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Project Memories preserves first hand accounts
of the past for future generations.
Project Memories is primarily the work of
Stoughton Historical Society members and
dedicated volunteers Kathy Thode and her
husband George.
Kathy interviews local
senior residents about their childhood, youth and teen
years in or around Stoughton. These personal accounts provide
invaluable insight into a history few books expound upon. Though
admittedly biased by personal perspective, these narrations also
express the individual feelings and temperament of the moment.
Documented
with both pen & paper, and tape recorder, the story formats are
blended together into a cohesive historical accounting as they are
transcribed into a computer record.
Before finalizing, the person
originally interviewed has the opportunity to review, edit and augment
their story. Once finalized, a copy is provided to the interviewee and
two copies are kept in the Stoughton Museum’s permanent files.
Video
interviews are also being added to the collection. These videos are
shown periodically on Stoughton Channel 12 local cable network and
coming the summer of 2010 will be incorporated into a museum’s display.
Over
the past several years there have been over 100 audio interviews plus a
half dozen video conversations. A number of accounts have also been
contributed by persons now living in other parts of the country who
were once Stoughton residents
The
long range plan is to compile a booklet, or book, to permanently
preserve these accounts and make them available to the public at large.
Anyone
interested contributing their notes or being interviewed can contact:
George and Kathy Thode, 873-9851 or send your memories to: 1124 Hwy 51
and 138, Stoughton, WI 53589.
 E x c e r p t s
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"When I was in third grade, I and two neighbor
boys walked by Bobby’s house at the corner of Hamilton and North Monroe
Streets. He was out on the porch and saw that we weren’t going to include him
in our plans, so he hollered “I got a pony! I don’t care if I play with you
guys or not.” We were skeptical, so we challenged that. “Where is it?” we
asked. “In the house,” he answered. “Well, bring it out. We want to see it,” we
challenged. He was gone quite a while and when he came out he had no pony. “Where
is it?” we asked. “It’s under the bed and it won’t come out!” he said. Well, we
weren’t sure if it was or not." —
Douglas
Pfundheller |
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Rooms under sidewalks
151 E. Main Street - The bowling alley in
the basement extended the room under the sidewalk. It had a cement floor.
Wooden lockers were kept in there for the bowler’s use. (Earl Linnerud Jr.)
183 E. Main – When Wendt’s Photography was there, they used it
for storage. It was nice and dry – heated from the store so snow removal was
easy. It had cement walls, and an old door with a glass transom on the top. |
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"During the
Harrison-Tyler administration, the years 1840-45, the land of the Northwest Territory was put for sale. Daniel Webster, who was
then Secretary of State purchased a large portion of Southern Wisconsin; some say because he admired the great mill power
it offered, but that is doubtful. Soon
after he sold this land
in sections.
In
1847 Mr. Luke Stoughton bought a part of the land from one of these
purchases and platted the town of Stoughton. In 1850 he brought his
family from Janesville,
and built a frame
House." From the Early History of Stoughton,
Ada McKnight |
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"One of the duties of the telephone operator was to activate
the siren for all fires and at AM, noon and 6PM everyday. The purpose of the
7AM etc., was to make sure the siren was working properly….." Eeeda Lumly - One of the Hello Girls
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"We always had chickens, just enough to give us eggs. When I was a kid, when I got a craving for
chicken, I would chase one out in the road to get hit by a car and we’d have
chicken for supper….." Iver Wersland
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Stoughton’s
Main Street
of 50 years ago.….. By Dr. Victor
Falk in 1932
"We had many independent grocers such as Leng’s, on the NE
corner of Main & Water Streets, Howe’s, Hoel and Horn and others. There was
only one chain store which was viewed with some degree of suspicion and the son
of the owner was called Johnnie Red Front." (It was an A&P Store.) |
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"Pearl
Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 changed our lives
completely. All Japanese in California were under
curfew in our own homes. We did not
fight or object but just went along with it. We were called the “Quiet
Americans”. We just obeyed. The Governor said the Japanese were against America. That was so untrue of us as we were all
American citizens. Of course Mom got her
citizenship after the war but we children were all born here. (The fear was
that the Japanese people here would help them invade the West Coast.)………. Aiko
Kawamura |
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"I remember what we, as children, did in our spare time.
After supper the boys and girls would run to the south side school yard. There
we would divide into groups and play “Run My Good Sheep Run,” “Scoot Ahead,”
and “Star light, Star Bright.” There were other games, too. At nine o’clock we
scattered for home. That was a time when we obeyed all the time. If we didn’t,
there would be no play for us the next time….." Alice
Christensen, Step-daughter of Per Lysne
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We had lots of horses on our farm and when one died, my
folks made a blanket out of the hide, but it wasn’t scratchy as mother put a
soft cover over it. We’d snuggle under that in the drafty cars in winter. There
are many good memories of the old days, but I’d never want to go back to the
days of outdoor plumbing…..( Bits and Pieces Around A Kitchen Table) |
Archives Click here to see Project Memories Archives
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