B CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP AREA HISTORY ALIVE NEWS

B CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP AREA HISTORY ALIVE NEWS
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Open Houses Set for 1999


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Celebrating Volunteers Who Keep Area History Alive



NEWS AND NOTES


DeForest Area Historical Society Spring/Summer Issue – May/June 2015


oard members and other historical society volunteers work hard year round to preserve the society’s four sites, collect and catalogue archives, make information available to the public through programs and displays, and respond to individual requests.

Some develop particular areas of expertise. To note just a few examples, Joan Woodward has built our collection of obituaries and cemetery records, while Norbert Manthe gleans additional material from the newspaper. President Louise Valdovinos provides liaison to the library and Amie Mink to the schools. Marc Storch is our PastPerfect computer expert, and Bob Newbegin brings professional carpentry to the furniture, cabinets, and displays.

One of our longest-serving volunteers is Frances Rademacher (photo below): member for 30 years, board secretary for 20 years, and weekly presence in the library site office.


B CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP AREA HISTORY ALIVE NEWS


Dragon Arts and Open Houses
On Saturday, June 6, DeForest’s annual Dragon Art Fair will feature over 90 artists and artisans as well as food and fun. Historical society volunteers will host open houses at two historic properties from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Mary Wendt will be in office/waiting room area of the railroad depot, where whittlers will demonstrate their craft. Visitors can see displays of railroad equipment; photos of historic mishaps, depot agents, and DeForest railroad history; and a large map of the rail line from Madison to Portage, showing the many former stops along the way. “Some are current villages, some no longer exist,” Mary says.

The depot exterior has been restored to its 1930 appearance: color, decking, postal box, doors, and loading dock. Much of the interior is now used to store large historical artifacts.

Tracy Simon will welcome visitors to the Hansen-Newell-Bennett House Museum. The first floor is restored to the early 1900s, before the advent of electricity. Upstairs are permanent displays on early schools, churches, and businesses. Cynthia Karraker and Tracy maintain the grounds and gardens. The house will also be open from 1:00 to 3:00 the second Sundays of July through October. New signs will be placed on nearby corner a few days in advance to announce the open houses:

June 6

July 12

August 9

September 13

October 11

One Hundred Years with Raggedy Ann

by Mary Wendt


Raggedy Ann is a character created by American writer Johnny Gruelle in a series of books he wrote and illustrated for young children. Raggedy Ann is a rag doll with red yarn for hair and has a triangle nose. She was patented Sept. 7th, 1915. She was created as a doll but was introduced to the public in 1918 in ‘Raggedy Ann Stories.’ In 1920 her sequel Raggedy Andy, dressed in a sailor suit and hat, was also introduced to the children.

Gruelle created Raggedy Ann for his daughter Marcella, when she brought him an old handmade rag doll and he drew a face on it. From his bookshelf he combined the names of ‘The Raggedy Man’ (a poem by James Whitcomb Riley) and ‘Little Orphan Annie’ and said to Marcella, “Let’s call her Raggedy Ann.”

Marcella died at age 13, shortly after being vaccinated for smallpox without her parents’ consent. Her parents became opponents of vaccination, and the Raggedy Ann doll was used as a symbol by the anti-vaccine movement.

Many Raggedy Ann dolls have been created since the 1920s. The patterns are available today. There is always a red stitched heart over her heart that says “I Love You.”

While Simon & Schuster and Hasbro claim to own the trademarks to the Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy names, the original 1915 doll design, and the 1918 and 1920 books, the copyrights have since expired.

In 2002 Raggedy Ann was introduced into the National Toy Hall of Fame. Andy joined her in 2007. In 2012 Hasbro applied for a new line of Raggedy Ann and Andy plush dolls.

Gruelle’s hometown in Arcola, Illinois, is the former home of the Raggedy Ann & Andy Festival and the Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum. The festival was discontinued and the museum was closed in 2009. One can learn more online at <raggedy-ann.com/patty.html>, Raggedy Ann and Andy: History and Legend by Patricia Hall.

B CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP AREA HISTORY ALIVE NEWS


Over the years together Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy have brought comfort and love to many children through the war years and to the generations that remember her today.


Toys, Dolls, and Displays

Archival clothing and Leeds township history are among the many interests of historical society treasurer Mary Wendt. She also maintains the historical displays in the display cabinet in the library east foyer on Market Street. Following an Easter display this spring, she is working on a summer display to celebrate the hundredth anniversary of Raggedy Ann, the rag doll patented in 1915.

Meanwhile Amie Mink has been working on organizing and labeling the historical society’s toy collection, housed in the archives at the library site. Amie writes,

“We are currently organizing our toy collection and have been finding some real treasures. We have handmade and manufactured toys from the late 1800s to current year.

“Currently our collection includes a 52 colored lithograph gold framed trading card set c. 1890. These cards were likely promotional devices sold along with Little Cigars. Images on the cards include Francis Wilson, dancer; Louis Mann, theatre actor; and John Lester Wallack, Wallack Theatre, 1864.

