It's May Madness! Over the next four weeks, close to two thousand students and adults will be on museum grounds. If you like youthful exuberance, visit between 12-2 pm when the students are here. All schools leave by 2:30, so if you prefer a more contemplative visit, stop in after 2:30. 

And now, Museum Happenings....

Longfellow Elementary 3rd grade class with Docent Margaret Almquist

Thank You Volunteers

Volunteers keep it all going at Chippewa Valley Museums which is why staff hosted a volunteer dinner on April 22nd. Seventy-four volunteers were able to attend this event.

Volunteers - By the Numbers

(FY23 - October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023)

436 CVM volunteers gave 6,344 hours, equal to 3 full-time positions.
24 Visitor Services volunteers greeted visitors at the admissions desk.
6 volunteers gave 494 hours to build and install the Have You Heard? multimedia exhibit in the museum's Farmhouse Theater.
10 docents (museum guides) helped lead almost 300 tours.
7 teens completed the Teen Guide program, giving 328 hours to the museum last summer.

177 volunteers worked the four-day US Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship. Members of three Kiwanis Clubs provided 42% of the volunteer hours.

THANK YOU!

Interested in sharing your time and talents and making a difference? Use the button below to get in touch. 

Areas in greatest need: ice cream parlor (starting May 25), admissions & museum store, outdoor grounds, US Open Chainsaw (August 1-4), and event photography

Partner Spotlight:

Eau Claire County ADRC

2023 Memory Cafe Holiday party at Chippewa Valley Museums, courtesy ADRC

Chippewa Valley Museums is a host site for the Eau Claire County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) monthly Memory Café (2^nd Tuesdays). The ADRC Tri-County (Chippewa, Eau Claire, Dunn) Dementia Coalition also meets twice a year at the museum. For more information about Memory Café, email adrc@eauclairecounty.gov or call 715-839-4735. 

Tall Tales Exhibit

Member and Contributor Opening

Wednesday, May 8

4:30-6:30 pm at Wisconsin Logging Museum

The Eau Claire K-Kids tried out the updated Tall Tales exhibit activities during their year-end celebration and gave it full marks. Members are invited to do the same at the Member and Contributor opening on May 8th. The event runs 4:30-6:30pm with a short presentation at 5:30 pm.

RSVP by May 3 by calling 715-834-7871

A ribbon cutting will take place at 8:30am on May 8th. Join us for the morning ribbon cutting if you can't make the late afternoon opening. 

Panel Discussion:  Immigration & Citizenship

Tuesday, May 14

6:00 - 7:00pm

Listen to guest panelists representing historic and current perspectives on immigration and citizenship experiences in the Chippewa Valley, followed by a chance to socialize and build connections over light refreshments. Archivist Jodi Kiffmeyer will moderate a Q&A following panelists' opening remarks. The discussion will expand on the questions and themes presented in Working America, a traveling exhibit featuring photographs of immigrant and first-generation laborers now showing at the museum through May 25th.

Cost: Free thanks to the support of members, the City of Eau Claire, and EAu Claire County. No preregistration is required with seats available first come, first served. 

Panelists

• Dr. Oscar Chamberlain, Senior Lecturer Emeritus, UW-Eau Claire History Department. Dr. Chamberlain’s research specialty is the US Constitution before the Civil War.  He worked with Chippewa Valley Museum in developing curriculum for two major historical programs for social studies teachers: Making Americans, Making America (2006-9) and Constructing Liberty (2010-2013).  Immigration history was a major component of both.

• Rev. David Anderson, member of JONAH’S immigration task force and retired Lutheran pastor. Rev. Anderson works to help people find their place in the community. He has found that those who have immigrated to the Chippewa Valley over the past 15 years “are eager to learn the language, eager to get jobs, eager to learn how to be a part of the community.”

• Dr. Ka Vang, Site Manager for World Relief Wisconsin Chippewa Valley Office. Ka and her whole family came to the US in 1979 as refugees after the Secret War ended in Laos. Her refugee experience greatly shaped her whole life, and she feels called to contribute to Eau Claire’s continuing ability to welcome new generations of residents who will make Eau Claire their home, enriching our community with their talents, perspectives, and friendship.

And speaking of Working America....

On Exhibit Until May 25

Working America

Don’t miss Working America! Through photographs and interview excerpts, artist Sam Comen presents American immigrants and first-generation Americans at work as icons of the American experience. 

Summer Kids Workshops 2024

Registration closes June 1

Looking Ahead

So that's what's happening. And there's still a summer exhibit, outdoor concerts, and the US Open Chainsaw Sculpture Championship to come.

Peace,

Carrie Ronnander
Executive Director, Chippewa Valley Museums

P.S.  I recently signed up for the Wisconsin Historical Society's Powwow Prep Webinar. There's some powwow material in the Have Your Heard? picture show and I enjoy drum music. The publicity that caught my eye is below, as well as a link for more information.

That's all I have for this issue's postscript, almost. If you still need a local history fix, here's one of the more popular social media posts from the last few months. We shared it February 28, 2024.

Elsie Lund was born in the Rock Falls area in 1915 and lived there all of her life, until moving to a retirement home in Eau Claire in 2006. She was a member of Rock Creek Lutheran Church and began teaching Sunday School there immediately after her confirmation. Teaching must have suited her, because she went on to study at the Eau Claire State Teacher's College, taught at Meridean and Thomas Schools in Dunn County, and later served as a substitute teacher in the Eau Claire schools for many years. 

In 1939, Elsie married Ellsworth Helgoe, who was postmaster and rural mail carrier at the Rock Falls Post Office. She became a substitute clerk at the office and was later appointed "Officer in Charge" (interim postmaster) in 1973. Rock Falls Post Office opened around 1936, after the Meridean and Caryville post offices closed, with Ellsworth Helgoe as the first postmaster. According to Elsie, Clark's Hatchery gave the post office the most business during her tenure because they shipped chicks from there to customers around the area.

The above photo was taken in 1975 for an article in the Leader-Telegram about the Rock Falls Post Office closing. The building seen behind Elsie is actually her home. The post office ran out of a room so it added on to Elsie’s house then rented the addition. The post office addition remains part of a private home today.

After 1975, Mondovi took over postal service for Rock Falls, but PO boxes and stamps were still available at a "community station" in Stone's Grocery Store, which is now known as Mercantile 85. -- Jodi, CVM Archivist, with research assistance by volunteer Nikki J. #ChippewaValleyHistory