The Hoard Historical Museum and the Fort Atkinson Community Band have each slated activities to be held over the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The Hoard Historical Museum will be offering a full slate of activities Saturday, July 1, including tours of the 1841-built Foster House and Fort Atkinson’s historical 1901-built water tower.
Holiday activities continue Monday, July 3, as the Fort Atkinson Community Band returns to the bandshell in Barrie Park for its second in a series of summertime concerts.
Tuesday, July 4, marks the return of the Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social held annually at the Hoard Historical Museum. The event is in its 45th year, according to information released by its organizers.
Information about each event follows.
Foster House
According to information released by the Hoard Historical Museum, 401 Whitewater Ave., Fort Atkinson, the Dwight and Almira Foster House will be open for public touring between 10 a.m. and noon.
The 1841-built home is located at the rear of the Hoard Historical Museum property at 414 Foster St.
Within the release, museum Director Merrilee Lee noted that the Fosters were among the first “Yankee” settlers in the area, and the home is considered to be one of the oldest homes in Fort Atkinson.
It is the only home of its era that is open to the public, she said.
While the house is open for touring, museum volunteer docents will be on hand to offer some history about the home.
Tours are offered free of charge.
Wool spinning demonstration
In addition, those visiting the Foster House will find a live wool-spinning demonstration presented by the museum’s volunteer coordinator Cheryl Rezabek.
According to the release, Rezabek is a “knowledgable spinner.”
Within the release, Lee described spinning as “an ancient craft and art form.”
Within her presentation, Rezabek will demonstrate wool preparation in advance of spinning, followed by the spinning, itself, making the wool into thread.
Water tower
The city’s historical 1901-built water tower also will be available for touring Saturday.
The tower will be open between 10 a.m. and noon.
According to the release, the water tower was the city’s first municipal water source, remaining in use between 1901, the time of its construction, and 1989, when it was decommissioned.
The tower is located in the 300 block of S. Fourth St., East.
The release notes that there are some restrictions associated with touring the tower.
The building in not accessible to those in need of handicap accommodations. Additionally, individuals under 8 years old and 48 inches are not able to climb the tower, the release noted.
Tours also may be canceled due to inclement weather.
A final tour will begin at 11:45 a.m.
Tours are offered free of charge.
For more information about touring the tower, call 920-397-9914.
Fort Community Band concert to be held Monday, July 3
Fort Atkinson Community Band Director Wayne Crook has announced that “a musical celebration of America’s birthday” will be presented by the Fort Atkinson Community Band.
The second in a series of 2023 summertime concerts, the theme of the performance is “American song writers.”
According to information released by Crook, the program includes a “potpourri of patriotic and well-known American tunes.”
Crook will open the program at 7:30 p.m. by welcoming attendees, and an honor guard will be on hand, presented by members of the American Legion Post 166, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1879, and the Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 409.
The program will include the Ukrainian National Anthem and the “Star Spangled Banner,” followed by a salute to “all men and women who served their country in the armed forces with an arrangement of “Marches of the Armed Forces,” according to the release.
The concert is free and open to the public.
Some seating will be made available by the Fort Atkinson Parks and Recreation Department, and event-goers are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
During inclement weather, the concert will move indoors. Space is provided by Trinity Lutheran Church, 314 Barrie St., Fort Atkinson, which is located across the street from Barrie Park.
Additional music to be performed Monday includes: “Americans We,” “Declaration Overture,” “South Pacific,” “Alla Barocco,” “Riders of the Flag,” “Ol’ Man River,” “Begin the Beguine,” “Dixie Doodle Dandy,” “Alexanders Ragtime Band,” and “God Bless America.”
Hoard Museum Ice Cream Social
In it’s 45th year, the Hoard Museum Ice Cream Social will be held between 1 and 3 p.m. on the museum grounds.
According to information released by the museum, the event is a longtime Fourth of July tradition and features vanilla ice cream and toppings.
Event-goers are invited to make their own sundae, the release noted.
During the event, music will be played by “The Harmony Cornet Band,” described within the release as a band that plays historically popular music using period-appropriate instruments.
Among its repertoire as such pieces as the “Star Spangled Banner,” the release stated.
The program also includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address.
Event-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating during the concert.
The museum will be open to visitors during the event.
In addition, families are invited to participate in indoor and outdoor activities, including games, crafts, face painting, and “old-fashioned fun,” the release noted.
The Foster House will be made available for touring between 1 and 3 p.m.
The city’s historical water tower also will be made available for touring on Tuesday. The free tours will be offered between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., with the last tour leaving at 2:45 p.m.
Additional information
According to the museum’s release, programming associated with the museum, such as the ice cream social, is offered free of charge, but donations are gratefully encouraged.
The museum and its programming is supported, in part, by its business patrons. They are: Abendroth Water Conditioning, Badger Bank, Fort Community Credit Union, Fort HealthCare, Hometown Pharmacy, Kessenich-Tesmer Design, Paddy Coughlin’s Irish Pub, W.D. Hoard and Sons, and W&A Distribution Services.
The museum will be closed Wednesday, July 5, for cleaning.
The Hoard Historical Museum and National Dairy Shrine Museum, 401 Whitewater Ave., Fort Atkinson, are open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about the museums, visit the shared website: www.hoardmuseum.org.
Fort Atkinson Community Band Director Wayne Crook welcomes concert-goers to Fort Atkinson’s Barrie Park during a previously held Fourth of July celebratory event. File photo/Kim McDarison.
An exterior view of the 1841-built home of Dwight and Almira Foster as supplied by the Hoard Historical Museum. The home will be open to the public for touring over the holiday weekend on Saturday, July 1, and Tuesday, July 4.
A view from inside the 1901-built Fort Atkinson historical water tower shows the climb required to reach an outdoor terrace from which the city can be viewed. Free tours of the structure will be offered during the Fourth of July holiday weekend on Saturday, July 1, and Tuesday, July 4. Contributed photo.
Two photos above: Ice Cream Social participants enjoy games, ice cream and entertainment during a previously held event. Contributed photos.
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