Watertown Olde House Society

Greetings Olde House Society Members,

The Watertown Historical Society will kick off another year of entertaining and informative public presentations on Tuesday April 24 with a look into why we say the things we do as residents of Wisconsin. Think "fish fry" and "bubbler vs. drinking fountain." The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Watertown Community and Senior Center. Please keep reading for more details:

Historical Society to hold public presentation April 24

As the Watertown Historical Society continues to prepare the Octagon House Museum for its eagerly anticipated May 1 opening, planning also has been underway to once again offer a number of free presentations to the public this year.

On Tuesday, April 24 senior editor of the Dictionary of American Regional English Louann Schneidemesser will present “Wisconsin Words.” Schneidemesser, along with freelance lexicographer and lifelong Wisconsin resident Julie Plier, will discuss how the various ethnic and cultural groups that settled Wisconsin have influenced and enriched the language of the state and how it continues to change.

If you’ve lived in Wisconsin “from little on” or even if you’ve been here for only a short time, you’re probably aware that the words and ways of Wisconsinites can be unique. If, for example, you go to church suppers and Friday-night fish fries, play sheepshead, borrow your friend money to buy bakery, drink from a bubbler instead of from a drinking fountain, or have ever budged in line, you know you’re from Wisconsin.

Also during the April meeting, the board will hold an election of new officers and hold a brief business review of the organization.

Additonal public meetings scheduled for the 2012 season include “A Picture Says a Thousand Words” with Bill Jannke on June 25 where a number of historic photos of Watertown will be shown and discussed. On September 24, local quilt restorer Rebecca Hafemeister will share the history of her quilt collection and how she came to be involved in quilt restoration work, and on November 12 the historical society will air a collection of vintage winter-themed home movies filmed in Watertown as well as the heartwarming “Christmas on Grandfather’s Farm” which was filmed several decades ago at the Octagon House and stars many well known historical society members from back in the day.

All public presentations will start at 7 p.m. and be held at the Watertown Community and Senior Center. For more information, please call the Octagon House Museum at 261-2796.