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A Bit of the Old Sod

A History Buff’s Listing of Sheboygan’s Historical Firsts – And Other Interesting But Not Necessarily Significant Firsts. Robert Spatt.  $20.00 plus tax. $4.00 shipping and hangling. 113 pages. Soft color cover. Perfect binding. 2006.

The City of Sheboygan has many interesting and important "Firsts". This book documents many of those items. There is bound to be a chapter for every interest and although residents of Sheboygan will know many of these firsts, there are a lot of surprises. Some of the firsts are obscure such as the first bratwurst stand, the first department store, the first female principal of a school, the first baby born in Sheboygan. Others, such as the city founder and many of the sporting events, maybe remembered by many. The final chapter is entitled “Et Cetera.” Here are little known firsts that don’t fit into any category – Peter Dinkel and his canaries, Clemens Reiss the first to cross the city’s new Eighth Street bridge in 1923, the street sprinkler who sprayed water on the dusty dirt streets and other obscure first facts.
 

A book to pick up and read a chapter at a time then casually sprinkle conversations with a “did you know that….”
 

A History of One-Room Schoolhouses, Town of Holland, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin –Don Lau and Shirley Sager -- $25.00. Shipping and handling- $4.00. 345 pages. Soft color cover.

Amazing Grace- A Sesquicentennial Remebrance-Sheboygan's Grace Episcopal Church--$10.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 203 pages. Sepia tone photos. Hard Cover.

Read intriguing commentary of parish life written by Priests and parishioners at one of this country's notable Anglo-Catholic Parishes. Delve into the diaries of a choirboy circa 1850. Discover the beginning of the Boy Scouts in the State of Wisconsin. Learn about the obstacles and the miracles that shaped, molded and formed Grace Episcopal Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin into a globally recognized standard of liturgical excellence.

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Baseball in Sheboygan County-1886-1986
-Denny Moyer--$4.50. Shipping and handling- $4.00. 30 pages. Softcover.

This short book outlines the 100 year history of Baseball in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Sheboygan's colorful history began with the Elwell Boys sponsored by Elwell Flour Mill and chronicles the many teams up to the present Sheboygan A's.
 

Branded Hand--Elmer Koppelmann--$8.00.Shipping and handling-$3.00. 90 pages. Soft cover.

The story of Captain Jonathan Walker and his abolitionist adventures.  Captain Walker was intimately connected with the rural community of Winooski in Sheboygan County.  He was immortalized in John Greenleaf Whittier's poem entitled, The Man With the Branded Hand. 

 

Battle for the Ballot-- Elmer Koppelmann--$15.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 275 pages. Soft color cover. Comb binding.

A fascinating look at Sheboygan County's presidential races from the beginning of the county's involvement in national government (1848) through the 1988 election where George Bush defeated Michael Dukakis. 

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Born's Park- Scott Lewandoske- $19.95. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 240 pages. Soft color cover.

For a quarter of a century, Born's Park, was a central attraction to Sheboygan residents and visitors alike. It was an ideal place of rest for the weary on hot summer days. It was admirably adapted to outings and picnics, and for many years railroad excursions brought thousands of strangers to Sheboygan where they spent the day in festivity.  Born's Park was built in 1882 by Charles A. Born. It was located between St. Clair and Michigan Avenues, and 14th and 15th Streets in the city of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It served at various times as a spa, natatorium, sanitarium, influenza hospital and monster dance hall. The business closed on February 22, 1920, but the property was not sold until 1927 when it was subdivided into 16 lots.
 

Cedar Grove, Wisconsin- 150 Years of Dutch-   American Tradition--Richard Dykstra and Pat Premo--$22.00
Shipping and handling-$4.00. 236 pages. Softcover.

This 150th commemorative volume of the village of Cedar Grove, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin was published in 1997. It is a great all-in-one history of Cedar Grove, Wisconsin.

Chairs, A History in Sheboygan County--Janice Hildebrand--$12.00. Shipping and handling-$3.00. 65 pages. Soft color cover.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin, known for years as "Chair City" has been home to such companies as Phoenix Chair, Northern Furniture Company, Mattoon, Crocker Chair, Bemis-Riddell, Thonet, R-Way and more.  This book traces the history of furniture making in Sheboygan County from the mid-1800s to present day companies. 

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Cheese Factories of Sheboygan County--Edwin Fisher--$20.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 189 pages. Color softcover.
Out of print at this time.  Please check back later.

