Grafton Historical Society of WI

06/02/2026

June, 2026 Update Grafton Historical Society of Wisconsin

Heroes of Wisconsin Program:

Dean Robbins presents Wisconsin Idols: 100 Heroes Who Changed the State, the World, and Me, offering a unique perspective on legendary figures with often surprising connections to the state, including Jackie Robinson, Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Elvis Presley, Orson Welles, Ann Landers, and Joni Mitchell. Join us for this program on Thursday, June 4th at 6:00 p.m. at the Rose-Harms Legion Post at 1540 13th Avenue.

Sneak Preview: Popular speaker Rochelle Pennington returns for a special program on the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck. The program is set for Thursday, September 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the Rose-Harms Legion Post at 1540 13th Avenue.

Thanks to board member Darrel Blank: Our thanks to retiring board member Darrel Blank for his years of service to the Grafton Historical Society. We now have an opening on our board of directors. If you’d like more information on a board position, please contact us at [email protected].
Website Improvements: Improvements continue for our website. Take a moment to see the new changes.

Archives: Our archives are growing! Recently named the Society Archivist, Nick Schanen is organizing and maintaining the GHS archives, currently housed in rental space in the Timothy Wood Building. We’ve received many donations in the last months.

Did you know? In 1881 the Village of Grafton consisted of one large Woolen Mill, one Grist Mill, a Chair and Furniture Factory, 25 business/houses, two wagon and blacksmith shops and three churches – one Catholic, one Lutheran and one Presbyterian.

Remember to: Visit our GHS website, and like us on Facebook


CONTACT
Grafton Historical Society
P.O. Box 481
Grafton, WI 53024

Facebook:
Grafton Historical Society of
Wisconsin

WEBSITE:
www.graftonareahistory.org
EMAIL:
[email protected]

Grafton Lions Club of Wi
Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
Ozaukee County Historical Society
Port Washington Historical Society
Rose-Harms Legion Post 355 Grafton, WI

05/29/2026

05/09/2026

Join us for this interesting program on the many people who shared part of their life in Wisconsin.

Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
Rose-Harms Legion Post 355 Grafton, WI
Ozaukee County Tourism
Grafton Lions Club of Wi
Port Washington Historical Society

04/24/2026

April, 2026 Updatr


Heroes of Wisconsin Program: Dean Robbins presents Wisconsin Idols: 100 Heroes Who Changed the State, and the World, offering a unique perspective on legendary figures with often surprising connections to the state, including Jackie Robinson, Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Elvis Presley, Orson Welles, Ann Landers, and Joni Mitchell. Join us for this program on Thursday, June 4th at 6:00 p.m. at the Rose-Harms Legion Post at 1540 13th Avenue.

Chair Factory Painting: The historic chair factory painting is now hanging at A.M. Coffee in Grafton. Many of the coffee shop patrons are enjoying the painting and reading the description of the historic past of the chair factory. Stop by soon and take a look!

Sneak Preview: Popular speaker Rochelle Pennington returns for a special program on the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck. The program is set for Thursday, September 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the Rose-Harms Legion Post at 1540 13th Avenue.

Membership Renewals: If you have not renewed your GHS membership yet, there is still time, and it’s easy to do. Just go to our website www.graftonareahistory.org and click on the membership button.

Board Members: At the April Annual Meeting, the following board members were elected for another term: Dave Antoine, Emily Engstrom, John Krueger and Jim Wegner. Nick Schanen was named as the Archivist for the group. Board member Darrel Blank has decided to step away from the board so there is now an opening for any member who might be interested

Remember to: Visit our GHS website, and like us on Facebook. The website has an exciting new look. We think you’ll like it


CONTACT
Grafton Historical Society
P.O. Box 481
Grafton, WI 53024

Facebook:
Grafton Historical Society of
Wisconsin

WEBSITE:
www.graftonareahistory.org

EMAIL:
[email protected]

Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
Rose-Harms Legion Post 355 Grafton, WI
Ozaukee County Tourism
Port Washington Historical Society
Grafton Lions Club of Wi
Ozaukee County Historical Society

03/28/2026

The Grafton community is pleased to share that the 1915 painting The Chair Factory by M.P. Goossens has been fully restored and installed at AM Coffee in the Old Woolen Mill.

