Author: jkiesling

Omro Area Historical Society

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
STUDENT—$10.00
INDIVIDUAL—$15.00
FAMILY—$25.00
BRONZE—$50.00
SILVER—$75.00
GOLD—$100.00
DONATION—$__________
NEW RENEWAL
GIFT MEMBERSHIP
NAME________________________ADDRESS_____________________
CITY_________________________STATE______ZIP CODE________
EMAIL_______________________
PHONE______________________
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
OMRO AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
MAIL TO:
PO BOX 133 OMRO, WI 54963
501 [C] [3] PUBLIC CHARITY, NFP
DONATIONS DEDUCTIBLE TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW

Omro Area
Historical Society

A 501 [C] [3] PUBLIC CHARITY, NFP

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kathy Schlagel, President
Margaret Krause, Vice President
Sharon Schraufnagel, Treasurer
Jamie Kiesling, Secretary
Merlyn Lovell
Wayne Schmick
Debra Daubert
Phyllis Draws, Facilities Coordinator
Scott Jorgenson, Archivist
Sharon Schraufnagel, Program Director

A BIG THANK YOU...
to the many individuals, students, families, businesses, and organizations that make up our society membership. Their input, volunteerism and financial support are the backbone of this organization. Brought together by our shared desire to preserve the past, our unity strengthens us to carry out the mission of our founders.

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US!

Omro Area Historical Society

PRESERVING THE PAST FOR OUR FUTURE

144 & 160 E. MAIN ST.
P.O. BOX 133
OMRO, WISCONSIN 54963
WWW.OMROHISTORY.ORG
920-859-0339 or 920-685-7000

Main Street Program Affiliation

In August of 2011, Omro was announced as Wisconsin’s 37th Main Street Community. The Main Street Program utilizes the Four-Point Approach, which is a preservation-based economic development tool that enables communities to revitalize downtown and neighborhood business districts by leveraging local assets-from historic, cultural and architectural resources to local enterprises and community pride. The program’s focus area is downtown Omro, which is at the heart of the robust history of Omro. The Omro Area Historical Society is proud to be partnering in a program that integrates historical preservation of buildings and maintaining historic pride with promotions that highlight Omro’s unique character while promoting tourism and future growth. Preservation of our past is where our future lies.

Omro Area
Historical Society

A BRIEF HISTORY...
The site of the present day City of Omro was Winnebago Indian territory when it was first visited by French explorers in 1639. Eventually, a fur-trading post was begun here, one early resident being Charles Omereau, a French trader and blacksmith who gave his name to the future city.
Omro’s location on the Fox River gave it two early advantages: a position on one of the few natural transportation and communications routes of the time, and abundant water for industrial use. The first modern settler came here in 1847. By 1880, Omro was a stop on the railroad line and was home to the county fairgrounds, several mills, a glass factory, carriage factories, several machine works, and had more than 2/000 inhabitants. Eventually though, most of the manufacturing activities in Omro either relocated to nearby Oshkosh or faded away. By the turn of the century, Omro had become a quiet trading center for the surrounding countryside.
Omro started a revitalization process in 1986, and has seen renewed growth. Through projects such as the Omro Historic Walking Tour, Omro is paying homage to its past even as it builds for the future.
“WHO WE ARE”
Our society is a non-profit organization whose members actively work to preserve the history of the Omro area.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OMRO?
A seven-volume history of Omro compiled and hand-typed between 1970 and 1976 by Miss Miriam J. Smith, born in 1902, is available at the Carter Memorial Library and the Museum.
OR
Take our self-guided historic tour of Omro entitled “Strolling through Omro’s Past,” consisting of 51 historic properties, their histories, and an easy-to-follow map for an enjoyable trip back in time.

Historic Walk Bridge over the Fox River