CENTREVILLE SETTLEMENT, INC.

Background

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Mission

Centreville Settlement, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to the preservation of the architectural and cultural heritage of the German-American farming community in the Centerville area. 

In the 1840’s and 50’s, immigrants fled Germany to escape war and the economic hard times.  Many Saxon Germans of that time settled here in Centerville Township.  Their fifth and sixth generation children still remain on the original farms using original buildings for much of their original purpose.  Centerville Township is a unique time capsule of architecture, culture and traditions of the early settlers.

Organizational Goals

Centreville Settlement, Inc. will meet its mission by:

- Providing educational programs and classes in the Old World arts and crafts, restoration of historical heritage, as well as pioneer and self sufficiency skills.

- Promotion and organization of local German-American cultural and preservation groups.

- Providing a detailed cultural and architectural survey of the local German-American ethnic community.

- Demonstration to future generations, the wise use of farm land, and preserve the quality of life and environment that brought the original settlers.

- Restoration of the Lutze Housebarn and other historic German-American buildings in the area.

Organizational Structure

Board of Directors

Advisory Board

Alan Pape - Architect, Preservationist, nationally recognized expert on Log buildings,  Historic Preservation Project Director, one of original three people to develop Old World Wisconsin, conceptualist and organizer of Wisconsin Ethnic Settlement Trails.

Robert Fay - Owner/consultant, Old Northwest Research, Two Rivers, specializing in Archaeological Surveys, Historical/Building Research, Museum Exhibits/Services and Section 106 Compliance.

Jim Schaefer - Historic Preservation Architect, Architect to Old World Wisconsin, continuing restoration projects.

Ric Puls - Master Carpenter

Mark Knipping - Executive Director Old Wade House, Preservationist

Charlie Simonds - Architect

Accountant

Victoria Dargis, Milwaukee, CPA

Board  Biographies

Janet Lutze - Owner consulting firm in Milwaukee, Past Vice-President W.E.S.T., President and Founding member of Centreville Settlement, Inc.

Richard Wiegand - Founding member Centreville Settlement, Ph.D. Dairy Science, Background in African Studies, World Politics.  Recognized expert in Centerville and surrounding area history and lore.

Kathy Sixel - Active in numerous organizations promoting and preserving local history, Chair of our subgroup Greater Centerville Historians.

Gerald Heimerl - B.S. in Agri-Business, local innovative dairy farmer , active in community welfare.

Brian Kraemer - Centerville Township Chairman, sixth generation Saxon

Sarah Lutze - BS Elementary Education and Library Science, Preserver of the Lutze property heritage, past treasurer of St. James Church.

Edward Heckman -  Past owner Heckman Cheese Factory, Past president St. James  Church, continued involvement in agri-business.

Cindy Kraemer - Co-owner sixth generation German dairy farm.

John Kirsch - Architect, local involvement in community.

Christopher Kuehnel - Owner New Age Computer Systems, national participation in many preservation workshops and conferences, state expert on half timber preservation and restoration, Project Director Lutze Housebarn.

Elise Lindeman, Student at UW, active with archaeological team and Pinecrest Village.

Kathy Pearce - R.N., as well as nationally recognized meat product judge, participant in numerous conferences and workshops on preservationist activities, active with several local old-time music groups.

Membership

Membership includes individual, family, corporate and sponsoring categories.  Members are from surrounding counties as well as from across the United States.

 Volunteers

Volunteers have contributed more than 1,500 hours each summer working on the Lutze Housebarn project.  That does not include the several hundred hours contributed to other organizational activities such as, meetings, organizing events, recording and typing oral histories, archiving artifacts, pictorial documentation of the Township’s historical buildings, producing newsletters, researching paint, wheat, bake ovens, guiding interns, etc.. Volunteers come from around the world to visit the Lutze Housebarn.  Many have placed stones in the foundation, clay in the walls, or timber in the frame.  All have registered in the guest book, we hope to see your name there!!

Press Releases  Sorry, still under construction...

These are the press releases we've issued over the last year. You may want to search for topics by keyword.

http://centrevillesettlement.com

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Last major update: 03/10/2008    Hits since then: