Rising Star Mill

06/01/2026

We hope your summer is filled with wonderful plans. Have you ever camped at Harman's Creek State Park, or fished at Lake Emily?

These aerial photos from 1966 show the park right before the 34 camping sites opened for the season, and show the docks around Lake Emily.

Are you able to help \the Portage County Historical Society preserve and digitize unique photographs such as this? Use the link below to make a donation. Thank you!
https://www.pchswi.org/donate

05/29/2026

Don't miss out on the rest of the summer's concerts! Buy your tickets NOW: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/musicatthemill2025

05/26/2026

The stage is set for tomorrow evening’s sold out performance from Genevieve Heyward! Don’t miss out on the rest of the amazing concerts that are part of the Music at the Mill series. Buy your tickets now: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/musicatthemill2025

05/25/2026

The eastern side of Portage County has strong Norwegian roots. Check out this great photo from the town in Alban in 1948!

Caption from the Stevens Point Journal: Making lefse, Norwegian Christmas treat. Mrs. Harry Hanson, right, and Miss Elise Halvorson, town of Alban neighbors, are shown preparing lefse, a flat potato bread which is an annual Yuletide treat in Norwegian homes. Miss Halvorson is turning a piece of lefse with a paddle made for that purpose by her father, while Mrs. Hanson is rolling out another piece in preparation for baking.

05/18/2026

This week we are looking at an image of boys playing with bows and arrows at Camp Mikquano in 1949.

Camp Mikquano was in Nelsonville, on Lake Elaine. It was run from 1947-84 and is now known as YMCA Camp Glacier Hollow!

Are you able to help PCHS preserve and digitize unique photographs such as this? Use the link below to make a donation. Thank you!
https://www.pchswi.org/donate

05/12/2026

Genevieve Heyward on May 26 is officially SOLD OUT! Charlie Parr on July 22 has low tickets and the rest of the shows are selling FAST. Make sure you don't miss out on your chance to see a show this summer in our historic mill!

Buy tickets now: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/musicatthemill2025

05/11/2026

Did you ever visit the Pliska Game Farm, later known as the Pliska Wildlife Ranch?

In this 1966 photo from the Stevens Point Journal you can see a full elk family posing for the photographer. In 1986 there were more than 500 birds and animals at the farm, which was regularly visited by schoolchildren.

The Portage County Historical Society has been hard at work digitizing lots of materials. Be sure to visit this page each week to see a new historical highlight from eastern Portage County!

Are you able to help PCHS preserve and digitize unique photographs such as this? Use the link below to make a donation. Thank you!
https://www.pchswi.org/donate

05/07/2026

Tickets are going FAST for many of this year's Music at the Mill shows! Make sure to get yours before its too late!

Ticket link: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/musicatthemill2025

Photo by Jen Brilowski

05/05/2026

We are sorry to hear of the passing of Pete Sanderson, known for many things, but to us was a friend of the Rising Star Mill/Portage County Historical Society, and a wonderful photographer, as seen of this shot of our historic building.

Read Pete's Obituary: https://www.shudafuneral.com/obituaries/Peter-Ashley-Sanderson?obId=48263923&fbclid=IwY2xjawRm7h9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFEdkdBWDNRckVQWGdkdE44c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvN0dnpGhFNX5GMEm5P9B_Y4L0SohZLWizZoIrnq15qCym_DOgttlGyXiF3Q_aem_yeYYKv-5v-AN2G4fA2ZIfA

It's leaf-peeping season! 🍂

Nature's masterpiece is unfolding. Are the trees creating their autumn palette where you are?

Check out a fall foliage map to witness this seasonal gallery!

This is when the world transforms into the ultimate outdoor studio, with festivals, crisp air, and nature's most breathtaking color symphony.

Here's some art for your weekend scroll. 🍂

Title: “Rising Star Mill”

https://www.sandersonphotoart.com

04/29/2026

Only around 15 tickets remain for the Genevieve Heyward show on May 26! Get ‘em while you can: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/musicatthemill2025/event/genevieveheyward/