Historical Society to feature Krueger shootout in next History Speaks event

WAUSAU – The Marathon County Historical Society will present “The Krueger Shootout” Feb. 24 as its next installment of its History Speaks series.

In September 1918, a group of lawmen arrived at a farm outside Withee with the intention of arresting Ennis, Leslie, Louis and Frank Krueger for dodging the draft during the First World War. The situation escalated to the exchange of gunfire, and the siege of the farmhouse by a large group of volunteers. For February’s History Speaks, find out what happened and how it all fits into the wider story of life in central Wisconsin during the First World War.

The Marathon County Historical Soceity will be joined by guest presenter Lee Kaschinska from the Colby Rural Arts Museum. Kaschinska developed his expertise on the Krueger shootout after a great deal of research on the story for the shootout’s 100^th anniversary in 2018. He helped develop a short video about the event called “Hysteria” (which will be shown at the talk) and has presented the story across central Wisconsin.

This History Speaks program is presented live at 2 p.m. at the Woodson History Center, 410 McIndoe St., Wausau, in conjunction with the Marathon County Public Library. This is a free program. No RSVP required.

For more information, call MCHS at 715-842-5750, email [email protected], or visit www.marathoncountyhistory.org.