Wisconsin 101

Wauwatosa’s Lefeber Brothers Department Store

“A clerk had to show Mother each item. She retrieved a pair of folded silk stockings and carefully inserted her hand to show how the color looked against the skin.”--Jean Lobe, from her memoir recounting her experiences growing up in Wauwatosa in…

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January 25, 2024

Agriculture / Dairy Industry / Industry / Related Stories / Manufacturing & Trade / 1918-1945 / Society & Religion / National Guard Nightstick

The Wisconsin Milk Strikes of 1933

As the effects of the 1929 Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression rippled through the United States, many working-class Americans felt the economic impacts, including Wisconsin’s farmers. Midwestern farmers were already suffering even before the Depression, and since Wisconsin served as…

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June 27, 2023

Shawano / Agriculture / Industry / Food & Cooking / Related Stories / Manufacturing & Trade / 1918-1945 / Politics & Government / Region 2 - North East / Shawano County / National Guard Nightstick

The Consolidated Badger Cooperative and the Shawano Milk Strike of May 1933

In the aftermath of the 1929 Wall Street Market Crash and the subsequent Great Depression, Wisconsin farmers struggled to meet the costs of production associated with dairy commodities. As a tool to improve their standard of living, some of Wisconsin’s farmers turned…

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June 27, 2023

Agriculture / Shawano / Object Histories / Industry / Manufacturing & Trade / 1918-1945 / Region 2 - North East / Society & Religion / Shawano County / National Guard Nightstick

OBJECT HISTORY: National Guard Nightstick

In mid-May 1933, battles, clashes, and strikes erupted throughout Wisconsin. The catalyst? Milk. On the orders of Governor Albert G. Schmedeman and Adjunct General Ralph M. Immell, an army of 600 National Guardsmen, 800 special deputies, and local law enforcement marched into…

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June 27, 2023

Rhinelander / Hodag Decanter / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Related Stories / Lumber Industry / 1877-1900 / 1900-1918 / 1918-1945 / Nature & Environment / Region 2 - North East / Oneida County

Paul Bunyan and the Hodag

The Hodag and Paul Bunyan folklore are two of the most iconic stories of the American frontier. The Hodag is a mythical creature from the Northwoods that is described as a dragon-like creature with horns, sharp claws, and a spiked tail. Paul…

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May 23, 2023

Rhinelander / Hodag Decanter / Art, Sport & Entertainment / Related Stories / Lumber Industry / 1877-1900 / 1900-1918 / 1918-1945 / Nature & Environment / Oneida County / Region 2 - North East

The Myth of the Hodag in Rhinelander

Rumored to stalk the Northwoods of Wisconsin, the monstrous Hodag is a legendary creature that has captivated the imaginations of locals and visitors alike. With its fearsome appearance and mysterious origins, the Hodag has become a symbol of folklore and intrigue in…

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May 23, 2023