The restoration, completed by Melissa Klotka, preserves a rare visual record of the chair factory that once stood along the east side of the Milwaukee River.

The artwork was discovered in an old building prior to its demolition, and its placement in this historic mill building provides a fitting home for a piece of Grafton’s industrial past.

Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
Rose-Harms Legion Post 355 Grafton, WI
Ozaukee County Tourism
Port Washington Historical Society
Grafton Lions Club of Wi
All Things 53024. Grafton, WI

03/25/2026

March Update

Heroes of Wisconsin Program: Dean Robbins presents Wisconsin Idols: 100 Heroes Who Changed the State, offering a unique perspective on legendary figures with often surprising connections to the state, including Jackie Robinson, Oprah Winfrey, Harrison Ford, Elvis Presley, Orson Welles, Ann Landers, and Joni Mitchell. Join us for this program on Thursday, June 4th at 6:00 p.m. at the Rose-Harms Legion Post at 1540 13th Avenue.

A Generous Donation: Our sincere thanks to Bank Five Nine for their recent generous donation of $250 for GHS programming. To-date, Bank Five Nine has donated more than $3,000 to the Grafton Historical Society.

Sneak Preview: Popular speaker Rochelle Pennington returns for a special program on the Edmund Fitzgerald shipwreck. The program is set for Thursday, September 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the Rose-Harms Legion Post at 1540 13th Avenue.

Membership Renewals: March 31st marks the end of our membership year. You should have already received your membership renewal letter. The GHS could not do what we do without our members. Please send in your renewal, and thanks to our 29 Lifetime members!

Annual Meeting: Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 14th for the GHS annual meeting. Details to follow…

Did you know? This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Grafton Police Department. The department was established in 1956. Local marshalls, village constables and the Ozaukee County sheriffs filled the role before the police department officially opened.

Remember to: Visit our GHS website, and like us on Facebook

CONTACT
Grafton Historical Society
P.O. Box 481
Grafton, WI 53024

Facebook:
Grafton Historical Society of
Wisconsin

WEBSITE:
www.graftonareahistory.org

EMAIL:
[email protected]

Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
Rose-Harms Legion Post 355 Grafton, WI
Ozaukee County Tourism
Port Washington Historical Society
Grafton Lions Club of Wi
All Things 53024. Grafton, WI

03/15/2026

Please like and follow our new page

03/13/2026

What a night at the Rose‑Harms Legion Post!
The Grafton Historical Society presented freelance historian Matthew J. Prigge. Matt took us on a fast‑paced tour of Opening Day in Milwaukee from 1970–2022 — packed with fun facts, oddball characters, game‑day heroes, and Hall of Fame legends.
A perfect warm‑up for baseball season.

Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
Rose-Harms Legion Post 355 Grafton, WI
Ozaukee County Tourism
Port Washington Historical Society
Ozaukee Family Services
Ozaukee County Historical Society

03/12/2026

Please share, like and follow the Grafton Historical Society

The Grafton Historical Society would like to thank Bank Five Nine for their continued support for these last five years with their contributions as a sponsoring partner for many historic presentations given each year.

Pictured from left to right are
Director, Nick Schanen, Director, Jim Wagner, Vice President, Dave Antoine, Bank Five Nine Branch Manager, Josh Branham, Treasurer, John Krueger, President, Tom Krueger and Director, Steve Greger

Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
Rose-Harms Legion Post 355 Grafton, WI
Ozaukee County Tourism
Port Washington Historical Society

03/12/2026

The Grafton Historical Society would like to thank Bank Five Nine for their continued support for these last five years with their contributions as a sponsoring partner for many historic presentations given each year.

Pictured from left to right are
Director, Nick Schanen, Director, Jim Wagner, Vice President, Dave Antoine, Bank Five Nine Branch Manager, Josh Branham, Treasurer, John Krueger, President, Tom Krueger and Director, Steve Greger

Grafton Area Chamber of Commerce
Rose-Harms Legion Post 355 Grafton, WI
Ozaukee County Tourism
Port Washington Historical Society