Waterloo AREA Historical Society

Waterloo AREA Historical Society Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Waterloo AREA Historical Society, Community Museum, 130 E Polk Street, Waterloo, WI.

Courier 1973The 1973 Waterloo High School Homecoming Court. From left to right: Dan Battist, Pat Kuhlow, Dave Deppe, Deb...
08/14/2026

Courier 1973
The 1973 Waterloo High School Homecoming Court. From left to right: Dan Battist, Pat Kuhlow, Dave Deppe, Debbie Haberman, Jeff Wilke, Robin Finkler, Scott Reige, Theresa Lewellin, Nancy Everson, Queen and Doug Weber, King, Charlene Velk, Don Cronin, Mary Sillman, Rick Ellis, Denise Weber and Jeff Sellnow.

In 1885 a phone was installed at the Albert Roach Creamery. The newspaper had an article that stated “those who desire c...
08/14/2026

In 1885 a phone was installed at the Albert Roach Creamery. The newspaper had an article that stated “those who desire can use the instrument at the creamery for sending messages.” In 1897 an ordinance by the Waterloo village board was passed providing for a telephone exchange. By the end of the year a directory was published listing 37 patrons. The Interurban Telephone Company was formed and published a directory of 8 pages in 1912 and they stated the phone was for the sole use of the subscriber and reserved the right to remove any phone if it is used as neighborhood convenience

After 25 years of service under Interurban Telephone the local exchange became the Commonwealth Telephone Co. in 1927 wi...
08/14/2026

After 25 years of service under Interurban Telephone the local exchange became the Commonwealth Telephone Co. in 1927 with 850 subscribers. Some of the local employees were Ruth Quade Deppe, Jessie Archie, Catherine and Beatrice Haberman, Peggy Humphrey, Karen Bossa, Ida Sillman, Lucille Splittgerber, Barbara Wolfgram Wendt, Wilma Woodruff, Maureen Wolfgram Giese, Wanda Cleven, Nellie Andrews, Ruth Etscheid Archie, Leona Battist, Loretta Setz White and Mary O”Brien Jordan. Through mergers Commonwealth became part of the General Telephone Company system in 1952. Waterloo employees Frances Peters and Alvin Schultz were honored for 25 years of service in 1953 and Elva Rennack retired in 1957 with 38 years of tenure.

A nice photo of the Topping House, built in 1855. It was a gathering and rooming spot for Waterloo and area residents fo...
08/12/2026

A nice photo of the Topping House, built in 1855. It was a gathering and rooming spot for Waterloo and area residents for many years. The hotel was located at the site of the present day Veteran’s Park.

Courier 1973Everyone seemed to want their picture taken at the Waterloo Elementary School last week. Above, children fro...
08/12/2026

Courier 1973
Everyone seemed to want their picture taken at the Waterloo Elementary School last week. Above, children from the second and third grades “pose” for a picture during recess. Can you recognize any of these kids?

This photo of the Maunesha was taken in 1913 with the old school and water tower in the background. It was taken from th...
08/10/2026

This photo of the Maunesha was taken in 1913 with the old school and water tower in the background. It was taken from the bridge next to the F&M Bank. The long building between the river and the school on Polk Street was the coal yards next to the railroad tracks.

An undated photo of the Cyrus Perry Knowlton home at 133 Harrison Street in Waterloo.
08/10/2026

An undated photo of the Cyrus Perry Knowlton home at 133 Harrison Street in Waterloo.

Courier 1998Visible through the willows at Firemen’s Park, on the other side of the Mighty Muddy Maunesha, the Waterloo ...
08/07/2026

Courier 1998
Visible through the willows at Firemen’s Park, on the other side of the Mighty Muddy Maunesha, the Waterloo mill may be one of the oldest structures in the city. Some sources say the mill burned in the 1870s, while others say the current mill existed before 1860. The deed, which current owners Rita and Parker Dow looked up in the county’s register of deeds office, shows that Bradford Hill, the first settler in Waterloo, bought the land from the government in the 1850s.

Courier 1956Pictured are right to left, Loretta White, Donald White, Harvey Wedeward, Wesley Stokes, Charles Fischer, Ro...
08/07/2026

Courier 1956
Pictured are right to left, Loretta White, Donald White, Harvey Wedeward, Wesley Stokes, Charles Fischer, Ronnie Stokes, and Pat White, receiving the Nation Safety Council Award presented by Mr. Robert Baldwin for one year of driving school buses without an accident.

Courier 1973The Waterloo Pirate varsity basketball team opens its 1973-74 campaign this Saturday night. Team members are...
08/07/2026

Courier 1973
The Waterloo Pirate varsity basketball team opens its 1973-74 campaign this Saturday night. Team members are, front row l-r: student trainer Keith Miescher, Jeff Sellnow, Mike Haberman, and manager Alan Wolfgram. Middle row l-r: Gary Duckert, Burt Chocholous, Dan Battist, Greg Duckert, and Tom Gorder. Back row l-r: coach Walt Schoenherr, Scott Wilke, Jeff Pinter, Mark Krueger, Dan Gorder, and assistanct coach Art Westphal.

Address

130 E Polk Street
Waterloo, WI
53594

Telephone

+19204788015

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Waterloo AREA Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category