Most universities have procedures in place for just about any emergency event. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's emergency information can be found in the Emergency Procedures Guide (EPG). It outlines almost any emergency procedure that could happen on campus or the surrounding area. Two emergency categories that seem very extreme, but also very relevant to our… Continue reading Taking Shelter at UW-Oshkosh
Category: History
Blast From the Past
My recent work on historical projects related to Civil Defense and the Cold War era are strikingly similar to the events unfolding in North Korea. According to USA Today, North Korea is planning to launch a multi-stage rocket that is capable of carrying nuclear warheads. CNN reports that North Korean officials stated that the missile… Continue reading Blast From the Past
Markesan Historical Society
Being involved with your local historical society is a great way to be involved with your community. Whether you are from a small community or big city, most of these places have a historical society or two. In Wisconsin the majority of historical organizations are affiliated with the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS). If you are… Continue reading Markesan Historical Society
Milwaukee’s Fire & Police Call Boxes
I have recently become fascinated with the old police/fire call boxes on street corners around Milwaukee. My fiance' is from the Milwaukee area, so we run into these old boxes in random areas around the city. I have noticed them before and didn't really think anything of it. While watching an episode of American Restoration, Rick's… Continue reading Milwaukee’s Fire & Police Call Boxes
Wisconsin Civil Defense
Wisconsin civil defense unofficially began on August 29, 1950, by the order of Governor Oscar Rennebohm.[i]Â The formal incorporation of the Wisconsin Office of Civil Defense was through the passage of the Act 433, Laws of 1951. By the time Wisconsin formally organized its state organization, the Federal Civil Defense Administration (FCDA) had already been… Continue reading Wisconsin Civil Defense
Allis-Chalmers & Civil Defense Part II
As a follow-up to my previous post, I would like to fill you in on some new information that I received from the National Archives. I sent an inquiry to the archives about Allis-Chalmers' involvement with the development of the National Emergency Alarm Repeater system (NEAR). If you haven't read that post yet, click here.… Continue reading Allis-Chalmers & Civil Defense Part II
Allis-Chalmers and Civil Defense
I am beginning to turn up some very interesting material for my History Seminar project. I've gone through boxes upon boxes, folders upon folders. papers upon papers, and I have run into Allis-Chalmers a few times in the old Wisconsin Bureau of Civil Defense information. The company played two interesting roles in Wisconsin Civil Defense. One was devising a CD plan… Continue reading Allis-Chalmers and Civil Defense
Markesan Washing Machine in Milwaukee
I ran into a rather interesting article in the Milwaukee Journal from October 13, 1919. It relates to my hometown of Markesan and a wash machine that was built there. This Milwaukee paper was advertising a washing machine, but it wasn't just ANY washing machine, it was a "THE MARKESAN" electric wash machine. What most… Continue reading Markesan Washing Machine in Milwaukee
Civil Defense in Wisconsin
I am about a month into my final year of undergraduate college. One of the privileges I have in my history degree program is to conduct some in-depth research on a selected topic. The class is called History Seminar and covers areas in history for students to research and write on. My particular seminar deals with the decade… Continue reading Civil Defense in Wisconsin
When the Railroad Arrived in Markesan
On September 16, 2012, I had an extraordinary time at the Markesan Historical Society's annual Heritage Days. I was invited there to showcase and promote the book I recently published, Images of America Markesan. I was also distributing a historic tour map of our town. Another historical society member and I constructed a walking tour… Continue reading When the Railroad Arrived in Markesan
The Weekend Historian 