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The Green County Historical Society anniversary reception will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the museum at 1617 9th St. The museum is also open from 1 to 4 p.m. that day. Parking is available behind the museum.
MONROE - The Green County Historical Society wants community members to stop in and look around for the organization's 50th anniversary celebration on Friday.
Brooke Bauman, historical society president, said the reception from 4-7 p.m. allows time for visitors who have never entered or have not been within the walls of the former Universalist Church building that now serves as the society's museum.
"It's pretty shocking to think of how many people live in this town who haven't been there," Bauman said. "The more people we can get there, the better."
The Green County Historical Society was originally formed in 1937. At the time, there was no museum to house society artifacts. In 1942, the society opened a community house in New Glarus to showcase its collection, but outgrew that space in just four years.
After years of searching, and moving society possessions around, the city of Monroe accepted a long-term lease in 1966 to maintain a museum at the location along the 1600 block of 9th Street.
Since then, advancements have been made to the building and within the society. This year, the group borrowed from a project originally created in Michigan. The goal was to take inventory of each barn, functional or decomissioned, within Green County. Cataloguing these places took a number of volunteers driving each road within county limits to log buildings, make drawings and take photos. The information will be compiled and available as a public resource.
Projects like this, as well as rooms full of historical artifacts, will be available during Friday's reception. Bauman said more than 300 personal invitations have been sent out, but everyone is encouraged should visit. Attendees will be able to hear stories and talk with local historians.
"I think it's important for people to realize where we came from," Bauman said.
Bauman said the society board also hopes more people take interest particularly in light of the average age of board members. The youngest member, with the exception of Bauman, is about 60 while the oldest is 84 years old. As time passes, the board would prefer to fill in more members and "get younger history buffs interested," Bauman said.
Brooke Bauman, historical society president, said the reception from 4-7 p.m. allows time for visitors who have never entered or have not been within the walls of the former Universalist Church building that now serves as the society's museum.
"It's pretty shocking to think of how many people live in this town who haven't been there," Bauman said. "The more people we can get there, the better."
The Green County Historical Society was originally formed in 1937. At the time, there was no museum to house society artifacts. In 1942, the society opened a community house in New Glarus to showcase its collection, but outgrew that space in just four years.
After years of searching, and moving society possessions around, the city of Monroe accepted a long-term lease in 1966 to maintain a museum at the location along the 1600 block of 9th Street.
Since then, advancements have been made to the building and within the society. This year, the group borrowed from a project originally created in Michigan. The goal was to take inventory of each barn, functional or decomissioned, within Green County. Cataloguing these places took a number of volunteers driving each road within county limits to log buildings, make drawings and take photos. The information will be compiled and available as a public resource.
Projects like this, as well as rooms full of historical artifacts, will be available during Friday's reception. Bauman said more than 300 personal invitations have been sent out, but everyone is encouraged should visit. Attendees will be able to hear stories and talk with local historians.
"I think it's important for people to realize where we came from," Bauman said.
Bauman said the society board also hopes more people take interest particularly in light of the average age of board members. The youngest member, with the exception of Bauman, is about 60 while the oldest is 84 years old. As time passes, the board would prefer to fill in more members and "get younger history buffs interested," Bauman said.