We had a couple days of volunteering this week. On the first day, volunteers got our trees and decorations out of the attic and set them up. On the second day, volunteers decorated the trees and set up other holiday decor both inside and outside...
Thanks to our volunteers, known as the "Garden Ladies," for planting tulip bulbs at the Larson House Museum garden. We appreciate all your hard work keeping the garden so beautiful, and look forward to seeing the new flowers next spring! ...
We'd like to thank MHS volunteers Tim Mitchell, Mike Flaherty, Wes Licht, and Dale Marsden for erecting our new Larson house sign. It includes our months, days and hours of operation, and our website for more information. Thanks, guys! ...
In this video, MHS member Jane Licht takes you on a tour through the McFarland History Museum's new display on the original residents of McFarland, the Ho-Chunk. https://youtu.be/VbQFOzm7P6s...
The Historical Museum was proud to participate in the annual McFarland Community Festival on the weekend of September 27–28, 2025. Our doors were open both Saturday and Sunday, welcoming festival-goers to explore our newest exhibit highlighting the culture, daily life, and technologies of the Ho-Chunk...
The McFarland Historical Society Annual Meeting took place on March 2, 2025 in the Training Room at the McFarland Municipal Building at 5915 Milwaukee Street. At the meeting, Tim Mitchell was honored as MHS 2025 Volunteer of the Year. To see the complete writeup on...
Yesterday was the final day of Very Victorian Christmas 2024 at the Larson House Museum. The house was open every Sunday through December, as well as the Saturday of McFarland's "Christmas in the Village." General info about this event can be found on our Public...
Early Days of McFarland took place on September 28-29, 2024 at the History Museum at 5814 Main Street. Activities of the early settlers to the McFarland area were demonstrated for the enjoyment and education of families who were invited to participate. Apple pressing, corn shelling, ice...
The annual Strawberry Shortcake Social was held at the Larson House from 1 to 5 pm on Sunday, June 23, 2024. Free tours of the beautifully restored Victorian home, outdoor games, lemonade, root beer floats, hot dogs and that incomparable strawberry shortcake using hand-picked fresh...
There are still a few places available for our Ladies' Afternoon Tea at the Larson House on May 11, 2024. This time, the tea will offer a cozy ambiance inside the lovely restored Victorian home. A tour of the gardens (weather permitting), a discussion of...
Annual Meeting Featureed Brian Ward on Indigenous Peoples - March 10, 1 pm, 2024 - McFarland Municipal Building We were pleased to have Brian Ward as our guest speaker at the Society's annual meeting on March 10 at the McFarland Municipal Building. Brian teaches a course...
Every room in the Larson House Museum was decorated for our Very Victorian Christmas. We were part of Christmas in the Village on Saturday, Dec. 2nd and had well over 100 visitors. Free tours, fancy treats, and hot beverages were enjoyed by all.. Holiday music...
Treat your father to the best strawberry shortcake ever at the Larson House on June 18, 2023, from 1 to 4 pm. Fun for the whole family with live musical entertainment, trick dogs, outdoor games, loaded sale table, free tours, gorgeous gardens, hot dogs and...
The McFarland Memorial Day Parade passes by the Museum at 5814 Main Street and attracts many visitors. The Museum, Norwegian Log Cabin and Early Farming Display are open before and after the noon parade. Just a couple blocks away at 6003 Exchange Street, the Larson House...
Former McFarland Community Life editor Tom Thrun was the guest speaker at the McFarland Historical Society’s annual meeting at the library on Sunday, March 5th at 1 pm. While in Covid isolation, Tom built a model farm based on the actual Thrun family farm located...
Enjoy lots of good food, lawn games, old time music and the “ghosts” of John and Julia Larson at the Larson House Picnic on August 21st from noon to 3 pm. That’s right, the folks who owned this lovely Victorian home for nearly 80 years...
Facilities include the Museum Building on Main Street in McFarland (diagonally across from the Library), the Log Cabin, the Annex, and most recently, the Larson House Museum. The Board of Directors is constantly involved in facilities maintenance and improvement. Examples are a new energy efficient heating...
The Larson House Museum, the Museum on Main Street, the Norwegian Log Cabin and the Early Farming display will have open house Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4pm beginning July 11, 2021. Masks are optional for those who are fully vaccinated and you must...
