MONROE - After her parents Robert and Evelyn Hahlen died, Wendy Fjelstad was left with memorabilia, articles and photos from when they owned Baumgartner's on the Square from 1952 to 1985.
"I don't want to keep it forever," Fjelstad said. "But I thought it would be sufficient material to make into a book."
At the beginning of the summer, Fjelstad teamed up with former classmate Larry Phillips and former history columnist Tom Fey, both of whom live in Monroe, to produce "Baumgartner's - A History."
The book is expected to be completed by Cheese Days 2018.
"Personally, it's a tribute to my dad," Fjelstad said. "Both my parents really, because my mother was the bookkeeper."
Fjelstad said she would refer to her mom as the "unofficial documentarian" because she took numerous photos of employees and customers throughout the years, making sure to write their names on the back of every photo.
For the book, Fey focused on writing and researching. Phillips has been formatting and working with old pictures while also taking new ones. Fjelstad said her role has been helping with research, identifying people in some of the photographs and conducting interviews with former employees and customers.
The book traces the origin of the cheese store and tavern from the early 1900s up to present day. Fey found information by searching through an old newspaper called The Green County Herald that was printed in German and published from 1877 to 1933. He discovered the building had six proprietors before Emil Baumgartner, who founded Baumgartner's in 1931.
"It's fun to find something no one else has ever found," Fey said.
Jacob Burkhalter was the first owner in 1905; the business was a cheese and cheese factory supply store. Phillips pointed out it wasn't until Prohibition ended in 1933 - when people started wanting to have a beer with their cheese sandwich - that Baumgartner's morphed into what it is known for today.
Fey combed through microfilm and newspapers at the Monroe Public Library and at the Green County Historical Society for his research. Although he knows some German, Martha Bernet and her son Hans Bernet, who both live in Monroe but are originally from Switzerland, aided with translations.
Fjelstad, who now lives in Cottage Grove, returns to her hometown of Monroe almost once a week to meet with Fey and Phillips. She said together they make a good team.
Although a lot of people in the photographs are no longer alive, Fjelstad said their children and grandchildren should still be able to recognize them.
"I don't want to keep it forever," Fjelstad said. "But I thought it would be sufficient material to make into a book."
At the beginning of the summer, Fjelstad teamed up with former classmate Larry Phillips and former history columnist Tom Fey, both of whom live in Monroe, to produce "Baumgartner's - A History."
The book is expected to be completed by Cheese Days 2018.
"Personally, it's a tribute to my dad," Fjelstad said. "Both my parents really, because my mother was the bookkeeper."
Fjelstad said she would refer to her mom as the "unofficial documentarian" because she took numerous photos of employees and customers throughout the years, making sure to write their names on the back of every photo.
For the book, Fey focused on writing and researching. Phillips has been formatting and working with old pictures while also taking new ones. Fjelstad said her role has been helping with research, identifying people in some of the photographs and conducting interviews with former employees and customers.
The book traces the origin of the cheese store and tavern from the early 1900s up to present day. Fey found information by searching through an old newspaper called The Green County Herald that was printed in German and published from 1877 to 1933. He discovered the building had six proprietors before Emil Baumgartner, who founded Baumgartner's in 1931.
"It's fun to find something no one else has ever found," Fey said.
Jacob Burkhalter was the first owner in 1905; the business was a cheese and cheese factory supply store. Phillips pointed out it wasn't until Prohibition ended in 1933 - when people started wanting to have a beer with their cheese sandwich - that Baumgartner's morphed into what it is known for today.
Fey combed through microfilm and newspapers at the Monroe Public Library and at the Green County Historical Society for his research. Although he knows some German, Martha Bernet and her son Hans Bernet, who both live in Monroe but are originally from Switzerland, aided with translations.
Fjelstad, who now lives in Cottage Grove, returns to her hometown of Monroe almost once a week to meet with Fey and Phillips. She said together they make a good team.
Although a lot of people in the photographs are no longer alive, Fjelstad said their children and grandchildren should still be able to recognize them.