MUSEUM MUSINGS A NEWSLETTER OF THE GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM

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1 MUSEUM MUSINGS A NEWSLETTER OF THE GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM SUMMER 2015 Days before THE event, GEEKS were everywhere as they got GLM wired for radio! A Roaring Murder The guests settled into their seats and the clock ticked towards the intro of our 1 st LIVE radio performance with 8 actors playing in the 1920 s Murder Mystery. Orson Welles & Bethany Lake met over a cool Baker House as the technician fed the live stream from TALL mikes that broadcast the event. All brought to us by: The WGTD Radio Theater and the Brown/Ullstrup Performing Arts Foundation. Bugs Sent Me On Friday, May 22 nd a large number of museum supporters gave the password, Bugs Sent Me and passed through the door into our Roaring 20 s Speakeasy party. The event was held to unveil our latest exhibit... Flappers to Bootleggers which will be on display through January They sipped wine and beer from coffee cups, tasted a variety of treats that had their beginnings in the 20 s including the famous White Castle sliders and enjoyed great jazz music from the Badger High School Jazz Band. Many got into the spirit of the evening dressing in the flapper/mobster styles of the era. One of our board members even arranged to have our local constabulary make an arrest (see photo above!) The jewel of the event was the extensive exhibit of 20 s memorabilia. This was an exciting period of our history, when gangsters were the rock stars of the day, speakeasies were the place to be, and ladies shed their cumbersome clothing for a new, freer lifestyle. When the great experiment of prohibition changed this country forever. We encourage everyone who could not attend our party to come and see this nostalgic exhibit. The mobsters are gone from Lake Geneva s illegal watering holes, but you will come face to face with an actual Tommy Gun on display. Pat Gee Come help us Dust & Fluff GLM Many hands make light work July 1 st 8:30 to 11:30 with lunch to follow. Bring a smile and something to share. Rsvp:

2 NEW BOOKS & NEW ITEMS You will only find them here at our Museum Store AND members get a 10% discount on their purchases (Excluding discount shelf items) BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY INTERIM TREASURER James Gee Dale Buelter Vern Magee Mary Olson DIRECTORS Richard Bain Barbara Buelter Marianne Bonifacic Chuck Ebeling Patricia Gee Dana Hagenah Joanne Niessner Beth Pernice Ed Schwinn Director Curator Dee Bark-Fiske Dale Buelter Jim Davis James Gee E. Lynn Grayson Vern Magee Mary Olson Don Rutkowski David C. Williams ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Office Manager Fiber Curator Karen Jo Walsh Helen Brandt Pat Cramer Betty Less MUSEUM MUSINGS is a periodic newsletter by Geneva Lake Museum that provides pertinent information to museum members and supporters. The museum is located at the intersection of Mill Street and Highway Mill Street Lake Geneva, WI (262) staff@genevalakemuseum.org 90 and still volunteering strong our own Betty Less! June-July-August-Sept. Events: 2 Workshops Tuesday, June 23: Victorian Weddings with Pat Cramer Tuesday, June 30: 20 s Music and Dancing with Cathy & Gizelle Tuesday, July 7: American Girl Dolls with Docent Karen Tuesday, July 14: William LeBaron Jenney with John Notz, Jr. Saturday, July 18: Sanitariums on - Sonja Akright Tuesday, July 21: Gangsters Galore with Lindsay Callender Tuesday, July 28: Shopping and Selfridge with Pat Cramer Tuesday, Aug.4: THE Maxwell s with Lori Grove Tuesday, Aug.11: Falling for the Falls with Karen Jo Tuesday, Aug.18: Artist in Residence with Lynn Garwood Tuesday, Aug.25: Stained Glass Secrets with Ed Gilbertson Saturday, Aug.29: Lady Bacon Renaissance with Chris Brookes Tuesday, Sept.1: Camps on Geneva Lake with Jill Westberg Tuesday, Sept.8: Happy Labor Day Enjoy your time together! Tuesday, Sept.15: Class of 55: what a time! With Vern and Patrick Tuesday, Sept.22: Villa Louis with site director Susan Canya-Slusser Tuesday, Sept.29: Geneva Porcelain with our own Nancy Russell We all smile in the same language. --Anonymous

