Schedule and Summary of 2008 Programs & Events
MARCH 2 Sunday 2 PM “OJIBWE SUGARING” by Howard Paap
“ISHKIGAMIZIGEWIN An Ojibwe Rite of Spring”
Howard Paap, a retired anthropology professor, is the husband of Marlene Paap, a Red Cliff member, and the author of several books about the Ojibwe and life on the Bayfield peninsula. His talk, accompanied by excellent slides, centered on Ojibwe traditional sugar-bushing and the importance of maple sugar from a cultural perspective.
Howard called on a number of people in the audience who were also in the pictures to add to what he was telling. Dan and Marilyn Nourse were there and delighted to provide their expertise too. So the afternoon was a wonderful coming together of about 75 people from Bayfield, Red Cliff and Cornucopia. The Heritage Center volunteers decided to make mini pancakes which they served with maple butter during Howard's talk. To the audience's delight they made 150 of them! Howard, of course, was a gracious person and not at all fazed by our passing pancakes during his talk.
Tapping the maple tree to collect the sap Boiling the sap over an open fire
April 16, 17 & 23 Bayfield Middle School Class Tours of the Heritage Center
Children from the Bayfield Middle School were given an informative off season tour of the Heritage Center Museum section by Howard Paap and were shown the Cahill Barbershop exhibit which was under construction. After the tour they were given milk and cookies baked by Heritage Center Volunteers.
April 11 Friday 6:30 PM Maple Syrup Production in Northern Wisconsin
This BHA sponsored event, coordinated by Jerry Phillips, celebrated the close of the sugaring season, as a follow-up to the pre-season Maple Sugar program by Howard Paap. The audience heard the history of maple syrup production in Wisconsin as well as informative and humorous local stories by experts and amateurs producing this "nectar of the gods" in our area. There was a blind tasting of a spoonful of each maple syrup, with Mrs. Butterworth’s included to keep the crowd honest, and participants were furnished with ballots to vote on their favorites and judge which were real and which were "fake" syrups. A Rittenhouse Inn furnished dessert was served with hot spiced cider from the Erickson orchards. The crowd of 55+ left this event with a sweet taste in their mouths.
Andy Larsen explains how to judge maple syrup by its color and translucency
APRIL 27 Sunday 2 PM “HISTORY OF BAYFIED SCHOOLS” by Bob Nelson
Bob Nelson, presented an overview of the evolution of Bayfield Schools from May 1, 1858 to present. He projected a number of old photographs of early Bayfield schools, which no longer exist, and classrooms full of children, a number of whom are now adults and in the audience. The Lincoln and Central schools were featured in the presentation and their fate was discussed.
Lincoln School Central School
Upon completion of the presentation, which was enjoyed by 60 plus attendees, the Bayfield High School graduates in the audience posed for a photo then enjoyed socializing and refreshments highlighted by a cake featuring the Bayfield Lincoln School.
Bob Nelson signed copies of his newly released book entitled "Memories and Minutes - School District Number One, Township of Bayfield"
MAY 18 Sunday 5 PM VOLUNTEER POTLUCK PICNIC
The Board of Directors of the Bayfield Heritage Association hosted a Volunteer Potluck PICNIC on Sunday, May 18 at 5:00 PM at the Heritage Center Museum. The event was held in recognition and appreciation of the efforts made by our many energetic and task-oriented volunteers. A beautiful spring day greeted the volunteers who enjoyed the social time, the grilled fare and refreshments.
Volunteers look on as Jerry Phillips & Tom Gordon Grill Burgers & Brats
May 20 Tuesday 7:00 PM VICTORIAN HOUSE PROGRAM
Jerry Phillips, BHA President, introduced the guest lecturer, Ann Koski, to a crowd of 50 who attended this special Heritage Center program.
Ann L. Koski, is the director of the Wisconsin Historical Museum in Madison, a division of the Wisconsin State Historical Society. Prior to this position, she was director of the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay for 14.5 years and director of the Oswego County Historical Society in Oswego, NY. She has a BA and a Masters degree in Anthropology and another Masters degree in Historical Administration.
