Our History

A Historical Society is a group of people who work to preserve the history of a place.*

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The Pittsville Area Historical Society (PAHS) was founded in 1981 after Clarice Pabst, a life-long resident of Pittsville, put a notice in the Pittsville Record asking area residents if they would be interested in creating a historical organization. Enough interest was shown, and Clarice became the first president. Opal Minor was elected secretary/treasurer. Meetings were held at the Community Hall in Pittsville.

In 1987, the group helped plan Pittsville’s Centennial celebration and sponsored a book-signing party for Bill Hiles and Sheryl Hiles, authors of Yellow River Pioneers. In 1998, a book signing party was held for Sally Winkels, author of Reading, Riting, Rithmetic and Recess.

As the building update was completed, members began collecting artifacts. Numerous local items of historical interest were donated. In 2004, a group of members worked for a week to accession (inventory and record) all artifacts and began developing displays. As more memorabilia are received, they are accessioned and incorporated into the displays.

At some point in the development it was discovered that the museum building was partially positioned on the property of Laura’s Corner Café (now Paulie’s Diner). In 2006, Laura Dolan, owner of Laura’s, re-surveyed her property and donated footage from the west border of her property so our museum building now resides entirely on our property, which also now extends a few feet beyond the building on the east side. She also squared the back corner of her property and donated a “finger” of land that was between museum property and TDS property.

In 2008, a fundraiser was launched to fund the restoration of a one-room schoolhouse. With the help of grants from the Mead-Witter Foundation and USDA, along with the rather successful fund drive, in 2009 Scranton School was moved from its country location in the town of Hiles to museum property and restored to its 1946 glory. In 2011, PAHS began hosting classes of 3^rd and 4^th graders for “A Day at Scranton School,” a full-day, old fashioned one-room school immersion experience.

The area behind the museum was leveled in 2011 to develop a picnic area with three octagonal picnic tables and a central succulent flower bed. The picnic area is used by students participating in “A Day at Scranton School,” and is also open to the public. Also in 2011 a new furnace was installed and the asphalt shingle roof replaced with a steel roof.

In 2018 a 1950s hay barn was donated to PAHS by Bob and Sharon Christensen. That barn, originally located on County Road V in the Town of Cary, was built by farmers Raleigh and Rose Frost. The barn was carefully dismantled and the lumber salvaged for reuse. In the summer of 2020 some of that lumber was used to build a farm shed and in 2021 the remaining lumber was used to construct a dairy barn. Both buildings stand today as authentic model farm buildings of the early 1900s. The farm shed is used to exhibit tools, equipment and displays relating to various aspects of farm work and early- to mid-20th century farm technology and knowhow. The model dairy barn is used to exhibit typical early 1900s dairy farm operations, including an authentic stanchioned milking area, chicken coop, calf pen, and haymow.

In the summer of 2022 PAHS volunteers built a small shed to house a turn of the twentieth century Portland cutter. The shed protects the cutter from the elements while visitors can view it through the large picture window.

Today, the Pittsville Area Historical Society Museum Complex proudly maintains 7 different buildings, providing visitors an amazing variety of authentic, historically accurate exhibits and displays of our Pittsville area past, plus access to a wonderful and comprehensive archive of original local histories, documents, books, and artifacts for study and research. All are welcome to stop by and visit our properties and learn about our wonderful past.

Fundraisers are held on occasion to raise money for improvements to exhibits, buildings, and grounds. Memberships help pay for operating expenses and maintenance. Individual donations and grants support major projects.

Charter Members

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see also:
Yellow River Pioneers
A short history of Pittsville
Wisconsin Genealogy Trails Town Histories: Pittsville

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