The display case highlights some of the many activities and events that occur in Fitchburg during the upcoming summer months. There are events for the whole family and events geared to specific age groups. These events not only draw people living in Fitchburg but also people from the surrounding area.
February 2023
At our Fitchburg Historical Society annual meeting at 1:30 on April 23 in the library meeting room, Traci E. Schnell, a noted architectural historian, will be presenting her findings on current and potential historical buildings in Fitchburg that she surveyed a few years ago for the Fitchburg Landmarks and Preservation Commission. This survey was recently updated at the request of the FHS. The meeting will also serve as a happy 40th anniversary for Fitchburg becoming a city, a process that required a 4 to 3 vote of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. A cake will be available for this occasion.
November 2022
With the available resources of the Fitchburg Public Library, the FHS display case provides a look at just a few of the many written materials about the end of year holidays. These books give us insights into the festivities in November, December, and January. They put into words the emotions we feel when we participate in pleasurable activities. Celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Years with cheer, peace, and joy. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL !!!
September 2022
The display case presents the merits and issues of the FHS Fall meeting for 2022. On Sunday October 9th, Fitchburg City Administrator, Chad Brecklin will be telling us about the “CITY OF FITCHBURG – Insights about a Growing City”. He will incorporate his experience in Fitchburg since 1999 to give everyone information about the upcoming Town of Madison attachment, details of expanding economic development, and perspectives on the budget process. Get answers to your questions. Come to the Fitchburg Public Library to learn HIGHLIGHTS ABOUT FITCHBURG!!!
April 2022
The FHS display case announces our annual meeting on April 24, 2022. Our keynote speaker this year is Penny Patterson, a Vice President of Corporate Affairs at the Promega Corporation. Her talk is entitled “Promega: A Company on the Move During COVID”. Ms Patterson will tell us about the international scope of Promega to join in the fight against COVID using their scientific equipment and scientific methods to respond to the pandemic. We look forward to learning how science in our community was used to solve problems that affected the entire world. Thank you Promega Corporation for your many accomplishments and scientific innovations!
February 2022
The FHS display case is FOR THE BIRDS! With the advice of of local bird enthusiasts, we have found a collection of local fauna in Fitchburg. The Fitchburg Public Library was able to provide texts that give birding details. We see cardinals, blue jays, juncos, woodpeckers, tufted titmouse, and other the birds at our feeders. With the birds, we await the arrival of spring!!
November 2021
Fitchburg will again have the Holiday of Lights Tour on Saturday, December 18 from 6 pm to 9 pm. If you would like to be included on the tour email administration@fitchburgwi.gov to put your address on the map. The Fitchburg Historical Society will take photos and put them on our website. You can also send a photo of your light display to our FHS email woodedarchives@gmail.com
and we will place the photo on our website. Please give us the address if you wish us to add it to the photo description.
October 2021
GENEALOGY is the focal point of the Fitchburg Historical Society display case to announce the topic of our 2021 fall meeting. The genealogy resources in the display compliment the presentation. Longtime FHS board member Roger Laurel Tesch and his co-presenter Patty Schmitt, a genealogical researcher, will tell us about “Using Land to Map your Genealogy.” The fall meeting happens on Sunday, November 7, 2021 at 1:30 pm via Zoom. To register for the meeting click here. We invite everyone to consider this program for investigating family heritage.
July 2021
LET’S HAVE FUN IN FITCHBURG !! The Fitchburg Historical Society display case welcomes the return of normal activities after the Covid 19 restrictions. The display describes many of the pleasurable events that are available in our area over the next several months of 2021 as highlighted by the Fitchburg Chamber and Visitors Bureau. Known as the “City in Motion”, you can participate in music performances, arts, crafts, farmer’s markets, biking events, ethnic festivals, and many other activities. Whether you are indoors or outdoors — enjoy all things that are Fitchburg!!
December 2019
The FHS display case remembers the life and photographic work of Ida Wyman, master photo journalist. She started using a camera at an early age and photography became her life’s work. Ida was curious about people and things so she recorded her feelings with her camera. Through the camera lens, Ida would produce documentary photographs showing everyday events in the world around her. The pictures in this display present some of her cross country travels from New York to Los Angeles in the mid twentieth century to capture bits of Americana. Ms Wyman had photographs published in Life and Look magazines at a time when few women did that kind of work. She received more acclaim for her work in later years as people came to enjoy the gallery presentation talks that she gave during her photo exhibitions. Her photographs can be found in many galleries across the United States and around the world. We honor her memory as we reveal her interesting story by showing some of the pictures she cherished. THANK YOU IDA WYMAN – you will be sadly missed.
