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Front view of the Blacksmith Shop. Photo taken 15 Jun 2022.

In 1983, the Pioneer Village Museum added the Blacksmith Shop to the grounds. The building was built by Herman Severson, Mel Jensen, and Bill Meiesegeier, Jr. with the help of the Green Thumb crew. This is a functioning smithy, with a forge built by Alfred Koser and Mel Jensen.

Blacksmith

Long before the creation of the Barron County Historical Society, and even before a selection of Barron County acreage was carved out to become the Barron County Game Farm, vast stands of pine stood across the region, especially the abundant and much-sought white pine. As lumber barons flocked to the area from the Eastern United States to carve out their fortune in virgin timber, and railroads laid new track to help them carry new employees and goods to their logging sites, they passed through the property where the Pioneer Village Museum today stands, building communities at Cameron and Barron, and utilizing the Red Cedar River. Today, the Red Cedar River bubbles quietly near the west side of the Pioneer Village Museum, and tall pines frame the village, standing as towering reminders of what brought the white pioneers to Barron County in the first place. It is on these 40 acres, in 1964, a one-room schoolhouse was first set down and started the humble beginnings of a thriving cultural and historical museum.This museum was the brainchild of a group of women who belonged to the local Fortnightly Club. One night in August 1958, this group met in the home of Mildred Johnston, with Johnston, then president of the Club, leading discussion for new ideas. When Jean Mellblom suggested Barron County was lacking a historical society and that the Fortnightly Club women could create one, many of the other women readily voiced support. Mellblom’s husband soon transferred to a different city for work, so she was unable to see her idea brought to fruition, but the idea had taken hold among the Fortnightly Club, and several others kept it alive and going. The idea spread, and soon a group of women from a federation of women’s clubs across Barron County were working on the project. The first committee to begin work on the fledgling historical society was chaired by Fortnightly Club President Mildred Johnston of Rice Lake; the other members of the committee included Cumberland representatives Edna King, Vernice “Verny” Weimar, and Cathrine Wickre; Barron representatives June Rockman and Blanche Morrison; and Rice Lake representatives Katharine “Kay” Antenne and Margaret “Peg” Haugen. These women worked together with members of the local community and the state historical society to establish and found the Barron County Historical Society, Inc, which was released in March 1960 from the federated women’s clubs into its own society with Mildred Johnston elected as its first President. Kay Antenne was elected Vice President and June Rockman was elected Secretary-Treasurer. This first meeting was a resounding success with 23 members in attendance, by-laws approved by the newly-founded membership, and dues established at $1.00 per person per year.In less than a year, the Historical Society knew they needed a permanent site for a museum and had started to pursue the idea of putting a retired schoolhouse on the site of the Barron County Game Farm. While this plan was in development, they also moved forward with establishing the first Junior Historian Program for Barron County, chaired by Betty Christianson of Barron, which grew to receive a Certificate of Commendation from the State Historical Society in 1965 for a very fine program. These projects, in addition to regular meetings with history-related speakers, kept the Historical Society busy and active. By 1964, through a donation from the school districts of Barron, Cameron, and Rice Lake, the Joliet School was established as the home of the Barron County Historical Society on the Barron County Game Farm; two years later, in 1966, a 30x32 pole building was built next to the school house to house the already-expanding collection of the fledgling museum, and the Pioneer Village Museum was off and running. Today, the site encompasses over 40 buildings on acres of park-like grounds enclosed in towering Wisconsin pines, continuing to grow and tell the story of Northwestern Wisconsin’s rich history.In 60 years, the Pioneer Village Museum has grown a legacy that reaches individuals, communities, and the future. Through nurturing personal and collective identity and helping people discover their stories, developing contextual understanding, and creating the foundation for strong Barron County communities, the museum has taken seriously its role as a cultural heritage institution. In this, the museum also seeks to help people envision a better future; these engaged citizens volunteering at and visiting the Pioneer Village Museum attract talent, increase tourism revenues, and fortify the local economies. Most importantly, it inspires our leaders - seeing history tied to people and the local community inside the Pioneer Village Museum provides role models for current leaders navigating modern life and helps up and coming leaders clarify their values and ideals.The Pioneer Village Museum continues to grow and thrive every day through the hard work and dedication of a small paid staff and a large pool of volunteers who maintain the grounds and buildings, curate displays, guide tours, and create new and interesting events and programs for visitors each year. The buildings preserve artifacts, but the people who work in and around them preserve the memories and stories of the history of Northwestern Wisconsin for the future.

Growing from humble beginnings in a one-room schoolhouse in 1964 to the sprawling, park-like atmosphere and 40+ buildings of today, the Pioneer Village Museum is a volunteer-driven endeavor by the Barron County Historical Society to provide the best in cultural understanding about the history of Northwestern Wisconsin. Historic homes and buildings line the classic “Pioneer Village,” while multiple outlying display buildings enhance the story of the region with displays from homes, businesses, farms, libraries, and more. This museum encourages exploration and includes abundant green areas for picnic lunches and resting outdoors while visiting the grounds.

