Polka Dancing Holds a Special Place in Wisconsin’s Dance History

by Ayelen Flores, age 14

An exciting dance called polka was named the Wisconsin State Dance 30 years ago. This genre originated in Europe nearly 90 years ago and still has significance today.

The dance originated in European countries as a variation of the waltz. Polka involved more physical contact between partners and couples whirling in each other's arms. Polka has a rapid tempo with a lot of footwork and hopping. Young middle-class people were mostly the ones who danced the polka. During the 1840s, when Europe entered its revolutionary period, Polka was used as an act of rebellion against the aristocracy – a small privileged class of people who held power. Polka soon spread across Europe and the Atlantic.

Polka arrived in Wisconsin in the 1840s, before it became a state. Central European immigrants brought the dance to Wisconsin and kept it alive. The squeezebox and the button accordion were handmade instruments many immigrants carried with them to create the rhythm. [Read More]

Wisconsin's Beloved Fast Food Franchise Celebrates 40 Years

by Allison Torres, age 16

Culver’s, the Wisconsin fast food staple, is celebrating its 40th birthday in 2024. Over these past four decades, the restaurant has grown while staying true to its roots.

Craig Culver, who created Culver's, wanted to be independent from his dad, who worked in the farming industry. In 1961, he and his wife decided to buy the Sauk City A&W restaurant. Craig wanted to start a business but had no clue how. He then began to work at a fast food restaurant and soon after began brainstorming the business approach for the A&W building they had purchased. He and his wife painted the building blue and white and fixed the outside. They opened for business on July 18, 1984.

The first few years were difficult because they didn’t know how to run a business. Their first menu consisted of Craig’s fresh frozen custard, butter burgers, cheese curds, tender roast beef, and of course their famous fish fry on Fridays. [Read More]

Name of New U.S. Navy Vessel Honors the City of Beloit, Wisconsin

by Ayelen Flores, age 14

A recently completed ship will be the third U.S. naval vessel named after a Wisconsin city. The USS Beloit, a new freedom-class littoral combat ship, honors that city’s history of diesel engines built for the military.

Beloit is a city in southern Wisconsin with roughly 36,000 people, who are very hardworking and proud of their accomplishments. All of the engines built there have been made by the manufacturer Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD). FMD has around 250 workers on the east bank of the Rock River.

The engines built there are made by the manufacturer Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD). [Read More]

The 72 Counties that Make Up Wisconsin

by Estefania Garcia-Fox, age 13

Many Wisconsin counties were named after historical figures, such as John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States.

Wisconsin used to be British land; however, it was transferred to American control in 1783, and in 1848 became a part of the United States.

States are divided into counties. Each county has a county seat where the county government offices are located. There are 72 counties in Wisconsin. In this state, there are county officials that are elected by voters for a four-year term. County officials work to ensure that counties continue to prosper and remain safe for their communities. County officials include the sheriff, county executive, district attorney, register of deeds, and treasurer. [Read More]

How the Bennett Law Sparked Debate in Wisconsin’s Schools

by John Agbo, age 13

The government designs laws with the right intentions, but sometimes those intentions can lead to bad policy. The Bennett Law is one such example.

In the mid-1800s, there was a large increase in German and Scandinavian immigrants from Europe to Wisconsin. They established schools in their native languages, so children could understand what they were learning in American schools, and maintain their cultural heritage. The state government was first introduced to this law by Michael J. Bennett, an assemblyman from Iowa County. His extensions were to establish public or private education for children across the state. However, the public's sentiment escalated and this became controversial. It stated that children must attend a public or private school, but that the students must be taught all subjects, including U.S. history, in English only. The bill was signed into law on April 17, 1889, by Governor Hoard.

