Rural House Walk Scheduled for September 2012

The date for the next Rural House Walk has been announced! September 22, 2012 is the date and the details are starting to be worked out. This is an event that happens once every 4 or 5 years and should not be missed. Many of the historic buildings in the village will be open to the public and residents of Rural will share the history of the village with visitors. Look for special events during the day, including wagon rides and food. I'll keep you updated on any details I learn about the event.

Come and see one of the few Yankee Villages in the Midwest! Tour the beautiful homes and businesses on the National Register of Historic Places, the lovely gardens and village graveyard. Enjoy our lovely setting on the banks of the Crystal River!

An Artistic View

This photo was taken earlier this spring and Photoshopped by Michael Sprincis of Iola. Thanks for sharing, Michael!!

Margaret Ashmun Day and Sundaes on Saturday in Rural

Margaret Ashmun Day and Sundaes on Saturday will be held on Saturday, June 18, in Rural.

Strawberry sundaes will be sold from noon to 4 p.m. at the Rural Historical Society's museum on Main Street.

At 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Connie Haack Hurlbut, a professor at Mid-State Technical College, will talk about Ashmun's legacy.

Ashmun was a Rural resident who in the early 1900s wrote novels, several of which centered around her life in Rural.

The Village of Rural is located about five miles south of Waupaca, off State Highway 22.

(from the Waupaca County Post)

Meda J. Radley

Long time Rural resident, Meda J. Radley, 94, Waupaca, passed away on Thursday March 3, 2011. Meda was born on July 7, 1916, in Kansas, the daughter of William and Hansena (Olson) Anderson. Meda moved to Rural in January of 1936 to work.

Meda married the late Forrest Radley on Oct. 24, 1936. She was a cook in the school lunch program at Golden Hill School in Rural, where she and a friend pioneered the program there. She was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Ruth circle, Mission Worker, the Gorgonas Club of Rural, of which she had served as president, Rural Cemetery Association, of which she was secretary for 25 years, and a charter member of the Rural Historical Society.

Meda lived in Rural all her married life except for one year. She enjoyed gardening and maintained a large flowerbed each year to share some of God's beauty with others.

Meda is survived by two sons, Richard (Ellen) Radley, Greenville, Wis.; and Paul (Connie) Radley, Waupaca, Wis.; four grandchildren, Michael (Joni) Radley, Waupaca, Wis.; David (Carolyn) Radley, Appleton, Wis.; Steven Radley, Orlando, Fla.; and Jennifer (Michael) Grant, Waupaca, Wis.; six great-grandchildren, Alana Radley, Aavery Grant, Alyssa Grant, Taylor Radley, Forrest Radley and Connor Radley; three step-great-grandchildren, Ashley Lowe, Jared Creaser and Ashley Creaser; two brothers, Carl Anderson and Glenn Anderson; one sister, Ruth Iversen; very dear friends, Monte and Debra McCormick; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Meda was preceded in death by her parents, William and Hansena Anderson; her husband, Forrest Radley; one brother, William Anderson; and one sister, Violet Handschke.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 12 Noon at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Waupaca. Pastor Jennifer DeNetz and Chaplain Wayne Schwanke will officiate. Burial will at the Rural Cemetery in the spring. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at 12 Noon. The Holly Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Wishes

WISHES
by Margaret Ashmun

I wish we had a little house,
With ivy vines along the wall,
A bright brass knocker on the door,
And leaded fanlight in the hall.

I wish I had a wide old hearth,
Where maple knots would roar and blaze,
And we would sit and drink our tea
An read old books on autumn days.

And we would spread a table here,
With homespun cloth and candlelight,
And we should eat from flowered plates
Hot waffles on a Sunday night.


Rural was the home town of author and poet Margaret Ashmun (c1885-1940).

Blacksmith Wanted

From the Waupaca Spirit, May 8, 1856:

WANTED

A good blacksmith at Rural Village in southwest part of Waupaca County. Also a good shoemaker would find excellent chance in this place. This is decidedly the best opening for a few good Mechanics and Traders in Northern Wisconsin. A first-rate water power and flouring mill will soon be completed and in the centre of a large and excellent farming community with roads centreing from all quarters and a very desirable location for a Town. There is still a few lots for free distribution to actual settlers. For information, address J.H. Jones or L.A. Phelps, Rural, Waupaca Co., Wisconsin.

Edwin Huntoon - from Rural Happenings Feb 2011

The Rural Historical Society Board was so sorry to learn of the death of Eddie Huntoon, one of our long time members and a true son of Rural. Eddie had a long, productive and eventful life. He contributed a great deal to both the Rural Historical Society and the community. Our deepest sympathy to his wife, Ruby, and their family.

At one time Eddie wrote an article about "The Crystal and Rural". As you may know, water was one of Eddie's greatest interests. In the article he wrote, "Rural has many springs in the area for an easy supply of safe drinking water, (which) was very important in a frontier village. Bathing and laundry in summer was very easy. But the key item was plenty of good, clean, fresh water for the thirsty teams of horses pulling the stage coaches and wagons as they entered Rural. ...Rural...a friendly, safe village, built on a dry, sandy, well-drained area, with some of the best fresh water in the country. The meaning of "Rural" most likely is "avery special place with fresh, clean ground water every day."

A copy of the full article is available at the Rural Historical Society headquarters.