Society News
WCHS Exec. Director Search Update
In December a search committee was formed to hired a new Executive Director for WCHS. The committee is made up of both current and past Board of Directors members. They are: Judy Boway, WCHS president; Sandra Burke; Tim Hoff; Laurie Lucas; Jonelle Moore; Jim Pomeroy and Dennis McEntaffer. Since the January 25 deadline for accepting applications the committee has narrowed the pool of over 60 to 5 for interviews and hopes to announce the new WCHS Executive Director in the coming weeks.
Photo Help
Local playwright is looking for photo(s) of the North side of Second St. between about Market and Johnson Sts., taken before 1960. Contact WCHS archives at 507-454-2723 ext. 2 or email archives@winonahistory.org
New Hire for Grant Project
Thanks to an Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant of the Minnesota Legacy Funds we have hired Jonah Kenyon for a three month project organizing a large backlog of unsorted photographic prints and to determine digitizing priorities for images in preparation for a more comprehensive future project to address our photograph/negative collection.
Results are In
This fall we hired Engage Winona through an Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant from the Minnesota Legacy Funds to ask the community what they valued about their local history and what they would like to see in the History Center main exhibit hall as we look at reimagining that space and updating our permanent exhibits. We asked, you spoke and we will listen. Here is a summary of Engage Winona’s report.
Engage Winona collected nearly 2000 unique responses from over 300 individuals, representing a diverse variety of the communities in the region. About 75% of the participants live in Winona and 25% in Winona County, with a few from just across the river. Ages ranged from High School students to older populations. Roughly 20% had never been or go to the museum no more than once a year; about 55% visit a few times a year, and the remaining 25% were more regular visitors. We found that the WCHS brand and image is very strong across the community with 94% rating the value of the museum as good or great.
We now have a huge collection of ideas from the community on exhibit themes and historical topic interests. Common themes included: business and industry, Native American and Pre-colonial life, history of education, Winona life during notable eras and larger historic events, history of churches, everyday stories and personal connections, and more modern history of the 1970s to today. Rural participants sought more themes of small towns, country schools, and agriculture. There was a strong interest for stories of individuals and populations in Winona’s past that have been traditionally marginalized or even unheard.
When asked about the current exhibits there was an overwhelming desire for more interactive and digital elements, more color in exhibit designs, more lighting, more specific children’s areas, and bringing back performances to the Armory stage area, more changing exhibits, and additional annual exhibits like the Art of Fine Furniture.
Thank you all who participated and to Engage Winona for this valuable work that will be vital in the future development of the History Center’s main exhibits, and the continued growth and improvement of the Society as a whole. This data provided will also help us create competitive grant applications to implement improvements to the main exhibits at the History Center.
In December a search committee was formed to hired a new Executive Director for WCHS. The committee is made up of both current and past Board of Directors members. They are: Judy Boway, WCHS president; Sandra Burke; Tim Hoff; Laurie Lucas; Jonelle Moore; Jim Pomeroy and Dennis McEntaffer. Since the January 25 deadline for accepting applications the committee has narrowed the pool of over 60 to 5 for interviews and hopes to announce the new WCHS Executive Director in the coming weeks.
Photo Help
Local playwright is looking for photo(s) of the North side of Second St. between about Market and Johnson Sts., taken before 1960. Contact WCHS archives at 507-454-2723 ext. 2 or email archives@winonahistory.org
New Hire for Grant Project
Thanks to an Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant of the Minnesota Legacy Funds we have hired Jonah Kenyon for a three month project organizing a large backlog of unsorted photographic prints and to determine digitizing priorities for images in preparation for a more comprehensive future project to address our photograph/negative collection.
Results are In
This fall we hired Engage Winona through an Arts and Cultural Heritage Grant from the Minnesota Legacy Funds to ask the community what they valued about their local history and what they would like to see in the History Center main exhibit hall as we look at reimagining that space and updating our permanent exhibits. We asked, you spoke and we will listen. Here is a summary of Engage Winona’s report.
