Category: News and Events

Annual Meeting Date Set

Join Us for the Crandon Area Historical Society Annual Meeting at Carter House Museum

We are excited to announce that the Crandon Area Historical Society will be holding its annual meeting on Thursday, September 26 at the historic Carter House Museum, starting at 6:00 p.m.. This is an excellent opportunity for members and the community to come together, learn about the society’s ongoing efforts, and celebrate our shared passion for Forest County’s rich history.

Special Dedication: Honoring Winnie Krueger and Contributors

This year, our annual meeting will include a special dedication ceremony. We will be expressing our heartfelt thanks to Winnie Krueger, the Krueger family, and Northern Lakes Service for their generous contributions to the creation of our new Quaker shed. Although this exciting new exhibit is still a work in progress, we invite you to come see the current displays and hear about the future plans for this historical addition. We look forward to honoring these key contributors for their vital support in making this project a reality.

Enjoy Refreshments & Connect with Fellow Members

The evening will include refreshments and a chance to mingle with fellow history lovers. Whether you’re a long-time member or new to the society, this is the perfect time to catch up on what’s happening, share stories, and make new connections.

Become a Member or Invite a Friend

As always, we are eager to welcome new members into our community. If you know someone who is interested in learning more about Forest County’s history or researching their family roots, please direct them to our new membership flyer for information. They can also join us on Facebook at “Crandon Area Historical Society” to stay up to date on our latest events and news.

Limited-Edition Historical T-Shirts

We still have a limited supply of our popular historical society T-shirts available for purchase. The blue “Blame it all on my Roots” shirt features the original Kentuck family names on the back, while the gray Lulu P. Shaw shirt honors Wisconsin’s first female mayor. Each shirt is $20, and children’s sizes are available as well. To grab one of these unique pieces of Forest County history, email us at forestctyhistory@gmail.com. Supplies are limited, so don’t wait!

A Heartfelt Thanks to Our Community

On behalf of the Crandon Area Historical Society, I want to extend my deep appreciation to all our museum guides, volunteers, fellow board members, and especially you—our members and supporters. Your continued interest, generosity, and involvement make it possible for us to preserve and share the incredible stories of Forest County. We couldn’t do it without you!

We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting on September 26. Together, let’s celebrate our history, our community, and the exciting future ahead!

Mark your calendars and don’t miss this opportunity to engage with Forest County’s history firsthand. See you at the Carter House Museum!

Kentuck Day T-shirts Now Available

Celebrate your family heritage with a Kentuck Day t-shirt! This fundraiser is available both online and in-person at the Kentuck Day celebration.

To order online, visit http://Creativecrandon.com/crandon-historical

To purchase in-person, visit our museum or our booth at the Kentuck Day festival held Saturday, July 27th from 10-4 in the Courthouse Square.

List of names found on the back of our Kentuck T-shirt fundraiser!

Learn about Metal Detecting

Join members of the N.E.W.’s Metal Detecting Club on Thursday, June 27th at 6:30 p.m. at the Night Owl in Downtown Crandon. Members will discuss the history of metal detecting and how it connects hobbyists to local history. The group will share highlights of their visit to the Carter House museum grounds, as well as the Forest County courthouse grounds in September of 2023.

Kentucky PBS update!

The Crandon Area Historical Society is excited to announce the date/time of Kentucky PBS’ segment featuring Crandon’s Kentuck Day celebration! The Kentucky Life Segment (season 29, episode7) will air LIVE on Kentucky Educational Television on Saturday, March 16th at 7:00 p.m.

There are various ways to watch the segment live, please visit https://ket.org/program/kentucky-life/ to view your options. The segment will be added to their website shortly after it airs live.

The segment was filmed at the 2023 Kentuck Day Festival in Downtown Crandon. Several local Kentuck celebrities and local historians were interviewed as part of their visit. We look forward to sharing our unique heritage with thousands of Kentucky Life viewers!

Give the Gift of Family Heritage

Looking for a thoughtful, fun holiday present for your favorite Forest County Kentuck? We are once again working with Creative Screenprinting in downtown Crandon to offer Forest County Kentuck t-shirts for a limited time.

T-shirt sales are open NOW and orders must be placed by November 30th for delivery by Christmas. Profits from the sales goes directly to support the operations of our local historical society.

Thank you and have a safe and happy Holiday Season!

http://Creativecrandon.com/crandon-historical

Kentuck Day KICK OFF event – 1st Annual Community Support Committee Run/Walk for Charity

Submitted by Jenny Criel, Secretary & Community Support Chair

The Lake Lucerne Advancement Association Community Support Committee’s First Annual 5K-ish Run/Walk to be held on July 29, 2023. This race event was created to support local non-profit and volunteer organizations. This year’s event will raise money to help the local Crandon Area Rescue Squad’s new ambulance cost, with a race donation suggestion of $35.00.

