Wisconsin 101

An Immigrant Family in Rural Wisconsin

Rose Mary Drab was born in southeastern Langlade County on April 23 of 1913. Her family had settled there the year before on a small farm south of Antigo. Originally named Drabowski, Rose Mary’s parents left Hungary for Chicago a few years…

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October 1, 2015

Elcho / Langlade County / Related Stories / Everyday Life / 1918-1945 / Politics & Government / Region 2 - North East / Society & Religion / CCC Pillow Sham

Daily Life in the Civilian Conservation Corps

The young men who lived and worked at Camp 657 were typical of Civilian Conservation Corps enrollees throughout the country during the 1930s. The first enrollees were between 18 and 25 years of age, were unmarried and physically fit, and were willing to allot most of their earnings to their families. In 1937, with the CCC’s popularity growing, Congress expanded the age range to 17 to 28 and later extended enrollment to World War I veterans.

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October 1, 2015

Agriculture / Langlade County / Related Stories / Nature & Environment / 1918-1945 / Politics & Government / Region 2 - North East / Society & Religion / CCC Pillow Sham

The Great Depression in Langlade County

While local governments across the United States struggled to deal with the sharp economic downturn in the first years of the 1930s, Langlade County initially found itself in an enviable position at the onset of the Great Depression.The county, with a total…

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October 1, 2015

Kenosha County / Manitowoc / Racine / Kenosha / Milwaukee County / Port Washington / Milwaukee / Two Rivers / Sheboygan / Maritime Industry / Door County / Ozaukee County / Related Stories / 1848-1877 / Racine County / Manitowoc County / Nature & Environment / Politics & Government / Sheboygan County / Transportation & Tourism / Region 5 - Center East / Region 8 - South East / Lifesaving Medal

Early Lifesaving Stations in Wisconsin

A Slow Beginning As maritime commerce grew in the early 19th century, the loss of vessels and crews to shipwreck increased. In 1848, the federal government, through the United States Revenue Marine, established its first lifesaving stations along the New Jersey coast. The…

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April 21, 2015

West Bend / Military History / Industry / Related Stories / Global Connections / Manufacturing & Trade / Washington County / 1918-1945 / Politics & Government / Region 8 - South East / Penguin Server

The Aluminum Industry and Wartime Demands

In 1920 the aluminum cookware industry in Wisconsin gained control of over 50 percent of the total national market, after selling less than five percent in 1910. By 1929, West Bend ranked third in the nation in sales of aluminum cookware; however, during the Great…

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August 1, 2014

Appleton / Military History / Health & Medicine / Education / Related Stories / 1848-1877 / Outagamie County / Politics & Government / Science & Medicine / Region 5 - Center East / Cupping Kit

Dr. James T. Reeve

The owner of this particular cupping kit was Dr. James T. Reeve. Dr. Reeve was born near Goshen, New York, on April 26, 1834. Despite losing his father at age five and his mother five days before graduating medical school, J.T Reeve received his…

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November 15, 2013