Voices of Impact: Portage County Historical Society
Our September Voices of Impact session welcomed John Harry from the Portage County Historical Society for a conversation about transformation, community connection, and the evolving role of a local historical society.
Hosted by Jenny Riggenbach, CEO of the Community Foundation of Central Wisconsin, the conversation offered a look at how the Portage County Historical Society is building on its history while reimagining what a historical society can be for its community today.
Through thoughtful planning, expanded programming, stronger collections practices, and a growing team, the organization is creating new opportunities for people throughout Portage County to connect with their community’s history.
A History of Preserving Local Stories
The Portage County Historical Society was incorporated in 1951, with its first meeting held in 1952. Its roots were closely connected to education, with founding members including teachers from Amherst and Almond, as well as a professor from UW-Stevens Point.
For its first several decades, the organization did not have a permanent physical home. That changed in 1977 with the establishment of Heritage Park in Plover, creating a place where local history could be preserved and shared with the community.
Over the years, the Historical Society continued to grow its collection of historic places and stories. Its holdings eventually expanded to include the Rising Star Mill in Nelsonville and the Beth Israel Synagogue in Stevens Point, adding new dimensions to the history represented through its work.
The organization’s growth was also shaped by dedicated volunteers and community leaders, including longtime volunteer and board member Tim Siebert and Anton Anday, who championed the Heritage Park endowment established in 2006. That spirit of volunteerism and generosity continues to influence the Historical Society today.
A New Chapter for the Historical Society
John’s own journey with the organization began as a volunteer board director. After spending a year in that role, he left to pursue a master’s degree in history and a certificate in nonprofit management.
When Anton became ill and later passed away in 2021, the organization began discussing succession and its future leadership. John put forward his own vision for the executive director role and was ultimately hired.
Five years into his tenure, John has helped lead the organization through a period of significant growth and transformation.
One of the clearest examples is the staff. What began with a single staff member has grown into a team of five, bringing new skills and perspectives to the organization.
The team includes Denise Brandl, who handles bookkeeping; Kristopher Strebe, curator; Kimberly Kopplin, educator and volunteer coordinator; and Hannah Woelfel, the newest member of the team serving as development and outreach coordinator.
Together, the team is helping the Historical Society expand its reach while strengthening the systems that support its work.
Creating More Opportunities to Learn
A major part of that work is happening through education. Kimberly shared how the Historical Society’s educational programming reached approximately 3,000 more people than the previous year, an increase of about 40 percent. More than 700 students participated in third- and fourth-grade field trips, representing an increase of roughly 100 students.
One of the signature experiences is an immersive one-room schoolhouse program at Heritage Park, where students can step into the past and experience what education looked like in 1910. New programming, including the summer Family Friday’s series, is creating additional opportunities for families to experience local history together.
The Historical Society is also looking for ways to bring its programs directly into classrooms and eventually expand its educational outreach to older students. While current programming focuses primarily on third through fifth grades, there is interest in developing additional opportunities for teens, including potential programming connected to the Rising Star Mill.
Kimberly’s work extends beyond education. As the organization’s Volunteer Coordinator, she is also helping bring greater structure to volunteer recruitment, orientation, and engagement.
During the conversation, Kimberly shared a memorable story involving a hair wreath artifact and a student who later repeated the tour explanation word-for-word to her own family. A perfect, yet meaningful example of how engaging experiences can stay with young people long after they leave the museum.
Preserving More Than Objects
As the Historical Society expands its programming, it is also taking a closer look at how it cares for the collections entrusted to it.
John explained an important distinction between collecting and curating. The organization has collected a tremendous amount over the years, but its current focus is on developing stronger systems for preserving, documenting, and understanding those collections.
That work includes pest monitoring, documenting provenance, completing legal transfer paperwork, using appropriate archival storage materials such as acid-free boxes, and developing a searchable cataloging database. The organization is also reviewing its collection against its established collections policy. These efforts may happen behind the scenes, but they play an important role in ensuring that the community’s history is cared for thoughtfully and remains accessible for generations to come.
Looking Ahead
The Historical Society has plenty to look forward to.
Next year will mark its 75th anniversary, and the organization is planning a year-long celebration featuring a traveling exhibit centered around 75 stories.
Among those stories will be a collection highlighting community generosity and philanthropy dating back to the 1800s, a fitting reflection of the many individuals and organizations whose generosity has helped shape Portage County.
John also emphasized the importance of continued community support as the organization looks toward the future. Building the organization’s endowment, along with maintaining a diverse revenue base that includes annual giving, will help provide the stability needed to sustain staff, programs, preservation efforts, and community impact over the long term.
And there may be even more ahead. John teased that the Historical Society has “a lot on the horizon” that he could not yet share, leaving plenty to look forward to in the organization’s next chapter.
Continuing to Create Impact
The story of the Portage County Historical Society is ultimately about more than preserving buildings, artifacts, and stories.
It is about creating opportunities for people to connect with where they live. Whether that happens through a school field trip, a family program, a historic site, a carefully preserved artifact, or a story passed from one generation to the next.
The organization’s recent growth demonstrates what can happen when a community invests in both its history and its future. Through its organizational endowment fund with the Community Foundation and the continued support of donors and community partners, the Historical Society is building the capacity to serve Portage County in new and meaningful ways.
We are grateful to the Portage County Historical Society team for sharing their stories and insights during this month’s Voices of Impact session. Their work reminds us that history is is something we preserve, share, experience, and continue to shape together.
Join Us in October
Our next Voices of Impact session will feature Nick and Alayna Silva, founders of Mila’s Mission, a fund created in honor of their daughter, Mila James Silva.
Mila’s Mission was born from the profound love parents carry for a child they never got to bring home. After Mila was welcomed into eternity at 28 weeks, Nick and Alayna created the fund to support grieving families, bring comfort to children facing illness, and help children waiting for their forever homes. The October conversation will explore the heart behind Mila’s Mission and the impact this fund hopes to create for families throughout the community. The Silvas are also hosting the upcoming Miles for Mila event in honor of their daughter. Proceeds will benefit Mila’s Mission and support organizations including Roman’s Wrap, Phoenix Bears, and Children’s Miracle Network.
We hope you’ll join us on Monday, October 12, for our next Voices of Impact as we continue highlighting the people, organizations, and initiatives creating meaningful impact throughout Central Wisconsin.