History comes alive this summer

This could be a big summer for the Shawano County Historical Society.

Fresh off a new deal reaffirming its place at county-owned Heritage Park, the historical society is planning a series of special events and also introducing changes to make the attraction more appealing to visitors.

Officials say they are trying to raise the private group’s profile and attract bigger crowds to the compound of historic buildings on display at Heritage Park, 524 N. Franklin St., Shawano.

“We’re hoping to get the word out and let people know we are here,” said Jesse Borlen, curator of the society’s museum collections and displays.

Although the group has been located at Heritage Park for years, its exact status as a private guest in a public park was somewhat unclear until recently. A fire inside the compound’s one-room schoolhouse in October raised landlord-tenant questions that were resolved in a new agreement clarifying the historical society’s relationship to the park’s county government owners.

With repairs now under way at the schoolhouse and upgrades completed elsewhere on the property, society officials are anxious to broaden their reach in the community and become a destination of choice this summer.

A new series called “Summer at the Society” will entice visitors with special Saturday events once a month between May and September, featuring live music, food and living history presentations. The events will be based on a different theme each month, starting May 13 with Native American Day.

The historical society’s entire compound overlooking the Wolf River will be filled with Native American music, guest speakers and other features from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Similar themes in the following months will focus on the society’s popular rhubarb festival, railroads, school days and more.

Jeanette Berkovitz, co-director of archives for the group, said volunteers and other participants have come forward to offer help in making the summer series a memorable effort.

“People have really responded,” Berkovitz said. “I think it’s going to be great.”

The historical society has filled Heritage Park with historic structures re-creating Shawano’s pioneer days of the 19th century. In addition to the schoolhouse, the attraction includes a train depot, church, log cabin and other facilities restored and furnished to showcase the region’s early heritage.

Except for private tours, the attraction is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of every month and the second Saturday of every month. Admission is $5 for adults and $1 for children.

Officials are dispensing with formal tours for the general public and are retooling the presentation to allow more of an open campus where visitors can roam freely and explore each museum display at their leisure.

The tours lasted up to three hours and were not always the best way for visitors to enjoy the historical society, Berkovitz said.

“Now people can just go and see whatever they like for as long as they like,” she said.

Costumed guides, or “docents,” will continue to greet visitors, but rather than leading group tours, the guides will be stationed throughout the Heritage Park compound as hosts at the train depot, log cabin or other facilities.

Priscilla King, who is entering her third year as a docent, said the volunteer guides will remain an important part of the historical society under the new arrangement.

King agreed that the open campus style of presentation will be more relaxed and fun for visitors and volunteers alike.

“Sometimes to keep it going, you’ve got to change,” she said. “You’ve got to change with the times.”