Brevet's Wisconsin historical markers and sites

268 Pages·1974·35.044 MB·English

BREVET'S
WISCONSIN
HISTORICAL MARKERS
&.SITES

BREVET'S
WISCONSIN
HISTORICAL
MARKERS
and
SITES
Published By Brevet Press
Copyright © 1974 by BREVET PRESS,
a division of BREVET INTERNATIONAL, I NC.
410 Northwestern Bank Building, Sioux Falls,
South Dakota 57102
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 74-79980
Hard Cover Edition
ISBN: 0-88498-015-4
Soft Cover Edition
ISBN: 0-88498-016-2
All rights reserved.
No part of this work nor its format covered by the copyright hereon may
be reproduced or used in any form or by any means -graphic, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information
storage retrieval systems - without written permission of the publisher.
First Printing 1974
Manufactured in the United States of America
ii
Editor
N. Jane Hunt
Publisher: Donald P. Mackintosh
Managing Editor: Blake R. Kellogg
Consulting Editor: Tom Kakonis
Cover Art: Don Steinbeck
Page Art, Maps and Marker Design: John Caverly
Poster Cartography: Martha Weatherford
Original Research: Vance Sneve
Printing: Sanders Printing Company, Garretson, South Dakota
iii
THE OFFICIAL MARKERS PROGRAM
The Wisconsin State Historical Society has conducted an historical
markers program since 1942 and an historic sites program since 1952.
There are 204 official historical markers in Wisconsin. The text for each
is printed in this book. Additionally, the State Historical Society
administers seven sites: Villa Louis, Wade House, the Circus World
Museum, Stonefield, Madeline Island Museum, Pendarvis and Old World
Wisconsin. Each site, along with the Society's headquarters in Madison, is
featured on four pages. An additional site, the Museum of Medical
Progress, is also featured on four pages. It is administered by the State
Medical Society of Wisconsin.
The creation of an official historical marker is accomplished by the
approval of a markers commission, which accepts nominations from many
sources. The markers commission consists of five representatives--one
each, from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Natural
Resources, the Department of Public Instruction, the Department of Local
Affairs and Development and the State Historical Society.
In addition to the markers and sites program, there Is also an official
registered landmarks program which is operated separately. There are 110
registered landmarks in Wisconsin. An explanation of that program and a
list of the landmarks is carried as an appendix to this book.
With limited exception, most of Wisconsin's official markers are large
metal signs mounted between two wooden posts. Most of those along
highways are located in small wayside parks, assuring safety and
convenience to all who want to read and enjoy them.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
As anyone working in the field of history knows, the State Historical
Society of Wisconsin ranks among the top institutions of its type in the
country.
This is because of a rich legacy and continued fine leadership. The
legacy is manifested in the vastness of the Society's acquisitions, the
enormous scope of the library and the extensive range of the museum's art
and artifacts collections. The present outstanding stature of the Society can
principally be credite<;l to its director--James Morton Smith, who is both a
scholar and a leader.
This information became a book because of the assistance of many
people--largely staff members of the Society.
Ray Sivesind is the quiet scholar who has administered the marker and
sites program these many years. He is an encyclopedic repository of facts,
a scrupulous filer of important information and a man of infinite patience
when dealing with our many inquiries. Of equal forbearance is his
colleague, Don Anderson, who administers the landmarks program.
The iconographic department of the Society is immense. When entering,
one is reminded of a Bill Mauldin cartoon from his World War II book, UP
FRONT. In the background of the cartoon the brass are saluting a new
arrival. In the foreground one cook says to the other, "Another dang mouth
to feed." So it was with George Talbot, curator of iconography. We were
another mouth to feed upon that vast carefully cataloged collection of
images. But, he took the time to give the tour and open the files. Melodie
Knisely and Sarah Germane helped find many of the illustrations,
graciously making our priorities their priorities.
Thanks also to Chet Schmiedeke whose files are replete with pictures
and wrose mind is replete with facts.
We also appreciate the courtesy extended to us by Dick Ernie and Harva
Hachten .and for their support of the project.
Most of all, we owe a very special thanks to Bill Applegate, the director's
valuable right-hand man, who recognized the need for a book and who
made this one possible.
There is a good deal of discussion these days as to the state of the art.
From first-hand observation, we are pleased to report that history is alive
and well, and living in Wisconsin.
The Editors
v
Contents
Southeastern Wisconsin
Dodge County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Fond du Lac County ................ ... . 3
Green Lake County ........ .......... .... 8
Jefferson County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Kenosha County ...... ..... ........ ... .. 16
Manitowoc County ...... ... ......... ... .. 17
Marquette County ...... ................. 19
Milwaukee County ....................... 20
Ozaukee County ... .... .... .............. 33
Racine County .... ............ .......... 36
Rock County ..... ..... .......... .... .... 38
Sheboygan County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Walworth County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Washington County ........ .............. 58
Waukesha County ......... .............. 60
Winnebago County .... .... .............. 68
Southwestern Wisconsin
Columbia County .................. .. .... 74
Crawford County ...... .... .....•........ 81
Dane County ........ ..... .... ..... ..... . 95
Grant County ........ ................ .. 107
Green County ........... ............... 115
Iowa County .............. .... ....... .. 116
Juneau County .... .. ............ ..... .. 124
La Crosse County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Lafayette County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Monroe County ..... ... .............. .. 134
Richland County .. .... ................. 136
Sauk County .... ......... ..... ......... 137
Vernon County .... ........... .......... 146
vi
Contents
Northern Wisconsin
Ashland County ............ ............ 152
Bayfield County ......... ..... .......... 158
Brown County ........ .. ............... 162
Chippewa County ............ .......... 170
Clark County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Door County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Douglas County ............ ....... .. ... 173
Dunn County ...... .................... 179
Forest County ............. ..... .. ...... 181
Iron County .................. .. .. ..... . 183
Jackson County ............. .....•..... 184
Kewaunee County ...................... 188
Langlade County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Marathon County ... ........ .... ....... . 191
Marinette County ................ .. .... 192
Menominee County ...... ............... 193
Oconto County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Oneida County ......................... 199
Outagamie County .. ........ ......•..... 202
Pepin County ....................•..... 205
Pierce County .......... .... .... ....... . 208
Polk County ..... ......... ............. 210
Portage County .... ......... ........... 213
Price County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Rusk County ..... ........ ..... ......... 215
St. Croix County .......... ..... ........ 216
Sawyer County .............. ..... .. ... . 218
Shawano County ............... .. ...... 221
Trempealeau County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Vilas County ..... ... ... ..... ....... ... . 225
Vl/ashburn County .... .................. 231
Vl/aupaca County ....... ................ 233
Vl/ood County ............... ....... ... . 236
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May Key
To assist the reader, the state of Wisconsin has been divided into three
geographic parts. This book follows the geographical divisions - each wlth
its own color key. The color keyed maps indicate the position of the marker
or historical site in the state.
BLUE
Southeastern Wisconsin
YELLOW
Southwestern Wisconsin
GREEN
Northern Wisconsin
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