The Presentation: What did the River Falls area look like 250 years ago? The River Falls Historic Preservation Commission will install a display at the River Falls Library next week that takes a look at the region in 1776, long before the city of River Falls existed. Jayne gave us a preview of her research that examines the geology that shaped the landscape, the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples who lived in and traveled through the area, and what was happening in Wisconsin and across North America at the time. A pdf of Jayne's slides is available by clicking DOWNLOAD FILES at the bottom of this Tidings.
About Jayne Hoffman: Jayne Hoffman is a retired elementary educator who spent most of her career teaching second and third grade at Westside Elementary in the River Falls School District. She holds a master's degree in Elementary Education and Reading and has long been passionate about helping others discover and appreciate history. Click READ MORE for more about Jayne.
Inspired by her grandmother, Viola Armstrong, Jayne developed an early interest in genealogy and local history. While teaching third grade, that interest expanded into a passion for River Falls history after watching local historian Ursula Peterson share stories of the community's past with her students. Today, she serves as chair of the River Falls Historic Preservation Commission, serves as a volunteer and a board member of the Pierce County Historical Association, and is a member of the River Falls Library Board. She is also the author of River Falls Public Library: The Legacy of Its Founding Mothers.
When she is not researching local history or working on preservation projects, Jayne enjoys gardening, reading, and taking walks with her mini golden doodle, Hattie, who is her constant companion while she plans and researches various history projects. She is the proud mother of three adult children and grateful to have a wonderful son-in-law and daughter-in-law as part of her family.