Exploring America State by State

Category Archives: Wisconsin

B-47 Memorial in the Woods of Wisconsin

Posted on by Posted in Military sites, Wisconsin Leave a comment

In the woods of northern Wisconsin near the Michigan boarder not far from the town of Hurley is the B-47 Memorial. It stands as a solemn tribute to the six airmen who perished in two separate B-47 Stratojet bomber crashes in 1961. Both incidents, occurring near Hurley, involved aircraft from the 40th Bomb Wing on training missions simulating low-level bombing runs. The first crash on February 24 claimed the lives of all four crew members, while the second on May 2 resulted in the deaths of two out of the four airmen on board. These events, though decades in the past, serve as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by military personnel during the Cold War era.

Located in a remote, wooded area, the memorial has evolved from a simple tribute into a Wisconsin State Memorial. Refurbished in 2014 by a dedicated local group, the site is now accessible to the public via ATV and snowmobile trails. It features recovered artifacts from the crashes, including a canopy and an ejection seat, which provide a tangible connection to the past. The B-47 Memorial is not only a place of remembrance for the fallen airmen but also a testament to the community’s commitment to honoring their sacrifice.

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The Highground

Posted on by Posted in Memorials, Military sites, Wisconsin Leave a comment

I have visited a lot of veterans’ memorials on my travels, but the Highground in central Wisconsin is one of the most impressive ones I have visited outside of Washington D.C. Privately funded through donations and grants, the Highground Veterans Memorial Park has 155 acres and a variety of memorials dedicated to the service men and women in several wars.

The park began in 1984 when Vietnam War veteran Tom Miller and his fellow veterans purchased land to honor their fallen brothers. The park started out as the Wisconsin Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Park, and a bike ride raised money for the flagpole and the statue titled “Fragments” to honor the Vietnam veterans. Over time, other memorials were added along with a museum and gift shop. The grounds are open 24 hours a day seven days a week all year long. They hold events throughout the year and help veterans throughout the state. It is an impressive place to visit and honor the heroes that defend our nation’s freedom.

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The Dickeyville Grotto

Posted on by Posted in Churches, Wisconsin Leave a comment

In the southwestern reaches of Wisconsin lies the quaint town of Dickeyville, named in honor of Charles Dickey, a pioneering surveyor and early inhabitant. At the center of this close-knit community stands the Holy Ghost Catholic Church, a modest brick structure dating back to the late 19th century. However, adjacent to this unassuming church lies an enchanting spectacle: the Dickeyville Grotto and its surrounding garden.

This extraordinary shrine is a testament to the vision of Father Matthias Wernerus, a German-American pastor of the church, who began its creation in 1918. With the dedicated assistance of volunteers, Father Wernerus transformed ordinary materials into captivating artistry. Broken glass, perfume bottle stoppers, seashells, vibrant shards of pottery, stones, and a myriad of other collected objects were meticulously embedded in concrete to form intricate patterns and artwork that adorn the grotto and its grounds. The shrines themselves embody both Christian faith and American values. Remarkably, without the aid of formal blueprints, the grotto evolved into a sprawling outdoor artwork and shrine, serving as a source of inspiration for Father Wernerus to promote Christianity and patriotism. After years of devoted labor, the shrine was officially dedicated on September 14, 1930. Though Father Wernerus passed away in 1931, his inspiring creation, the Dickeyville Grotto, continues to captivate and uplift visitors for generations to come.

This is one of those places that is hard to capture in a photograph. You have to visit it for yourself to see the detail of the objects in the concrete and the imense size of it all.

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Estonian Evangelical Martin Luther Church

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In the heart of Wisconsin, the Estonian Evangelical Martin Luther Church in Gleason stands as a testament to early Estonian immigration. Founded in 1907, it marks the first Estonian church in North America, built on land generously provided by Sig and Tena Heineman. The church, officially named in 1914, has survived intact, a tangible link to the past. However, a period of decline followed the departure of influential members, halting its active use. Despite the founders’ desire for the church to serve as a lasting memorial to Estonian roots, decades of restoration attempts have encountered persistent challenges.

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Liberty Pole Hill

Posted on by Posted in Parks, Wisconsin Leave a comment

While traveling through southern Wisconsin, I discovered a small hilltop park with a flagpole. I stopped to learn more and was captivated by the story behind the flag waving in the breeze.

During the Civil War, a log cabin was built on this hill as a recruiting station. The American flag flew proudly, visible for miles, inspiring local men to enlist. After the war, the cabin gradually disappeared, and the flag was no more. The hill, however, became known as Liberty Pole Hill, a lasting tribute to the original flagpole.

In 1966, Green County acquired the land and transformed it into a small park. Then, in 2010, a group of citizens erected a new flagpole, and the Stars and Stripes once again flies over southwestern Wisconsin. It’s amazing what you can learn by stopping a reading a sign in a park.

