Montello Historic Preservation Society
Year of John Muir events 2010
The Montello Historic Preservation Society is collaborating with many other organizations to make 2010 the Year of John Muir in Marquette County
January 15 – Starry Night Bonfire and hike ski or snowshoe. 7:00 at the Wollenburg home at W2540 Grouse Road, Dalton WI 53926; 1/8 mile east of Hwy 22. Dress in layers; bring lawn chairs to place around the fire, a snack to share, star maps or spotting scopes. Star gaze, hike, snowshoe, ski, talk and have a great time.
January 24 Robert Burns birthday tea with historic re-enactment of Burns, Emerson, Teddy Roosevelt, and Muir; Scottish music; 1-5 Vaughn Hall 55 West Montello St. Montello
April 6 6:30 PM Lilacs presentation/plantings; Thyme Shares Master Gardeners present Carol Lavigne heritage and culture of lilacs that settlers like the Muirs planted at their door steps. Montello Service Center Underwood Ave UW-Extension. April/May Lilacs presentation/plantings around the county
April 21- John Muir’s Birthday and Earth Day hike. Meet at John Muir Park on Hwy F, 7 miles south of Montello WI. from 6:00-8:30pm. Honor the Earth by joining us for a beautiful hike through diverse plant communities. Explore the path using the illustrated trail guide, listen to readings from John Muir’s book My Boyhood and Youth, and celebrate John Muir’s legacy as the “Father of the National Parks”. Birthday cake will be served after the hike. Bring water and wear good walking shoes.
April 22 Earth Day education day at Renewable World Education Center with students from Westfield and Montello School Districts. Montello Historic Preservation Society will do presentation on John Muir’s nature journaling.
April 24 Fox River Heritage Paddle by Fox River Voyageur and Fox River Heritage Corridor. Put in at Portage, paddle to Cty O, talk about John Muir at Muir Park. See www.foxoftheriver.weebly.com
May 23 Tree identification and tree talk Jeremy Solin. Check back on website listed below for more details.
May 10 6 PM Passenger Pigeon presentation Kelly Bleich MHPS place to be announced
June through August Muir is Still Here exhibit in Vaughn Hall Montello by the Montello Historic Preservation Society. Also open for schools to come through in October and by appointment. It will feature a portion of a corduroy road and a bur oak shanty.
June 5- National Trail Day Hike: Guided hike of the “corduroy road” built by John Muir and friends. Approximately a 3 mile, easy hike. Hikers will meet at 10:00 at John Muir Park, hear the story of the building of the corduroy road as depicted in the book John Muir, My Boyhood and Youth, and visit the Wee White Kirk where some of the Muir’s relatives are buried. Hikers will be returned to the park via shuttle. Bring water and wear good walking shoes. Visitors are invited to travel to the Historic Preservation Museum in Montello after the hike to visit the John Muir Exhibit.
June 19 John Muir look alike canoe/kayak relay race Rendezvous Paddle and Sports Montello
June 19 – Dragon Fly Hike- The Marquette County Chapter of the IAT is partnering with the Prairie Sands Chapter of the Prairie Enthusiasts for this fun-filled and educational walk at John Muir Park on Hwy F in Marquette Co. Join dragonfly enthusiast Dr. Ken Tennessen as he leads this hike through the boyhood homeland of John Muir. Hike will begin at 10:00; wear good walking shoes, and bring binoculars and water.
Dave Mickelson on the glacial geology of Marquette County date to be announced
July 9-11 Marquette County Fair with Year of John Muir theme Fair Grounds in Westfield.
July 17- Heritage Prairie Plant Hike at John Muir Park and Observatory Hill . Discuss heritage plants that might have been on the scene during the life of John Muir. What plants have sustained and why? Neil Diboll a national and internationally known expert from Prairie Nursery in Westfield will lead the hike and discussion. We will begin at 10:00 at John Muir Park on Hwy F, 7 miles south of Montello WI. Bring water, binoculars, and good walking shoes. Hikers are encouraged to travel to the Historic Preservation Museum in Montello to visit the John Muir Exhibit after the hike.
July 31 Muir-acles quilt show at Montello High School Calico Capers Quilt Guild featuring the nature quilts of Anita Carpenter.
August 14 Packwaukee Heritage Days with John Muir Days 1850s parade theme
Sept 11 Wee White Kirk scone and shortbread sale to raise money for roof, cemetery early settler remembrance walk Montello Historic Preservation Society and Daryl Christensen, Disciples of Christ worship service like Daniel Muir would have lead
September 25- Fall Colors Hike at the Fox River Refuge. View the spectacular fall colors of this varied landscape. The Fox River Refuge (County Hwy O and County Hwy F in Buffalo Township, 7 miles south of Montello) is normally closed to hikers, so take advantage of this special opportunity. Cranes should be gathering and fall migration starting. Bring binoculars, water, good walking shoes. Time: 10:00- meet at the parking lot at John Muir Park. We will walk to the refuge from that area. The hike will be lead by US Fish and Wildlife.
October 14-16 Bonnie Gisel, author, naturalist, sponsored by Thyme Shares Master Gardeners.
November 21 Pie and Scone Sale at Vaughn Hall for the Montello Historic Preservation Society
November 30 Truth Day in memory of Emmanual Dannan murdered in 1851 for refusing to lie. He was 8 years old and lived about 10 miles from the 13 year old John Muir.
Muir is Still Here, a book co-authored by Daryl Christensen and Kathleen McGwin will be available during the Year of John Muir.
