Staff Contributor: Mary B., Public Services Librarian
Hedberg Public Library will host America 250 - Rock County, a history series acknowledging and celebrating Rock County's history as the nation marks its Semiquincentennial.
Each month beginning Tuesday, February 24 and continuing through June 16, this program series will explore and honor contributions multiple groups have made to Rock County history. Presentations from local experts will highlight Yankees from the northeast, African-Americans from the south, Irish and Norwegian immigrants, women, and U.S. Military Veterans. Join us as we showcase a rich tapestry of Rock County stories to celebrate and commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Our history is America’s history!
Learn more about America 250 and related events.
The Journey North: The shaping of Beloit’s African American Community
Tuesday, February 24 at 6 p.m.
Program Room
Hedberg Public Library
presentation by Cheryl Caldwell, founder of the African American Historical Society of Beloit
Discover the rich history of Beloit’s African American community. Learn about the Great Migration, the recruitment of Fairbanks Morse & Company, and the historic Edgewater Flats.
Lavinia Goodell: Wisconsin’s First Female Lawyer and Her Fight for Justice
Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m.
Program Room
Hedberg Public Library
presented by Jennifer Motzsko UW-Whitewater
Janesville’s Lavinia Goodell began practicing law in 1874, specializing in female clients and divorce cases. When she was denied the right to argue a case in front of the Wisconsin Supreme Court because of her sex, she fought back. Learn how Lavinia used the courts to fight for women’s rights, and how her efforts led to changes in Wisconsin state law.
From Fjords to Prairies: Norwegians in Rock County
Tuesday, April 14 at 6 p.m.
Program Room
Hedberg Public Library
presented by Dana Kelly of Norwegian Genealogical Society & Naeseth Library
Learn about Wisconsin’s early Norwegian settlements, starting with Rock County’s Jefferson Prairie in 1838. Explore the conditions in Norway, migration to Wisconsin, and the communities these immigrants created in Luther Valley, Koshkonong, and beyond.
March, March, March and No Fight: The History of the 13th Wisconsin Infantry
Tuesday, May 12 at 6 p.m.
Program Room
Hedberg Public Library
presented by Pete Skelly, local historian
Learn about the only Civil War Infantry regiment trained at Janesville’s Camp Tredway. Discover how soldiers from Rock, Green and Walworth counties marched through Kansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas, but never fought in any large battles. Explore their roles in post-Civil War Janesville history.
“I am exceedingly well pleased at coming to this land of plenty.”: The Irish Experience in Wisconsin History
Tuesday, June 16 at 6 p.m.
Program Room
Hedberg Public Library
presented by Matthew McCabe UW-Whitewater
Hear about the second largest foreign-born immigrant group before the Civil War in Wisconsin. Learn about the experiences and contributions of Irish immigrants and Irish Americans in Wisconsin from the 19th century to near present.