This file portion of www.watertownhistory.org website

2010 EVENT CALENDAR

FOR THE

WATERTOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Judy Quam, a guide and former manager of the Octagon House Museum, joins volunteers in an annual spring cleaning effort at the local landmark. For several days each April, workers prepare the historic home for the upcoming tourism season. The former home of John and Eliza Richards was built in 1854.

(John Hart photo / Watertown Daily Times)

All events are open to the public

Monday, April 19, 7 p.m. - Watertown Senior & Community Center

Charles Damaske will share with us the history of The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. with a focus on the interurban line that ran between Watertown and Milwaukee.

Watertown Historical Society to host railroad presentation April 19

The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co.’s interurban line between Milwaukee and Watertown will be the focus of a presentation Monday, April 19 sponsored by the Watertown Historical Society. The presentation starts at 7 p.m. at the Watertown Senior and Community Center and will be led by Watertown author and railroad historian Charles Damaske. This event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.

Damaske’s presentation will include numerous images from the early days of the railway and show the construction and operation of the Watertown line until its final days in 1940 and 1941.

Damaske has been interested in railroads since he was a child growing up in Muskego. As he grew older he began researching the Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Co. and between 1989 and 2001 he published six books that covered all the lines of the interurban system. He has been an active member of the East Troy Electric Railroad since 1985 and in November 2009 he was the recipient of the annual Chuck Zehner Memorial Award for his outstanding contribution in the field of railroad history.

Damaske and his wife, Pat, are the owners of the historic Jesse Stone House Bed & Breakfast, 300 S. Washington St., Watertown.

This presentation is the first of four public events on tap for the Watertown Historical Society this year. On Monday, June 28 historian Bill Jannke will give a talk on the “lost octagon house of Watertown” that was once located on the 500 block of North Washington Street. On Monday, Sept. 20 social historian Kathleen Ernst of Middleton will share with program attendees how she bases her award winning fictional novels in actual Wisconsin historic sites. Finally, on Monday, Nov. 15 historical society members Randy Roeseler and Melissa Lampe will present a before and after view of what many of Watertown’s most stately homes and buildings looked in the early 1900s and what they look like today.

All public presentations are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Watertown Community and Senior Center. For more information, call Linda at 261-2796.

May 15 - September 1. – Visitor’s Center, Octagon House Grounds

Beginning in mid-May and lasting through the 2010 season, the private collection of Wizard of Oz memorabilia belonging to society president, William Jannke, will be on display at the tour center.

This will include, among other things, autographs of Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West, and, of course, Meinhardt Raabe.

Stop up and have a look.

Monday, June 28, 7 p.m. - Watertown Senior & Community Center

“The Lost Octagon House of Watertown.” Bill Jannke will talk about Watertown’s other eight-sided residence that once stood in the

500 block of North Washington Street.

Sunday, August 15, 1:30 p.m. - Octagon House grounds, 919 Charles St.

Annual ice cream social and concert by First Brigade Band.

Monday, September 20, 7 p.m. - Watertown Senior & Community Center

Social historian and novelist Kathleen Ernst of Middleton will share her passion for Wisconsin’s historic sites and how many of them were used as settings for her books.

Monday, November 15, 7 p.m. - Watertown Senior & Community Center

“Picturesque Watertown” Randy Roeseler and Melissa Lampe will present a before and after view of what many of Watertown’s most stately homes and buildings looked in the early 1900s and what they look like today.

PLEASE NOTE 

ALL EVENTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
CALL (920) 261-2796 FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION