The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, April 25 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Bob Voss, former Ag & Shop Teacher (1970-2004) and FFA advisor at Monticello HS will talk about the changes he has seen in Agriculture and teaching during his career.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

March 21, 2024 Membership Meeting
(note: a week earlier due to Maundy Thursday)

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, March 21 (note: a week earlier due to Maundy Thursday) in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Doug Buehl will talk about the Monticello Woolen Mill. This presentation will trace the story of this small but influential area factory and detail the rejuvenation of a historic Monticello site.

The Monticello Woolen Mill began operation in 1866 as a water-powered mill on the Little Sugar River and created its iconic Monticello blankets, cloths, and yarns for nearly one hundred years. The mill tragically burned in 1950, leaving ruins and a local landmark, the 1868 limestone warehouse building.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

February 22, 2024 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, February 22 in the Zwingli UCC, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

After a short MAHS business meeting, Michael John Jaeger, a volunteer with the Kelch Aviation Museum, Brodhead, will present a program on the “Airmail Beacons in Southern Wisconsin Fields.”

Funny how cutting-edge technology becomes obsolete – and perhaps entirely forgotten - in the blink of an eye. You’ve seen airport radar equipment, used a GPS on your phone, and maybe even sent packages “by airmail” – but did you ever wonder just how these everyday conveniences came to be?

Modern day navigation and our understanding of getting from point A to point B was influenced heavily by the US Postal Service’s beacon towers, one of which stands at the Brodhead Airport in southern Wisconsin, near the Kelch Aviation Museum.

Presenter Michael John Jaeger is a volunteer docent and researcher at the Kelch Aviation Museum.  He’s a former pilot who’s always loved looking at the landscape from above in small planes.  He also likes to share with others how aviation in days past helped shape our local area and the world we live in today.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

September 28, 2023 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, September 28 in the Zwingli UCC, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

After a short MAHS business meeting, Mark Louden, will speak about the 1972 Supreme Court decision in Wisconsin v. Yoder, which upheld Amish parents’ right to determine their children’s education on religious grounds. It is considered a landmark in American constitutional history. In this presentation he will discuss the background to the case, which began in New Glarus, WI, and its implications today, more than 50 years after the decision was handed down.

Mark Louden is a linguist who received his training in Germanic linguistics at Cornell University. A fluent speaker of Pennsylvania Dutch, he has published extensively on this language and other German-American varieties, as well as Yiddish. In addition to his position as the Alfred L. Shoemaker, J. William Frey, and Don Yoder Professor of Germanic Linguistics in the Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic+, he directs the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies and is affiliated with the Religious Studies and Language Sciences programs and the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies. He serves as an interpreter and cultural mediator for Plain people (Amish and traditional Mennonites) in multiple settings, especially health care.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

August 24, 2023 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, August 24 in the Zwingli UCC, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Lance Sathoff will present “Taverns, Tokens and Tidbits: Monroe Swiss Taverns.” Sathoff started researching taverns in Monroe about 12 years ago after starting a collection of bar tokens. His talk highlights specifically the Swiss taverns. It will have pictures of past taverns and tidbits of information.

This is a free presentation hosted by MAHS and the Monticello Library and will start about 7:15 pm. Come join us; the Public is welcome to attend both activities.

New Publications Content

We've added 1873, 1891, 1918, 1945 and 2000 Green County Plat Books to the Publications page.

UPDATE
28th Annual Membership Meeting May 25th, 2023

The MAHS annual membership meeting and Board of Directors election will be Thursday, May 25th at Monticello's Pink Heifer Saloon & Smokehouse. Gather at 5:30 p.m., annual meeting at 6 p.m., followed by a buffet dinner at 7 p.m. Cost will be $30 per person.

Program will be "Cleaning, Sorting, Curating, & Accession" by Danielle Benden, of Driftless Pathways.

Call Mary Davis, 608-558-7387, Karen Brugger, 608-938-3585, or Sue Rieder, 608-558-0197, with number attending by May 21!

New audio program added!

Karen Brugger describes her years at the Oak Shade country school
to Monticello's third grade class.

Monticello third grade, 2022.

Fall is here and the museum will be open for its final two weekends,
October 22 and 29. Stop by and visit and enjoy our facility.

Monticello Second Graders, 2022.

