Stop the Demolition of History- Save the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum
The Issue
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.
This jailhouse is more than an old building. It is a visual reminder of our town’s history, development and a direct link to generations of local memories. It was there for important events in our history, the Milk Strike of 1933 being one of them.
It has already been saved once before. In the 1970s, community members and the Clark County Historical Society came together to prevent it's demolition. Today, we have the opportunity to do the same. We cannot let the board pave over what generations before us fought to preserve.
For many of us, this building is more than history. It is part of our own memories and our community’s identity. I remember visiting it on an elementary school field trip, carrying my little brown lunch bag alongside my classmates and experiencing the history held within those walls firsthand. Future generations deserve that same opportunity. We owe them more than an empty space where a piece of their history once stood. That is why the proposed parking lot should not come at the cost of destroying this historic building.
At the September 17 meeting, fellow community members and I came together to speak against the demolition. As a result, a member of the board then made a motion to pause the vote for three months. That motion passed with 26 members in favor, 2 absent and only 1 opposed (Ryan Ashbeck).
These three months are our opportunity to come together, develop a cohesive preservation plan and show that this building is worth saving. Now is the time to speak up, share this petition, contact local officials and help our community make the most of this short window before the decision is made for us.
Sign this petition to stop the demolition and preserve the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum because history should be preserved, NOT paved over. We need to protect the places that tell our story, because once they’re gone, so is the story they hold. Help us preserve our past before it becomes just a memory.
**Please do not donate any money to this petition. All we ask from you at this time is your signature and support**
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The Issue
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.
This jailhouse is more than an old building. It is a visual reminder of our town’s history, development and a direct link to generations of local memories. It was there for important events in our history, the Milk Strike of 1933 being one of them.
It has already been saved once before. In the 1970s, community members and the Clark County Historical Society came together to prevent it's demolition. Today, we have the opportunity to do the same. We cannot let the board pave over what generations before us fought to preserve.
For many of us, this building is more than history. It is part of our own memories and our community’s identity. I remember visiting it on an elementary school field trip, carrying my little brown lunch bag alongside my classmates and experiencing the history held within those walls firsthand. Future generations deserve that same opportunity. We owe them more than an empty space where a piece of their history once stood. That is why the proposed parking lot should not come at the cost of destroying this historic building.
At the September 17 meeting, fellow community members and I came together to speak against the demolition. As a result, a member of the board then made a motion to pause the vote for three months. That motion passed with 26 members in favor, 2 absent and only 1 opposed (Ryan Ashbeck).
These three months are our opportunity to come together, develop a cohesive preservation plan and show that this building is worth saving. Now is the time to speak up, share this petition, contact local officials and help our community make the most of this short window before the decision is made for us.
Sign this petition to stop the demolition and preserve the 1897 Clark County Jail Museum because history should be preserved, NOT paved over. We need to protect the places that tell our story, because once they’re gone, so is the story they hold. Help us preserve our past before it becomes just a memory.
**Please do not donate any money to this petition. All we ask from you at this time is your signature and support**
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Petition created on September 16, 2026