Marking our fourth year as invited participants in Sharon’s “Model A Days” celebration, FRIENDS opened an informative exhibit focused on the life and times of Henry Ford, founder of the company that bears his name and the man credited with revolutionizing the auto industry with the perfecting of the assembly line.

June 3rd was a picture perfect day, and the streets of Sharon were crowded. “Model A Days” draws car collectors and hobbyists from all over the Midwest. The event in small-town vintage Sharon is in its 17th year.

FRIENDS volunteers distributed a four-page newspaper, the Sharon Tabloid, which described Ford’s dramatic career and his impact on society through his production standards and generous pay scale.

Using large historic photographs and well-researched display materials, the FWHS exhibit attracted passersby on Sharon’s busy Baldwin Street, where more than 200 vintage automobiles and other vehicles lined the curb. FRIENDS also conducted a “Ford Quiz,” featuring ten difficult questions about the Models T and A from the Ford company. The participants who answered the quiz correctly were entered in a drawing for a scale model 1932 Ford convertible.

The winning entry was that of Bob Davisson, of Milwaukee, who drove his ’31 Ford coupe to the event. Bob retired after thirty-six years with Bell Telephone, and served five years on the Board of the Wisconsin chapter of the Model A Club of America.

The exhibit and the newspaper satisfy the educational objectives of the FRIENDS organization, an ongoing effort to blend entertainment and enlightenment to foster the understanding and sharing of history.

In previous years, FRIENDS has staged historic reenactments accompanied by solid information on topics of interest to car collectors and history buffs who study the 1920s and 1930s. FWHS led off with an ambitious rendering of The Great Depression, and followed with a March for Women’s Rights and the destruction of a whiskey still as part of our portrayal of Prohibition.

The FWHS “30th Star Benefit Antiques Auction” brought a sizable crowd to the Clausing Barn at Old World Wisconsin and, when the bidding was done, the April 28th volunteer event had amassed a fund that will be put to good use just a short distance from the barn, at the historic site’s St. Peter’s Church in the Crossroads Village. The relocated structure, a small and simple 1839 Greek Revival frame building, was Milwaukee’s first Catholic Cathedral, drawing its worshippers from the city’s large immigrant population.

In February, the Board of Directors of FRIENDS voted to pledge the auction’s total proceeds to an ongoing program designed to carefully restore the interior furnishings of the church.

The Board’s action, in effect a promise to “complete the project,”fulfills the FRIENDS mission by directing fundraising efforts to the benefit of the state historical society’s programs and projects.

A Preview Party opened the auction, as patrons got a peek at the items up for bid the next day. The prolific rural historian and author Jerry Apps, along with his photographer son, Steve, headlined the dinner event, discussing “Barns of Wisconsin” and celebrating the state’s farm heritage.

Auctioneer Carol Miller, of Bailey’s Honor Auction Service of Oconomowoc, picked up her gavel the following morning to begin the auction of hundreds of antique and vintage treasures. The bidding moved along at a brisk pace, and because the sale was a “no-reserve” auction, carried on without phone or Internet bidding, patrons relished an “old-time auction” atmosphere.

The biennial event enjoys the generous support of our founding co-sponsors, the Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association.

Funds from the successful 2010 auction have been used to create awards for National History Day, restore two historic portraits, and support selected Society events. Last year, FRIENDS made a gift of $10,000 to aid in the expansion of the new Historic Preservation Initiative, a component of the WHS website.

FRIENDS now has volunteer speakers who can provide an interesting topic for your group’s next gathering for as little as $50 + mileage! Speaker’s fees are donated directly to FRIENDS to assist in the endeavors of the Wisconsin Historical Society.

Our list of topics currently include:

TEA-LEAF, MOSS ROSE & WHITE IRONSTONE CHINA

Examples of the china are displayed and examined, interspersed with interesting tidbits about life in the mid-1800s. Presented by Riene Wells, charter member of the Tea Leaf Club International and owner of a 2000+ piece collection that has been displayed at the Wisconsin Antique Dealers “Special Attraction” booth. Riene is a frequent speaker at various historical group gatherings. For more information, contact info@eagle-house.com.

WHO’S YOUR DADDY’S DADDY’S DADDY’S DADDY’S DADDY?

