Wisconsin 101

Jewish Immigration from Russia to Sheboygan

The first Russian Jews arrived in Sheboygan in the 1880s. Like many other immigrants, they often followed their "landsleit" (fellow townsmen) to settlements in the new world, with the result that many of Sheboygan's Jewish immigrants came from a relatively small area east of Vilna and north of Minsk in current-day Belarus. They settled on the northwest side of Sheboygan, in a neighborhood bounded by 13th and 15th Streets, Geele Avenue on the north, and Bluff Avenue on the south.

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July 7, 2020

Object Histories / Sheboygan / Ethnicity & Identity / Global Connections / 1900-1918 / Sheboygan County / Society & Religion / Region 5 - Center East / Synagogue Window

OBJECT HISTORY: Synagogue Window

This synagogue window is a testament to the successful efforts of hundreds of Russian Jews to recreate a familiar community in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in the early twentieth century.

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July 7, 2020

Brown County / Columbia County / Crawford County / Green Bay / Prairie du Chien / Industry / Object Histories / Clothing, Apparel & Fashion / 1787-1848 / Curators' Favorites / Everyday Life / Global Connections / Manufacturing & Trade / Nature & Environment / Region 5 - Center East / Region 6 - South West / Region 7 - South Center / Fur Trade

OBJECT HISTORY: Beaver Felt Hat

The beaver felt hat was one of the main reasons for the success of the fur trade in northern states, such as Wisconsin, and in Canada. But why was this hat more popular than others? Clothing allows for people to choose their…

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April 6, 2020

Greenbush / Industry / Object Histories / Lumber Industry / 1848-1877 / Manufacturing & Trade / Nature & Environment / Sheboygan County / Region 5 - Center East / Wade House Museum

OBJECT HISTORY: The Muley Sawmill

If you grew up in Wisconsin, you may be familiar with some of Wisconsin’s forests like the Black River forest, Menominee forest, or the Chequamegon-Nicolet forest. For hundreds of years these forests have provided Wisconsin with lumber used for building homes, factories,…

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September 10, 2019

Greenbush / Object Histories / 1848-1877 / Sheboygan County / Region 5 - Center East / Transportation & Tourism / Wade House Museum

OBJECT HISTORY: Plank Roads

Before the 1850s, Wisconsin did not have roads, at least not ones you would recognize. As more people moved to Wisconsin, settlers cut thick prairies and forests into roads, but these were just dirt paths that were often quite muddy. As a solution, Wisconsinites decided to build plank roads which had a lot of advantages over the dirt ones.

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September 10, 2019

Greenbush / Object Histories / 1787-1848 / 1848-1877 / Sheboygan County / Politics & Government / Region 5 - Center East / Wade House Museum

OBJECT HISTORY: A Ballot Box

When was the last time you voted? Today? Yesterday? Maybe last week? Voting can be simple and a good way to let people know what you want. You may have voted, for example, on where to get dinner. You and one family…

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September 9, 2019