Delavan in Walworth County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Civil War Tree
Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, May 23, 2025
1. Civil War Tree Marker
This tree is approximately 242 years old.
The Muster Tree
The railway station stood at ease
And waited there to see
The Lads with somber destinies
Who gathered neat the Muster Tree
The city boy and country kid
Of every pedigree
With fear a feature to be hid
By rookies of the Muster Tree
The noisy train was belching high
Its smoke impatiently
As wives and mothers kissed goodbye
The warriors of the Muster Tree
So off they went and learned to fight
The "Rebs" of General Lee
Not knowing whether wrong or right
But sent there from the Muster Tree
By lead and bloody bayonet
With death a referee
Through battles we will ne'er forget
Went troops of Lincoln's Muster Tree
Well, some returned and some did not
But chroniclers agree
The hell would never be forgot
By veterans of the Muster Tree
And if you'll look, it still survives
Imbued with history
and grieves for those who gave their lives
The proud and lonely Muster Tree
-Larry Phillips
Erected
this page online
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.
Location. 42° 37.883′ N, 88° 38.362′ W. Memorial is in Delavan, Wisconsin, in Walworth County. It is at the intersection of South 7th Street (Wisconsin Route 50) and East Washington Street, on the right when traveling south on South 7th Street. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 617 E Washington St, Delavan WI 53115, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Southeast Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest, on the Great Lakes, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Birthplace of The Greatest Show on Earth (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Delavans Historic Brick Street (approx. 0.4 miles away); "19th Century Circus Capital of the Nation" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Delavan's Circus Colony (approx. 0.4 miles away); Historic Circus District (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Wisconsin's First School for the Deaf (approx. 0.9 miles away); a different marker also named Veterans Memorial (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Delavan.
Also see . . . Walldogs. Visit Delavan (Submitted on May 23, 2025, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin.)
Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, May 23, 2025
2. Delavan Historic Site
This historic tree , estimated to have germinated about 1770, has been referred to as "the Civil War Muster Tree". Delavan volunteers who served in that war reported for duty beneath this tree and received their traveling orders.
Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, May 23, 2025
3. Civil War Tree and Marker
Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, May 23, 2025
4. Civil War - Muster Tree and Train Depot Mural
The mural is painted on a car wash at 223 S 7th St, one block southeast of the Civil War Tree.
Photographed by Susan Van Den Bosch, May 23, 2025
5. Muster Tree - Train Depot
Project Leaders: Ben Diaz - Illinois Joe Diaz - Illinois
Sponsor: Alder Scherer, LLC
-History-
During the Civil War, Delavan's volunteers would gather by the sturdy burr oak tree that stood across from the train depot as they were mustered in to head off to camp. This oak tree is over 200 years old.
The Walldogs came to Delavan to paint our town's history. "The Greatest Walls on Earth" event took place June 24-28, 2015. During the celebration, 18 historic murals were painted.
Sponsor: Alder Scherer, LLC
-History-
During the Civil War, Delavan's volunteers would gather by the sturdy burr oak tree that stood across from the train depot as they were mustered in to head off to camp. This oak tree is over 200 years old.
The Walldogs came to Delavan to paint our town's history. "The Greatest Walls on Earth" event took place June 24-28, 2015. During the celebration, 18 historic murals were painted.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2025, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 252 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 23, 2025, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
