History Alive Project, Inc.

07/23/2025

NOW YOU KNOW!

Two of the History Alive Project volunteers had a terrific time as they visited with the CEO of the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library, Dana Kelly, and an additional guest that the Center was hosting on July 22.

Rolf Svanoe had brought his tour group from Norway were he gave them a crash course on the Norwegian immigrant story. One of his handouts spoke to the period between 1839 to 1964.

Can you determine what information can be gotten from the handout seen here? Use Google as needed, of course!

Left to right: HAP President Dave Amundson, Dana Kelly, HAP volunteer Ruth Amundson and Rolf Svanoe.

07/21/2025

NOW YOU KNOW!

On July 21st, History Alive Project teaching volunteers, who were invited, are headed to the Norwegian American Genealogical Center & Naeseth Library in Madison to meet the Center's CEO, Dana Kelly. Then on the 22nd the HAP group will be able to visit with Rasmus Sunde from Norway. Having authored several good books dealing with the Norwegian immigration, Sunde, who studied at the University of Bergen, will bring additional immigration research for his visit.

He will then go to Stoughton's "Livsreise" and give a presentation called "Celebrating 200 Years of Norwegian Immigration."

Whenever and where ever the History Alive Project teaching volunteers can learn from such experts as Sunde, those volunteers will make the extra effort to add to their wealth of immigration information which can then be used in their many HAP presentations and classroom work at the Westby High School.

07/20/2025

Stumper Saturday answers to # 375:

1. Westby
2. 1858
3. Blacksmith
4. Country C**n Prairie
5. This is the oldest house in Westby.

Please share with your friends!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE REPLIES HISTORY ALIVE PROJECT HAD IN REFERENCE TO Stumper #375.

Send a message to learn more

07/20/2025

Stumper Saturday # 376:

1. Where was the building near the center of
this photo located?
2. Name the businiess that took place in this building
at the time of this photograph.
3. What happened to this building?
4. When did this happen?
5. What is now located in the space where this building once
stood?
6. What is today located near the space of the large building on
the right?

Please share with your friends!

07/18/2025

07/18/2025

NOW YOU KNOW!

Just think, these were the scenes just a year ago in Westby!

History was being made as people new to the City or future generations will now have recorded photographs of what took place in Westby WI beginning in the year 2024.

What were your thoughts as all of this was happening?

Please share!

07/17/2025

NOW YOU KNOW!

Now that the Sloopers have been sailing for awhile and that it will be sometime before they will be seeing land, History Alive Project would like to take a little time to describe what are some items that they took aboard for this journey.

Below are some food items that would most likely brought on board:

hard bread, butter, meat, sidepork, some herring, potatoes, barley flour, dried peas, pearl barley, coffee, sugar, syrup, salt, vinegar and onions.

The Sloopers may have been told to take along equipment like a water pail, cooking pot, coffee kettle, dishes and eating utensils. These immigrants had to prepare their own food in the Ship's galley up on deck. The waiting lines for preparing food could easilly become long.

The cooking area (bin or shack) would be about 12' x 12' in size. The bin would have been about 4' wide and 1.5' high. The bin would then be filled with a sand base for the fires that would be started to heat their food.

There was no chimney where the smoke could possibly escape through. Can you imagine what it must have been like with all of that smoke? If they had to leave the area for some fresh air, someone else was ready. to take that space. Do you think there might have been some arguments for spaces to heat their food?

Stay tune for additional information in the coming days!

07/16/2025

07/16/2025

NOW YOU KNOW!

Do you remember when all of this started?

With the official dedication of the new roundabout and improved highway through Westby set for Saturday, July 26, History Alive Project would like to share some of its 500+ photographs taken during the entire reconstruction. HAP volunteers felt that this photographic project was very important and it will become an important part of Westby's history years from now.

History Alive Project will share some of these photographs over the next few days. If you would like to see the entire collection, just call 608-632-5333 to set up a time to meet. Coffee is on us!

Remember this project was history in the making!