News: Neillsville - 1897 Clark Co. Jail Museum (March - 2013)

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

Surnames: Roberts, Lacey, Pischer, Anderson, Quicker, Pierce, Smith, Sternitzky

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/27/2013

1897 Clark County Jail Museum (March - 2013)

The monthly membership and board of directors meeting of The 1897 Clark County Jail Museum was held at the museum Wednesday, March 6.

The secretary and treasurer’s reports were reviewed and accepted as presented.

President Steve Roberts w reported we had a good turnout for the Winter Carnival event. The displays of photos encouraged a lot of discussion from visitors. Some special interests were discussed, such as Pearson Engines, the Omaha (Paulus) Hotel and the first Neillsville Courthouse. Patricia Lacey was present to sign copies of her recent book, “The Pioneer Spirit of Early Neillsville; Men of Courage, men of Hardship.” Over 30 visitors came and $20 in donations was collected.

Staffing for Saturday’s Chamber Showcase Expo event was discussed. Help is needed for set up and information, but especially for take-down of the table and photos. Perhaps some free items or a drawing would be a good idea, if not this year, then next.

Museum Chamber of Commerce Membership was confirmed. The yearly update of information was sent to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

The “Images of Clark County” book proofs are expected in about two weeks. The book is expected to be released May 27. It is already available for presale on Amazon.com. The price will be $14, with profits going to the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum and the Clark County Historical Society.

New shelving units will be picked up soon for organized the collection and the office space.

Harvey Pischer and Shirley Anderson have been flushing the valve on the heating system, which will need to be done on a regular basis to avoid corrosion and problems down the road. Snow shoveling also needs to be done regularly. Water damage may be appearing on the front porch and on the west side of the building where problems have occurred before. This will need to be investigated further and possibly repaired in the spring. The problems of an older building such as the jail are a constant battle. A portion of an old parlor stove with claw feet from the Town of Dewhurst had been donated by the Wisconsin Department of Forestry. Documents and papers regarding the Progressive Party in Clark County were donated by Jerry Quicker. The Press donated about 10 photos of the Neillsville area that they no longer have need of. We have received funding to maintain The 1897 Clark County Jail Museum Web site, which is visited over 300 times a month. An application will be made for funding from the city of Neillsville Room Tax Grant to improve signage and visibility in the area. A Mini grant from the Wisconsin Historical Society is also available for applications.

Future projects include repairing and cleaning books; identifying photographs; accessioning and storing new donations from Jan Pierce, Town of Levis, William Smith and Charles Sternitzky.

The Clark County Emergency Management office has borrowed photos from the Museum of floods, tornadoes and other disasters in the area from the early 20th century.

Letters will soon go out to the Clark County schools to invite them to come for (free) class tours in May. This usually focuses on the grades studying Wisconsin history this year.

The Jail Museum brochures will soon be updated and reordered. Income tax forms will be completed and submitted.

The Clark county Economic Development Corporation has asked for a presentation from the Museum regarding the History of Businesses in Clark County, including a table display for its annual meeting in April in Loyal.

The annual meeting will be May 18. More details will follow next month.

Spring cleaning must also be worked into the agenda before opening to the public in May. If anyone would like to vacuum….!

The next membership meeting, open to the public as always, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, at the Museum, 215 East Fifth Street Neillsville. Call any of the offices or the Museum office (715-743-2150) to help out, for a tour or if available to do some research on local history or families.

Further information is available at the Museum’s website; (www.1897clarkcountyjailmuseum.com) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/1897CCJM).