Preserving history in Shawano County: The Fall Travel Series returns!

Well, we’re back! We sent off summer and now it is time to welcome what’s next. The basis for my Fall Travel Series is usually to share an event or location I visited during the year that would make a great fall escape! Today I am going to introduce you to a place that’s purpose is actually to celebrate other places. The Shawano County Historical Society is preserving the stories of all the surrounding communities. While I always enjoy their presentations at the County Fair, I hadn’t been to their grounds and exhibits on the river a few blocks northwest of downtown. I attended one of their events recently and was pleasantly surprised at how nice their displays are. Lovely waterside location with an island, restored buildings you can walk through, tiny replica town… what more could you ask for if you have a interest in history and small town life!?!

The first thing I did when I got here was look for the island. I remember this island but I can’t put my finger on when and why I would have been here.

As I crossed the bridge with my father he was talking about how his youngest brother, my uncle, would fish here with their neighbors.

“They used big cane poles.”

I always forget how many stories there are like this that may never get heard. Every time I take my dad somewhere I learn a little something I wouldn’t have otherwise known. I’m sure that image will be with me now the next time I come here. My uncle, as a blonde haired child, fishing off this island.

Not far from the entrance to Sunset Island is a limestone structure original to this location. There were several buildings on the grounds of the Shawano County Historical Society Museum that you could tour on this particular day.

The exhibits inside shared images and scenes of life in the early years of Shawano and the history of the lumber industry that brought most of the businesses and settlement to this area.

Memorabilia from the time was represented against the backdrop of the stone and mortar wall.

Of course I am an enthusiast for preserving old buildings so allowing them to be the vessel for a collection of artifacts is a win-win. I know it may not always be practical with temperature and moisture issues being harder to maintain but all of the buildings here seemed to be making it work.

The old School house that had been moved to the grounds was particularly lovely inside.

And then of course there was the depot that greeted us when we arrived. This isn’t an article about traveling to Zachow, although you wouldn’t know it from the amazing representation.

Built to replicate the original station that burned down, this nod to the working railroad system of the time is a welcoming little building with a surprise miniature village in the back.

The original depot was supposedly built in 1906, which instantly drew my attention as that was the same year our farm house was built.

I don’t know who chose the color scheme inside or if they matched it to something historic but it was so eye pleasing and relevant to design today.

All the lovely light grey and textures- bead board, chair rails, exposed brick, hardwood floors, hanging industrial pendants and a sprinkling of that warm wood tone. These are the things that I would have loved to have in our 1906 house had they been left in tact. But as I have mentioned before, our first floor had received a 70’s treatment of wood paneling, acoustic tile, faux brick over real brick and stick tile flooring over hardwood.

And then of course, there was this-

I adore any diorama or tiny model town so seeing this aerial view of little old Zachow made me smile. There are buttons to push to learn about every farm and property shown.

There is so much more to the Shawano County Historical Society: an entire archive building, log cabin and Dehn’s ice cream exhibit, a preserved residence with a second floor museum of various war mementos and seasonal special events. The Wisconsin Wheelmen and their demonstration of Antique Bicycles is what drew us out here on this particular sunny day.

And if you are new to the Shawano area then be sure to check out the Sundrop Museum and their downtown shopping district which will have you enjoying a trio of Stock owned businesses on one end and Bottlehouse Antiques at the other, with plenty of stops in between!