About the Society

Founded in 1847 around the water power of the Grand River and at the crossroads of Wisconsin's Military Road and an early north-south route from Watertown, Fairwater became one of the first communities organized in Fond du Lac County.

Over recent decades, Fairwater has lost much that is representative of its often colorful 155-year history. In 1999 residents past and present organized the Fairwater Historical Society to document, preserve, and disseminate information about the area, its history, and its families.

The Society contributes to the ongoing development of an extensive Fairwater local history Web site. In June, 2000, it began the restoration of the 1910 Fairwater Public School building as an area history museum and research center, with completion scheduled for the building's centennial anniversary in 2010. In 2008, the society began an effort to preserve the remaining structure of William Plocker's 1848 stagecoach inn.

The society has also made an oral history project one of its priorities. Current and former residents willing to share their experiences are being interviewed, and recordings of those interviews will be transcribed as part of the society's permanent collection.

The society seeks to promote the preservation of items important to the history of the community and area and is soliciting donations to its permanent collection.

2009-2010 officers and members of the Board of Directors:

President: Jerold Sanders
Vice President: Barb Vande Brink
Secretary: Arlene Leppin
Treasurer: Pearl Schicker
Accessions: Lois Schmuhl

Mark Banks
Kathy Frei
Cirena Lenz
Laurie Sasada
Lois Schmuhl
Marlene Scott
Lester Shruck
Steve Vande Brink

For further information about the society, contact:

Barb Vande Brink
W13436 St Rd 44
Brandon, Wisconsin 53919
(920) 346-5140
gramsvb@excite.com

Memberships & Donations
Pearl Schicker
PO Box 151
Fairwater, Wisconsin 53931

Collections
Lois Schmuhl
N5748 Radio Rd
Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

Museum Tours
Cirena Lenz
PO Box 94
Fairwater, Wisconsin 53931
(920) 398-3674