From The Archives

test blog headomg

The Ladies Saxophone Band

A picture from the 1932 Wisconsin Valley Fair reveals an usual time in the musical history of Marathon County. For six years, this group of young women challenged traditional roles for female music, by performing across Central Wisconsin using the saxophone.

An April Fool's Joke Causes a Commotion

In 1939, the Wausau Daily Record-Herald published an article, and some members of the public did not catch on that it was a fake story and that it was April Fool's Day.

Two Public Gatherings on Third Street

Although only around six years apart, the two public gatherings on Wausau's Third Street shown in these postcards reveal the changing attitudes towards German-Americans in the 1910s.

"The Pinery"

In 1979, Ed Schoenberger constructed his public art installation, "The Pinery," which led to vigorous discussion and debate.

Wausau's Ginseng King

During his youth in the early 1880s, John H. Koehler remembered being enamored with the ginseng plants he encountered in the shaded forest near his family farm in Hamburg Township. Although it would take a few years before he returned to the crop, Koehler would become a major figure in the development of the industry.

Fair Booth and Historic Picture Judging

The results of and information about the historic picture judging at our booth this year at the Wisconsin Valley Fair.

Working for Wausau

On June 9th, 1914, over 12,000 people gathered in downtown Wausau for the unveiling of a new sign over the city hall. The new sign stood thirty feet tall, with hundreds of electric lights to illuminate the massive letters that spelled out the new city slogan: WORK FOR WAUSAU.

1920: The Year the Marathon County Fair was Canceled

In April 1920, the Marathon County Agricultural Society made a surprising announcement: the 52nd annual Marathon County Fair was to be canceled.

W.A. Edward's Remedy Wagon

A recent donation hints at an unusual moment in Marathon County history in the story of William A. Edwards' remedy wagon.

The Socialist Chef of Wausau

This February marks the 100th anniversary of the election of Wausau chef and restaurateur, Herman A. Marth to the Wisconsin Assembly. His election was a surprise that few saw coming, because Marth won the election on the Socialist Party ticket.

Pages