Heritage House ‘Tree Walk’ opens Dec. 6
By Anne Trautner
Assistant Editor
One Christmas tree is decorated with colorful hair curlers while another displays various auto parts and another boasts a Native American theme.
But the tree that displays patriotic flags and memorabilia seems most at home in the Heritage Hall.
The trees are all part of the Walworth County Historical Society’s “Tree Walk and Bazaar,” which will be held next weekend at Heritage Hall. Located on the corner of E. Rockwell and S. Washington streets, Heritage Hall is the county’s newest exhibit of military artifacts and memorabilia.
The Tree Walk consists of some 20 trees that are donated and decorated by area businesses, individuals and organizations. Visitors can come and admire the trees, as well as purchase Christmas ornaments and refreshments.
The Tree Walk will be held 5-8 p.m. next Friday, Dec. 6; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. Proceeds will go toward renovating Heritage Hall so it can house more historical exhibits.
New display
The trees are not the only new display in Heritage Hall. The hall opened its doors to the public for the first time on Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day.
“We had about 85 people come to the open house on Veteran’s Day,” said Jim Boardman, who is on the Walworth County Historical Society’s board of directors. “It was incredible.”
Heritage House now has a permanent display of military mementos dating back as far as the Spanish-American War. Anything pre-dating that is located in the museum across the street in the Webster House Museum.
“These guys – guys I know – had all this stuff,” Boardman said. “They wanted to get it out of their basements and closets and share it with the world. Everything in here is completely donated.”
The displays range from military uniforms from both world wars to flags that were flown over Afghanistan. There are service medals and certificates. There are old newspaper clippings. There are old military weapons and shrapnel. And there are military prayer books and flags that families hung in their windows to signal they had someone fighting overseas.
New building
The Walworth County Historical Society purchased the former Betts Funeral Home nearly two years ago.
Volunteers then started converting the former funeral home into the Heritage House.
“There is a lot of donated time and material in here,” Boardman said. “Everything done here is volunteer or donated.”
Contractors gave of their time to build new walls and floors. Businesses and individuals donated cabinets and building supplies.
Because of the renovations, the building is now handicapped accessible. Several of the rooms have been completed.
A few rooms remain under construction, and the Christmas Tree Walk will help to fund those renovations.
“We want to preserve history,” Boardman said.
