The Court Reporter
Washington County Historical Society, Inc.
“Relieve and Support All Poor and Indigent ”
From the time Europeans first settled in
Washington County, it was apparent that there
were adults and children in need of care and
assistance. Nineteenth Century town laws
dictated that “any person...without sufficient
means of support and
necessary care and is
by reason of sickness,
infirmity, decrepitude,
old age, drunkenness,
or pregnancy” could be
sent by a judge to the
Washington County
Farm and Home.
In 1844, the county
bought property at the
southeast corner of County NN and Church Road
in Jackson Township from the Knuth family for
use as a poor farm. At the time, Washington
County extended to Lake Michigan (Ozaukee
County was created in 1853) so the chosen
location was centrally located in the county.
The first Washington County Farm and Home
(also called Poor Farm, Poor House, or Alms
House) was a stone building built in 1850 and
housed an average of twenty paupers per year. A
large wood frame building (pictured here in 1953
WCHS 064,214) was added in the 1880s to house
the growing number of paupers served by the
Farm and Poor House. Other buildings were a
barn, granary, chicken coop, milk house,
outhouse and a stone silo.
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." Franklin D. Roosevelt
Volume 18, No. 1 January 2012
Paupers, sometimes referred to as inmates,
worked on the farm collectively to support
themselves. Extra wheat, barley, meat, or
produce was sold and used to pay for
“amusements, clothing, medical aid, subsistence,
and burial expenses.”
By 1911, unsatisfactory
reports of the condition of the
buildings at the Farm
prompted new facilities to be
built just east of the
Washington County Asylum in
West Bend. Built in 1898 on
the south east corner of
Washington Street and
Indiana Avenue, the Asylum
was alternately called County Home for the
Insane or Asylum for the Chronic Insane. The
building was razed in the 1970s to make way for
the Public Agency Center.
The Farm property in Jackson was sold in 1912
and became a private residence. By the late
1990s, all but the stone building and cemetery on
the Jackson Farm were demolished or lost to fire.
Today, the land is a subdivision.
Though the County Poor Farm and Home was
both profitable and beneficial for over 100 years,
operation of the County Farm was discontinued
in 1963 because it was steadily losing money.
Today, County residents in need seek assistance
through the Public Agency Center.
 Volume 18, No. 1 January 2012

Washington County From the Director’s Desk

Dear Members,
Historical Society, Inc.
I hope you all had a wonderful time with your family and
Board of Directors
friends over the Holidays. We now have a few months of
John Best, President
winter to wrestle. This is a good time for the Society to take a
Dan Schmidt, Vice President
breath and plan for the year ahead. We already have some
Carol Pouros, Secretary
excellent programs scheduled for the coming year, as well as
Dennis Degenhardt, Treasurer renovations at St. Agnes Historic Convent and School and
Susan Kist exhibits in the Old Courthouse Museum. We continue to
Kenneth Miller partner with the local schools and provide a visual learning
Jim Sears environment for the students and instill lifelong learning
Glenn Thoele skills.
Kirk Tyvela
Paul Ziegler Thank you to all of you who supported us through our
Emeritus Directors Holiday Raffle and congratulations to Hope and Paul Nelson
James D. Reigle who won the $1850 Split the Pot Grand Prize! We especially
Reuben Schmahl want to thank the local businesses who donated to the raffle
Robert Meyer and silent auction. They truly express the spirit of
Washington County Representatives community, so please buy local.
Lee Krueger As members you will enjoy even more benefits in 2012. The
Marilyn Merten Society will begin charging an admission fee to the Old
Administrative Staff Courthouse Museum. The fee is very small compared to the
Patricia Lutz cost of operating the Museum, but will help offset some of
Jodee Faber the reduced funding. We have also increased the fee to use
Janean Mollet-Van Beckum the Research Center. For our members, access to the
Jessica Sawinski Couch Museum and the Research Center will remain FREE!
Heather Przybylski
On a final note, for the past several months, you have
Steve Malone
probably seen the Society in the news and not always for our
Printing provided by Minuteman Press
great events or interactive programs. We are grateful to all
Museums the support we receive from the Washington County
Community and will continue to need your support in 2012.
Old Courthouse Museum Not only do your monetary donations help the Society, but
& Research Center also your voice. Please continue to be an advocate for the
320 S. 5th Avenue, West Bend, WI 53095 Society. Write your local County Supervisor and explain how
the Washington County Historical Society improves your life
Old Sheriff’s Residence & Jail
and your community. Remind him or her that Museums play
340 S. 5th Avenue, West Bend, WI 53095
a key role in education, tourism, economic development,
West Bend Co./Regal Ware Museum historic preservation, and environmental conservation.
18 E. Washington Street, West Bend, WI 53095 Washington County needs to support its cultural institutions
that foster an inviting and stimulating place to visit and live.
St. Agnes Convent & School
1386 Fond du Lac Street, West Bend, WI 53090 Happy New Year! -Patricia Lutz
"Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.” Winston Churchill
Washington County Historical Society, Inc.

