All About the October Behind the Scenes Event

Published November 6, 2022 Leave a comment

Members of FWHS were at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle to enjoy our special “Silent Auction and Tour Event” on Friday, October 7, 2022. This event was an adventure to cherish the past and to build a baseline for history to come.

It was open to the public too; Old World welcomed FRIENDS, friends, relatives, and neighbors. A group of visitors from other states that was staying at the Eagle Centre House Bed and Breakfast, including the director of the Lutheran Seminary Museum, attended as well. Judging from feedback and observations, everyone enjoyed all that the event offered.

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Not only were many treasures and items of interest on the tables for the silent auction, but the new Old World Brewery offered us a great place to meet, a summary both of the site’s growth and brewing techniques, and samples of a delightful full-bodied beer. A unique Wisconsin Fish Fry was enjoyed by one and all in the Clausing Barn.

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Attendees stated that they felt the brewery was a very attractive architectural example. Many stopped by during the dinner to comment how great the fish fry was and that the silent auction items were interesting or even amazing.

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There were antique and vintage offerings, and FWHS board members also offered hand-created things from a shawl that Frances Kavenik knit to amazing cookies with crafted pictures on each cookie by Linda White. Simone Maussen from Cambridge, Wisconsin has a shop where she sells her hand-crafted hats; one of those incredible treasures was included in this event. Sandy Fisher donated a gift certificate to the silent auction for the famous Al Johnson Sister Bay Restaurant and Gift Shop and bought the shawl…and a door safety bar for traveling.

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Cool diversity…and wide variety! Did I mention that vintage wine and breweriana items contributed to carry forward the Brewery theme?

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Bonnie Sekulivich found the brewery tour and talk by the brewer Rob Novak really interesting. She was also amazed by the things that folks donated for fund raising via the silent auction – especially the stained glass. Bonnie wasn’t the only person I interviewed who was amazed by the great variety of silent auction items. Everyone I chatted with mentioned the same thing.

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Sue Galkowski enjoyed the variety of experiences at the event as well. As a professional basket-weaver artist, she was happy to donate one of her pieces of art to the event.

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Guests from Waukesha, Madison, Oak Creek, Kenosha, Genesee Depot, etc., had a great time comparing notes and purchases with guests from Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Connecticut.

Thank you to everyone who made this event happen, from planners and contributors to visitors and clientele!

CHEERS!

-Laura Cramer

P.S.: Just how popular were these silent auction items? Well, even this deer was seen sniffing out some of them in the garage where they were being held before the event!

deer loves antiques

 

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Recent FWHS Projects and Accomplishments

Published July 22, 2022 Leave a comment
FRIENDS, you have been busy! Here are some of your recent projects and accomplishments:

-Restored 5 paintings important to Wisconsin’s history and a parlor piano at Wade House in Greenbush (in partnership with Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association)

-Provided 2 equally rare Steipp Brewery steins, an embossed bottle, and an antique Steipp Brewery advertising/serving tray to Black Point Estate, Lake Geneva. Restored furnishings including a show-place pool table and outdoor seating

-Purchased period artifacts, with emphasis on time-correct fabrics, for restoration of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Old World Wisconsin, Eagle

-Provided updated state-of-the-art electronics and conference room furniture for the Sellery Room at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison

-National History Day award sponsors, inclusive of the Dr. Fannie Hicklin travel stipend for advancement to National competition

-“Hands on History” sponsors, 4th grade, Ashland

-Restored piano and floor model stereo card viewer at Rock County Historical Society, Janesville

-H.H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells grant awarded for antique backdrop and front drop-cloth replacement

-Provided history-compatible furnishings for Stonefield Village, Cassville

-Funded the restoration of a horse-drawn Doctor’s buggy, a vintage bicycle salvation, and inventory assistance at the Gift Shop at Old World Wisconsin, Eagle

-And much more!

 

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The Auction Preview Party is Back (So Donate Now)!

Published May 30, 2022 1 Comment

The FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society is once again collecting tax-deductible donations for the 2022 version of our 30th Star Benefit Auction.