Are you tired of winter yet? Are your thoughts turning to spring and the smell of fresh earth? Are you gazing longingly at your garden clogs? The Larson House Garden Committee is partnering with Flower Power Fundraising, a Wisconsin company, to provide funds to grow and maintain the...
Each year in March, members, guests and the general public are invited to attend the Annual Meeting of the McFarland Historical Society. The meeting features a guest speaker on a topic of historical interest, the annual business meeting, desserts and beverages, and lively conversation. The...
Picnic with your friends and neighbors on the lawn of the Larson House Museum on Sunday, August 11 from 1 to 4 pm. Potato salad, baked beans, chips, carrots, hot dogs or sandwiches, lemonade and a dessert booth are featured. Lawn games, music...
Author and radio and television personality Jerry Apps was our guest speaker at the McFarland Historical Society Annual meeting on Sunday, March 3rd. This year the meeting was held at the McFarland Municipal building to accommodate the crowd of about 90 people. Jerry began by...
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, the guns of World War I were finally silenced. It was the Armistice signed by Germany. The Allied forces had won the bloodiest war in the history of mankind. To commemorate...
McFarland Chocolate Fest to be held Oct 6th, 2018, from 7 to 9 pm Now in its seventh season, the elegant and ever delectable Chocolate Fest will again be held at the Curling Club at 4802 Marsh Road in McFarland on Saturday, Oct. 6th from 7...
The word is getting out about our Strawberry Shortcake Social held on the lawn of the Larson House in June. This year, because of the last spring and heavy rains, the date was moved from its usual date on Father's Day to June 24. Madison...
Come to the Strawberry Shortcake Social on Sunday, June 24, 2018, from 1 to 4 PM at the Larson House Museum, 6003 Exchange Street, McFarland. Treat your family toMcFarland's Best Strawberry Shortcake made with freshly picked strawberries, homemade shortcake and dairy ice cream and whipped...
Since January, 2018, seven men have been resorting a century-old, double-pointed rowboat donated to the McFarland Historical Society. Their efforts culminated at the Parks and Trails Unite Festival at McDaniels Park on June 2, 2018 when the boat was put on display and then put...
Michael Edmonds was our guest speaker at the annual meeting at the McFarland Municipal Building. Michael Edmonds is the Director of Programs and Outreach at the Wisconsin Historical Society and has written several books on various aspects of Wisconsin history. He is a 1976 graduate...
We are very pleased that Michael Edmonds will be our guest speaker at the annual meeting. He will present “Warriors, Saints and Scoundrels: Brief Portraits of Real People Who Shaped Wisconsin,” on Sunday, March 4 from 1 to 3:30pm at the McFarland Municipal Building. Michael Edmonds...
The Larson House Museum at 6003 Exchange Street, McFarland WI will be decorated for Christmas and open to the public for Christmas in the Village from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, December 2, and also on Sunday afternoons December 3, 10 and 17...
The 2017 McFarland Chocolate Fest held at the Madison Curling Club in McFarland on October 7 was delightful, dreamy and decadent with scores of McFarland bakers producing their favorite chocolate desserts. Thanks to the over 60 people who donated their best chocolates, to the fine...
The 2017 Strawberry Shortcake Social held June 18 was a huge success. Homemade shortcake piled high with freshly picked strawberries and ice cream and whipped cream delighted the many visitors to the Larson House Museum grounds. The event was a Society fund raiser and also...
The McFarland Historical Society's Annual meetings are always lively with good speakers and interesting reports. This year, local historian Lorraine Hawkinson presented the story of a Norwegian immigrant who came to Dane County and created an invention that became very popular in our area. His name...
The Strawberry Shortcake Social will be held in 2017 on the lawn of the Larson House Museum at 6003 Exchange Street in McFarland, Wisconsin, on Sunday, June 18 from 1 to 4 PM. Treat your father/son/spouse and entire family to McFarland's best strawberry shortcake where...
Imagine an elegant evening of candlelight, champagne and all the lovely chocolate desserts you could ever imagine. Our famous Chocolate Fest took place on Saturday, October 8, 2016, from 7 to 9 PM at the Curling Club in McFarland and was more popular than ever....
We invite you to join us in an exciting new project for the McFarland, Wisconsin, area community. This project, an addition to the McFarland Historical Society Museum on Main Street, will provide a place to restore a hundred year-old double-pointed rowboat used on Lake Waubesa...
