Christine February 28th, 2007
It’s just about March and St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner! There are a lot of great traditions out there… but Milwaukee’s parade has go to be one of the best. My family has been known to take bets on the total number of kilts and bagpipes in the parade. Here is the info for this year’s grand celebration of the green…
February Ends; Time For St. Patrick’s Day In Milwaukee
Shamrock Club’s 41st Annual Parade March 10
MILWAUKEE — It’s time to start going through the closet and finding the green.
The Shamrock Club of Wisconsin’s 41st Annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Milwaukee is scheduled for noon on March 10.
The parade is the sixth-oldest in the nation and predates the incorporation of the state of Wisconsin and the city of Milwaukee.
This year’s parade will feature over 120 units including Irish dance groups, pipe and drum corps, and 90 honored guests from the New York Police Department
Complete article available here at WISN
Christine February 27th, 2007
The Wisconsin Historical Society has announced the addition of a new State Historical site… Reed School located near Neillsville in Clark County.
From the State Historical Society’s site:
Reed School offers the Wisconsin Historical Society an extraordinary opportunity to tell the stories of one-room country schoolhouses that constituted a major part of the Midwest’s educational system,” said Society Director Ellsworth Brown. “We are truly grateful for Gordon and Helen Smith’s magnificent contribution to the people of Wisconsin.”
Be sure to add this great new attraction to your summer travels! Click here for visitor information.
Christine February 27th, 2007
Celebrations across the state will be held the first weekend of March in recognition of Aldo Leopold’s message of an ethical relationship between the land and people. This year 25 communities have planned celebrations, so there is an event near you.
Celebration information can be found here.
Christine February 26th, 2007
For those in search of history, family history in particular, cemeteries are anything but silent. The headstones can speak of wealth or despair, long life or tragically short lives, years of health or epidemics that affected whole villages. The symbols, dates, words and even size, can tell volumes. Sometimes you can even find unknown relatives by checking the names of those buried near your relatives. If you have never wandered through a cemetery you are missing the chance to learn some great stories.
Here is a great example from the Fond du Lac Reporter
Unearthing the history behind Wisconsin State Prison Cemetery
By Colleen Kottke
The Reporter ckottke@fdlreporter.com
WAUPUN — In a field of graves near Highway 49 lay the bodies of nearly 300 deceased inmates, unnoticed by the thousands of motorists passing by each day.
Where once simple white headstones stood row upon row to mark the grave sites in this small, state-owned pauper’s cemetery, today there is a simple sign that lists the names of the deceased.From 1871 to 1975, the unclaimed bodies of inmates from Central State Hospital and Waupun Correctional Institution — including the infant of a woman prisoner — are buried in the rolling farm field on the State Prison Farm just east of Waupun.
Finish reading this article here.
Click here to see more information about genealogy and cemeteries from the Wisconsin State Historical Society.
Michael February 24th, 2007
Lots of snow along with blowing and drifting snow are blanketing the state this weekend. 2-4 inches are expected in the Northwoods with more than 8 inches in the southwestern portion of the state. Much of the state is under a winter weather warning until late Sunday evening. Travel is not recommended Saturday evening and into Sunday. Hopefully this storm will deposit enough of the white stuff to open up the snowmobile trails and and keep the ski trails operational for a couple more weeks. Until then, its best to stay inside and curl up with a good book.
You can get the latest winter weather conditions from the National Weather Service.
Michael February 23rd, 2007
Question: What’s the most ubiquituous food item that you can find in the state, from the fanciest of restaurants to the smallest of greasy spoons. I’ll give you a hint, its not fried cheese curds.
The answer is fish fry. The Friday night Lenten specialty is a year round tradition in the state. It seems as if every place that sells food has fish fry on the menu. Traditional fish fry is often cod or haddock, but perch and walleye are favorites in the northern reaches of the state. Around here, even the churches open their doors during Lent and sell takeout fish fry as a fundraiser.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinelran a story describing what makes a fish fry good. Broken down into its components, the article analyzes the fish, batter, potatoes, cole slaw, bread, and tartar sauce. It then goes on to list the best fish fry places in Milwaukee.