The inaugural auction held in April 2010 was followed by five successful encores in April 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018, and May 2020. The proceeds of these auctions have provided important funding for historic sites in Wisconsin as well as for National History Day.

The auction’s now-legendary Preview Party included a Wisconsin fish dinner, prizes, a speaker, silent auction, and good old-fashioned fun on the night preceding the auction. We had to forgo this function in 2020, but we have plans to reinvent this year and hopefully welcome you back to the Old World Wisconsin venue later this season. Well…consider it done.

Save the date!
FRIENDS Preview Night Party: Friday, October 7, 2022 at Old World Wisconsin

Featuring: new brewery tour and sampling, our usual Wisconsin Friday night fish fry, silent auction, raffles, speaker, and usual rollicking fundraiser. Can we count on your support?

FRIENDS grants and funding have served to:

-Restore valuable portraits at Pendarvis

-Provide historic recreations of scenic wall backgrounds to enhance the portrait studio at H.H. Bennett Museum

-Purchase a Seipp Brewery advertising mug connected to the State Historic Site of Black Point

-Pursue countless other endeavors benefiting the Society’s sites and those of local historical societies in your neighborhood

Your attendance, contributions, and donations—whether a traditional antique, collectible coin, or vintage travel or rock poster—will make a difference.

For questions about our plans and to make a donation of an antique or vintage item, contact:

Phillip Schauer: 608-295-7240, pipsqkme@gmail.com

Pat Raap: 262-893-1479, paraap@att.net

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Donate Your Antiques to Our New-Format Ongoing Auction

Published May 13, 2022 Leave a comment

The FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society is currently collecting tax-deductible donations of antiques and vintage items for its ongoing “30th Star Benefit Auction”. While the live/gallery style biennial auctions at Old World Wisconsin’s historic Clausing Barn have served us well, we have had new success with an on-line format. Staying with this, at least for the foreseeable future, will enable us to be your non-profit of choice and to become your year-round clearing house for resalable antiques and vintage items.

Whether a traditional antique, a single collectible coin, a vintage rock or travel poster, or even a 1970’s home video game console like Atari or Pong, just one donated item will make a difference! We are seeking these types of personal treasures and jewelry, advertising pieces, rustic farm house items, doorstops, and more. Interesting antique and vintage items made before 1980 are being gathered from across middle-America, with tax-deductible receipts provided.

The inaugural auction, held in April 2010, was followed by five successful encores in April 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018, and May 2020. Thus far our proceeds from the six biennial auctions have provided important funding for historic sites in Wisconsin as well as for National History Day.  A grant from the Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association continues their commitment as the benefit auction’s founding sponsors.

The auction’s now-legendary Preview Party included dinner, prizes, a speaker, silent auction, and good old fashioned fun on a night preceding the live auction. While we had to forgo this function in 2020, we have plans to reinvent the Party in 2022 and hopefully welcome you back to Old World Wisconsin for a meal and entertainment.

Carol Miller of Bailey’s Honor Auction Service in Oconomowoc (www.baileyshonor.com) will again be guiding our endeavors as will Rich Ranft of Beloit Auction Service (www.beloitauction.com). You can follow their many auctions throughout the year.

For questions about the new-format “30th Star Benefit Auction” or to make a donation of an antique or vintage item, please contact Phil Schauer at 608-295-7240, pipsqkme@gmail.com or Pat Raap 262-893-1479, paraap@att.net. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

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Books for the Ravenous Reader of History

Published April 2, 2022 Leave a comment

Books

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African American History Maker: Vel Phillips

Published February 7, 2022 Leave a comment

Vel Phillips

Vel Phillips’ life was a series of firsts. She was the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison law school, the first to win a seat on Milwaukee’s City Council, the first to become Secretary of State of Wisconsin, and the first to become a judge in Wisconsin. More impressive, Vel did it all at a time when many African Americans were not allowed to exercise their civil rights.

Check out this video by the Wisconsin Historical Society to hear more about the fascinating life of Vel Phillips.