Board members Dale Marsden, Dick Kohl, Don Peterson, Bob Kolek and Wes Licht planned and constructed a new 1920's kitchen in the Museum on Main Street. New wall board and "wainscot" half way up the walls make the room so much nicer and more realistic....
The McFarland Historical Society’s Annual meetings are always lively with good speakers and interesting reports. This year, local historian Lorraine Hawkinson presented the story of a Norwegian immigrant who came to Dane County and created an invention that became very popular in our area. His name...
Thanks to all who decorated the Larson House Museum, to those who hosted and gave tours, played the piano, prepared good things to eat and visited during the month of December. We had over 300 visitors, gave many tours, and sold local history books and...
2015 McFarland Historical Society Annual Meeting The master of ceremonies Wes Licht brushed up on his repitrore of Nowegian jokes and no one was safe from being included in one of his Ole, Lena, or Sven jokes. Reports were given by the board officers. Meg Nielsen gave...
Thanks to Eagle Scouts for building our herb garden, pergola and brick floor for the pergola. Thanks to the Larson House Garden Committee for the beautiful flower gardens surrounding the house and in the backyard. Come visit the grounds as well as tour inside. Consider...
The annual meeting held at the E.D. Locke Library celebrated the Society's 50th anniversary. Representative Robb Kahl presented president Dale Marsden with a State Assembly citation from himself and Senator Mark Miller who both represent the Village of McFarland and Town of Dunn in the...
The Annual Meeting held at the Municipal Building featured McFarland Schools Superintendent Scott Brown speaking about the 50th anniversary of McFarland High School. Also featured was an update on the Larson House restoration, and a special recognition of contributors and volunteers. The meeting was well attended...
From Wisconsin Historical Society’s Columns magazine, 2012, March-April edition, page 6. I N 1 9 4 2 the Wisconsin Magazine of History wrote: “Museum curators and antique collectors have figuratively gone mad over the treasures that Albert Skare has housed in his ‘Hidden Farm’ log cabin...
Letter to the McFarland Thistle Editor By Meg Neilsen Thank you so much for the excellent coverage you gave to the McFarland Historical Society’s first Chocolate Fest. Your willingness to provide articles and photographs about our Featured Baker, the Silent Auction, and the event itself helped to...
The McFarland Historical Society's Annual Meeting was held at the E.D. Locke Library on Sunday, March 11, at 1:00 PM. Guest speaker Bob Kann, author of “Cordelia Harvey: Civil War Angel,” said that Cordelia Harvey was known as ‘The Wisconsin Angel” and “The Florence Nightingale of...
An evening of chocolate, candlelight and champagne will be held right here in beautiful downtown McFarland on Saturday, November 6, 2011 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, in the Community Center of the McFarland Municipal Building. This deliciously elegant affair, sponsored by the McFarland Historical Society,...
Wes Licht served as master of ceremonies and introduced the board members and also Brian Utter who is McFarland's Citizen of the Year. Brenda Zier distributed the minutes, Jackie Utter read her Treasurer's report, and Dale Marsden gave his President's report. Dale explained that there were...
Jim Hartman recently handed a check for $1000 to Ken Brost towards the purchase of the Larson House by the McFarland Historical Society. In addition to this thousand dollar gift, the Jim Hartman State Farm Insurance Agency will pledge $500 next year and another $500...
Meg Nielsen recently donated proceeds from a book she co-authored for the purchase and restoration of the historic Larson House in McFarland. Back in 1975, Meg Nielsen, Barbara Houghton and Jane Licht poured over old records and interviewed over a hundred residents to write and...
A “Bowling for the Larson House” fund raiser will be held on Saturday, October 23rd from noon to midnight at the Spartan Bowl in McFarland. General manager Brock Roder explained that Spartan Bowl is used for many civic fund-raisers but this one is different in...
Roald, Anne and Mary Lokken gave a very generous gift for the purchase and restoration of the Larson House in memory of their mother, Crystal Lokken. Their reasons for this gift to the McFarland Historical Society are straightforward. Their mother was an active board member...
Thanks to those who gave donations for the Larson House in memory of Crystal Lokken. We are sure that you made Crystal smile! Board Member Crystal Lokken passed away Sunday evening, March 14, 2010. A memorial service was held by the family on March 20, at the...
On March 14, 2010, Jim Leary, professor of Folklore and Scandinavian studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was the guest speaker. He talked about Norwegian Folk Music in Wisconsin and played examples of recordings from the 1930's and 1940’s. His selections included tunes on a...
