Green County 2022 Guide

‘you’re crazy, I’m 17, I haven’t even graduated yet, I know nothing about aviation, and you’re asking me to help design a museum.’” But Weeden saw her lack of aviation background as a strength. “He told me, ‘you can write this history in a way that people who know nothing about aviation can understand it.’” Shickles helped design the pivotal Pietenpol display. Brodhead has a long-standing connection with these early planes thanks to the Brodhead Pietenpol Association’s annual fly-in. Pietenpol is a homebuilt airplane designed in the late 1920s by Bernard Pietenpol. After the stock market crash, money was scarce but flying interest soared. Pietenpol was the first to make an automotive engine work in airplanes. His first models used Ford Model A engines. “An airplane like that was perfect,” Shickles said. “A lot of the materials used were pretty common, and cheap. The regular civilian person could build an airplane in their garage. It appeared in a magazine and became famous so they started selling blueprints.” Shickles tackled the daunting task of consolidating thousands of documents and photos in the Kelch archives to create an educational exhibit. She was soon engrossed in forgotten history. “I was reading letters that had never seen the light of day,” she said. “Long letters, like reading a different language. It was nice to translate that into more of a story format that people could read.” Early aviation history is Kelch Museum’s focus. From a rare Pietenpol Air Camper constructed by Bernard Pietenpol himself, to bi-planes dating back to aviation’s Golden Age, you won’t see a new plane. The museum opened July 2021 to acclaim, but Shickles said the work is far from done. As archivist, she’s working on cataloguing and organizing materials to create a research library open to the public. And she’s working toward her solo pilot’s license, a far cry from the girl who didn’t want to take a plane ride the first day. · Rec Hall, Game Room & Camp Store · Canoe, Kayak & Tube Rentals (shuttle available) · Sites with Electric & Water Hookup · On the Sugar River - Bring Your Fishing Pole! Sweet Minihaha Campground Home of the Happy Camper N4697 County Hwy E, Brodhead 608.862.3769 | SweetMinihaha.com

With no plans to study aviation in college, Shickles said flying will always be a passion. “I’ve worked on a lot of different airplanes and flown in a lot of them,” she said. “You don’t have to get a degree to fly a plane.” And if she had one piece of advice for the disinterested? “You should have gone on an airplane ride 5 years ago,” she laughed. “Flying airplanes? That sounded crazy to me! But keep an open mind.”

When Hannah Shickles first walked into the hangar at Kelch Aviation Museum, she had no interest in airplanes. “I don’t even think I knew the word aviation, I knew nothing,” Shickles laughed. Everything changed in a blink of an eye. “I remember walking into that hangar, it was just breathtaking,” Shickles said. “Walking into this massive, 1200 square feet hangar, it was like in a movie. It was gorgeous.” Loving a hangar is one thing. Shickles still wasn’t sold on flying. “My first day volunteering they had the 1932 Curtis 12 W out. The plane was already started. They said ‘Hannah, do you want to go for an airplane ride?’ I said ‘No.’ And they talked me into it. I was really, really nervous.” And then, it happened. “I sat down in that seat, and everything faded away. Everything. Any stresses from life, just completely melted away and something just clicked. And ever since then I’ve been fully immersed in aviation.” HANNAH TAKES FLIGHT

Follow Kelch Aviation Museum on Facebook and Instagram to see the video series "History With Hannah" by Hannah Shickles, Archivist and Events Coordinator. Episode One: The Untold Story of Bernard Pietenpol and Westy Farmer.

That was September 2020. Now, the 18-year-old UW Whitewater freshman is the museum’s archivist and event coordinator. Ironically, Shickles never planned to be in that hangar at all. As a high school senior, she needed a community service project for graduation. Her plans to work at the local retirement center fell through due to COVID restrictions. When a guidance counselor told her Kelch Aviation Museum needed volunteers, it was her only option. And the rest is history, literally. Shickles’ volunteer hours turned into a passion for aviation lore and the storied Pietenpol planes Kelch is known for. When her required hours were up, Shickles stuck around after Executive Director Pat Weeden offered her a job. “Pat asked me if I wanted to become an employee and I said yes, because I loved being in that environment,” she said. “I told him,

Bip a e Rides & Sce icTours

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BRODHEAD AIRPORT & AROUND THE MIDWEST

MAY — OCTOBER Weather Permitting ✦ Gift Certificates Available ✦ The biplane seats two passengers. Flights start at $60 per person with two passengers.

Exceptional Apples

Our Family Farm Since 1839 Ten Eyck Orchard 2 miles west of Brodhead 10 miles east of Monroe Hwy. 11 & 81, Brodhead Open end of August through mid-November 608.897.4014 teneyckorchard.com

Homemade Pies Breads & Sweet Rolls Pickles & Preserves Cakes & Cookies Special Orders Welcome! Brodhead Harnesses (new, used, & repair) Mon-Sat: 8 AM -6 PM

GYPSY AIR TOURS | 608-215-7896 www.gypsyairtours.com Experience the majestic beauty of the skies from the open cockpit of a vintage 1930 WACO Taperwing.

Bakery Open Friday &Saturday 8 AM - 6 PM

Home cooked Amish dinners for larger groups, by reservation. 1602 ScotchHill Rd., Brodhead 608.897.3820

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