Hartland in Waukesha County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Village of Hartland
Photographed By Linda Hansen, October 21, 2021
1. Village of Hartland Marker
The Potawatomi camped near here in the early 1800s. Returning in the 1840s, they called this area "Shabaquanake" or "a growing place," because western settlement had begun.
Stephen Warren, the first settler, walked to the area in 1838 along an Indian trail from Michigan, laying a homesteader claim. As the community grew, it became known as Warren. Warren was a founder of the First Congregational Church in 1842. By 1848, the Watertown Plank Road had been completed and farmers had a "highway" for bringing their grains to the Milwaukee breweries. Warren built his brick home along the road in 1853, which still stands at 235 East Capitol Drive. He built a saw mill and helped extend the Plank Road west.
Christian Hershey built a four story grist mill across the Bark River from this spot, a landmark which promoted the community to be known as Hersheyville.
The Milwaukee and Watertown Railroad reached Hartland in 1854, spurring further growth of the community and nearby lake resorts and peaking in 1909 with 65 trains in one day. Legend has it that an Englishman working on the tracks called this area Hartland,
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Hartland remains "a growing place" today.
Erected 2021 by Waukesha County Historical Society. (Marker Number 10-01.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.
Location. 43° 6.087′ N, 88° 20.838′ W. Marker is in Hartland, Wisconsin, in Waukesha County. Marker can be reached from Ice Age National Scenic Trail, 0.1 miles East Park Avenue, on the right when traveling south. This marker is in Nixon Park in Hartland next to the playground and bridge over the Bark River on the Ice Age Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 175 E Park Ave, Hartland WI 53029, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hartland’s Founder’s Home, First Church and Historic Tavern (approx. 0.3 miles away); Beaumont Hop House (approx. 2.1 miles away); First Baptist Church Of Merton (approx. 3.6 miles away); a different marker also named First Baptist Church Of Merton (approx. 3.6 miles away); Waukesha Beach Amusement Park (approx. 3.7 miles away); Martin C. Weber, Sr.
Photographed By Linda Hansen, October 20, 2021
2. Village of Hartland Marker next to bridge over Bark River in Nixon Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2021, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 287 times since then and 113 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2021, by Linda Hansen of Waukesha, Wisconsin. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
