Brass Ball Corners
In the 1800’s, before assigning names to roads was a common practice, intersections were often given names to identify communities and places of interest.The trail through Brass Ball Corners started at Lake Michigan and went west through Lake Geneva to Janesville. Farmers and merchants frequented the trail, hauling grain, furs and lead to the Port of Kenosha.
In 1842, farmer Seth Huntoon recognized a growing need for a place where travelers could rest. He built an inn on the northwest corner of a busy junction and then hung a wooden ball gilded in gold at the intersection. Because of its likeness to brass, the intersection came to be known as Brass Ball Corners.
Over time the corners grew, as a school, post office, church, shoemaker, and several homes were built at the corner. The community eventually became the Village of Paddock Lake. Today, a replica brass ball hangs nearby.
Erected 2005
Wisconsin State Historical Society
Erected 2005 by Wisconsin State Historical Society. (Marker Number 503.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:
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Location. 42° 34.076′ N, 88° 6.957′ W. Marker is in Salem, Wisconsin, in Kenosha County. Marker is at the intersection of 75th Street (State Highway 50) and 256th Avenue (State Highway 83), on the left when traveling west on 75th Street. Marker is located at southeast corner of intersection in a small park. It is surrounded by a Walgreens, a strip mall, and Central High School. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Salem WI 53168, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 17 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Schaefer Mammoth Site (approx. 7.9 miles away); Revolutionary War Veteran (approx. 8 miles away); Cordelia A.P. Harvey (approx. 9 miles away); The Name “Wisconsin” (approx. 9.1 miles away); Mormons in Early Wisconsin (approx. 11.4 miles away); a different marker also named Revolutionary War Veteran (approx. 11.4 miles away); Yorkville #4 School (approx. 12.8 miles away); Columbia Carousel (approx. 16˝ miles away in Illinois).
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Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 30, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 2,914 times since then and 373 times this year. Last updated on February 13, 2018, by Gabriel Graczyk of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 30, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
