News: Jackson: Thunder Museum (10th Ann. - 26 Aug 1971)

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

Surnames: Teeples

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 8/26/1971

Thunder Museum (10th Ann. - 26 August 1971)

Ten years ago the once forsaken Hatfield Hotel had a coming-out party with a dedication celebration of the new Thunderbird Museum. It had taken Violet Teeples two years of planning and work to create a museum with its main feature based on Indian lore and artifacts.

Having collected arrowheads and Indian hand tools along Black River and the shores of 1,400-acre Lake Arbutus since childhood, she had learned their way of life. In return for her efforts to preserve the Indian’s Heritage, Violet Teeples has the honor of having rare displays of gifts and loans to display for visitors.

Miss Teeples conducts most of the tours herself. She has a keen sense of determining what might interest certain visitors and will point out such articles. There are many collections, ranging from guns and stamps to coins, tea cups and buttons.

Numerous room scenes tell a story of life in the historical past - the country doctor, the log cabin both inside and out, the parlor ready for a birthday party; and many others.

With but 14 rooms, Miss Teeples couldn’t waste her accumulation of articles. She added two more rooms for displays.

After a guided tour, visitors are given the opportunity to return to points of particular interest and linger to see things they have missed. Guests registered this year have given favorable comments. When a visitor comes from Egypt, Jordan, Italy, Sweden or other foreign lands (as they have) they have seen many museums to compare. As one person stated, “It isn’t a tourist gimmick!”