December 2003
SOCIETY'S WEBSITE A HIT!
Our Internet website -- burlingtonhistory.org -- has received many accolades
from around the country and around the world. Since our webmaster, Jeff
Kiekenbush, activated the website in July 2002, the site has been visited more
than 13,000 times.
With historical and genealogical information compiled by Don Vande Sand
(utilizing earlier research by his parents, Al and Henrietta, and several
others) and with hundreds of photographs scanned and prepared by Dennis Tully
and researched by Roger Bieneman (with an occasional assist from Doug Lind and
John Zwiebel), the website has attracted much attention from both current and
former Burlington area residents and from others.
The website has received the "Genealogical Gleanings" award which is given to
websites that feature free vital information for the online genealogical
community. It recognizes the hard work performed by volunteers in bringing
genealogical data to the web for the use of others.
Following are some of the many comments received from those who have found and
enjoyed visiting "burlingtonhistory.org."
Thanks
for all the hours your volunteers have put in to make this site so helpful.
Brenda Starkey
CONGRATULATIONS
on a GREAT site!! Your site is one of the best I've encountered in my two years
of genealogy research!! The site is so easily navigated and a joy to use!! I had
almost given up on researching my family surnames when I happened on your site
by sheer accident. I knew my ancestors came from the Burlington area so I typed
in the surnames and to my astonishment there before my eyes was page after page
of information that had been elusive until now!! Thanks to your site I have been
given new hope in my search for my ancestors!! Your site has jumped to the top
of my favorites!! I look forward to returning time after time to see what new
has been added!! Again... THANK YOU for a job well done!! Keep up the GREAT
work!!
Rita J. Holtzheimer‑Wymore
This
is one of the best sites I have found. I was easily able to find my great aunt
and uncle, Isabel and Carl Backlin as well as my great great aunt, Tillie
Backlin. Thank you so much for maintaining such an excellent resource for us
all.
Joy Burglind Hackl
Incredible
website! My husband's people settled in Rochester (Jackson, Wright); seemed also
to have business in Burlington . I have the data, but your wonderful data bases
have given more sources to add to the file and lots of new data. Great
organization and information. Thank you !
Sue Jackson
Website
the best I have found. All of my relations are there. The Hopkins, who came from
Vt. and went to Wis. Thanks again.
Kathleen Hopkins Smith at Lansing, Mich.
I
was just referred to your website by a friend. In my search for family tree
information, your site has proven a goldmine for me!! Many, many thanks from the
Bieneman (n)s!!
Kathe Bienemann Cunningham
If you have a chance to visit our website, please do so. If you haven't visited it for some time, you may want to see what's been added and updated. We don't think you'll be disappointed.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
The year 2003 had numerous accomplishments worthy of note. For the Burlington
Historical Society, the standard bearer has always been the volunteer. From one
project to the next, little would get done if our volunteers did not step
forward and say, “let’s do it.” Some of the tasks are small and often pass
unnoticed. Much of the work is tedious with hours upon hours of detail, such as
entering data or poring over vintage photographs looking for that one little
“gem” of interest that was captured in a moment more than a century ago. These
tasks are the “nuts & bolts” of historic research, documentation, and
preservation. This is not something we do for ourselves, rather it is a labor of
love for those who will come after.
The Old Town Cemetery
This project is ongoing and a classic example of an outpouring of help from
Society members and the general public from all walks of life. The spring clean
up was a sight to see with volunteers from children to seniors raking, hauling,
and digging with enthusiasm. Society volunteers continued during the summer to
check the growth periodically and keep the burying grounds orderly and visible.
Plans call for removal of some of the trees this winter and another spring clean
up.
Pioneer Cabin
During the 2003 season, May thru October, Pioneer Cabin was only open on
Saturday due to reduced availability in the number of docents. We are glad to
report that our newest board member, Jackie Pennefeather, was added to our cabin
staff and already gained experience this season. We continue to seek additional
volunteers to guide the public back to the middle 19th century if only for a
“brief visit.”
