DeForest Area Historical Society

06/02/2026

The Dahl family helped to shape our community. This is the wedding photograph of Lewis and Pauline (Diehl) Dahl.

The photo was taken in front of the Nels Dahl home in DeForest on October 21, 1896. Friends and family all gathered in front of the house, on the porch, and even on the porch roof.

05/31/2026

05/30/2026

It's gone now, but many people remember good times and good treats at the DeForest Drive-In.

This ad was in the DeForest-Times Tribune in May, 1965.

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

Newspaper social columns like these were the social media of the past!

In the next few days, watch for news from Morrisonville and Windsor from 1967.

05/26/2026

Spring is in full bloom at the Hansen-Newell-Bennett House Museum. Thanks to our volunteer gardeners, Mary, Lana, and Connie for using their green thumb skills to make this house look great.

Our first open house will be held on Sunday, June 14 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Hansen-Newell-Bennett House Museum AND also at the DeForest Railroad Depot. Our docents will be welcoming visitors at both locations for free tours.

05/25/2026

Printed in the DeForest Times Tribune on May 5, 1967.

05/25/2026

On this Memorial Day, here's some local history related to a special cemetery in our area.

Token Creek’s historic cemetery, located just north of Highway 19 on Portage Road, existed at least as early as 1849.

In 1956, Token Creek was chosen by the Dane County Historical Society to have a historical marker installed, which includes information about the cemetery.

In 2000, the town of Windsor completed a rehabilitation of the cemetery’s gravestones to permanently preserve the area's historic sites.

A large granite memorial lists the names of veterans who rest in the cemetery. Soldiers from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II are buried in the cemetery.

05/24/2026

This photo shows gas station operators, Harry Halverson and Alford Priem, standing proudly in front of Star Service Garage in Morrisonville. The garage was on the west side of Morrison Street. (circa 1920)