Mini-Grant Project Complete Trivia T ime!

1. What Washington County
The Research Center received a the images vertically and in village is named after a
mini-grant in 2010 from the acid-free, sturdy archival boxes. Potawatomi chief?
Wisconsin Historical Society to 2. “Katzbach” is the name
re-house our glass plate As they were being re-housed,
the images were scanned and given to which community
negatives, tintypes, in Washington County?
oversized added to the
Before 3. How was the 13 Year
photographs as well electronic database,
Past Perfect, so that Squabble between the
as photographic people of West Bend and
equipment that is in they are available to
everyone without Port Washington finally
the Object settled in 1853?
Collection. damaging the
After original. Cataloging Mayfield, 3. Separate counties.
Work began in the the materials is still Answers: 1. Kewaskum, 2.
fall of 2010 to store in progress.
October’s “Where is this?” was
a Pair of Wooden Shoes,
Something New in Membership Immigration Room, Old
Courthouse Museum.
To streamline the and no one will miss renewed after
membership any benefits after 9/1/2011 will renew Dixieland Band
program, all this change. in March 2013. The The West Bend High School
members will renew new expiration date Dixieland Band
once a year. All Members who last will be March 31 will be performing
renewing and new renewed before each year. New Orleans-style
members will 9/1/2011 will renew
in the Old Circuit Courtroom on
receive several free in March 2012. Questions? Contact
February 6. Contact Leah
months membership Members who Jodee (262)335-4678
Duckert (262) 335-5557.

New Museum Admission; Other News

An admission fee will be charged to the Old
Courthouse Museum beginning January 4, 2012.
Society members will receive free
admission to all Society Museums.

Volunteers John Beisbier and
David Bath insulated the second
floor ceiling and volunteer Tony
Spaeth reconstructed the stairway
enclosure (at right) in the Rectory
at St. Agnes Historic Convent &
School.
"Do not confine your children to your own learning, for they were born in another time." Chinese Proverb

West Bend Noon Kiwanis granted the Society
$1,800 to support 2012 educational programs.

Gloria Hahn donated 3 WAAC uniforms,
footlocker and personal items. She also
loaned military records and photographs for
copying. Gloria enlisted in the Women’s Army
Auxiliary Corps on November 3, 1952 and
served until November 29, 1962, ranking as a
Specialist 4th Class E-4. Donations related to
Washington County women serving in the
military are appreciated.
 From the Research Center
Amanda Metzner, daughter of
Gottlieb and Emilie Metzner,
worked in the Kohlsville Post
Office in the 1880s. She is
pictured here with the tools of
her occupation.
Miss Metzner married John
WCHS 052,523
Rilling of Wayne Township and
the couple farmed for many The Research Center
years before moving to West is located on the
Bend. third floor of the Old
Courthouse
Since the government did not Museum. It houses
allow the post office in his photographs,
saloon, Postmaster Franz Hahn documents, and
rented a large room in Carl Sell's records of
house. The Sell’s home still Washington County
stands at Mill and Main in history.
Kohlsville.

