Submitted Article The Stanley Area Historical Society held their Quarterly Meeting on July 26, with a small number in attendance. Secretary Sharon Wundrow, read the minutes from the last Quarterly Meeting that was held on April 26. Treasurer Jim Ericksen, followed with his extensive financial reports covering the time period January 1 through June 30, 2021. His reports indicate that the finances of the organization have rebounded with notations that membership income is up $650 dollars over last year and that the investments of the Trust Funds have rebounded from what they were a year ago. The best news was that with an anonymous $5,000 donation, donations have now covered the $22,500 cost of the roof replacement project that was necessary last year.

Cheryl Kern-Simirenko, reporting for the Digitization Work Group, noted that the team continues the work of photographing and scanning new acquisitions. They have begun the Archives catalog for primary materials, with TIFF files on the server to support the entries. They are working with the High School Classes’ files, which contain a variety of memorabilia, making scanning a challenge. They are also adding images to records in the Photo catalog when photos with the catalog entries are present. Also being explored are the possibilities of the historical society using TheClio software to push the museum’s resources out to the public. TheClio is based on Goggle Maps and is free to use. It is already being used for walking/driving tours and for virtual museum tours at museums around the state. It allows content and photos to be connected with a location. Kern-Simirenko gave as an example, the Waukesha County Historical Society and Museum has created a WWI tour highlighting the stories, photos and home of people who served. She concluded her report by noting that on Tuesday, August 3, a zoom presentation entitled, “Statewide Digital Readiness Community of Practice” workshop will be held. Local volunteers of SAHS will be be participating/attending from the museum’s meeting room.

Those working with the summer intern from UW-Eau Claire reported they are providing opportunities for him to be exposed to the various duties and responsibilities associated with the operation of a museum. Reports are that he is doing fine overall, is a quick learner, has computer and camera skills that allow for his working with the digitization project and he received accolades from a recent weekend volunteer who was at the meeting.

In a Building and Grounds Report, it was reported that lawn mowing, weed and insect control have been ongoing. Landscaping at the rear of the 2002 building was completed this spring by the Stanley-Boyd High School Landscaping Class and looks great. New LED lighting is being installed in exhibit cases as they are opened for cleaning or updating. President Dave Jankoski noted that the prairie garden will need to be burned this fall after it is dried up. He also noted that the foliage and landscaped area on the north side of the building complex could use some weed removal. Any volunteers? With the roof project paid for, the Building and Grounds Committee will explore the cost of doing needed tuck-pointing around Submitted photo. the entrance to the original school building. This had been removed from being included in the roof project because of anticipated costs.

Betty Plombon reported on exhibits and programs for 2021. The major exhibits are the businesses that are, or were, once located along First Avenue and a group of wedding dresses that have been donated to the museum and range in age from the late 1800’s to the 1970’s. No programs are being planned at the museum this year because of ongoing and reoccurring COVID concerns. Plombon also reported that the June Newsletter was mailed with no concerns from the U. S. Postal Service, which provides feedback with each mailing because of a bulk mailing/ reduced rate agreement. It was also reported that membership response to the newsletter remains very positive.

Jankoski reported that a meeting of the Clark County Historical Society is scheduled for September 18, at a rural Greenwood home constructed as a replica of an old farmhouse. Some members of the local group plan to attend.

The next meeting of the local historical society is scheduled for Monday, October 25, at 7 pm. President Jankoski thanked those in attendance and all who participated in the potluck meal that preceded the business meeting.

Pictured is one of a number of wedding dresses currently on exhibit at the Stanley Area Historical Society. The dress belonged to Phyllis (Halterman) Brown, whose marriage to Ronald “Jim” Brown occurred in 1978. Phyllis was a Stanley native and had a successful career in cosmetology, which included working for a number of hair salons and in time she became an assistant supervisor at the Madison School of Cosmetology.