Happy Spring

by Chloe Ellefson
from the Chloe Ellefson Mystery series by Kathleen Ernst

At least I hope you're having a happy spring. When you work at a huge historic site, as I do, spring can be a killer.

I've been curator of collections at Old World Wisconsin, an outdoor ethnic museum, for about a year now. Old World is a living history museum, where interpreters go about the daily activities Wisconsin's early immigrants pursued.

The Pedersen Farm (Danish)

 The museum includes ten working farms and a crossroads village, all nestled on 576 acres within a state forest. It's a beautiful place, and the stories we tell there have relevance for everyone with an immigrant on their family tree. For the most part, I love my job.

All of the historic structures were moved to the site, and restored to periods from 1845 - 1915. As curator of collections, I'm responsible for thousands of artifacts---some that furnish the buildings, and some in storage.

Old World Wisconsin is closed during the winter, so getting all of the buildings open and ready for visitors is a huge job. I help train the interpreters and plan educational programs, too. And I do it all while trying to minimize contact with my boss, site director Ralph Petty. Let's just say we don't get along.

The Surveyors' House, De Smet, SD

I do get away from my own site from time to time. Most recently my sister Kari and I took a road trip to visit every homesite dedicated to Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I was speaking at a symposium about the famous author, and trying to authenticate a quilt believed to have been owned by Laura herself. A murderer was traveling the same route, and Kari had big problems I didn't know about, so the trip was a bit more stressful than I'd hoped. But things turned out OK in the end.

I grew up in the oh-so-Norwegian town of Stoughton, WI. Both of my parents are of pure Norwegian-American stock, and Mom in particular makes a huge deal of it. So I would be remiss if I didn't point out that today is Syttende Mai---Norwegian Constitution Day.  

Children's Parade, Oslo, Norway (Wikipedia)

I'm taking my guy, cop Roelke McKenna, to a celebration at my folk's place. Roelke's a good sport about such things.

If you're ever in the area, stop by Old World Wisconsin for a visit! I guarantee you'll love it.  And if you can't get there in person...well, you can always read about some of my adventures.

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Kathleen Ernst is the author of over thirty books, including the Chloe Ellefson Mysteries, mysteries for young readers, historical fiction, and two nonfiction books. Before becoming a full time writer she worked as a curator at Old World Wisconsin.

Kathleen is celebrating  her first post at Killer Characters with a GIVEAWAY!  Leave a comment here and you will be entered to win a Chloe Ellefson mystery---winner's choice of title.  The drawing will take place on Thursday, May 19th. Be sure to leave your email, or check back then.

Visit Kathleen at www.kathleenernst.com or https://www.facebook.com/kathleenernst.author