Westby Area Historical Society

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Westby Area Historical Society

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WAHS responsibly collects, preserves, promotes & communicates the history of the Westby, WI area.

We believe that the history of Westby, Wisconsin is important to preserve. The Westby Area Historical Society collects photographs, documents, artifacts and family histories that outline the history of the Westby area. Our Museum building, one of the community's historic homes, has an impressive pedigree. As an organization, we provide programming to members of the community, other organizations, nursing homes and schools to tell the stories about our area's history.

11/01/2026

John took a "trip" on Friday before the Westby Area Chamber of Commerce Downtown Business Trick-or-Treat event, but still showed up for WAHS! He and member Nina, our favorite Italian with a Norwegian heart, did a great job of handing out candy and popcorn balls to more than 400 adorable kiddos at a table set up at City Hall. Thanks, John and Nina, for all that you do for WAHS!

10/28/2026

We usually hold our monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month. Because the election is on Tuesday, November 3, we rescheduled our WAHS meeting to Wednesday, November 4. Please join us at 1:00 p.m. at the Thoreson House Museum & Genealogy Center as we announce and celebrate our 2026 Volunteer of the Year!

10/25/2026

It's about that time of year when the Snowflake Ski Club golf course gets cleaned up, and tournament plans are going to "take off" 😉. Thanks, Disco, Bear, and Tom, for naming everyone in this cleanup crew from the 1990s. Can you name any or all of them? Thank you to the recent donor of this photo!

10/23/2026

Churches have played a large role in the history of Westby. The first congregational meeting of Our Savior's Lutheran Church was held in November 1888. The first church was built in 1889 but was outgrown in 30 years, so at the Annual Meeting in January 1921, the congregation voted to build a new church. The congregation hired architects and builders from Eau Claire. Today, we celebrate the 105-year history and heritage of OSLC's building, whose cornerstone was laid on October 23, 1921. FYI – this beautiful church cost $84,615.67 to build in 1921 (approximately $1,583,000 today).

10/18/2026

What do you remember about the Westby Rec Hall? The Grand Opening on October 10, 1964, was promoted on the front page of the "Westby Times." The article said Walt Erlandson and Reuben Skundberg made it possible when they bought the building and remodeled it so Westby kids would have a place "to go."

10/14/2026

It's National Dessert Day! In this heavily concentrated community of Norwegian descendants, do you vote for the All-American brownies, apple pie, and chocolate chip cookies, or the Norwegian rosettes, sandbakkels, and struell?

10/13/2026

THANK YOU to WCCU Credit Union for a great Community Service Day! The best-ever team came to help us on this beautiful day with our fall cleanup, and we got so much more than our list accomplished!!!! They rock!!! Where can we sign up to get them back next year??? 🍁 🌞 🥰

10/11/2026

The conversations are fun, the memories are priceless, and the Norwegian is an extra perk (for coffee - get it? 🤣). We hope you can join us on Tuesday, October 13, at 2:00!

10/08/2026

We were privileged to decorate our neighbor, the Westby Stabbur Tourist Center, this afternoon! It was so much fun – do you think we did a nice job? 🍂 🎃 🍁

10/07/2026

Mayor Danny Helgerson has always been a strong supporter of the Norwegian history and heritage that are such an important part of the City of Westby. The City Council’s latest project—the refurbishment of Westby’s Stabbur Visitors’ Center—is another wonderful example of that commitment to honoring our Norwegian roots. Westby’s frequent Norwegian visitor, Siw Volden, recognized Mayor Danny’s efforts this morning when she met with him and presented him with a beautiful porcelain stabbur as a token of appreciation. She thanked him for helping maintain Westby’s deep-rooted connection to the homeland of our founder, Ole Westby, and the many other Norwegian immigrants to our city. Thank you, Mayor Danny, for helping keep Westby’s Norwegian heritage alive and visible for years to come! 🇳🇴❤️

Address

111 N. Bekkedal Avenue ; Mail To: PO Box 42
Westby, WI
54667

Website

http://www.westbywihistory.com/

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