For additional information, please select one of the items under the "BCHS" tab above.
News from the Board of the Burnett County Historical Society
January 2018:
Did you hear the “hurrah” from the Board members? In 2017, the Board added an Irish Dinner (thanks Jim M!), Booya (thanks Joanie!), Gourmet Dinner (thanks Jim and Joanie M!), and twice-monthly meat raffles (thanks Paul!) to increase our income. The result: Profit for 2017 is over $11,000 which means we went from a deficit year in 2016 (where we also postponed paying about $4000 in bills until 2017) to a great profit for 2017. Hurrah!
A second hurrah was heard when we learned we had received a donation from Polk Burnett’s Operation Roundup.
Great news for this summer: The Wisconsin Historical Society will set up their traveling exhibit "Great Lakes – Small Streams" at The Forts from 6/18 – 7/15. Thanks to Joanie for making these arrangements.
Fall schedule set:
September: Wednesday-Friday and Sunday with no tours for a $5 admission fee.
Saturday with tours for the normal admission fees.
October: Saturday-Sunday with no tours for a $5 admission fee.
Dagwaagin (Oct 6) with tours for the normal admission fees.
MEA Thursday-Saturday, October 18-20
The large letters for the new Hwy 35 Billboard, designed by Jim M, are being painted by the staff. This spring, they will be placed on the billboard.
February:
Plans are progressing to move the resort cabin to FAHP. With the money raised through the Annual Giving Campaign, the Board decided to accept the donated cabin. The Board will now seek the necessary approvals from the County.
March:
The Irish Dinner was a success (thanks Val and Nikki for cooking!) with more people attending this year than last year and new people joining our current volunteers.
Our Full Moon Program is off to a great start!
A number of people who attended the Irish Dinner and Full Moon Program decided to become members of BCHS. Welcome!
In reviewing our policies, we realized there is no employee drug policy, so one will be written.
Our meat raffles will be held every Saturday at Trader’s Roundabout this year. Thanks to Jim P for making these arrangements.
At Minneapolis Mart, Joanie found a number of interesting items. Watch for some new lines of inventory in the Gift Shop this year.
Paul gave a presentation on BCHS and FAHP at a dinner meeting of a local organization. Thanks, Paul, for representing us well.
April:
Final prep for our School Tours is being done:
Almost all the displays in the Fur Trade Museum were refurbished.
Jack Peel Native American display is finished.
Logging Museum - done! One-room schoolhouse - done!
Fur Trading Post buildings - done!
Dr. Theresa Schenk, professor emeritus, author, and editor of "My First Years in the Fur Trade", stopped by to see the Fur Trade Posts. After a 5 hour conversation, Joanie and Theresa picked up Jim for dinner and continued the conversation. Her wealth of knowledge and willingness to share it to help The Forts is marvelous.
May:
The new Billboard is finished. Many thanks to the businesses who volunteered time and equipment and to other volunteers who helped with this major project.
School tours are off to a good start. Children and adults are enjoying the tours and learning a lot. Gift Shop sales on tour days are also very good.
Opening Weekend with its Plant Sale, Yard Sale, Wild Rice Pancake Breakfast and the start of our summer season was very successful. New volunteers are always welcome!
