Historical Society of Walworth and Big Foot to spend several months transforming it into museum and office
By Fred Noer
Contributor
The sale of the former Walworth Memorial Library building to the Historical Society of Walworth and Big Foot Prairie for use as a museum and office formally occurred Wednesday, Sept. 30.
The 2,400-square-foot building, which is at the corner of Maple Avenue and South Main Street in Walworth, was sold by the Village of Walworth government to the society for $120,000. The structure had been empty since the library moved in January to a new 10,000 square-foot facility in the West Lake Center on the east side of the village.
Society president Nancy Lehman of Walworth Township told about the sale during the society meeting Sept. 24 at Rowbotham Farms in Walworth Township. The meeting featured a dinner and program about the Rowbotham family’s 100-year history of farming in the area.
Lehman called the transaction “a big step” for the organization, which was started in 2001.
“It will take several months to move in,” she said. “We will begin accepting donations after the first of the year.”
Items will come from a second-floor office and display space currently used by the society at Walworth Town Hall along Brick Church Road northwest of Walworth. Items also will be moved from society president Nancy Lehman’s home in Walworth Township and other locations, including Golden Years Retirement Village along Ridge Road in Walworth.
Lehman stated the first major exhibit at the museum will be eight McElwain quilts. They are from the former Mary A. McElwain Quilt & Gift Shop that was on the north side of the square in downtown Walworth in 1912-52.
Another exhibit planned for the museum will be tools and equipment used by Dr. John Bonner during his years as a veterinarian. The Walworth resident recently donated the items to the society.
Also on display will be an 1891 plat book of Walworth County on loan from Norlan “Joe” Rowbotham, as he announced at the meeting. “The book will be a treasure to our society,” Lehman said.
The sale did not include a Village-owned parcel approximately 14 feet wide on the east side of the building that could have served as a small parking lot or for building expansion. Only street parking is available for building patrons.