The cheese industry has been very important to Shebygan County, Wisconsin since the 1870s. This is a history of the industry in the county. It is divided by townships and lists some 210 different factories that existed over time.  It deals with cheesemaking in the home, the development of cheese factories, factories and their locations, cheesemakers, the cheesemaking season, tools and equipment, the growth of the industry, cheese exchanges, types of cheese and much more.

Down By Prange's
Bill Wangemann--$15.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 130 pages. Soft color cover. 2004.

Mr. Wangemann began writing a weekly column for The Sheboygan Press in January of 2003 to help celebrate Sheboygan’s Sesquicentennial. Contained within this book are all 52 of the columns Wangemann wrote for the Press. “Down By Pranges” brings readers a simpler slice of life. Wangemann paints a realistic picture of Sheboygan’s past, the good and the bad, and you are guaranteed to learn something about old Sheboygan by paging through this collection of columns.
 

Edwards Sheboygan City Directory 1868--$8.00. Shipping and handling-$3.00. 360 pages. Soft cover.

Annual directory of the inhabitants, institutions, incorporated companies, manufacturing establishments, businesses, business firms, etc. in the City of Sheboygan. Published by Richard Edwards and company. 

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Elkhart Lake, A Photographic History- Peter Laun-- $15.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 125 pages. Soft color cover.

Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, home to Road America today, was once a summer vacation retreat to thousands of city dwellers from Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Louis. The trains and interurbans brought them to enjoy the cool breezes and waters of Elkhart Lake, Crystal Lake and Little Elkhart Lake. This volume discusses Joseph Moore, the founder and many other colorful characters of the village. It reminds us of Villa Gottfried, the Schwartz Hotel, Siebken's, Pine Point, Osthoff and Camp Brosius. Photos accompany each story.  Available again

Grandma, What Did You Do Before TV?—Bill Wangemann-- $20.00. Shipping and handling- $4.00. 150 pages. Soft color cover. This 2^nd book of Bill’s is a compilation of articles that appeared in the Sheboygan Press during 2004. Many are based on activities of the 1950s.

 

Historic Sheboygan County--Gustave Buchen--$22.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 370 pages. Soft color cover.

Considered the quintessential book on Sheboygan County history, this volume by Gustave Buchen, was written in 1944, when many of the original settlers were still alive. The information is well documented and tell the story of Sheboygan County's first years. The book includes an index, maps of early Sheboygan County and drawings.
 

History of the Elkhart Lake Road Races, 1950-1952--Peter Laun--$12.00.
Shipping and handling-$4.00. 34 pages. Soft cover.

A recollection of the original street races in Elkhart Lake. These races were the predecessors to Road America. They were run on the streets of the village and around the beautiful lakes of the Kettle Moraine. The book contains many photos of early cars and racers. A must for racing enthusiasts. 

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History of Hingham-- Don Williams and Steve Shaver--$20.00.  Shipping and handling-$4.00.175 pages. Hardcover.

Hingham, Wisconsin, named after Hingham, Massachussetts is located 15 miles from the city of Sheboygan, the county seat. It was originally named Hobartsville in 1846. Then for a time it was called Tibbitsville and Milford. The first families to settle there were Hobart, Currier, Cobb, Hill, Twist, Morrill, McCowan, Tripp, Tibbits, Plumbe, Gifford, Brooke, Pierce and Daharsh- all Yorkers or native New Yorkers.

History of Plymouth--by Mrs. H. N. Smith 1872-1873, Reprinted by John Dees--$15.00.Shipping and handling-$4.00.
127 pages. Softcover.

Reprinted from serial articles originally run in the Plymouth Report during 1872 and 1873, these articles have been lovingly retyped into bound form for the historian and pleasure reader alike.  Mrs. Smith covers many aspects of the County’s early story starting in 1835 and continuing up to the year of the final article in June 1873.  People and events come to life from the pen of a gifted writer and historian.  However Mrs. Smith humility and objectivity are ever present.  Despite her detailed descriptions and personal portrayals she bows her talent  in the following words, (describing Sheboygan’s first railroad) “The history of this company, even had we the time, would be beyond the talents of so humble an historian as yours, dear reader.”

Truly a wonderful gift from the past, this book will not disappoint!

History of the Catholic Schools in Sheboygan County--Clement Rammer, 1997--$40.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 307 pages. Hardcover.

The Catholic schools of Sheboygan have a long history of service to both the families and the communities in which they were located.  This fine book delves not only into the hows, but the whys of Catholic education in Sheboygan County.  The priests, nuns and teachers who faithfully served both God and community are paid tribute.  The founding of each school, its mission and listings of which Orders served are detailed.  The anecdotes along with many photographs of buildings, leaders, teachers and students combine to make this book a great value for study of Catholic education in Sheboygan.

