Heritage

Stories and archival features focused on New Glarus history, from early settlement and Swiss heritage to long-forgotten events, buildings, and people. This section preserves the community’s past while connecting it to the present.

126 posts

Tracing New Glarus Roots All the Way Back To Glarus – And Beyond

A Switzerland-based genealogy project is reconnecting New Glarus families to their 19th-century roots in Canton Glarus, mapping hundreds of thousands of descendants and tracing how Swiss emigrants spread across Wisconsin and the Midwest.

by Todd Klassy
Paid

Historic Photo: 1912 Levitan Stuessy Co. Department Store Parade Float

A 1912 photo postcard from New Glarus hints at a “Band Reunion,” possibly tied to the Imperial Band, a Fire Department water fight, and the founding year of the Männerchor.

by Todd Klassy

Honoring the First Settlers: The Story Behind New Glarus’s Pioneer Monument

More than a century after its 1915 dedication, New Glarus’s Pioneer Monument still marks the story of the Swiss settlers who arrived in 1845, while signs of weathering raise questions about preserving the landmark for generations to come.

by Todd Klassy

The Curious Connection Between New Glarus and Million Dollar New York Art

A Sam Gilliam work titled New Glarus now belongs to the Whitney Museum of American Art, creating an unusual link between the village and modern art.

by Todd Klassy

From New Glarus to Texas: The Remarkable Life of John Closner

A New Glarus native born to Swiss parents left Wisconsin as a teenager and became one of the defining figures in the growth of Hidalgo County, Texas.

by Todd Klassy

New Glarus Honors Its Veterans: From the Revolution to Afghanistan

Generations of New Glarus veterans served from the American Revolution through Afghanistan, leaving a local legacy remembered in family stories, military honors and community memorials.

by Todd Klassy

Showing 12 of 126 total posts

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