Join the Westby Area Historical Society Centennial Circle

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 Throughout 2020, the Westby Area Historical Society Genealogy Center was excited to introduce our Centennial Circle Program. This project is an invitation to anyone with connections to the founders of our wonderful Westby area. and people who completed their applications in 2020 became Charter Members. There is no better time to honor the connections we have and the accomplishments of our ancestors. If you can make a connection to one or more of your ancestors who were living in Westby, Coon Valley, Chaseburg or any other part of the Westby area 100 years ago, in or before 1921, you can be part of the circle.   

Any way that you can make your connection to that ancestor can be submitted. A family tree; a census report; a family history, such as a letter that mentions Westby or the area; a photograph you might have that connects your family to the area; an obituary; a bill of sale that shows your grandfather did business in the area; a deed for purchase of land; a church certificate or any other document held by your family from that time period will be considered as primary source proof with your application. There are many ways you might be able to connect to the Westby area 100 years ago. Creativity, imagination and resourcefulness are encouraged because we want as many people as possible to be part of our Centennial Circle! 

Applicants who submit acceptable documentation will receive a certificate and entry into our permanent Centennial Circle archives. Applications are available by clicking on the DOWNLOAD button below. 

                                                     CENTENNIAL  CIRCLE  APPLICATION  INSTRUCTIONS:

1. ​​The Centennial Circle Program is an ongoing program of the Westby Area Historical Society. There is no time limitation or deadline to apply for membership. Applications may be submitted at any time. 
2. Membership to the Centennial Circle is open to anyone who can prove that they have an ancestor who lived or worked in the Westby area 100 years prior to their application. For example, in 2020, your ancestor must have been in the Westby area in 1920 or anytime before. In 2021, your ancestor must have been in the area in 1921or before. In 2022, your ancestor must have been in the area in 1922 or before; and so forth.   
3. You must complete the Centennial Circle application form.
4. You must include primary source documentation to support your application. Examples of documentation would be a genealogy tree; a census record; a baptism certificate; a high school diploma; and/or identifiable photographs. Anything you can find that would connect your family member to the Westby area 100 years ago or earlier will be considered as documentation. If necessary, WAHS may be able to help you find documentation. 
5. DO NOT send any original paperwork or photos because WAHS cannot be responsible for the care or the return of any original documents. Any originals received by WAHS will be considered to be donations to the WAHS collection. 
6. ALL applications and documentation will become the property of the Westby Area Historical Society, will become part of the WAHS Genealogy Center Archives and may be used for research purposes. 
7. You do not need to be a member of the Westby Area Historical Society to become a member of the Centennial Circle. 
8. The Centennial Circle is not limited by age or your place of residence. If you can show proof of an ancestor in the Westby area 100 or more years ago, you are welcome to apply for membership. 
9. Each member of a family who wishes to become a member of the Centennial Circle must submit their own application, however, documentation for members of the same family may be duplicated. For example, each sibling in a family must submit a separate application in their own name but their family genealogy trees may be the same.