As community members, past and present, and others who share these concerns, we are calling on The City of Neillsville and Clark County to stop the proposed demolition of the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum and give the community a chance to save it. This jailhouse is more than an old building. It is a visual reminder of our town’s permanence, architectural ambition, and growth during the late-19th-century boom. It stands as a direct link to generations of local memories and important events in our town’s history, including the Milk Strike of 1933. It has already been saved once. In the 1970s, local volunteers and the Clark County Historical Society stepped in to prevent its demolition. Today, we have the opportunity to do it once again. For generations, the jailhouse has been part of local folklore. People remember when the sheriff was their neighbor and his children attended school alongside local children. These stories turn the building from a cold institution into a reminder of the real families who lived, worked, and grew up here. I personally remember touring the jailhouse on a class field trip when I was younger. Future generations deserve that same opportunity to experience the history this building has to offer firsthand. The proposed parking lot should not come at the cost of destroying a historic building. The fairgrounds have already been rebuilt and improved with help from private donations and county funding. Before demolition give local residents, businesses and organizations a chance to contribute money, materials, labor or ideas toward preserving it. Once this building is gone, it CANNOT be brought back.

Speak up, attend the the board meeting on Thursday September 17th, share this petition, contact local officials and help give our community a chance to save a piece of it's history before the decision is made for us. Sign this petition to stop the demolition and preserve the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum for generations to come.