Blackhawk Golden ‘K’ General Meeting
Minutes
November 26th, 2025
President Richard Johnson presided, and called the meeting to order with a ring of the bell at 9:30AM.
An Executive Board meeting occurred today.
The meeting was led with the singing of America, the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation: Bob Knudson, mentioning Thanksgiving, the energy to help others, bless the food and the children.
Raffle: Glenn Disrude oversaw the ticket sales and drawing this week.
The weekly pot was $8 and the big (Joker) pot was $97.
Maury Frey drew a ticket from the bucket, ticket number 556. Congratulations to the winner, Dave Peterson.
The deck of cards has 45/53 cards remaining. Dave Peterson drew the 4♦.
Richard Johnson thanks greeters Bob Wilcox and Ron Shuler, invocator Bob Knudson, rafflemaster Glenn Disrude, and server Bob Knudson.
Happy Box: Dave Peterson announced he is happy because he celebrated his 63rd wedding anniversary, and he was the raffle, which he is donating to the Craig and Parker Community Closet.
Jim Farrell announced he is happy because the Woodman’s Center is being well utilized.
Dave Figi announced he is happy because Kiwanis are having a group photo for everyone wearing their Truck on Ice sweatshirts next week.
Jenny Turco announced she is happy because the Turcos are celebrating their 46th wedding anniversary.
Jokes: Joker Ryan Lewis had some good jokes including one about vacationing to the Canary Islands, and one about a man with trouble being diagnosed at the doctor.
Member Health: Linda Bontly had a status update on Bruce Jorenby, who is here today.
April Wright (via Jenny Turco who had to leave) introduced the day’s speaker, Dave Thompson. Dave is a docent at the Lincoln-Tallman House.
After hearing of the unsettled lands of bounty with trees as far as the eye could see, William and Emeline Tallman sold their home in Rome, New York and took a schooner down the Erie Canal, and over the great lakes (due to the lack of trains’ existence) to scout for and settle in a place once known as the City of Trees, that is modern day Janesville, Wisconsin. The Tallman House was built only two years after Wisconsin became a state and has now been in Janesville for 175 years.
At the time, the house was constructed for $42,000. For reference, the elaborate single-piece wraparound hardwood handrail (steam bent) and multiple other projects were billed out at the time for $160. The modern-day equivalent of the sum would be nearer $4.2 million.
It is one of few museums with all original medallions and crown moldings.
Gas fittings were placed in the property in 1857, to coincide with the modern amenities the Tallmans were accustomed to in Rome. In Janesville, it took an additional 12 years before gas connectivity was available, at which time they were able to first test the multitude of light fixtures.
The house continues to be adorned by some of the original furniture, including multiple pianos.
The Drawing Room / Guest Room, the first room in the home modeled to “put your best foot forward,” has a piano that originally belonged to the Bower City Band, popular at the time, who played at Lincoln’s reception on October 1st, 1859.
Dinner consisted of a noon meal, seven days a week, each with five courses served by the staff with the assistance of the dumbwaiter.
William Tallman was an abolitionist. Freed slave Frederick Douglass, when visiting the area, was turned away from a local dining establishment. William went to the business and spared no expense in detailing every mistake the owner had made.
In later years, the Tallmans’ son Edgar Dexter Tallman owned a perfume factory at the corner opposite present-day ECHO. Perfume was hugely popular and lucrative, because families generally only bathed weekly in the same water, in order of age. A side note is, that is where the phrase, “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater” originates.
The Tallman estate followed Victorian inheritance. It fell to possession of the oldest son after the second parent’s passing.
George Kemp Tallman, grandson of William, eventually came into possession of the home. George made a deal with Janesville, and sold them the estate for one dollar. The transaction had three stipulations: Its name was the Lincoln Tallman House, it can only be used as a museum, and can never be sold on the open market. If the agreement is broken, the estate again becomes the possession of the Tallman Trust.
Abraham Lincoln visited Janesville, and spoke at the “Young Folks’ Home,” where Carousel Consignments currently exists.