Schools covered: St. Mary Magdalene (now Holy Name), St. George Town of Wilson, St. Rose of Lima, St. Nicholas of Dacada, St. Mary’s of Random Lake, St. John the Baptist of Plymouth, St. Mary’s of Sheboygan Falls, and from Sheboygan St. Peter Claver, St. Clement, Sts. Cyril & Methodius, St. Dominic and Immaculate Conception.

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History of the Reformed, Christian Reformed and Dutch Reformed Schools in Sheboygan County--
Nancy Van Der Puy-- $40.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. Hardcover.

Hard cover. The Dutch immigrants who came to Sheboygan County in the late 1800s were poor, but they were determined to provide a Christian education for their children, no matter what the cost. This volume relates the story of the men and women of Sheboygan County who were determined to pass on that heritage of faith to their descendants. 

The schools covered in this wonderful history are Ebenezer Christian Academy, Oostburg Christian School, Sheboygan Christian School, Sheboygan County Christian High School and Wisconsin Memorial Academy. The book is filled with photos, students' and teachers' memories and a great index. 

History of Lutheran Schools in Sheboygan County-- Marion F. Lehmann, 2001, 235 pages. $40.00 + Shipping & Handling  of $4.00. Hardcover.

The Lutheran schools of the Sheboygan area can trace their roots to the year of the city’s founding (1853) and have a long history of service to the educational endeavors of the county.

This volume includes a history of each of the Lutheran schools in Sheboygan County both past and present. Included are: Calvary, St. Paul’s, St. Paul’s Sheboygan Falls, Ebenezer, Immanuel, Immanuel Town of Scott, St. John’s Plymouth, St. John’s Sherman Center, Bethlehem, Trinity, Trinity Howards Grove and Sheboygan Area Lutheran High. Among the features of this book are many photographs of past and present classes, teachers and facilities as well as graduating class and teacher lists and chronologies for most of the schools mentioned above.

Contributors include other notable Sheboygan County historians Elmer Koppelman and Emma Thieme.

History of Schools in Town of Greenbush--Helen Schulz--1995--$40.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. Hardcover.

This look at the history of education delves into the far western portion of Sheboygan County.  Towns such as Greenbush, Glenbeulah and Hulls Crossing receive the attention due them for their importance to the farm families in the surrounding areas.  This volume jumps right into each of the school districts in the town of Greenbush and describes in detail the people, facilities, cost and effort associated with education.

A more than adequate number of photos give us a glimpse at the people in their times.  Appendices round out this fine book with such items to ponder as a one room school plan of the day, master plan for Sheboygan County education, over a dozen news articles from the 19^th century, rules for teachers dated 1872 and interestingly the instructions for the janitor from the Board of Education dated July 29, 1941.  All in all an excellent look at a unique topic.

Schools covered: Spring Valley, German Corners, Barrett, Hulls Crossing, Glenbeulah, State Road and South Prairie.

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History of Schools in Towns of Herman/Mosel--Roland Schomberg--1994--$40.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00.185 pages. Hardcover.   Out of Print- Check Back Later.

The author provides us with a look at the schools in the towns of  Herman and Mosel from each town’s early history to present in 185 pages of interesting text and unique photographs.  Staring with the one room schools of long ago this book works it way up to the present consolidations including a chapter on the parochial schools of the area.  Class photos and rosters along with a “then & now” views of the educational facilities, an 1889 plat map, a comprehensive index, and even a teacher’s plan of the day for a one room school provide the reader with an excellent look back on an often overlooked area of Sheboygan County education.

Schools covered: Millersville, Howards Grove, Green Bay Road, Washington, Franklin, Pinehurst, Schwartzwald, Elm Grove, Haven, Champion, and Lakeview.

History of Schools in Town of Lima--Ione Heinen--1998--$40.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 321 pages. Hardcover.

Town of Lima is located in southeastern Sheboygan County, WI.  Mainly settled by the Dutch, this book highlights Dye Road School, Lima Center, Gibbsville, Horace Mann, Hingham, Banner, Ourtown and Hillcrest schools. 

This book begins with a brief history of the Town of Lima and an 1889 plat map then carries through to Fall 1996.  The various contributors cover each school district with an in depth text and a delightfully rich quantity of photographs of school buildings, students and staff.  Included also are sections on reunions, budgets and stats, a general index as well as an index to the plat map.

