The Hoard Historical Museum recently announced its upcoming programming for Saturday, September 6. Beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 12 p.m., the 1901 Historic Water Tower and the 1841 Dwight and Almira Foster House will be open for public tours. The 1841 Foster House is located at the rear of the Hoard Historical Museum at 414 Foster Street. “The Fosters were some of the first Yankee settlers to our area and helped to found the current city of Fort Atkinson,” said museum director Merrilee Lee. “Their house, built in 1841, is one of the oldest houses in Fort Atkinson and the only house of its era open to the public.” Museum volunteer docents will be available to help explain the importance of the Foster family to Fort Atkinson history.
Also on Saturday, September 6 at the Foster House, museum staff member Cheryl Rezabek will be sharing different methods for preserving herbs. Rezabek will be demonstrating the different methods to dry herbs such as hanging them as a bunch, drying them on a screen, and more. She will also discuss potential uses for the herbs and demonstrate how to make herbal vinegars. “The Foster House Herb Garden contains herbs that would have been familiar to the Foster family in the 1840s and 1850s, such as mint, basil, rosemary, thyme, and more,” said Merrilee Lee, museum director. “Luckily for us, these herbs are familiar to us today too. Thank you, Cheryl for helping us learn other ways to preserve and enjoy our herbs.”
The Historic 1901 Water Tower will also be open on Saturday, October 5 from 10 a.m. to noon. The water tower was the first municipal water source for the city of Fort Atkinson. Constructed in 1901, it was in use as a water tower until 1989 and was later opened to the public for tours. The 1901 Water Tower is located in the 300 block of S. 4th Street East. There are limitations to touring the water tower. It is not handicap-accessible, individuals under 8 years old and 48 inches are not able to climb the tower, and tours may be cancelled due to inclement weather. The last Water Tower tour will begin at 11:45. Please contact the Hoard Historical Museum at 920-397-9914 for more information.
“Both the Foster House and the 1901 Water Tower are fascinating parts of Fort Atkinson history,” said Merrilee Lee, director of the Hoard Historical Museum. The Fosters helped found Fort Atkinson and their impact is still felt all over the community. The water tower is a tangible reminder of our town’s development. We at the Hoard Historical Museum are excited to share both sites with the community,” said Lee. “Come visit them on Saturday and find out more about these unique Fort treasures!”
The Hoard Historical Museum and National Dairy Shrine Museum are located at 401 Whitewater Avenue in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 9:30 to 4:30. There is no admission charge. The museum has accessible parking, entryways, and restrooms and has a zero-step entry into the building. For more information, call the Museum at 920-397-9914, e-mail the Museum at info@hoardmuseum.org, and visit our website at www.hoardmuseum.org.
