THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MARATHON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY • 2016 NO. 1
The Marathon County Historical Society
Invites You To Attend Our
17th Annual Victorian
Valentine Tea
Thursday, February 11, 2016
At 2:00 pm
Woodson History Center
410 McIndoe Street, Wausau
Relax & enjoy an elegant
afternoon tea with delicious sweets
& savories, flowers, linens and a
special program to
top off your afternoon.
Members $25.00
Non-members $30.00
Space is limited
Reservations are required
Call us at 715-842-5750
and talk to Sara or Janet
about reserving your
spot today!
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dorothy Maxfield, President
John Hattenhauer, Vice President
Todd Toppen, Treasurer
Jane Janke Johnson, Secretary
Brett Barker
Sandi Cihlar
Gary Frary
Nancy Frawley
Robert Hagge, Jr.
Laurel Hoffman
Greg Huber
Richard Lohr
Donald Prehn
Mary Roberts
Gerald Viste
Brian Williams
Russell Wilson
Kelly Zagrezebski
STAFF
Mary Forer, Executive Director
Mary Jane Hettinga, Historic Preservation
Consultant
Gary Gisselman, Librarian/Archivist
Anna Chilsen Straub, Curator of Education
Sara K. Goetsch, Curator of Events
Liane Worden, Bookkeeper
Gary Walters, Curator of the Yawkey House
Mike Bresnahan, Maintenance
Kathy Volkmann, Curator of Artifacts
Linda Forbess, Curator of Textiles
George Alafouzos, Weekend Curator
Jessica Sandene, Weekend Curator
Jaclyn Wissmueller, Weekend Curator
Emily Schreiner, Weekend Curator
Janet Klutterman, Administrative/Rental
Coordinator & Memberships
Sandy Block, Outreach & Program Coordinator
Ben Clark, Archivist
PRINTING OF THE WANIGAN
Editor: Sara K. Goetsch
Co-Editor: Anna Straub
Proofers: Mary Moltzan
Welcome To Our New Members
Scott Ralph Photography
Ann Henry
Charles Sauter
Tammy Klinner
Robert & Ruth Van Ert
Jeff Voight
Joshua Krueger
Janise Cameron
Christy Myshchyshyn
Alice Unger
Primrose Retirement Communities
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 To all the re-enactors and volunteers who helped
with our Christmas at the Houses Event
 Pat Lane Diaz for sharing her stories about her
wonderful vintage toys
 Linda Cannon for the beautiful harp music
provided at our Members Holiday Reception
 Mary Moltzan & Bonnie Ostrowski for their
creative touch helping decorate the two houses
for Christmas
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GIFTS RECEIVED •
 From Cyrus Y. Hagge in honor of his brother
Robert Hagge
 From Bert & Leigh Tuckey in honor of Rob &
Elke Hagge
 From Dr. & Mrs. Barry Maxfield in memory of
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The Marathon County Historical Society
is supported in part by
City of Wausau Room Tax Funding.
THANK YOU •
Leo Martin
From the Nancy Frawley Fund within the
Community Foundation of North Central
Wisconsin in memory of Leo Martin
From the Progress Club of Stevens Point in
honor of Jane Jahnke Johnson
Gift from H.J. Hagge Foundation Fund within
the Community Foundation of North Central
Wisconsin
Gift from Gale W. Fisher
Gift from Dr. & Mrs. Barry Maxfield
Gift from David & Darlene Lee
Gift from Mark & Ann Bradley Fund within the
Community Foundation of North Central
Wisconsin
Misc…
Needed:
Volunteers willing to distribute posters to
promote our events around Wausau. A list of
participating businesses is provided. Please call
Sara at 715-842-5750 if interested.
The Little Red School House is need of
additional teachers. Teachers are paid to recreate
a 1904, one-room school house experience for
county-wide fourth grade students.
Program training and materials provided.
Please contact Anna Straub at 715-842-5750 for
more information.
Genealogical Society
The Genealogical Society meets here at the
Woodson History Center the 2nd Tuesday of every
month except August & December. The January
& February meetings are at 1:30 pm. All other
meetings take place at 6:30 pm. These meetings
are open to any of our MCHS members.
Civil War Roundtable
The CW Roundtable will now be meeting at
the Woodson History Center & would like to
invite all MCHS members to join them.
They meet the second Thursday of the month
from 7-9 pm. If you have any questions,
please contact Dan Graff at 715-693-1910 or
[email protected].
Topics
Feb. 11: Presentation led by Dan Graff on
three significant Wisconsin officers at
Gettysburg
March, April & May: Topic TBD
Leo Joseph Martin, Wausau, 84,
died Saturday, December 12, 2015
at Aspirus Hospice House, Wausau.
He was born December 1, 1931 in
Eastman, son of the late William
and Loretta (Boylen) Martin. On
September 2, 1961, he married
Ellen Winter at St. Paul University Catholic Church,
Madison.
