Marathon County Historical Society tests Spencer audience with Traveling Trunk
By Kris Leonhardt
Editor
SPENCER — Anna Chilsen Straub, from the Marathon County Historical Society, challenged the audience at the Spencer Public Library Tuesday, Aug. 2, while removing historical items from her Traveling Trunk.
Describing the origin of her items, Chilsen Straub played a guessing game with the room of adults.
“At the museum, we rely on the donation of artifacts,” stated Chilsen Straub. “We have over 15,000 artifacts at the historical society in Wausau, and those are from all over Marathon County. Those we primarily receive because people are cleaning out their grandmother’s attic or they are downsizing.”
Producing her first item, which her audience recognized as a rug beater, Chilsen Straub described how people used the household item in the winter months.
“In the winter, it was a great time to take the rugs outside because you could lay them in the snow (and) then flip them over the wash line,” Chilsen Straub explained. “Then pound it off, and that helped to lift out the dirt and freshen the rug.”
The event was part of a monthly program held at the Spencer library throughout the year to educate and entertain on both current and historical topics.
Upcoming events include Gary Gisselman’s look into the 19th and 20th century one-room school houses. Originally schedule for August, the event was moved to Sept. 6 and will take a close look at the early schools that once opened their doors to children in Marathon County.
On Oct. 4 the Spencer Library will welcome WSAW-TV meteorologist Mark Holley and weekend anchor Holly Chilsen as they describe what it takes to do a weather or news report.
On Nov. 1 Scott Parks of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office will give an overview of the sheriff’s office and current trends.
For more information on these programs, contact the library at 715-659-3996, or visit them at 105 S. Park St. in Spencer.
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.