MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Thompson Community Center
PROGRAM SUMMARY
“Hearthstone-The Making of a Museum”
CALL TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT TOM SUTTER
TOTAL ATTENDANCE: 79
OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Tom Sutter, Christine Williams, James Richter, Laura Leimer, Mark Moderson, John Marx, Brian Schneider, Gwen Sargeant, Jim Krueger, Diana Sandberg.
REVIEW OF UPCOMING MEETINGS AND PROGRAMS:
February 11 - Valley Fair Mall - Jason Webber
March 1 - St. Joseph’s Cemetary – Frank Groh
March 7 – 10th AHS History Fair, City Center
April 8 – Secura Insurance – Steve Smits
May 3 – Jewish History in Appleton - Jerry Zabronsky
June 10 – The Old Third Ward – Antoinette Powell
July 8 – The Post Crescent – Dan Flannery
August 12 – Growing Up in Appleton in the 60s – Jim Krueger
August 23 – Cemetary Walk – “Meet the Mayors” – Riverside Cemetary
September 9 - Open
November 11 – Appleton Picture Show
December 5 – 11th AHS History Fair, City Center
APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION:
AHS Officers:
A. President - Thomas Sutter
B. Vice President - Christine Williams
C. Secretary – James Richter
D. Treasurer – Laura Leimer
AHS Board of Directors:
A. Terms through November 2017:
1. Mark Moderson
2. John Marx
3. Laura Leimer
4. Diana Sandberg
B. Terms through November 2016:
1. Linda Muldoon
2. Jim Krueger
3. Gwen Sargeant
4. Brian Schneider
C. Terms through November 2015:
1. Tom Sutter
2. Christine Williams
3. James Richter
Committee Chairs for the organization are as follows:
A. Mark and Karen Moderson, Principal Organizers
B. Brian Schneider, Technical Resources
C. David Buss, Research Specialist
D. Gwen Sargeant, Public Relations and Web Page
PRESIDENT SUTTER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
A. Greetings extended to members and guests.
B. Summary of his State of the Organization Address:
As we conclude our 5th year of bringing history to the members and visitors of the Appleton Historical Society, I wanted to take this opportunity to say "Thank You" to all of you for helping the Society in its mission to preserve and share Appleton's history. Thanks to all who have served on the Board; to those who have volunteered for our many events; our presenters at our meetings and History Fairs and Cemetery Walks. And thanks to our members and donors and all who attend our events or even take the time to look at our web site. Thanks to all who take interest in the history of Appleton.
We have had 51 monthly meetings that have attracted 2,852 folks. We have held 9 History Fairs that have attracted 2,513 folks. We have held 3 cemetery walks and Christmas at Conkey's and an open house at the Atlas Mill that have attracted an unknown number of folks. But the most important number is 1 and that represents you! Thanks for your interest and continuing support for the organization. We look forward to seeing you at our 2015 events!
C. Gave thanks to Gwen Schneider and Brian Schneider for Novembers program – The Appleton Picture Show.
D. Promises us a very interesting Speaker at next month’s meeting with the History of the Valley Fair Mall with Jason Webber. Urges all to attend.
E. Presented the Selection of Board Members and Election of Officers Report from the Board. (See Above).
F. Upcoming Historical Event: Fox River Historic Lock Tours will be given by the Fox Wisconsin Heritage Parkway to a pre-sold group tour from the Milwaukee area on June 24, 2015. This will also include several boat excursions.
G. One of our guests tonight is planning on starting a Railroad Museum in Milwaukee, and jumped at the chance to see tonight’s program on the starting of Hearthstone.
H. The door prize of a Fazoli’s Gift Certificate was won by Barb Bacon.
AHS COMMUNICATIONS REPORTS:
Christine Williams, AHS Vice President and Program Committee Chair, gave a summary of upcoming programs and events (See Above).
Gwen Sargeant, AHS Board Member and Book Editor, gave a progress report on the publishing of our book. Printing is in it’s final stages. We will be doing a kickoff of the book distribution at our March 7th History Fair to be held at the City Center.
AHS’S 9TH HISTORY FAIR, December 6, 2014, A Great Success
For once we were blessed with a nice winter day and the crowds jumped at the opportunity to visit our 9th History Fair. The event was again held as part of the Appleton Downtown Winter Farm Market at the City Center in downtown Appleton. With our highest attendance ever with 420 visitors, people showed great support and positive comments for our theme, and the variety of exhibits displayed.
