That was fun!

I had a great time last Saturday evening at the Cedarburg History Museum, giving an illustrated talk as part of their big 2024 Civil War exhibition and lecture series. My subject was “From the ‘Burg to the Battlefield…and Back: Cedarburg’s Beckmann Family and the Civil War.” I tried to take a more personal and local look at the war by examining the military service of few of the Cedarburg relatives and future in-laws of 1868-1873 Clark House resident Fred Beckmann. In my research, I found some unique stories of their years of Union service in the 9th and 26th Wisconsin Infantry Regiments, as well as the impact of the war on families and friends back home in Wisconsin.

1864 National Color, 26th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment (Wisconsin Veterans Museum, V1964.219.119)

Wisconsin in the Civil War

Reading, Mass. Selectmen. The union must be preserved! […].Boston, 1862, detail. Library of Congress 

“Wisconsin in the Civil War” is this year’s premier exhibition at the Cedarburg History Museum, open now until October 31, 2024. Museum director Joel Willems and his volunteers, supported by the museum’s substantial collections and some generous artifact lenders, donors, and sponsors, have assembled an excellent group of exhibits featuring many authentic Civil War artifacts. The displays are enhanced by a series of free public lectures by visiting speakers; mine was the second of eleven scheduled presentations. We had a small but attentive crowd, and they asked—and I tried to answer—some very interesting and thoughtful questions after the main presentation.

It’s a fascinating exhibit, free of charge, and well worth a visit. Museum hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 10 AM – 4 PM and Sunday, Noon – 4 PM. The CHM is located at N58 W6194 Columbia Road, Cedarburg, WI 53012. (Tell them the Clark House Historian sent you and—if you see Joel there—ask him to play the Civil War medley for you on the museum’s vintage player piano!)

And while you’re in the neighborhood, our historic Jonathan Clark House Museum is only a five minute drive south of the CHM at the corner of Bonniwell and Cedarburg roads. Whenever there are no open house or themed events scheduled, the Clark House is always “Open” for tours by appointment. To schedule a tour, call the Clark House at 262-618-2051 or send an e-mail to jchmuseum@gmail.com. There is a suggested  $5 donation for tours and special events to help support the museum.

Coming up

Now that I’m done with the research, writing, and graphic design for my Cedarburg History Museum presentation, I plan to resume regular posting here at Clark House Historian. I’ve got the beginnings (and some middles) of about 50 posts already sketched out, waiting for me to put into final shape. We have lots of topics to cover, including our Search for JMC’s Roots in Lower Canada/northern Vermont, more on the historic Bonniwell Bible and related ephemera, continuing our investigation into the life of Mequon River’s first postmaster, John Weston, and much more. I also have a whole bunch of interesting stuff that I had to leave on the (digital) cutting room floor while preparing my Civil War talk, and I want to share some of those with you, too.

Lots of history in the pipeline. See you soon.