Few people had problems with mandatory school attendance, but the language requirement started a torrent of criticism. While some, like Horace Rublee, editor of the Milwaukee Sentinel, believed that the law was an effective way to enforce the English language, others were unable to understand English and opposed the English language requirement provisions of the law. The Lutheran and Catholic German churches were also opposed to the law; they wanted their children to attend the school of their choice. Other ethnic groups, such as the Irish and Scandinavians shared similar sentiments and felt as if the law was a personal attack on their native language. Wisconsin Governor William Dempster Hoard was shocked, and insisted that children of immigrants must learn English to enable them to be “useful citizens.” During the 1890 election, the Republican Party came out in favor of the law. Democrats were opposed to it. The Christian and Lutheran churches aligned themselves with the Democrats. The Scandinavian, Irish, and German, alike, voted Democratic party or withheld their vote. In 1891, the Bennett Law was repealed. [Read More]

Vinnie Ream Hoxie: The Woman Who Sculpted Lincoln

by Allison Torres, age 15

The famous statue of Abraham Lincoln in Washington D.C. created by Vinnie Ream proved to society that women could create valuable art.

Ream was born in 1847 in Madison, Wisconsin, where she lived for ten years. Her family moved to Missouri, but later relocated to Washington D.C. during the Civil War. In 1863, Ream had a chance to visit Clark Mills’s studios and see multiple sculptures. Inspired by what she saw, she began sculpting. Ream recalled, “I felt at once that I, too, could model and, taking the clay, in a few hours I produced a medallion of an Indian chief’s head.”

She began sculpting busts of prominent men, including General George Armstrong Custer, Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, and New York editor Horace Greeley. Eventually, her friends helped arrange for her to sculpt a bust of President Lincoln. [Read More]

A Look at Devil’s Lake State Park’s Rich History and Trails

by Arsema Biruk, age 8

The largest state park in Sauk County, Wisconsin, spans 9,217 acres of rocky cliffs, water, and forests and is known as Devil’s Lake. The park is home to a beautiful 360-acre lake surrounded by dramatic bluffs, wooded trails, and scenic vistas.

Devil’s Lake State Park offers a variety of hiking trails totaling about 29 miles. Trails range from paved, handicapped-accessible paths to challenging routes for experienced hikers, as well as pet-friendly trails. There are three campgrounds in the park, with around 407 campsites available for overnight visitors.

Rock climbing is another popular activity at Devil’s Lake. The Stettner brothers, known as pioneers of climbing in the mid-20th century, helped establish challenging routes on the park’s famous cliffs. The local climbing scene has been influenced by groups of climbers who frequented the area in the 1970s and 1980s. With its smooth rock faces and towering boulders, Devil’s Lake remains a favorite destination for climbers, though it can be hazardous for the unprepared. [Read More]

Dragon Boat Racing Has Become a Wisconsin Tradition

by Chelsea Zheng, age 12

Dragon Boat festivals are held all over the world. Teams that participate can be medical organizations, pan-Asian groups, or just ordinary people who want to try the sport. These races are held because they bring communities together and keep long-held traditions alive. It’s also fun and accessible for all!

The dragon boat festival honors a respected figure named Qu Yuan. Due to the corrupt government in the kingdom of Chu, Qu Yuan was falsely accused of disloyalty by his political rivals, leading to his exile from the kingdom. As a final act of declaration against the government, he drowned himself in the Mi Lo River. The Chinese people deemed this as an honorary act, prompting fishermen to row swiftly in an attempt to retrieve the body. To ensure that the fish did not consume the body, they beat drums and threw rice dumplings to divert their attention. This practice became a long-standing tradition that persists to this day.

The dragon boat is a very technical design, specifically built to continue the tradition while maintaining speed during a race. This tradition was founded in Southern China. A dragon boat is typically eight to 18 meters long and can hold between ten to 20 people. It is made of teak wood and is embellished with painted dragon scales and a gong in the middle of the boat. Besides the rowers, there is also a steersperson and drummer. The steersperson uses the long steering oar to guide the boat while the drummer hits the drum to keep everyone in rhythm. [Read More]

Baseball History in Wisconsin: The Story of the Milwaukee Brewers

by Max Moreno, age 12

The Milwaukee Brewers were not always called the Brewers, and the story of the team's origin stretches back more than 100 years. The history of the Brewers name is a fascinating chapter in American sports history.

Baseball appeared in Milwaukee around the 1840s, and the first team was known as The Cream City Club. They obtained this name from the light-colored bricks used in many of Milwaukee's city structures. Milwaukee's first professional team, the Grays, started in 1878 in the National League. The name had been thrown around before but it wasn't until around the 1900s that the name Milwaukee Brewers was associated with Major League Baseball (MLB) with the name stemming from the rich brewing history of Milwaukee. In the year 1900, they were one of the eight charter members of the American League.

