Saxeville Historical Society keeping local history alive

On Saturday, May 23, I attended the Saxeville Historical Society’s grand opening. I believed I was interviewing for the opening, only to realize it was taking place that very day. (See photo of the ribbon cutting and the lineup of dedicated volunteers: Terry Eisch (seated), Doug Goetz, Art Techlow III, Ellen Eisch, Patty Seefelt, and Kevin Bikowski.)
Terry Eisch (a builder from Oshkosh) and his wife, Ellen, bought the property now housing the Saxeville Historical Society Museum in the late 1990s. It held a very dilapidated building and an equally dilapidated house next door. Terry purchased the house with the plan to tear it down. Pat LeSage insisted upon buying the dilapidated building. Pat renovated the building in 2008. (The building is in good condition now, maintenance-free on the exterior, everything up to code.)
​About four years ago, Pat sold the building back to the Eisch’s. Terry Eisch had the vision to have a Historical Society in the Saxeville community. The Eisch’s came to the community in 1994. Four years ago, there was a horse-whisperer tenant in the building, and the plan was to start a Historical Society when she moved on. Three years ago, the paperwork for the Historical Society was completed. The Eisch’s began talking to local people, and Kevin Bikowski expressed great interest in collaborating on the project. Others joined. One year ago, plans were laid in an informal meeting with interested persons.
​Much of what is on display in the museum was donated by Patty Seefelt – a lot inherited from her grandparents. Patty was born and raised in the area.
​Last autumn, volunteers met to discuss the eventual destruction of the local schoolhouse. The fire department escorted them into the schoolhouse, and articles such as a pupil’s desk, the teacher’s desk and chair, the library (a large two-piece cabinet), books, and the chalkboard were noted. It was agreed to donate the school furnishings to the museum. Kevin Bikowski and Doug Goetz began arranging things within the museum over the winter. At the beginning of April, the Eischs returned (from snow-birding?) and right away set up a community Saturday workday. In basically three weeks, the museum was arranged. Many people put a lot of effort into this project (Ellen says especially Doug, who has a lot of talents he lends to the museum)

​The public plan for 2026 includes a grand opening over Memorial Day weekend, with additional openings for the Saxeville Chicken BBQ on July 11 and for Labor Day weekend on Saturday, Sept. 5. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Three days - a good test of the waters.
​Ellen said, “When they say it takes a town, this is the town. We had a very generous donation from a local couple.” If this project takes off, the Eisch’s would plan to donate the building to the Historical Society. They have been working with the Wild Rose Historical Society, which donated some things from Saxeville’s origins. Ellen has been busy passing out our business cards and hopes for future donations of local history.
​I asked Ellen what she considers some of the most prized artifacts in the museum. The building (built in 1870), a carbine lantern from the general store (donated by Patty Seefelt), and all from the schoolhouse, was her response.
​There is an apartment upstairs in the building, and they hope that the rent could pay for the taxes.
​A future goal would be to put together a walking tour of several historic buildings. (Wild Rose is looking into a QR Code for outside of buildings in their area that would link to information, and Saxeville hopes to do the same.)
​I suggest that when you visit, you take your time reading the many articles that line the walls and room dividers.
​The Saxeville Historical Society - W4647 Portage Street in Saxeville (Wild Rose for Google Maps).