How about your neck of the woods. Where do you go for fish fry. In Wausau, I’m partial to the Diner on 3rd Ave and Bridge St and the Hiawatha on Grant St and 8th St. Feel free to comment on your favorite fish fry location.
Michael February 23rd, 2007
You may have never heard of the Stormy Kromer hat. But then again, if you grew up in Northern Wisconsin or spent a good part of your life there, then the Stormy Kromer means only one thing- a warm head. Back in 1903, Stormy Kromer was a railroad engineer from Kaukauna that needed a hat that wouldn’t blow away and keep his head warm while running the train over the northern wisconsin winter landscape. His wife fashioned for him a wool cap with earflaps and the rest is history. They made caps in their home until 1918 when he moved production to Milwaukee. The cap was discontinued in 2001, but a Bob Jaquart of Ironwood, MI rescued it and resumed production in his hometown. A great history on the Stormy Kromer can be found on the American Profiles website and StormyKromer.com.
How about getting a Stormy Kromer for free (almost)? Silent Sports magazine has a great promotion where you can get the cap and a subscription to the premier aerobic sports enthusiat’s magazine of the upper midwest.
Christine February 22nd, 2007
Manitowoc is a great place to take in some great Wisconsin attractions, and The Wisconsin Maritme Museum is my favorite place to visit when in town. The exhibits are beautifully done, complete with a working two story engine. There is even a water activities room for kids. The USS Cobia is a must do. But it gets even better this St. Patrick’s Day…
From the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter :
Museum To Offer Free Admission
Herald Times Reporter
MANITOWOC — The Wisconsin Maritime Museum will host a “Community Appreciation Day” in conjunction with the Cub Scout “Rain Gutter Regatta” and St. Patrick’s festivities on Saturday, March 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Activities for children include a scavenger hunt and an area in the Submarine Simulator where they can dress up in uniforms. At 1 p.m., spectators can watch local Cub Scouts compete in the annual Rain Gutter Regatta in the museum’s Riverview Room.
The museum will be open free of charge to all Manitowoc County residents. Tours of the USS Cobia, the nation’s most completely restored World War II submarine, will be $2.
For more information, call toll-free 1-866-724-2356 or visit the museum’s Web site at www.wisconsinmaritime.org.
Michael February 22nd, 2007
02/23/07 Birkie update. The warm weather has caused the trail to rapidly deteriorate. Snow is predicted for Friday/Saturday, but it is uncertain if it will be enough to ensure a safe race. Please check the Birkie Website for the latest race information. Officials will make a final determination on the status of the race by 9:00pm on Friday.
Its been unusually warm this week in Northern Wisconsin. Wausau saw highs in the 40’s for most of the week and things weren’t any cooler in the Northwoods. In places where snow is already in short supply, this warming can spell disaster for events like the American Birkebeiner ski race which is scheduled to run this weekend from Cable to Hayward. Crews already were out shoveling snow onto the course to fill in the bare spots before the warm weather hit. But now, with Hayward reaching 52 degrees this week, it was decided to run the race on a shortened course.
Details on the shortened course are on the Birkie web site.
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has an article about the shortened course.
The Kids February 22nd, 2007
The yellow and the red slide are both fun- I went down both of them lots of times with my Dad (I got a little sore, but it was worth it!) I went down more times than Dad did. I never quit going down them- my Dad went to the hot tub. Before I went to the slides I hopped into the hot tub and I went to the non-slide pool. I slipped on the way to the water slides- you know why? It was wet- so be careful!
We had pizza from the pool bar one night in our room so we could watch cartoons (Lazlo was being chased by a bear, but he didn’t get eaten)- and use the whirlpool in the room. I was the only one not too tired from the Ice Caves to use the whirlpool! The pizza was delicious. The whirlpool was awesome.
SplASHLAND in the AmericInn of Ashland gets 3 1/2 out of 5 Lava Lamps on The Carl Groovy Scale
It’s just about March and St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner! There are a lot of great traditions out there… but Milwaukee’s parade has go to be one of the best. My family has been known to take bets on the total number of kilts and bagpipes in the parade. Here is the info for this year’s grand celebration of the green…