Leo graduated from Seneca High School in 1949 and
continued his education at the University of
Wisconsin, Madison from 1951 until 1955 studying
Agricultural Education. He returned to the
University of Wisconsin, Madison to complete his
Master's degree in Agricultural Economics in 1968.
He served his country in the United States Army,
retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonial in 1985
after 28 years of service.
After 21 years as the Marathon County Farm
Management agent, Leo began an active retirement
that focused on helping people. He provided
education and worked to improve living conditions
and opportunities for people in communities around
the world, with organizations including Helping
Hands. He served on many boards, including the
Marathon County Board and the Historical Society
and Library Boards. He was an active member of
civic organizations including the Noon Optimists,
and St Matthew's parish, where he was known for
helping people feel welcome in the congregation. He
attributed his love of words, jokes and puns to his
proud Irish heritage.
~Wausau Daily Herald
We would like to thank Leo for his time spent on the
MCHS board of directors from 2000-2014, and wish
his family our sincere condolences on his passing.
Don’t forget to check our website at www.marathoncountyhistory.org to find a full list of events and lectures.
You can also “Like” us on Facebook for complete event coverage.
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From the Library
Malcolm Rosholt was born in a little community in Portage County. He grew up in the village that his family
founded, a village of sawmills and lumberyards. He became very familiar with the logging industry and this
interest would serve him very well later in his life, as he would profile the many facets of life in Marathon
County and Central Wisconsin.
He recounts that his experience with Marathon County came early in his life when he and his friends would
climb the rugged and forested Rib Hill, many years before the hill was developed.
After completing his college degree he set sail for China where he would travel and eventually find a job in
Shanghai. After a brief time back in the United States, he would soon be off to the Orient again where he
would be a part of the Flying Tigers during World War II.
After the war, Rosholt stayed in the Far East until the early 1950’s when he returned to Portage County to
begin his writing of history. Our County, Our Story, a history of Portage County and the Battle of Cameron
Dam were two of his early histories. He would turn his attention to Marathon County in 1978 when A Photo
Album of Marathon County, 1850-1925 was published. It is a picture book giving visual testimony to the
variety of life in Marathon County. Logging days, people, buildings, houses, factories, fur farms, sports, and
street scenes are all given due attention in this photographic history of Marathon County.
Rosholt also wrote and published books dealing with Central Wisconsin and the Pinery
including A Photo A lbum of the Past: Pioneer Scenes and Portraits from Central W isconsin
(1976), The Wisconsin Logging Book, 1839-1939 (1980), and Pioneers of the Pinery (1979).
For of his work dealing with the history of Wisconsin, Rosholt received the Citation for
Distinguished Service Award from the Wisconsin Historical Society in 1982.
Malcolm Rosholt died February 26, 2005 in Portage County.
Gary Gisselman~Librarian
2016 Civil War Book Club
7:00 pm at the Woodson History Center
Every fourth Thursday of the Month
Led by Prof. Brett Barker-University of Wisconsin Marathon County
Jan. 28: James Oakes, The Scorpion's Sting: A ntislavery and the Coming of the Civil W ar.
ISBN-10: 0393351211
ISBN-13: 978-0393351217
Feb. 25: David von Drehle, Rise to Greatness: Abraham Lincoln and A merica's Most Perilous Y ear.
ISBN-10: 1250037808
ISBN-13: 978-1250037800
Mar. 31: Thomas Keneally, A merican Scoundrel: The Life of the Notorious Civil W ar General Dan Sickles.
ISBN-10: 0385722257
ISBN-13: 978-0385722254
Apr. 28: Brian Matthew Jordan, Marching Home: Union V eterans and Their Unending Civil W ar. Paperback to be published
Jan. 4, 2016, so we should be able to get them in time for April.
ISBN-10: 1631491466
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A Rose by any other name...
Are you giving your Valentine some roses this year? Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones
receiving some beautiful blooms. Worldwide over 50 million roses are given for Valentine’s Day
each year. Here are some fun and interesting facts about roses for you to enjoy.
 Roses have a long and colorful history. They have been symbols of love, beauty, war, and
politics.
 According to fossil evidence, the rose is 35 million years old.
 Garden cultivation of roses began some 5,000 years ago, probably in China.
 During the Roman period, roses were grown extensively in the Middle East. They were used as
confetti at celebrations, for medicinal purposes, and as a source of perfume.
 Roses were in such high demand during the seventeenth century that royalty considered roses
or rose water as legal tender, and they were often used as barter and for payments.
 Rose hips have been found in ancient Europe and petrified rose wreaths have been unearthed
from ancient Egyptian tombs.
 Cleopatra had her living quarters filled with the petals of roses so that when Marc Antony met
her, he would long remember her for such opulence and be reminded of her every time he smelt
a rose. Her scheme worked for him.
 Roman high society women used petals much like currency believing that they could banish
wrinkles if used in poultices.
 Rose petals were often dropped in wine because it was thought that the essence of rose would
stave off drunkenness.
 In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, is said to have created the rose which arose
from her tears and the blood of her lover Adonis.