Click here to explore items from the Society’s historical collections related to her story.

 

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1,200-Year-Old Canoe Recovered from Lake Mendota in Wisconsin

Published December 3, 2021 Leave a comment

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On November 2, Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archaeologists recovered a historic dugout wood canoe from the bottom of Lake Mendota, just a few months after learning of its existence in June 2021. Carbon dating indicates that the vessel is approximately 1,200 years old and was in use around A.D. 800, centuries before European arrival.

“The dugout canoe found in Lake Mendota is a significant artifact of the continuum of canoe culture in the Western Great Lakes region,” said Christian Overland, the Ruth and Hartley Barker Director & CEO for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “By taking action to preserve this canoe we are protecting a piece of history for future generations. The canoe is a remarkable artifact, made from a single tree, that connects us to the people living in this region 1,200 years ago. As the Society prepares to open a new history museum in 2026, we are excited about the new possibilities it offers to share Native American stories and culture through the present day.”

Excavation of the area around the canoe began in late October 2021, and maritime archaeologists recovered artifacts from the site early on in their process. Net sinkers, rocks that were flattened by hand tooling, were recovered from within the canoe, indicating the vessel may have been used for fishing. The canoe was raised from a depth of about 30 feet with the assistance of the Dane County Sherriff’s dive team.

“Recovering the canoe from Lake Mendota required a carefully coordinated team effort,” said Jim Skibo, state archaeologist for the Wisconsin Historical Society. “After many hours in and out of the field preparing for a successful recovery, I could not be prouder of the work accomplished by the divers, archaeologists, and supporting staff involved with this project.”

The recovery team used floatation bags to raise the canoe to the lake’s surface, and by 1:30 in the afternoon, the artifact was removed from the water via a nearby beach. The canoe was transported to Wisconsin’s State Archive Preservation Facility and placed into a custom-built storage vat containing water and a bio-deterrent to protect the canoe from physical deterioration. Over time, a chemical solution will be added to the vat which will eventually replace the water in the cellular structure of the wood. The preservation process is estimated to take approximately 3 years.

 

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Recap from the Rooftop: Annual Meeting 2021

Published August 15, 2021 Leave a comment

Annual Meeting 2021

Frank Lloyd Wright designed a curvilinear gathering place that would link the shore of Lake Monona to the State Capitol. It is known today as the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. The rooftop is home to the William T. Evjue Rooftop Gardens.

It was on this rooftop, with its stunning views, that FWHS held their Annual Meeting this year. That view from the rooftop was both amazing and calming – a perfect place for discussions to be held. The rooftop is also the home to Lake Vista Café. This café offered us delightful lunch choices.

Members of FWHS and a quorum of Board Members were able to attend the meeting. Activities of the committees were discussed with committee representatives that were in attendance. Future committee activities were also suggested and discussed.

There was also review of the information concerning the new WHS museum in Madison, and what FWHS might contribute to the museum. The Society has obtained funding for the museum in excess of 100 million dollars from the state and private sources. We will be in contact with the Society to plan our contribution.

Our 2020 Virtual Auction was a success with $7,000 profit. We thank everyone that worked so hard on this new venue.

The Friends have provided funding for local State-winning National History Day students to continue their competition at the National level in Washington, D.C., and we will continue to support the National History Day in Wisconsin competitions.

We look forward to another successful year despite the roadblocks the Covid pandemic has put in our path.

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More Books for the Hunkered Down History Lover

Published December 16, 2020 Leave a comment
Quell your quarantine blues with these books about fascinating figures, places, and tales from Wisconsin’s history!

Books

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Support FWHS by Shopping with AmazonSmile

Published November 18, 2020 Leave a comment

AmazonSmile

FWHS has joined AmazonSmile!

When you shop online using AmazonSmile, you pay the same amount but Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to a charity of your choosing—in this case, to FWHS.

Type in https://smile.amazon.com/ch/39-6058030 and log in to your Amazon account from there to directly support our organization while you shop, instead of having to select it from a big list later on.

Be sure to share this with your family and friends!

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