Her talk "Beautiful Homes and the Surroundings That Make Them Charming" was an illustrated lecture program that discussed the layout and function of a Victorian home.
She explained why kitchens were NEVER placed next to the dining room and why a home was partitioned into public and private areas. The importance of pianos in the courting relationship and why red was considered to be the best color to be used in decorating the dining room was related to scientific research years later.
After the lecture questions were answered and recollections of Victorian principles were discussed by the audience. The guests socialized after light refreshments were served and many had a sneak preview of the nearly complete Cahill Barbershop exhibit.
MAY 31 Saturday 8:30 AM ANNUAL PLANT SALE
This years Fountain Garden Park Plant Sale began under the BHA tent awnings with beautiful sunshine accented by transient clouds and an enthusiastic crowd of gardeners who quickly selected plants from a wide assortment of exceptional bare root and potted options. This years sale included new and used garden tools and accessories. The sale was extremely successful and the monies raised will be used to maintain the Fountain Garden Park, the Knight Apple Shed and the Old City Jail, all projects of the BHA Historic Grounds Subcommittee.
JUNE 8 Sunday 2 to 4 PM HERITAGE CENTER EXHIBIT OPENING
The “RAY CAHILL BARBER SHOP”, a semi-permanent exhibit, created from the original cabinetry, furnishings and even the bottles, signage and clock, was "under construction" since last fall and recreates the nostalgic gathering place of area residents for nearly 50 years. The grand opening of this exhibit was attended by a crowd approaching 100 visitors attesting to the popularity of Ray Cahill and the nostalgia this historic exhibit brings to everyone who new Ray or heard stories of his barbershop.
Several visitors look into the re-created barbershop as one individual writes her Cahill memory for the collection of stories which will be available for subsequent visitors to read at the Heritage Center this summer.
Several members of the extended Cahill family who attended the opening of the exhibit sit on one Rays original barbershop benches. Rays daughter, second from the left, was a consultant to the Museum Committee and contributed many items which are displayed.
Bayfield Heritage Association president Jerry Phillips, on the left, thanked the Cahill family for their cooperation in making this exhibit as nearly authentic as possible and told the visitors how the exhibit "came to life" in the Heritage Center over the past year.
You can see the pictorial evolution of the exhibit on our Cahill Barbershop page.
JUNE 10 Tuesday 1 PM HERITAGE CENTER MUSEUM OPENS FOR SEASON
JUNE 18 Wednesday 7 PM “LIGHTHOUSES OF THE APOSTLES” by Bob Mackreth
More than 50 attendees learned more about the Apostle Islands lighthouses through fascinating stories of the men and women who lived in these isolated structures separated from the mainland not simply by water but also by the extreme influence of the elements. His stories were illustrated by colorful images.
Bob Nelson, left photo, introduced Bob Mackreth, right photo, who brought lighthouses to life
During an intermission attendees socialized with coffee, lemonade and cookies.
JUNE 24 Tuesday The SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING at the Heritage Center scheduled for this date has been cancelled due to lack of items which need membership action.
JUNE 29 Sunday 2 to 4 PM ART EXHIBIT OPENING
Under the direction of Marilyn Van Sant and Steve Soderman paintings were hung in the Heritage Center by Martha Larson and Jim Moeller.
Martha and Jim position and hang the art under Steve's watchful eye.
Marilyn and Steve carefully consider the placement of each painting.
Martha Larson, Steve Soderman, Marilyn Van Sant & Jim Moeller
On June 29 the Exhibit Opened to the Public
The opening of the Black/Nourse Art Retrospective was attended by over 100 guests including descendants of both John Black and Bessie Nourse. Mr. Steve Soderman, the curator of Mary Rice’s art collection, directed the placement of 69 paintings loaned to the Bayfield Heritage Center for this exhibit from donors across the country. Mr. Soderman explained artistic variations between many of the paintings which are now available for viewing by the public.
