Wisconsin's Culture

Stories

The barn raising near Edgerton, "a celebration of wood on a massive scale." I don't know about the story-teller, but this is a great story. It is a story of love for the historic timber used in old Wisconsin barns and the marriage of one about to be destroyed with one being renovated. I met a fellow named Craig "The Rooster" Roost through Facebook. He introduced me to a barn-raising project he's leading near Edgerton on property owned by Dan and Connie Bussey. I would later learn that it was a timber-frame barn disassembly, relocation, reassembly, barn-joining and renovation project, a real handful to be sure. By Ed Marek, editor. December 1, 2009.

Briggsville, a neat place to visit.Wisconsin is blessed with wonderful towns and villages. Some are so small you have to pay attention or you'll miss them. Many I have seen, however, are a nice, small size but are struggling to survive. As part of that struggle, the residents and others are working very hard to reincarnate their towns and show off their touch of class. Briggsville is one of those. I happened into it quite by accident, but I'm going back to be sure. Every time I stop at a town like this, I learn something --- one is that Wisconsin is truly God's country. That's uplifting. November 6, 2009.

That Red Covered Bridge built by "The Rooster" and Friends near Ft. Atkinson.A fellow named Craig "The Rooster" Roost introduced me to several of his delightful projects, one of which was a red covered bridge he and his colleagues built on the Glacial River Trail extending along Hwy 26 in Jefferson County from Ft. Atkinson to the Rock County line. he built the bridge using timber from a barn built in 1906. This story is about that bridge, and we insert some interesting science to the mix to make it all fun and motivating for more research. By Ed Marek, editor. October 6, 2009.

Raising Classic car show at Evanswood Village Shops, Weyauwega. On June 13, 2009, I traveled to Iola in Waupaca County to see a classic car show. When I got there, all I found was a quiet village with a ton of bikers parked on a side road, and no car show. It turned out the Iola Old Car Show was July 9-12 --- I was a month early! A couple young guys told me that there was a similar show going on over at the Evanswood Village Shops on Hwy 10 in Weyauwega, also in Waupaca. So I drove over. It was hot day, but I had a ball photographing some super old cars. July 16, 2009.

Wausau Whitewater --- not the toughest or the longest, but great for training. It's not a long stretch of white water, only 0.35 miles, and it's not the roughest white water you can find, classified as Class II-III, the lower end of difficult, but it is in downtown Wausau in Marathon County, and it is a great place for training --- training essential to white water rafting, kayaking, or even canoeing at higher levels --- It's known as Wausau Whitewater Park. I watched a training session and have some great photography. July 1, 2009.

Let's have some fun: Have I discovered an unknown fort in Marathon County? I recently ran across an old, dilapidated dairy farm complex in northeast Marathon County that I simply could not stay away from. I was surprised to see my fantasies blossom as I looked at the ruins and studied my photography. Given my imagination, I am wondering if in fact I have found a great, old, lost and unknown fort in Marathon County when no one else was looking! I'll walk you through my archeological discoveries! Flip on your imagination switch and come along for the ride. By Ed Marek. April 28, 2009.

Langlade's Ormsby Pond, a fascinating little place. It seems there is neat history one can bump into in the strangest most unexpected places in Wisconsin, and lots of fun things to see. I came upon a town that no longer exists named Ormsby, northwest of Antigo, on the West Branch of the Eau Claire River. There is a small dam here on private property that has created Ormsby Pond. I found and photographed some great water fowl here, and learned some neat history about the town, now called by some a "Ghost Town," though when I was there I saw nothing resembling even that. April 21, 2009.

Stirring memorial on Upham's Forest Road, and a grim reminder. While driving around, I came across a memorial in the woods of Langlade County that I would learn has been dedicated to Cora Jean Jones of Weyauwega, Wisconsin, Waupaca County. It was not until I returned home and did some research that I learned why the memorial was here. Normally we would think she was killed here in a car wreck. Not so. The story is far more tragic than that. The memorial is there to honor this young lady and remember her. It is also there for us to learn the circumstances under which she died and remind ourselves of our responsibilities to stop these kinds of crimes from happening again. A tough job to be sure, but our job nonetheless. April 18, 2009.

