The Sweet Sound of History Rings in Dheinsville Settlement
The Sweet Sound of History Rings in Dheinsville Settlement
The Germantown Historical Society is the proud steward of a rich portion of area history.
Located in Dheinsville Settlement at the unique corners of Holy Hill Rd, Fon du Lac Ave and Maple Rd, the historical society sits on 9 acres of Village of Germantown park property.
Three historic building compromise the Historical Societies treasures. The Christ Church of Local History Museum, the Valentine Wolf Haus and the Bast Bell Museum. The Bast Bell Museum features 5000 bells from the private collection of Sila Bast, who was born in Germantown .
Sila began collecting bells in her childhood, her first found in the pasture of her grandfathers farm just north of the barn they now rest in. She started purchasing them in
the 1930’s. Prices were inexpensive after the Depression and she found them in antique and resale shops. Others were gifts from her customers at her sister and brother in laws restaurant, The Little Gem on the East Side of Milwaukee on Farwell Avenue.
Sila went to help her family at the restaurant and never left. Her sister passed away and she stayed to help her brother in law, Ernie Hunziker and take care of her niece, Ernella.
Sila was an accomplished pianist and organ player. She studied at the Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee. A very prestigious place to attend. She gave music lessons out of her home, and some bells are gifts from students. The organ that Sila had in her home, was her Mother’s and is in our Christ Church of Local History Museum. It is in beautiful shape and recalls days gone by.
It took Sila four hours to clean and dust her bells. She would enjoy their sweet sounds and different chimes as she worked.
Contact
Jane Riley Best
Museum Director and Public Relations Specialist
