The November 10, 2022 meeting of the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order by Vice President Jan Patrick. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
The downstairs area of the museum is being remodeled. Chris Nepper is working on replacing the wall between the kitchen and meeting room. The floor will be refinished when the carpentry work is completed.
We will bring the cutter over to the Green Space for the Christmas in the Center celebration on December 3. It will be decorated to use for family pictures. Father Christmas will also be there.
New scrapbooks have been donated to the museum. Members will use the downtime between now and spring to go through them to index for names, catagories and pages. This makes it easier to look up information. One of the important duties for the members is to answer questions about area families and events.
The museum website is www.pittsvilleareahistoricalsociety.com
The October 13, 2022 meeting was called to order by President Chris Buchanan. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
Old Business included a report by Chris Nepper that fire extinguishers have been placed in each building. The museum and barn have one on each floor.
Work is continuing on the exhibits in the Farm Shed. A rural electrification display is in the works.
Book 9 of the Stories of Our Lives Series will be worked on over the winter and will be ready for sale next year. Marlene Neve is working on the early cranberry marshes and mossing in the area. Jan Patrick is working on the Baum Family story.
New business included winter to do projects. We will put up decorations for Christmas in early November when the community decorates. The Furnace will be checked over and members will continue to monitor the museum during the winter months. Chris Nepper has volunteered to remove snow from the sidewalk.
There will be a construction project in the museum this winter. A wall will be constructed between the kitchen and meeting room. The current doorway will be increased to 40″ and a new countertop will be put in. The floor will be worked on after the construction is completed.
There will be a monthly meeting at 1:00 on November 10. Motion to adjourn.
The September 8, 2022 meeting of the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order by President Chris Buchanan. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
Old Business included a wrapup from the Open House. All bills that were submitted have been paid. It was a very successful event that gave us a chance to show the community what we have accomplished in the past years. We have received so many wonderful antiques from area residents that we needed more room to display them. The barn and farm shed gave us a chance to show farming before automation.
The Garden and Grounds committee will continue with a few projects this fall. The lilac bed needs to be cleaned out. Perennial plants were planted around the cutter shed and paver bricks will be laid by the shed and in front of the PowWow Booth.
The upstairs portion of the museum has been updated throughout the summer. The vintage clothing area is one of the last area to be redone. The members are busy cleaning the area and ironing and mending the clothing that is on display.
We have three new business memberships this year. We are so gratful to all the businesses that support us in many ways throughout the year.
New Business included a discussion about our late fall and winter duties. We keep busy even though we are not open during that time. We receive scrapbooks throughout the year. Names, dates and events are put into the computer to make it easier to look up items for research. The original scrapbooks are retained in the museum.
The August 11, 2022 meeting of the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order by Vice President Jan Patrick. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
Old Business began with the gardens and grounds report by Mary Czaja. The painting projects are nearly completion and will be finished by Open House on August 21. Chris Nepper will have the Cutter Shed finished this week. Grass is planted and growing in the area.
The museum will be open the remaining Sundays of August.
The rest of the meeting was spent finalizing details for the Open House.
The website address is: www.pittsvilleareahistoricalsociety.org.
The July 14, 2022 meeting of the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order by President Chris Buchanan. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
Old Business included a garden and grounds update. The church steeple is in the process of getting repainted. A shed is being constructed to house the cutter. The whole group is working very hard to get the grounds and buildings in great condition for the Farm Open House on August 21. There will be many activities for young and old. Save the day and time from 10:30-3:00. Share your farm stories and enjoy some food and beverages with your neighbors.
Our float received the first place prize for organizations in the 4th of July parade. It was a tiered cake with number 60 floating on top to depict the 60 years that the Legion and Lions have been organizing the festivities.
The museum will be open each Thursday from 9-3 through September and the second and fourth Sundays in July and August from 11-3. Stop in to see what new/OLD stuff we have on display and learn about your hometown history.
Pleasant Corners 4-H held their meeting in the school on July 11. They toured the other buildings before the meeting.
They asked many good questions and were interested in their heritage.
New Business included a report about the updated security system.
