A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SEYMOUR COMMUNITY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A brief 50 year history of the Seymour Community Historical Society.
March, 1975 - Tom Duffey comes up with the idea to organize a local historical society to commemorate the national Bicentennial in 1976.
Summer, 1975 - Several planning meetings are held and it is decided to incorporate as an educational organization affiliated with the Wisconsin State Historical Society. Those present at the early meetings include Tom Duffey, Rita Gosse, Emil Gosse, Lois Daelke, Bill Collar, Edna Sherman, Maynard Sherman, Gladys Stern, Chuck Kimball, Adrianne Cumicek, Doris Woldt, Eleanor Piehl, Frank Piehl and Bill Hupy.
Dec. 3, 1975 - The Articles of Incorporation of the Seymour Community Historical Society are approved by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. Officers are Tom Duffey, president; Bill Collar, vice-president and Rita Gosse, secretary-treasurer.
July 3, 1976 - The former Green Bay and Western Railroad Depot is opened as a museum.
May, 1978 - The Seymour Community Historical Society is recognized by the Outagamie County Historical Society for "Historic Preservation" in saving the depot and converting it to a museum.
March 14, 1979 - The Articles of Incorporation of the SCHS are amended to make them "perpetual." The document is signed by Bill Collar, president and Rita Gosse, secretary.
April, 1987 - The Miller-Piehl Lumberyard on Depot Street is closed. Lee Nagel, Seymour businessman purchases the Depot St. property and donates it to the city. The GB & Western Railroad insists the museum (depot) be moved off the railroad property. The SCHS starts A "Save the Depot" campaign to raise $10,000 to move the museum across the street to the city property.
November, 1988 - The museum (depot) is moved preserving the former railroad depot.
Spring, 1989 - The city council discusses possible demolition of the former Miller-Piehl Office Building. The SCHS presents a plan to move the museum from the depot to the Miller-Piehl building. Agreement is reached and the move is made. After 12 years in the railroad depot the museum has a new home in the former Miller-Piehl Office Building. The Seymour Model Railroad Club has plans to move into the former depot/museum.
May, 2000 - "Buy a brick, build a dream" is the theme as $20,000.00 is raised by the SCHS and a commemorative wall is built to finance a 34-foot diameter gazebo next to the museum. The Allouez Village Band plays at the dedication on May 15.
June, 2007 - Former Seymour resident and Seymour businessman, Carl Keune gets involved in a project to build an addition on the old Miller-Piehl Building. After several studies a decision is made to build a new museum adjacent to the present one. He donates $300,000.00 to bring the building fund to $800,000.00. The building campaign goal is set at 1.2 million dollars.
Spring, 2008 - A steering committee is formed for the purpose of generating support and planning for a new building. Members include: Jim Campbell, Bill Collar, John Cumicek, Tom Duffey, Carl Kuehne, Don Hoff, DDS, Debbie Peterson, Perry Pierre, Harold Pingel, "Pudge" Schuh and Elizabeth Timmins.
Fall, 2008 - Schuh Construction, Inc. submits several plans for a new building and determines it is possible to move the commemorative wall to make room for the new structure.
July, 2012 - Grand opening for the new museum.
Spring, 2021 - SCHS renovates the "Old General Store" next to the museum. Donations from SCHS members finance a $40,000.00 structural repair to the 1893 building.
June, 2022 - A ten foot by sixty-five foot mural of early Seymour mounted on the west side of the "Old General Store." Generous donations from members finance the project.
June, 2024 - The SCHS installs a kid's playground with slides and a climbing area in Nagel Park providing children with a place to play while parents attend music in the park.