If you’ve ever wondered what kinds of artifacts are at the Shawano County Historical Society, a Tea and Trunk Show featuring vintage clothing and other accoutrements will be held Feb. 28 at First Presbyterian Church Hall in Shawano.
Volunteers Jesse Borlen, director of the museum and artifacts, and Joan Wohler, head archivist, have spent months getting the display ready.
“For a long time, we’ve been trying to think how to display our clothes that are stacked in closets,” Borlen said.
Included in the display will be a 1920s baseball uniform, men’s and women’s clothing, and a top hat that belonged to the late Judge Charles Dillett.
“There will be about 100 items,” Borlen said. “Some people should recognize the names of the people who wore them.”
Each person attending will be handed a catalog of items in the display, and each item will have information about it and/or the person who owned it. People are reminded to look but don’t touch because the clothing is very fragile.
Tables will be available with refreshments such as tea, coffee, tea sandwiches, cookies and bars. Visitors can come and go as they please.
“I think it will be very interesting and might bring back a lot of memories of days gone by,” said Wohler, who files information, takes care of store sales of shirts and books, and gets print orders.
“Any pictures we have on file we can get prints,” she said.
Wohler’s father worked for the county right where the park is located and would bring lunch to him.
“I love it here,” she said. “I was born and raised in Shawano. I’ve been retired from teaching for 20 years and my family is grown. It’s a good opportunity to give back to the community.”
The proceeds from the fundraiser will go for building maintenance.
“We have a long list of things that need to be done,” said Borlen, who has a degree in art and art history from St. Norbert College and volunteers two days a week. He is employed on the family farm while helping at the historical society to gain experience to eventually work in a museum.
“I like dealing with historical things,” he said.
The historical society has around 400 members who work to maintain and preserve the history of Shawano. Heritage Park has nine buildings. Work will start on the newest building — a church — when the weather warms up.
For more information, call 715-526-3323.
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