John S. Rockwell - Our chapter is named for John S. Rockwell, one of the founders of Oconomowoc. He is credited with Oconomowoc's early construction and development. Rockwell built one of the first lumber mills, helped establish the first bank and general store. He also built the first hotel and from his vast land holdings, he donated land for all of the early churches. As early of the 1840's, Rockwell was a local driving force in transportation by first promoting a canal and routing the plank road through Oconomowoc in 1848. Then in 1854, he led the way to route the railroad through Oconomowoc, thus insuring the city's future growth.
The John S. Rockwell #721 Chapter was chartered on September 26, 1974.
The John S. Rockwell #721 Chapter was chartered on September 26, 1974.
2024 John S. Rockwell Questers Chapter Members
Left to right Back Row: Carol Ann Aiken, Mary Hanson and Valerie Davis
Left to right Front Row: Sue Gromme and Laurie Muffler
Left to right Back Row: Carol Ann Aiken, Mary Hanson and Valerie Davis
Left to right Front Row: Sue Gromme and Laurie Muffler
John S. Rockwell P&R Projects
-Heritage Trail, (1975) a group of 40+ sites of historical interest in Oconomowoc. A community based local project, our chapter helped discover, research and contribute to the historic trail. The first booklet the chapter researched and wrote.
-Save the Depot, (1975) a community based local preservation project to save the historical depot building. The Depot was designated a historical landmark in 1976.
-Heritage Trail, (1975) a group of 40+ sites of historical interest in Oconomowoc. A community based local project, our chapter helped discover, research and contribute to the historic trail. The first booklet the chapter researched and wrote.
-Save the Depot, (1975) a community based local preservation project to save the historical depot building. The Depot was designated a historical landmark in 1976.
Umbrella Shed (1975-2005) A small 19th century outbuilding that provided cover to waiting passengers. Preservation of the shed: our chapter contributed to the roof, painting and the bronze plaque through the years. It was maintained by the Oconomowoc Area Historical Society & Museum for many years. There are only a few "umbrella sheds" left in Wisconsin.
John S. Rockwell Store Exhibit located in the Oconomowoc Museum. The project began in the 1980's and continued in the mid 1990's when the Oconomowoc Museum located to their current location. Our chapter initially contributed $4000 and lots of man hours and artifact donations throughout the years.
-The Questers' Guide to Historic Oconomowoc, (1990, 1994, and 2007) our chapter researched, wrote, edited, copywrote and published the Guide.
-Harriot Brakefield Sampler, (2010) research and preservation of the late 18th/early 19th century English embroidered sampler. The Brakefield family immigrated to Oconomowoc in the nineteenth century and later it was donated to the Oconomowoc Area Historical Society and Museum.
-Harriot Brakefield Sampler, (2010) research and preservation of the late 18th/early 19th century English embroidered sampler. The Brakefield family immigrated to Oconomowoc in the nineteenth century and later it was donated to the Oconomowoc Area Historical Society and Museum.
-Mother Goose Murals, (2018) International P & R grant. Restoration and framing of the Simple Simon mural that used to be mounted on the walls in the old Summit School first grade classroom. The school was razed in 2008.
Background:
The Mother Goose Murals were commissioned by the philanthropic local couple, Fred and Ida Pabst, to decorate the upper five feet of 14' walls in the 1st grade classroom of the old Summit School. The Pabst family built the school in 1911, for public school children. In 1919, they commissioned professional artists Marie & Estelle Blanke to paint the Mother Goose Murals in the 1st grade room. They depict 13 rhymes that were designed in a continuous connected landscape. The murals became well known, admired & part of the school history.
Due to stained & deteriorating plaster walls, facsimiles of the 1919 murals were done in 1930, by a different technique and different muralists. The 1930 murals have all the charm and design of the 1919 version, but were painted on muslin that was adhered to the damaged plaster walls. In 2003, a salvage project entailed the dividing of the continuous murals into 13 separate rhymes, then peeling the murals from the walls by an art conservator who glued each rhyme to 13 different sized muslin covered frames. The murals are all 5' tall but of different lengths from about 5' to 12'. By 2019, only two murals have been conserved with a stability frame, including Simple Simon.
Background:
The Mother Goose Murals were commissioned by the philanthropic local couple, Fred and Ida Pabst, to decorate the upper five feet of 14' walls in the 1st grade classroom of the old Summit School. The Pabst family built the school in 1911, for public school children. In 1919, they commissioned professional artists Marie & Estelle Blanke to paint the Mother Goose Murals in the 1st grade room. They depict 13 rhymes that were designed in a continuous connected landscape. The murals became well known, admired & part of the school history.
Due to stained & deteriorating plaster walls, facsimiles of the 1919 murals were done in 1930, by a different technique and different muralists. The 1930 murals have all the charm and design of the 1919 version, but were painted on muslin that was adhered to the damaged plaster walls. In 2003, a salvage project entailed the dividing of the continuous murals into 13 separate rhymes, then peeling the murals from the walls by an art conservator who glued each rhyme to 13 different sized muslin covered frames. The murals are all 5' tall but of different lengths from about 5' to 12'. By 2019, only two murals have been conserved with a stability frame, including Simple Simon.
-Rockwell Park, (2022), a community based local preservation project to save the historical site of Rockwell's home and sawmill on Fowler Lake to be developed into public green space. JSR donated $1000, and member Laurie Muffler was a consultant/contact on the project.