NEW GLARUS - A trip to New Glarus can mean a return visit to grasp a better understanding of the richness of the area's deep history, expansive culture and connections to the world.
Historian and author Kim Tschudy offers just that to his readers, a second look at his family's hometown in "New Glarus," part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images in America" series. He starts at the community's beginnings, again, to fill in some of the gaps of his first book, "The Swiss of New Glarus," and extends its far past into its near past.
In this book, released Monday, Tschudy follows a new trail, and the book's ending surprises even him.
As with his other books, the concept Tschudy started with "invariably changes," he said. "It never ends up where you expect it to."
"New Glarus" expands on the stories of the area's evolving farming and cheesemaking community - the backbones of its economic survival - and of its multiple contributions of military leaders since the Civil War, including five men who rose to the rank of Colonel during World War II.
On this return visit, Tschudy includes the village's anniversaries and other celebrations.
But he also reserved an entire chapter for an extensive, pictorial depiction of the people and places involved in the controversial Yoder vs. Wisconsin, a case that led to the 1971 Supreme Court key decision on religious freedom.
Tschudy, who also authored "Images of America - Green County," is a storyteller who has amassed enough knowledge about the area's history to fill an encyclopedia. But "New Glarus" is, as "The Swiss of New Glarus" is, best described as a community scrapbook, filled with more than 200 portraits of itself through history. The cutlines are mere snippets of the stories Tschudy could tell; he lets the photos tell the fuller stories, and they require contemplative study.
"New Glarus" is the result of requests for another book from Tschudy, he said. Many of the photos he assembled for the book were supplied by friends in antique businesses, "who know what I am looking for," he added.
Tschudy is a fifth generation of New Glarus settlers, with grandchildren to carry on the family lineage and history. His ancestor, J.J. Tschudy settled in the area in 1846, filling positions of teacher, preacher and doctor for the new community.
Now retired full-time, but still quite busy, Kim Tschudy has acquired and is restoring the 1855 Oswald Hauser house, built around a log cabin of New Glarus. Tschudy's aunt and uncle, Sam and Lydia Luchsinger, resided in the home for many years. Luchsinger was an early photographer in New Glarus and a number of his photos are found in Tschudy's new book.
Tschudy will be available to sign his newest book, "New Glarus," from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at The Cow and Quince, 407 2nd St., New Glarus; 1-3:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Fireside Books, 1110 15th Ave., Monroe; 5-7 p.m. Nov. 29 at Puempel's Olde Tavern, New Glarus; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 6 at Hometown Pharmacy, New Glarus; and 1:30-4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Brenda's Blumenladen, New Glarus.
Historian and author Kim Tschudy offers just that to his readers, a second look at his family's hometown in "New Glarus," part of Arcadia Publishing's "Images in America" series. He starts at the community's beginnings, again, to fill in some of the gaps of his first book, "The Swiss of New Glarus," and extends its far past into its near past.
In this book, released Monday, Tschudy follows a new trail, and the book's ending surprises even him.
As with his other books, the concept Tschudy started with "invariably changes," he said. "It never ends up where you expect it to."
"New Glarus" expands on the stories of the area's evolving farming and cheesemaking community - the backbones of its economic survival - and of its multiple contributions of military leaders since the Civil War, including five men who rose to the rank of Colonel during World War II.
On this return visit, Tschudy includes the village's anniversaries and other celebrations.
But he also reserved an entire chapter for an extensive, pictorial depiction of the people and places involved in the controversial Yoder vs. Wisconsin, a case that led to the 1971 Supreme Court key decision on religious freedom.
Tschudy, who also authored "Images of America - Green County," is a storyteller who has amassed enough knowledge about the area's history to fill an encyclopedia. But "New Glarus" is, as "The Swiss of New Glarus" is, best described as a community scrapbook, filled with more than 200 portraits of itself through history. The cutlines are mere snippets of the stories Tschudy could tell; he lets the photos tell the fuller stories, and they require contemplative study.
"New Glarus" is the result of requests for another book from Tschudy, he said. Many of the photos he assembled for the book were supplied by friends in antique businesses, "who know what I am looking for," he added.
Tschudy is a fifth generation of New Glarus settlers, with grandchildren to carry on the family lineage and history. His ancestor, J.J. Tschudy settled in the area in 1846, filling positions of teacher, preacher and doctor for the new community.
Now retired full-time, but still quite busy, Kim Tschudy has acquired and is restoring the 1855 Oswald Hauser house, built around a log cabin of New Glarus. Tschudy's aunt and uncle, Sam and Lydia Luchsinger, resided in the home for many years. Luchsinger was an early photographer in New Glarus and a number of his photos are found in Tschudy's new book.
Tschudy will be available to sign his newest book, "New Glarus," from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at The Cow and Quince, 407 2nd St., New Glarus; 1-3:30 p.m. Nov. 29 at Fireside Books, 1110 15th Ave., Monroe; 5-7 p.m. Nov. 29 at Puempel's Olde Tavern, New Glarus; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 6 at Hometown Pharmacy, New Glarus; and 1:30-4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Brenda's Blumenladen, New Glarus.