The Grays franchise moved to St. Louis, where they played as the Browns for 53 years before moving again to Baltimore to become the Orioles. After the Grays moved locations another team with the name the Milwaukee Brewers took their place. This team would prove to be more enduring. The club began to play in 1902 and was a Minor League team that found a home in Borchert Field along Chambers Street. The team attracted lots of young fans including the future owner of the Brewers and MLB Commissioner, Bud Selig. [Read More]

The Driftless Historium: A Journey Through Time in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin

by Dayanara Flores Gonzalez, age 16

There is a museum in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin that’s well worth a visit. The Driftless Historium and Mt. Horeb Historical Society are only a short drive from Madison, but inside the facility are objects and exhibits that teach history and spark the imagination.

It’s been a while since student reporters from Simpson Street have been to this fantastic museum. But we’ve seen the photos of prior visits and read the reviews from former students. So, we were excited to hit the road and visit Mt. Horeb and the Driftless Historium. Of course, we also wanted more photos of trolls. But that’s a different part of the story. [Read More]

How Monona’s Historic Lakefront Became San Damiano Park

By Sedona Afeworki, age 15

San Damiano is a lakefront park and historical site in Monona. A non-profit called The Friends of San Damiano, created in July of 2020, is working with the City of Monona to make the property a “one-of-a-kind Lake Monona destination.”

The San Damiano property has been passed down and exchanged several times since it was originally inhabited by indigenous communities. The Ho-Chunk Nation had been on the property since the ice ages, and in 1850, a Native American burial mound site was discovered near the San Damiano property.

Its next known occupant was Frank Allis, heir to the Allis-Chalmers farm machinery company. In 1893, Allis built a Dutch Colonial Revival house on the estate, which was 600 acres of farmland along Lake Monona. The still-standing 130-year-old house, which included a ballroom and seven fireplaces, was one of the first permanent residences along the lake outside of Madison. [Read More]

Learn the History Behind the Black Hawk War

By Max Moreno, age 12

The Black Hawk War started on April 6, 1832, and was the result of a series of misunderstandings and broken promises, leading to a tragic massacre of hundreds of Native American men, women, and children.

In 1804, future president William Henry Harrison and two representatives of the Sauk Nation signed a controversial treaty that sold all the Sauk land east of the Mississippi for $2,500, a deal widely seen as unfair even at the time. Many Sauk chiefs in Illinois and Wisconsin did not agree to the treaty, so they considered it invalid and continued to live in their village of Saukenuk near the Rock River in western Illinois.

About 25 years later, lead mining became common in the area, and thousands of settlers crowded out the Sauk. The Sauk leaders believed it was pointless to resist since the settlers were backed by the American military. The U.S. government ordered the Sauk to move west of the Mississippi, promising them enough corn to survive the winter. However, when the Sauk moved west, the U.S. failed to deliver the promised supplies. [Read More]

The Battle of Wisconsin Heights

by Ayelen Flores Ruiz, age 14

The Battle of Wisconsin Heights was the turning point of the Black Hawk War, an historic event that helped shape Wisconsin. It is also a very important battle because it was the last Indigenous battle to happen in the United States. A critical outcome of the battle was the decrease of the Native American population.

The “Black Hawk War'' refers to the conflict between the U.S. and Sauk American Indians. It was named after Black Hawk, the leader of the Sauk tribe, who led the Fox, Kickapoo and Ho-Chunk tribes in battle. The Battle of Wisconsin Heights began on July 21, 1832, when about 120 warriors and 700 non-combatants passed through what is now downtown Madison. The Sauk hiked over the landmarks now known as the Capitol Square, UW-Madison campus, and Lake Mendota. The Sauk starved throughout the duration of the journey, which led many to be caught or killed by soldiers. After reaching the south shore of the Wisconsin River, U.S. troops fired upon the Sauk who tried to cross the Wisconsin River while the sun was setting. The troops had been deployed in that same spot since morning.

