News: The 1897 Jail Museum (Meeting News - Sep 2012)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Roberts, Pischer, Schnabel, Barth, Erpenbach, Sykes, Wyers, Lulloff, Montag, Grottke, Zimmerman, Krueger, Anderson, Kapusta, Reigel, Kurz, Kluckhohn, Brown, Lundger

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 9/19/2012

The 1897 Jail Museum (Meeting News - 4 September 2012)

The monthly Membership and Board of Directors meeting of the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum was held at the museum Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012.

Reports of August 2012 activities were given by the president, (Steve Roberts), as well as the secretary and treasurer reports. A building and maintenance report was given. The heavy rains of July and August caused several roof leaks, but they have since been repaired with the help of Harvey Pischer, Dan Schnabel and Randy Barth. We appreciate the time and effort given by these volunteers.

A quick review of the past season’s visitors’ attendance was given. It was a very successful season with a higher than usual number of spring school tours given to area school children, as well as a significant increase in number of Sunday and private tour visitors. The tour guides have done a wonderful job, and the museum is grateful for their dedication and support. A decision was made to keep the museum open for at least two more Sundays in September, Sept. 9 and 16, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in hopes of good weather and additional visitors.

A review of upcoming events was given. The museum will be open Sunday, Oct. 14, to participate in the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce Autumn Harvest Festival. We will also be participating in the 2012 Christmas Tour of Homes Dec. 7 and 8. Volunteers were requested for these two events.

The administrator/curator’s report was given by Natalie Erpenbach. A tour was given to the candidates and organizers of the Clark County Fairest of the Fair Aug. 8. We applied for a $1,500 grant from the City of Neillsville City Room Tax-Tourism Program for promotional and Internet presence expenses. A report was also given on the progress of the “Images of Clark County” publication. Co-authors Steve Roberts and Natalie Erpenbach have contacted all area historical societies, local historians, several known photograph collectors, Clark County, the Clark County Economic Development Corp. and several county businesses regarding the project asking for assistance. All royalties from the sale of this book are being given to area historical organizations. The publication should be available for sale in spring of 2013.

Recent donations were received from Harland and Cathy Schnabel, Darrell Sykes (MN), Jackie Wyers (MA), Anita Lulloff, Hilda Montag family, Steve Grottke, Memorial Medial Center, Dee Zimmerman, Sue Krueger, Steve and Barb Roberts, Shirley Anderson, Natalie Erpenbach, Clark County Register of Deeds, John Kapusta family, Lynn Reigel and Flavors of Life Bookstore, Christine Kurz, Jeff Kluckhohn, Edna (Brown) Lundger (WA), and the Township of Levis.

The inventory of new donations to the museum is current, but we are still in the process of updating and computerizing the museum’s (collection) inventory from past years. While progress is being made, there is still much work to be done. In addition, we are trying to preserve items and scan pictures as we go, to keep the collection in good condition. The filing and inventory of newspapers is almost done, and scrapbooks and church records will be done next.

New community volunteers, with some extra time to spare, are welcome to help out, as little or as much as you’d like to help out or if you’d like to see the collection for research purposes.

The museum’s website (www.1897clarkcountyjailmuseum.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/1897CCJM) are available for visitors and researchers to use. As scanned photos and research materials are inventoried, they will be listed on the website for interested people or researchers to see what we have available at the museum.

The next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the museum, 215 East Fifth St. Neillsville. The public and interested new members or volunteers are always welcome to attend our monthly meetings.