Elroy Museum opens Memorial Day weekend

Contributed by the Elroy Area Museum

The Elroy Area Museum, located on Main Street in Elroy, will open Saturday, May 28. Stop by and help us celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first train to arrive in Elroy. 

The Railroad Room features a working 60-foot-long railroad model fashioned after the early 1900s. (Contributed photo)

The first train arrived in Elroy in August 1872, and the last train left Elroy on March 24, 1987. For 115 years, the railroad was a vital part of Elroy’s history. This history is well documented in various displays at the museum, including the model railroad, which is always a big hit with the kids.

For those of you who have not been to the museum for a few years, you will be pleased to see many new displays highlighting various aspects of Elroy’s history from the 1850s to current times. The Elroy area school display continues to add many memorabilia donated by past graduates of Elroy High
School. 

One of the new displays is the “Beanery” restaurant, which was located in the railroad depot. Anyone growing up in the Elroy area before 1970 was certain to spend part of their weekend at the beanery, where great hamburgers and fries were just part of the fun meeting all of your friends.

Continual improvements to the Elroy “Main Street” display area includes many items from Main Street stores from the early 1900s.

The Elroy Area Historical Society is looking for people interested in serving on the Museum Board, which meets six to eight times a year. 

In addition, the museum is looking for volunteers to help give tours of the museum on weekends during the summer. If you are interested in serving on the museum board or helping out on weekends during the summer to give museum  tours, please contact Holly Hinzpeter at holly_maplelawn@yahoo.com or Zach Bender at farmallzach@hotmail.com.

The “Beanery” display shows some of the 1940s menus and signs from that era. (Contributed photo)
The museum garden area contains plaques highlighting the railroad, area schools, Main Street, Grist Mill, and Schultz Park, in addition to window murals of the Elroy area. (Contributed photo)

Comments are closed.

  • Easter egg hunts slated for Saturday

    March 25th, 2024
    by

    Local communities will host Easter egg hunts on Saturday.


    Highway 33 reconstruction from Ontario to Hillsboro slated to begin March 27

    March 19th, 2024
    by

    Gov. Tony Evers recently signed a $5.7 million contract to resurface Highway 33 between the Kickapoo River bridge in Ontario and the Hillsboro city limits in Vernon County. 


    Names released in fatal UTV crash

    March 18th, 2024
    by

    The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has released more information related to the UTV crash that occurred early Sunday morning, March 17, that left a local woman dead and a man injured.   


    One dead in UTV accident in town of Wells

    March 17th, 2024
    by

    A woman is dead and one man injured after a utility terrain vehicle rolled over early Sunday morning in rural Sparta. 


    Burn ban issued for Vernon County

    March 17th, 2024
    by

    Effective immediately, Vernon County Emergency Management and the Vernon County Fire Chiefs Association has issued a burn ban until further notice.


  • Window damaged at Norwalk Village Office

    March 8th, 2024
    by

    In an apparent act of vandalism, a rock resulted in a broken window at the Norwalk Village Office sometime between […]


    N-O-W construction project: A bird’s-eye view

    March 2nd, 2024
    by

    Construction at Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School Schools has resulted in a different landscape.


    Brookwood to present ‘Harry Potter’ parody

    February 26th, 2024
    by

    The Brookwood theatre program will present “Sally Cotter and the Censored Stone” on Saturday, March 2, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 3, at 2 p.m. 


    Combating tooth decay among children

    February 26th, 2024
    by

    During Children’s Dental Health Month, Scenic Bluffs raises awareness on the importance of dental sealants


    Vernon County reports shots fired in rural Ontario

    February 26th, 2024
    by

    UPDATE FROM THE VERNON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE “** UPDATE (1:15 PM): The situation is under control. A male, age 42, […]


    Royall concert slated for Monday

    February 21st, 2024
    by

    The Royall High School Music Department will present a Concert Festival Showcase Concert on Monday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. 


  • Archives