Jefferson Historical Museum

05/21/2026

One of the most uniquely Jefferson artifacts at the Jefferson Historical Museum is the Trautmann quilt displayed in the meeting room.
The 70-by-76-inch quilt was given to the Rev John Trautmann when he left the Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Jefferson in 1907. The quilt blocks were signed by more than 550 Jefferson citizens and then the ladies of the church embroidered the signatures.
Rev. Trautmann was born March 27, 1857 at Muehlheim on the Ruhr in Germany. When he came to America in 1883, he settled at Twin Bluffs, Wisconsin. He was recommended for the ministry by the Ash Creek congregation and was licensed in 1885. His ministerial service included: assistant pastor for Hartford 1885-86; Oconto 1886-89; Morrison 1889-92; Clintonville 1892-95; Brandon 1895-99; Lomira 1899-1903; Jefferson 1903-07; Forest Junction 1907-12; Sheboygan and Plymouth 1912-17; New Richmond, 1917-21; and South Milwaukee 1921-23, when he retired.
He died on March 20, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, and was buried in Riverside Cemetery at Appleton, Wisconsin.
The quilt is a wonderful glimpse of those who resided in Jefferson 120 years ago.

05/13/2026

The display cases in the meeting room at the Jefferson Historical Museum contain artifacts from the Opera House, old elementary school, the fire department and the old telephone office. Also featured is Bender's Hall, which ran from 1848-1973 and was operated by six generations of the Bender family.

05/11/2026

05/06/2026

Rounding out our music theme in this third week, the hall to the west of the meeting room at the Jefferson Historical Society features old high school band uniforms used throughout the decades.
On the opposite wall are photos and artifacts from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.

04/29/2026

Last week, we introduced you to the Music Room at the Jefferson Historical Museum. But did you know there actually is another exhibit focusing on music? At the top of the stairwell leading to the city hall and library is a display of instruments played by the Helenville Melody Band.
The popular band would perform in parades and concerts throughout the area, such as Rome, Jefferson and Johnson Creek, among many others.

04/22/2026

What would the Jefferson Historical Society be if it didn't have a Music Room? The highlight of this space isan antique player piano, surrounded by instruments including a mandolin, zither and brass horn from Paris that was played in the 1880s. In addition, the Music Room houses sheet music and photos of Jefferson bands and band uniforms.

04/15/2026

As we noted last week, "The Jefferson Room" at the Jefferson Historical Museum features memorabilia from Gemuetlichkeit Days. However, turn around and you'll also find photos and exhibits relating to the Jefferson County Courthouse, local banks, churches, the high school and elementary schools.
In addition, the posters and scrapbooks from the Council for the Performing Arts also are displayed in this room.

04/08/2026

While the Jefferson Historical Museum's collections all focus on the community, there is one space specifically called "The Jefferson Room." One part of it features Gemuetlichkeit Days, the German-heritage festival that has been celebrated annually since 1971.

03/11/2026

Continuing our tour of the Jefferson Historical Museum, the south part of the main hall as you leave the Military Room features a large photo collage of Jefferson's mayor. It also includes posters and advertising from Stoppenbach's meatpacking plant.
The huge stone block that sat atop the Stoppenbach Opera House adorned a building at the southeast corner of Main and Racine streets.