There was also a discussion about extra volunteer help from the community. There are so many things that can be done from inside computer and ascessioning work to outside gardening and building maintenance projects. It is a fun place to spend a few hours of your week or month. I learn something new each time I show someone around.
Our website is www.pittsvillehistoricalsociety.org for a virtual tour of the property.
The June 9, 2022 meeting of the Pittsville Historical Society was called to order by President Chris Buchanan. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
Old business started with a report by the Grounds Committee. We are very grateful to Ms. Meister and the agricultural students for allowing us to take the extra plants that were left over from their plant sale. Our containers and garden beds have been planted with annuals from the group. They add a lot of extra color to the perennials that we have planted. New projects, including a shed to house the new cutter, are in progress and will have to be completed by the Farm Open House on August 21. Jan Patrick gave a report on the progress of the displays and expects to have everything ready to show off our rural history.
The museum will be open on the Sundays of June 12 and 26 from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Stop in to see what we have accomplished so far this year.
The third and fourth grade classes from Pittsville Elementary School were able to come to the museum for a Field Trip this year. We were happy see them as we have missed having them due to the COVID crisis. The third graders joined us for “A Day at Scranton School”. The fourth graders had an enchanced tour of the buildings. We encouraged them to bring their families when we are open on Thursdays from 9-3 or the two Sundays of the months that we are open.
Chris Nepper gave a ramp improvement update. He obtained an estimate of the improvements that must be made to make the entrance safe. The bid has been accepted and work will start as soon as the company can work it into their job schedule.
We will be holding a Brat Fry at ProVision Partners gas station on Saturday, June 18. The nemu will include Brats, Hot Dogs, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, canned soda and homemade bars and cookies donated by the members. The proceeds will be used to finance our many projects. Please come out to support our efforts.
The main item of New Business was a discussion of the Fourth of July Parade float. Sharon Christensen discussed her idea that will best depict the this year’s theme of “60 years Celebrating Patriotism and Freedom”.
We now have a Web Master for the organization. Chris Nepper will be responsible for updating the website. Jan Patrick and Sharon Christensen will help him update the site.
The website address is: www.pittsvilleareahistoricalsociety.org.
The May 12, 2020 meeting of the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order by Vice President Jan Patrick. Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
The first order of Old business consisted of a sign-up sheet for docents to cover the new Sunday hours. We will be open from 11:00-3:00 on the second and fourth Sundays of June, July and August. We will continue to be open on Thursdays from 9:00-3:00 through September.
Pittsville Elementary third grade classes will be here for A Day at Scranton School on May 17 and 19. The fourth grade classes will have an enhanced tour of the buildings on May 23 and 26. We are happy to be able to have the children here for a Field Day. We missed them.
Everyone is working very hard to get the grounds and buildings in excellent condition for the Open House which will be held on August 21. One of the highlights of the day will be the opportunity to milk a cow.
The other date to put on your calendar is June 18. The museum is sponsoring a Brat Fry at the Cenex Station. Please support us by purchasing a brat or pulled pork sandwich, beverage and dessert.
The April 14, 2022 meeting of the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order by President Chris Buchanan after the Annual Meeting. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
OLD BUSINESS included a report by Jan Patrick on the barn project. There is a list of donors up in the barn. She is still waiting for Julie Giese from the USDA to sign off on the grant. The Open House is scheduled for August 21. More to come as plans get firmed up.
There was a discussion about how to best fix the crack that has opened up on the ramp. Chris Nepper will contact a cement contractor to get an estimate to see what can be done. Randy Fochs suggested a wood walkway could be placed over the existing concrete if necessary.
A Brat Fry Fundraiser is scheduled for June 18. Chris Buchanan and Lynn Jankowski will work on the details. Members will bake bars or cookies to sell along with brats, pulled pork and soft drinks.
Marlene Neve reported that the Pittsville third and fourth grade classes will have a field trip here this year. The third grade will participate in “A Day at Scranton School” and the fourth grade students will get an enhanced tour of the buildings.
This will be a very busy summer getting the buildings and grounds in shape for our Open House. Painting is needed on Scranton School, the museum porch and the steeple. A structure will be built to house the cutter that was donated and the walkway to the steeple needs repair.
