Marathon County Historical Society

10/16/2026

A new look, same us with history at heart. 💚

We’re pleased to introduce the Marathon County Historical Society’s new logo! As we prepare for an exciting next chapter, this updated look carries forward our commitment to preserving and sharing the stories of Marathon County.

A special thank-you to LMF Studios for creating this new look for us and helping us bring our next chapter to life!

We’re grateful to everyone who has been part of our story, whether you’ve supported us for decades or just discovered us. We look forward to making more history together.

10/01/2026

At this point it seems like the comments have come to the conclusion that this water tower picture is from Edgar—and you are absolutely right. This is the current Edgar water tower along with the one it replaced in 1980-81, located on the north end of the village between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave (just south of Nicolet Bank).

The first water tower in the Village of Edgar was built back in the 1930s, and for decades the tall metallic cylinder provided the village with water, while also commonly serving as a local landmark. For example, people interested in taking part in the American Legion’s annual duck hunt in 1979 were directed to their club house, which was located “3 Miles West of Edgar Water Tower.”

But by the end of the 1970s, the tower was showing its age and the need for a modern replacement had became clear. In January of 1979, a bout of extreme cold weather caused the tower’s internal valves to freeze open, and the malfunction made the water tower to overflow and freeze. While the unexpected ice sculpture along the tower prompted the newspapers to quip that it looked like “a popsicle for Paul Bunyan,” it was less amusing to local residents who could not access running water until it thawed out and could be fixed.

So in 1980, the modern water tower was constructed next to the existing site. At the cost of $174,000, this new tower would hold 200,000 gallons of water in the larger tank suspended above the village. After it was finished in the summer of 1980, the connections were switched over. For the next year, both water towers stood there together. But by the end of 1981, the old tower was torn down and scrapped.

This photo is one of a few taken in 1980 and 1981, and saved by Ben Straub as one of the last additions to his excellent, 4-volume collection of photographic history from across western Marathon County. We’ve attach a few more from the same series for you to see.

09/30/2026

Water towers often have the name of the community painted on them. But in this case we've pixelated the name to see if anyone can recognize where, when, and why this picture from our photo archives was taken. Any guesses?

edit: At this point it seems like the comments have come to the conclusion that this water tower picture is from Edgar—and you are absolutely right. This is the current Edgar water tower along with the one it replaced in 1980-81, located on the north end of the village between 2nd Ave and 3rd Ave (just south of Nicolet Bank).

The first water tower in the Village of Edgar was built back in the 1930s, and for decades the tall metallic cylinder provided the village with water, while also commonly serving as a local landmark. For example, people interested in taking part in the American Legion’s annual duck hunt in 1979 were directed to their club house, which was located “3 Miles West of Edgar Water Tower.”
But by the end of the 1970s, the tower was showing its age and the need for a modern replacement had became clear. In January of 1979, a bout of extreme cold weather caused the tower’s internal valves to freeze open, and the malfunction made the water tower to overflow and freeze. While the unexpected ice sculpture along the tower prompted the newspapers to quip that it looked like “a popsicle for Paul Bunyan,” it was less amusing to local residents who could not access running water until it thawed out and could be fixed.

So in 1980, the modern water tower was constructed next to the existing site. At the cost of $174,000, this new tower would hold 200,000 gallons of water in the larger tank suspended above the village. After it was finished in the summer of 1980, the connections were switched over. For the next year, both water towers stood there together. But by the end of 1981, the old tower was torn down and scrapped.

This photo is one of a few taken in 1980 and 1981, and saved by Ben Straub as one of the last additions to his excellent, 4-volume collection of photographic history from across western Marathon County. We’ve attach a few more from the same series for you to see.

09/23/2026

Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming a group of high school German exchange students for a walking tour of downtown Wausau, and tour of the Yawkey House!

Throughout the morning, students explored Wausau’s history through the architecture, historic businesses, and community gathering places that have shaped our downtown and community. The group capped off their day with us by touring the Yawkey House Museum for a closer look at the people and stories behind some of Wausau's history.

We are always glad to welcome students from near and far, and to share the local history that continues to shape our community today.

09/22/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Voices from the Past at Pine Grove Cemetery!

We were grateful to welcome so many community members as we shared the stories of people who helped shape Wausau and Marathon County.

An event like this is only possible through the support of many people. Thank you to Pine Grove Cemetery Wausau for once again welcoming us and helping make this community tradition possible; Brainard Funeral Home and Cremation Center and Helke Funeral Home and Cremation Services for generously sponsoring our program books; and Green Valley Septic for providing comfortable and convenient restroom accommodations for our guests.

We are also incredibly thankful for our dedicated volunteers. From our tour guides and check-in helpers to the talented reenactors who brought each story to life, your time, energy, and enthusiasm made the day such a success.

Special recognition goes out to our reenactors Connie Heidmann (Mildred Barber Abel), Noah Kienbaum (Dr. Joseph Franklin Smith), Veronica Hinke (Jeanette Mercer Coates), and Christine Kadonsky (Sarah Strobridge Alexander). The time and effort that they put into reenacting these key figures brought so much great energy to the event.

Thank you for helping us preserve and share Marathon County’s history. We look forward to welcoming you back for another walk through the past next year!

09/13/2026

Voices from the Past is just one week away!

Join us on Sunday, September 20, at Pine Grove Cemetery for an afternoon of local history brought to life. Costumed reenactors will share the stories of people who helped shape Wausau and Marathon County as guided groups make their way through the cemetery.

Tickets for tours departing between 11 a.m. and noon are available now via the link in the comments below. All tours departing after noon will be available through walk-up sales only. The final tour will leave at 2 p.m.

Tours have a suggested donation of $10 per person, and the event will take place rain or shine. We look forward to seeing you at Pine Grove Cemetery next week!

Buy tickets for Marathon County Historical Society's upcoming events. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

09/11/2026

Lots of great guesses for this bit of pixelated history, but this is indeed the Wausau Festival of Arts from 1967, showing a demonstration by glassblower Kent Ipsen on the grounds of Yawkey Park (adjoining the YMCA).

In 1967 the FoA was still being run out of the grounds of the Yawkey House Museum and by this point it had spilled out to neighboring blocks, notably Yawkey Park next to the YMCA. So these buildings are the back of the Woodson YMCA. Within a few years, the festival had grown large enough that it moved to the UW Extension campus, where it would remain until moving back to the more expansive takeover of downtown Wausau that it is today.

This remarkable color film footage of Ipsen's demonstration comes from our film archives, and shows the special guest artist and his demonstration at Yawkey Park,which was well attended.

So impactful was his demonstration, that it would be cited as one inspiration by the Alice and John Forester when they helped fund an art studio for the UW extension in the former Wausau Brewing Company later that same year. And a few years later, the Foresters donated their home as the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum where their family's own remarkable collection of glass would become a treasured part of the inaugural Birds In Art.

Incidentally, if this gives you an urge to go check out some great artwork in the Wausau area, this weekend happens to be the Wausau Festival of the Art as well as the opening of this year's Birds In Art at LYWAM!