MUSEUM HAPPENINGS

December 30, 2022

Goodbye 2022 and Hello 2023!
2022 in Review and Looking Ahead

Part I: Social Media Posts

In case you missed it, here are some of the most popular history posts from 2022. Follow the links to read the original posts or social media series. Unless noted, these posts are from the Friday Then and Now series.

#10 Stein Farm, May 13

The weekly Then and Now series tells history through pairs of historical and contemporary photos. Stein Farm gave us the name for Stein Boulevard. Find out why.

#9 Kerm's Super Foods, Feb. 11

Kermit Walker started this family-run super-market in 1964. It was a Water Street fixture for more than 40 years and is still missed by many. The Walker family provided photos of Kerms for this social media post.

#8 Kwik Trip, Tower Drive, March. 11

The first-ever Kwik Trip opened in 1965 at 1402 S. Hastings. The Kwik Trip shown here opened on Tower Drive in 1974. Read the post for a timeline of Kwik Trip stores in Eau Claire.

#7 Moon House, January 14

More than a few UW-Eau Claire alumni once lived in or remember the Moon house at 1307 Wilson Street. Go to the post to see some interior photos of the original single-family home that is now a 12-unit residence.

#6 Moving 638 Water Street, April 1

Photographer Daniel Nelson captured Derouin Grocery moving to 840 Water Street where it became a tavern. Nelson's glass negative collection is preserved at the UW-Eau Claire Speciall Collections and Archive.

#5 Student newspaper donation to Archive, March 1

A post by Archivist Jodi Kiffmeyer let thousands of Central Junior High alumni know they could find copies of their student newspaper "The Parrot" at the Glenn Curtis Smoot Library and Archive located at the Chippewa Valley Museum.

#4 Welke family photo, Feb. 1

William and Emma Welke raised their family in Pleasant Valley where their descendents still live. This post from the #ChippewaValleyHistory series shared details about the family, including baby Artman sitting on his mother's lap.

#3 Erskine Ingram Home, Dec. 16

The Ingram home is now Ingram Hall on the Immanuel Lutheran Lutheran High School, College, and Seminary campus. The post proved quite popular with former students.

#2 Colfax Tornado, June 1

A deadly and destructive tornado hit near Colfax on June 4, 1958. A series of tornado photos in the museum's collection provided the visual content for this write-up by Archivist Jodi Kiffmeyer. This was the most shared post this year.

#1 Edwins, September 9

Many women remember buying their wedding gowns at Edwins on South Barstow. Many of the more than 200 comments on this Then and Now post are about just that. All of this commenting made Edwins the most-popular social media post this year.

Part II: Top Museum Stories of 2022

#10
Ice Cream Parlor operations switched from hand-scooped ice cream to ice cream novelties. Equipment failures and staffing needs led to this decision.

#9
A robust outdoor summer program schedule included four guided bike tours, two walking tours, Carson Park Experience joint venture with Chippewa Valley Railroad and Wisconsin Logging Museum, six outdoor music concerts, and one wine tasting event on the Schlegelmillc House lawn.

#8
The Education Department used an Ann Marie Foundation grant to produce take-home Family Exhibit guides. (You have to see these to really appreciate how wonderful they are.)

#7
A vintage T-Shirt fundraiser through PowerTex raised $7,000 for the Museum

#6
Marshfield Clinic Health Systems placed a full-time AmeriCorps member at Museum to develop and strengthen the volunteer program. It's working.

#5
The Museum supported the City of Eau Claire's 150th Anniversary with a year-long social media series, March birthday party, programs and the exhibit Then and Now: 150 Years of Change in Eau Claire.

#4
Museum exterior and grounds received much needed improvements: exterior logo and banner, new (and safe) walkways, and landscaping. A couple of Sculpture Tour sculptures and new stain on the deck and front entrance also greatly enhanced the outside aesthetic.

#3
Eau Claire County awarded Chippewa Valley Museum a $100,000 grant from its federal ARPA funds. The grant covers children gallery improvements and merger expenses and will be spread out over two years.

#2
A new all-in-one member management, Point of Sale, program registration, facility reservation, and communication system called Doubleknot launched in February. It has its quirks, but its been a gamechanger.

#1
The Chippewa Valley Museum merged with the Wisconsin Logging Museum, effective on the very last day of the 2022. That's probably the biggest Museum news story of this century.

Part III: Top 5 Upcoming Programs

1. Adventures in History Book Club
Tuesday, January 10th, 6:30 - 7:30pm

The club will discuss The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore. Check-in at the museum’s front desk to attend the meeting in person, or contact Angela (a.allred@cvmuseum.com) for assistance joining the meeting via Zoom

2. Collecting the Valley: All Aboard
Tuesday, January 17, 6:30-7:30

Volunteers who designed and installed the 1933 Eau Claire model train layout at the Chippewa Valley Museum will share the research and work behind the layout.

This is the third of three programs in the Collecting the Valley Series. Learn more about the full series by selecting the button below.

3. Winter Art Exhibit
January 24 - April 8

4. Artist Reception - Watch for Details
Tuesday, January 31, 6:00 - 7:30pm

Featured Artists with Empty Walls Art Collective and Invited Artists participating independently in Dimensions & Discovery: Exploring 3D with Empty Walls Art gather to celebrate and mingle with the public to enjoy casual conversation.

5. 12th Annual Folk Arts Festival
Saturday, February 25, 12:00 - 5:00

Mark your calendar now to make sure you don't miss this annual event. Planning is underway for another great day.

Holiday Hours

December 31: OPEN 12-3
January 1: CLOSED

New Year's Day represents hope for all the things that may be. Hold on to that hope, and keep doing the big and little things that make the world a better place.

Peace,
Carrie Ronnander
Executive Director, Chippewa Valley Museum

PS -- It's the last e-newsletter for 2022 and the City of Eau Claire's 150th anniversary. Let's close it out right with one last look at local news from 150 years ago.

This time of year, residents were thinking about holidays and weather. Of the first, "the Germans" were planning a New Year's Eve ball at Hantzsch's Hall, complete with singing. A competing New Year's Eve ball hosted by the Turners was going to be held at Music Hall. A masquerade ball was going to be held at the Half Moon Skating Rink the Saturday after New Year's Day.

As for the weather, it was not too different than what we just experienced. From the Eau Claire Weekly Press, "Fred Kutzner, at the West end of the [Grand Avenue] bridge (our old reliable) says the thermometer marked all the way from 25 degrees to 40 degrees below zero during Saturday and Sunday. Monday, the thermometer “froze up” and Billy Gans says he has his opinion of a man (or a woman either) who likes such weather."

I'm with Billy on that one. Let's hope the mercury doesn't get anywhere close to freezing here. But, since it IS winter, I do hope it gets cold enough for some good ice skating and sledding.

Make a Donation

P.P.S. Help start the new year and merger with a gift. Your gift will go towards supporting school field trips and children gallery renovations.

Send a check to Chippewa Valley Museum, P.O. 1204, Eau Claire, WI 54702 or select the button below to donate online.

Thank you, and Happy New Year!

Make a Donation