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Latest newsletter is out about the Laketown Lutheran Church and Cemetery - August 2025 Newsletter
Bill Lindahl, 92, arrived early to reconnect with old friends. Bill grew up in Cushing, some of it in the living quarters above the old post office his parents operated. At age 90, he purchased a lifetime membership in the Sterling Eureka and Laketown Historical Society—sponsor of the picnic—optimistically planning for many more to come. He enjoyed a talk by local historian Russ Hanson on what you could buy in Cushing in 1955, when the town boasted a car dealer, two tractor dealers, a bank, post office, garage, general stores, hardware store, feed mill, barbershop, church, cemetery, ice house, two bars, and more.
Maurice Christenson, 91, and Donald Erickson, 88, have attended the Old Settlers Picnic since childhood. Their families have been deeply involved in the event for generations. Maurice’s grandparents, Bert and Hattie Brenizer, his parents, Chris and Martha Christenson, and his siblings—Maurice, Ione, Willus, Fern, Rose, and Shirley—all played a role. Donald’s parents, Walter and Eva Erickson, along with Donald himself, have also been longtime organizers, helping keep the picnic tradition alive through its 87 years.
The Sterling Old Setter's Picnic recognizes those who are 80 years or older and have long marriages. Back Row: Carol Medchil, Bill Lindahl, Jan Johnson, Bev Granquist, Gene Swenson, Donald Erickson, Lyle Jahn (93 oldest man). Front - Bonita Hutton, Shirley Medchill (95, oldest woman), Marlyene Jahn (Marlyene and Lyle were married longest at 69 years), May Olinger, and Sena Christopherson. Maurice Christenson left before the group photo.
May 2025 SELHS Newsletter is out
Regular Meetings: Third Thursday of the month 6 pm Cushing Museum (None Dec, Feb, March)
Wolf Creek Cemetery - Memorial Day 11 am program and lunch afteward at the church.
Museum open Mondays 10-2 except on holidays or snow storms
2025 Events: 87th Old Settler's Picnic Sunday June 22th noon potluck at the Cushing Community Center
Red School House at the Polk County Fair Thursday July 25 – Sunday July 28, 2024
20th Annual River Road Ramble Saturday September 27 9-5
2024-25 Museum Projects -- Digitization of local records in the Obsolete Media Laboratory. Negatives, VHS tapes, 8mm movies, scrapbooks, audio tapes, etc. A big box of items from the Polk County Museum, the Laketown Lutheran Church scrapbook history, records held at the local museum and more.
The Atlas history book by Buz Swerkstrom is for sale at the Atlas Co-op, the Cushing Museum and on Amazon. 311 pages, printed in color, the cost is $25 per copy plus $4 shipping if you want it mailed.
SELHS, Box 755, Cushing, WI 54006
River Road Ramble Float sponsored by SELHS
The Sterling Eureka and Laketown Historical Society (SELHS) began in 2000. The group runs a museum in Cushing, Wisconsin in the upstairs of the Community Center
Address: SELHS Box 755, Cushing, WI 54006. email: selhscushing@gmail.com
We are a 501c3 non-profit with bylaws, officers and regular meetings and elections.
We maintain several Facebook pages where the latest events and activities can be found.
SELHS: https://www.facebook.com/SELHS
History of Atlas: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077685690949
History of Eureka: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077272697673
Northwest Wisconsin Museum Consortium: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082899864616
Polk County Wisconsin Fair History: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082709733901
Polk County Wisconsin Genealogical Society: https://www.facebook.com/polkwigenealogicalsociety
St Croix River Road Rambler: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069706190481
Sterling Old Settler's Picnic: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076202413654
We also have an old website for the Sterling Eureka and Laketown Historical Society at
https://sites.rootsweb.com/~wiselhs/
We send a quarterly newsletter to members of the society. Membership is $10 per year.
Polk County is in Northwest Wisconsin. Cushing is midway between Grantsburg and St Croix Falls on Hwy 87
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