Generous donations keep historical society alive

By: 
Miriam Nelson
News Editor

WITTENBERG — After many years of having a soggy basement in the Wittenberg Area Historical Society museum, a new board of directors decided to follow the advice of contractors and replace the gutter system, complete with mesh covers.

The work was completed by B & R Seamless Custom Gutter Systems of Schofield. The historical society also hired Phil Tauges, owner of North Branch Electrical, to replace the electrical entrance.

The building, located at 502 W. Summit St. in Wittenberg, was erected in 1904 as a Lutheran parochial school, and it needs a little TLC as it continues to age. Due to the location of the building and limited access for larger equipment, cleaning the gutters each spring has been problematic.

The town of Wittenberg donated $1,000, and a $1,000 matching grant from the Wittenberg Development Corp. was procured. Earlier in the year, $500 was also given by the village of Wittenberg. The historical society also received a $500 grant from Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative and a $500 donation from the Wittenberg Lions Club.

All these funds, plus about $3,000 in memberships received earlier in the year, have made it possible for the group to pay its bills and remain solvent through spring 2020.

At the annual meeting in May, there was a discussion as to whether the museum should close and the society disband. About 20 new people have joined the society to take a proactive role in keeping the doors open.

“It’s been great having all this extra help and interest,” said Carla Strassburg, who has been serving as president, secretary and treasurer for several years. “There have been too few of us, and we’re all aging.”

While the museum is finished with regular hours for 2019, visitors can call 715-881-0326 to make arrangements, get information or make a donation. Members are in the process of revising some exhibits and cataloguing and organizing donated items.

The building has no insulation. So once the weather gets cold, the water is shut off until spring.

Membership letters are sent out in March or April. The annual meeting is held in May. The Wittenberg Area Historical Society has a Facebook page, information can be found on the village of Wittenberg’s website at www.villageofwittenberg.com.

WAHS is an affiliate of the Wisconsin Historical Society. By reorganizing the nonprofit status, it will officially become a 501(c)(3) corporation in 2020 so that all donations will be tax deductible and it will be eligible for more grants.