The Clintonville Area Historical Society just celebrated its 40th anniversary.
“We have gradually built a large and varied collection of historical items,” President Marilyn Berkvam said.
The mission of the society is to collect, preserve, and disseminate materials and information relating to Clintonville and the surrounding area.
There are three buildings at Pioneer Park. The log cabin was at Olen Park and about to be torn down. It was taken apart log by log and then reassembled.
The cord wood house was the next building in the park. It is mostly used for events in the summer.
Then the house at 32 11th St. was purchased from the Kuester family. Called the History House, the many rooms are filled with artifacts.
“A lot of work was put into it by the members,” Berkvam said.
They held re-enactments, fundraisers, and participated in parades and festivals.
“We participate in all the Clintonville events,” Berkvam said.
The society recently got exciting news when it was given the Honey Creek building on Main Street. Berkvam said it will give them more visibility.
“This year we will be concentrating on that,” she said.
The Pigeon Post quarterly newsletter is sent to the club’s 150 members, including those who live all over the United States.
Volunteer docents are trained to conduct tours of the buildings that are open to the public on Saturdays in the summer or by appointment.
The park also features the Walter Olen stone collection, with stones from the Damascus Road into Jerusalem, one from the stables of King Solomon, an old millstone from the Krueger Mill at Neenah, an obsidian rock from Yellowstone National Park, stones from the Great Wall of China, a mirror stone from the glass cliffs in Yellowstone Park, and part of a petrified Pinion tree trunk from the petrified forest in Arizona.
The society is funded with grants and donations, along with membership dues and fundraising activities. The members are dedicated to preserving history.
“It would all be lost if someone didn’t do it,” Berkvam said.
Right now the society is only looking for Clintonville-related or unique artifacts.
The board meets every month, and public meetings are held in the spring and fall. Other officers and members of the board are Sarah Hankins, vice president; Jeanne Giordana, secretary; Kathy Mitchell, treasurer; Sandy Loberg, newsletter editor; Todd Bessette; Cindy Carrick; Gerry O’Connor; and Amy Steenbock.
For information, call Berkvam at 715-823-5695 or find the Clintonville Wisconsin Historical Society online on Facebook.
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