MUSEUM MUSINGS. Coming Events. Docent Spotlight. GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER Autumn John Frankenburg

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1 MUSEUM MUSINGS GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM NEWSLETTER Autumn 2016 Coming Events Docent Spotlight Congratulations to John Frankenburg, our favorite Monday morning Docent for the honor of being selected to be a member of the Veteran s Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C.. He will be flying from Milwaukee on November 5, 2016 for a special day of touring and honors for his service to his country. He will be accompanied by his daughter Linda on this special trip. John served in the Air Force from and was discharged with the rank of Staff Sargent. Currently John lives in Walworth with his wife Ann and his daughter Linda. John has been one of our museum volunteers for the past 3 years. John has a great knowledge of history and is also a Civil War Buff. He loves to travel. Be sure to congratulate John! Patricia Cramer John Frankenburg

2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER Barbara Buelter Marianne Bonifacic James Davis Charles Ebeling Patricia Gee Jeffrey Glass Dana Hagenah DIRECTORS ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Director of Administration Director of Exhibits Director of Operations Curator Office Manager Staff MUSEUM MUSINGS is a periodic newsletter by Geneva Lake Museum that provides pertinent information to museum members and supporters. The museum is located at the intersection of Mill Street and Highway 50 (Main St) 255 Mill Street Lake Geneva, WI (262) James Gee Ed Schwinn Lynn Grayson James Voss Vern Magee Joanne Niessner Mary Olson Beth Pernice Donald Rutkowski David C. Williams Thomas Yoder Janet Ewing Karen Jo Walsh Dale Buelter Helen Brandt Patricia Cramer John Gelshenen GenevaLakeMuseum.org staff@genevalakemuseum.org 11th 18th 25th 1st 8th 15th 2 Schedule Please note: Programs are subject to change. October Judith Rolfs, author and family counselor: Judith will speak about her books including Bullet In The Night which is set in Lake Geneva. History of Yerkes Observatory: Yerkes Director of Tours, Dan Koehler will present the fascinating history of Yerkes Observatory, located in Williams Bay. Paranormal Activity around Geneva Lake: Ghost Hunters, Halvar Petersen and Lance Pedersen will talk about their experiences just in time for Halloween. November Barn Quilts of Walworth County: Peg Reedy will discuss the local barn quilt popularity and where they can be viewed. A Visit with General John J. Pershing: Ed O Brien will portray John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, the general in the United States Army who led the American Expeditionary Forces to victory over Germany in World War I, The Great Chicago Fire of 1871: Bob and Millie McCormick and Helen Brandt guide us through The Great Fire and how it affected Lake Geneva and the surrounding areas. 22th No 2 29h 6th 13th Fun and Informative Programs Ringling Brothers Circus in Miniature: Hand carved by Joe Taggart between Presented by Joe s stepdaughter Sonette Tippens and Joe s Assistant Guy Fiorenza. Wagons will be displayed and vintage video footage featured. December Studio Winery: Doug Jackson will speak on operating the winery located right here in Lake Geneva. Delavan, The Winter Circus Capitol Mid to Late 1800 s: Margaret Plevak, reporter for CSI Publications will tell what it was like when nearly 30 circuses wintered in Delavan. 20th No 2 27th No 2 Free to Geneva Lake Museum Members $5 for Non-members

