News: Clark Co.Historical Society Meets (6 May 1971)

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

Surnames: Honzik, Pierce, Cattanach, Zielinski, Vorland, Carlson, Vater, Blum, Thomas, Sisson, Tufts, Gempeler, Hediger, Harder, Haugen

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 5/06/1971

Clark County Historical Society Meets (6 May 1971)

The Clark County Historical Society met Thursday evening at Neillsville High School, with approximately 80 present.

During the business meeting, members were informed that Mr. and Mrs. Peter Honzik had given the society their log house in the Town of Levis. The legal transfer has been completed. Mrs. Vahla Pierce volunteered to check possible locations for the building.

In the absence of Mrs. Nina Cattanach, Mrs. Joe Zielinski was appointed to act as co-chairman of the picnic committee to arrange for a site for the July picnic.

The invitation to the Wisconsin Folk Festival, to be held May 22 and 23 at Fond du Lac was read and passed around. A letter from the Marathon County Historical Society was read explaining their policy on gift life membership.

Name tags were distributed so members and guests could become better acquainted during the social hour.

Mrs. Pearl Vorland presented a gift check from the Unity Homemakers Club. She had been their guest speaker explaining the purchase and goals of the society.

Mrs. Arvid Carlson presented the possibility of getting a building in Abbotsford for a museum. Carl Vater offered to look over the building and report at a future meeting.

Herbert Blum of Neillsville and J. R. Thomas of Loyal narrated their slides of the scenic country of Switzerland.

William Sisson of Greenwood displayed his collection of souvenirs which he had purchased when stationed there while in the service. Mrs. Jennie Tufts had a display from America’s Switzerland, New Glarus; including fabrics and also articles she had collected while traveling abroad.

Mrs. Werner Gempeler explained numerous articles from her native land including a huge food warmer, homespun linen and hemp cloth, fine embroidery and her grade school knitting sampler among other needlework. Mrs. Gempeler had made butter which she displayed with the handmade butter mold from years ago.

Mr and Mrs. Herman Hediger of Christie also had fine needlework displayed. Mr. Hediger explained tools of trade, one being a folding rule possibly several hundred years old, and a nest of metal weights enclosed in its own case. His collection of coins included a quarter cent which is still in use in Switzerland and has about as much use for a single article as our penny. In demonstrating his 10-pound cow bell he explained the size of bells were for harmonizing tones in the pasture.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Harder also of Christie had a display of needlework along with dishes and utensils. The long pipe for leisure smoking rested on the floor when not in use. Another item was a tool for mountain climbing. Holding a miniature soup kettle, Mrs. Harder told the legend of the soup kettle and a retreating army.

By request, Mr. and Mrs. Harder and Mrs. Gempeler sang several Swiss selections unaccompanied. During the lunch hour Mrs. Gempeler played numerous recordings of her homeland.

Mrs. Gempeler, Mrs. Harder and her granddaughter, Cindy Harder, and Mr. and Mrs. Hediger were dressed in costumes of their native cantons. Mrs. Hiram Haugen wore the costume representing Helvetia, the olden name of Switzerland. It is the emblem used on Swiss money.

The location and program of the next meeting will be announced later.