The Crandon Area Historical Society is excited to announce the return of their popular History on Tap program scheduled for Wednesday, July 26th at 6:00 p.m. at the Night Owl in Downtown Crandon.
Local Northwoods historian Jim Bokern will present “Moonshine in the Northwoods”, featuring photos, documents, research, and stories that reveal how moonshine operations changed and impacted several Northwoods’ communities including those in Forest County. During Prohibition, visitors and residents to the Northwoods of Wisconsin sought sanctuary from Volstead Act enforcement in remote northern towns and villages.
This program is free and open to the public. The public is encouraged to attend in their best 1920’s attire but it is not required. Donations to the Forest County Historical Society’s “Save the Records” Campaign will gladly be accepted. The campaign is an effort to draw attention to the need to preserve our county’s history by ensuring the records, photos and newspapers in our county are preserved, and digitized for researchers, students and local history efforts.
For more information about this event, or the Save the Records Campaign, please contact Michelle Gobert at forestctyhistory@gmail.com.
Join the Crandon Area Historical Society and other local history practitioners this summer at our virtual Digital Readiness Fair! This free, half-day event offers a mix of activities and learning opportunities, and showcases digitization work from around the state. Hear from local history practitioners and how they have tackled digitization projects, including challenges, successes, and lessons learned along the way. We’re excited for attendees to connect with each other and form their own communities of practice. Participants will also learn more about our ongoing participation in statewide digital readiness work, Recollection Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Local History Affiliates program.
Individuals are able to attend this digital readiness fair virtually or in-person on Friday, July 16, 2021 from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The full schedule of events and registration information is available online at www.crandonareahistory.org Registration is required for the free event. Individuals wishing to attend the in-person event are invited to the Argonne Town Hall at 8:30 a.m. for coffee and conversation. The virtual event will be broadcast live from 9:00 – Noon at the Argonne Town hall and will feature speakers from the Forest History Association, the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum.
The Crandon Area Historical Society is one of four digital fairs scheduled this summer. Other digital events include the Appleton Public Library’s fair on June 29, Pioneer Village in Barron County on August 3rd and the Kenosha County Historical Society on August 18th. Information about the four Digital Readiness Fairs can be found at https://recollectionwisconsin.org/cop/digital-readiness-fairs
About Building a Digital Readiness Community of Practice in Wisconsin
This NHPRC-funded project supports “digital readiness” in small and under-resourced local historical societies and historic preservation organizations across Wisconsin. Through workshops, presentations at statewide Digital Readiness Fairs, consultations, and development of learning resources, this community-driven initiative will create and grow a community of practice that provides the knowledge, tools and community support to digitize, manage, and provide online public access to local historical records. For more information, visit https://recollectionwisconsin.org/cop.
This event is funded through an Archives Collaboratives Implementation Grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the granting arm of the National Archives.
The Crandon Area Historical Society is excited to announce the release of the first episode of our local history podcast titled Tree Rings, produced and hosted by Isak Drangstveit and Bryce Marshall.
This premiere episode features the story of the 1918 Spanish flu and its impact on Forest county residents over a century ago. Hosts Isak and Bryce share with listeners the research they conducted on the Spanish Flu outbreak in Forest County and the key players involved in the prevention of the spread of the 1918 flu. As part of their research, they interview historical society member Jackie Aszman regarding some of the stories she uncovered while conducting her own research on the pandemic. Finally, Isak and Bryce interview current members of the Forest county Board of Health to gain insight into the similarities and differences of the two pandemics in Forest County.
After a couple months of sitting empty, like so many things during COVID-19, the Historical Society case at the Crandon Public Library has a new display. The theme, BOOKS BUILD BETTER BRAINS, encourages reading to children to bring knowledge, wonder and joy into their lives. The books featured are mostly children’s books from the 1940’s but the Peter Rabbit book was printed in 1912. The homemade blocks show the wear and tear of many childhood building projects. Looking at the books in the display may bring back memories of some of your childhood favorites.
The Society is looking forward to next year, when hopefully we can again celebrate the Christmas season with vintage decorations in the museum at the Carter House Museum. We wish all a Blessed and safe Christmas Season.
The Forest County Historical and Genealogical Society dba Crandon Area Historical Society is inviting its members and anyone interested in becoming a member to attend their annual meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 19, 2020.
Due to current guidelines limiting gatherings, this meeting will be held virtually using the Zoom app. Simply download the app on your computer, tablet, or phone. Send us an email request by November 18 and we will send you the link before the meeting begins. The email address to send your request is: forestctyhistory@gmail.com. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m.
The Forest County Historical and Genealogical Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1973. Its purpose is to promote Forest County history and preserve archival materials.
An Eagle Service Project, the culmination of a Scout’s
commitment to an intensive advancement program, must demonstrate leadership of
others while benefitting the scout’s community, school or another non-profit
organization. It is estimated that Eagle
Projects contribute approximately 3 million hours of community service every
year.
Local veteran’s-service organizations have loyally marked the graves of servicemen at Lakeside for many years but the lists they use to locate the graves are incomplete, inaccurate and confusing. With the guidance of local UW-Madison Division of Extension Positive Youth Development Educator and Historical Society president, Michelle Gobert, Bradley reviewed those outdated materials and lead family members and his fellow Scouts from Crandon Troop 649 in confirming and correcting information on-site. He then developed an online database that includes the block and lot location of each veteran.
The main point of Bradley’s presentation was that his
project is not a finished product, rather it provides a base for more
information and corrections to the existing list. “There are actually people that are on the
list who don’t belong there and a LOT who should be on the list but are not”,
he said. The Society is hoping to
schedule some organized efforts to continue Bradley’s work. In the meantime, we encourage the public to
visit the site. Visitors can search for
friends and family members and will find a form on which they can provide
additions and corrections.
Searching the database is easy. The database is online and veterans are listed by lot number but can be easily searched by last name. While the primary goal of the list is to provide a more accurate and complete tool for locating graves, the database has future potential to store biographies, obituaries and other documents pertaining these brave men and women. The database also includes a suggestion form for capturing information that may be missing from the database. Please direct any questions about the project and/or the database to Michelle at 715-478-7797 or forestctyhistory@gmail.com
The Crandon Area Historical Society is pleased to announce its Monday, December 3rd “History on Tap” program will feature Wisconsin author and naturalist John Bates beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the historic Hotel Crandon restaurant and bar. The program will feature John’s newest book titled Our Living Ancestors: the History and Ecology of Old-growth Forests in Wisconsin and Where to Find Them.
Old-growth forests touch the soul of many people. Some hear the echoes of Native Americans or the first settlers. Some feel the great age of the trees and revere them, while others feel they are in the presence of an overwhelmingly rare beauty. Still others understand the profound scientific value of old-growth forests as reference systems for what forests can be.
Despite the remarkable emotional appeal and scientific value of old-growth forests, they are rare in Wisconsin. Only 0.3% of Wisconsin’s old-growth forests remain, but these scattered, small parcels still retain their ability to amaze hikers with their size, beauty, and elegance.
Bates, the author of nine books and a contributor to seven others, has worked as a naturalist in Wisconsin’s Northwoods for 29 years. Copies of his book will be on sale after the program and will make the perfect Christmas for many people on your list!
History on Tap is free of charge and is open to all ages. Complimentary snacks will be provided. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages for sale. History on Tap is sponsored by the Crandon Area Historical Society and the Hotel Crandon. For more information, please contact Michelle at 715-478-7797.
