Settle into the Walnut Room, located in Wade House’s Visitor Center on Highway 23, and prepare to learn, discuss and engage with captivating stories from celebrated authors and historians alike. From a deep-dive on Indigenous watercraft to a history of Wisconsin’s iconic bar and brewery culture to the stories behind famous - and strange - early Badger State recipes, our state history is rife with little-known facts, untold secrets and astonishing revelations—revelations you won’t want to miss out on.  

Every Timeless Tales Talk at Wade House includes a special presentation, a live question-and-answer segment and, often, an opportunity to purchase a book signed by the presenting author or authors. Learn more about each speaker and presentation dates below.  

Sunday, May 4, 2025 | Extra! Extra!  Eat All About It!  Recipes and Culinary Curiosities from Historic Wisconsin Newspapers 

When did oysters and coconuts become part of Wisconsin cuisine? Did the Badger State really once lead the nation in commercial pea canning? And how did bakers learn to gauge the temperature of pre-modern wood-burning stoves? Historians Jane Conway and Randi Julia answer all of these questions and more following the publication of their Wisco-themed culinary cookbook, revealing exactly how quirky food fashions and regional traditions made their way to 1800s Wisconsin. By exploring the importance of food to Wisconsinites and highlighting historic recipes in Badger State newspapers, Conway and Ramsden offer a new look at the meals and gastronomy traditions we hold most dear—and their humble, if often strange, origins. 

After the discussion, there will be a book signing—and an opportunity to visit the historic dining room of the 1850 Wade House Stagecoach Inn to sample breakfast party recipes highlighted in Extra! Extra! Eat All About It! 

For two years, Jane Conway and Randi Julia Ramsden worked together on the National Digital Newspaper Program at the Wisconsin Historical Society. In 2019, they began researching, cooking, and writing for the “Cooking Up History” series, which appeared on the WHS website and social media platforms and provided the inspiration for this book. Conway has a bachelor’s degree in art history from the University of Oregon, and Ramsden has a master’s degree in American studies from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

All Speaker Dates: 

Saturday, February 1, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | From Wood to Watercraft: Dugout Canoes of Wisconsin 

Saturday, April 5, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Bottoms Up: A Toast to Wisconsin’s Historic Bars & BreweriesSunday

 May 4, 2025 | 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Extra! Extra!  Eat All About It!  Recipes and Culinary Curiosities from Historic Wisconsin Newspapers