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The newest installment in PBS Wisconsin’s ongoing local history project, Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit premieres in a statewide broadcast 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 on PBS Wisconsin. The program will also be available for streaming at pbswisconsin.org and on the free PBS app on all streaming devices.

Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit uses film, archival images, aerial footage and interviews with historians and community members to tell the story of a diverse city strengthened by its ability to adapt and reinvent itself with each generation.

Known as the “Gateway to Wisconsin,” Beloit began as a center of trade for the Ho-Chunk Nation and continued to grow with the arrival of the New England Emigrating Company, bringing with them settlers, agriculture and industry. The city later transformed with the founding of Beloit College, Wisconsin’s first interstate railroad and burgeoning industry, which fueled innovation.

The program’s producers, Holly De Ruyter and Kyra Lyons, enjoyed working in the tight-knit community of Beloit.

“There’s a lot of people who are really proud to call Beloit home,” De Ruyter said. “We’re really excited that this program gives them a voice to show others why.”

“My favorite part [about making the documentary] was being able to engage with the Beloit community,” Lyons said. “It was really awesome how passionate people were to share their stories.”

Learn more about the Wisconsin Hometown Stories collection at pbswisconsin.org/hometownstories.

Viewers can access Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit with both Spanish and English closed-captioning.

Wisconsin Hometown Stories is produced as a partnership of the Wisconsin Historical Society and PBS Wisconsin.

Funding for Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit is provided by the Wooden Nickel Fund, Alliant Energy, the Jim & Cheryl Caldwell Foundation, the Hendricks Family Foundation, Charles R. & Anita B. Williams in memory of William D. & Marie B. Williams, Agrace, the Stateline Community Foundation, Keith & Diane Wilson, Mary Alice & Jim Van Gemert and Anne & John Murphy in memory of Jeanne Murphy Haase, Rick Dexter, Charles H. & Prudence Harker, Western Container Corporation, Thomas & Marline Holmes, donors to the Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programs, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin. Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Youth Media support provided by John and Becky Wong.

PBS Wisconsin is a service of the Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

PBS Wisconsin is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV, Madison; WPNE-TV, Green Bay; WHRM-TV, Wausau; WLEF-TV, Park Falls; WHLA-TV, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV, Menomonie-Eau Claire.

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