 In Ancient Greek mythology, when Venus’ son Cupid was stung by a bee, he accidentally shot
arrows into a rose garden. It was believed to be the sting of the arrows that caused the roses to
grow thorns. When Venus walked through the garden and pricked her foot on a thorn, it was the
droplets of her blood which turned the roses red.
 The world's oldest living rose bush is thought to be 1000 years old. Today, it continues to bloom
on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany.
 During the fifteenth century, the rose was used as a symbol for the factions fighting to control
England. The white rose symbolized York, and the red rose symbolized Lancaster, as a result,
the conflict became known as the "War of the Roses."
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Upcoming Speakers
The Marathon County Historical Society continues its popular lecture series History Speaks, which
includes a wide variety of topics, including several of our popular genealogy workshops, presented by local
experts and history enthusiasts.
Our past lectures have received great reviews and, in response, we have planned a full year of presentations.
Programs range from genealogy topics to presentations based on current exhibits to some just for fun.
All lectures are presented at the Woodson History Center, have no admission fee, and no
registration is required. However, donations are always appreciated. All presentations begin at 2 pm.
Saturday, February 20 Lincoln and His Generals
UWMC’s Brett Barker takes an in-depth look at one of America’s most beloved presidents and the men who
fought under his command in the Civil War. One of Lincoln’s most perplexing problems was finding
competent military leaders. Learn about the some spectacular failures and how successful commanders like
Grant and Sherman emerge. Following the presentation there will be a special showing of two rare Lincoln
artifacts from the Marathon County Historical Society’s collection; a ribbon Lincoln’s presidential campaign
and a mourning ribbon worn by Walter McIndoe after Lincoln’s assassination.
Sunday, March 6 Dating Photos by Photo Type and Clothing Style
Have some old family photos that you need to know more about? With a closer look at the people and items in
the photo you can discover clues about the date it was taken. Learn what clues to look for with Curators Linda
Forbess and Kathy Volkmann.
Saturday, April 16 Cuba and Change-Possibilities and Dangers
Rick Lohr and Dr. Fernando Riveron look at Cuba of the past and present. Lohr has traveled to Cuba and
Riveron is a Wausau heart surgeon who was born in Cuba.
Sunday, April 24 Building the New Deal in Marathon County
Gary Gisselman explores the role of Roosevelt’s New Deal in helping to bring Marathon County out of the
Great Depression during the 1930’s.
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Upcoming Events
Mother & Child Tea
Saturday, February 13, 2016
2:00 pm
Woodson History Center
A special afternoon for mothers & their son or daughter. Get dressed up, learn proper
etiquette, make a Valentine craft to take home with you and enjoy yummy sweets.
$25 per mother & child/$5 each additional child.
Reservations are Required
and can be made by calling
715-842-5750.
~New Event~
“Houses in Bloom”
March 9-March 20
This exciting new floral event at both the historic Yawkey
House and Woodson History Center will cure the winter blahs
and give you a whole new reason for visiting! Immerse yourself in the sights and
scents of the awakening season of spring as local florists and creative experts fill the
ornate rooms of our grand homes with their unique creations.
Event Hours
Members Only Sneak Peek
Weekday tours on the hour starting at
9:00 am, last tour at 3:00 pm.
Tuesday, March 8
5:30-7:30
Weekend tours at 1:00, 2:00 & 3:00 pm
Both houses will be open for
members to get a first look at
this new event. Talk with local
florists about their
creative ideas and enjoy
light refreshments.
Special Weekend Programming
Woodson History Center
Saturday, March 12 & Sunday, March 13
Saturday, March 19 & Sunday, March 20
1:00, 2:00, 3:00 pm
Learn about the art of floral arranging as
well as many other topics related to
flowers, gardens, and landscaping.
Be sure to check our website after
March 1st for a full list of topics.
Watch the mail for your
personal invite.
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Marathon County Historical Society
410 McIndoe Street
Wausau, Wisconsin 54403
Return Service Requested
EVENTS AND GENERAL INFORMATION
LOCATIONS AND HOURS
We are continuing to list our upcoming events and general
information on the
PULL-OUT CALENDAR
that has been inserted into this issue of the W anigan.
WOODSON HISTORY CENTER
410 McIndoe St., Wausau, WI 54403
Office: 715-842-5750 Library: 715-848-0378
Fax: 715-848-0576
Library Hours: Tuesday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Web site: www.marathoncountyhistory.org
Post it on your bulletin boar d, r efr iger ator , etc. - Mark events on your per sonal calendar - Keep it as a handy r efer ence of events, Histor ical Society
hours, and general contact information.
Our Mission Statement
To collect, preserve, advance, and disseminate the
knowledge of the history of Marathon County and
the State of Wisconsin
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Non-Profit
Organization
U. S. Postage
PAID
Wausau, WI
54403
Permit #550
YAWKEY HOUSE MUSEUM
403 McIndoe St., Wausau, WI 54403
Hours: Tuesday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday
1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Yawkey House tours are offered on the hour,
last tour starts at 3:00 p.m.
Closed on Mondays and Holidays.