Dear Friends and Members of WAHS,
2024 is going to be an exciting year for WAHS! We are celebrating 35 years of WAHS; our newsletter, History Keepers, has been published for 30 years; and, we will announce our 25th Grandparent of the Year Award during the intermission of the All-City Band Concert on Wednesday, May 17 at 7:00 pm! With these events and all the others we have planned, we are sure to have something you enjoy!
Planning for Syttende Mai 2024 already has us very busy! This year, we are partnering with Country Coon Prairie Church Preservation, Inc. to bring you a very special program. On Saturday, May 18 at 2:00 pm, David Engen, from Minneapolis, will share his experience as a contestant and winner of the 2016 Norwegian television show Alt for Norge. Like The Amazing Race, contestants must complete a series of challenges and overcome obstacles to win. A "family reunion" at one of their ancestor's farms and meeting their Norwegian relatives is the coveted prize contestants hope to win. David is an excellent speaker and shares his stories in a very entertaining presentation. The program will take place in the majestic and historic Country Coon Prairie Church, located at S2706 Coon Prairie Avenue just south of Westby. You won't want to miss this so put it on your calendar now!
As always, our Syttende Mai activities include a presentation at the Westby Elementary School about why Syttende Mai is important to us. The Thoreson House Museum and Genealogy Center will be open on Syttende Mai Saturday, May 18 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm; and we are selling lefse/pølse at our usual corner of State and Main Streets on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19 from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm – or until we run out – so get there early!
Plans for our 9th Annual Sweet Rides & Sweet Pies are also underway. Things will be a bit different this year because of the WI DOT construction project in downtown Westby. We have already made arrangements with the City of Westby to have Sweet Rides at the ballpark and signs will clearly point you to this location just west of downtown. With some extra planning, volunteers, and patience on our part, we are sure you will enjoy the event as much as in previous years. Put Saturday, July 27 on your calendar now!
We will continue our summer Tuesdays on the Porch once a month, weekend Open House hours, our Cemetery Stone Cleaning Workshops in the Spring and the Fall, and we have already been asked to do a presentation for a Fall tour group. "Season 35" of WAHS will be busy so please check our Facebook page often for news and updates!
Thank you for your continued support of the Westby Area Historical Society during all these wonderful 2024 events. If you would like a tour of the museum or need help with your genealogy research, please contact us. We have so much to offer to our friends and members! 2024 will be a wonderful year of many milestones for WAHS and we hope you can join us for our meetings and activities!
Blaine Hedberg
WAHS President
Westby has a rich heritage steeped
in Norwegian culture. The first
immigrants came to this area from
Biri, Norway in 1848. Letters sent home
to Norway described rich farmland,
prosperity and freedom that
encouraged many families to follow.
Founded in 1989, the Westby
Area Historical Society is an
educational organization dedicated
to the history, heritage and
culture of our area.
Send mail to:
P. O. Box 42
Westby, WI 54667
The Thoreson House Museum is open
by appointment.
Please call to visit!
If you were hoping to get a tour of the museum and we are closed, please call John at
608-575-2500. He just might be able to help!
Email:
Leave a message at: 608.634.4478
Find us on Facebook at:
www.facebook.com/westbywihistory
Our main floor library is
available for genealogy research
where we have family history
collections and original records
for births, marriages and
deaths in Westby.
Photographs, scrapbooks, a
collection of the WESTBY TIMES
newspapers, business records
and minutes from community
organizations have been donated
and are available for
research purposes.
WAHS provides many services and programs. The following are just a few of our activities and events:
Copyright © 2024 Westby Area Historical Society - All Rights Reserved.
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