When the Sauk were suppressed by the U.S. Army, they had no choice but to fight or sacrifice their loved ones. Black Hawk said, “We were compelled to fight, or sacrifice our wives and children to the fury of the whites.” About 120 Sauk defended the pass against three thousand Whites, while the non-combatants crossed the Wisconsin River in plain sight. As soon as they were safe, they dispersed and ran. [Read More]

Stewart Lake County Park is a Hidden Gem in Dane County's Driftless Area

by Samuel Garduño Martínez, age 17

Just west of Madison near the village of Mt. Horeb lies one of Dane County’s hidden gems—its first official park. Nestled in the Driftless Area, Stewart Lake County Park’s bluffs and valleys are a unique piece of Wisconsin. First and foremost, the topography is breathtakingly special. Unlike other regions in the Midwest, the Driftless Area escaped the flattening effects of thousand-year-old-glaciers.

This summer, students from Simpson Street Free Press embarked on several field trips to the Driftless Area. Our plans are to visit this still-preserved treasure and study its characteristics. On one recent trip, we learned that despite going through much change, Stewart Lake County Park is beloved by the people who use it and know it.

Stewart Lake County Park, formerly known as Lake Park, has been around since the early 20th century, but the site has beautifully carved over thousands of years. The park itself has undergone several drastic transformations since it was designated a park in 1912. [Read More]

Archeologists Make Historic Discoveries in Lake Mendota

by Dani Garduño, age 13

Lake Mendota is known for mysterious secrets and historic discoveries, and archaeologists now say that one of its oldest secrets may have just been revealed. Recently, researchers have identified nine more dugout canoes on the lake's bottom, including one estimated to be around 4,500 years old, making it the oldest known dugout canoe found in the Great Lakes region.

Archaeologists from the Wisconsin Historical Society discovered these nine additional canoes near Shorewood Hills with the help of radiocarbon dating and wood analysis. One canoe fragment, estimated to be 4,500 years old, dates back to around 2500 B.C., a time when hunters and gatherers lived in seasonal communities. This makes it the oldest dugout canoe found in the Great Lakes region.

While this ancient canoe is an important discovery, it is only one of many canoes that have been found in Lake Mendota. The canoes were categorized by archaeologists based on the types of wood used to construct them. The materials included elm, ash, cottonwood, white oak, and red oak—woods commonly used by the ancestors of the Ho-Chunk Nation and other Native peoples. The Wisconsin Historical Society continues to collaborate with the Ho-Chunk Nation to learn more about these historic watercraft and the people who built them. [Read More]

Madison Students Revive Wisconsin History with Modern-Made Birch Bark Canoe

by Camila Cruz, age 16

Students are using modern technology to build a Native American birch bark canoe; in doing so, they're keeping a part of Wisconsin history alive. In a new class offered through a partnership with the local office of the Ho-Chunk Nation, Madison junior high and high school students built a plywood reconstruction of the boats used by Wisconsin tribes for centuries.

Gene Delcourt, a woodshop instructor, directed the class. He learned the skill from a German YouTuber and a master Ojibwe canoe maker. Delcourt previously studied the art of canoe making when he traveled to Lac du Flambeau in 2021 and learned from expert builder Wayne Valliere of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. Delcourt had also built three canoes at a Monona alternative school.

[Read More]

Discovering Aztalan, Wisconsin's Hidden Ancient Civilization

by Aria McClinton, age 13

Aztalan was an ancient civilization located in what is now southern Wisconsin. It was discovered in the 1820s by American settlers, who named the hidden civilization but did not explore its origins.

Then came Increase A. Lapham, a natural scientist from Wisconsin. He revisited Aztalan in 1850 after the settlers. Lapham couldn't tell what used to be there. He studied and made detailed drawings of the area. These maps helped future researchers see what Aztalan was like before much of it was turned into farmland.

In 1919, Samuel Barrett, the founder of the Milwaukee Public Museum, did detailed research under the surface of Aztalan. At first, he thought the hills and bumps were effigy mounds from the Native Americans. Later, Barrett discovered that the Crawfish River cut a ravine through some of the land. He was excited because this revealed more tools, bones, and other artifacts. Later in his studies, he could tell that it was a very advanced civilization from things like structures or pottery. [Read More]

A Fascinating Visit to Mazomanie's Historic Museum

by Siheon Park, age 11

On a recent warm sunny day, reporters from Simpson Street Free Press departed South Towne Mall in Madison and headed toward Mazomanie, Wisconsin. We were heading to western Dane County. We had heard and read about the history museum located in this small town and wanted to see it for ourselves.