History of Schools in Town of Lyndon--Don Williams--1996--$40.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00. 109 pages. Hardcover.

Don Williams has compiled a very comprehensive volume on education in the Township of Lyndon. Beginning with the organization of school district in 1847 and including a history of the township itself from the first settlers, this fine book takes us on journey from the fabled one room school house up to 1960.  Many photos of classes, teachers and schools, along with maps to locate schools and lists of teachers and some students compliment the text. Also included are an index and appendices on the Betsy Ross School, 1889 plat map and key and graduates of Waldo High School by class.

School covered: Welcome School, Cascade, Webster, Ford, Waldo, Stone Jug, Roosevelt, Winooski, Harmon, and Whittier.

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History of Schools in Town of Mitchell--Helen Schulz--$40.00. Shipping and handling- $4.00. 137 pages. Hardcover.

The Town of Mitchell, located on the western edge of Sheboygan County, had eight school districts. They were Pius, Rathbun, Payne, Pershing, Sunnyhill, Spring Farm, Parnell and Ideal (also known as Morgan). Includes photos, maps, class lists and personal remembrances from teachers and students.

History of Schools in Town of Plymouth--Helen Schulz--2001--$40.00 + $4.00 shipping and handling.156 pages. Hardcover.

Helen Schulz takes us on a journey through the history of education through 156 pages of interesting text and fascinating photographs.  She covers the school in the City of Plymouth while still give the little countryside schools their due.  Appendices include an 1889 plat map and index, a list of superintendents, master plan for education plus a comprehensive index.

Schools covered: Victor, West Plymouth, Betsy Ross, Valley, Mankato, Grant and Plymouth City Schools and District 6.

History of Schools in Towns of Russell/Rhine--Helen Schulz, Neva Hodge Lemorande and Ronald Mauk--1997--$40.00. $4.00 shipping and handling. 236 pages. Hardcover.

This book takes us back through the history of education in the northwest corner of Sheboygan County.  Starting both sections with a  history of the named township, this team of writers takes us from the early settling of the area to the recent consolidations.  Each school is looked at in detail and the many pictures of facilities, classes and notable events take the reader on an enjoyable journey through the past.

Also included are a comprehensive index, 1889 plat map, master plan for education in Sheboygan county. And biographies of Ray B. Lightfoot, Violet R. Littlefield and Doris G. Phipps.

Schools covered: Russell, Taft, Garfield, Little Elkhart Lake, Joliet, Elkhart Lake, Harrison, Dewey, Lime Ridge, Rhine Center, Victory.

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History of Schools in Town of Scott--Mildred Saueressig--1996--$40.00 + $4.00 shipping and handling.142 pages. Hardcover.

Mildred Saueressig takes a look back at education in Sheboygan County’s far southwest corner.  This book is filled with many useful facts and fascinating text covering the early history of Town of Scott to the present schools and consolidations including a section on the 1930 tragic burning of Scott Center school in Batavia.

She has included some family genealogy information and many anecdotes from past students and faculty.  This book is fully indexed and has many photographs.

Schools covered: Longfellow, Batavia, McKinley, Scott Center, North Beechwood and Beechwood.

History of Schools in the City of Sheboygan Falls--Marie Calvey--1997--$40.00. $4.00 shipping and handling. 113 pages. Hardcover.

Marie Calvey gives us a unique and well illustrated look into the educational efforts within the City of Sheboygan Falls from 1836 to present.  She looks at the each school building, it place in the community and how an ever growing population required newer and larger facilities. She provides and in depth history of each high school starting with the first graduating class in 1876 including such interesting topics as the Latin and Glee clubs as well as boys and girls basketball (with some great team pictures) . 

 Covered also are the “new” elementary school of 1949 and the reorganization of 1960. Complimented by appendices including an 1889 plat map, list of principles and superintendents, list of faculty, list of high school graduates by year and enjoyable yet and informative anecdotes in the “Echoes from the Past” section.  This book also has a very detailed index.

Schools covered: All public schools and high schools in the City of Sheboygan Falls.

History of Schools in Town of Sheboygan and the Village of Kohler--Marie Calvey--2001--$40.00. $4.00 shipping and handling. 153 pages including index.

This history covers all schools outside of the city of Sheboygan. Schools covered include: Pigeon River, Mapledale, Lincoln-Erdman, West Side, Lyman and Kohler.

