ELKHORN – Who doesn’t love a bargain?

The Walworth County Historical Society has one of the best deals in the region, selling individual memberships for $15 a year or $25 for a family. It gets better. For $45 and $50 individuals and families can buy three-year memberships. A burger, fries and drink can cost you that at a fast-food joint.

For the nominal fee the Society offers free research help with family histories and more. Add this: The museum is affiliated with the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and nationally with Blue Star Museums and Time Travelers. Blue Star allows no charges for current or retired military, and Time Travelers includes museum access across the country.

All of which led us to suggest they should raise prices.

Our hosts were Tom Lorden, president of the Society, along with directors Pat Blackmer and Dan Richardson. We met at the Society’s lovely facility at 9 S. Broad St., across from the courthouse in downtown Elkhorn. The 12,000 square foot site is the former municipal building. The Society has occupied the building for about four years. A bequest allowed extensive renovation. The first two floors house genealogical and regional research materials, along with three collection galleries. The third floor is occupied by the American Legion.

The next renovation phase is exciting. The second floor houses the original auditorium, the focal point of an approximately $500,000 renovation dream for which fundraising recently kicked off. Locally, organizers are trying to raise $250,000 to qualify for a matching grant. So far, around $40,000 has been pledged.

The bones of the auditorium are intact and striking. Very high ceilings. Hardwood floors. Period wall coverings. At the north end, a usable stage. All the right ingredients, but a lot of work to bring it up to modern standards while preserving the unique architecture.

Collage of images from the Walworth County Historical Society including the auditorium that is undergoing renovations and members of the board.

“Where we’re at now is the auditorium,” Dan said. “The building is art deco style and may be the only one still standing in the county. The auditorium is the keystone of the property. We call it a restoration and a renovation. We hope to make it state of the art for technology and audio-visual.”

Tom said the auditorium had been used for various events and activities in the past before falling into disrepair and could become a popular venue again.

“With audio-visual equipment in there we would have presentations, maybe in conjunction with the State Historical Society,” he said, adding the visioning process is ongoing.

“We’re already getting requests for it and it’s not even on the table,” Dan said. “One group called for a wedding. Wedding receptions were held up there at one time.”

The second major current project involves the Society’s role in upcoming celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary, in coordination with the Walworth County Board of Supervisors and the Walworth County Fairgrounds Board.

“We are contributing heavily to the America 250 celebration that’s going to occur at the county fairgrounds on September 3,” Pat said. “We’re supplying them with a great deal of research.”

A time capsule is being created – Pat said the Society wants people’s suggestions for its contents – to be housed at the museum and opened in 2076 for America’s 300th.

Good relationships with the county board and fairgrounds board – “Since the inception,” in 1904, Dan told us – have been crucial to the Society’s success. Two historic buildings – Sharon Town Hall and Blooming Prairie Schoolhouse – were moved to the fairgrounds years ago. The Society offers programs there and is very active during the Walworth County Fair. The old schoolhouse is particularly useful for visits and learning programs for schoolchildren in the region.

The Webster House, one of the assets of the Walworth County Historical Society.

We were intrigued – especially history buff Bill – by the Society’s operation of the Joseph Philbrick Webster House, located at 9 E. Rockwell in Elkhorn, not far from the museum headquarters. Webster was a noted composer in the mid-1800s, best remembered for two songs: In the Sweet By and By, and Lorena. Major artists – think Dolly Parton – continue to make beautiful versions of the By and By gospel hymn. And if you think you haven’t heard Lorena, think again. Instrumental versions of the haunting tune were used in two of America’s most classic movies – Gone With the Wind (1939), with Clark Gable, and The Searchers (1956), with John Wayne.

Pat tells us about the famous Civil War lore surrounding Lorena.

“One of the Civil War generals from the Confederacy believed that’s why the Confederates lost the war,” she said. “It’s a very interesting song about your sweetheart and how much you miss her. Both the Yankees and the Rebels would sit around the campfire, both of them shared that song. When people would hear that song, they would long for their spouse or girlfriend. The Confederate general contended that his soldiers went AWOL to go home and that’s why they lost the war.”

Some things never change, like deployed soldiers missing home and hearth.

Sold! We’re becoming members of the Walworth County Historical Society. We hope readers consider doing the same. And think about supporting auditorium renovations. The Society is a 501(c)3 organization and donations are tax deductible.

For more information go to the website (walcohistory.org).