The Ebenezer Lutheran Church was established and built between Poskin and Almena on the Rabbit Trail Road in 1908 as the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Congregation of Poskin. The frame building, including the altar, altar rail, pulpit, and pews, was built by the congregation. The head carpenter was Andrew Peterson. Two pews in the back of the church are the original pews, but backs have been added.When the church closed in the 1960s, the congregation decided to donate it to the Barron County Historical Society. Moving the building was no small feat, and the entire process took almost a year. A fund drive was organized by Betty Christianson to begin raising money for the move. Donations came from private individuals, Jaycees, Lions, Kiwanis, American Legion, VFW, Lodges, and other organizations including banks, business, churches and church organizations, and dance proceeds throughout the county. This monumental effort raised $5000 (~$33,040 in 2020 dollars) for the church move.In the fall of 1971, the concrete footing was poured at the Barron County Historical Society’s museum for the Ebenezer Church. Mel Jensen and Art Knutson, of Barron, Alfred Koser of Almena, Bob Adkins and Roy Brusen of Chetek, Jess Everson of Cameron, and Orville Eliason of Ridgeland did the work.The church was moved to the museum on March 10th, 1972. Barron County saw an abundance of snow that winter, and the county plows were called to the museum to clear the area of snow. Telephone, telegraph, and electrical wires had to be cut to allow the building to pass from its founding site to its new home at the museum. When it arrived, it was temporarily shored up on wooden cribbing until early summer, when Ray Arnevik and Arnevik Moving Services of Rice Lake arrived and were able to move it over the footing area. Ray Feidt was hired to lay the cement block foundation; his volunteer assistants were Alfred Koser of Almena, Bob Adkins and Roy Brusen of Chetek, and Mel Jensen of Barron.During placement of the building, workers discovered a red squirrel had gotten into the church and damaged the ceiling, making it necessary to replace some tile and give new paint to the ceiling. The building was fumigated in May to dispose of the squirrel.There were outdoor toilets at the Ebenezer site north of Poskin and these were also donated to the society. Two pews, a hymn board, communion service pieces, and two velveteen collection pouches on long poles from the original church’s furnishings remain in the church; a hole in the floor by the altar of unknown origin has developed a folk tale that of being where the church mouse lives. Today, only Ebenezer Cemetery remains at the original site of the church.The first museum wedding performed in Ebenezer Lutheran Church was when Diane Benson and Steve Williams were married in 1975, and it has been used consistently since then for wedding, renewal of vows, and memorial services. Several local churches hold Sunday service annually at the Ebenezer Church. The church has also hosted Sunday church services during Heritage Days, Rendezvous, and Bluegrass Festival events.

From humble beginnings as the 1908 home of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Congregation of Poskin to a centerpiece of the Pioneer Village Museum and still-functioning church, the Ebenezer Lutheran Church is a must-see stop for visitors to the Barron County Historical Society. A carefully-maintained building and preserved artifacts provide both historical context and a rich background for anyone wanting to learn more about this aspect of Northwestern Wisconsin history or have it as the backdrop for a contemporary church event.

Ebenezer Lutheran Church

One of the houses these clergymen stayed in was the house of Peter Johnson Urberg. This 17' x 25' log house was built in 1877 in the township of Maple Grove (now known as Prairie Lake). The chamfer and notch construction used basic tools, including the maul, mortise, axe, and saw. In 1922 the farm was sold to Elmer Holmstrand. He took the building apart, then put it back together at the Pokegama Inn Resort, in Chetek, Wisconsin. Roger Hamholm of Pokegama Inn donated the building to the museum in February 1975.ABOUT THE FAMILYPeter Jorgensen Johnson Urberg was born in Urberg, Kragro, Norway on January 12,1846. He was the son of Mr. Jorgen Olavsen (Heiland) Urberg and Kari Kristensen (Strat) Urberg. As a young adult he took care of his parents, his disabled brother, Kristen, and their farm. In 1866 Peter married Aase Helene Jensen, who was born on May 2, 1843 in Frovig, Norway. In 1867 the Urbergs moved to the United States and were given the name Johnson at the port of entry. They first lived in Detroit, Michigan, and later moved to Kilbourn, Columbia County, Wisconsin, now known as Wisconsin Dells, where they bought a farm. The soil was too poor to make a living, so Peter went out as a raftsman, while his family took over the farm. In 1877 they sold the farm, and Peter went to look at land in Barron County. He bought 80 acres of land near the community of Maple Grove for $200 from the railroad company. He cleaned a little area of land to build a log cabin. His family was able to live in it in the fall of 1877. His wife died at the age of 41 from complications of childbirth on 18 March 1844. Peter Johnson died at the age of 75 on 5 June 1921.Many of Peter Johnson's descendants still live in the Chetek, WI area.

The Meeting House is representative of a staple feature in early settler communities. Clergymen frequently traveled from one town to another as communities developed, and without provisions to afford hotels or boarding houses, many would stay at settlers' homes. These clergymen were critical for communities without an established church and clergy to perform important church rites and services such as baptisms and marriages. In some places, an established "meeting house" near the community church also served as boarding for clergy.