History of Schools in Town of Sheboygan Falls--Roland Schomberg--1996--$40.00. $4.00 shipping and handling. 206 pages. Hardcover.

Mr. Schomberg has compiled a fantastic history of education in the Town of Sheboygan Falls (those schools outside of the city).  Starting with a history of both Sheboygan Falls and Johnsonville (originally named Schnappsville), he looks deep into the small schools in which were taught most of the children from the farms and countryside surrounding Sheboygan Falls. Many great photographs give the reader a view of the past which compliment the text.

Appendices include a list of superintendents, teachers’ program for a one room school, master plan for education, bibliography plus a comprehensive index.

Schools covered: Madison, John, Prange, Monroe, Cleveland, Johnsonville, Holden. Starlight, Bonnie View and Acorn.

History of Schools in the Town of Wilson--Bernice Staege--$40.00--Town of Wilson is a lakeside township (Sheboygan County, WI)  having Lake Michigan as its eastern boundary.  Settled early on by Germans during the 1840s and 1850, town of Wilson had schools named Harmony, Weeden Station, Wilson, Black River, Jackson and Riverview.  This 140 page book is filled with photos and memories of students and teachers who attended the one room schools.  Out of Print. Check Back Later.

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History of Schools in the Village of Oostburg —June VerVelde and Ione Heinen--$25.00. Shipping and handling-$4.00- 385 pages. Soft cover, color cover. This book covers Oostburg school history from 1899-2005. A great timeline gives the reader a wonderful overview of what happened educationally and socially in Oostburg, Wisconsin.

History of Waldo--Don Williams--Illustrations by George Pollard. $30.00. $4.00 shipping and handling. 188 pages. Hardcover.

Dr. Joseph Mallory was the first settler of Waldo. He settled in sections 23 and 25 of the Town of Lyndon sometime prior to 1844 along the Onion River. Mallory originally named the settlement Lyndon, then renamed it Joppa. It was later changed to Onion River by government land surveyors. Waldo was the settlement along the railroad tracks to the west; Onion River was the settlement along the river to the east. Today, all is known as Waldo.

Howards Grove, Wisconsin--Elmer Koppelmann- $30.00. 2002. $4.00 shipping and handling. 424 pages. Softcover.

Howards Grove began as two separate villages, Howards Grove and Millersville. Not until 1967 did the two unite into one incorporated village.

The first European settlers to settle in the town of Herman (originally named Howard) were the "Lippers"- a group of 13 families and seven orphaned young people from Lippe-Detmold, Germany. The year was 1846, and the group's leader was Friedrich Reineking. They settled on the land that is now Lakeland College.

This volume brings the history of the area back to life, and documents the families and businesses that, today, make up Howards Grove.
 

Jim's Brother-- Richard Dykstra--$17.00.
$4.00 shipping and handling.

Thirty-five short stories about growing up in rural Wisconsin. Local author, Rich Dykstra, brings his Dutch roots to life. 

	Jim's Brother II--Richard Dykstra $14.95 plus tax, $4.00 shipping 133 pages, 2006 printing Color cover, perfect binding Richard Dykstra of Cedar Grove has written a sequel to his popular book “Jim’s Brother” (published in 1999). This book is entitled “Jim’s Brother II…Things I forgot to tell you.” Written in his succinct style, here are thirty additional stories about growing up in rural Sheboygan County. Two favorite chapters are “The Airport” and “The Ice Box.” In the first you will appreciate the gullibility of children and in the second you will want to check Dykstra’s nose to see, if like Pinocchio, it has grown a foot or two.  Besides the silly and nonsensical stories there are those with a much deeper meaning as in “Revisiting the Gift,” “Three Conversations with Dad” and “Grandma’s Quiet Life.” Dykstra's appreciation of family shines through the pages of all of his books.
	Two Longs and Ten Shorts - Henry Dykstra $14.95 plus tax, $4.00 shipping 94 pages, 2006 printing Color cover, perfect binding This wonderful volume includes recollections of the author's childhood in Wood County, Wisconsin during the 1920s and 1930s. While the title sounds like a very long number from an old crank-style telephone, it actually refers to the two parents and ten children in the author's family. Henry Dykstra moved to Sheboygan County in 1941, and farmed there for over fifty years.

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Kneever's Hotel, The A Sheboygan County Landmark--Earl and Charmaine Kneevers--$17.00. $4.00 shipping and handling.

