Exhibit Researched and Created by Stephanie Bertschy
History Department, Public History Program, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

 

 

 

When asked to describe one’s community, often the first thing that comes to mind are the buildings and businesses that have become local landmarks within the city. While buildings and businesses are a major part of life for a particular place, the essence of a town is not found by looking at the outside of these structures but rather by looking within them. On the inside of these banks, factories, and schools is where one can find the true foundation of a community: its people. Each man, woman, and child that inhabit these buildings has a story to tell and a layer to add to the ever-changing history of a place. From the poorest paid factory worker to the owner of a local company, each of these people bring to the community a unique story. Buildings however, leave behind a history that is much easier to trace. Pictures and records, and sometimes the buildings themselves are still available to examine. The history of people is harder to trace. But by examining birth records, school records, and family histories, their experiences come to life.

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin has its own set of unique stories. From the early lumber days to the present, the people who have passed through the city have changed its history. From the oldest man to the youngest child each life reflects the community, its accomplishments and its failures, its time of prosperity and its time of need. And each story can be told through many perspectives.

A common saying today is that our future lies within our nation’s youth. The question then becomes do the lives of the youth truly reflect the changing community? To examine this question one must choose a group of people to research and create a cultural biography to find the answer. The 1907 graduating class of Chippewa Falls High School provides that glimpse into the lives of the youth around the turn of the century. Some were first generation children whose parents came to the United States in search of a better life, while others families had deep roots within the community. They all however have a key commonality; they are gateways into the life of Chippewa Falls.

By looking at these twenty-six graduates one can see how their lives indeed reflected the greater community. Through them we can see the events of the city reflected in their own experience. Whether it is the evolving industry and economy of the time, the changing face of high school education, or the drama and tragedy of World War I, these students are a window into the life of Chippewa Falls. And through this window the joy, the sorrow, the laughter, the tears…the life of this community can be seen.

© Copyright 2003 Stephanie Bertschy, All Rights Reserved