By Tammy Kilby

For the Times

DARLINGTON — Barb Nemec will see her term end at the end of December, as Ray Scott was accepted in as the new President of the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogy Society (LCHGS). 

Nemec, who has served as President since 2018, recently explained how she became the President. “The Lafayette County Historical board faced a leadership vacuum after a death and a resignation. So I volunteered thinking it would be a temporary thing.

“Then COVID hit. With less volunteers and the state putting our paid staff ‘on leave’ the usual limitations on board positions were waived to operate through the pandemic,” she said.

Nemec isn’t going away, however. She will be the Museum’s Manager. 

“I’m excited about being the Museum’s Manager, because they (the employees, volunteers, and artifacts) are at the heart of what we do. The ongoing project is organizing and cataloging the archives at the Museum since the merge of Historical and Genealogy Societies,” she said.

Nemec will also continue to seek grant funding and write grant applications for the society, manage the society’s Facebook page and web site. 

“I will be a non-officer member of the board and help on projects like our next ‘Night (and Day) at the Museum — 2025,’” she said.

Scott, who takes the President seat in January 2024, is the former President of the Lafayette County Genealogy Society. The merger of the two societies took place a year ago. 

“This merger has been blessed by uniting the history of artifacts and heirlooms with family histories throughout Lafayette County and surrounding areas of Wisconsin,” he said on his thoughts of the formal merger. “Bringing the two societies together to create the new LCHGS has been a major achievement for me.” 

Two big projects are underway for LCHGS. The completing of the Octagon Building Restoration, and the “Caboose for the Depot” project. Nemec will assist in completing both projects which she was instrumental in starting. 

“For both I am seeking grant funding, and coordinating volunteer labor,” she said. 

Scott agreed saying the projects are exciting for everyone involved. 

“Once complete, they will be here for generations to come,” Scott said.

LCHGS is a non-profit organization, relying on memberships, donations, and grants for its income. 

“The family memorials are always welcomed and appreciated. Fundraising events and the sales of our merchandise increase our ability to meet ongoing expenses,” Scott said.

Nemec has had a lot of successful projects while President. She said she considers her largest accomplishment to simply be her community involvement.

“Overall I would say building bridges and awareness in the community regarding the Society being a resource and helpmate. Working with businesses, government and other organizations, the level of cooperation keeps going up and everyone benefits,” she said. “Some of my favorite things have been refurbishing and maintaining the historic properties of the Society (the Carnegie Library and the Darlington Depot); getting the Museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places; holding our community event ‘Night (and Day) at the Museum’; bringing the Historical and Genealogy Societies together, and the first steps of the Caboose for the Depot. 

“I didn’t do any of that alone. All the other board members, volunteers, staff, Genealogy Society members, and community have been critical to our success,” she added.

An outreach committee has been established to seek out a younger set of historians, such as student and teacher groups throughout Lafayette County.

Nemec has kept herself busy with other projects also, and the connection of her involvements all have history at their heart. 

She serves as a member of the Colonel Benjamin Harrison Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and a member of Yellowstone Flint and Cap, Inc. (YFC), historical re-enactment group. She plays fiddle with The Blarneys, a traditional Irish music group; teaches violin, and play with the Pop Factory Players orchestra. 

For Scott, his involvements mirror similarities with history as well, as he holds memberships in the Jackson Historical Society, and Central Historical Society, both in eastern Iowa. Scott holds speaking engagements in both, as he travels to Iowa often. 

He said his love for history has brought him to the society. 

“As being the former owner-operator of a 100 head dairy farm and now retired, I can focus on my other passion of history and genealogical research. I have always enjoyed my own family stories since childhood growing up in Eastern Iowa,” Scott said. “The last 40 plus years, I have lived in Southwest Wisconsin, and have found many connections of facts and families who share common roots and similarities.

“As President, my goal now is to share my enthusiasm with anyone who has a growing interest in preserving history. Genealogy is more than just names and dates, but bringing characters to life in finding their roots and to make family stories more enjoyable.” 

In June 2023, LCHGS conducted a Union Grove Cemetery Walk, with members portraying real life people, in costumes and actual garments, and telling the stories of those who’s lives only live on in stories. This spoke to Scott’s heart, who has plans for another Cemetery Walk in 2024. 

Another event which Scott was instrumental in organizing, was the bus trip to Rock Island, Ill., where the group toured the Blackhawk Indian Museum and the sites of the Rock Island Arsenal. More trips are being planned within Scott’s President term.

Scott said he has a lot of plans coming into his Presidential term in January. 

“An outreach committee has been established to seek out a younger set of historians, such as student and teacher groups throughout Lafayette County,” he said.

Scott seems hopeful he can get everything accomplished. 

“Being President means bringing ideas and projects together for the interest of Lafayette County. I know I have to delegate responsibilities to committee members to meet the demands of all the different aspect of this organization to be successful.” He suggests a few new ideas, such as an Annual historical Dinner for all Lafayette County residents, although he is taking his upcoming term, one step at a time.

As for Nemec she has her own plans outside of LCHGS. “Slow down ‘a little’, and work on my own family tree. Keep spending time with my grandkids, farm, and other hobbies. I’ll always be busy,” she said.