Beloit Historical Society

02/19/2025

BHS in the news!

"Daisy Chapin Schoolhouse to be open by Heritage Days" by Alex Gary in the Beloit Daily News.

https://www.beloitdailynews.com/news/local-news/daisy-chapin-schoolhouse-to-be-open-by-heritage-days/article_e2cda050-ee2e-11ef-80fb-7fab7166b57b.html

"'Weather permitting, we’re hoping to have it on the foundation by the end of March,' BHS Director, Donna Langford said."

"This will be the fourth home for the schoolhouse... the schoolhouse was sold to farmer Ronald Dougan in 1920... [and] moved to his property... In 1971, the building was donated to the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and moved to the Hanchett-Bartlett Homestead. The sorority renovated the schoolhouse and dedicated it to Daisy Chapin, a teacher and principal in the School District of Beloit."

“We’d like to be more of a resource for the schools in the region,” Langford said. “Since COVID, we haven’t been doing tours or presentations. We’ve been rebuilding our board and our committees and the goal is to make our collection more accessible.”

The 160-year-old Daisy Chapin Schoolhouse could have a permanent location by Heritage Days in September.

02/18/2025

𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

Following the PBS Wisconsin; Hometown Stories episode about Beloit, we are excited to announce a new series of insightful small group discussions entitled “𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨: 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙐𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙞𝙩”. This series explores the rich and diverse cultural history of Beloit through the personal life experiences of its residents beginning with three ethnic groups: African, Irish and Italian Americans. If you wish to help organize a talk related to a specific group, please contact BHS.

𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝟔:𝟑𝟎 𝐭𝐨 𝟖:𝟎𝟎 𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞’𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐛 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲, 𝟕𝟑𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭. 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟕𝟎𝟎 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭.

Dates and Topics:
• 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟕: 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐀𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 - Special Guest: Otha Williams
• 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎: 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐈𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 - Special Guest: Mathew Goodwin
• 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟏: 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 - Special Guests: Frank Crivello and Tom Polaski

Using an interview format, special guests will share nostalgic memories of what growing up in Beloit was like in their particular ethnic group. Audience members will be encouraged to ask questions and to share their own experiences as we celebrate our unique ways of growing up in Beloit. Whether you are a longtime resident or new to the community, these conversations will offer valuable insights into the rich tapestry of Beloit’s History.

For more information, please contact Donna Langford at 608 365-7835, or [email protected].

02/04/2025

From the African American Historical Society of Beloit - Recognition of Charles Tubbs Sr. for his lifetime dedicated to public service to Beloit and beyond.

02/04/2025

It won't be long now, and the Daisy Chapin Schoolhouse will be resting on its permanent home in front of the Lincoln Center.

We still need your help to restore and fully prepare this 160 year old school house so the future can understand the past through experiencing our shared history.

Thank you for your support!

02/02/2025

Celebrate African American History Month. Visit the African American Historical Society of Beloit web site.

https://www.aahsb.com/

01/31/2025

Wondering what's become of the "Beloit Gallery" at the Lincoln Center? It's full—and we mean FULL—of stuff from Hanchett-Bartlett and the Beloit Daily News. This photograph shows just one corner.

When the Beloit Daily News moved out of their building at State and St. Paul in downtown Beloit, much of their physical archives and some equipment came to BHS. As you can imagine, there's a LOT here, and much work remains to be done. [Volunteers anyone? Click here: https://beloithistoricalsociety.com/volunteer ]

Following the sale of the homestead last year, its furnishings moved to the museum and are currently stored in the Beloit Gallery.

01/29/2025

Early this morning, Furman Bros of Clinton started digging a hole to put our schoolhouse on at the Lincoln Center.

More photos at: https://flickr.com/oldonliner/albums/72177720323474412

If you'd like to help complete the restoration and re-use of the Daisy Chapin School House, contact us via beloithistory.org .

01/17/2025

Look in the comments for more details on the story of Johnny Watts.

On January 7, 2025, the School District of Beloit Board of Education voted to approve the naming of the Barkin Arena basketball court after Johnny Watts. Watts was a 1934 graduate of Beloit Memorial High School and the state's first African American basketball star who led Beloit to three straight WIAA titles. The district would like to thank the Watts family and Jim Simmons for leading this charge!

