Winnebago Historical Society

Winnebago Historical Society The Winnebago Historical Society is housed in the Mansion Museum at 336 N. Clark St. Now online and digitized for everyone to enjoy.

https://forestcity.advantage-preservation.com

Utilize this link to access your local Forest City and surrounding area history dating back to the first newspapers available. For additional information on this or any of the features or services brought to you on behalf of the Winnebago Historical Society please contact [email protected]

Thank you!We appreciate FCHS yesterday for the 12 volunteers who work hard and produced excellent results. From painting...
05/27/2026

Thank you!
We appreciate FCHS yesterday for the 12 volunteers who work hard and produced excellent results. From painting the inside of the new VerHoef Train Museum to helping upgrade the interior of our yellow house museum it was a great day!! Thank you!!
Ps. Bob now has seven train systems on line—wow!!

A Visit to Madison Today!!! Riley LewisAbout a year or so ago I wrote on the passing of Gene Gentz “Geeno” of the w...
05/25/2026

A Visit to Madison Today!!! Riley Lewis

About a year or so ago I wrote on the passing of Gene Gentz “Geeno” of the well known “Gene and Joe Show” at G&H parts in Forest city..
Today we went to visit a grave of a close friend in south Madison and I took a walk to see many old friends and recall the memories. Here in the west end I saw the grave of Vietnam veteran friend Joe Pace and surprisingly right south of the Paces was the Gentz plot!! The “Gene and Joe Legacy” continues in South Madison!!!!
When I returned to the car my wife asked what I was smiling about and I said some great memories buying parts from these two characters for 40 years!!!
Thought you’d enjoy this!
This one IS for you Gene and Joe. Thanks for the memories!!!!!

Memorial Day Monday 9-12 noonLooking for a short adventure for your family on Monday?? Heritage Parks military museum “H...
05/24/2026

Memorial Day Monday 9-12 noon
Looking for a short adventure for your family on Monday?? Heritage Parks military museum “Hall of Heroes” will proudly be open for your family experience. From Civil War drums to peg legs to K rations to arsenal from a C-130 gunship used in today’s battles is just a tip of the displays!
Meaningful for the family when dad or moms serve in the military.
We welcome you to join us and a food truck will be on site!!! Bring your grandparents or neighbor to honor those who serve so bravely!!!!
PS And it’s in a real World War II barracks!!!

MEMORIAL DAY 2026There are many aspects of being an American that we take for granted. One of them is remembering the sa...
05/23/2026

MEMORIAL DAY 2026
There are many aspects of being an American that we take for granted. One of them is remembering the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for the life we now live.
In Winnebago county today we remember the 29 of the county's 169 citizens who fought in the Civil War. One hundred and fifty one flags fly this weekend on Civil War veterans graves around the county.
On April 7, 1917 World War I started for the United States declaring war on Germany.. The war lasted only 18 months with 211 men serving with 19 killed and 11 wounded. Our county is final resting place for 439 veterans.
World War II started Dec 7, 1941. The Big War as it was called had over 800 men and women serve with 52 killed, 106 wounded and 19 taked POW.
Five years later after the end of the war, the Korea War started in 1950. Those who served numbered 604 with six killed and two taken POW.
The Vietnam War started in the early 1960's until 1975. Our county had 526 served with five being killed and 22 awarded Purple Hearts.
We have no official data from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars of those who served in each conflict.
Please take a drive through your local cemeteries and see the flags of all who served. Humbling -very humbling................

https://whsiowa.org/whs/about/donate/The purpose of the Winnebago Historical Society is to preserve, protect and present...
05/23/2026

https://whsiowa.org/whs/about/donate/
The purpose of the Winnebago Historical Society is to preserve, protect and present our local history. We do this as a community with programs associated with the Mansion Museum, Heritage Park, and the Leibrand/Whiteis Research Library. We strive to provide history of all sorts through this page and thank each one of you for your following, encouragement and questions.
All this takes donations, funds, grants, and volunteers.
We are asking if you could help with a donation to help with our operating expenses. Insurance, heating, leaking roofs, security and gas to run the mowers. It's always a major concern to have funds on hand to address the unknowns that come up.
Please us this link if you wish to partner with us or send your donation to WHS, Box27, Forest City, Ia 50436.
And we THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!

TAKE A BIG LOOK -WINTER OF 1915 FIRESFirst picture is of the Summit Hotel of the famous 1900 Hotel War with the Waldorf...
05/23/2026

TAKE A BIG LOOK -WINTER OF 1915 FIRES
First picture is of the Summit Hotel of the famous 1900 Hotel War with the Waldorf when both were built. Rebuilt as a library in 1928 and now is city hall.
Second huge fire gutted nearly a whole half block starting where todays Bakke Law office south to the brick bank building on north side of alley. Started in a wood burning stove or furnace.
Downtown Forest City looked like a war zone and after that most building were made of bricks instead of wood to help stop spreading any fires in the future!
Comment/ Share!!!

Taken from todays Forest Theatre area looking towards courthouse.1905-1912
05/22/2026

Taken from todays Forest Theatre area looking towards courthouse.
1905-1912

GENERAL STORE HERITAGE PARK It might be little but it houses some mighty unique collections of our past. One of those...
05/22/2026

GENERAL STORE HERITAGE PARK
It might be little but it houses some mighty unique collections of our past. One of those is the collection of nearly 60 coffee companies that marketed expresso over the past 100 years! Heritage Park is home to many high end collections from people who want their love of history not to go on an auction block or marketplace but to be shared for those who come after us!
We invite you to be a partner in our mission of many to preserve which quickly can be lost.
How can you help? Of course we run on donations. Cash, property, IRA yearly payouts don't go unnoticed. We also run on volunteers and invite you to join our team.
We thank Lana, Tanda, Marvella, and Phy H. for inside cleaning of the General Store and to Dave B, Ted H. and Gary B. for the dandelion massacre that was going on outside this week!!

"If you build it. they will come!"Steam Schooler students are still learning the Art of Steam after 25 years. Even had t...
05/21/2026

"If you build it. they will come!"
Steam Schooler students are still learning the Art of Steam after 25 years. Even had three generations come to learn this weekend at the Ruble Foundation School. Over 60 people from 13 states attended the hands on event!
Thank you everyone from the volunteers to the students for a weekend of great reviews!!!

Address

336 N Clark Street
Forest City, IA
50436

Telephone

(641) 585-2308

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