Castlerock Museum

On Saturday, May 16th at 2pm, Sara Thielen will discuss “Medicine in Western Wisconsin during the Frontier Days” at Castlerock Museum in Alma, Wisconsin. The frontier days were dangerous times. Injuries from hunting and farming happened without cell phones to call for an ambulance. Without a pharmacy, there was no way to purchase medicine to bring down a child’s fever or soothe a cough. Doctors were in very short supply, if they existed at all in the area. So, what did the people who lived in the communities along the Mississippi River and the surrounding rural communities do when their lives were in danger? Sara Thielen is the Public Health nurse with Buffalo County Public Health. In her spare time, she reads and studies history. She has combined her love of nursing, history, and Western Wisconsin in this presentation. She will explore the different diseases and common medical treatments of the past. It might not be a surprise that it wasn’t much different than today. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students and free for members. Seating is limited. Reservations can be made by contacting the museum at 608-685-4231.

Visit Alma, Wisconsin on Saturday, June 6th from 10am-4pm for Castlerock Museum’s annual Fire in the Shire event, a citywide celebration of all things medieval. The highlight of the day will be the various demonstrations taking place on the street in front of the museum. Kazimir the Hungry will be breathing fire and swallowing swords and the Wisconsin Historical Fencing Association will be doing various fighting demonstrations. There will also be ongoing displays by Clann Tartan, A Life Medieval, and Hangin’ with the Bard in the museum courtyard. Bardmageddon will be performing in the museum theater and One Eye Dave’s Hotdogs will provide concessions. Visitors interested in searching for the fabled “Holy Grail” in the shops of the shire can enter a drawing to win the treasured artifact along with $100 Alma Dollars. There will also be plenty of merry making with the Midwest Renaissance Actors Guild performing on Main Street. A full schedule of the days events will be available in the coming weeks. Admission wristbands are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Visitors in ancient, medieval, or renaissance era dress get $2 off and children four and under are free.