We arrived around 10:30 in the morning. Even the outside of the building was interesting. It looked very old, like there was history inside, and it made us curious to go inside.

We were greeted by Judi Curtis, a longtime volunteer and part of the brain trust that maintains this very special place. Judi had us sign in and we exchanged business cards. As we were doing that, we were also looking around at all the fascinating objects and exhibits. We were anxious to explore and learn more. [Read More]

Chief Buffalo: A Leader's Legacy in Preserving Ojibwe Rights

by Ian Kosharek age 11

Kechewaishke, known as Chief Buffalo, was the tribal leader of the Lake Superior Ojibwe people. He lived in La Pointe, which today is known as Madeline Island. Kechwaishke was born in 1759 and died in 1855.

Kechewaishke played a major role in signing treaties between the U.S. government and the Ojibwe tribe. He was well known for his work to conserve lands for Native Americans in Wisconsin, resisting attempts by the U.S. government to take away territories. Kechewaishke and the tribe peacefully protested against the U.S. government. His people valued and recognized his ability to speak publicly, and other Ojibwe tribes in the area began to recruit him as a spokesperson to negotiate treaties with the government.

Kechewaishke served as an authority figure who represented Ojibwe tribes in the Lake Superior region for the treaties of 1837 and 1842. In these treaties, he wrote letters describing his discontent with the United States government and its actions to gain control of native land to access lumber and other natural resources. At 93 years old, Kechewaishke even went to Washington, D.C., with other tribal leaders to speak about the injustices they faced by the government with President Millard Filmore. [Read More]

The “Mataafa Blow” of 1905 was Lake Superior’s Greatest Storm

by Will DeFour, age 13

Lake Superior has sunk over 500 ships, claiming an estimated 30,000 lives. This lake's ability to sink ships is primarily attributed to the terrifying storms that terrorize its mountain-like waves. With hail storms, frigid waters, and winds reaching 70 miles an hour, it's no wonder this lake has taken so many lives. Some ships have become famous, such as the Edmund Fitzgerald, but one legendary storm sank almost 20 boats in just two days.

On November 27, 1905, this behemoth of a storm hit Lake Superior, caused by a low and high-pressure system violently hitting each other. Some captains foolishly tried to brave the storm. Those who attempted had to retreat to their harbors or sink thousands of feet below. Capt. Richard F. Humble of the Mataafa decided to brave the storm, not knowing that the sheer weight of this storm would soon humble him.

On the first day of the storm, after 12 hours of winds reaching hurricane speeds, Humble realized that there was no way he could face the weather. With snow falling so quickly that he could not see anything beyond the ship, the crew made their way closer to shore. The captain said, "The sea [Lake Superior] had become so large that it was running over our decks on both sides." Humble, with his back to the storm, decided to sail back to his home port as quickly as he could, unaware of the horrors that would await him there. [Read More]

Wisconsin History and the Invention of Typewriters

by Sedona Afeworki, age 15

Christopher Latham Sholes created the first practical typewriter in 1874, right here in Wisconsin.

He was born in Pennsylvania in 1819 after finishing his apprenticeship in newspapering and moved to Green Bay when he was 18 years old. There, he started working for his brothers at the Wisconsin Democrat as a publisher. Around a year later, his brothers promoted him to edit the Madison Enquirer. Sholes later moved to Kenosha and created the Southport Telegraph, which he worked on for seventeen years. He also worked in Wisconsin politics, organizing the Republican Party and Free Soil Party, which resulted in a successful campaign to outlaw the death penalty.

In the fall of 1867, Sholes created a working typewriter with the help of Matthias Schwalbach, a machinist, and Samuel Soule, an inventor. Later, he had a test race with the superintendent of the Western Union Telegraph; the superintendent was writing with his hand and Sholes using the new typewriter. In the end, Sholes was quicker in finishing the sentence. One would think it would give them more sales, yet that wasn’t the case. [Read More]

The Green Bay Packers, From Bankruptcy to Community-Owned NFL Legacy

by Kaleab Afeworki, age 11

You may have heard of the Green Bay Packers, but did you know that this successful NFL team once faced bankruptcy? It's true!

