DCHS seeks photos of downtown movers and shakers, offers comedy

Our 2012-2013 History Sunday series is back.

Next month, History Sundays resume the theme of downtown, which complements our current exhibit. Called “Open ‘til 9: Thursday Nights on Tower,” the title refers to the days when stores in Superior’s downtown stayed open late for shoppers.

We plan to add to our downtown exhibit this year, focusing on the iconic people who were so influential in its vibrancy, people like Eddie Guenard and Henry Cohen of City Market, Zona Rosa and the Library Restaurant. If you have any full-length pictures of businessmen and women who shaped the downtown, we would love to have a copy of those pictures to add to our exhibit. The reason we need them full length is so we can enlarge their figures to stand among the exhibit. Other influential people would be T.J. and A.A. Roth and Neil Smith of Roth’s Department Store, the Edelsteins of Edelstein Gifts, and John, Roy and Charlie Branser of the men’s department store.

Our History Theatre begins its season with another original play, this time written by Superiorite Teddie Meronek. Called, “You’ll Find it at Roth’s,” it’s a comedy that takes place at Thanksgiving in Superior during World War II. Ruth and Alfred have been “going together” since high school — over 20 years. Ruth, an ad executive for Roth’s Department Store, is busy with holiday ad layouts for the Telegram when Albert returns on leave from the war with news for Ruth — Big News. You’ll Find it at Roth’s premieres at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 and 20 and 2 p.m. Oct. 21. Tickets are on sale now for $10.

Construction for handicap accessibility begins in September. Although most of the funding for this project is from the City’s Community Development Block Grant, it doesn’t pay for the entire project and there are always extra costs. Gary LaPorte of LaPorte Construction has broken the project down to include material and labor that can be provided through donations and volunteer work. If you would like to help with this, stop by and take a look at our list of possible donations. You can help us with fundraising by buying raffle tickets to win one of three beautiful prizes. Third prize is a basket of merchandise donated by DCHS; second prize is a Pam Dull print of the Lift Bridge donated by Mick MacKenzie and framed by Kelly and Gary Reed, and Barb Mattson; and first prize is a handmade quilt and rag rug donated by 4-Corners Crafters. The drawing for winners is in October.

During construction, we’ll still be open to the public if you have a research request or want to stop in our museum shop. If you’d like to find out what northern Wisconsin lumberjack life was like in the nineteenth century, try “The Treasure of Namakagon,” by James A. Brakken, or if you are doing some Superior genealogy research, pick up a copy of “Pioneers of Superior, WI.” You can also find enlarged photo prints and DCHS t-shirts.

The Douglas County Historical Society is at 1101 John Ave. Contact us at dchs@douglashistory.org or (715) 392-8449.

Kathy Laakso is the director of the Douglas County Historical Society.

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