Of particular interest to genealogy groups, this program explores the relatively new use of identifying the ‘y’ chromosome to trace paternal lineage for genealogical purposes. The use of yDNA can break down those brick walls researchers have been up against for decades. Presented by Debbie McArdle, founder and volunteer Group Administrator of 4 Family Tree yDNA surname projects, and 40 years of genealogical experience. For more information, watch the video at http://www.familytreedna.com/audio-video.aspx or contact jjmcard@comcast.net or 815/575-1272.

THE VICTORIANS & THE INFLUENCE OF THEIR DOGS

View examples from “not your usual dog collection” as Kathleen informs of the importance of the dog in the Victorian home, both as a helper and a companion.  Hear many interesting stories and see several unusual items celebrating dogs.   The informative talk features the Newfoundland dog.  Newfoundlands were owned by many famous people including Charles Dickens, Lord Byron, and President U.S. Grant. The presenter is Kathleen Krause, FRIENDS of Wisconsin Historical Society Board Member, who has an extensive collection of Victorian dog items, that have been featured in  ‘Collectable and Flea Market Finds’ magazine. Kathleen has raised and showed dogs for over 35 years. For more information, contact kknewf@aol.com or 262-495-4373.

WHALING HISTORY & THE WHALER’S ART: SCRIMSHAW

Scrimshaw is a 19th-century American sailor-made art form created primarily (but not exclusively) from the teeth bone of harvested whales during the heyday of the American whaling industry. Learn about this industry that was so important to America’s success and study examples of the art form created by sailors during their seemingly-endless trips at sea. Tom L. & Barb Conley are members of the New Bedford Whaling Museum and are annual presenters at the Scrimshaw Collectors’ Symposium. For more information, contact BarbConley1@sbcglobal.net or  847/669-5391.

VICTORIAN PEWTER-TRIMMED GRANITEWARE

Rare examples of this often misidentified ornate ware are displayed and examined. The history of its American manufacturers, circa 1870-1900, are discussed, as well as the status of the ware in the American Victorian-period household. For more information, contact jjmcard@comcast.net or 815/575-1272.

THE HISTORY & VALUE OF YOUR FAMILY’S HEIRLOOMS

Participants bring a family heirloom for discussion and evaluation. Presented by Debbie McArdle, owner of Iron Horse Antiques and Appraisals, founded in 1978, and member of the New England Appraisers Association. For more information, contact jjmcard@comcast.net or 815/575-1272.

THE 1875-1925 ‘MOM & POP’ GENERAL STORE

Explore the history of the neighborhood “Mom and Pop” stores and the birth of modern advertising. This PowerPoint program will illustrate the furnishings and offerings of the stores our great-grandparents frequented. Early examples of many such items are brought for hands-on examination. Presented by Debbie McArdle, owner of Iron Horse Antiques and Appraisals, founded in 1978, and member of the New England Appraisers Association. For more information, contact jjmcard@comcast.net or 815/575-1272.

Those of you who have any interest in presenting programs to benefit FRIENDS and the Wisconsin Historical Society, please contact Debbie at jjmcard@comcast.net

The successful benefit auction this past April will benefit projects at Old World Wisconsin State Historic Site.

Preview night offered a presentation by Jerry Apps ~Author of “Barns of WI”…  

 

…with photo display by Steve Apps; Silent Auction; Door Prizes; Complimentary Antiques Appraisals by Iron Horse Antiques.

The auction itself was a nail-biter! To bid or not to bid?

And bid they did!

Every item was sold at auction by the talented hand of Auctioneer Carol Miller.

Thanks to our AUCTION SPONSORS:  Wisconsin Antiques Dealers Association &  Auctioneer, Carol Miller, Bailey’s Honor Auctions, Author & Photographer Jerry & Steve Apps & Old World Wisconsin.

The FRIENDS of the Wisconsin Historical Society board of directors includes

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

Board Members:
Frank Beaman, Mineral Point
Lois Calkins, Waukesha
Walt Diedrick, Edgerton
Frances Kavenik, Kenosha
Kathleen Krause, East Troy
Debbie McArdle, Manitowish Waters
Brad Steinmetz, LaFarge
Rose E. Sterk, Janesville
Beverly Wassam, Delavan
Chuck Hatfield, La Farge – Excursion Chair

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.

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.