New Equipment Opens Door to Local History

The Howard-Winneshiek Genealogical Society recently completed a fundraising project to purchase a new ViewScan, computer and monitor for the public to use at the Cresco Library. The equipment is available free of charge to anyone interested in researching family history or learning more about the area's past.

  The new equipment is located in the genealogical section of the library and has already started seeing use. The computer was installed about three weeks ago, with the ViewScan following about two weeks ago.

 The project began as a fundraising effort with a goal of $9,000. Thanks to donations from the community and matching funds from the Thomson Family Trust and the Amy R. Bouska Trust, the Genealogical Society was able to surpass that goal. Any funds raised above the original goal are being used to purchase additional historical resources.

 Rhonda Vobr, president of the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogical Society, expressed her appreciation for the community's support, "Thank you to the wonderful donations we received from Howard County residents towards our fundraising campaign."

The new equipment gives researchers access to a variety of historical information, including census records, early birth and marriage certificates, and newspapers dating back to the 1800's from Cresco. Newspapers from Lime Springs, Elma and early Riceville are also available.

The ViewScan allows users to read reels of historical material that have been purchased by the Genealogical Society. Once researchers find information they want to keep, they can email it to themselves or save it to a USB jump drive at no cost. For those who prefer a paper copy, the library can provide printouts for its normal printing fee.

Vobr also emphasized that the equipment isn't limited to members of the Genealogical Society, "The computer and ViewScan are open to any genealogical research by the public, both Howard County residents and visitors".

Fundraising for the project started in mid-June, and by mid-August, the society had reached its goal and was able to begin ordering the equipment. After a few weeks of waiting for the equipment to arrive, everything was installed and made available to the public.

For local residents researching their family trees, the new equipment could provide an opportunity to uncover names, stories and events that might otherwise be difficult to find.

And for the Genealogical Society, preserving those records is about making sure they remain available for generations to come. As Vobr says, "If we don't keep ahold of things like this, we're going to lose it".

The history contained in old newspapers, census records and other documents offers a glimpse into the people and communities that came before us. The society hopes the new equipment will encourage more people to explore that history and discover connections to Howard County's past.

Residents and visitors interested in doing genealogical research are welcome to stop by the Cresco Library and make use of the new equipment in the genealogical section.

The Howard-Winneshiek Genealogical Society will be offering a training session for the public with the new equipment on October 1st at 2pm at the Cresco Library. All are invited to attend free of charge.