Kaukauna Area Historical Society, Inc.
President Craig Lahm called the meeting of KAHS to order at 6:30 PM on Wednesday June 14, 2006
Board members in attendance, Julie Coenen, Tom Duescher, Rev. Harvey Kandler, Craig Lahm, Tom McGinnis, Jim Severson, Carol Van Boxtel, Rebecca Welhouse and guest, Jay Wilpolt.
Craig Lahm distributed the KAHS brochure. Board recommended making the flyer available at the KHS reunion. Craig will ask Giovana Feller to take KHS and Storytelling Program brochures to the reunion.
Craig Lahm reviewed the Society’s mission – to collect and disseminate historical information of the Kaukauna area. Based on our mission statement, the Society will decline assisting in operating the Blacksmith Shop at the Grignon Home or assisting with the Hollandtown Schut. The Society doesn’t have liability coverage for either event, but is willing to help promote and publicize the events.
Board approved letters Craig Lahm will send to Terry Bergen, Executive Director, OCHS and Gerry Vander Loop declining any formal, legal connection for the Blacksmith Shop and the Hollandtown Schut.
Julie Coenen updated members on the oral Storytelling Program. To date the Kings, Agnes Van Treeck, Red Vanevenhoven, Rinert Wenzel, Lorenz (Corn) Mayer, Shirley Hurst, Bob Knapp, and Margaret Schroeder have taped their stories. As news of the program spreads, the list of interested residents is growing. Discussed sending Thank You letters to the residents taping. Julie Coenen and President Lahm will develop a letter and procedure for sending.
Craig Lahm received a request from the Town of Kaukauna Historical Society to use the KAHS tax-exempt number. Craig will send a letter stating that the Society hasn’t received their tax exempt number yet and due to liability are not able to extend it beyond KAHS. The Society is willing to publicly support the Town of Kaukauna Historical Society.
Tom Duescher stated that most of the area cemeteries are on the web site, along with the tombstones from Holy Cross and St. Mary’s. Volunteers are needed to recheck and verify accuracy. Tom has developed a form for volunteers. It includes cemetery, image No., name, birth, death, notes, and maiden name. He will divide the gravesites into plats of 500. Cemeteries include St. Mary’s, Holy Cross, Union, Kelso, Trinity Lutheran and possibly St. Francis, Hollandtown. Jay Wilpolt recommended flagging stones requiring repair and possibly asking descendents to contribute for repairs. Volunteers will note stones requiring repairs.
Carol Van Boxtel and Jim Severson will update the 1960’s list of City street names and why the name was chosen. They will develop a list of historical names that developers could use, if desired.
Craig Lahm received an E-mail requesting information on the Outagamie Rural Normal School. The Kaukauna Library has some material. Carol Van Boxtel stated that the Rural Normal School notes through 1926 from the Kaukauna Times are listed on the library newspaper website. Discussed writing up the school’s history as a future project.
Discussed projects to help teach younger children about the history of Kaukauna. Craig Lahm will invite several grade school teachers to future board meeting for input on this project.
The next board meeting will be July 12 and the next KAHS meeting will be August 16.
Meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.
_________________________________
Carol Van Boxtel
Acting Recording Secretary