Portage County Ice Wars, snowmobile races at Mach speeds! Snowmobiles are sleds with engines under their front hoods to drive them. Snowmobiles for racers have very powerful engines tweaked by expert mechanics and teams much like at the Indy 500. It is a motorsport. In Portage County, they call the races "Ice Wars." Ice racing was the original form of snowmobile racing. Other forms have come and gone, but Ice Racing is still here. It was certainly alive and well in Amherst on January 2-4, 2009. I attended the races on January 4 and brought home some neat photography. These racers surely had "the need for speed," some clocked at over 100 mph. January 8, 2009.

Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial. The Wisconsin State Firefighters Memorial is located on the Wisconsin River, on the south side of Wisconsin Rapids, between it and Port Edwards. "The vision was to create a park with a natural and scenic setting to house a memorial to our firefighting heroes from across this great State of Wisconsin. The serenity of the setting allows park visitors to be alone with their thoughts and emotions and at the same time realize that their loves one will never be forgotten." Mission accomplished. By Ed Marek, editor. May 4, 2008.

Rib Mountain's Granite Peak on a sunny spring break day. Rib Mountain, with Wausau in Marathon County located just to its east, is the second highest "mountain" in Wisconsin. It is one of the oldest geological formations on earth. Rib Mountain State Park is situated here. Granite Park is part of the state park and is a 410-acre ski area of which about 265 acres is skiable. Its skiing season usually runs from mid-November through March. We showed up on a bright, warm March 20, 2008, just before Easter and during spring-break. March 23, 2008.

Loading and landing logs in Fifield. Fifield, Wisconsin, in northern Price County, traces its culture and history to the logging industry. In 1877, a reporter from the Phillips Times, wrote: "I fail to discover anything nice about the place ...five frame buildings, one log ditto, and a good depot." The Times had to eat those words a half year later, noting that "settlers are pouring in almost everyday." The town remains small, but it also remains a logging hub, presently a loading and landing site for Stora Enso. I watched this effort. It was fun and informative. Logging remains in Fifield's blood. By Ed Marek, editor. January 29, 2008.

An internet quip about Wisconsin. We received this from a friend on the internet, and thought it was cute. We are told it was done by Jeff Foxworthy, an American comedian, actor and game show host.

It is designed to help determine if you might live in Wisconsin. It also defines what constitutes a true "Wisconsinite." For example, "If you have had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you might live in Wisconsin." Or, "You know you are a true Wisconsinite when 'Vacation' means going up north past Hwy 8 for the weekend. December 25, 2007.

Prairie du Chien's St. Feriole Island, an abundance of history. "St. Feriole Island, where the city began, has the greatest concentration of historic landmark properties in the country." So wrote Mary Bergin in 2004. "The Prairie du Chien terrace derives new interest not only because of the antiquity of its occupance and the variety of its cultural successions, but also because the historical geography of this site, for the two centuries following 1685, epitomizes that of the Upper Mississippi Country." So wrote Glenn T. Trewartha in 1932. "It is the uniqueness of historic buildings that make each place individual. The history and heritage of a city gives it a sense of place. Preservation of historic buildings is changing the face of and actually saving many towns." So wrote Mary Jane Hettinga in 2005. Amen, say we. Our state's dominant strengths reside in towns and places like this. November 18, 2007.

Ashland's Mural Walk. Ashland, Wisconsin's Chamber of Commerce has boasted that it is known as "Lake Superior's Hometown." This is a deserving reflection of pride, and underscores why the towns people have embraced a Murals project so much. These murals create civic pride and are essential to any thriving metropolitan area. Commenting on urban murals in general, Jane Golden, director, Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has said, "It's like they're the autobiography of this city. They have the power to move the soul." October 27, 2007.

The Peshtigo Fire Museum, unlike anything we've seen. On October 8, 1871, the town of Peshtigo, Wisconsin, in Marinette County, burned to the ground, the result of a terrible forest fire.

Some 800 people died, and the town was destroyed. We want to highlight the fire museum in town.

