Merry Christmas from Rusk County Historical Society...

New Ladysmith Community Mural at Wells Fargo Bank! Pictures don't do it justice! Be sure to stop in and see it in person! Thank you Wells Fargo!

In 1937 the Ladysmith News ran an article about a couple of homegrown Conrath and Ladysmith inventors...S.S. Starzec ane Y.V. Sims.
The inventors were issued patents for the Self-Straining Milk Pail and they were ready for production in the shop on the S.S. Starzec farm in Conrath.
At that time the work consisted of cutting out parts for the pail, after which the assembly would be done.
After many years of experimentation, Mr. Starzec released the good news of the Bucket and the Patent to the Ladysmith News Editors.
"The Self Straining Milk Pail is now ready!!" they exclaimed!!
This was truly a step ahead of the current method of milking into an open pail and then walking to the milkhouse and dumping the milk into the strainer on the milk can. The filter discs went between each layer of the straining system ! Even more to the point that the milk could then be strained twice!!
Mr. Starzec who had been using the pail on his farm for the last 6 months said that "it's a great time saver...by using this pail the farmer has only the operation of milking to care for and the milk comes through the double strainers free from sediment and bacteria."
There is a lid with a great handle (not pictured) to help lift the cover off the pail and a nice handle at the bottom to help to empty the pail into the milk can!!
If any of you remember hand milking cows, you know of all the pitfalls of an open bucket and the tendency for sediment to fall in while you are trying to get all four quarters of the cow in question milked.
This Milk Bucket was donated by Mr and Mrs Henry Wojciuch. ... See more

What a wonderful time all the members of the Rusk County Historical Society had at the Christmas Party held at the Worden Avenue Exchange. And what a perfect place for a party!! Surrounded by all of John Hoover's collection of wonderful historical items!!
John Terrill President of the Historical Society spoke to and thanked all the members for all their hard work in 2018 and handed the floor over to Sister Cecilia who mentioned how thankful she was for all the members who had helped with the Wigwam project. Then it was Museum Curator Janet Platteter's turn to thank every member who had helped out in many different ways in the last year. Jim Platteter spoke with thanks to all who helped in the Windmill project which added a wonderful point of interest to the skyline at the Museum.
Ed Tomasovich, Curator of the Plow Museum gave an update on what's coming up for the Plow Museum for next year. Ed gave some insights into just how far people come to visit the Museum. Even in the coldest weather, people from Texas were anxious to take the tour...even though there is no heat in the Plow Museum... they took a 2 or 3-hour tour of the facility...in spite of the nip in the air! Ed also gave an update on plans for Edgar, Wisconsin. Ed will be a part of Steam Engine Days with his display of John Deere plows in August of 2019.
Thanks to everyone who made this a wonderful year at the Museum.!! And Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you !!.. ... See more