October 2022 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society will meet at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 27, 2022, in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello. We'd like to remind all members that this will be the last membership meeting for the 2022 calendar year.

Following a short business meeting Doug Buehl will give a presentation speaking about "Dad's Back Forty."

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

August 2022 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society will meet at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 25, 2022, in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting Richard Horn, of rural Brooklyn, will give a presentation chronicling his 75 years of ice skating, from pond hockey to European ice, with an emphasis on the outdoors.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

2022 Annual Meeting and Dinner

The Monticello Area Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting and Dinner at The Pink Heifer Saloon and Smokehouse, Monticello, on Thursday, May 19th at 6 P.M. All members are encouraged to attend.

For reservations call: Mary Davis, 608-558-7387

2022 Newsletter Info

The board of directors met recently and plans are under way for resuming our membership meetings and holding our 2-year delayed 25th Anniversary annual meeting. Plus, we will be open on Saturdays from 10-2 beginning in May.

A few details: April 28, 6:30 p.m. you are invited to the museum for a bit of wine and cheese as we re-connect and share ideas. It will also be a great time to bring a new member, pay your dues, and sign up to be a docent this summer. We should also have details about the annual meeting for you too.

2022 MAHS Board of Directors

We welcome new Directors Kay Freitag and Kim Buehl and thank outgoing Directors Hans Sulzer and Nancy Rufener for their service and support!

The new members and their positions are listed on the Home page.

THE MAHS MUSEUM IS OPEN FOR THE 2021 SEASON!

We need Docents for upcoming Saturdays, so if you have some free time, please contact Kay and Bill Dickson, Docent Coordinators, and get your name on the schedule. Remember, the earliest Docents get first choice!

Regular monthly membership meetings will resume this fall.

THE MAHS MUSEUM IS CLOSED FOR THE 2020 SEASON THANKS TO COVID19

May 19, 2020

Dear Friends of Monticello Area Historical Society,

A while back I requested that each of you write how your life was changed by the virus lock down. Well, the lock down is over here in Green County and I'm hoping to receive your two or three paragraphs. Reply to jules.cappelle@gmail.com.

Everyone that submits something (e-mail or letter) will be recognized in our next newsletter.

Students were assigned the same task, and have submitted their thoughts to their teachers. Thanks teachers for working with our society.

Thank you for your participation.

Jules Cappelle
Collection Archivist

THE April 2020 MAHS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Decisions on future membership meetings as well as the May museum opening date are pending. Check back for updates.

April 19, 2020

Dear Friends of Monticello Area Historical Society,

We are in a time of history many would like to forget I'm sure. As a historical organization, it is our duty to record history, especially what we are living through now.

Some of the teachers at our school have already agreed to assign students essays about how their life has been changed by the Coronavirus. I am asking that each of you write two or three paragraphs describing how your life has changed here in Monticello due to the virus. You are welcome to e-mail or send US Mail back to me. All that is sent to the museum, by teachers and you, will be stored both in paper copy and electronicly for future generations. Perhaps a great, great, great grandchild will read your documentation some day.

Thank you for your participation.

Jules Cappelle
Collection Archivist

THE March 26, 2020 MAHS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

March 26, 2020

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, March 26 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Richard Horn, rural Brooklyn, will give a presentation chronicling his 75 years for the love of ice skating from pond hockey to European ice with an emphasis on outdoors.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

February 27, 2020

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, February 27, 2020 in the Zwingli UCC sanctuary, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short meeting, MAHS will present “Votes for Women,” a film by Kay Weaver and Martha Wheelock. This film sets archival photographs, stock footage and live action to narration and music from the Suffrage Movement. The passage of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote, was a 72 year long struggle. “Votes for Women” celebrates the magnificent campaign, the ultimate victory and the paths that contemporary women are taking in politics.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

January 23, 2020

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, January 23, 2020 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Jim and Janet McNeill along with Lucille Elmer and John Kummer will give a talk on the Monticello Sales Barn. The MAHS and the McNeill’s encourage any former workers, buyers or sellers of livestock at the Monticello Sales Barn to attend and share stories, pictures and artifacts.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

September 26, 2019

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, September 26, in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Tom Mitchell will present a program on 3 true crime books he has written.

