Tony Woiak History Festival
Admission $5/Season Pass $15
The purpose of the History Festival is to provide educational and entertaining programs about Washburn area history. Programs are scheduled four times in the winter and four times in the summer.
This is a collaborative program with the Washburn Area Historical Society. Passes and Seasons Passes available at the door online.
Location: Harbor Table in Washburn. 7:30 pm start time.
TUES JUNE 9 The Three Big Stories of the Houghton Depot - Paul Johnson
Following the 2020 presentation, “The Three Lives of the Houghton Depot,” the Bayview History Committee now celebrates the completion of the Depot Project by expanding and enriching the body of knowledge that helps define the Town of Bayview. Through careful research, discovery, and interviews with longtime residents, new stories have been uncovered and preserved. These stories are now shared at the depot itself, where they are accessible not only to the local community but also to the wider public, offering a deeper and more personal connection to Bayview’s history.
TUES JUNE 23 The Constitution-What it is and is not and its remarkable sibling the Northwest Ordinance. How our Constitutional Republic was born in 1787. - Judge John Anderson
Have you ever heard someone say, “Well that’s not Constitutional!” How does the Law of the Land protect us? What does it mean and what is in it? Where do we fit in this remarkable Constitutional Republic. Come learn about our origins and how the 14th Amendment changed almost everything and how the Constitution’s little brother, “The Northwest Ordinance”, shaped the law of the Chequamegon Region.
TUES JULY 7 Influential Women of Washburn Part II - Irene Blakely
Spend the evening perusing an album of snapshots of some of the wonderful women of Washburn. Discover the strength, courage, and dedication of women who have
contributed to the history of our community.
TUES JULY 21 Memories Among the Brownstone: A Short History of Houghton Point - Al House
"Houghton Point has been involved with Chequamegon Bay's history since its early beginnings. As a property owner, then as a resident, Al House has had an interest in its history for the last forty years. From ancient history to the pre European times, to the early European explorers, to the boom times of lumber and brownstone, Al will cover the impact of people and activities encompassing Houghton Point and their impact on Washburn and the Bay area.
How THe Festival started
The Washburn Heritage Association has been producing Tony Woiak Winter and Summer History Festivals since 2012. Local citizens, as well as tourists and visitors have come together for festive evenings of remembering and preserving our heritage. Each season consists of a series of four events occurring every two weeks in mid-winter and again in mid-summer. The presenters are both academic historians as well as regular folks with stories to tell.
The aim is always to give our audience an awareness of Washburn history in an accessible and entertaining format. We know it’s been a successful evening when audience members stick around following the presentation to share their own Washburn memories with one another. The festival venue, Harbor Table, is a warm and welcoming place for these community-building evenings.
But how did this history festival, which is much more than a formal “lecture series,” get started? And what does it take to bring the people and stories together? Read on, folks! In 2012, local historian Bob Mackreth, had a conversation with Carla Bremner who was at that time the WHA President. Bob and Carla talked about the possibility of starting a History Festival to honor recently deceased Tony Woiak who had written two books about Washburn’s history.
The idea was presented to the WHA board and was enthusiastically embraced, leading to 14 years of festivals with over 70 wide-ranging topics that celebrate local heritage and history.
