The Owen-Withee History Center (a nonprofit public charity), located in the former Owen, Wisconsin City Hall building, has nearly 500 accessioned items in its collection. Newly accessioned items in November 2025 include:
1. Jim Riley’s 1960’s era “Mail Hawk”. A Mail Hawk is a utility tool used by rural mail carriers to deliver mail to sometimes hard to reach rural boxes. Jim Riley was a U.S. Postal mail carrier (Owen PO) from 1961 to 1988. This Mail Hawk was used by Jim Riley to deliver mail to area rural mailboxes. Mr. Riley died in 2014. He gave this Mail Hawk to Kathryn Zukowski Pszeniczny in 1992 when she began her U.S. Postal career. Kathryn recently donated this Mail Hawk to the History Center.
2. Henry Hodnett’s 1950’s vintage metal utility box. A 1950s vintage metal utility box with “Longwood Cheese Factory” embossed on the cover. Came from the estate of Henry/Lynn Hodnett. Donated by Henry’s daughter Gail Hodnett McMahon.
3. 1920s vintage razor strop. A razor strop is a flexible strip of leather, used to straighten and polish the blade of a straight razor. This razor strop was used at the Clark County Health Care Center for many years. Upon retirement from use at the Health Care Center, this strop was donated to the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum in Neillsville. When the Jail Museum closed in November 2025, the strop was transferred to the Owen-Withee History Center.
4. Stories of Clark County as compiled in the Bicentennial Year of 1976. The book was compiled in 1976 by the Clark County Historical Society and edited by Florence Garbisch. A collection of “I remember” type stories written by local people from across Clark County. Recently transferred from the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum to the Owen-Withee History Center.
5. Lingering Shadow, a Mystery Memoir written by Sandra Lindberg. The true story of the 1962 disappearance of Withee resident Basil Wenzel. Basil was a truck driver who lived in Withee, Wisconsin. He was married to Phyllis and had several young children. Written by his daughter Sandra Lindberg, an alumnus of Owen-Withee High School Class of 1966.
6. The Work of Many Hands, a 1967 30-year history of Clark Electric Co-op. Clark Electric Cooperative is member owned and headquartered in Greenwood, Wisconsin. It dates back to 1937, when rural electricity was first started in the rural areas of Clark County.
7. 1950’s era 10 Gallon galvanized milk can. “Longwood Cheese Fcty, Withee, Wis” is embossed on the sidewall of the milk can. The Longwood Cheese Factory dates back nearly 100 years. It closed in the 1980s (estimated). The cheese factory was operated variously over the years by the Zelm family and Robert Cooper. Lewis Gehrke, Leonard Jensen, and Leo Bloom were some of the cheesemakers.
8. 8 foot tall “Welcome to Owen” sign. This large wood sign (about 8 feet high), in the shape of the state of Wisconsin stood on State Highway 29 near mile marker number 122, from its initial construction in 2000 until it was removed in 2025, to be replaced by a new sign. The old sign was donated to the Owen-Withee Area Historical Society by the City of Owen.
9. “Koken” brand 1920 vintage Barber Chair. This chair was the barber chair for many years at the Clark County Health Care Center in Owen. Upon retirement from use at the Health Care Center, the chair was donated to the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum in Neillsville. When the Jail Museum closed in November 2025, the barber chair was transferred to the Owen-Withee History Center.
10. Souvenir log slice from the 2025 Owen Centennial logging show. A souvenir slice of a log created at the Owen Mill Pond in August 2025 during a lumberjack show put on by Timberworks Lumberjack Show. Ceremonially autographed by the lumberjack crew and presented to Canice Parnewicz, who in turn donated the souvenir to the O-W History Center.
Thank you, generous donors and patrons, for supporting the Owen-Withee Area Historical Society. Please consider future donations of artifacts, money or your time to help support and sustain the Owen-Withee History Center. The museum is open by appointment.