Back in the early days, Green Bay, the smallest city in Wisconsin to join the NFL, had a relatively small fan base and limited financial resources. This situation left the Packers in precarious financial shape during the 1920s. In 1935, they hit a critical point, ultimately going bankrupt. To navigate this financial crisis, they established a new company known as Green Bay Packers Inc. and raised $15,000 by selling stock shares of the team to the public.

The team's founding fathers, Ed "Curly" Lambeau, after whom the stadium was named, and George Calhoun, played pivotal roles in the Packers' history. The name "Packers" itself has an interesting historical connection. It was inspired by Lambeau's affiliation with the Indian Packing Corporation, a meatpacking company. This choice resonated with the working-class residents who made up the core of the Green Bay community during that era. [Read More]

Exploring the Award-Winning Restoration of the 1868 Brisbane House in Arena, Wisconsin

by Ayelen Flores Ruiz, age 13

The historic Brisbane House in Arena, Wisconsin, is renowned for its builder's past. William Henry Brisbane, known as an "abolitionist," faced significant scrutiny when he embraced this cause and subsequently relocated from his Southern home state.

Born on October 12, 1806, Brisbane began his journey as a cadet at the Norwich Military Academy in Norwich, Vermont. He later inherited 33 enslaved individuals from his family. While residing in a South Carolina house with his slaves, Brisbane underwent a transformation in his beliefs, recognizing the inherent wrongfulness of slavery. He made the courageous decision to set his slaves free, a move that garnered heavy criticism and disdain from his community. Nonetheless, this opposition did not deter him from persisting in his human rights campaign. To escape judgment and pursue his cause, Brisbane left South Carolina and settled in what is now Arena, Wisconsin, embarking on a new chapter in his life.

Brisbane harbored grand plans to construct a house where he could reside and eventually provide accommodation for others after his passing. The house was built in the "I-style," a design Southerners transported with them when they migrated North. Characterized by its towering structure and an interior adorned with numerous large windows that facilitated excellent ventilation in the summer, the house also featured tall doors. Remarkably, the house still stands in good condition. [Read More]

The Last Voyage of the SS Phoenix

by Kelly Vazquez, age 17

On November 11th, 1847, the steamboat S.S. Phoenix, was sailing across Lake Michigan. It carried an estimated 293 passengers, many of whom were immigrants from the Netherlands. However, many of these passengers would never go on to see their destination.

Around 4:00 am on November 21st, smoke began to escape the ship's engine room as the boilers overheated and set overhead wooden beams on fire. When the crewmen discovered the fire, the Phoenix was within seven miles of the town of Sheboygan.

Although at first, the crew managed to contain the flames, the fire raged out of control shortly after. The ship's passengers were alerted and First Mate Watts organized the crew and passengers into a bucket brigade (passing buckets of water down a line of people) in an attempt to fight the fire. The fire continued to grow. Watts ordered the ship to turn towards the shore, but the fire overwhelmed the engine room and the ship drifted until it stopped about five miles from shore and nine miles from Sheboygan. [Read More]

Deep Diving for History: Another Ancient Canoe Found in Lake Mendota

by Theodore Morrison, age 15

An ancient canoe dating back three millennia has recently been unearthed from the bottom of Lake Mendota. This artifact was discovered by Tamara Thomsen, a regular scuba diver in the lake, who was teaching a diving lesson to a student when she spotted what would end up being the exposed end of the canoe.

The canoe could be dated as far back as 1000 BCE! To put that in perspective, Japan, one of the oldest existing nations on the planet, was founded in 660 BCE, making the canoe older. This is not the only bizarre thing about the discovery: Thomsen also discovered the previous record-holder for the oldest intact canoe, in Wisconsin just a year ago.

The canoe was crafted by ancestors of the tribe now known as the Ho-Chunk Nation. This canoe was praised by archaeologist Amy Rosebrough saying, “I don’t have many words for what this is right now. I can’t really think of much that competes with this. I really can’t. I mean Wisconsin has incredible archaeology, but this is stellar.” The quote exemplifies the quality of the product the pre-Ho-Chunk Nation people made and the state of its preservation. [Read More]

Ezekiel Gillespie Helped Secure Voting Rights in Wisconsin

by Melanie Bautista, age 16

Ezekiel Gillespie was a civil rights activist that was known for his accomplishments and his big impact in the African American community in Wisconsin.

