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Stanley owes its existence to the logging industry. The railroad arrived in
1880. In August 1881, when the area was still a forest of pine, Stanley was
surveyed and mapped. It gained village status in May 1895 and became the City of
Stanley on March 17, 1898. After the demise of the logging industry the cutover
land was transformed into numerous productive farms. Although farming is still
important, since the 1970's the number of dairy farms has drastically declined.
Today, more and more people like to live in the rural environment near a metro
area.
For many years, Stanley was nearly totally dependent on farm related
businesses and industries that used wood in the manufacturer of its products.
Today Stanley, a Highway 29 corridor city, has a number of businesses that
thrive on the traffic that passes them each day.
Stanley Area Historical Society Museum
With an investment of over $400,000 and 10,000 square feet of exhibits, the
Stanley Area Historical Society’s museum ranks among the best small town museums
in the Mid-West. It is a must see for anyone visiting Stanley. The museum is
open 1-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on
Sundays only in September. During the winter months volunteers are working most
Tuesday afternoons and the museum can be visited. Guided tours for groups can
be arranged by calling 715-644-5880.
The
museum also offers a “Step on Guide” for bus tours of 30-45, to three heritage
rural churches (German-Bohemian, Russian and Polish). The tours include a
delicious ethnic meal. Brochures are available by writing to the Stanley Area
Historical Society, P.O. Box 142, Stanley, WI 54768.
The
museum is located at 228 Helgerson Street, one block west of the Stanley United
Methodist Church.
In 1984, the former two room 1905
Southside School was purchased. Through the generous support of the community
and many former Stanley natives, the museum opened in 1985 after extensive
repairs were made and exhibits were constructed. Today it houses exhibits of
the Northwestern Lumber Company, churches, women’s work, children’s toys,
military displays, a 1900’s kitchen, businesses and industries, a general store,
shoe shop, saloon, harness maker, railroading and much more.
A Logging and Farming Building,
built in 1987, recognizes the contribution which lumberjacks, farm families and
carpenters made to the settlement and growth of the Stanley area.
Additions to the main building opened in 2002 and 2009.
The 2002 addition, besides providing more
exhibit space, includes a small library that houses a collection of family
genealogies, county atlases and high school year books. It also has office
space, files for extensive photo and paper collections, general storage space in
the lower level, and a beautiful meeting room that can seat up to 75.
The
2009 addition houses the museums 1906 Cadillac in front of an early 1900’s
garage, a collection of beer taps, a rural school bell that can be rung, and a
number of other special pieces of Americana. The loft allows for more storage
of the museum’s collections.
Ask about memberships and donations to this extraordinary community asset and
enjoy receiving a fascinating semi-annual newsletter with stories about the
people, businesses, farms and lifestyles across the ages in this area.
Winter 2009 update.htm
Summer 2009 update from semi-annual
newsletter.
Building project update letter.
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