September 2019
The FHS display case commemorates the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution regarding a woman’s right to vote. The presentation on display includes facts about American and Wisconsin suffrage leaders who worked diligently to promote and protect voting rights for American women so many years ago. This display case complements the talk at our fall meeting by Bob Kann PhD. On November 3, 2019, Professor Kann will tell us “How the great battle for woman’s suffrage was won”. We get to ponder the struggles that went into formulating and passing the woman’s voting legislation. NEVER FORGET THAT VOTING IS AN IMPORTANT CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY!!
June 2019
How do we spend our free time? With the arrival of warm weather, the Fitchburg Historical Society Display Case reflects on the ways to spend leisure hours in our area. There are many things to see and do for enjoyment, entertainment, and amusement in Fitchburg. We salute the many camps, sports, music venues, and games for both younger folks and adults. The display case provides specific details about some of the local recreational activities for the next few months. You can enjoy your fun in the sun right here in our own back yard. BRING ON SUMMER !!!
April 2019
New Fitchburg Room Display
The Fitchburg Room display case has a new exhibit of enlarged Fitchburg Township plat maps spanning the years 1861 to 1904. We have more maps in our archives which can be viewed by appointment. Plat maps are an important tool in learning about the history of Fitchburg. These maps locate and identify the owners of each plot of land as well as mark the locations of schools, roads and villages. Land features such as streams, lakes and marshes are also identified.
If you are unable to visit the display you can see the plat maps on our website. Scroll down the right sidebar to the heading Fitchburg Plat Map Links. Click on a date of interest. This will take you to the website displaying the plat map. Images can be enlarged by clicking on the white bars on the left side or + button under the map.
March 2019 – April 2019
Panoramic displays of select sites in Fitchburg are now in the Fitchburg Historical Society display case. These images provide the perfect complement to the presentation at our annual meeting entitled “This is Fitchburg”. On April 14th, Angela Kinderman, the Executive Director of the Fitchburg Chamber Visitor and Business Bureau, will talk about our community. We look forward to highlights about living, working, and recreating in our vibrant and unique locale. Fitchburg is a City on the Move and a place we are proud to call home.
January 2019 – March 2019
BARNS have arrived at the Fitchburg Historical Society display case. Farm barns have long been a primary structure on farms everywhere and we found a fine selection of barns that originated here in Fitchburg. Since there is no specific design to determine the use or purpose for a barn, we have randomly chosen old and new Fitchburg Barns in our display. From the earliest primitive log barns to the current barns with attached silos, barns can be unique and interesting. The FHS appreciates the way barns identify the hardworking family farm and how they show the ever changing history of farm life.
For a more detailed discussion of Fitchburg barns click our Fitchburg Barns webpage link or go to it from our Rural Fitchburg menu.
December 2018 – January 2019
As noted in an old familiar Christmas song, “Fast away the old year passes.” In that vein, the Fitchburg Historical Society Display Case shows a collection of holiday light displays found throughout our community. The buildings, yards, and parks included in this collection are bright and joyful. They remind us of the beauty and festivity that we celebrate as the old year ends and the new year begins. We congratulate our neighbors for their ability to light up our lives. MERRY HOLIDAYS TO EVERYONE!!
September 2018 – November 2018
The Fitchburg Historical Society display case now provides details about Nevin State Fish Hatchery located in Fitchburg. The photos and descriptions that are displayed tell some of the story of Wisconsin’s oldest fish hatchery. This display complements the speaker at our fall meeting on October 28th. Jason Himebauch, an Operations Technician at Nevin Fish Hatchery will talk about happenings “Inside Fitchburg’s State Fish Hatchery.” We look forward to finding out more about the functioning of this venerable fish hatchery in our back yard and the service it provides to the anglers in our community. Bring on the fish tales!!