01/15/2025

Today at the museum.

12/16/2024

The Beloit Historical Society is excited to announce our Winter Sale at the museum store! This is a fantastic opportunity to find unique gifts that celebrate the vibrant history of Beloit. Among the highlights is our special $5 book sale, featuring a selection of captivating titles related to our community. Don’t miss out on this chance to gather memorable items while supporting local history!

Store hours are noon - 4 pm Tuesdays - Thursdays at 845 Hackett St.

Kerosene lanterns for sale were purchased new as decorations for the “𝙑𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙” program.

12/08/2024

Just in time for Christmas! New copies of the out-of-print book "Century of a City" are available for sale in the Beloit Historical Society museum store for $20 each.

https://beloithistoricalsociety.com/store

https://beloithistory.org

12/08/2024

For those who want a DVD of the PBS Wisconsin "Hometown Stories: Beloit", they are now available for $19.95 in our Beloit Historical Society museum store. The DVD features additional content that was not included in the TV broadcast.

https://beloithistoricalsociety.com/store

https://beloithistory.org

11/21/2024

𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 𝙉𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘽𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙞𝙩
On May 7, 2022, the 𝐔𝐒𝐒 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 was launched. It is the first ship named “Beloit” to be commissioned into the U.S. Navy. However, it is not the first ship named for Beloit to see service for the United States Government.

The first ship to see service for the U.S. Government was built in 1918 for WWI. It was named the 𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐁 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭 at the suggestion of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson in recognition of the city’s achievements in the Liberty Loan (Bond) program. It was a wooden steamer built by the Tacoma Ship Building Company in Washington, with a coal-fired steam reciprocating engine built in Milwaukee. In 1922 it was sold to the Western Marine and Salvage Company and in 1923 it was dismantled and burned.

The second ship named for Beloit was the 𝐒.𝐒. 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲. The name was selected by the Beloit Liberty Loan Committee, as it was the nickname for Beloit at the time. It was built by the Merchant Shipbuilding Corporation in Bristol, Pennsylvania at the request of the United States Shipping Board (USSB). The ship was a general cargo vessel of 8,800 tons. The length of the vessel was 417 feet and breadth of 54 feet. Its propulsion was provided by two DeLaval steam turbines connected to one screw shaft and was rated at 3,000 hp and a speed of 11 knots.

The ship was launched on July 15, 1920, at 10:20 a.m. by Miss 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐬, a student at Beloit College. She was the daughter of Helen and Rev. Evan J. Evans (St Paul's Episcopal Church) who were present along with Mayor J. A. Janvrin of Beloit at the event. The keel was laid on Dec. 1, 1919, and after the launch, it remained at the builder’s wharf for 3-4 weeks for fitting out and sea trials then it was delivered to the USSB.

In 1931 the SS Gateway City was sold to the Waterman Steamship Company of Mobile, ALA. In 1944 ownership was transferred back to the U.S. Government. In November 1945 the ship was transferred to the laid-up fleet where it was determined that it would take 20 days and $38,500 to repair. In June 1946, the decision was made to sell it for scrap for $13,750.

A third ship named for Beloit (College) was the 𝐒𝐒 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭-𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲. It was built in Oregon during WWII and delivered in 1944. It has a length of 439 feet and a breath of 62 feet and 7608 tons. It was propelled by two Westinghouse Steam Turbines connected to a single screw shaft. In July 1946 it was transferred to the American Hawaiian Steamship Company. In November 1948 it was placed in the Beaumont reserve fleet. In January 1952 the Lykes Brothers Steamship Co had reactivated it, until November 1953 when it was in the Mobile, ALA reserve fleet. During most of 1957, it was active with the States Marine Corp. of Delaware, ending the year back in the reserve fleet. In August 1963 it was traded to the Metro Petroleum Shipping Co. for a tanker. They sold it to Yeng Tong Company of Taiwan in 1963 and it was scrapped in 1969.

(click on the photos for more information)

11/13/2024

Register now to learn all about artful gift boxes, while building one, AND supporting the Beloit Historical Society at The Villager Gallery & Frame Shop on Saturday, December 7th from 3 to 5pm!

11/11/2024

Veterans Day photo memorial by a Beloit artist.