“Something’s Burning” was the Westby Times headline in August 2006, because plans were being made to light a fire! The Westby Area Historical Society was going to “burn the mortgage” of the Thoreson home that they had purchased in 1993. A lunch, program and, of course, cake and coffee, were being planned for Sunday, Aug. 13, to celebrate this accomplishment and show appreciation to the many donors and sponsors who made it possible. In 13 years, the society had raised enough money through fundraisers, events and begging to pay off the $65,000 loan. Quite an accomplishment for an organization that was founded in 1989, only four years before the purchase.
The property was first deeded to Hans Knudtson by the U.S. Government in 1872. Knudtson sold the land to Theodore and Katherine Thoreson in 1881. They began building the home in 1892 and moved in 1893 with their three sons. Bennett, the oldest, raised his family of five in the home and Bennett’s son, Myron, was the last of the Thoresons to live in the home. In 1971, John and Leah Walker bought the property from Myron and two of their three children graduated from Westby High School while living there. Upon retiring, the Walkers decided to sell the house to downsize and do more traveling.
Elaine Lund, a founder of WAHS, had earlier talked with John about the possibility of purchasing the house if ever he decided to sell. Elaine recognized the same value of wainscoting in the kitchen, inlaid wood floors, exquisite natural woodwork and sound construction of the four-square design of this historic home. John gave Elaine first opportunity to purchase, as he had promised, and documents were drawn by Attorney Tim Gaskell. On Sept. 24, 1993, John and Leah Walker signed in the presence of Verna Oliver, Collette Radtke, Orin Larson, Margaret Garlick, Eileen Constalie, Elaine Lund and Margaret Gulsvig to sell the home to the Westby Area Historical Society.
For the next 13 years, the society held pie and ice cream socials, stone soup suppers, bridal gown shows, spaghetti dinners, flower sales and even a Rock-A-Thon, to raise enough money to support the house and pay off the mortgage. Many of these fundraisers, lefse/pølse at Syttende Mai being the most well-known, still continue on an annual basis. Reaching the mortgage payoff benchmark in August 2006 was a huge confirmation to WAHS that their efforts were appreciated, but also determined a new set point for restoring the home to museum quality and for managing the collections.
Projects have been ongoing since that celebration day 10 years ago and we have recently completed siding and new windows on the Thoreson House Museum. Our next venture will be to spruce up the interior and we are constantly working to improve the displays of our beautiful collections.
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| Thorson House Museum 111 Bekkedal Avenue Westby, WI 54667 |
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