Portage County Historical Society

06/24/2026

We have a strong history of polka music in our area. Learn more about this music style with our newest blog post; Polka Music in Portage County!

Every month this year we will share another chapter of local music history. You can find all the following topics in our blog, with more to come!
Bluegrass, old time fiddling, progressive string bands, folk, Native American, country, country rock, rock and roll, and now polka.

Polka has strong roots in Portage County. Check out this blog article to learn the history of the genre and reminisce about great local bands.

06/23/2026

We hope you enjoyed Heritage Days last weekend! That was the kickoff to an amazing slate of summer programming here with PCHS.

This Friday, join us for two summer events: Family Fridays and a Forest Cemetery Twilight Tour!

🏚️Family Friday: Early Occupations
📍Heritage Park, 2700 Madison Ave, Plover
🕐️ Friday, June 26, 1-4pm
Discover the jobs and trades that helped build Portage County, including blacksmiths, farmers, and lumber workers.

🪦Forest Cemetery Twilight Tour: Women & Children First
📍Forest Cemetery, 2135 Patch Street, Stevens Point
🕖️ Friday, June 27, 7pm
Join PCHS and local cemetery researcher Jen Brilowski at Forest Cemetery in Stevens Point for an evening stroll through the second-largest cemetery in Portage County.

Each tour shares unique tales of tragedy and loss, as well as eternal love and triumph. You’ll be reminded of stories you might have heard before and hear untold tales you’ll never forget.

Space for these tours is extremely limited, and the tickets sell out fast.

Women and Children First - Stories of the women who shaped our community and fond remembrances of children who may have been lost too soon.

Click the link below for more information and to purchase tickets!

06/21/2026

What a day! Heritage Days was kicked off in grand style today and we’re ready to do it again tomorrow! Celebrate Fathers Day with us with Mark Dombrowski and Friends playing Polka, the Mass Guitar Incident, and Tom Pease, along with more historical demonstrations and fun kids activities.

06/20/2026

Today is the day! Join us all weekend for Heritage Days 2026!

We’re proud to celebrate our company, customer, and community heritage.

Sentry’s built on a foundation of meaningful conversations and we’re always eager to connect with those who’ve been part of our journey. Contact us at [email protected] to share your stories and artifacts, or visit our corporate historian, Dave Coulthurst, at the Portage County Historical Society’s Heritage Days. https://www.pchswi.org/heritagedays

06/19/2026

Heritage Days starts tomorrow!

Before you head to Heritage Park, here are a few things to know:

• The forecast is looking great for the weekend, with only a slight chance of a passing shower.

• Street parking is available throughout the neighborhood, or you can park at the Woyak Ball Fields and enjoy a short walk to Heritage Park.

• Bring a lawn chair for the live music. A limited number of picnic tables will also be available.

• Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. Please clean up after your pet and be respectful of other guests.

• Admission is free, and one of the best ways you can support the Portage County Historical Society is by purchasing food, beverages, or raffle tickets during your visit.

• Be sure to stop by the raffle area! We'll have our Heritage Days Cash Raffle with a $500 grand prize and dozens of raffle baskets. Cash is appreciated for raffles, though credit cards will also be accepted at Portage County Historical Society sales locations.

• Portable restrooms will be available on site.

• Don't forget to explore all 11 historic buildings and visit our exhibit, Rhythms of the River: The History of Music in Portage County.

• Stop by the General Store to learn more about the Portage County Historical Society, upcoming events, membership, and volunteer opportunities.

We'll see you tomorrow at Heritage Park!

06/19/2026

Thanks to the morning shows on Hot 96.7, Big Cheese 107.9, Y106.5 for having our Executive Director John Harry on the air today to talk more about Heritage Days this weekend! Find all the info and schedule at pchswi.org/heritagedays.

06/19/2026

Tomorrow It Begins!

Tomorrow, Heritage Park becomes the place to be for music, history, and family fun.

Join us for Heritage Days 2026:

Saturday, June 20 | 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sunday, June 21 | 10:00 AM–3:00 PM

Enjoy live music throughout the weekend, explore 11 historic buildings, watch blacksmith demonstrations, participate in family activities, visit the "Rhythms of the River" exhibit, and enjoy food and beverages while celebrating the history of Portage County.

Admission is free.

Gather your family and friends and kick off summer at Heritage Park. We look forward to seeing you this weekend.

06/19/2026

Happy , to celebrate, here's a photo of a great summer activity; fishing!

Caption from 7/13/1949: Three youngsters are shown here enjoying a favorite boys’ summer pastime - fishing. Victor Heck and Tom and Bob Schlice (left to right), where photographed Tuesday along the banks of the Wisconsin river at the foot of Main street. Up till the time the picture was taken, the boys had caught four bullheads and a perch with their cane poles.

06/18/2026

We will have two pieces of Portage County heritage, beer and potatoes, well represented at this weekend’s Heritage Days festival at Heritage Park in Plover. In addition to our famous BBQ sandwiches, we will have baked potatoes, donated by Okray Family Farms, along with Point Brewery products to help wash it all down!

06/17/2026

Have you been visiting our local parks this summer?

If you were visiting them in 1949, you would have gotten to enjoy these free games!

In this week's , we are looking at this featured photo from the Stevens Point Journal Collection. Caption from 6/9/1949: Dave Varney, 704 Main street, a sophomore at Central State Teachers college and an employee of the city recreation department, is shown above preparing one of the equipment kits to be distributed to city playgrounds in time for the opening of the six-weeks playground program on June 20. Included in the kits, one of which is to be sent to each of the city's playground, are such items as softballs and bats, basketballs, volleyball, checker sets, first aid equipment, horseshoe sets, jump ropes, crayons, water colors, scissors and construction paper, stilts, coping saws and blades, and many other items expected to provide enjoyment for the city's small fry. The kits are provided by the city.