Current News
Bob Bean (1932-2025)
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​​On Monday morning, November 10, we lost a true HBGHS and Dean House legend in Bob Bean. In the early 1970s he one of the founding members of Historic Blooming Grove Historical Society and was instrumental in helping to save the historic Nathaniel Dean House. He would go on to serve as the president of HBGHS for many years and organized various fundraising
events including the Winter Horse-drawn Vehicle Rally (Sleigh Rides), and the still-ongoing Back Porch Concert Series. He also enjoyed impersonating Abraham Lincoln in a stovepipe hat and tailcoat. Bob Bean was actively involved in HBGHS for decades and became the real face of the Dean House. In addition, he had a career as social studies teacher at Monona Grove High School. A full obituary for Bob Bean can be found on the Gunderson Funeral Home website by clicking here:
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A Celebration of Life is planned for Sunday afternoon, July 19, 2026 at the Dean House. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:​
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Historic Blooming Grove Historical Society
P.O. Box. 6704
Monona, WI 53716
Upcoming Events
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March 16 Historic Madison Inc., Madison College Goodman South Madison Branch, 2429 Perry St. (off S. Park St near Beltline) 6:30pm
After a short business meeting, HMI board member Stu Levitan will show photos of Madison from the 1930s to the 1970s, the decades covered in his forthcoming book: Madison: The Illustrated History, Volume 2, 1932-1979.
March 20-24 University Opera, Music Hall 7:30pm An operatic treatment of Thornton Wilder's play Our Town (based on early Madison ?). Thornton Wilder was born in Madison when his father Amos Wilder was editor of the Wisconsin State Journal
March 22 Monona History Club, Monona Public Library 2pm Bill Graf will talk about Edna Taylor and the creation of the Edna Taylor Conservation Park
Dean House Tours
The Victorian-style 9-room house museum is open for tours on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 2-4 PM, tours start at 2 and 3 o'clock.
Mission Statement
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HBGHS enriches community life by collecting and sharing the history of the historic township of Blooming Grove, Dane County, Wisconsin including Monona and southeast Madison, its development and its people including the Ho Chunk, pioneer families and recent residents.
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HBGHS is dedicated to the conservation and interpretation of the Nathaniel & Harriet Dean Victorian House Museum.
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HBGHS and the Dean House Museum will engage with the community to bring history to life by being a treasured source of information and education celebrating all aspects of the history of the original township of Blooming Grove, Monona and southeast Madison.
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HBGHS aspires to be a destination where visitors and volunteers are valued and feel they belong. With conscious intent and continuous learning, HBGHS Board and volunteers will address barriers to inclusion through education, operational changes, and partnerships with the community.