Left - Television polka celebrity "Big John" Schermerhorn with a libation aboard a Mt. Horeb Chamber's "Portal to Wonderland" bus tour. Schermerhorn's show, Dairyland Jubilee, was first broadcast in 1960 and became a Saturday night staple at WKOW TV until 1973. Many remember Big John's opening of the show, "Hi everybody, what time is it?" and the audience's hearty response, "It's time for Dairyland Jubilee!" Photo by Lyle Johnson, ca early 1960's.
Just one of the thousands of images collected by the Society in the past 30 years!
We are Celebrating
Our 30th Birthday!!
On a snowy evening in March of 1975, a group of dedicated citizens with a mission of preserving the history of Southwestern Dane County set in motion the Mt. Horeb Area Historical Society. From the beginning the society has depended on its volunteers to make things happen through countless public programs, exhibits, and fund-raisers. The society's scope of collecting focused on the environment, people, places and outside forces affecting the region. This mission, with continued public support, resulted in an award-winning collection revered by state historians, genealogist, writers, and researchers. The society,s holdings now exceed 20,000 photographic images, close to 20,000 artifacts, a library of books, and countless manuscripts, posters, diaries, and ephemeral items.
To celebrate this milestone birthday there will be events throughout the year beginning with our April 9th program "Back to the 1950s." On May 1, a new Centennial Gallery exhibit titled "Your Treasures, Your History: 1975-2005" will premier at the Mt. Horeb Area Museum. The exhibit contains more than 100 artifacts gleaned from the Museum's holdings, many of which have never been exhibited before, including the recreated 1890s farm home office where John S. Donald began his distinguished political career.
Right- board at Grand Opening of new Mt. Horeb Area Museum, 1997