July 2018 – September 2018
The Fitchburg Historical Society display case proudly introduces a special adult hobby world that happens in our neighborhood. With the establishment of Bricks and Minifigs as a business selling LEGO® paraphernalia, the exciting world of adult LEGO® activity became a reality in Fitchburg. Adult LEGO® enthusiasts have monthly meetings at the LEGO® store as part of WisLUG – Wisconsin LEGO® Users Group. The members of WisLUG are unique in their desire to make many interesting and beautiful designs out of LEGOS®. After the LEGOS® are crafted into buildings, animals, people, et cetera, they may become part of LEGO® competitive events that happen during the year. Pictures of completed projects as well as actual LEGO® creations are included in this display. Thank you adult LEGO® lovers for allowing the FHS to share your LEGO® MANIA!!
May 2018 – July 2018
The City of Fitchburg WI completed its 35th year of being a city in April 2018. The Fitchburg Historical Society display case describes some of the historical steps leading to city status. In 1979 private citizens in Fitchburg circulated a petition in the first step of the legal process to change the Town of Fitchburg to a city. A referendum about city status was passed by the Fitchburg electorate but the results were contested by Madison WI. However, the WI Supreme Court upheld the validity of the referendum in April 1983, so Fitchburg became a city on April 26, 1983. CONGRATULATIONS FITCHBURG, YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY!!!
February 2018 – April 2018
The Fitchburg Historical Society display case looks back on the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. This past world-wide medical happening had lethal consequences for many people around the globe. Even currently, the flu impacts our lives. The display complements our April 22 annual meeting speaker, Mary Hayney, Professor of the University of WI School of Pharmacy, who will talk about “The 1918 Flu Pandemic and Dealing with the Flu Today”. By remembering the events of the past, we aim to defuse the epidemic of the future.
November 2017- January 2018
The year – end holidays have come to the FHS display case. The display highlights events for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Years. Each celebration tableau is described by unique words beginning with the letter “F”. “Frankly,” the display case is “fabulous.” “Happy Holidays” with joy and good wishes to everyone!
September 2017 – October 2017
The Fitchburg Historical Society display case pays tribute to the Fitchburg Fire Department. The display highlights some of the people, activities, and events at the fire station that correlate with the topic about fire department happenings and history at our fall meeting. On October 8th, firefighter Adam Dorn will describe “The Fitchburg Fire Department Story”. Celebrate the relevance of October, Fire Prevention Month by remembering the courage of all firefighters!
April 2017 – September 2017
The FHS display case has gone miniature!! With the help and cooperation of the Madison Area Miniature Enthusiasts, the display shows miniature examples of life related activities in our community. The exhibit is titled “Miniatures of our life events”. The houses, yards, gardens, and libraries are all hand-crafted to small scale size (one inch, one half inch, or one quarter inch). The details and intricacy of these creations is amazing. We thank the MAME group for their hard work and generosity in allowing the FHS to exhibit their beautiful handiwork this summer. It is an impressive small world.
March 2017 – April 2017
The current Fitchburg Historical Society display case remembers the 100th anniversary of the United States entry into World War I. This display complements our April 30 annual meeting speaker, Russel Horton from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum who will talk about “Beyond the Trenches – Stories of Wisconsin Men and Women in World War I”. The Display also honors people from Fitchburg who served during the war both overseas and on the home front. We proudly remember the courage of those people who participated in the Great War and thank them for their long-ago service and sacrifice.
January 2017 – March 2017
The current FHS display case honors 100 years of local farm history by listing the local Century Farms in our area. A Century Farm means that continuous family ownership for 100 years or more can be established by certified documents such as titles, deeds, and/or other legal records. The award certificate is presented at a ceremony at the Wisconsin State Fair. An example of a Century Farm Certificate is included in the display as well as pictures of some of the actual farms. These farms help commemorate life from the time of America’s involvement in the Great War 100 years ago — the home front and lifestyle the soldiers were fighting to protect. Congratulations to all of the stalwart 100 year farm families!!!
December 2016 – January 2017
The current display case has an end-of-year holiday theme that is entitled “Old Fashioned Holiday Greetings” and can be viewed through early January 2017. Old-time Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years cards provide the basis for describing all of the year-end festivities. The cards in combination with family pictures, old memorabilia, and decorations come together to wish everyone — happy holidays!!
Fitchburg Historical Society 