Near Wittenberg in Shawano County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Homme Homes
Photographed By Keith L, October 10, 2010
1. The Homme Homes Marker
0.5 miles east of U.S. 45
Near the entrance to the Homme Dam
44° 50.421′ N, 89° 9.5076′ W
Homme convinced the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western Railroad to change the name of its station from Carbonero to Wittenberg. He then recruited friends and former parishioners to come and settle. By 1885 there were forty families in Wittenberg.
In a decade Homme built a church, a home for the aged and an orphanage. The orphanage, built just south of this point, served homeless children of all ages from the Upper Midwest.
The financial demands of his service programs led Homme to run a farm, publish three newspapers, operate four schools, raise and sell garden seeds and sell a patent medicine of his own making called "Wittenberg Drops." The pond you see was formed when Homme dammed the Embarrass River to run his sawmill.
Homme died June 22, 1903, at the age of 59 and was buried in Wittenberg.
Erected 1973 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 194.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work
this page online
Location. 44° 50.421′ N, 89° 9.508′ W. Marker is near Wittenberg, Wisconsin, in Shawano County. Marker is on Hemlock Road, half a mile east of U.S. 45, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: W18024 Hemlock Road, Wittenberg WI 54499, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 1 other marker is within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Norrie thrived on lumber and agriculture (approx. 6 miles away).
More about this marker. Marker was at a now closed wayside.
Also see . . . History of Wittenberg. "Rev. Homme immediately wrote a petition to the railroad company, that the station which was then in contemplation of establishment might be named Wittenberg, to which the railroad company responded favorably. The railroad had at that time not reached this far and this whole region was a dark and lonely wilderness, devoid of the habitation of man." (Submitted on October 12, 2008.)
Photographed By Keith L, October 10, 2010
2. The Homme Homes Marker
Photographed By Keith L, October 10, 2010
3. The Homme Homes Marker
Photographed By Keith L, October 10, 2010
4. Homme Dam
Photographed By Keith L, October 10, 2010
5. Nearby Homme Youth & Family Programs Sign
Photographed By Keith L, October 4, 2008
6. The Homme Homes Marker
44° 50.79′ N, 89° 10.075′ W
Photographed By Keith L, October 4, 2008
7. The Homme Homes Marker
44° 50.79′ N, 89° 10.075′ W
Photographed By Keith L, October 4, 2008
8. Flags at Wayside
Photographed By Keith L, October 4, 2008
9. Marker at Flags
Flags and staffs presented in memory of Pastor E. J. Homme by former Homme orphans Homme children.
Aug. 10, 1974
Aug. 10, 1974
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,976 times since then and 88 times this year. Last updated on May 20, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 11, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 4, 5. submitted on October 12, 2010, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on October 12, 2008, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