3 Curator s Corner The Geneva Lake Museum recently acquired a most interesting painting and it's interesting in two ways. The painting is oil on fabric and the subject is Laura Young. Laura is one of four daughters of Otto Young, a German immigrant who made quite a reputation for himself both as a Chicago merchant, and real estate magnate. Lake Genevans know him best as the owner of Younglands and then Stone Manor, the largest residence to ever grace the shores of Geneva Lake. Laura, and her sisters, Catherine, Daisy and Cecilia, spent much of their youth at their summer home on Geneva Lake. Sadly, a young brother Otto, died at an early age. After the death of their father Otto, in1906 and mother Ann in 1914, the young ladies spent very little time at the lake but traveled extensively in Europe. We know very little about Laura Young's life, but do know she married, had two children and died in The portrait depicts Laura as a young lady, probably in her early twenties, attired in a floor length, white gown, with red cloak. The columns and statuary of Younglands provide the backdrop. The painting measures 4' x 6' with a simple gilded frame. The donation was made by Suzanne Brandner, a Walworth County resident. In the early l970's, John Bihlmire, then the owner of Stone Manor, operated a gourmet restaurant, The Stone Manor Inn on the first floor of the structure. Suzanne Brandner's husband frequented the restaurant, and when the restaurant failed, was able to purchase the portrait from Mr. Bihlmire, along with other memorabilia. We can only wonder whether there were portraits done of the other Young daughters, and where they might be. Helen Brandt, Curator GLM Cathy Klink, docent and volunteer with Laura Young Portrait I have been a student of history since I was very young. I have always been fascinated by the stories objects can tell. That is why, when I chose my course of study during the initial enrollment process at college, I chose to major in History. With this degree, I had planned on becoming involved with a museum or historical society in the curatorial or collections capacity. On this point, when I was given the opportunity this past March to begin an internship with this Geneva Lake Museum I, naturally, jumped at the opportunity. My internship experience here has been invaluable and, honestly, unforgettable. I have enjoyed so much working with the employees and other volunteers here and from them I have gained an incredible amount of experience and knowledge of the museum environment. Lindsay Callender

4 John loves working at GLM It is a fun place! And don t forget: the Movies is going strong and welcomes YOU! Walk Around Lake Geneva Every Thursday in conjunction with Black Point and volunteers, walking tours of Lake Geneva s historic homes and sites begin at 6:30 PM in front of the Riviera. 90 minutes: 2 tickets for $15 covering 1½ miles of Walking Historic Exercise! AND you get a discount coupon for us and Black Point what a great deal! Admission $1.00 off Black Point Estate Admission $1.00 off Geneva Lake Museum What was it like in Renaissance Time? A very special event with Chris Brookes as Lady Bacon Saturday August 29 th 2:00 to 3:00 PM

5 It may be crazy but...a special Saturday July AM when sanitariums were fashionable places to recover from light disorders! Baker House: former place to rest and recuperate Join Sonja Akright as she shares her years of research on the History and Mystery of those places on our very own Lake Geneva. Saturday July 17 th 10 AM Looking for unique chairs Chairs can be on loan JUST for the duration of the exhibit. Help us find historical looking and one of a kind chairs for our new exhibit opening in 2016 on The History of Chairs. If you think you have a chair that might fit, please contact Karen Jo at the museum. If you are interested in sponsoring part or all of this NEW exhibit, please call our Director, Karen Jo, for more Your support is always appreciated and what makes GLM great!

6 BE A MEMBER Established in 1984 by the Geneva Lake History Buffs. We moved to our present location in July Our exhibits and programs create a connection between today s world and that of the19 th -century Geneva Lake Area. Our museum serves as a family-oriented educational and entertainment venue telling the story of how life developed around the shores of Geneva Lake. Our reference library contains thousands of books, photographs and other archival reference materials to aid in a variety of research goals. Our museum preserves Geneva Lake area s history to build a collective memory of our unique and rich heritage. Member contributions are invaluable to furthering the museum s mission. Members of the Geneva Lake Museum become part of a like-minded community dedicated to preserving our heritage. Our mission: Geneva Lake Museum discovers and preserves the rich history that hides throughout Geneva Lake and the surrounding communities. The exhibits within the walls are time capsules that capture every essence of Geneva Lake and its people, people with amazing stories that unravel with every scene and every word led by our exclusive guides. These stories wait for people young and old who have the ears eager to listen, the eyes that are ready to be awakened and the open mind waiting to learn. The Geneva Lake Museum appreciates the support of its members and volunteers. If you want to be a part of the museum and support the preservation of local area history, please complete and submit the membership form with your payment. Thank you! Remember: members of GLM enjoy FREE admission all year Members enjoy FREE 2 workshops all year Members enjoy a 10% discount on store purchases (except discounted items) Share with a friend to join remember History Loves Company Name Phone Address Please support your museum by choosing one of the following: Life Membership (Includes 4 passes) $ Benefactor (Includes 3 passes per visit) $ Supporting (Includes 1 pass per visit) $50.00 Patron (Includes 2 guest passes per visit) $75.00 Adults only $30.00 Seniors (with I.D.) $15.00 Students (with I.D.) $10.00 Commercial/Business Sponsorship $50.00 annually (does not include free admissions) Please accept my additional gift of $ Please make checks payable to the Geneva Lake Museum, 255 Mill St., Lake Geneva WI Memberships and contributions to a 501 (c) (3) may be tax deductible under the Internal Revenue Code, please consult your tax advisor.

7 Thank you to our newsletter I Spy Team: Penny Simonetto and Vern Magee for being proof readers extraordinaire. And of course to Karen Jo for her directorial expertise. It has been a pleasure working with this team of volunteers on the museum newsletter. Best wishes for a wonderful summer season in and around Geneva Lake. Marsha