Gillespie was born into slavery in 1818 in the state of Tennessee. After he bought his freedom for $800, he moved around the country, eventually moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1854. There, he focused on challenges faced by the African American community.

Gillespie was active in the Underground Railroad during the Civil War. Gillespie became a messenger for the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, where he helped escaped slaves travel to northern states, including Wisconsin. [Read More]

Tony Bennett's Remarkable Basketball Journey from Player to NCAA Championship Coach

by Owen Atayi, age 15

Tony Bennett is currently a National College Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball head coach for the Virginia Cavaliers. However, Bennett isn’t simply just a coach; he was first a great basketball player.

Anthony Guy Bennett was born June 1, 1969, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Growing up, Bennett enjoyed playing the game of basketball. In high school, Bennett was a six-foot point guard who attended Green Bay Preble High School. After high school, Bennett made a big jump to college basketball where he represented his father, Dick Bennett on the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix men’s basketball team.

In college, Bennett averaged 21.5 points per game as a junior and 20.2 points per game as a senior. Bennett wasn’t just your ordinary basketball player. He shot a whopping 51 percent from the three-point range. Bennett finished off his college career in 1992 and was named Mid-Continent Conference’s all-time leader, along with many other NCAA accolades. [Read More]

Why You Should Visit Wisconsin River

by Elim Eyobed, age 11

Have you ever been to the Wisconsin River? We’ve heard from explorers that it is a good place for boating, fishing, and camping. Other benefits of going to the Wisconsin River are the numerous animal species.

The Wisconsin River is a great resource of food, water, and space for many different species like beavers, otters and fish. It is also a great source of business specifically for Native people, explorers, and fur trappers.

The Wisconsin River has been used as a way of transporting materials like logs for lumber or paper. Logs are floated down the river and sent to Central Wisconsin where they are used for things like building houses. There have also been many dams built along the Wisconsin River, supplying electricity to the rest of the state. The Wisconsin River is a 430 mile long tributary of the Mississippi river. [Read More]

What Life Was Like for Wisconsin's Early People

by Max Moreno, age 9

It is challenging to think about what life was like a thousand years ago. However, how about thinking all the way back to 10,000 years ago, when Wisconsin Natives were constructing living areas, tools, and mounds.

As time went on, people from different regions began to settle in what is now known as Wisconsin. For example, native groups from the Mississippi area traveled up the Mississippi River to reach Wisconsin. They planted gardens and began to set up living areas, growing crops such as corn and beans.

These early people in Wisconsin also were forming communities, and establishing rules and traditions that were shared from one family generation to another. [Read More]

The Armistice Day Blizzard: Worst Winter Storm in Wisconsin History

by Theodore B. Morrison, age 14

Anyone who lives in the northern Midwest has experienced his or her fair share of snowstorms. These snowstorms though, do not compare to the Armistice Day Blizzard, one of the most devastating natural disasters in Wisconsin’s history.

The name originates from the storm which occurred on Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day, a day that celebrated the end of World War I and a new period of peace. However, this blizzard was anything but peaceful.

The Armistice Day Blizzard on November 11 and 12, 1940 caused a drastic drop in temperature that resulted in more than 150 deaths in Wisconsin. The blizzard formed when cold northern air combined with warm moisture from the Gulf Coast, which created a sudden drop in air pressure. The storm generated winds up to 80 MPH, creating 20-foot snowdrifts, laying down a foot of snow, and conditions similar to those of a hurricane. [Read More]

The Ancient City of Aztalan Is a Wisconsin Mystery

by Eleanor Pleasnick, age 13

Most people know that there are ruins of ancient cities and towns all over the world. Even Wisconsin has them, and Aztalan is one of the most famous ancient sites in our state. Aztalan is also the largest historical site in Wisconsin.

You can find the ancient remains of Aztalan, which is now a Wisconsin State Park, about 30 miles east of Madison and approximately 50 miles west of Milwaukee. This area, now known to be the northernmost settlement occupied by the ancient Mississipians, is close to both the small town of Lake Mills and the Crawfish River.