This editor normally is not fond of museums. The Peshtigo Fire Museum is different. July 13, 2007.

Appleton's 150th birthday and annual Flag Day celebration. It doesn't get more uplifting than this. These Americans, like so many throughout the country, understand the blessings that have been bestowed on their country.

They also have great admiration for those who serve and sacrifice. So how do they express these things?

On this day in Appleton, Wisconsin, they had fun at a grand parade. By Ed Marek, editor. June 27, 2007.

Ashland's iron ore docks, a fascinating history. The iron ore trade became the dominant trade of the Great Lakes in 1888. Iron ore was discovered in the Upper Michigan Peninsula's Marquette Range in 1844. There were multiple transportation challenges to be faced if the iron ore industry here were to grow, prosper and be competitive. To make describing all this manageable, and to give it a Wisconsin flavor, we are going to concentrate on the Gogebic Iron Range, which reached into Wisconsin to Ashland, the introduction of railroads in the area, and the loading process for bulk freighters from ore docks built in Ashland. April 19, 2007.

Northern Wisconsin's Bayfield Peninsula, what fun! We recently made our "rookie run" to Wisconsin's Lake Superior region, what's known as the southern shore. This was our first visit to this area of the state, and our first visual sighting of this gigantic lake. We traveled from Wausau and stayed overnight in Duluth, Minnesota. In between all we found was fascination. A lot of people have worked very hard to "bring new life to historical buildings." This is what made the visit fun. April 10, 2007.

Ladysmith, the Soo Line and the Cottonwood. Ladysmith, once Flambeau Falls, Corbett, and Warner, is in Rusk County in the northwest. It has a great deal of charm and history. For our "six year-old" editor, the way the Soo Line Railroad intersects the Flambeau River and then intersects itself from four directions in the town center provided lots of fun. So did the two historic engines on display. And so did the town's claim that it has Wisconsin's largest cottonwood log on display. April 2, 2007.

The Cornell Pulpwood Stacker. If you've been to Cornell, Wisconsin in Chippewa County you have, no doubt, seen the Cornell Pulpwood Stacker in Stacker Park alongside the Chippewa River. You might even have read the state's official marker telling you about it. We decided to see if there was anything we could add. So we took a look at the old Cornell Wood Products Co., the dam, and bumped into Ezra Cornell, Jean Brunet, Mule-Hide Manufacturing, some history about the logging industry in the region, and the Jeffris Family Foundation. All together, a delightful ride! March 2, 2007.

The Kapliczka in Wisconsin, a proud Polish heritage. As you drive around Wisconsin, you might wonder what the religious shrines you see along the roadways are all about. Many times they stand there, alone.

These are part of the Polish-American heritage. They are known as Kapliczka, or wayside shrine. The word "Kapliczka" derives from the word for chapel. They hold great meaning among Polish-Americans, and other Christian European-Americans. December 21, 2006.

Rumble at the River, the Tomahawk Fall Ride for MDA. Each year for the past 26 years the city of Tomahawk in northern Lincoln county has held the Tomahawk Fall Ride in September. This year it was held September 17-19. The event not only brings in entertainment and the newest motorcycles and accessories from Harley-Davidson Motor Company, but it also raises money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). We present a photo gallery of people having fun and culture we find to be exciting. September 24, 2006.

Fierce Hammerball tournament at the Hammer Down Coliseum in Mosinee. When you travel the Burma Road outside Mosinee in Marathon County, you know from WWII history you are in a rough and tough neighborhood. That most certainly became obvious as we approached the Hammer Down Bar at the intersection of the Burma Road and County Highway B (CH-B), about a mile northwest of downtown Mosinee. Here we were introduced to the Second Annual Hammerball Tournament, where men and women live or die by the spike, the dive, and acute alertness. September 23, 2006.

When Dee-troit iron was Dee-troit iron, "Badgerland Classics." Since inception of this web site in 2005, we have been building a series of pages devoted to classic cars we see driving around the state, entitled, "Good ol' cars and trucks." , shown in our "Classic Cars & Trucks" Section. On August 20, 2006, we came across the 21st Annual Badgerland Classics Auto Show and Swap Meet at the Langlade County Fairgrounds in Antigo. We've created a separate photo gallery of classics that caught our attention among the many that were at the show. August 25, 2006.

