Waupun Historical Society

10/01/2026

Join us for a special presentation just in time for Halloween. Expect to be shocked at some of the happenings in our peaceful little town.

09/12/2026

Around the turn of the last century the residents of Waupun began to look for a new site for a library. Edwin Hillyer had offered his library at the Whiting Theater to the community, but it was becoming too much for the space. When Andrew Carnegie began offering communities across the county matching money for libraries it was the perfect opportunity for a larger, more permanent home. After a lot of fundraising and site selection the northwest corner of Madison and Jefferson Streets was selected. The property was the home of Nettie Hobkirk. She accepted $1,900 for the property and had her home moved to the other side of the block to 19 S. Mill St. A design by the firm of Foeller & Schober of Green Bay was selected and construction began in 1904 and opened to the public on October 22, 1905. The Waupun Historical Society with much assistance from the City of Waupun is grateful to now call this former library its home. Stop in and see one of the most original buildings in the city.

09/10/2026

In the 1890s local populations were growing rapidly and those people wanted information and a connection to family and friends often far away. The local post office was your connection to the outside world. Unfortunately for those living in rural areas a trip of many miles was often required to send or receive mail and packages. Early rural post offices were often placed at stores, creameries or wherever someone would be available to receive and distribute the mail. In 1891 just such a route was established. The Bing P.O. was located on CTH AW and Prairie Rd. Shaler P.O. was on AW near Pleasant Dr. in Green Lake Co. Today nothing remains of either site.

09/05/2026

A Stanley Johnson image shows an unknown man on the rear platform of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul depot at 2 E. Franklin St. circa 1915. At the lower right is a Raymond Vaneless windmill of the Althouse-Wheeler Co. The Loomans Lumber & Coal Elevator is the large building in the background. Nothing in this image remains except Franklin St. and the main line on the opposite side of the depot.

08/20/2026

Join our friends in Beaver Dam and learn about their recently carbon dated mammoth bones from the Iron Ridge area. They actually show human habitation several thousand years earlier than previously known.

Special Program Offered by the Dodge County Historical Society and Museum and the Beaver Dam Community Library.
This program is for all ages (especially younger kids) and adults of all ages who want to take a step back 12,000-plus years into the Ice Age. Learn what it took to survive and to hunt the mighty Wooly Mammoth.
Atlatl demonstrations, fossils, stone tool making, and much more.
See the 16,370-year-old mammoth bones from Dodge County, WI.
Detail below.
For additional information, please contact Kurt Sampson of the DCHS at [email protected] or call 920-887-1266.

07/19/2026

With the sky abuzz with all manner of aircraft headed to Oshkosh, let's take a look at Waupun's use of aircraft in the past. May 20, 1938 saw the first use of aircraft to transport mail from Waupun. The initial flight was delayed due to bad weather. It doesn't appear that the service lasted too long likely due to the extra cost. Lloyd Graves was an airplane owner and would become a Major in the Army Air Force. The airfield was near Hwy 26 and Milligan Rd. on the McRoberts farm. P.G. Elster photo from the Wisconsin Historical Society archives.

07/02/2026

The Waupun Heritage Museum will be open today July 2 from 4-6pm and on Saturday July 4 from 10-12. Come check us out, enjoy the refrigerated air, and maybe do a bit of research. Photo from the Bicentennial parade of 1976.

06/18/2026

For Immediate Release. The Waupun Library Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Pam Garcia as the new library director for the Waupun Public Library. Garcia brings a deep familiarity with Waupun library operations, having served as assistant director and reference librarian for the Waupun Public Library since 2000, and as a desk assistant and library page prior to that appointment.

The Waupun library director position had been open since February due to retirement. Garcia’s appointment followed a careful search process during which the Board reflected on the library's future direction and the needs of the Waupun community to define expectations of the new director. Reflecting on that process, board member Bev Martens stated, “I feel extremely fortunate to welcome Pam as Waupun’s new library director. Her wealth of experience and passion for library service will greatly benefit the community. After a thoughtful and comprehensive search process, I’m confident Pam will provide strong leadership, build on the library’s successes and help guide future growth and service to the community.”

Garcia is a lifelong resident of Waupun and holds a bachelor’s degree from Marian University and a master’s in library and information science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her tenure with the Waupun Public Library, Garcia has provided interim leadership, supervised staff, grown adult programming, and managed reference and outreach services for the community. Reflecting on Garcia’s years of service, Martens noted, “Pam shares the library’s commitment to creating a welcoming, vibrant library for everyone. I look forward to the ideas, energy and dedication that Pam will bring to this important role.”

Garcia’s appointment was confirmed by the Waupun Library Board at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 17. She assumes full leadership responsibilities for the library effective immediately. In accepting the appointment, Garcia noted, “I am honored to be chosen to serve the library and community in this role. I look forward to working closely with the Library Board and the City, fostering new relationships and strengthening others. Last but certainly not least, I wish to express my appreciation of the library staff for their unwavering support and invaluable assistance during this transition period.”

The Waupun Public Library serves the residents of Waupun and the surrounding area, providing access to books, digital resources, educational programming, and community gathering spaces. The library is located at 123 S Forest St and is open Monday through Thursday, 9 am to 8 pm, Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm, and Saturday, 9 am to 4:30 pm. For more information, visit www.cityofwaupunwi.gov/library or call 920.324.7925.