Steve Soderman discussed the significance of the Heritage Center Exhibit
Marilyn Van Sant relates how the idea of the retrospective was born and came to fruition after a single John Black painting came to her attention as the objects in the Heritage Center collection were being recorded into a computer database by the archivist.
John Black's descendants stand in front of some of his paintings
Bessie Nourse's descendants in front of her Paintings
Relatives and guests enjoyed a memorable afternoon reviewing the art. Refreshments were furnished by Bayfield Heritage Center volunteers.
July 16 at 7 P.M. Commercial Fishing History of Bayfield
Bob Nelson, local amateur historian and second-generation descendent of a Norwegian fishing family presented an illustrated talk, with many personal family anecdotes, on the history of the commercial fish camps operating in the Bayfield area in the late 1800's and 1900's to an audience of nearly 100 in the Heritage Center.
BHA President Jerry Phillips introduces the program speaker Bob Nelson shown above
JULY 26, 2008 "RIDING THE WIND" at the BIG TOP CHAUTAUQUA
As one of two organizations which co-commissioned the writing of the original "Riding the Wind" the Bayfield Heritage Association will again co-sponsor a Chautauqua performance of the musical history of Bayfield. The other sponsoring organizations are the Apostle Islands Historical Preservation Conservancy and the Belanger Settlement.
AUGUST 14 Thursday 6 PM “COOKING WITH YVONNE MOODY”
A repeat of last years exceptionally well received cooking lesson and tasting will held at the Heritage Center. Due to space considerations the number of attendees will be limited. You won't want to miss this colorful gastronomic event. See details on the HOME Page.
AUGUST 20 Wednesday 7 PM “SHIPWRECKS OF THE APOSTLES”
Bob Mackreth will present another visually animated program which highlights the graveyard of the unfortunate vessels which succumbed to the fury of the greatest of the Great Lakes.
SEPTEMBER 13 Saturday 5 PM ANNUAL HERITAGE CENTER FUNDRAISER
SEPTEMBER 27 Saturday 2 PM to 4 PM PROGRAM AND BOOK SIGNING
The “History of Bayfield” by Eleanor Knight
Bayfield, circa pre-1883, shows the old courthouse in the left upper part of this photo. Ms. Knight wrote extensively about the courthouse in her book.
In 1956, Bayfield’s local historian and journalist Eleanor Knight was presented the prestigious “Award of Merit” by the State Historical Society for her carefully researched and well written history of the Bayfield area. In recognition of Ms Knight’s work the Bayfield Heritage Association, Inc. is pleased to announce that on September 27th the Bayfield Heritage Center will host a book signing of Eleanor’s local history gem, “The History of Bayfield”.
Excerpted readings, collated with an associated slide show, will be presented by local amateur historian Bob Nelson and guest readers. Attendees will meet Bayfield’s early shakers and movers, Mr. William Knight, Mr. Robinson Derling Pike, Mrs. Andrew Tate, while reliving the day that the first train arrived in Bayfield and the sinking of Bayfield’s life-line to the world, the supply steamer Manistee. Present day Knight family members, Scotten Knight Hale and Kathrine Knight-Bernico will be on hand to share the storied history of Eleanor and William Knight as well as sign first edition copies of Aunt Eleanor’s “Award of Merit” collections.
The public is encouraged to attend, admission is free, donations to support our program series are very much appreciated. The Bayfield Heritage Center is located at 30 North Broad Street in historic downtown Bayfield, Wisconsin. Refreshments will be served but seating is limited so please come early and enjoy the full Heritage Center experience. For information about all lectures, educational opportunities, and events, watch for further newspaper notices of upcoming events check this website for updates.
DECEMBER Date/Time TBA Bayfield Heritage Association ANNUAL MEETING
Our annual meeting is again planned for early December at the OLD RITTENHOUSE INN which was filled to capacity for the 2007 meeting. We again thank Mary and Jerry Phillips for their generosity in allowing our membership to hold this business and social event in their beautifully decorated Inn.