Hartford Historical Society

Only the coolest of the cool get to wear a ring like this. Be one of the cool kids and get a ring at tonight's downtown ghost tour. Tickets are $10 (cash only) and you can buy them at Faith & Giggles tonight.

One week from today is our first-ever downtown Hartford ghost tour! Tickets are $10 and available at Faith and Giggles the day of the tour. The tour is outdoors and you walk between docents located in front of various businesses, so bring comfy shoes. We're looking forward to this event.

Heard about our downtown ghost tour yet? It's only a week and a half away! It's all outdoors and self-paced. Spend as much or as little time as you like.

Ready for a new event? We're going to do a tour of downtown Hartford, filled with stories and hauntings. Tickets are $10 on the day of the tour. Please join us on Friday, November 1!

Our 2024 cemetery tour at St. John's in Rubicon was a great time. Our hosts and partners, Neosho Rubicon Historical Society and Museum, did a fantastic job preparing everything. Thank you to everyone who came.

It's today! Please join us and the Rubicon Historical Society and Museum for the 2024 tour.

Tomorrow's the day! The Neosho Rubicon Historical Society and Museum is joining us to present this year's tour at St. John's cemetery in Rubicon. See you there.

Labor Day weekend means the cemetery tour is close! Join us and the Neosho Rubicon Historical Society and Museum at St. John's cemetery in Rubicon. The event is Saturday, September 7 from noon to three. The event is free!

Willard R. Amidon was born in 1856 just north of Hartford on the farm belonging to his father Elisha. Elisha was a Yankee from New York State, and he lived to almost 99 years old. He was one of the oldest pioneers of Hartford. Elisha's second wife was Mary Place, the mother of W.B. Place who had the tannery on the west side of town.

In 1874, at age 18, Willard secured a loan of $2,000 to start his jewelry business. Besides jewelry, he also sold musical instruments, sewing machines, and silverware. Later his brother, Ur, joined him in the business. The store is now Douglas Jeweler, located on the east side of Main Street.

He married Laura Allen in 1884, and they had three children. Ethel was well known for her musical talents and received a degree from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee. Ransom served in World War One, and was in battles of the Argonne Forest with the Chemical Warfare Corps. He was a salesman of fine jewelry and silver. Irene married Alfred Lohr in 1911. They had four children, and she died in 1920 from infection and complications after giving birth.

Willard hired Chester Turner to build a beautiful Queen Anne style home for his wife Laura on South Street in the late 1880s. The home retains all the beautiful woodwork, windows, floors after 140 years.

Willard served on the Common Council, South Street School and high school board, was a member of the fire department, and was highly respected as a businessperson. When he died, all the businesses closed for his funeral, and a long procession went from the Berndt Funeral Home to the Pleasant Hill Cemetery to honor him. Willard was a testament to the hard work and determination of the early settlers, and helped make our community a proud place to live.

Just two weeks to go until our joint cemetery tour with the Rubicon Historical Society and Museum. Please join us Saturday, September 7 from noon to three at St. John's in Rubicon. This is our first time at this cemetery AND our first time collaborating with Neosho on an event. We're looking forward to it.

Summer’s almost over, but our museum will be open for one last chance on Wednesday, August 28th, from 4-7 pm. By appointment after season.

We are so excited to partner with the Rubicon Historical Society and Museum for this year's cemetery tour. Join in one month - Saturday, September 7 from noon to three at St. John's in Rubicon for this year's tour.

We had a great turnout last year. This year we have added live music! Please join us.

To Ray and Carrie at Scoop De Ville - Hartford, WI, thank you. We couldn't have done it without all your help and unfailing support. To the amazing number of car owners who showed up to make us look good, we thank you. And to everyone who attended, we appreciate you! We hope to see you again in 2025.

Ice cream today at Willowbrook Park from 12-3. Bring your classic car, too.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Scoop De Ville - Hartford, WI ice cream. If you can wait until tomorrow, join us at Willowbrook Park from 12-3.

Don't forget to join us for ice cream on Saturday!

One week to go until the second Scoops in the Park event. Don't miss ice cream from Scoop De Ville - Hartford, WI, classic cars, and more. We'll be at Willowbrook Park from 12-3.

Calling all old car enthusiasts! We'd love to see you and your car at our second Scoops in the Park event. No registration is required - just show up. And if you don't have an old car, come for the Scoop De Ville - Hartford, WI ice cream!

It's the 4th of July! Here are a few scenes from past parades. Some were really hot (100+ degrees in 2012), some were rainy (we got soaked in 2022), but all were fun. See you there.