Engage Winona collected nearly 2000 unique responses from over 300 individuals, representing a diverse variety of the communities in the region. About 75% of the participants live in Winona and 25% in Winona County, with a few from just across the river. Ages ranged from High School students to older populations. Roughly 20% had never been or go to the museum no more than once a year; about 55% visit a few times a year, and the remaining 25% were more regular visitors. We found that the WCHS brand and image is very strong across the community with 94% rating the value of the museum as good or great.
We now have a huge collection of ideas from the community on exhibit themes and historical topic interests. Common themes included: business and industry, Native American and Pre-colonial life, history of education, Winona life during notable eras and larger historic events, history of churches, everyday stories and personal connections, and more modern history of the 1970s to today. Rural participants sought more themes of small towns, country schools, and agriculture. There was a strong interest for stories of individuals and populations in Winona’s past that have been traditionally marginalized or even unheard.
When asked about the current exhibits there was an overwhelming desire for more interactive and digital elements, more color in exhibit designs, more lighting, more specific children’s areas, and bringing back performances to the Armory stage area, more changing exhibits, and additional annual exhibits like the Art of Fine Furniture.
Thank you all who participated and to Engage Winona for this valuable work that will be vital in the future development of the History Center’s main exhibits, and the continued growth and improvement of the Society as a whole. This data provided will also help us create competitive grant applications to implement improvements to the main exhibits at the History Center.
Director to Retire in May 2019
Mark Peterson, WCHS Executive Director since 1983, has announced his retirement. Mark will be retiring in May 2019 and even though he will be greatly missed, we are happy he will be able to enjoy more time with his family, friends and more of his hobbies. Mark came to WCHS from Oregon, where he was getting his Masters degree. He is originally from Mankato, Minnesota and welcomed the chance to move back to his home state and has made Winona home for 36 years. He is currently Mayor of Winona as well, and will continue that elected position.
County Newspapers get Preserved through Grant
WCHS was awarded a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage grant for $7,375 in order to preserve on microfilm the last several years for two local newspapers. Approximately 15,000 pages of the Lewiston Journal and St. Charles Press will be scanned and converted to microfilm for this project. A master copy will be housed at the Minnesota Historical Society, a copy will stay here at the History Center, and another will be donated to the St. Charles Public Library.
Parking Lot Coming Along, just Gravel, for Now
The Winona County History Center is closer to having some on site parking. The buildings behind LaBoutique and next to the History Center came down the week of October 15. It is usable, but is just gravel until more work on the project can resume in the spring. When the multi stage project is complete the new parking area for the History Center will feature a low brick wall topped with wrought iron elements, along with plantings, seating, and more! Stay tuned!
Mark Peterson, WCHS Executive Director since 1983, has announced his retirement. Mark will be retiring in May 2019 and even though he will be greatly missed, we are happy he will be able to enjoy more time with his family, friends and more of his hobbies. Mark came to WCHS from Oregon, where he was getting his Masters degree. He is originally from Mankato, Minnesota and welcomed the chance to move back to his home state and has made Winona home for 36 years. He is currently Mayor of Winona as well, and will continue that elected position.
County Newspapers get Preserved through Grant
WCHS was awarded a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage grant for $7,375 in order to preserve on microfilm the last several years for two local newspapers. Approximately 15,000 pages of the Lewiston Journal and St. Charles Press will be scanned and converted to microfilm for this project. A master copy will be housed at the Minnesota Historical Society, a copy will stay here at the History Center, and another will be donated to the St. Charles Public Library.
Parking Lot Coming Along, just Gravel, for Now
The Winona County History Center is closer to having some on site parking. The buildings behind LaBoutique and next to the History Center came down the week of October 15. It is usable, but is just gravel until more work on the project can resume in the spring. When the multi stage project is complete the new parking area for the History Center will feature a low brick wall topped with wrought iron elements, along with plantings, seating, and more! Stay tuned!