DeForest Area Historical Society

11/03/2026

Another step in our ongoing renovation of the DeForest Railroad Depot---

Volunteers Carl, Larry, and Pat moved large artifacts, cleared the floor, and made it ready for new flooring. Now they just need to cap off old plumbing and then will be starting on the install.

If you've been following this renovation process, you'll probably remember the history of this building.

The DeForest Depot was built in 1871, at the time of the construction of the railroad line which connected Madison to Portage. Land for a depot was donated to the railroad by Isaac DeForest. Area residents provided funds to erect the building.

Knute Knudtson, a local tradesman, constructed the depot. In the 1920s the depot was remodeled to include wainscoting, horizontal siding, and new windows.

The DeForest Depot closed in 1971 and the building was later purchased by the Chase Lumber Company of DeForest to be used for storage. In 2001 the land and the building were deeded by Fred and Helen Chase to our Historical Society.

11/01/2026

During the 1930s the Milwaukee Road train passed through DeForest several times each day and was an important part of the community.

Recently we happened to stop at the Depot on a day when a box car was stopped on the tracks. It had brought a load of lumber to Bliffert Lumber next door. Now it's the Canadian Pacific Railway, but is still important to business in our area.

10/31/2026

Dick Emerson, the longtime newspaper publisher of our local paper, shared his thoughts about local happenings in his column called "Typewriter Talk." Here's what he had to say about Halloween, the Packers, and high school football back in the fall of 1961.

10/30/2026

10/28/2026

Veterans Day is coming up in about two weeks.

The Philippine-American War is one of the least-known conflicts in U.S. history. Our Historical Society has a few items from this war on display in our Gallery.

Louis Bertrand served in the US Army and was posthumously cited for gallantry in action near Dasmarinas, Luzon, Philippine Islands.

Did you know...
..The United States acquired control over Puerto Rico, Guam, Cuba, and the Philippine Islands as a result of the Spanish-American War. The people of the these various former Spanish colonies wanted independence, which frequently led to fighting. The Philippine-American War took place between 1899 and 1902.

Stop in our Historical Society Gallery and take a closer look at the display case items and the explanation of this part of history.

10/27/2026

Community organizations were busy with fall activities back in 1986!

10/26/2026

Bears aren't the only ones who hibernate for the winter.

The cold weather is coming, so it's time to close up the Hansen-Newell-Bennett House Museum and the DeForest Railroad Depot for 2026.

That means pulling furniture away from the house walls to prevent moisture damage, and also covering everything with cotton sheets for protection from light damage and dust.

Thanks to volunteers Jan, Connie, Mary and Mary, Lana, Carl, Larry, Jane, and Louise for garden, house, and Depot work.

10/25/2026

According to an article in The Cap Times, the Rauls and Treinen family farms (near DeForest) served as hosts for Farm Progress Days in 1986.

This event is now known as Wisconsin Farm Technology Days.

10/25/2026

If you scroll back to our September 29 post, you'll see two cookie recipes from a 1898 recipe book handwritten in Norwegian.

A Facebook friend asked about whose recipe book this was. We checked back and found a name written in the inside cover: Guri Nilsen Bru. Aren't the cursive handwriting and flourish under her name lovely?

Unfortunately, the writing on the cover of the recipe book is very faded and unreadable. Still, this item is a treasure!

10/24/2026

A library staff member recently gave us this note with some kind words from a visitor!

😊