In December, we were honored to receive a message from Valders Elementary School 4th Grade teacher Cheryl Glaser. She was happy to share the news that the Valders 4th Grade classes had raised money for our museum through a grade-wide coin challenge.

Originally located on State Highway 151 about 5 miles west of the City of Manitowoc, the Shadyside School served School District Number One in the Town of Manitowoc Rapids. Known at various times as the “Irish School” and the “Trainor School” by district residents, it was given the official name “Shadyside” because of the many box elder trees that the shaded the school yard.

While the Covid 19 pandemic put a halt to many plans, it allowed for volunteers to focus attention on museum buildings and restoration efforts. Volunteer and Mid-Lakes Rustic Iron Member Bill Pauwels shares his story.

“Someone had a dream and today we see partial fulfillment of that dream,” declared Armand Kueter in opening remarks of Sunday’s dedication of Pinecrest Historical Society on Highway JJ, at the junction of Pine Crest Road, west of Manitowoc.

Eugene E. Durben, from left, looks on as Bob Coenen and George Baldwin hone their blacksmithing skills at the Manitowoc County Historical Society’s Pinecrest Historical Village, just west of Manitowoc. Photo by Suzanne Weiss

The last time Jim Steuer had laid eyes on the whistle was more than 50 years ago as a student in Lawrence Bohn’s metals class at Lincoln High School in Manitowoc. The class was assigned to make the whistle for Pinecrest’s 1880s steam engine.