Summary of 2008 PROGRAMS and 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 again co-sponsored a Chautauqua performance of the musical history of Bayfield. The other sponsoring organizations were the Apostle Islands Historical Preservation Conservancy and the Belanger Settlement.
AUGUST 11 Monday 1:30 PM Bayfield Civic League Meeting
The Bayfield Civic League met in the Bayfield Heritage Center and after their regular business meeting enjoyed a narrative on the John Black and Bessie Nourse paintings presented by Marilyn Van Sant, the Heritage Center Exhibits Coordinator.
AUGUST 14 Thursday 6 PM “COOKING WITH YVONNE"
“A Taste of Italy” was this year’s theme
Bayfield native Yvonne LaPointe Moody has taught cooking in the Minneapolis – St. Paul area for over 30 years. Her cooking credentials include study at LaVarenne and Cordon Bleu in Paris, study with Simone Beck in the south of France, and also study with Jacques Pepin and other notable chefs in the U.S. She is a certified teacher with the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Her recent trip to Italy inspired this years gourmet food and Italian wine tasting event.
The program again was filled, with a waiting list of individuals who were not able to able to attend, due to the constraints of class size in the Heritage Center facility.
Attendees received recipes for the entire event and after detailed preparation demonstrations tasted each menu item along with unique Italian wines.
Crostini with Mozzarella and Basil
Salad of Zucchini, Sundried Tomatoes and Parmesan Shavings
Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Roulade – Roasted Red Bell Pepper-Basil Sauce
Four-Cheese Polenta Cakes a la “Fog City Diner’
Sauteed Broccoli with Garlic, Black Olives and Pine Nuts
Lemon Torte with Warm Berry Sauce
Preparing Lemon Zest Blending ingredients
August 20 Wednesday 7 PM
Shipwrecks of the Apostle Islands - by Bob Mackreth
The Sevona, the Pretoria, the Lucerne, the Manistee, and so many others: ships that went down in the waters around the Apostle Islands. Historian Bob Mackreth told tales of shipwrecks: stories of heroism, tragedy, and even humor, as he explored the maritime lore of Lake Superior. The audience heard of swimming cattle, lighthouse keepers brave and not-so-brave, heroic mariners, and one boat that was lost twice as related stories of the Shipwrecks of The Apostle Islands.
Bob Nelson introduces Bob Mackreth to a capacity crowd of over 100
The Manistee, one of the many lost ships. Historian Bob Mackreth
After the program the attendees weree treated to home made cookies and lemonade
SEPTEMBER 12 Friday 6 PM Over 100 attended our 4th Annual Fundraiser – Art, Antiques & Artifacts. The event was held under a twin-peaked tent at the Museum on Friday, September 12 and featured a live auction of 20 items and a raffle. Friends of BHA were treated to delicious hors d’oeuvres from the Rittenhouse Inn, smoked fish from Bodin’s and were entertained by the Liz Woodworth Trio. The weather cooperated – a warm sunny Friday was sandwiched between a rainy Thursday and Saturday. The guests were entertained by the auctioneering expertise of Jerry Phillips amid very lively bidding. A good time was had by all. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward meeting our operating expenses.
ANNUAL HERITAGE CENTER FUNDRAISER
“ART, ANTIQUES, & ARTIFACTS”
Attendees gather on a perfect night to view the Auction and Raffle items, not including the 1931 Classic Chevrolet, and to see the Cahill Barber Shop and Black/Nourse Art exhibits displayed in the Heritage Center Museum.
BHA President and Auctioneer, Jerry Philips stands by a display of auction and raffle items
The Liz Woodworth Trio entertained the crowd of over 100 at the fundraiser
An item of interest on the auction was a rare 1924 Indian Pageant Poster. Mary Phillips was the successful bidder and after the auction she donated the historic artifact to the Heritage Center. It will be accessioned into our collection and displayed in the museum. An image of this item is shown below.
SEPTEMBER 27 Saturday 2 PM to 4 PM
A PROGRAM AND BOOK SIGNING
“Tales of Bayfield Pioneers - A History of Bayfield” by Eleanor Knight
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. was pleased to sponsor, at the Bayfield Heritage Center, a program and book signing of Eleanor’s local history gem, “Tales of Bayfield Pioneers - A History of Bayfield”.
Excerpted readings, collated with an associated slide show, was presented by local amateur historian Bob Nelson and guest readers. Attendees learned about 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 were on hand to share the storied history of Eleanor and William Knight and to sign first edition copies of Eleanor’s “Award of Merit” collection compiled and illustrated in the book.
