History Alive Project, Inc.

06/23/2026

Now You Know!

Westby High School has a long history of producing great performances of very difficult plays. The playbill below is from the "Les Miserables."

The Westby production left the audiences breathless. Do you remember who played:
* Enjolras
* Fantine
* Thenardier
* Cossette

Unlike other musicals, there is no spoken-word acting in the show. More than 60 students were involved in the musical that year with 43 on stage and the rest playing key roles behind the scenes, working with lights and sound during the performance, along with students in the pit band.

History Alive Project wants to thank the Westby High School Drama Department and all the students that were involved in this musical. You are an important part in the history of Westby High School!

06/22/2026

06/22/2026

NOW YOU KNOW!

How many remember the old one-room schools in this area? Did you go to one? How many one-room schools can you name that were in this area? Are any of these students a relative?

Why did all of the one-room schools close? Was that a good decision at the time?

If you have fond memories of attending a one-room school, please share them with our followers.

06/22/2026

NOW YOU KNOW!

What with the summer solstice upon us, let's take a look at a very early idea of a calendar. June 21st our Northern Hemisphere lights up with the longest day and the shortest night of the year!

Before printing made almanacs and calendars everyday articles, Scandinavians used calendar devices made of wood, with lines or notches for the days of the year and carved characters for solstices, equinoxes, festivals, and holidays. Most were slender wooden staffs called "primstav" in Norway.

A "primstav" usually has two sides, a summer side starting on April 14 and a winter side starting on October 14. The dates reflect the yearly rhythm of the farming societies at northern latitudes such as Norway.

The "primstav" is an artifact of Norwegian cultural history that fascinates to this day.

06/21/2026

NOW YOU KNOW!

History Alive Project does not know if Norwegian dads on Father's Day open presents and might say "Not Another Tie." Dads in Norway will celebrate their special day on November 8 this year.

Here in the United States, Sonora Dodd of Spokane WA is recognized for organizing the idea of Father's Day. She got the idea in 1909, when she was listening to a sermon on Mother's Day. How ironic!

A survey of U.S. dads, last year, tells us that a whopping 65% definitely did not want another tie as a gift! Instead, 87% said they would like just a family dinner.

Are there any first-time fathers amongst your friends or relatives? History Alive Project would love to hear from you.

06/21/2026

Stumper Saturday # 422 answers:

1. Westby High School
2. 1921
3. 2002
4. Gymnasium

06/21/2026

Stumper Saturday # 423:

1. What do all of these individuals have in common?
2. Name each individual that has a letter by it.
3. What year did this event occur?
4. At the time of this event, had the Westby Performing Arts
Center been completed?

06/20/2026

NOW YOU KNOW!

Volunteering on June 19, aka, "Juneteenth Day," found these C**n Valley and Westby River Bank employees and HAP volunteer members spending a portion of the day giving HAP's "History Hus" a real cleaning!

Why June 19? In 2021, then President Biden signed legislation for that date as a Federal holiday to mark the official end of slavery in the Confederate States. Many non-essential businesses closed that day such as banks.

Many of these employees at closed places were encouraged to use their time giving back to their communities locally, in a real-world meaningful way.

As in 2025, River Bank again recognized History Alive Project's valued and important work in the Westby area and offered to help where they could.

And could they did! Carpets were shampooed, woodwork polished, all floors scrubbed, many displays carefully dusted and wiped down, windows washed and a large collection of newly-donated tri-fold photo displays were inventoried!

History Alive Project President Dave Amundson, stated "we really really appreciated being again chosen as recipients of all of the work that the River Bank crew did!"

The group posed on the porch:
(back row L-R): Pam Walker, Ava Gilbert and Hailey Eckert
(front row L-R): Lisa Frank, Lisa Jacobson, Hallie Overson, Katie Helseth, and HAP volunteer Ruth Amundson. The same group took their mid-morning break inside the "Hus," sipping coffees.

Tusen takk many times over to everyone!

06/19/2026

NOW YOU KNOW!

Westby has a long proud history in sports. Below is one example of a history-making moment for the kids. Do you remember this game? What stands out from this game that you will remember?

Where are all these players now, what are they doing and where do they live?