Tom is a native of Monroe who lived away for 30 years before returning to his home town in 2007 and began researching and writing about true crime events. His books include:

1919 Triple Homicide -- a true crime story of a day in May, 1919, when a farmhand killed his boss, the Green County Sheriff and a war veteran on a farm near the Illinois Central railroad between Monroe and Monticello.

Vengeance in the Afternoon -- the first murder in the history of Monroe took place in a hotel off the courthouse square in 1869, when an unmarried mother shot dead the man who fathered her child but wouldn't marry her.

A Murder in Monroe -- a shocking shotgun shooting of a local cattle dealer in 1942 was an unsolved crime for three weeks until a private detective got a confession.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

August 22, 2019

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, August 22, in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Mark Finnegan of Vets Roll will present a program on the veterans honor trip to Washington D.C. Vets Roll annually transports hundreds of senior veterans and “Rosie the Riveters” to Washington D.C. via a caravan of chartered buses. This 4 day trip is a 100% volunteer, grassroots organization dedicated to honoring WWII & Korean Era Veterans and stateside support, “Rosie the Riveters”.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

June 27, 2019 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, June 27 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Doug Buehl will trace the history of the Woolen Mill, based on his research that is captured in his recent book, "A History of the Monticello Woolen Mill."

The Monticello Woolen Mill was in many respects typical of the small rural water-powered mills that dotted the countryside in 19th Century America. However, during the 84 years of its existence, the Monticello Mill achieved a reach that far exceeded its modest presence on the Little Sugar River. Monticello blankets attained a deserved reputation for their high quality and workmanship, and the mill developed a clientele that extended far beyond the confines of Wisconsin. While one after another small mill fell prey to economic forces and modern competition, the Monticello Woolen Mill persevered for decades into the 20th Century, eventually becoming the last water-powered mill in Green County.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

MAHS Annual Membership Dinner May 23, 2019

The annual membership meeting and dinner will be held at T & D Bar & Grill, Monticello, Thursday, May 23. Social hour is at 5:30 with dinner following at 6:30. A program by Tal Kuhnz, mysterious magician follows dinner.

Cost is $25 per person, (tax and tip inc.).

RSVP to Sue Rieder, Pines@tds.net or 608/558-0179 by May 15th. Reservations and payment may also be made by mail to Box 463, Monticello, WI 53570, but please be sure we receive them not later than May 15. The restaurant MUST know how much food to prepare.

April 25, 2019 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, April 25 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Julie Ruegsegger will present a history of the Washington Reformation UCC.”

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm. Come join us; the Public is welcome to attend both activities.

The annual membership dinner is tentatively set for May 23, 2019.
More details will be provided as plans are finalized.

March 28, 2019 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, March 28 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Doug Buehl will present “Discovering the Roots of the Place Where We Live—Researching a Mount Pleasant Dairy Farm: A Story of the Buehl Homestead.”

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

February 28, 2019 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm February 28 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, WWI re-enactor, Chris Seitz of New Glarus will give a presentation on his unique hobby.

Per Chris, “There are many ways to learn about history, such as through books, documentaries, and schooling. But there is something unique about having a hands-on, physical interaction with history that allows a person to have a glimpse into the past as if walking through a door into a different time!” That is one of the many reasons Chris is a WWI reenactor. During his presentation he will discuss the various aspects of reenacting as a doughboy; the hours of research, finding and acquiring a wide array of historical artifacts used at that time. Reenacting can play an important role in bringing history to the public.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

January 24, 2019 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, January 24 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short meeting, Kim Tschudy will give a presentation on the 25th Anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.

The Vietnam Women's Memorial is a memorial dedicated to the women of the United States who served in the Vietnam War most of whom were nurses. It serves as a reminder of the importance of women in the conflict. It depicts three uniformed women with a wounded soldier. It is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and is located on National Mall in Washington D.C., a short distance south of The Wall, north of the Reflecting Pool

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

October 25, 2018 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society (MAHS) will meet at 7 pm Thursday, October 25 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short business meeting, Deborah Haklin owner of the Artful Dressmaker in Monroe, will display bridal gowns from different eras and discuss how societal and cultural changes have affected styles. This will be a fun and interactive program.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

November 11, 2018 “Donuts for Doughboys.”