This book traces the history of the Kneevers Hotel in Sheboygan, WI from when the land was partitioned in 1842 until fire destroyed the building in 1978.  The hotel's main drawing card was the delicious homemade food at an affordable price.  Recipes for 23 of these classic dishes are included in the book.  80 pages 
 

Leather, A History in Sheboygan County--Janice Hildebrand--$12.00.$3.00 shipping and handling. 72 pages. Soft color cover.

In Sheboygan County there was a lively trade with the Indians for deer hides and other animal skins.  Barter with the Indians brought the first traders to the county in the early 1800s.  The tanneries of the county were an offshoot of the fur-trading days and were among the first clothing-related businesses to get started in Sheboygan County.  Everything from shoes to gloves to harnesses were made.  Follow the history of the leather business in the county. 

 

Life and Learning in a One-Room Country School-- Richard Dykstra-- $17.00. With Reminiscences by Former County Superintendent of Schools Doris G. Phipps and Fifteen Former One -Room School Teachers. $4.00 shipping and handling.

One room schools served as the cornerstone of rural America's educational system for more than a century.  During much of that time the schools were at the center of a controversy about how rural children should be educated.  Theories on what to do with one-room schools ranged from upgrading facilities to closing the schools down altogether.  by the mid-1900s, the latter theory prevailed and most small rural schools were forced to close. Share the bygone days of the 3Rs.  Each teacher adds interesting insight to the topic. 

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Mitchell, Now and Then- Parnell Palls 4-H--$6.00. $3.00 shipping and handling. 56 pages. Soft color cover.

An update of the 1976 history of the town of Mitchell.  Expanded to celebrate the state of Wisconsin's sesquicentennial, this look back at a very Irish township is always interesting. 

Mohrsville- A Sheboygan County Crossroads Community- Florence Fenner Popp -- $10.00. $3.00 shipping and handling. 72 pages. 2005. Soft color cover. Comb binding.

Mohrsville was a small settlement located at the intersection of the Green Bay and Howards Roads in the town of Herman approximately 2 miles north of Sheboygan Falls. 

In the early 1900s Highway 32 was known as the Green Bay Road, and later for some time, it was Highway 42. Until World War II, County O was known as the Howards Road.

Mohrsville consisted of: Starlight School, Mohnsam’s, the old cheese factory where Carol and Manny Zunker lived and Zunker’s garage. It was named for Paul Mohr who formerly owned a tavern there.
 

One Soldier's Story- The WWII Memoirs of A Sheboygan County Man-Arthur G. Kroos Jr.--$20.00. $4.00 shipping and handling. 110 pages. Soft color cover. Black and white photos.

 This is the story of one Sheboygan County soldier, Arthur G. Kroos Jr., from his enlistment in Company F, 127th Regiment, 32nd Division in the fall of 1940, until release in 1945. Mr. Kroos was chosen to serve a stint as Aide-de-Camp to General Matthew Ridgway. He was trained as a paratrooper seeing service in Northern Ireland, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and on D-Day in France. His final military foray took place in a glider as part of Operation Market-Garden. He was shot down over the Dutch island of Schouwen and spent eight months as a POW at Luft Stalag 1 in Barth, Germany. This book contains his own diary from Luft Stalag 1 and entries from a scrapbook created by his wife, Patty. This is not your average WWII story. It is local history at its best.

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Oostburg, Wisconsin, Haven of Hope in a New Land- Oostburg Historical Society-- $23.00. $4.00 shipping and handling.

Oostburg, Wisconsin is a small settlement of Dutch immigrant origin in south central Sheboygan County.  This history, done by avid local historians to preserve some of the past., will hopefully provide memories and enlighten readers to the hard work and dedication of of the early pioneers.

Out of the Phoenix--Descendants of Survivors-$4.50. $3.00 shipping and handling. 60 pages. Soft cover.

On November 20, 1847, the propeller ship, Phoenix, caught fire and burned to the water line off the shore of Sheboygan in Lake Michigan. She carried about 175 Dutch immigrants, many of whom perished that horrible day. The survivors carried on, settling in Cedar Grove, Oostburg, Gibbsville, Sheboygan and Manitowoc. This book is a tribute to those lost and the survivors. It is a remembrance of the tragedy, 150 years later.
 

Pine Grove, A History-- Roma Raetter--$8.50. 33 pages. $3.00 shipping and handling. Soft cover. Comb binding.
 

In 1935 Roma Richter married Reinhold Klemme in Waukegan, Illinois. In 1937, Roma’s father suggested the couple build a tavern at Pine Grove between Howards Grove and Ada because they liked the tavern and restaurant business so well. Pine Grove's location was a traditional half way point between Green Bay and Milwaukee. Cattle men used the spot to transport cattle from one truck to another at this midway point.

Some of Roma’s fondest memories of Pine Grove involve the students of Mission House and then Lakeland College. She, many times, acted at a matchmaker for young people. She made the place welcoming and fun, and many came to regard Pine Grove as their “hangout.” Roma has had so many wonderful memories from her years in business, she felt she need to share them with the people who mean so much to her.

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Plows Among the Eskers-- Bernard Michaels--$17.00. 81 pages. $4.00 shipping and handling. Soft cover. Comb binding.

A story of the settlement of the northern Kettle Moraine in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin focusing on the town of Mitchell.  Available again

Plymouth, Wisconsin --  Plymouth Historical Society and SCHRC. $ 19.99. Shipping and handling $4.00. 128 pages. Soft cover. Many photos.

Plymouth, originally considered a “hub” city because of the hub and wheel factory located there, it has also earned that moniker because of its central location between Milwaukee and Green Bay. Tourists flock to Plymouth year round to visit the variety of shops, to golf, swim and ski, or explore the beautiful Kettle Moraine State Forest. Residents are proud of their heritage, which can be seen at sites throughout the city. Visit Plymouth through this wonderful tribute using historic photographs. This volume is a collaborative project between Sheboygan County Historical Research Center and the Plymouth Historical Society.

Sheboygan, A Personal Portrait--Julie Castellan--$8.95. $3.00 shipping and handling. Soft cover.

Julie writes of the things that make Sheboygan an unforgettable place to call home.  She recalls the Friday night fish fry, brats and hard rolls, a bar on every corner and the kindness of neighbors in a city that's really still a small town.  This is an imaginative and touching account of a young Sheboygan resident. 
 

Sheboygan County-150 Years of Progress--An illustrated history by Janice Hildebrand--$22.00. $4.00 shipping and handling. 140 pages. Soft color cover and color photos.

This book covers The Beginnings of a County; Yankees, Immigrants, and the Civil War; Chairs, Cheese and Children; the Kohler-Vollrath Dynasty; The Rise of Communities; Through Two World Wars; Sheboygan County Today-1988.

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Sheboygan County-Pioneers of Commerce- Jan Hildebrand, Elmer Koppelmann, Jim Rindt, Beth Dippel- $19.95. $3.00 shipping and handling. 128 pages. 200+ photos. Soft cover.

Sheboygan County's iron-fisted work ethic began with its earliest residents. From the jackknife trading posts and mill wrights of the early 1800s to the spas and "Great Wall of China" of Kohler Company, the importance of commerce to Sheboygan County is evident. This wonderful pictorial history of the small family-owned business of Sheboygan County begins in the 1870s and ends with a great image of a 1950s American Classic-McDonald's Golden Arches.

 

Sheboygan County and the Spanish-American War--Elmer Koppelmann--$22.00. $4.00 shipping and handling.

Elmer Koppelmann continues his research on the Spanish-American War with this book, which focuses on the activities at home during the War.  Newspaper articles, advertisements, letters to and from soldiers, activities in support of and against the war, are all documented here. It is a wonderful companion book to The Journal of the Spanish- American War.
 

Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin--Images of America-- Janice Hildebrand, Elmer Koppelmann, Beth Dippel-- $19.95. $4.00 shipping and handling. 128 pages. 200+ photos. Soft color cover.

Originally platted as the village of Rochester, Sheboygan Falls took shape in the late 1830s and 1840s. Settled by Yankee entrepreneurs from the East, "Sheboygan at the Falls" was a strong settlement from the beginning, surviving even the financial panic of 1837. A city of Greek Revival and Cream City brick architecture, Sheboygan Falls boasts two districts listed on the National Historic Register.

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Shores of Sheboygan County--Mary E. Meyer--Local History--$12.00. $3.00 shipping and handling. 50 pages. Soft color cover.

A compilation of the history of the port of Sheboygan, complete with photos of the harbor and the ships that plied its waters.  Histories of harbor industries included. 

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Slovenians in Sheboygan-Marie Prisland- $5.00. 25 pages. $3.00 shipping and handling. Soft cover, comb binding.

This is a reprinting of 23 February 1945 Sheboygan Press article by Ms. Marie Prisland. Marie Prisland was born Marie Cerne in Recica, Slovenia, Austria and came to the United States in 1906 when she was 15 years old. On February 24, 1908 she married John Prisland in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. In 1945 she wrote her history of the Slovenians in Sheboygan which was published in the Sheboygan Press and Wisconsin Magazine of History published by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. She researched Slovenian history and migration for over forty years.