With being open only one day a week, we still saw some-what more than 700
visitors enjoy Pioneer Cabin and take in some of the new acquisitions added to
the interior, as well as to the tool shed. The cabin is in great shape, although
some maintenance work is planned for 2004.
In the cabin’s garden this year, we grew a fine stand of sweet corn yielding
about ten bushels in all. The sight of a small corn field in a downtown
Burlington park may have seemed a bit out of character with its surroundings.
However, a surviving photograph taken in 1868 shows abundant gardens downtown,
many of which were corn. Next season, it’s back to beans, potatoes, and squash.
The Racine County Master Gardeners deserve our gratitude once again for their
fine work in the Vintage Gardens . Their skill at dividing perennials and
tending the wide variety of plant material is invaluable to the overall appear-ance
of Pioneer Cabin. Free holly-hock seeds are available once more at the museum.
While on the subject of gardens, we can't fail to mention the consistently
favorable comments we hear about the Legacy Garden next to the museum. The
Burlington Area Garden Club always makes the garden an inviting and picturesque
place to stop and visit.
Capital Improvements
The board moved this year with a number of upgrades vital to the operation of
the museum and the preservation of our collections. Air conditioning is being
installed to lower the widely fluctuating levels of humidity we experience in
the summer. Prior to that, how-ever, it was necessary to upgrade our electrical
service to 200 amps. The increased electrical capacity will also provide for
future improvements in display space, and technology requirements.
The museum’s three doors -- front, side and rear -- were replaced with insulated
steel doors in a six panel pattern design that blends nicely with the building’s
architecture. Finally, the museum’s fire alarm system is being upgraded to
include a security alarm.
Next Year
Whitman School will receive attention next year with some building upgrade and
additions to displays anticipated. Tentative living history programs are being
reformulated in response to continual inquiries to resume them.
My sincere thanks to all the board members for their dedication to our mission
and to all the volunteers who come to our aid when called. We look forward to
another year of accomplishments.
Soprano: Margaret Kerkman, Rita Kerkman, Mary Brennan, Charlotte Schilz, Lorraine Schilz, Eloise Trost, Angela Grebel, Esther Cronin, Bernice Hicks, Ellen Murray, Bernice Ganswindt.
Alto: Rosemary Beix, Mary Epping, Vivian Verick, Alice Jacobson, Esther Scherrer, Florence Hoffman, Margaret Reese, Alberta Pieters, Mable Melby.
Tenor: Harley Howe, Earl Bottomley, Warren Luebbers, Lloyd Schilz, Homer Fratt.
Bass: Arthur Kayser, Lester Bohnsack, Richard Furman, John Wiemer, Cecil Brenton, Gene Weiss.
Members of the Civic Orchestra, Harold J. Yonk, Conductor, were:
First Violin: Elmer Kitterer, Theo. W. Korn, Raymond Bienemann, Alberta Radtke, Margaret Kerkman, Wilmot Zerneke, Joan Szydlowski, Richard Furman.-- From the Standard Democrat, April 26, 1940
Second Violin: Mary Foltz, Lucille Hanson, Alma Glueck, Ardith Zepp, Catherine Zwiebel, Robert Vohs, Gene Tenpenny, Louis Rohr.
Viola: Mrs. W. G. Rasch.
Cello: W. G. Rasch, Frank Novak, Mrs. Roy Webb.
Flute: William Leach, David Brehm.
Clarinet: Albert Schumann, Roy Baker.
Trumpet: Wendel Porter, Ellen Brehm.
Horn: Raymond Toelle, Adam Rome.
Trombone: Rita Kerkman, Duane Perry.
Bass: John Buss, Matthew Becker.
Tuba: John Zwiebel.
Percussion: Malcom Alby.
Accompanist: Arlene Korn, Mrs. Harold J. Yonk.
For More Information Contact:
Burlington Historical Society
232 North Perkins Blvd., Burlington, WI 53105
Tel: (262) 767-2884
FAX: (262) 767-2844
Internet:
info@burlingtonhistory.org
Notices: Disclaimer and Restriction of Liability