CULTURE, CURDS AND CHEESY CHATTER [October Newsletter]

Volume 13, Issue 10Download PDF

REMINDER DATES:

NHCC general meeting Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. at the Center.
Fall Clean-up Day Oct. 19, Monday, 9 a.m.


VISITORS FROM BRAZIL

Luiz Gustago, with his wife and daughters, paid a visit to NHCC in September. Ken Klassey, board member and docent that day, made the two girls happy with coloring books, crayons and “cow” pencils. The girls were none too happy with posing for a photo, though.


Stirring the kettle, With President Jim

The days of Autumn are upon us, with a chance of frost forecast as a write this. From what I have seen on the social media, the fall colors are really exploding in the North woods.

Fall is my favorite time of the year, with air that is crisp, all kinds of goodies at the farm market, mums in bright hues…..ahhh beautiful fall. In this column, you will see me with probably the ONLY cheese cloth facemask in the state! It is not my general covering, though, as I either use a regular mask or a face shield in public. Back story: several weeks ago I received an email from Bill Tyre, executive director and curator of Glessner House in Chicago. Bill noted that he would be coming to Wisconsin to tour the NHCC museum and cheese factory. Bill, accompanied by Deneen Bryce, who made me the cheese cloth mask as a joke, thoroughly enjoyed their tour. In Bill’s words: “I will never take cheese for
granted, again! I especially enjoyed the cheese factory (how amazing it survived all these years) and the butterfat testing machine.

“Glessner House was built in the late 1890’s by John J. Glessner, a vice president of International Harvester, and a cousin. It’s located on S. Prairie Ave., and is worth a visit!

– Until next issue, Jim


THAT’S MY DAD!

Sylvia Heiser, Madison, WI. proudly points to her cheesemaker father, Ed Rubin, in a photo displayed in the NHCC museum. Ed Rubin made cheese at the Evergreen Factory, Green County, WI, and later at the Good Hope Factory located at Rice Lake. Sylvia was accompanied by her two granddaughters,Debbie Schlict and Cindy Leonard.


 

NHCC reaches its 25th Anniversary!

Additions to the Center proper since we started 25 years ago, are the Imobersteg Farmstead Factory and a cheese wedge for photo taking memories!


Director Donna’s Monthly October Report

I am happy to report that since opening June 18, 2020, with reduced days and hours, we have hosted (masked) visitors from 28 states and other areas of the world…Peru, Brazil, Russia, and Ethiopia. We are grateful for the volunteer staff that are willing to do the five-hour shift from 10 am to 3 pm. This requires less volunteers per day.

Many visitors comment “we are so glad you are open since many places are closed!” Families with children find that our tour includes several videos that are educational and entertaining. Our NHCC staff enjoys seeing the creative and unusual masks that the small children wear.

Your Director, Donna

Cheese Days 2020 – September 18-20 CANCELLED!!!!!!

This year I was really excited about Cheese Days, since I was honored to be named the Parade Marshall and would be fulfilling my honored duty of leading the Cheese Days Parade on Sunday, September 20. Thanks to the  pandemic” Cheese Days 2020 was cancelled and is re-scheduled for 2021.

Well, being the “senior kid” that many of you know I am, I donned my “Wedgie” cheesey attire anyway, and headed for Monroe’s Historic Downtown Square (Baumgartner’s to be exact!) There I entertained out-of-town visitors, doing the “chicken dance!” Fun! Fun! Fun!

I then headed for NHCC, still in my “Wedgie” outfit, and greeted visitors to the museum, “mourning” the “covid-cancelled” Cheese Days 2020.

I invite all of you to join us next year to Monroe’s postponed “Cheese Days 2020” in September 2021!

P.S. COVID-19 YOU ARE NOT INVITED!


The National Historic Cheesemaking Center is a tribute to those who have gone before…and is dedicated to the hard work and sacrifices of all those in the dairy industry who have made this area of southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois internationally famous.
The unique center recalls the rich heritage of the area and is illustrative of the lively cheese industry which still flourishes today.