Registration and pick-up will begin at 7:30 AM at the Lake Lucerne Advancement Association Club House (4031 County W, Crandon WI 54520) and closes at 8:40 AM. The race will begin at the north end of Lake Lucerne and end at the Club House. Transportation to the race start will be provided with the last ride leaving at 8:40.

Registration form

History on Tap to feature Moonshine in the Northwoods

The Crandon Area Historical Society is excited to announce the return of their popular History on Tap program scheduled for Wednesday, July 26th at 6:00 p.m. at the Night Owl in Downtown Crandon.

Local Northwoods historian Jim Bokern will present “Moonshine in the Northwoods”, featuring photos, documents, research, and stories that reveal how moonshine operations changed and impacted several Northwoods’ communities including those in Forest County. During Prohibition, visitors and residents to the Northwoods of Wisconsin sought sanctuary from Volstead Act enforcement in remote northern towns and villages.

This program is free and open to the public.  The public is encouraged to attend in their best 1920’s attire but it is not required.  Donations to the Forest County Historical Society’s “Save the Records” Campaign will gladly be accepted.  The campaign is an effort to draw attention to the need to preserve our county’s history by ensuring the records, photos and newspapers in our county are preserved, and digitized for researchers, students and local history efforts. 

For more information about this event, or the Save the Records Campaign, please contact Michelle Gobert at forestctyhistory@gmail.com.

Crandon Area Historical Society to Host Digital Readiness Fair!

Join the Crandon Area Historical Society and other local history practitioners this summer at our virtual Digital Readiness Fair! This free, half-day event offers a mix of activities and learning opportunities, and showcases digitization work from around the state. Hear from local history practitioners and how they have tackled digitization projects, including challenges, successes, and lessons learned along the way. We’re excited for attendees to connect with each other and form their own communities of practice. Participants will also learn more about our ongoing participation in statewide digital readiness work, Recollection Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Historical Society’s Local History Affiliates program.

Individuals are able to attend this digital readiness fair virtually or in-person on Friday, July 16, 2021 from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  The full schedule of events and registration information is available online at www.crandonareahistory.org  Registration is required for the free event.  Individuals wishing to attend the in-person event are invited to the Argonne Town Hall at 8:30 a.m. for coffee and conversation.  The virtual event will be broadcast live from 9:00 – Noon at the Argonne Town hall and will feature speakers from the Forest History Association, the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum.

The Crandon Area Historical Society is one of four digital fairs scheduled this summer.  Other digital events include the Appleton Public Library’s fair on June 29, Pioneer Village in Barron County on August 3rd and the Kenosha County Historical Society on August 18th.  Information about the four Digital Readiness Fairs can be found at https://recollectionwisconsin.org/cop/digital-readiness-fairs

About Building a Digital Readiness Community of Practice in Wisconsin

This NHPRC-funded project supports “digital readiness” in small and under-resourced local historical societies and historic preservation organizations across Wisconsin. Through workshops, presentations at statewide Digital Readiness Fairs, consultations, and development of learning resources, this community-driven initiative will create and grow a community of practice that provides the knowledge, tools and community support to digitize, manage, and provide online public access to local historical records. For more information, visit https://recollectionwisconsin.org/cop.

This event is funded through an Archives Collaboratives Implementation Grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the granting arm of the National Archives.

Introducing TreeRings!

The Crandon Area Historical Society is excited to announce the release of the first episode of our local history podcast titled Tree Rings, produced and hosted by Isak Drangstveit and Bryce Marshall.

This premiere episode features the story of the 1918 Spanish flu and its impact on Forest county residents over a century ago. Hosts Isak and Bryce share with listeners the research they conducted on the Spanish Flu outbreak in Forest County and the key players involved in the prevention of the spread of the 1918 flu. As part of their research, they interview historical society member Jackie Aszman regarding some of the stories she uncovered while conducting her own research on the pandemic. Finally, Isak and Bryce interview current members of the Forest county Board of Health to gain insight into the similarities and differences of the two pandemics in Forest County.

New Display at the Crandon Public Library

       After a couple months of sitting empty, like so many things during COVID-19, the Historical Society case at the Crandon Public Library has a new display.  The theme, BOOKS BUILD BETTER BRAINS, encourages reading to children to bring knowledge, wonder and joy into their lives.  The books featured are mostly children’s books from the 1940’s but the Peter Rabbit book was printed in 1912.  The homemade blocks show the wear and tear of many childhood building projects. Looking at the books in the display may bring back memories of some of your childhood favorites.

      The Society is looking forward to next year, when hopefully we can again celebrate the Christmas season with vintage decorations in the museum at the Carter House Museum.  We wish all a Blessed and safe Christmas Season.