Our planning committee chose a Central Theme of Appleton’s Christmas Past focusing on toys and children’s furniture, including those made in Appleton; historic Tuttle Press Christmas products; and Victorian Christmas items. A wide variety of exhibits were shown.
EXHIBITORS (Many thanks to our dedicated exhibitors):
(1) Appleton Historical Society- Brian Schneider –Welcome Table
(2) Brian Schneider – Historic Videos and Christmas Music
(3) John Marx – Tuttle Press, Appleton Juvenile Furniture and Christmas Parade Items
(4) Dave Kalz – Historic Appleton Photos
(5) Mark Moderson – Jolin Toy Co., Appleton toy manufacturer
(6) James Richter – Antique Horse Drawn Toys and Fanny Farmer Candy Scale & Artifacts
(7) Tom Sutter, AHS President – Historic Maps and Artifacts
(8) Jim Krueger – World War II Christmas Ornaments, Appleton made Toys and other Holiday Items
(9) Alan Deeg – Toys, Historic Photos and Artifacts
(10) Sheila Brucks – Appleton & Sheboygan made Kid’s Furniture, Toys and Xmas Items
(11) David Buss- Appleton’s Historic Grocery Stores
(12) The Historic Hearthstone – Christine Williams-Hearthstone Victorian Christmas
(13) Diana Sandberg-Appleton Public Library-History Programs Display
We thank Jennifer Stephany and Djuanna Hugdahl of Appleton Downtown Inc. for making the event possible. Thanks also go to Pfefferle Companies Inc. and their City Center Staff for providing space, equipment and assistance. We also appreciate the excellent news coverage that was provided prior to the event by the Appleton Post Crescent, the Bargain Bulletin, and WHBY Radio. Thanks also to Community 1st and Capitol Credit Unions for marquee ads.
PLANNING FOR 10TH AHS HISTORY FAIR AT THE APPLETON DOWNTOWN WINTER FARM MARKET – Saturday, March 7, 2015
Jim Richter, Co-Chairman, reported that planning is already underway for the 10th History Fair on March 7, 2015.The event will again be a part of the Appleton Downtown Winter Farm Market held at the City Center.
We have consulted with our informal History Fair Committee. We have looked at some 20 different topics that could be chosen as a Central Theme and Focus Areas. Christine Williams proposed and the committee endorsed emphasizing a group of businesses that we all know and are frequented by most residents.
Our theme will be “Where Friends Meet- Appleton’s Bars, Breweries and Drugstores”. As part of the event we will also have a “Historic Appleton Post Card Show and Swap Meet”.
Co-Chair Mark Moderson already has commitments from at least 10 exhibitors. We are looking for people that would like to display their pictures, artifacts and antiques, as well as Post Card Collectors. Contact Mark or Jim as soon as possible. Just a reminder there is no charge for an exhibit table, as well as no entrance fee to the public.
PROGRAM : Hearthstone –“ The Making of a Museum”
Presenters:
Ed and Clare Hilgendorf
Speakers Background:
After teaching high school English for four years, Ed entered the business world and spent the rest of his career there. His primary affiliations were with Talman Federal Savings and Loan Association of Chicago as Vice President and Personnel Director and later with Principal Financial Group as Agency Manager in Central Illinois. He received his bachelor’s degree from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest Illinois which is now Concordia University of Chicago and his MBA from Loyola University of Chicago.
After retiring, Ed and his wife Clare lived near Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for several years where they became involved with the Cook Rutledge Mansion in Chippewa Falls and served on their board of directors. When they moved to Appleton in 2011 after a brief attempt to retire in Florida it was natural to become involved with Hearthstone. Clare is the real history buff in the family and has served as docent and house manager for the past several years and Ed has been on the board of directors for the past two years. They both love living in Appleton and being part of this vibrant community that cherishes its history while moving aggressively into the future.
The Presentation:
Ed and Claire opened by saying that starting and maintaining a museum are no small tasks. Only through the efforts of many dedicated volunteers can such an enterprise be opened and survive.
A. What does it take to make a museum?:
(A) Have something worth presenting.
(B) Have a compelling and interesting story to tell.
(C) Have founders with a vision.
(D) Substantial financial resources including grants, donations, and bequests.