The Middle Mississippian people originally migrated to Aztalan around 1100 A.D. Archeologists have found many cultural remains in the area. By studying the evidence, archeologists believe that people migrated to Aztalan from a large Mississippian city called Cahokia, located in an area that is now Illinois. The remains at Cahokia and at Aztalan show many similarities, which has led archaeologists to make this connection. [Read More]

Large Meteor Crashes to Earth in Wisconsin

by Justin Medina Ruiz, age 13

In April of 2010, a large meteor struck across the Midwest skies, passing Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri at an altitude ranging between 6,000 to 12,000 feet. The meteoroid released heavy amounts of sound energy, known as a sonic boom, which was heard hundreds of miles away.

The meteoroid rapidly decreased in size, burning up, as it traveled down through the Earth’s sub-atmosphere, until it eventually crashed near Lancaster, Wisconsin. According to the National Weather Service, no one was injured. The impact, however, destroyed several trees and houses and left a huge scar on the Earth’s surface. Scientists estimated that while burning up, it exploded with a force equivalent to 20 tons of TNT.

This is not the first account of a meteor crash in Wisconsin. On record, approximately 13 meteorites have hit the State since the 1860s. These cometary remains were observed. They weighed between one and 530 pounds. When meteors are spotted in the sky, they are called “falls,” and when recovered from the ground, they are called “finds.” [Read More]

Ed "Strangler" Lewis: Wisconsin's World Champion

by Moore Vang, age 13

Ed “Strangler” Lewis was one of the most famous athletes in the world in the 1920s and 1930s, along with baseball player Babe Ruth and boxer Jack Dempsy. During that time, he managed to win five world championships and made the sport of wrestling more popular around the world.

Robert Friedrich, later known as Ed Lewis, was born on June 30, 1891, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. When he was 13, he and his family moved to Wood County, which is where he began wrestling. In high school, his team had a match near Wisconsin Rapids where he would defeat the local champion after a long fought battle in front of 300 people. Robert took on all types of competitors throughout high school and won most of his matches.

He then briefly attended Ripon College, but the opportunity to wrestle professionally inspired him to drop out. On July 4th, 1916, Robert participated in a five and a half hour long wrestling match – one of the longest in history. He fought against Joe Stretcher, a former wrestling champion. Although the match ended in a draw, four years later, in 1920, Robert defeated Stretcher to win the world championship title for the first time. [Read More]

Wisconsin Supreme Court 4-3 Decision Sparks Open Records Debate

by Leilani McNeal, age 17

Open government watchdogs say a recent 4-3 decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court might weaken part the state’s landmark 1982 Open Records Law. The court ruled citizens are only entitled to certain types of open records requests if there is “some judicially sanctioned change in the parties’ legal relationship.”

The opinion dates back to a 2017 lawsuit filed by Waukesha residents and a taxpayer group, Friends of Frame Park. The dispute concerned city plans to bring an amateur baseball team to the community.

The litigants were granted their records request, but later denied access to a proposed draft contract between the City of Waukesha and Big Top Baseball. But city officials claimed public access during ongoing negotiations might compromise the future contract. Waukesha officials said “public disclosure of the draft contract before the Common Council has had an opportunity to consider the draft” might hinder negotiations. [Read More]

Wisconsin's Long History of Devastating Winter Weather

by Daniel Li, age 14

Although many people have a very loose definition of a blizzard, the official classification requires the storm to last for longer than three hours with winds of at least 35 miles per hour.

Light blizzards are merely just a part of the weather in many places. Today, if you’re stuck in traffic, you can turn on the heat and listen to the radio, or if you’re at home, you can watch TV, read a book and just relax. But back in the 1800s and early 1900s, these luxuries didn’t exist. There were no government services to assist people in need, and if you hadn’t stocked up on food, chances were you would go hungry. Houses were many times eaten by animals, destroying insulation and roofing.

Having your house eaten is always bad news, but more so in colder areas such as Wisconsin – one of the coldest states on average in the US. The record low was -55 degrees Fahrenheit in 1996, in Couderay (15 years prior, Couderay hit 53 degrees below). The lowest recorded temperature in the United States was just 15 degrees lower, at -70 degrees Fahrenheit. Current daily averages in the winter are seldom above 30 degrees Fahrenheit, while lows can be well in the negatives. [Read More]