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The Cornell Stacker

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Driving into Cornell, Wisconsin I noticed a large metal framework protruding above the treetops. At first I thought it was a crane for bridge repair, but as I drove into town, I saw that it was something completely different. Standing in Mill Yard Park, the massive metal frame was a stacker used for stacking pulpwood used in the nearby paper factory.

Built in 1911, a conveyor ran down the middle of it to stack the pulpwood after logs were slashed into smaller pieces. It rises 175 feet tall and was used until 1971. It is the last remaining structure of its kind in the United States and stands as a reminder of the paper mill and logging industry in Wisconsin. It is truly an impressive mechanical marvel; you need to see it in person to understand how large it is.

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The Wisconsin Contraption

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The northern Wisconsin town of Wabeno sits near the center of Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. The logging museum is in downtown, and next to it is a large contraption in a pavilion surrounded by fencing to protect it. The massive machine looks like a cross between a locomotive, snowmobile and a bulldozer. It looks lie something Dr. Suess would come up with in one of his childrens books.

It was built in 1904 by The Phoenix Manufacturing Company of Eau Claire, Wisconsin to haul logs out of the forest. It is based on a small steam locomotive, but instead of wheels, it has caterpillar tracks. It required three men to operate: a fireman, engineer and a steersman who sat at the front and guided the skis. It could pull seven sleds loaded with logs. Only a few machines remain in the United States, and one of them is on display in Wabeno.

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The Allyn Mansion

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Built in 1885 for the wealthy Allyn family, the Delavan mansion served as their primary residence, surpassing even their lavish lakefront homes and winter retreat in Los Angeles. Mr. Allyn tragically passed away within its walls in 1913, leaving the estate to his wife. Upon her death in 1939, the mansion was bequeathed to her step-daughter, Esther, who utilized it sparingly for family gatherings.

Esther’s daughter, Ruth, inherited the property but, facing costly repairs, made drastic alterations, removing the tower, balcony, and porch, severely compromising the architectural integrity. Ruth then sold the mansion to the city of Delavan, which later sold it to a nursing home.
The conversion to a nursing home brought functional changes, including a fire escape and modifications for an elevator. However, stricter regulations forced its closure in 1966. Subsequent uses included a furniture store, which further altered the interior, obliterating original wallpapers and frescoes.

Purchased in 1984 by Joe Johnson and Ron Markwell, the mansion was a shell of its former glory. Years of dedicated restoration have brought the Allyn Mansion back to life, revealing its original splendor and offering a glimpse into the lives of the family who once called it home.

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The Disappointment of Capones Hideout

Posted on by Posted in Ruins, Wisconsin Leave a comment

Notorious gangster Al Capone sought refuge from the heat of Chicago summers and the relentless pursuit of law enforcement in the tranquil northern Wisconsin wilderness. One of his favorite hideouts was Pike Lake. Intrigued by this historical connection, I ventured down backroads to the site, only to be met with a discouraging “No Trespassing” sign. Once a popular tourist attraction, the hideout is now closed to the public.

Feeling a pang of disappointment akin to Geraldo Rivera’s frustration with Scarface’s safe, I continued my journey south to the town of Couderay. There, I stumbled upon the ruins of an old stone building. I couldn’t help but wonder if Capone himself had ever visited this mysterious structure. Now, it stands as a relic of a bygone era.

While I may not have reached my original destination, I found unexpected intrigue in the remnants of the past. I have learned that I might not get to where I wanted to go, but I will sometimes end up where I was meant to go.

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The Haunted Water Tower of Wisconsin

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Whitewater is the home of the University of Wisconsin Whitewater. Next to the campus is Starin Park that is home to one of the oldest water towers in the Dairy State. It is a stone tower with a metal tank sitting on the top. It was built in 1889 along with the Morris Pratt Institute. Pratt was a leading spiritualist, and he gained considerable wealth investing in iron mines in northern Illinois. He used his wealth to build an institute for teaching spiritualism. Spiritualists believe that the deceased can interact with the living. They believe a medium can communicate with the dead. It was popular in the late 1800s; the author of the series of Sherlock Holmes novels, Arthur Conan Doyle was a devout Spiritualist.

The Morris Pratt Institute attracted many spiritualists to the town of Whitewater, and it got the nickname of “Second Salem.” At some point, rumors began swirling around it that it was haunted by several spirits. The points on the iron fence point inward instead of outward. They say this is to keep the spirits from escaping the old tower. College students also say that it is not safe to walk by the old water tower at night and are warned not to walk past it alone. I am not sure about it being haunted or possessed, but it is an interesting old water tower that has the look of an old castle tower. A new water tower was recently constructed, replacing the historic one, and it is no longer needed. The city has discussed possibly demolishing the old tower because of maintenance costs, but I hope that they will see the historical value of such a beautiful old tower and save it from the wrecking ball.

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