B. House was built by:
Henry James Rogers built the house as a showplace for his wife, Cremora. The house was designed by Wisconsin architect William Waters, who was also the architect for the Grand Opera House and Public Library in Oshkosh and numerous businesses and residences in the area. It was first lit with hydroelectricity on September 30, 1882. The Appleton Crescent, the local newspaper, proclaimed that the electricity in the home "was bright as day". The Rogers family lived in the house until 1893, when they moved to Chicago.
C. Uniqueness of the home - It was the first house to be completely lighted by electricity:
The country's first hydroelectric central power station using the Edison system began its operation September 30, 1882. The generator was situated in the beater room of the Appleton Paper and Pulp Company. The three buildings that were lighted on that historic occasion were the Appleton Paper and Pulp Company owned by John Van Nortwick and run by Henry J. Rogers who owned the home on the bluff above, now known as Hearthstone, and Kimberly & Clark's Vulcan Paper Mill located nearby. Rogers asked if he could have his home linked to the Paper Mill’s hydroelectric system.
D. Construction features:
(1) The house was piped for natural gas along with electricity.
(2) The electricity system started as Edison D.C. current and was kept that way until 1901 when the house was converted to A.C. current.
(3) Original D.C. wiring is still in the walls but not being used.
(4) House was originally built for between $17,000 and $20,000.
(5) Constructed by William Waters, who also built the Columbus School, Babcock Home-Neenah, Grand Opera House-Oshkosh, and the Wisconsin Building at the Chicago World’s Fair.
(6) William VanStratum, Craftsman, made the many wood features of the home.
(7) J. Frank Waldo, artist, did much of the art work throughout the house.
(8) Fredericka Crane, artist and interior decorator, did much of the design work.
E. The Hearthstone was State of the Art:
(1) Central heat.
(2) Hot & cold running water.
(3) Flush toilets.
(4) Double walled.
(5) Electric lights. (the first house in the world to have Edison hydroelectric systems).
(6) Rogers himself was instrumental in making an electric light bulb that continued to work, and using it in this home.
F. There have been seven different owners of the Hearthstone:
(1) Original builder and owner was Henry J. Rogers-
(a) Businessman, entrepreneur, visionary, and civic leader.
(b) Came here to run the Appleton Paper and Pulp Mill.
(2) One of the last of the owners was Harold and Ruth Mares
G. The house got its name for a restaurant of that name, that opened in the house.
H. Milestones:
(1) Owner Ruth Mares was the one who got the home registered as a Wisconsin
landmark in 1967.
(2) The home was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1974.
I. More features of the Home:
(1) Upstairs looks like a Victorian Home.
(2) The basement looks like a museum.
(3) Is equipped with a Mary Strange Library, which has excellent references.
J. The Hearthstone Board of Directors has taken it through a number of renovations:
(1) Major restoration began in1989.
(2) Kitchen, porch and elevator were done 1990.
(3) Porch and veranda repair done in 1991.
(4) New spindled railing installed in 1992.
(5) Dining room and library floors repaired in 1992.
(6) Floors repaired and wallpaper replaced in 1993.
(7) Hydro Adventure Center was done in 1994.
(8) Veranda pillars were redone in 2013.
K. What does it take to keep a museum?:
(1) Restore porches and veranda.
(2) Restore kitchen and bathroom to appearance of 1882.
(3) Repurchase adjacent property and rebuild the Carriage House.
(4) Improve parking lot (Note: current bricks came from old College Avenue-some
25,000 bricks).
L. Claire Hilgendorfs remarks:
(1) As Hearthstone operation relies totally on volunteers it is a major challenge to get
everything taken care of.
(2) Claire handles the recruitment of volunteers.
(3) Last year 70 volunteers put in 5,000 hours on the facility.
(4) Also in 2013 2,500 people toured the home.
(5) Current special events put on each year:
a. They host a Victorian tea with participants in character and costumes.
b. Haunted Hearthstone at Halloween (held every Friday in October).
c. Victorian Christmas.
d. Flag Day Parade – had a carriage with walkers.
e. Murder Mystery event.
Speaker’s Closing Comments:
Although the Hearthstone looks beautiful and much has been done to keep it up, with respect to renovation the job is far from done. Without paid professional staff, they are now relying totally on volunteers. Their Board appreciates the support of the Appleton Historical Society and the opportunity to tell its story.
Respectfully, James L. Richter
AHS Secretary, 1/29/15