Posted on 01/02/2016 5:01:53 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
One of the best things about getting older is that you never stop learning. I learned a few things from this e-mail. Interesting - Especially the one about Green Bay and #10 -- Oconomowoc was popular with gangsters. (So was Mequon.)
Growing up in Wisconsin, a lot of us learned some facts about the state's history and took an historical field trip or two. But there are some things many people just don't know about the state despite living here for a long time. Here are ten little-known facts about Wisconsin's history.
1. Everything that Wisconsin is is thanks to glaciers.
Why is it that Wisconsin has enjoyed excellent crops, a dairy industry, beautiful forests, and almost a lake per person? You can thank Wisconsin glaciation. Wisconsin glaciation extended from approximately 85,000 to 10,000 years ago. Prehistoric human migration was greatly influenced through this last glacial period. Beyond that, it left us admiring some awesome geography, such as Devil's Lake State Park.
2. There are tons of effigy mounds hiding across Wisconsin.
The author has come across some of these mounds and had no idea that what he was looking at was not due to geology. Effigy mounds are raised piles of earth that were built in the shape of an animal, symbol or other figure. They were built by Native American communities throughout the country, but the most in the country are right here in Wisconsin. They built between 15,000 and 20,000 of these mounds. Today, still 4,000 exist.
3. The United States acquired Wisconsin from France.
Ha ha ha (cue French accent). Yeah, we are all little Frenchies. The French came up here and basically dominated the fur trade, bringing beaver furs back to Europe, where they were all the rage. They maintained control over us until the Treaty of Paris (1783). We were originally claimed by Massachusetts and Virginia. Eventually, we became our own state.
4. Many of the first settlers were lead miners.
You might think that Wisconsin is the "Badger State" because these cute little guys are found in Wisconsin. Actually, the reference has to do with the rush of lead miners in our state during the early 19th century. Men came to Wisconsin to mine, and rather than build structures, they would actually burrow into the hillsides. That's kind of what badgers do, so the name stuck.
5. The Republican Party was born in Ripon, Wisconsin.
A lot of people do not know that the Republican party was founded in Ripon, Wisconsin. It was founded at a meeting at the Little White Schoolhouse, which you can visit and is included on the Registered Historic Places list. The reason this party came into existence was for the express purpose to combat slavery.
6. The most disastrous fire in United States history happened in Wisconsin.
A lot of people learn about the Great Chicago Fire, even if they aren't from Illinois. But most people never learn about the Great Peshtigo Fire. Coincidentally, it occurred on the same exact day as the Chicago fire. But it was much more devastating. In fact, it caused the most deaths in one fire in United States history. As many as 2,500 people perished as a result of this fire (by contrast, the Great Chicago fire only killed around 300). Small fires were often set to clear land in Wisconsin, but on that fateful day, incredibly strong winds fanned the flames and it quickly became out of control.
7. Madison has not always been the capital of Wisconsin.
Actually, Madison was not the first. The first was Belmont, and there is a free admission historic museum located just outside of there. In these buildings, territorial legislators first met to establish the territorial government.
8. Wisconsin's oldest city is Green Bay?
It seems like Milwaukee or Madison would have been the first city. But the oldest city is actually Green Bay. Nicolet founded a trading post in Green Bay back in 1634, originally naming Green Bay "La Baie des Puants" (which means 'the stinking bay'). The British renamed it Green Bay...you're welcome. Because The Stinking Bay Packers really doesn't have the same ring to it.
9. The first American kindergarten was started in Wisconsin.
The first American kindergarten was actually started in Watertown, Wisconsin. It was opened in 1856 by Margarethe Schurz, who started a home kindergarten for her daughter and four of the cousins. She soon let other children in. You can even visit the actual house, which was been converted into a museum.
10. Wisconsin has provided a hideaway for a LOT of gangsters.
You might think that all of the old-time gangsters operated in Chicago or on the East Coast. But there is a huge history of gangsters up in Wisconsin. They really enjoyed Waukesha County, particularly Oconomowoc. Some notorious vacationers included Baby Face Nelson, Bugs Moran, John Dillinger, and, of course, Al Capone.
Why didn't we learn this stuff in history class? Or, did we?
A similarly devastating fire, almost a “twin” of the Wisconsin fire and at the very same time, occurred in Minnesota, west-central part of the state, I think.
“...and the birthplace of progressivism, IIRC”
Yep.. lot’s of opposing ideas in Sconnie.. the Lafollete dynasty(progressivism) here is akin to the Kennedy’s out east.. but Ripon is indeed the birthplace to the republican party..
I hail from Texas, but there are some areas of sconnie that rival texas in conservatism...
and we have full on awesome guvna and house/senate for a while now... so we are doing pretty good...
If you care to look, check out the voting history of Waukesha, Washinton and Ozaukee counties... hard core and basically nullify Madison(dane) and Milwaukee counties..
11. the California dairy industry was founded by cows escaping the Wisconsin winters
Thanks
Will do
Interesting.
I’ve always found the different design, markings and colors of the barns interesting.
Countries of origin certainly influenced farmers’ barn choices and look.
Main groups settling (there are many more) were Germans, Poles and Norwegians - yah?!
Don’t forget the Irish and the Italians — both very prominent and influential groups here. The Irish were here very early. According to one of my neighbors — descended from an old Irish family — the Irish (who were here first) vacated this area quickly after the Germans moved in. They moved west to the hill tops. According to her, the Irish preferred the tops of hills, while the Germans preferred the rich bottomland.
A case in point is the village next door to me. The historic Catholic Church is built on the most prominent corner in the center of town — a narrow wedge of land given by the German merchants to the mostly Irish at the time parish to encourage the Catholics to come into town where all the German shops were.
There also is a difference in the architecture of the early log houses too, with the German construction varying from the Norwegian construction. The English construction was more like we know today.
Wisconsin barns look quite different from California barns where I grew up. If I were a good photographer, I’d do a photo essay of all the interesting barns while they still are standing. We lose several in this area each year.
Thanks for the information. : )
I’ve seen coffee table books (well at least one) that featured barns.
I just loved looking at it.
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