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into circulationStoW photo by Jim DolyFrom left Lyilia Wester, Lois Holman and Terri Zajec of the Bruce Area Historical Society stand infront of the old Bruce News-Letter building, the hoped-for home of the society's museum.I(ifIIc*\isJrenovatedBy Jim Daly Regional editorBRUCE — The old Bruce News-Letter newspaper may have gone to the great newsstand in the sky, but its former building is expected to get a new lease on life this year as a museum.The centennial really kind of spurred this,” said Lois Holman, president of the Bruce Area Historical Society.Holman was referring to the village’s large celebration in 1984 commemorating its 100th year. Area residents brought many items of historical interest to a display area for the centennial activities.The centennial display of antiques, clothes, pictures and other items prompted Holman and Lyilla Wester, the society’s vice president, to wonder why a permanent display place couldn’t be found.She (Wester) had it in the back of her mind, and I did, too,” said Holman, a Bruce native whose German grandparents settled in the area.The frame building is on Railroad Avenue a block north of its former location. Its owner, Bruce Lumber and Supply, uses it for storage.We haven’t done anything yet,” Holman said. We are in the process of purchasing the building.Holman said the society and lumber firm are close on a sale agreement. The society will pay for the structure with funds left over from the centennial, she said.Fifteen society members met last week and voted to buy the building.As soon as we have a paper saying this building belongs to us, we’ll go ahead,” she said. “We hope to have it rolling real good this summer.”Repairing the dilapidated building will take considerable work. Some materials, including siding, have been donated. The society plans to pay for materials with memberships and to put notices around town asking for whatever people might want to donate.Wester said the structure was built about 1900 and has been moved two or three times. A rear addition that housed part of the old press has been removed.“The (News-Letter) sign is still there; it’s very hard to read,” Holman said. That will be repainted.The Rusk County Green Thumb program is expected to provide the labor, Holman said. Green Thumb employs older workerspart time for public-service projects.Society officials said the museum will emphasize materials from the logging area. The Bruce area once had two sawmills.Displays of antiques, pictures and other items will be rotated.It’s going to be on a loan basis . .. so we’re not asking people to give it to us,” Holman said.Plus, you want to get a small section on genealogy in it,” said her husband, Darrell Holman.The society itself formed only last September and has 29 members, said its secretary, Terri Zajec. Holman said it is an affiliate of the state Historical Society of Wisconsin and is in the process ofincorporating.The first News-Letter was pub- lt;lished in 1900 by A.W. McCormack, according to an 'article in the official centennial ,publication. McCormack was edi- (tor and publisher for five years.Several different publishers iowned the paper until the late IRalph Perers bought it in 1949. 1Perers was the News-Letter’s edi- itor longer than any other, and the 1paper ceased publication when he retired in 1971.(Holman and Wester said a long- Jterm project of the society is to ,get a public library established in ,Bruce. The library, however, would not be in the museum building because of lack of space.
Newspaper Details
Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, US
Thu, Mar 28, 1985
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Porter C.
IN, USA 28 Feb 2018
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