The museum will be open on the second and fourth Sunday of the month from Memorial Day to Labor Day. We will also be open from 9-3 each Thursday from May through September.
Pittsville’s main article for the July Heritage Magazine will be about Fr. Wilitzer and Pittsville Pottery. There will also be an article including basic information about the Pitts Family and a couple of post cards.
NEW BUSINESS included a donation of a pig scalding tub for the display in the farm shed. Jan Patrick will be able to use the plywood from last years float to mount information for the pig display.
Motion was made to set aside $75.00 to bring in a Milking Cow at the Open House. We all will get a turn at learning how it used to be done. Some older citizens will be able to show everyone up.
Marlene Neve sent around the proposed budget for 2022. (Correction 2023)
Motion to adjourn.
The Annual meeting of the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order by President Chris Buchanan on April 14. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were given and approved.
Lynn Jankowski representing the nominating committee presented the slate of officers for the coming year. They are as follows: President-Chris Buchanan, Vice President-Jan Patrick, Secretary-Mary Czaja, Treasurer-Marlene Neve, Exhibit Coordinator-Jan Patrick. There were motions to cast a unanimous ballot for officers and have the officers compose the board of Directors along with a member at large. They were seconded and approved.
President Chris Buchanan appointed the following Committee chairs: Historian-Pat Lippert, Membership-Mary Zdun, Building & Grounds-Mary Czaja & Peg Rademan, Audit-Lynn Jankowski & Mary Zdun, Consultant-Chuck Soper, Acquisitions-Jan Patrick & Chris Buchanan, Nominating-Lynn Jankowski & Randy Fochs, Website Maintenance-Sharon Christensen & Jan Patrick.
The Pittsville Record is the designated newspaper for meeting notices and minutes. Partners Bank of Marshfield is our designated depository.
The date for next year’s annual meeting will be April 13, 2023.
Motion to adjourn,
The first meeting of the year for the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order on March 10 (2022) by President Chris Buchanan. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
There were many items of Old Business from last fall to discuss. The cutter that was donated by Kevin Horn on behalf of his parents Carl & Evelyn Horn and his grandparents is currently in the farm shed. There was a discussion about where and how to safely display it. It will be put on a deck with a roof over head to protect it from the weather. The sides should allow for easy viewing.
Jan Patrick gave a farm shed and barn update. The shed will need to have track lighting installed so the displays will be easier to view. A tub is still needed for the pig butchering display. Signage still needs to be placed in the barn and shed. Julie Giese, USDA representative will be here to sign off on the project as soon as she can fit it in her schedule. The Farm Open House will be scheduled for late in the summer. We are excited to show off our new buildings and displays. More information will follow as we firm up the plans.
The ramp leading to the main door needs repair. Members have been trying to contact cement repairmen to see what can be done. The repairs will have to be completed before the end of summer.
Jan reported that the website is up and working well. She and Sharon Christensen are working on edits to the content. The website can be reached at pittsvilleareahistoricalsociety.org.
Book 9 of the Days of Our Lives series is being worked on and will be ready this summer. The price of the books will be $10.00 as the costs to publish have increased.
There was a discussion about opening on Sundays. It was decided to be open on the second and fourth Sundays of the month from 11:00-3:00 from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. We will be open from 9:00-3:00 each Thursday from May through September. We will not close for lunch.
New Business included discussion about the next Heritage Magazine. It will be out in July and will include articles about people who were important to their communities. It was decided that Fr.Willitzer, the founder Pittsville Pottery should be the selection from Pittsville.
Jan’s famous TO DO List will be put on the refrigerator to remind members of the many items to be worked on this year. The goal is to have the list finished by the Open House.
The Annual Meeting for 2022 will be held on April 14 at 1:00 following by the regular monthly meeting. If you have some free time and are interested in local history, please consider joining our group. I can guarantee that you will not be bored. There are many tasks from working on displays, accessioning new donations, researching requests about past community members, outdoor work such as gardening and keeping the buildings in repair, guiding visitors and answering questions. If any of us is not busy there is always the TO DO List.
Pittsville Area Historical Society met November 11 at the museum complex. President Chris Buchanan called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Minutes of October meeting were read and approved; treasurer’s report will be email to all later (Treasurer Marlene was unable to attend this meeting).
