The Heritage Park, located in Plover, bordered on the West by Madison St., on
the East by Washington St., on the South by Willow Dr., and on the North by the
Railroad tracks, is the result of Maurice Perret's and John Anderson's foresight in the late 1970's. They were
responsible for the purchase of the
Old Plover Methodist Church and two plots of land under the structure. The
Village of Plover later donated this cost to the Society. This was the beginning
of what is now an historic village. In 1983 the Society
purchased the other 6 lots in the park and moved the
Franklin/Calkins House onto the site. The remaining structures have been
gathered from all over the county and brought to Heritage Park with the
intention of preserving and showing what life in Portage County was like between
1870 and 1910.
The park follows a two theme presentation of its structures. The west side of
the park is set up to portray community life and the east end both rural and
unique structures from the county. This "preserve" of historic buildings would
otherwise have been torn down and lost. The Society has endeavored to create a
living monument to life in Portage County during its early settlement years.