Washington County Historical Society, Inc. NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID
320 S. 5th Avenue, West Bend, WI 53095-3333 WEST BEND, WI
www.HistoryIsFun.com 53095
PERMIT NO. 41

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

 Upcoming Programs & Events
Homeschool Class: Strategically Collection of Collectors
Speaking: Historical Games Tuesday, January 17 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Tuesday, January 10 9:30am to 11:30am Old Courthouse Museum
OR 1:30pm to 3:30pm Collectors, share your
Old Courthouse Museum interesting and unique
All classes feature touchable artifacts, tour of passion with us! You’ll meet
related museum exhibits, and a take-home craft other collectors and learn
activity. something new during this
fun and informal evening.
Registration for homeschool
classes closed December 29. Don’t have a collection? Just
bring your curiosity to this
free event.
Contact Jessica at (262) 335-4678 or
education@historyisfun.com if you have a
collection to share.

Homeschool Class: Homeschool Class:

Say Cheese! And How to Make It I Take Pen in Hand: The Art of Writing
Tuesday, February 14 9:30am to 11:30am Tuesday, March 13 9:30am to 11:30am
OR 1:30pm to 3:30pm OR 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Old Courthouse Museum Old Courthouse Museum
All classes feature touchable artifacts, tour of All classes feature
related museum exhibits, and a take-home craft touchable artifacts, tour
activity. of related museum
exhibits, and a take-
Registration for home craft activity.
homeschool classes closed
December 29. Registration for
homeschool classes closed December 29.

Washington County Historical Society & Museums

320 S. 5th Avenue, West Bend, WI 53095
(262) 335-4678 www.HistoryIsFun.com
 Upcoming Programs & Events
Show ‘n Tell with Mike Paul Homeschool Class:
Tuesday, March 20 7:00pm to 9:00pm Shocking! The History of Electricity
Old Courthouse Museum Tuesday, April 10 9:30am to 11:30am
Dig out your family treasures, dust them off, OR 1:30pm to 3:30pm
and bring them to Show ‘n’ Tell with Mike Paul Old Courthouse Museum
from Paul Auction Company, Inc. in Kewaskum. All classes feature
Mike will share his incredible knowledge of touchable artifacts, tour of
antiques with the audience as he examines each related museum exhibits,
piece. and a take-home craft
activity.
Even if you don’t have anything to share, this
evening is fun, informative, and casual. Registration for
homeschool classes closed
$5/person, Free/WCHS December 29.
Members.
Please, LIMIT ONE item per
person.

Home Brew Contest Land, Labor, and Cows: “Creating

Monday, April 16 6:30pm to 8:30pm Dairyland” with author Edward Janus
Riverside Brewery & Restaurant Thursday, April 19 6:30pm to 8:00pm
255 S Main St, West Bend Germantown Community Library
Is your brew the best? Enter your home brew in N112 W16957 Mequon Rd, Germantown
our Home Brew Contest. In "Creating Dairyland," journalist, oral
The winning recipe will be historian, and
made by Riverside former dairyman Ed
Brewery and sampled at Janus opens the
the Society’s Brew-Haha pages of the
Tasting & Fundraiser in fascinating story of
September. Wisconsin dairy
Registration required. farming. He explores
$20/1st entry before April 13, $10/member the profound idea
(after 4:30pm April 13, $30/1st entry, $20/ that led to the remarkable "big bang" of
member) $10/additional entry. Visit dairying here a century and a half ago.
HistoryIsFun.com and click on Events to $5/person, Free/WCHS member.
download registration and rules information.
Washington County Historical Society & Museums
320 S. 5th Avenue, West Bend, WI 53095
(262) 335-4678 www.HistoryIsFun.com