The Meeting House

The Town Hall houses a baby grand piano, a pump organ, and the backdrop from the Dallas Opera House. This canvas screen once hung in front of the stage at the Opera House. The Opera House was on the second floor of the McIntyre Building, above the library. J. A. Anderson was a prominent Dallas businessman who built the Dallas Roller Mill and Dam and dealt in real estate. James was the primary sponsor of the Opera House, so his businesses were prominently advertised on the backdrop. The Dallas Opera House was where entertainment, including a Chautauqua (an adult education and social movement that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with speakers, teachers, musicians, showmen, preachers, and other specialists). Dallas had entertainment at the Opera House until the late 1930's.The Town Hall served many uses for the community: a library, relief shelter in times of disaster, posting of war casualties, civil functions such as meetings and voting, and social functions such as festivities, dances, and entertainment.This building also houses a collection of photographs, many with agricultural themes. Some are backlit and others on a turnstile. There are copies of letters written by Al Ringling of the Ringling Bros. Circus to an agent that took care of his rental property in Rice Lake. The father of the Ringling brothers operated a harness shop in Rice Lake. While the boys were still living at home, they were active in the Rice Lake City Band and were often in performances.

This town hall was originally the Ulysses School, built in 1876 on the Leroy Merritt homestead. The Merritts were from a small community in Pennsylvania by the name of Ulysses, hence the name of the school. The original structure looked pretty much the same as it now does, but at one point, an 11' x 12' woodshed was attached to the back and in 1907, a 10' hall entrance was added to the front. In 1921, a new school was built. This building then served as the Doyle Town Hall until 1962. From 1962 until 1976, the building stood vacant. In 1972, the building was donated by the people of the Town of Doyle and was moved to the Pioneer Village Museum as a joint project for the historical society and the Retired Teachers Association in celebration of the Bicentennial Year of the United States of America. The woodshed and entrance hall were removed at that time.

Town Hall

This building was originally the Southside Fire Station in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, and housed horse-drawn fire equipment. The Rice Lake Fire Department was organized in 1889, but the age of this building is uncertain. It was donated to the Pioneer Village Museum by former Rice Lake resident Mrs. Robert Loakman and moved to the Pioneer Village in 1979.The building's first purpose at the Pioneer Village was "The Barron County Gazette." It displayed area printing presses and artifacts related to print shops and newspapers. These artifacts were moved to Display Building 14 in 2022 and the woodworking materials were moved in to complete the Carpenter Shop.Two of the unique items specific to Carpenter Shop are a treadle lathe and a treadle band saw. Both of these machines are powered by foot power while the craftsperson is working.

The Carpenter Shop, completed in 2022, houses antique woodworking tools and machinery historically used in early Barron County. Woodworking was an important trade for both building construction and the creation and maintenance of tools for personal and commercial use. This display building introduces visitors to the woodworking trades and techniques.

Carpenter Shop

In the early days of northwest Wisconsin, medical care was usually given by whoever was available and willing, often a kindly neighbor who had a little experience. That experience was often gained by taking care of farm livestock or in some cases, by a woman who had assisted a midwife in home deliveries. As the area became more populated, actual doctors set up practice. The doctor often had an office in town (usually in their home), but made house calls. Without proper roads, it was difficult to get a sick or injured person to town to see the doctor. Due to the shortage of cash, doctors often accepted items such as garden produce, eggs, or meat in place of monetary compensation. Doctors were general practictioners who had to deal with everything from measles, childbirth, inflluenza, diphtheria, broken bones, and more. Because of the variety of health issues that they had to deal with, they had to carry a lot of items around with them: thermometer, stethoscope, surgical and amputation kits, bottles of medicine, needles, syringes, tourniquets. They also carried chloroform or ether with them, in case they had to sedate a patient during an operation.Some items of interest include an exhibit about the Spanish Influenza Epidemic of 1918 and the medical license and medical bag of Dr. Sig Simonson. Dr. Simonson was stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed December 7, 1941. After the war, he returned to Barron County to continue practicing medicine. There is also the Harvard-earned medical license of Edgar Jonas Knapp, son of one of the principals of the Knapp, Stout Lumber Company. Dr. Knapp was born in 1867 in Menonmonie and had a practice in Rice Lake where he undoubtedly cared for employees of his father's business, as well as settlers in the area.

This 16' x 24' frame building was donated by Gladys Severson Sells in memory of her father Sam Severson. Formerly located in the Village of New Auburn, it was a small store. Buildings such as this often had false fronts to present a more impressive appearance and to provide space for a large sign to advertise the business.The Barron, Sawyer, Washburn, and Burnett Couty Medical Society and Medical Auxiliary generously contributed to cover the cost of moving and repair. The Medical Auxiliary also assisted in obtaining items for the office and helped arrange the exhibit.

Pioneer Village Museum

Blacksmith

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources