The Cottage Grove Historical Society is currently working on several projects to help preserve and share the history of Cottage Grove and its surrounding area. Current projects include:

Handrail at McFarland Cemetery

The board has set the goal and approved funding to install a handrail along the stairs leading to the cemetery gate. We hope to design a pleasing and durable handrail that will assist visitors as they climb the steps up the hill to the cemetery. Include a plaque thanking the generous donation from the Ellis family and all the cemetery caretakers over the years. The bulk of the funding for this project comes from a generous donation by the Ellis family.

Middlefield Oaks Presentations

Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, we have begun offering a monthly presentation to the Middlefield Oaks Assisted Living community. These presentations are geared toward this unique community and strive to engage the audience in informative discussions. We appreciate the support of the Middlefield Oaks staff and the enthusiasm of the residents.

History Beeper

We continue to plan and organize the history beeper show on KNND radio AM1400. With support from Partners in History, various topics are discussed,d and we look forward to callers from the community contributing to the discussion. To listen, tune in at 9 am on the first Thursday of every month.

New Publication

The committee has submitted a final version to the board for approval and proofreading. Next step…. Printing! A release date will be announced soon.

Ongoing Digitization

Our research library continues to work on digitizing our collections. We continue to scan photo’s and articles, converting reel to reel, VHS and other media to modern formats to ensure access to these valuable pieces of data that stores a treasure trove of local history. We also have the ongoing project of recording all of our public presentations and creating usable video presentations, adding to our collection and increasing our resources.