Highland Area Historical Society

08/30/2026

Can anyone help identify?
The boy next to priest is Lee Alton and we believe the girl sitting in front of the priest is Nancy Miller.

08/09/2026

Can anyone help???

I would like to see where my mom lived one more time, even though I’m sure it’s all gone.
She was across or very near two Catholic Churches
Her name was Anne Flynn. Her mother Delia McCarthy Flynn. My Grandpa : William Edward Flynn, b. 14 Jul 1887. They had ten children born in highland.
We are also related to McGovern. McCarthy.

07/15/2026

"HISTORY LESSON" from July 13, 2026 HAHS monthly meeting: Last week HAHS was gifted 2 boxes of historical artifacts and photographs. We now have the wedding memory shadow box from the 1912 wedding of John Blabaum and Ida Lee. John Blabaum is the son of Christian Blabaum (1854-1949), and Ida is the daughter of Louis Lee. In addition we were given the beautiful 16"x20" framed wedding certificate. In the box of photographs was a 8"x10" tintype photograph. It seems tintypes became popular about 1840, and continued for about 50 years. I believe the large tintype is very uncommon. The people in the photo are not identified. Best guess: The older couple may be M/M Carl Wenst, the in-laws of Christian Blabaum. Oral history and other documents indicate they emigrated from Germany in 1885, possibly to attend the wedding of their daughter Anna Barbara Wenst who married Christian Blabaum in December 1885. (At age 16, Anna Barbara Wenst immigrated to Highland in 1881 to assist an aging Uncle and Aunt, M/M Thorwaldt.) Discontented with life in America, M/M Wenst, with two of their daughters, returned to Germany in 1887. The photo will be posted soon. Any comments or suggestions are welcomed.

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07/15/2026

A PLACE FOR A HOLIDAY GATHERING, GRADUATION PARTY, ANNIVERSARY, BIRTHDAY PARTY, CELEBRATION OF LIFE, FAMILY REUNION, ETC.? We have the place, and plenty of open dates at Highland Area Historical Society. The community center/gym is heated and air-conditioned ready for all kinds of weather!! Contact Priscilla Esser for more information and to book the venue. (1-608-341-9008) A good way to support your local Historical Society

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07/13/2026

JUST A REMINDER: HAHS monthly meeting is Monday, July 13th at 6pm. There is a potluck which begins at 5:15pm. Please bring a dish to pass. There is a free scheduled tour of the Historical Society set for 1pm. Hope to see you there.

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05/19/2026

Highland Area Historical Society is selling this 1948 Lincoln Zepher 4 door project car $9,500. OBO
-Rebuilt V-12 engine, new exhaust, good tires, 95% rust free, mostly complete.
Not currently running needs battery.
Posting here first. Please comment or share if you or know someone that would be interested.

05/19/2026

Please help identify

04/26/2026

04/20/2026

"HISTORY LESSON" FROM HAHS APRIL MONTHLY MEETING: A bit more about Platt Whitman who lived from 1871-1935. He came to Highland and established the Highland State Bank in 1903. He was an American lawyer, banker, and politician. He served two years in the State Assembly from 1909-1911, and State Senate from 1915-1919, representing Iowa County in the 17th District. Whitman was born in Dodgeville, graduated from UW-Madison in 1893, and the University Law School in 1898. He married Marie Jones in 1898, but sadly she met a tragic death at the home of her parents in Dodgeville in 1905, leaving behind a 6 year old daughter. Mr. Whitman died in Rochester, Minnesota, and is interred at East Side Cemetery in Dodgeville. HAHS has a business suit that belonged to him, as well as photographs, personal items, Highland business letterheads and tokens, etc. HAHS is appreciative of all the artifacts, as we aim to preserve Highland's history!

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04/13/2026

HIGHLAND AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MEETING: TONIGHT, April 13th at 6pm. All are welcome to join us for the meeting. Hope to see you there. Tonight's ten minute "History Lesson" is about Platt Whitman who was the founder of Highland State Bank in 1904. He also served as a Wisconsin State Assemblyman and Senator!! We were recently given a box of his personal belongings. We already have 2 business suits of his, c.1900. Come check it out.

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