A "building watcher's" lazy drive down a short stretch of Wausau's 5th Street: You do not need to confine your "home watching" to the wealthy neighborhoods of your town, though there is a lot to see in those wonderful homes. We branched out, actually a bit by accident, and found a group of middle-class homes in Wausau that we found very intriguing, though at the time we did not know why. After photographing them and learning a little about architectural styles, we found out why. These homes, all century classics, have history and weaves of style in them that are typically midwestern, very American, and fun to study and dissect. By Ed Marek, editor. April 28, 2006, updated June 25, 2007, historic addendum added April 2, 2008.

Soldiers Grove, an American's kind of town. This is a town of about 700, rolling landscapes of unglaciated hills, situated along the "mighty" Kickapoo River and Baker Creek. It is also the site of a magnificent Veterans Memorial and a park honoring Medal of Honor recipient Beauford T. "Andy" Anderson, who nearly single-handedly took down 25 enemy soldiers on Kakazu Ridge, Okinawa, and saved his company's flank through good old fashioned GI ingenuity and the help of a fellow comrade, Hans Kaufmann, who fed him their improvised "ammo." Celebrating Andy's achievements one year caused one local poet's wife to weep and him to swallow hard. America at it's very best in Soldiers Grove. March 8, 2006

Roxbury, a historic hamlet community in a magnificent countryside setting. As we travel around Wisconsin, one of the more obvious character traits of even the smallest towns is that they have many churches. Little did we know that we were about to embark on a real learning adventure driving through the village of Roxbury. Limestone, "block & stack," the Dorf Haus, St. Norbert's, Father Inama and much more. January 29, 2006

Polish Heritage Highway. Polish immigrants started to flow into Portage County in about 1857, many from the Kaszuby region of what was then known as Prussia. They began settling in the area of what is now called the town of Sharon, in a region roughly marked along Highway 66 from Ellis to Rosholt. Most of them had farmed the land back in Kaszuby, and they found the landscape and land hospitable enough to do the same here. The county has set up a Polish Heritage Highway in this area, and we visited it in the quiet of the winter. We are anxious to get back during the festivals of the summer. January 23, 2006.

Town of Dorchester honors the Four Chaplains of the USS Dorchester. While driving through Clark County, we drove into the town of Dorchester. Coming upon a small park, we could see an American flag flying, from atop what from a distance appeared to be a carefully arranged pile of stones.

After getting closer it became obvious that this was a memorial, one that looked like a naval memorial. Little did we know that we were about to learn a piece of history not widely known. November 16, 2005.

Historic buildings make towns unique. "The past is important because the past is responsible for everything we are today. It is our individual collective identity. Today things have changed. Almost every town looks the same. They are no longer unique, unless they have retained some of the historic heritage. It is the uniqueness of the historic buildings that make each place individual." September 29, 2005

Where creativity begins. Make no mistake about it, creativity is a centerpiece of the American culture, more specifically, American capitalism. Capitalism by definition means destroy that which does not work or no longer works, and create something that does work. One of the easiest and most effective ways to teach children to be creative is to teach them art. They know that in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Visit the city's "Art in the Park" to see what we mean. September 20, 2005.

Don't get more American than this, Edgar's steam & gas engine show. "Americana" refers to artifacts of the culture of the United States, like baseball, motherhood and apple pie, the diner and the flag and "The Star-Spangled Banner." In Edgar, Wisconsin, on the Kurt Umnus Farm, for the past 30 years, the North Central Wisconsin Antique Steam and Gas Engine Club has been holding an antique show and flea market. We were there, and our spines tingled with pride in our country. Look at this photo gallery and you'll be talking proud too. September 19, 2005

We highlight the great things about Wisconsin, which are also things that reflect so well on America --- its people, land, and culture.

Please help us raise money to operate the site. A donation of $20 would be wonderful Thanks!

Photo credits: Ed Marek, Marek Enterprise unless otherwise noted.