Byron Historical Society 2011

 4-H Clubs of Fond du Lac County

To Be Featured at Byron Historical Society

July 18, 2011 Meeting

Byron, WI, July 10, 2011--- UW-Extension Youth Development Educator Denise Retzleff will be the featured speaker at the monthly meeting of the Byron Historical Society on July 18 at the Byron Town Hall at 7 pm. Retzleff’s program will focus on the importance of 4-H, its changing role from early days to contemporary times, and the many projects available to members.

According to Retzleff, there are 24 4-H Clubs in Fond du Lac County with 770 members. A major change in 4-H Clubs has been the increased variety of projects. In addition to the well-known gardening, canning, sewing, livestock, and other traditional projects, members are now enrolling in “computers, technology, entrepreneur programs, and community service,” according to Retzleff, who has since 1997 been coordinating the many activities of all the clubs in the county. Those activities include speaking and demonstration competitions, basketball, leadership conferences, community service and many more.

The program, open to the public, will kick off the Byron Historical Society’s 2012 calendar theme of youth programs and activities in the Town of Byron. Over the years the Town of Byron has been home to numerous 4-H Clubs and other youth programs. Individuals with Town of Byron 4-H and other youth activity photographs and artifacts are encouraged to bring them to the event and to submit their photographs and stories for the upcoming calendar. More information on the upcoming calendar and youth organization artifacts will be on display at the meeting.

An open discussion time and refreshments will follow the presentation. The Byron Town Hall is located at N3097 Highway 175 in Byron.   

Click here to download a press release for this event.

Click here to download the agenda for the 18 July 2011 meeting

 Town of Byron 7^th Annual Memorial Day Salute,  Soldiers’ Stories: Ties That Bind

Town of Byron veterans will once again be honored at the 7^th annual Memorial Day tribute scheduled at the Byron Town Hall on May 30, 2011. Don Sampson, a veteran of World War II and a Town of Byron native, is the keynote speaker. The annual program features stories of many Town of Byron families who have served their country since the town’s founding in 1846. The morning program also includes a roll call of veterans buried in Town of Byron cemeteries, a firing squad salute, and an open house exhibit from 8 a.m. to noon.

This year’s event, co-sponsored by the Byron Historical Society and the Town of Byron Veterans Memorial Committee, pays special tribute to many families whose military service spans the generations. Soldiers Stories: Ties that Bind includes stories, photographs and artifacts that chronicle multi-generation contributions made by the town’s veterans. “This tradition of service continues to be revealed in our research,” according to Byron Historical Society president Maureen Betz.  “Time and time again we see parents, sons and daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren; even a veteran of the War of 1812 and his very young grandson who sacrificed his life during the Civil War. Their stories bind us as a community.”

 In keeping with this year’s theme, keynote speaker Sampson will be joined by Douglas “Smoky” Sampson, his son and a veteran of Vietnam, in leading the Pledge of Allegiance during the morning program scheduled for 9:30. Firing squads from Lomira's Bintzler-Waehler Post No. 347 and Oakfield's VFW Post No. 8092 will assemble at the Town of Byron Veterans Memorial for the event.

Also featured in the open-house exhibit will be gravesite photographs and service information on each of the 83 veterans buried in Town of Byron cemeteries. This service dates from the War of 1812 to contemporary times. The Veterans Photograph Wall, an on-going project to collect photographs of Town of Byron veterans, will again be on display.

Town of Byron veterans in attendance at the open house will receive certificates of appreciation, a commemorative lapel button and a Veterans Memorial Pin. The sponsoring organizations will be on hand to assist veterans in completing veteran information forms to add to the Veterans History Project archives. Veterans and family members are invited to bring photographs and memorabilia for display and discussion.

The Byron Town Hall and Veterans Memorial is located at N3097 Highway 175 in Byron. 

 April 2011

Dear Friend of the Byron Historical Society:

 Since our founding in 2006, our organization has been enriched by the stories, artifacts, and financial support of people like you who understand the importance of collecting and preserving our Town of Byron history.

We invite you to renew your membership or consider becoming a member of the Byron Historical Society.  Do you have a collection of stories or photographs to share? Do you enjoy researching old photographs and newspapers? Do you like to create exhibits or organize historical documents? Whether you live near or far, there is a place in the Byron Historical Society for anyone interested in preserving the history of the Town of Byron. 

Our many activities include:

• Annual commemorative calendars featuring photographs and newspaper articles
• December’s open house and exhibit
• Memorial Day salute to veterans
• Collection development
• Guest speakers
• Research and recognition of Byron’s residents and historic sites
• Website news, photographs, and stories
• Adopt-a-Highway program

Please take a moment today to complete and mail the membership application included with this letter. Consider using the same form to order additional calendars for your collections or for family and friends. We look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you at an upcoming meeting.

 Sincerely,

Maureen Betz

President

Byron Historical Society

Calendars from previous years are also available.    Click here to see images from the calendars.