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Reedsburg's
Sesquincentennial
A committee of about a
dozen local, historically-minded individuals began planning for this event in
1995, when a Sesquicentennial Committee was formed with the intention of
researching and publishing
a history of Reedsburg. The committee met monthly ever since.
Numerous research categories
were established and members have spent long hours documenting the histories of
topics they have chosen to pursue. Some of these categories include: churches,
schools, utilities, health care, military, fire & police departments,
patriotic, recreation & entertainment, transportation, city government and
industries, among others.
Copies of hundreds of old
photographs have been, and are being collected by Bill Schuette and the best in
each category will be published. Some of the pictures discovered date to before
the turn of the century and depict Reedsburg as it grew and prospered over the
past 150 years.
Oral histories will also be an
vital part of this history project. Addressing that category were Rose
Fosland’s writing classes at Webb High. As part of the Youth Service Learning
Program, students conducted interviews with local citizens and documented their
memories. This program was developed to provide 11th grade students with an
opportunity to do projects within their community which would not only be a
learning experience, but also result in a tangible contribution to that
community. Several of these articles are included in the history
book.
Cindy Fenster, the Gifted and
Talented coordinator at Webb, and Bill Schuette instructed the students on how
to conduct oral interviews. Students learned how to make the initial contacts,
set up appointments, and how to phrase questions to illicit interesting
responses. They were also provided with topics to breach such as how
prohibition, the depression and the various wars effected everyday life in
Reedsburg. Inquiries ranged from memories of the first airplanes to visit the
community to the first radio and television shows people remembered
experiencing.
Students were then asked to
write up their interviews as part of the class assignment and to submit them to
the committee for possible inclusion in the Sesquicentennial
book.
The Reedsburg
Remembers 150 Years book, which is now available, consists of
approximately 350 pages with about 325 photo’s.
Area quilters are also in the
process of producing several quilts for the celebration, depicting historic
events.
New postcards
of Reedsburg scenes are available at area motels, drugstores, souvenir shops and
at the Chamber office on 240 Railroad St.
Also available is a
reproduction of an 1874 "Bird’s Eye View" map of Reedsburg. Suitable
for framing, the 16"x20" map is being sold by the Chamber of Commerce
for $4, and is also available at local banks.
Future plans also include the
production of commemorative plates, t-shirts and buttons.
The Sesquicentennial logo was
designed by Monica Liegel and executed by Vicki Wildes of Wildes Design Studio
of Reedsburg.
Written and submitted by:
Bill Schuette
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