Near Hatfield in Jackson County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Hatfield Canal

1907 – 1908

Photographed By K. Linzmeier, May 10, 2010

1. The Hatfield Canal Marker

East side of marker.

Inscription. This three-mile canal is the oldest and longest in use in Wisconsin. Canal, dam and powerhouse cost the La Crosse Water Power Company $1,500,000. It required 700 men and three steam dredges and was Wisconsin's largest power project in the early 1900's. Mississippi Valley Public Service Company owned it about 40 years. It is now owned by Northern States Power Company.

Erected 1974 by the Hatfield Chamber of Commerce. (Marker Number 108.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 44° 24.502′ N, 90° 43.9′ W. Marker is near Hatfield, Wisconsin, in Jackson County. Marker can be reached from County Route K, 0.3 miles west of Clay School Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Merrillan WI 54754, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Andrew Blackhawk (approx. 5 miles away); Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. (approx. 5.1 miles away); Cpl. Mitchell RedCloud Jr. (approx. 9.6 miles away); Field of Honor (approx. 9.6 miles away); Site of the First Wood-Spaulding Saw Mill (approx. 9.6 miles away); Hagen's A&W

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(approx. 9.7 miles away); Lunda Construction Co. (approx. 9.7 miles away); Hoffman Construction Company (approx. 9.7 miles away).

More about this marker. This is a Wisconsin Registered Landmark – Number 108.

Photographed By K. Linzmeier, May 10, 2010

2. The Hatfield Canal Marker

West side of marker.

The Hatfield Canal and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By K. Linzmeier, May 10, 2010

3. The Hatfield Canal and Marker

Photographed By K. Linzmeier, May 10, 2010

4. The Hatfield Canal and Marker

Nearby Lake Arbutus Dam image. Click for full size.

Photographed By K. Linzmeier, May 10, 2010

5. Nearby Lake Arbutus Dam

The Hatfield Canal begins here.

Russell Memorial Park · 1955 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By K. Linzmeier, May 10, 2010

6. Russell Memorial Park · 1955

Looking towards the dam and canal from the park.

Photographed By K. Linzmeier, May 22, 2010

7. Penstock

The Hatfield Canal ends here at the hydropower plant. Water from the canal flows through these pipes to the powerhouse.

Photographed By K. Linzmeier, May 22, 2010

8. Powerhouse

Generators, rotated by turbines from the energy of the flowing water, produce electricity.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,151 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 20, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 7, 8. submitted on May 24, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.