Sauk County Historical Society

July 2, 1959 - Circus World Museum opens its door @Baraboo. Circus Day was proclaimed by the Wisconsin Legislature. More than 50,000 attended a noon dedication and parade. The movie "The Big Circus" starring Rhonda Fleming premiered at the Al Ringling Theater. #circus

July 1, 1947 - Postal authorities in Washington D.C, notified the postmaster at Ableman that their community would be officially changed to Rock Springs. Chosen by the citizens for its rock formations and its many springs. #saukcounty #WIhistory #rocksprings #GreatCommunities

June 24, 1915 - Al Ringling was honored as the foremost citizen @Baraboo, at a public gathering at the Courthouse grounds to show their gratitude for his magnificent opera house. #ringling #saukcounty #wisconsinhistory #baraboo

June 22, 1911: Newspapers announce the establishment of Devil's Lake State Park. A committee met at city hall to establishing a state park @devilslake. The committee proposed an annual appropriation of $35,000 for three years for the establishment of a state park. #wistateparks

Louis J Claude's Woodcarving Collection saukcountyhistory.org/curators-corne…

Join us at the SCHS museum @Baraboo for an amazing arts and artisans experience. #art #saukcounty #folkart youtube.com/clip/UgkxZ2RP3…

May 24, 1917 - The Sumpter Light Co. (Sumpter, WI) entered into a contract with Wisconsin River Power Co. The farmers got together and in short order put up poles and transmission lines, and wired their farms. #saukcounty #wisconsinhistory #determination #LetsDoIt

1918 - Disaster befalls Plain, WI, when a cyclone destroyed many buildings. After the storm passed, residents were horrified to find their beloved church and rectory gone. Homes and barns were blown away and 4-year old John Beck was killed in the twister. #Wisconsin #saukcounty

1897 - On this day in Sauk County History - Gollmar Bros. Circus performs two shows @Baraboo with two circus bands and the largest troupe of trained stallions in the world - admission was 25 cents.#circus #saukcounty #wisconsinhistory

George Schlieckau, born in 1904, became the first airplane pilot and owner @saukcounty. George soloed his plane in 1928 at age 23. I hit the ground before the landing field,” he said. “I bounced so hard that I went up 12 feet saukcountyhistory.org/george-schliec… #aviation #wihistory

April 27, 1939 - The Sauk County News reports Sauk Co. has 1,636.74 miles of highways, roads and streets. Averaging 40 mph and driving 8 hours every day, a motorist would have to drive five days before driving every mile of county roadway. (Photos @Ironton) #saukcounty #history

Our congratulations to Mary Orlowski on her 2022 William Canfield History Award. Well deserved. Thank you, Mary, for all of your volunteer efforts for the Sauk County Historical Society. Your amazing work is most appreciated. #grateful #volunteer #baraboowisconsin

April 21, 1859, Isabella Case was born in the Town of Summit, Wisconsin, grew up in @Baraboo, and married Bob La Follette in 1881. Belle was active in women's suffrage, supported racial equality, and worked for world disarmament after WWI. #history #voting #Wisconsin #leadership

April 8, 1905, Excavation begins on the fourth and present day @saukcountycourthouse. By June 7, 1905, the cornerstone at the southwest corner was set. The Courthouse lacked a clock tower when first built. The clock tower was added just a few years later. #saukcounty #baraboo

April 7, 1846 - Citizens of @saukcounty vote to relocate the county seat from Prairie du Sac to Baraboo. Pictured is the courthouse that had been used for almost 50 years before it caught fire in December 1904. #saukcounty #wisconsinhistory #prairiedusac #baraboo

The Captain Roberts Mine in central Sauk County was opened in 1910 to extract iron ore. Mysteriously the mine was abandoned in 1911 with everything left inside including the tools and equipment. Watch this amazing video! #mining #Wisconsin #sauk youtu.be/Y6dh1lemFVM

In 1846, Chester Mattson arrived in the unsettled area with a commission from the legislature to construct a ferry across the Wisconsin River. The ferry, named Matt's Ferry was drawn by a cable that was suspended in air and attached to the ferry and two pulleys. #merrimac #sauk

1914 - A debate happened in the Prairie du Sac area about the naming of the new lake resulting from construction of the dam for the new hydroelectric power plant on the Wisconsin River. The Portage Democrat endorsed naming the new lake after Magnus Swenson. #lakewisconsin

1954 -The Sauk Prairie Star prints a Petition for Recall of U.S. Senator Joseph R. McCarthy. Petitions were to be completed and forwarded to the Secretary of State in Madison or to the STAR in Sauk CIty. #saukcounty #wisconsinhistory #saukcity

1844 - A group of men gathered at the "Upper Sauk" (Prairie du Sac) dwelling of Joshua Abbott to hold an election. Abbott's dwelling served as the county's first hotel and tavern. In March 1844 it also served as the county courthouse, where Abbott was elected Sheriff. #WIhistory