When visiting, Lincoln ‘dropped in’ on the Tallmans. Emeline Tallman was heard to say, “I shall have to find a place for Lucian.” Lucian was the Tallman’s daughter’s suitor, who was staying in the guest bedroom.
Abe and Lucian shared the tiny bed the first night, during which Lucian was forced to sleep on the love seat in the hallway, because, “Lincoln snored so loud and shifted his legs so much there was no sleep to be had!”
Kiwanis member Jim Farrell asked, “How was the home originally heated?” Dave responded, “Wood burning was first utilized and soon decided to be too inefficient. The uppermost floor was known to be 30 degrees in the dead of winter. After that, coal was favored, followed by steam.”
Kiwanian Greg Turco asked, “Is it true the books were hidden?” Dave replied, “books were standardly kept from the view of the public. It was fairly standard for a local newspaper such as the Janesville Gazette to publish in the gossip columns what those well known in the area were reading.”
When Lincoln was assassinated, the entire house was draped in black.
Dave went on to relay many other historical topics. The presentation was well received and appreciated.
Dave Thompson relayed the Lincoln-Tallman House’s Christmas Tree Show is currently ongoing, and tickets can be purchased that are co-op with the Rotary Lights.
April Wright thanked Dave Thompson for speaking and presented him with a Kiwanis Parker pen.
Richard Johnson adjourned the meeting with a ring of the bell at 10:55AM.
Reminders: There is a programs committee meeting after the general meeting next week.
On this day:
1789 First national Thanksgiving in the US
1791 First US cabinet meeting is held at George Washington’s home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph attend.
1832 First streetcar railway in America starts operating in New York City with a 12-cent fare
1865 “Alice in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll is published in America
1867 Refrigerated railroad car patented by JB Sutherland of Detroit, a key step in the history of long-distance transportation of perishable goods
1896 1st large indoor football game, University of Chicago beats University of Michigan 7-6
1922 English archaeologist Howard Carter opens Tutankhamun’s nearly intact tomb in Egypt
1922 First successful Technicolor movie, “The Toll of the Sea,” premieres at the Rialto Theatre in New York City
1942 “Casablanca,” directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, premieres at Hollywood Theater, NYC (Academy Award for Best Picture 1943)
1948 The first Polaroid camera, the Land Camera model 95, sells for $89.75 in Boston at the Jordan Marsh department store and becomes the prototype for all Polaroid Land cameras for the next 15 years
1952 The first 3D feature film “Bwana Devil,” directed by Arch Oboler, premieres in Los Angeles, advertised as “The Miracle of the Age!!! A LION in your lap! A LOVER in your arms!”
1956 TV game show “The Price Is Right”, hosted by Bill Cullen, debuts on NBC
1962 The Beatles re-record “Please Please Me” at a faster tempo, based on producer George Martin’s suggestion
1963 Explorer 18 spacecraft launched by NASA
1968 Rock band Cream gives “final” concert at Royal Albert Hall, London, England – but re-unites briefly for a short tour in 2005
1976 British punk rockers Sex Pistols release their debut single “Anarchy In The UK”
1985 23rd NASA Space Shuttle Mission (61-B): Atlantis 2 launches
1995 Dolphins QB Dan Marino sets NFL record with 343rd touchdown pass
1998 Tony Blair is the first British Prime Minister to address the parliament of the Republic of Ireland
Not to be confused with Blackout Wednesday, Tie One On Day refers not to overindulging in drink, but to tying on an apron. A baked good is to be prepared or bought, and then wrapped in the apron being worn—or in another apron, and then given to someone in need, along with an encouraging note. Author EllynAnne Geisel created the day, after she wrapped a baked good in an apron and delivered it to a hurting neighbor along with a sympathy note, on Thanksgiving Eve, in 2006. She was so moved by the feeling she experienced after giving, that she decided to create the day.
Minutes by Ryan Lewis.
Credit: Dave Figi, and Ryan Lewis, photographs.
Note: Kiwanis and its members are not responsible for errors or omissions. We are open to discussion if you would like to request an alteration.
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