WCHS Partner in History Program Featuring Willet – Hauser Story & Stained Glass Tour
Partner in History Program | Thursday | April 20 | 12 pm
Wanek Hall | Winona County History Center | 160 Johnson St.
Stained Glass Tour | Saturday | April 22 | 9 am – 1 pm
Various Locations in Winona
WCHS Partner in History Program Features the Willet – Hauser Story, Plus a Tour of Stained Glass!
The Winona County Historical Society presents a Partner in History Program: The Willet – Hauser Story on Thursday, April 20 at noon in Wanek Hall at the Winona County History Center.
Garrick Holey, VP of Production, will share the story of how the Hauser Art Glass Company was formed in Winona by James E. Hauser in response to the need to repair neglected stained glass in the wake of WWII rationing. Learn more about the birth of Winona’s stained glass industry and the other even older companies, like Willet, that joined in from across the nation.
On Saturday, April 22, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., swing into banks, churches, businesses, museums and more to learn about the amazing stained glass heritage of Winona. This is a self-guided tour that can be enjoyed in any order. Guidebooks are on sale now and the day of the tour and are your ticket into the 11 participating sites. Stops include St. Mary’s Parish, Watkins Administration Building, First Congregational Church, Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka (opening at 10 a.m.), Merchants Bank, WNB Financial, Wesley United Methodist, Polish Museum (displaying over 30 historic windows!), and the History Center. Associated Crafts & Willet Hauser will be giving studio tours. The Winona Arts Center will feature area glass artists and demonstrations along with having their old church windows to view. There is so much to explore!
Learn more at winonahistory.org, call 507.454.2723 or stop in the Winona County History Center, open daily, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Photo: An artist at Associated Crafts & Willet Hauser working on the stained glass that was installed in the Levee Park entrance sign.
The Winona County Historical Society and the Winona Arts Center are members of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.