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Spring Corners and Schwarzwald- Country Crossroads -- Edmund Schulz- $10.00. 47 pages. $3.00 shipping and handling. Soft color cover. Comb binding.

Spring Corners is located at the intersection of County Trunk M and the Manitowoc-Sheboygan County Line, now known as County Line Road in the Township of Meeme in Manitowoc County and the Township of Herman in Sheboygan County.

A spring flows continuously at Spring Corners, a place where people have come from far and near for a cool drink and to fill their water jugs for home use. This spring is part of a line of springs that form the Spring Valley Watershed. This watershed forms one side branch of Meeme Creek and becomes part of the Pigeon River.

Tales from the Rails of Sheboygan County-- Peter Fetterer--$14.00.  $3.00 shipping and handling. Soft cover, comb binding.

Compilation of great newspaper articles following the history of the railroad in Sheboygan County.  Some are humorous, some are serious, and some are downright shocking.  Great reading for the railroad enthusiast and amateur alike. 

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The Journal of a Spanish-American War Volunteer- Translator:  Rev. Clarence Schmidt.  Editor: Elmer Koppelmann. $15.00. $4.00 shipping and handling. 118 pages. Soft cover. Comb binding.

This is the war-time diary of Sargeant Otto Burkart, a war correspondent of the National Democrat.  Burkart, a resident of Sheboygan, was a member of the Wisconsin Volunteers, Company C under the command of C. U. Born.  This military action followed the sinking of the U.S. Battleship Maine in the harbor of Havana, Cuba on February 15, 1898.  It is a story of Cuba's struggle for independence from Spain, and America's involvement through the eyes of a son of Sheboygan.
 

The Sheboygan Socialists- Earl E. Kneevers Jr. and Charmaine Chopp Kneevers-$17.00. $4.00 shipping and handling.184 pages. Soft color cover.

During the late 19th and early 20th century, there was a relatively strong Socialist movement in the United States. Sheboygan, Wisconsin was one of those cities that had an active Socialist Party. The movement believed in public ownership and democratic management of the basic means of production and distribution. It had strong ties to the organized labor movement of the time. A strong leader of the Sheboygan movement was Fred Kneevers, whose history as a struggling worker with a family to support and with Socialist beliefs, brought him into the hotel and restaurant business to support his family when known Socialists were not welcomed in privately run businesses. The Kneevers' Hotel was a successful meeting place of the Socialists.

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The Ultimate Sacrifice- Elmer Koppelmann-$28.00. $4.00 shipping and handling. 450 pages. Soft color cover. Perfect Binding. 2004.

The citizens of Sheboygan County have always gone above and beyond the call of duty in times of military need; the Second World War was no different. Some 3000 young men and women served during World War II on all fronts and in all capacities from this county alone.

 Recorded here, after eighteen months of searches and interviews, are vignettes of 234 soldiers- one young woman and 233 young men from the Sheboygan County area who lost their lives. Four others- Joseph J. Archbold, Elmer C. Prahl, Roland Thompson, and Douglas Thornberg are noted as making the ultimate sacrifice, but regrettably, no information was found other than their names.

"Unser Choe" : All Bases Covered - Kurt Thuemmler -- $10.00. Shipping and handling - $4.00. 61 pages. Soft cover. Joe Hauser was a personification of all that baseball was and should ever be. Born on January 12, 1899 in Germany, Joe Hauser played baseball during the 1920s and 1930s- the sport's Golden Age. This biography of Joe Hauser also documents a five-year friendship between the author and Hauser which started as a school project and remained long after the project was complete. (A number of copies are available with an autographed 1924 baseball card of Hauser. The cost for book and card is $20.00 plus tax and shipping.)
 

They Were First- Janice Hildebrand- $13.00. $3.00 shipping and handling.50 pages. Soft color cover. Spiral binding.

This book is a tribute to the City of Sheboygan on its sesquicentennial year 2003. The area that is now the city was settled years before 1853, but the city was not chartered until then. This book documents 45 men and women who were important in Sheboygan's early years.  Each bio contains one or more photos.
 

*** Red denotes new titles.
*** Blue denotes coming soon.
 

Please call or e-mail for more information about each title.

Wisconsin State residents must pay sales tax of 5%. There is a minimum $4.00 shipping and handling fee.  Please include tax and shipping with each order.  If shipping costs amount to more than your payment, you will be invoiced. 

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