Spring 2015 - Port Washington Historical Society

Historical Perspectives
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PORT WASHINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
www.portwashingtonhistoricalsociety.org
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2
S P R IN G 2015
MEMBERS ONLY SNEAK PREVIEW OF
THE NEW PORT EXPLOREUM
Mary Flierl
The April 15 Quarterly Meeting will be a special
members only meeting. It will be held at the new
Port Exploreum.
Wayne Chrusciel, Interim Director, and Bill
Moren, Advisory Board
Chair, will present the
story of the new interactive museum. You will
have an opportunity to
participate in a preview
tour of the museum before
the opening on April 21.
All members received a
green admission ticket for that night in the mail
along with their membership card. Please bring it on
Wednesday, April 15, for the 7:00 pm meeting.
Doors will open at 6:45pm. There will be a short
IN MEMORIAM
Doug Ahsman
business meeting at the beginning, and
we will have the usual door prizes and
popular raffle.
Karen
Weber will
again provide us with
refreshments.
See you at
the Port Exploreum!
Inside this issue:
President’s Message
Port Exploreum Advisory Board Report
2
3
Pave the Way to the Exploreum Paver Form
4
What’s New at the Resource Center?
5
Donations and Memorials
6
Membership News
6
Volunteers Needed at the RC and Light Station
8
Artifacts Found at the Light Station
8
Recognizing the Schumacher Building
Schumacher Open House Planned
9
9
Check Out the New PWHS Website
11
Where There is a Will, There is a Way
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Board of Directors
Jeff Morgan, President
Bill Schanen III,
Vice-President
Bob Wilke, Treasurer
Kathie Schaefer, Secretary
Brian Barber
Missy Bleichwehl
Kurt Blum
Sue Bruner
Mike Didier
Grace Eernisse
Deb Neulreich
Jackie Oleson
Lee Schlenvogt
Jim Vollmar
Karen Weber
Port Exploreum
Wayne Chrusciel,
Interim Director
Light Station Museum
Rick Smith, Director
Kathie Gordon and
Linda Nenn, Assist. Directors
262-284-7240
Newsletter
Michele Weiland
Quarterly Programs
Mary Flierl
Membership
Ann Flierl
Contact information
[email protected]
262-268-9150
P. O. Box 491
205 N. Franklin Street
Port Washington, WI 53074
Website
portwashingtonhistoricalsociety.org
Historical Perspectives
is published four times a year
by the Port Historical Society
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President’s Message
Dear Members,
On behalf of the Board of Directors and all
the members and supporters of the Port
Washington Historical Society, I want to
thank Jackie Oleson for her outstanding
leadership as President over the last five years.
The Society has gone through a remarkable
transformation during her tenure: purchasing
and rehabilitating the building now known as
the Resource Center as our permanent home,
purchasing and restoring the Henry and Hill
building to house the soon to open Port
Exploreum, and continuing to operate and
improve the Light Station. We really
appreciate all she has done but are also
thankful that she is continuing to remain involved as the Past President on the
Board and as a leader at the Resource Center.
It is springtime in Wisconsin, and this is going to be a very exciting and
memorable spring for the Society. After three years and an incredible amount of
effort by the Museum Advisory Board and other volunteers, the Port
Exploreum is opening this month on April 21! All members of the Society will
have an opportunity for a “sneak peek” of the Exploreum at the quarterly
meeting on April 15. It is going to be an incredible addition to the Society and
the City of Port Washington.
We now will have the Exploreum in addition to the Light Station and
everything we have to offer at the Resource Center to inform and educate
members, local residents, and visitors about our rich history.
I want to thank all of the members, donors, and volunteers who have made
all of this success possible. Volunteers continue to be the heart of our Society.
Over 100 people volunteered in some capacity over the last year. With the three
buildings and everything we have to offer we need volunteers now more than
ever. Volunteers will enable us to properly staff the Exploreum and maintain or
perhaps increase the number of hours the Light Station and Resource Center are
open. We have these three wonderful properties, and we should work to fully
utilize them.
In addition to volunteers we rely on financial support to continue and expand
our activities. If you have taken a premium membership or upgraded to an
enhanced membership including the Exploreum, thank you! If you have not
upgraded to include the Exploreum, I would ask that you do.
It is going to be a wonderful facility and experience to be a part of and to
share with family and visitors. It will also help support the entire Society. I
would also ask that you consider a gift to the Society for operating support or to
the Exploreum to help reach the goal of the capital campaign.
