By Kris Leonhardt

CLARK COUNTY – Clark County museums are gearing up for what is expected to be an active summer season.

The Spencer Area Historical Society kicked off the season with their Memorial Day Discovery Walk, held at the St. John’s/Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, north of Spencer.

The idea for the walk originated from another area society and is one of the ways that local societies are engaging area residents this summer.

“(My wife) Sharon noticed it in the paper from the Wausau historical society, or the Marathon County Historical Society. They were going to have it out at the cemetery on Grand Avenue in there – that great big cemetery. So, she went and I think one of the other girls went with her, and they were so impressed because the people were even dressed in that period of clothing. And, some of them had stuff from their grandfathers or people that they knew,” said Spencer Area Historical Society Secretary Jerry Kobs.

“So, she brought that back and worked with it for a while, and wanted to know what the rest of the historical people here in our group thought, and we all thought it was a good idea. Let’s try it. You know, the first one, we had some rain so we didn’t get a great big crowd. But then last year, we had a really nice crowd.

“We were going to try to do the West Spencer Cemetery one year and then come back up here and do the Trinity Lutheran and the North Church Cemetery, which is together.”

After a stagnant couple of years, the society is looking forward to an active season.

“We had a few groups this spring that have come in already that have toured the historical society – the museum – they were very impressed with what we’ve done with it,” Kobs said.

“Now more people are getting out, especially the older generation that is hopefully going to bring some more people into the museum…”

The Spencer society’s museum is located at 117 E. Clark, in Spencer.

“We’ve change our hours. We’re going to try doing evenings; we are on the second Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., and on the fourth Wednesday of the month and it coordinates with the same time that the library is open. So, we’re hoping people coming to library will give it a try,” Kobs added.

For more information, find the Spencer Area Historical Society on Facebook.

Other Clark County museums to check out:

Stanley Area Historical Society Museum

Saturdays, Sundays, 1-4 p.m., June to Labor Day, at 228 Helgerson St, Stanley. For more information, contact 715-644-0464.

Reed School Tours

Saturdays, Sundays, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. June to Labor Day, at US Hwy 10 and Cardinal Ave, Neillsville. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ReedSchoolHistoric Site.

Tufts Museum Tours

Saturday of Heritage Days or by appointment, at 26 Hewett St., Neillsville. For more information, contact 715-743-3346.

Colby Rural Arts Museum

Sundays, June to Labor Day, at North First St., Colby. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/RuralArtsMuseum.

1897 Clark County Jail Museum

Second & fourth Sundays, 1-4 p.m., June to Labor Day, at 215 E 5th St, Neillsville. For more information, visit www.1897clarkcountyjailmusem.com.

Branstiter Museum

Don Branstiter built the museum in 1980 to house his many collections, which includes 38 miniature antique cars, coins dating back to 1934, 238 toy tractors, old tools used in the early dairying and lumbering days, stamps, and photographs.

The museum is located at 600 S. Main St., Greenwood. Open noon- 3 p.m. first Sunday in July, August, September.

Thorp

The museum is located at 307 W Birch St., Thorp. For more information, call 715-773-0102.

Loyal

The museum is located at 510 N Gwinn St, Loyal. For more information, call 715-255-8124.