The dedication of the Stromberg violin display will kick off the Iola Historical Society’s summer season.
The formal dedication will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at the Iola Historical Society (IHS) Complex on Depot Street.
This is also the opening day of the society’s 2013 summer season. The complex will be open from noon to 3 p.m. every Saturday through August.
Bert Stromberg was a former Iola constable and a violin maker. His descendants donated his violin-making tools, plans and violins in various stages of production to the local historical society.
The IHS recently completed new display cases to showcase Stromberg’s skills and history.
The dedication will include Stromberg’s relatives: Maynard Stromberg, an uncle who donated the collection; grandson Jerry Stromberg; and granddaughter Sharon Hatton.
Rebecca Wierzchowski, a local Iola violinist, will perform classical style Norwegian music composed by Ole Bull.
The Historic Iola Village buildings will be open for visitors throughout the summer, except for the Iola & Northern railway depot, which is undergoing restoration to its original design.
The other buildings include a replica of a one-room schoolhouse; a 1930s log cabin; the original Helvetia Town Hall; a vintage caboose; a replica of Iola’s original firehouse, housing the village’s first three vintage pieces of firefighting equipment; The Machine Shed filled with vintage farm and manufacturing equipment; and the historical society’s museum.
The museum features recently acquired collections, such as the Ray Towne collection of Native American artifacts found throughout Waupaca County, and the Stromberg violin collection. Other items of local historical significance are also on display.
Docents will be at each building to talk about their historic significance and answer any questions.