Since the writing of the newsletter, the board has decided to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Great War (World War I). We are calling the celebration “Donuts for Doughboys.” The museum will be open from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Sunday November 11. Donuts will be served just like the Salvation Army did at the front during the war. On display will be WWI photos from our collection (Some never seen). Outside, the fire dept. is allowing their bell to be rung, the church chimes playing and there will be a steam whistle blowing just like 1918. Perhaps the whistle will be “as deafening as it was joyous” recreating Dick Zentner’s whistle.

September 27, 2018 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 27, in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello, with a short business session before the program.

August 23, 2018 Membership Meeting

The Monticello Area Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, August 23, in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello, with a short business session before the Erie Canal program.

Historical Society to hear about Erie Canal travel

“Coming to Green County on the Erie Canal,” will be the focus of the August 23 meeting of the Monticello Historical Society.

Duane H. Freitag of Greendale, Wisconsin, will do an illustrated presentation on how the famed canal was used by European immigrants in the 1800s as they traveled from New York City to Milwaukee and on to Green County.

Freitag, a retired reporter and editor for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, is a native of New Glarus. He has written several books about the Swiss of Green County. His study of the Erie Canal was part of his research for a forthcoming book on the difficult first 10 years of the Swiss colony of New Glarus. That book will be issued in time for the 175th anniversary of New Glarus in 2020.

Among those traveling on the canal was the large group from the Canton Glarus village of Bilten that settled west of Monticello in 1847.

The program will include a discussion of building the canal as well as “traveling along” with several families who came from Switzerland in 1846, went west on the canal, and settled at New Glarus.

June 24, 2018

554 S. Main, Monticello, WI.

The Monticello Area Historical Society is sponsoring an Open House of the Steinmann house at 554 S. Main. The home is a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired “Prairie Style Craftsman” that has been restored by Jim Steinmann, grandson of the original builder. The tour will highlight historic photos, custom furnishings, and stained glass. Jim relates that the family’s business, Karlen & Steinmann Lumber Yard employed many graduates of the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. All funds raised will be used for a replacement elevator at the museum. The museum, which includes a display of the Steinmann architecture, will also be open from 11a.m. – 2p.m.

$10 suggested donation

May 24, 2018

Monticello Area Historical Society's Annual Dinner and Membership Meeting

Monticello Area Historical Society's Annual Dinner and Membership Meeting will be held May 24, 2018 at T&D's Restaurant in Monticello. Cost will be $20.00 per person (tax & tip incl.). Reservations are necessary and must be made not later than May 18th. Reservations may be sent to: MAHS, P.O. Box 463, Monticello, WI, 53570.

Social hour 5:30 - 6:30 followed by dinner and meeting. The program will feature Cathy Burgweger from Franklin Grove Etc, Attica.

There will be elections to fill two vacancies to the MAHS Board of Directors. May Burgy isn't seeking another term and Teri Dunlap is resigning for family reasons. If anyone would like to volunteer to fill these vacancies please contact any member of the current board or email mahs@tds.net.

New book of interest to Green County residents

A new University Press paper-back book titled "Letters From The Boys, Wisconsin World War I Soldiers Write Home" by author Carrie Meyer will be of interest to Green County residents. It contains letters from WW-1 soldiers in Monticello, Brooklyn and Brodhead written to family, friends and local newspapers as well as brief accounts of their duties in France.

April 26, 2018

March 22, 2018

The Monticello Area Historical Society will meet at 7 pm Thursday, March 22 in the Zwingli UCC Lounge, 416 E. Lake Ave., Monticello.

Following a short meeting, Gary Tipler, a historic preservation consultant, will present an illustrated review of John W. Steinmann Architects, Monticello (1939-1974). Gary has a wealth of images from the Steinmann collection and of his own of the many buildings designed and built by the Steinmann family by three generations of architects.

This is a free presentation and will start about 7:15 pm.
Come join us; the public is welcome to attend both activities.

January 25, 2018 Membership Meeting

The January Meeting of the the Monticello Area Historical Society will be Thursday, January 25 at Zwingli UCC in Monticello. Meeting starts at 7 PM. The Program will follow a short business meeting.

Speaker will be Richard Hager, a 3rd generation funeral director. Richard will speak on the history of funeralization and the progression throughout the years; as well as the history of the Shriner Firm.

The public is welcome.

May 10, 2016

March 30, 2015