Governor makes community stop, tours Villa Louis
Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 12/21/2015 - 11:48
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was in Prairie du Chien Thursday, Dec. 17, mainly for a round-table event he labeled a “community stop” at city hall, where 35 people, by invite only, provided Walker their input regarding the immediate needs as well as the long-term goals of the state. Those participating included retirees, educators, high school students and professionals from the manufacturing, agriculture and tourism industries, in particular. “We are planning 100 of these across the state next year, many in the rural areas,” Gov. Walker stated. While the community stop was the main focus of his visit, he started his day off with an exclusive tour of the Villa Louis Historic Site. He is pictured above with Site Director Susan Caya-Slusser, who greeted him on the front walkway, as the beautiful Dousman Office Building stands decorated for the holidays behind them. Also on Thursday, Walker had lunch at Coaches Restaurant with his staff as well as members of the media. (Photos by Correne Martin)
Gov. Walker visits with Susan Caya-Slusser, of the Villa Louis, and Dr. Ellsworth Brom, director of the Wisconsin Historical Society, inside the billiard room on the first floor of the Dousman Office Building on the Villa Louis grounds Thursday. He was given a grand tour and educated about the history of the historic mansion, its adjoining property and the people who made it so significant.
Walker and Caya-Slusser, standing in the Villa's second floor hallway, take a look at the Christmas crafts that the Dousman family would have likely created in much simpler times when there was no TV or technology for entertainment. Playing music, reading and constructing crafts were among the activities in which the children typically indulged.
Susan Witters, program assistant at the Villa Louis Historic Site, presented Scott Walker with a basket of “Something Special from Wisconsin,” homemade jelly and Dilly Beans from Ferryville’s Austin’s Rush Creek Farms. Walker also enjoyed a fresh-baked treat inside the Villa Louis kitchen Thursday: a Victorian traditional two-spice cake with hand whipped cream, baked and presented personally by Ethan Kilbey, a senior at Prairie du Chien High School.
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