3 Curators Corner In January of 1898 delegates from 17 yacht clubs representing Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin met in Milwaukee and established the Inland Lakes Yachting Association. The Association's main purpose was to encourage and promote yachting and inter-lake racing on the inland lakes under a uniform set of rules. Prior to 2015, the Lake Geneva Yacht club had hosted 15 ILYA regattas. A new format was announced in Rather than an event being held at a different yacht club every year, the decision was made to have one club host for up to three consecutive years. The Lake Geneva Yacht Club was chosen to inaugurate the change, and thus far has hosted the 2015 and 2016 regattas, to great success. In the late 1930's the Lake Geneva Yacht Club realized the need and benefit of having educational programs. These programs would deal with such subjects as sailing techniques, seamanship and water safety. In 1938, Yacht Club commodore A.F. Gartz Jr. and Sec.-Treas. Ernest Schmidt, hired Jerome Kipley to be the first instructor of the Lake Geneva Yacht Club Sailing School. The following year, George Herbert Taylor filled the position. Mr. Taylor was a swimming and water polo participant in the 1920 Olympics held in Brussels.. He was most generous to the sailing school in the loan of two of his privately-owned boats to be used for instructional purposes. The school's first season was a huge success, with Mr. Taylor instructing 40 students. In 1953 the school both reorganized and incorporated under the name we know today, the Geneva Lake Sailing School. The Sailing School occupies the first floor of the new Lake Geneva Yacht Club building, dedicated in Established in 1984 by the Geneva Lake History Buffs. We moved to our present location in July Our exhibits and programs create a connection between today s world and that of the 19 th Century Geneva Lake Area. Our museum serves as a family-oriented educational and entertainment venue telling the story of how life developed around the shores of Geneva Lake. Our reference library contains thousands of books, photographs and other archival reference materials to aid in a variety of research goals. OUR MISSION STATEMENT Geneva Lake Museum discovers and preserves the rich history that hides throughout Geneva Lake and the surrounding communities. The exhibits within the walls are time capsules that capture every essence of Geneva Lake and its people. People with amazing stories that unravel with every scene and every word led by our docents. These stories wait for people young and old who have ears eager to listen, eyes that are ready to be awakened and the open mind waiting to learn. Be A Member Our museum preserves Geneva Lake area s history to build a collective memory of our unique and rich heritage. Member contributions are invaluable to furthering the museum s mission. Members of the Geneva Lake Museum become part of a like minded community dedicated to preserving our heritage. Helen Brandt, Museum Curator

4 A Mystery Solved and a Founding Father Pays a Lake Geneva a Visit Leslie Evans of Rhode Island grew up looking at oil paintings of two people in her family home who were a complete mystery to her. Eventually she became the owner of the paintings and only knew they were Doctor Phillip Maxwell and his wife Jerusha, because someone had written their names on the back. She began questioning relatives on both sides of her family about who they were but no one knew of any family connections. In 2009 Leslie Googled Dr. Phillip Maxwell and her adventure began. Lake Geneva Yacht Club Luncheon Fun was had by all Barb & Dale Buelter, Joanne Niessner and Jim Davis Jerusha Maxwell Dr. Phillip Maxwell She learned a little about his great ties to Chicago (Maxwell St. was named for him), and that he died in a mansion called The Oaks in Lake Geneva, WI. When she found a web site for a Golden Oaks Mansion, a B and B in Lake Geneva, she contacted the owner who assured her this was indeed Dr. Maxwell s home. But she still was not sure she was a descendant until she saw Maxwell s portrait in the background of a photo taken at her mother s home wedding and later found a wedding announcement of her grandmother s wedding showing a maiden name of Steele. A trip through the book History of Chicago told her Julius Steele of Chicago, her great grandfather, was the grandson of Dr. Maxwell. The connection was made. Charles Colman and the Tattler II Leslie intended to donate the paintings to the Maxwell St. Foundation and she and Lori Grove, it s President, worked together to reach that goal. The paintings were brought to Chicago and painstakingly restored. Then they were loaned to the Geneva Lake Museum. In August of 2015 a Maxwell event was held at the Museum to debut the portraits. Lori Grove and Leslie Evans, the great, great, great granddaughter of Dr. Maxwell both attended and spoke at the event. On November 1st of this year the portraits will return to the Maxwell St. Foundation in Chicago. Pat Gee Pat Gee, Barb Buelter, Leslie Schwinn & Beth Pernice

5 Volunteer Spotlight Top: Betty Haseley, Vern Magee Bottom: Joanne Niessner, Tom Yoder Check out our new gift shop items! Genevalakemuseum.org Admission Adult $7 Children through high school FREE Seniors and College Students with ID $6