Jeff Morgan, President
PWHS Board of Directors
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PORT EXPLOREUM
ADVISORY BOARD REPORT
As you read this report, the Port Exploreum will be
about to open. I probably should have added “at last.” It
has taken the Port Washington Historical Society almost
three years to reach this point.
The Exploreum will have a soft opening on April 21.
That will give two and onehalf weeks to work out the inevitable glitches and fine-tune
our visitors’ experience before
our grand opening on Friday,
May 8. That truly will be a
celebration for all.
This is my opportunity to
thank all who have made our
community’s museum, our
Port Exploreum, possible.
First I want thank all who
donated or pledged
$2,438,304 toward our final
goal of $2,540,000. Many of
you already know that Art and
Pam Buser are helping us
reach our goal by offering a
challenge grant. For every two
dollars we raise, they are donating one dollar - up to one
hundred thousand dollars. Already we have raised $105,000 toward their challenge.
Thanks Art and Pam.
Thanks to the Society Board and the strong leadership
and stewardship of Jackie Oleson, Jeff Morgan, and Bob
Wilke.
And thanks to so many of you for your encouragement and kind thoughts.
We are working with professional vendors and advisors. Our general contractor, J.H. Hassinger, led by their
on-site foreman, Bob Ratzel, has done outstanding work
in bringing to life Mike Ehrlich’s wonderful architectural plans.
Amalia Schoone, our fundraising consultant, has been
a pleasure to work with – the Society made a wise
choice.
Balance Studios in Green Bay has developed exceptional interactive content – magical and mysterious. Split
Rock Studios in St. Paul is installing world-class exhibits and murals. Techteriors from Mequon has spent days
running miles of cable to connect and smoothly run the
technology.
We would be lost without the creativity and brilliance
of Bill Prince and Vance Coisman of Bill Prince Yacht
Design. Much of what you will see when visiting can be
attributed to them.
Community leaders Tom Mlada, Dr. Mike Weber,
Bill Schanen, Dick Thomas, and Joe Dean have been
very special personal advisors.
Finally, with great pleasure I thank the Advisory
Board, many who have volunteered from the start. I will
begin with Wayne Chrusciel, the first person I asked to
join this board. Wayne has been acting as the Interim
Executive Director for several months, working tirelessly to drive the Exploreum to completion.
Joining Wayne on the Advisory Board are Brian Barber, Missy Bleichwhel, Ryan Cowan, Missy Larson, Pat
Moren, Kristin Nett, Jackie Oleson, Allyson Olivier,
Julie Pannemann, Ralph Perez, Patty Ruth, Mark
Schowalter, Daniel Solorzano, Melissa Suddendorf, and
Lynde Uihlein.
Become a member – you belong here.
Bill Moren, Port Exploreum
Advisory Board Chair
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WHAT’S NEW AT THE RESOURCE CENTER?
Jackie Oleson
Currently, the Resource Center is featuring two
newly developed exhibits in its galleries: that of the Bienlein-Burke Collection, and that of commercial banking in Port Washington.
In 2014 Dr. Eugene Burke donated his extensive collection of maritime artifacts to the Port Washington
Historical Society in memory of his deceased wife,
Donna Bienlein-Burke, MD. Donna grew up in Cedarburg where her father was a policeman and Police Chief
until 1954. Her high school years were spent in Port
Washington where her father was Sheriff of Ozaukee
County.
Donna and Eugene had successful medical careers
both in California and later in Wisconsin where the
family maintained close ties to Port Washington for 20
years. With a fascination for maritime history, Dr.
Eugene Burke collected maritime items while living in
San Francisco and later in Wisconsin. The Society is
very appreciative of their most generous donation of
this extensive collection. Items from the collection will
be shared with the many visitors that frequent the Resource Center, the 1860 Light Station Museum, and the
Port Exploreum.
The longest existing Port Washington bank, Port
Washington State Bank, an anchor in the Port Washington community for over 115 years, had its beginnings in
1894. Clarence Hill moved to Manitowoc from Ripon
and became one of the organizers that started the First
National Bank of Manitowoc that year. Within a few
years Clarence Hill met George Henry, a local dentist
and investor. Mr. Hill and Mr. Henry became familiar
with the Port Washington area and saw an opportunity
to open a bank. At the time there were no banks in the
area, as those that had previously opened had failed.
On February 17, 1899, Mr. Henry and Mr. Hill
closed on the lot where they intended to build their
bank. This is still the current location of the bank today.
Two days later, on February 19, the great Chair Factory
fire decimated much of the downtown.
Undeterred by the fire and ensuing uncertainty, the
Port Washington State Bank opened its doors for the
first time on September 11, 1899. The bank opened
with $25,000 in capital mostly contributed by the two
founders. George Henry became President, Clarence
Hill, Cashier, and H.C. Boerner, Vice President.
We thank Mark Schowalter and Port State Bank for
assisting with information and lending their collection
of memorabilia, Duane Nadolski for his help with Port
Washington Savings and Loan information, and Don
Sauer for information on First National Bank.
The PWHS Resource Center invites the membership to learn more about the Port Washington State
Bank and commercial banking and view the exhibit featuring selected maritime pieces from the BienleinBurke Collection. Join us for a special exhibit previewing:
Gallery Opening Preview
Thursday, May 7, from 4:00 – 6:00
at the Resource Center
205 N. Franklin Street
Refreshments will be served
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DONATIONS & MEMORIALS
PORT EXPLOREUM
CAPITAL FUND DRIVE
(DONATIONS AND PLEDGES
SINCE LAST NEWSLETTER)
******
GOAL: $2,540,000
RAISED TO DATE:
$2,438,304.38
******
$1,000,000 AND UP
$500,000 TO $999,999
$250,000 TO $499,999
$150,000 to $249,999
$100,000 TO $149,999
Brad and Heidi Bertler
(additional donation)
Greacen Buser Family Foundation
– Challenge Grant
Lynde B. Uihlein (additional gift)
$50,000 TO $99,000
Fund for Lake Michigan
$20,000 TO $49,000
Bill and Pat Moren (additional gift)
$10,000 TO $19,999
Astor Street Foundation
(additional gift)
Eric and Jackie Oleson
(additional gift)
Ron and Bette Schowalter
$1000 TO $9,999
Anonymous
Sue Brunner (additional gift)
Joe and Jane Dean
Barbara Farley, John Biever &
James Biever
Kowal Investment Group, LLC
Legacy Private Trust Co.
Ross & Sarah Leinweber & Family
Frank Metz
St. Peter’s Men’s Society
A Lu Steinert
Geri and Roy Zehren
(additional gift)
Wisconsin Humanities Foundation
X-Cel Tooling, Inc./The Bruce and
Mary Becker Family &
Bruce Amborn
$250 TO $999
Todd and Kathie Gordon
Joe and Joan Groh
Great Lakes Eco Systems, Inc.
James and Jennie Greisch
Renee Johnson
Linda Nenn
UP TO $250
Reed Fellars
James and Jeannine Horstman
Port Washington Women’s Club
Laurence and Susan Scheer
EXPLOREUM
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Bill and Pat Moren
SOCIETY DONATIONS
Kate Brown
James Fowler
Golden Chic Events & Consulting
in honor of Geri Zehren
Nova Mijal
Robert & Karen Oleson
Rasmussen
Lloyd Smith in honor of
Gertrude Behnke’s
90th Birthday
2014 ANNUAL FUND
Buser Family Foundation
Todd and Kathie Gordon
Beatrice Krier
Eric and Jackie Oleson
Lincoln and Donna Smith
Gina and John Taucher
1860 LIGHT STATION
Bill and Pat Moren
RESOURCE CENTER
Jack Safro Toyota (requested by
Trudie and Gary Kelly)
RESOURCE CENTER
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Jackie Oleson
Geri Zehren
SPECIAL EVENTS – GALA
Don and Barbara Gilmore
48 STAR AMERICAN FLAG
Paul Tutas
BOOKS/PAPERS/PAMPHLETS/
ABSTRACTS/MAPS
Carol Barth
Stephanie Bresette
Darrell Bretl
John and Ann Enright
Jim Fowler
Shirley Groothousen
Gary Hess
Merton Lueptow
Mimi Lang Mead
Duane Nadolski
Port Washington State Bank
Carol Schlenvogt
Sally Zielger (Anna Ubbink)
BUSINESS ARTIFACTS
William J. Sauer, Ph.D.
Janet Stockhausen
PHOTOS AND NEWSPAPER
CLIPPINGS/PRINTS/POSTERS
John DeMerit
Jim Fowler
George Franks
Chief Mark Mitchell
Duane Nadolski
Paul Tutas
ANTIQUE METAL &
WOOD/GLASS/FABRIC
George J. Franks
Lion’s Club
William J. Sauer, Ph.D.
Carol Schlenvogt
Geri Zehren
WISCONSIN CHAIR COMPANY
PARAMOUNT RECORD ADS
Pat Poole
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NEW MEMBERS WELCOME
The Society welcomes the
following new members…
Amy Boehm
David & Michelle Brouillette
Michael & Cheri Cornell
James Mary Jo Fuhry
Joan Meyer
Bud Sova
Dorothy M. Nowicki
Lincoln S. Smith
STANDARD ENHANCED
MEMBERSHIPS
Member Plus
Amy Bley
Judy Jones
Premium
Leroy & Joan Bley
Joe & Joan Groh
A. Lu Steinert
MEMBERSHIP NEWS
In December all members were sent a letter along
with the new membership form providing members an
opportunity to update their membership to include the
Port Exploreum.
The exciting news is a member-only “sneak peek” of
the Port Exploreum is on the agenda for the April Quarterly Meeting. A green admission ticket is required.
The membership structure is in a transition stage with
the addition of the Port Exploreum. The good news is
that a new database system is being developed and installed in early April. The new membership cards will be
available in mid-April.
As we move forward, new temporary membership
cards were mailed to Charter, Lifetime and current Annual Members who have renewed their memberships
prior to March 18. After that date, a letter acknowledging the membership renewals were mailed. All mailings
included a green admission ticket to the members-only
“sneak peek” of the Port Exploreum.
As we prepare to switch to the new system, we are
experiencing a few hiccups along the way with this challenge. If you have renewed your membership and have
not received an acknowledgement letter and a green admission ticket to the “sneak peek,” please contact the
office by phone or email.
RESOURCE CENTER GALLERY OPENING PREVIEW
Banking in Port Washington
and
The Bienlein-Burke Maritime Collection
Thursday, May 7, at 4:00 – 6:00
Port Washington Historical Society
Resource Center
205 N. Franklin Street
Refreshments will be served
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE
RESOURCE CENTER AND LIGHT STATION
Light Station:
Guides are needed to lead small groups through the
Port Washington 1860 lighthouse. Information and
training are provided. The lighthouse is open Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday afternoons Memorial Day weekend through mid-October. Two to four guides are
needed on a given day. It’s a great opportunity to meet
visitors to the community. Please contact the Historical
Society office at 262-268-9150 or Kathie Gordon at 262
-268-9734 for more information about volunteering.
We’d love to welcome you to the team!
Resource Center:
The building is open Monday, Thursday, and Friday
1-4 and Saturdays 10-2 spring through fall.
Greeters are needed in the exhibit areas to answer
questions and supervise the first floor areas and gift
shop. Training is provided. Archive work can be pro-
vided when there are no guests in the building.
Help with cleaning the building once a week is
needed: vacuuming carpet and wood floors, dusting exhibit areas, cleaning the bathroom, and occasional window cleaning. You can pick a task.
Archive work: Photocopying articles and photos, filing photocopied pieces, cataloging information on collections, and filling research requests.
Database work: Maintaining databases for filing
cabinets, shelves, and collections.
Special Event Planning: Helping to create, organize,
and stage a summer and fall event.
Video recording: Assistance with recording oral history interviews.
Please contact the Historical Society office at 262268-9150 or Jackie Oleson at 262-284-9150 if you’d
like to help.
ARTIFACTS FOUND AT LIGHT STATION
Jackie Oleson
This winter Sarah Smith used her training and knowledge to work on a long overdue task. She inventoried,
documented,
and researched
the many items
found during
the different
phases of work
to restore, rehab, and establish the historic house museum at the 1860 Light House and Light Station Museum.
At least three trash pits were located and excavated
on the Light Station grounds. The results are numerous
boxes of items
that will be cataloged, made accessible for reference, and stored
in a safe archival
manner.
Everything
has been washed,
processed, inven-
toried, and analyzed.
Some of the items
are: toothbrush from
1850-1880, ivory
fork handle (sperm
whale), glass bottles
from 1850-1920,
glass from chimney
lamps, oakum calk
typically used on
ships, an assortment
of butchered animal
bones including deer,
cattle, pig, and
chicken, ceramic marbles (pre-1859), portions of dishes,
coal, broken tools, nails, bricks, and window glass.
A donation by a
long-time Society
member helped to
cover the cost of
the work. Our
thanks to both the
donor and to Sarah
Smith for accomplishing this task.
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RECOGNIZING THE SCHUMACHER BUILDING
Jackie Oleson
The PWHS Resource Center is pleased to have the
Schumacher building at 302 N. Franklin Street recognized as a part of the Society’s Historic Marker Project.
In 2014 the Society established the project as a way of
recognizing the many historic buildings and historic
sites within the community.
Three historic districts were identified as a part of an
extensive survey of historic buildings in 1998. As a result of that survey, the Franklin Street Historic District
was received into the National Register of Historic
Places.
Since that time several historic markers have been
established within the community to mark sites of events
and individual buildings received into the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic Marker Project
works with property owners to recognize historic buildings on a local level as well as assist on a state or national level.
The Project worked with Jim and Deb Neulreich,
owners of the Schumacher building and their business,
Zing Boutique, to bring about the local marker. The
Neulreich’s have also acquired National Register recognition for the Schumacher building as a part of Franklin
Street’s status on the National Register of Historic
Places.
Dominic Schumacher brought his family from Luxembourg to the United States and ultimately Port Washington in 1854. He was a mason and stonecutter. Four
generations of Schumachers worked as masons, stone
cutters, and in monumental works through the successive decades.
Jacob Schumacher established a monumental works
in 1878 in a wood building on the site of the present
Schumacher building. Matthias Schumacher built the
current stone building on the site in 1931. Later his son
Thomas succeeded him in the business.
The Port Washington Historical Society and Jim and
Deb Neulreich hope you will plan on attending their
Open House planned Saturday, April 12, 1:00-3:00,
and celebrate with them the history of this building.
SCHUMACHER OPEN HOUSE PLANNED
To celebrate four years since purchasing the building,
Jim and Deb Neulreich are hosting an Open House at the
historic Schumacher Building, 302 N Franklin St, Port
Washington. Additionally, bronze markers from the Port
Washington Historical Society and the National Register
of Historic Places will be presented during the Open
House.
The Schumacher Monument Company building was
designed by the Green Bay architectural firm of Foeller,
Schober & Berners, and built in 1931, replacing an earlier wood building on the same site. It is an example of
the commercial Art Deco style of architecture, built by
Matthias Schumacher.
Several businesses have operated in the Schumacher
building, the current being Zing Boutique, owned by the
Neulreichs. Anyone with information or memorabilia
about former businesses or owners in the building would
be especially appreciated at the Open House or any time
prior. Please contact Jim Neulreich at 414-702-1982.
The Schumacher House
is open to the public
from 1 to 3 pm on
Sunday, April 12,
with remarks and
presentation of the markers
at 1:30 pm.
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PLEASE PATRONIZE THESE BUSINESS
MEMBERS TO SHOW OUR SUPPORT
www.shirleygruen.com
W. J. NIEDERKORN MUSEUM
& ART CENTER, INC.
302 W. Grand Avenue
P. O. Box 87
Port Washington, WI 53074
262-284-2584
Schooner Peetub
114 N. Franklin Str
262-284-2258
Daily Drink Specials
Sandwiches & Appetizers
ection of
Private Party Room Large Sel
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CHECK OUT THE NEW PWHS WEBSITE
The Port Washington Historical Society’s revised website can be accessed via
http://www.portwashingtonhistoricalsociety.org
or by typing in Port Washington Historical Society into your search engine.
Please remember to use the refresh button on your computer when you access the
page. That will bring up new information on the site and replace the old information.
The refresh button is at the very top of the page with a curved arrow.
When you pass your cursor over it you will get the word refresh, click on it.
Otherwise, you may continue to get old information.
WHERE THERE IS A WILL,THERE IS A WAY
Would you like to know a way to make a very significant difference in the future of the Port Washington
Historical Society? A powerful way is to make a bequest to the Port Washington Historical Society in your
will.
The Port Washington Historical Society is a thriving
organization that is dedicated to preserving the historical significance of the community and the stories of its
people. You can help assure a strong future for the Society by remembering it in your will.
You can bequeath to the Port Washington Historical
Society a specific amount, a percentage of your estate,
or all or part of what remains after other bequests are
distributed. Your attorney or other qualified estate planner can help ensure that your promise to the Port Washington Historical Society is fulfilled by appropriate instructions in your will.
If you already have a will, it can be updated with a
simple amendment called a codicil.
A bequest of any amount is important to the Society’s future. Indeed, where there is a will, there is a very
significant way to remember the Port Washington Historical Society.
For further information, please contact us at
262-268-9150.
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PORT WASHINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
P. O. Box 491
Port Washington, WI 53074-0491
www.portwashingtonhistoricalsociety.org
Upcoming Events
QUARTERLY MEETING
Wednesday, April 15
7:00 p.m.
Port Exploreum
Schumacher Open House
Sunday, April 12, 1 to 3 pm
302 N. Franklin St.
Port Exploreum Opening
Tuesday, April 21
Resource Center Gallery
Opening Preview
Thursday, May 7, 4:00 – 6:00 pm
Quarterly Meeting
Wednesday, July 15
For more events,
visit our Facebook page at:
www.facebook.com/
PortWashingtonHistoricalSociety
Exploreum Grand Opening
Friday, May 8
The Port Washington Historical Society is a volunteer-run, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.