DARLINGTON — The Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society (LCHGS) is looking forward to a busy summer at the Depot and Caboose, “Night (and Day) at the Museum, 2025” in September, and many years of fun and educational community service.  But a recent development has them scrambling.

This is the same organization that recently restored the Octagon Building at the Lafayette County Fairgrounds and is completing restoration of a 1937 caboose at the Darlington Depot.  It is amazing what can be accomplished with dedicated volunteers, donations and grant funding.  

Less exciting but arguably more important is the operation of two historic museums, of artifacts, historical archives, art galleries, and family history center; open to the public free of charge year-around.  Fulfilling the organization’s mission of collecting, and preserving  the history of Lafayette County including its people, places, and events and sharing it with everyone is also done by volunteer members of LCHGS.

A key component of operating museums open to the public is having regular posted “open” hours. For the past 15 years LCHGS has been able to open the Museum on Main Street on weekday afternoons, and the Depot Museum on Washington Street on summer Friday and Saturday afternoons from one to four pm, in spite of the fluctuating availability of volunteers, because of participation in the State of Wisconsin Workforce Development’s  “Older Worker Program.”

This program was a partnership between LCHGS and the State of Wisconsin.  The State would identify workers meeting the age and income criteria that would like to refresh their job skills  and pay them minimum wage to work for LCHGS 15-20 hours per week.  Folks could work for LCHGS for up to four years after which time they could take their job skills to another employer for a likely larger paycheck.  LCHGS benefited by having paid staff committed to certain work hours (without having to pay them) and workers benefited by gaining job training in a flexible, fun atmosphere.  The program ends June 30.

LCHGS has been informed that although the State of Wisconsin administered the program, it was funded by a Federal Grant that has been cut.  The State of Wisconsin could fund it, or devise something else along these lines. But as of this writing our program participants will be unemployed on July 1, and LCHGS doesn’t know how they will cover the usual open hours.

The team that created the Model Railroad Displays at the Depot are checking calendars to see if they can cover the Depot Friday and Saturday afternoons in July and August. LCHGS is reaching out to all former employees and volunteers to recruit a team to operate the Museum. They are one of a very few county level historical and genealogy societies that had been open to the public five to six days a week. It is likely that open hours will be reduced to match the number and schedules of the volunteers.

LCHGS does not have the resources to hire paid employees.  They would need an endowment fund of sufficient size to provide steady income for that purpose.  LCHGS has a “rainy day” fund thanks to many generous donations that make it possible to maintain two historic properties and pay regular expenses with member dues, donations and fundraisers for income.  It’s not enough to also afford paid staff.

LCHGS intends to contact area colleges about “work/study” programs or other means of trading job training and experience for help.  And they will take advantage of any new worker program that may be created. They are financially sound and still busy providing services, programs and experiences for the public.  While they address the significant reduction in staff, they request the patience and assistance of the general public.

There are lots of ways to help.  Volunteer time at the Museum — enjoy a pleasant afternoon in a beautiful building, browse the museum, research your family tree, greet visitors, relax.  They will train on how to open and close and operate the lights.  Join LCHGS. Buy an engraved brick for the new brick patio fundraiser at the Depot. Make any size donation for projects, or utility bills, or to help LCHGS someday be able to afford paid help.

To learn more about volunteering at the museum, the brick patio fundraiser, or making a donation, contact Barb Nemec at 608-482-2483.