Jerry Phillips, BHA President, opened the program and expressed the appreciation of the BHA Board of Directors for the work involved in the publication of the writings of Eleanor Knight which which represent a remarkable synopsis of the history of Bayfield.
Bob Nelson introduced the presenters
Ruth Moon, in her Red Hat, listened intently then related stories of her close friendship with Eleanor Knight and showed Dudley apples from the tree stock introduced into the Bayfield by William Knight in 1905. Ruth also displayed a can of Green Beans with a Bayfield label as she related stories of the cannery which was part of the Bayfield scene from the 1920's until the 1950's.
Virginia Hirsch (left), dressed as Marietta LaBonte-DeMars, relived the past relating to "The First Train to Bayfield" and Mauricette Keely (right) read exerpts from Mrs. Tates diary.
Doug Lothian (left) related the story and significance of the "Sinking of the Manistee" and Bob Mackreth (right) related segments of the life of Bayfield Pioneer Robinson Derling Pike.
Scotten Knight Hale relates stories of his grandfather Bayfield Pioneer, William Knight, who shaped the destiny of our community.
The team that produced the Eleanor Knight book "Tales of Bayfield Pioneers - A History of Bayfield"
Left to Right: Scotten Hale, Bob Nelson, Kathrine Knight Bernico, Joseph Beedlow
October 6, 2008 Bayfield County Historical Society Meeting
The Bayfield County Historical Society met at the Bayfield Heritage Center for their regular monthly meeting which was followed by refreshments and a tour of the museum exhibits. The Heritage Center will remain open for special events through the remainder of 2008 and Winter of 2009.
Soeiety members and guests meeting in the museum area
The Bayfield CORE organization held its Second Annual Christmas Past Luncheon Program at the Bayfield Heritage Center. The program was attended by about 50 participants who enjoyed a Christmas concert by the Rittenhouse singers, a "slide show" of Bayfield images furnished by CORE members, a tasty 3 course luncheon preparred by the chefs from Maggies, stories of memories of Christmas past from the audience and door prises.
The Rittenhouse Singers perform at the Heritage Center CORE program
Mauricette Keeley dons a doorprise hat
December 16, 2008 Bayfield Heritage Association, Inc.
Annual Meeting and Pot Luck Dinner
The annual meeting of the membership was again held at the Old Rittenhouse Inn which was beautifully decorated for the Christmas Season. Members provided sides and desert with the entre again provided courtesy of Mary and Jerry Phillips. A social hour and short business meeting was highighted by the election of 5 board membersTom Gordon, Jan Haupert, Nancy Heaton, Jane Edwards and Spencer Robnik as well as 3 alternates Lucy Sense, Sandy Paavola and Julie Gaukler.
The soccial hour precedes the meeting and dinner
Jan Haupert, new Board Member, husband Ron and "Bumpy" Sense
Bill Gover, Board Member, Fran Swanson, Courier Editor, John Swanson & Barb Gover
Jerry Phillips, BHA President, conducts the business meeting
The buffet pot luck dinner awaits the completion of the meeting
Bill Van Sant, Capital Campaign Chair, reports on the status of the campaign
December 20, 2008 "Bayfield Lake Superior" Book Signing
Art photographer Don Albrecht discussed his book of photographs and writings entitled “Bayfield Lake Superior; Stories of Beauty and Isolation”. He used projected pictures from the book and signed book books purchased during the event.
Mr. Albrecht, a resident of Bayfield for the past 34 years, calls his 116-page collection “a visual and verbal meditation on what it is like to live a long time in a small, northern Wisconsin town on the shores of Lake Superior. He thinks Bayfield is a community of characters and stories, tourists and residents, scenic beauty and expectations. Making a commitment to live in such a place demands creativity and tolerance.
An educator and photographer, Albrecht has created this personal account through photographs made with a cheap plastic camera – a toy, really – combined with verbal accounts of the stories behind many of the pictures. Chautauqua artistic director Warren Nelson wrote the foreword. Don Albrecht produced the book through Blurb.com, a self-publishing online company that provides its own bookstore from which anyone can order single or multiple copies, in hard cover or paperback. The book is also on sale at Big Water Coffee Company in Bayfield and at Chequamegon Books in Washburn.
Don Albrecht discussed the story behind a number of the unique photos in his book