On October 30, 1984, a group of interested citizens met at the East Troy Village Hall to discuss forming a Historical Society. As a result of that meeting, the East Troy Area Historical Society was formed. As of the fall of 1988, there were 22 members, 21 of them active.
The year of 1986, the Sesquicentennial year, was one of great accomplishments for the Society.
In March, we joined the Chamber of Commerce. Bernice Maier talked to the Ladies Group of the Congregational Church about the Historical Society. Mr. Tom McKay, from the State Historical Society, came form Madison to be our Guest Speaker. April saw us making costumes for the upcoming Sesquicentennial events, and helping serve at the Kiwanis breakfast. May found us walking with the Sesquicentennial Parade, in which we took second place. Judy Mitten spoke at the Catholic Women’s Club. June shone hot and clear as, dressed in our costumes, we gave a Historical Walk Around the Square. Our members acted as guides, showing pictures and telling the history of each building. As July rolled around, it found us decorating the float for the Fourth of July Parade, in which we took first place. We also sold tickets for our quilt raffle. August found us very busy providing old-fashioned games for the youngsters at the community picnic, given as part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration. At this time, we became members of the State Historical Society. August also found Megan Adsit helping out at the East Troy Day Booth at the Walworth County Fair. In September we served refreshments at the Balloon Launch for the Sesquicentennial Wrap-Up. We raffled off the quilt made for us by the “Crazy Quilters Guild”. This beautiful quilt took second place at the Wisconsin State Fair and Helen Conrad was the lucky winner. We also visited the Palmyra Historical Society and toured their Museum. It was informative and lots of fun. Gloria McCullough gave a talk to the East Troy Women’s Club about our Society and it’s goals.
School Talks – 1986 Our members Nedra Taylor and Linnea Loesch were very busy going to school and giving a brief history of East Troy. The kids really enjoyed it. They asked a lot of questions, some were hard to answer. They have been to the East Troy Elementary – grades 1st through 4th, Good Shepard, Saint Pauls and Saint Peters – 4th grade.
Some interesting facts we have learned are: The Village was plotted in 1847 by Jacob Burgit and Austin McCracken, and that the first religious services held in Walworth County were conducted by Mr. Daniel Griffen on a spot just south of Army Lake.
They year of 1987 found us moving right along — We wrote and put together a book called “Memories Around the Square”. Basically it is what we talked about when we did the Historical Walk. Memorial Day Parade — the theme was the 200th Birthday of the Constitution and we had the men signing the constitution with the women in costumes. Our slogan was “without us our sons wouldn’t be here.” The Fourth of July Parade found us with another unique float. It was an antique car pulling a trailer with courting couples inside. The chaperon was sitting in a rocking chair on the trailer holding a gun. Bernice Maier was our chaperon — Shirly and Jim Zimmerman, Al Grueling and Debbie Grunow were the courting couples. We took second prize for that one.
The “Crazy Quilters Guild” again made us a beautiful quilt. This time, it was the Shoofly Pattern. One of our members, Shirley Zimmerman, made us a a hand crochet bedspread in a Honeycomb Pattern. The raffle was held at the Tea in September. The Walworth County Fair found us at the Chamber booth with our brochures and “Around the Square” books.
The Society sponsored a style show called “Yesterday’s Fashions” on Sunday afternoon, September 27th. “ANN-tiques” of Spring Green, Wisconsin, came with their vintage clothing and their own models. Some of our members modeled clothing that they had from a past era. The show was held in the St. Peters School gymnasium. After the show, we served tea and desserts. The show was not a financial success but was very enjoyable and lovely to see. Everyone that was there had a wonderful time. After the tea, the raffle was held. The winner for the quilt was Mrs. Cain of Delavan; the crochet bedspread was Marilyn Melbrath of Waukesha. September found two of our members, Shirley Zimmerman and Debbie Grunow attending a conference at the Neshota House in Dousman. One of the sessions discussed the new burial laws.
On October 16, members Jim and Shirley Zimmerman and Joan Couture attended the State Historical Society Convention at Old World Wisconsin. There they had a behind the scenes tour where they learned how to put together a period Farmstead from various buildings and how to preserve same. Also how to Winterize the Museum Collection and about the Training Program used for all interpreters at Old World Wisconsin. The long day was capped off with a wonderful fish dinner at the Clausing Barn Restaurant.
As a part of our responsibility to the Chamber of Commerce, members of the Society bought wrapped and marked Christmas gifts for children. These were later given to Social Services to be distributed locally to the needy. The Saturday night that Santa arrived in East Troy, the Society members sold hot chocolate in a small house in the park.
As members of a group dedicated to preserving the past of East Troy and the East Troy Area, we became members of the East Troy Chamber of Commerce. It gives ua chance to not only promote the past but also to promote the present and future; and we also get to sample various cuisine as the Chamber meetings are held at noon in different restaurants.
The year of 1988 began rather slowly. The year’s Fourth of July found us wondering what to do. Since the Society seems to have a unique sense of humor, it was decided that our slogan would be “digging up the past” complete with grave stones. Bernice Maier was seated at a desk, Al Grueling was examining the gravestones and Nedra Taylor was in costume representing our past. Our float took first place in our division. Needless to say, we are very pleased with ourselves.
A decision was made to have another quilt for our annual raffle. The Crazy Quilters had a project of their own, so the Society put together a quilt. It was raffled off September 12th for the benefit of our organization. It was queen sized, from the maple leaf pattern in brown and colorful leaf shades. A sample wall-hanging in the same pattern was on display at our State Bank of East Troy. The winners were Virginia Sans – quilt; Monique Coutur – paper cutting; and Rose Wheeler – wall hanging.
Last, but not least, we had intended to finish this newsletter. As you can see, we finally got it done. HURRAH.