The barn and farm shed exhibits are mostly finished-just need additional signage and a few more period items. Lighting in the farm shed will be finished to provide directional lights. PAHS had received a grand from USDA Rural Development to help fund the barn structure. A representative from Rural Development will inspect the work in December; we will then sign the final financial papers.
Some exhibits have been revamped in the main building. Plans for an open house in summer, 2022, were discussed.
The gardens have been cleaned and will rest for winter months.
Possibilities of a spaghetti dinner and a brat fry in 2022 to help raise money for continuing work are moving forward.
The ramp beside the main building had a major crack that needs to be repaired. We do not yet have a cost estimate.
Heritage Magazine will publish its second issue in January. PAHS has submitted an article about Pittsville’s heritage and another about Progress, the village that did not succeed.
The Day at Scranton School program will resume if the Covid pandemic lessens to near nothing. Students are close together in the Scranton School classroom.
Stories of Our Lives, Book 9 is still a work in progress. Winter months will find members interviewing those who will contribute information for the book, writing, updating the flier, studying the new program for the website.
Christmas decorating will be completed one nice day after Thanksgiving.
Submitted by Jan Patrick, Acting Secretary
The October 14 (2021) meeting of the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order by Vice President Gloria Dibble. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
The Grounds Committee reported that they are currently painting the doors and windows of Scranton School.
Jan Patrick reported that the shed and barn exhibits are mostly finished. There is just a little labeling and some pictures to put up to complete the project. She will contact the representative from USDA Rural Development to inform her that we have met the Grant deadline of October 15. The project just needs to be inspected for final approval.
The first item of Old Business was a discussion about a wagon that was used to haul concrete for a bridge over the Yellow River. It was offered to the museum by the Anderson Family who bought the Stillman residence on Steffek Road. Randy Fochs and Chris Nepper will check it out and decide how to move it to the grounds if approved.
The next edition of the Heritage Magazine will feature the origins of area communities. Marlene Neve is working on the article about Pittsville. The articles are only 700 words in length so will be featuring James Q. Sevrens, the first white settler and Luke Pitts, Jr. Jan Patrick is working on an article about Progress, The Lost City.
New Business featured winter planning. The furnace will be checked before the weather turns and volunteers recruited to check it it is working properly each month during the winter season. Chris Nepper volunteered to shovel the sidewalk.
The museum is now closed for the season. This has been an exciting year. The barn and farm shed were the main projects of the year. The upstairs of the museum now has expanded cranberry, lumbering and housework exhibits where the tool shed was. The downstairs now houses a beauty shop exhibit with many items from the Zalabsky Beauty Shop. We are looking forward to next year. We are hoping to again offer A Day at Scranton School if Covid is under control.
The September 9 (2021) meeting of the Pittsville Area Historical Society was called to order by Marlene Neve. The Secretary and Treasurer reports were presented and approved.
Under Old Business: Mary Czaja reported that the garden cleanup is finished for the year. The grounds committee will spend the rest of the fall painting areas of the school, steeple and front porch that require work.
Jan Patrick reported that the displays in the farm shed and barn are coming together. The barn has a lot of signage and pictures on the walls explaining how the farm families lived and worked their land. She suggests that we keep the barn as authentic as possible to depict the early 1900’s before artificial insemination. There is a bull display with stories from area farmers telling about their experiences with bulls.
The January 2022 issue of the Heritage Magazine will depict how communities developed. Our portion of the magazine will consist of the origins of Pittsville and the first settlers.
The website “pittsvilleareahistoricalsociety.org” is up and working again. Additional new information and pictures have been added.
Work is progressing upstairs in the museum. The cranberry, logging and housework exhibits have been enlarged and reworked. The museum will be open on Sunday, Sept 26 from 11:00 -3:00 with Chris Buchanan and Gloria Dibble as docents. Stop by to see all the changes that have been made this summer. You will be amazed.
The first order of New Business was that a Thank You letter was sent to Ezra Fiala, our student intern this summer. He did all that was asked of him and more.
The organization received a donation from the Benevity Community Impact fund which allows people to anonymously give money. We are grateful for all the support that we receive from the community.
Motion to adjourn.