and Skylar and Wyatt Nelson won the prizes for the Kid’s Competition and David Triebold and Earl Busse won the Adult Challenge. Congratulations!!!!

The Brigade Band also played at the Civil War Ball at the end of the festivities.

And a grand time was had by all!

Annual Meeting:

FWHS See What THEY DID !

In June all were invited to join the Board at Old World Wisconsin to witness for themselves how we are helping to bring St. Peter’s Church – the first church in Milwaukee – back to its original period and purpose.

Guests Ma & Pa also showed us how to build a log cabin by hand after we were also finished helping with some farm chores at the German Farms.

Next we road The East Troy Electric Rail Road (yes – electric! One of the last remaining originals) and danced to the juke box as we gobbled down old fashioned sundaes at Lauber’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor – filled with memories of the past!

And a great tine was had by all!