East Troy Area Historical Society

05/08/2026

Please mark your calendars-

04/19/2026

01/27/2026

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Over the next 250 days we will be highlighting historic people, places or things from around Walworth County.

Up next is Chief Bigfoot.

Chief Bigfoot was the final leader of the Potawatomi tribe settled at Fontana while they still had access to their lands around Geneva Lake.

His village consisted of about sixty different families who all hunted, fished, and farmed the area around Geneva Lake. An agricultural village was near today’s Williams Bay, while a fishing village was located near what is now Lake Geneva.

Traveling between these villages might have been the start of today’s Shore Path around the lake.

Chief Bigfoot was known for his strong sense of honor and duty as well as a firm desire to protect the lands of his people from the settlers.

Chief Bigfoot made a promise to not fight against the settlers, and he remained neutral throughout Black Hawk’s War in 1832, despite Chief Black Hawk’s requests that they join forces.

The Potawatomi were forcibly removed from the area in 1836 by the U.S. Government.

Walworth@250 #27

01/17/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15iJPTarGh/

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Over the next 250 days we will be highlighting historic people, places or things from around Walworth County.

Up next is Ginny Hall.

Meander around Walworth County with local historian, prolific author, dedicated volunteer, and entertaining storyteller Ginny Hall.

Virginia “Ginny” Hall grew up on a farm in New Holstein, Wisconsin, received her bachelor and master degrees in Home Economics from UW-Madison, and taught in UW-Extension programs for 33 years. She retired in 1989, lived on the Jerseyhurst estate with her husband, and became interested in the history of Walworth County and volunteering at the Lake Geneva Public Library.

Driving around the county, talking into her tape recorder, she compiled 12 “Meandering Around Walworth County” driving tour guides, then added 15 walking tour guides and wrote over 800 news stories telling the history of buildings, sites, and communities, among other topics.

In her 90s now, Ginny is still very active in numerous community organizations and will be remembered for her work preserving the history of Walworth County.

Walworth@250 #14

01/12/2026

01/03/2026

12/21/2025

11/01/2025

Don't forget, The Picture lady will be at the East Troy Historical Society at 1 PM. today Nov. 1st 2025

11/01/2025

Happy Halloween 10-31-2025 had a good time handing out candy to the Trick or Treaters at the ETAHS

10/05/2025

PLEASE JOIN US-