(continued on next page)

(Toys, continued from page 2)

“Another interesting toy that may not be played with by children today is a working iron from the 1950s. It will heat up after being plugged in like an adult iron.

“The next toy is a piece that was hand made by Leslie Wheeler of the DeForest area and was used as a prop c. 1920 in the Windsor Neighborhood Club play called ‘Neighbors.’

“Of course we can’t leave out the good old standby, Lincoln Logs, c. 1974. Our 10-year-old volunteer, Bella, looked at the logs and said, ‘They were made out of real wood!’

“When not on display these and other pieces will find homes in special archival boxes. Future viewings of our collection will be on display at the DeForest Area Schools in the exhibit cases located in the school libraries.”


B CELEBRATING VOLUNTEERS WHO KEEP AREA HISTORY ALIVE NEWS


Information at the Library Site


Archivist/curator John Englesby can often be seen in the historical society offices in the library, gathering archival materials for individuals or updating the historical display in the gallery. John writes:

“At the archival office we receive requests for information and materials on a continuing basis. Just in the last couple of weeks I received a request for materials relating to the grandparents of an individual living in Texas (whose grandfather was the first settler in Windsor Township). A second person living in North Dakota requested information on manuscripts she had from a 1906 Alumni Banquet in DeForest.

“In both cases, I was able to send informa-tion which seemed to be greatly appreciated. I believe both individuals found our website. All requests that come to the DeForest Area Public Library for obituaries are routed to us.

“The gallery display on the history of DeForest has been well received. Fortunately we have received several update sheets with information on veterans—part of Norbert Manthe’s project. Children seem to have enjoyed the ‘hands-on’ artifacts that have been put out.

“This summer I hope to remove some of the text materials, add other photographs and newspaper ads and other artifacts from the collection in the various time period display sections.”


DeForest Area Historical Society


Contact Information

Mail: PO Box 124, DeForest WI 53532

Phone: (608) 846-5482 (library; ask to be

transferred to the historical society)

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.deforesthistory.org

Sites and Hours

Hansen-Newell-Bennett House, 119 East Elm Street, DeForest; museum open by request for special tours and activities June to October

Lyster House, 201 DeForest Street, DeForest; Chamber of Commerce uses the space, open to the public during Chamber hours; kitchen restored to period

DeForest Depot, 215 Market Street, DeForest, just south of Lyster House; exterior and grounds open to the public

Office and gallery in library, 203 Library Street, DeForest; office open 9-11:30 a.m. most Tuesdays and Thursdays or by appointment; gallery open during library hours



Lyster House Exterior Renovation


In addition to the Hansen-Newell-Bennett House and the depot, the DeForest Area Historical Society owns the Lyster House at the corner of Market and DeForest Streets, just north of the depot. The DeForest Area Chamber of Commerce rents most of the first floor and other storage space in the building. The exterior and one room have been restored to the 1930s period.

As with many old buildings, it has been hard to keep paint sticking to the old wood. Heating and cooling are also inefficient. After extensive discussions, John Englesby and the executive committee arranged to install modern insulation and vinyl siding that looks like the original wooden siding.

Funding is being provided by the DeForest Area Foundation, matching funds from the DeForest Area Historical Society, and a gift from the DeForest Area Chamber of Commerce. A local contractor has signed a contract to do the work, which is expected to be completed in July or August.

Volunteer Doris Hodgson maintains the Lyster House gardens. She writes about the new exterior, “I’m excited about the project and adding more flowers to the beds around Lyster House afterwards, since they would only get trampled during the siding process.”




DeForest Area Historical Society

Box 124

DeForest, Wisconsin 53532










“Behold the Work of the Old . . .

Let your Heritage not be lost.

But Bequeath it as a Memory, Treasure and Blessing . . .

Gather the lost and the hidden

And preserve it for thy Children.” - C. Metz (1846)

School Projects Update


Our fall/winter 2014 issue featured historical society projects in area schools supported by funding from the late Judy Ewald. Both projects have advanced considerably since then, thanks particularly to the efforts of two historical society volunteers.

Amie Mink took on the huge project of arranging for artifact display cases in six DeForest area schools: the high school, two middle schools, and Yahara, Windsor, and Eagle Point elementary schools.

The cases have been in place for most of the school year, introducing children and youth to aspects of life long ago. Amie rotates the exhibits among schools every few months.

Mary Wendt recently finished getting old 16-millimeter film converted to five sets of DVDs covering graduations, proms, marching bands, senior banquets, track practice, and other school events from 1950 through 1975.

“It is our hope that class reunions will enjoy them, and give us a donation for using them,” she writes.


Tips for Preserving Your Historic Home


There’s lots of good information at this free new resource from the Wisconsin Historical Society:

<wisconsinhistory.org/preserve-your-building>


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