Greenfield in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Janesville Plank Road

Photographed by Paul F, March 20, 2010

1. Janesville Plank Road Marker

Front side of two sided marker

Inscription.
Side A:
The Janesville Plank Road was one of 16 privately-owned toll roads authorized by Wisconsin’s Territorial legislature in 1848. The road was specified to follow a 65 mile route from Milwaukee through East Troy to Janesville. Its roadbed was built on the 1838 Janesville Territorial Road, which followed an Indian Trail extending southwestward from rice marshes near river mouths in the Milwaukee area to Janesville. (continued on other side) Side B: (continued from other side) From 1849-1854 only a 24 mile section was completed starting near present day Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee and reaching Mukwonago. The road was built primarily of oak planks laid across oak logs. Toll booths placed every few miles collected fees. Rapid decay of waterlogged planks and short-lived commercial success due to the growth of competing railroads led to the demise of the plank road.

Erected 2000 by State Historical Society of Wisconsin. (Marker Number 448.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location.

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42° 57.064′ N, 88° 1.679′ W. Marker is in Greenfield, Wisconsin, in Milwaukee County. It is on West Forest Home Avenue ¼ mile west of South 92nd Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Milwaukee WI 53228, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Wisconsin and in Greater Milwaukee.

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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Mary’s Church and Cemetery (approx. ¼ mile away); Wisconsin's Lime Industry (approx. half a mile away); Boyhood Home of Jeremiah Curtin (approx. half a mile away); John Voight - Boerner Botanical Gardens Director, 1941-1979 (approx. 0.9 miles away); Black Botanical Heritage: (approx. 1.1 miles away); Early 1900s Business District (approx. 1.2 miles away); Hales Corners – A Farm Village (approx. 1.3 miles away); 1992 NASCAR Champion (approx. 1.3 miles away).

Photographed by Paul F, March 20, 2010

2. Janesville Plank Road Marker

Back side of two sided marker

Photographed by Paul F, March 20, 2010

3. Janesville Plank Road Marker

Looking east at back side of marker

Photographed by Paul F, March 20, 2010

4. Janesville Plank Road Marker

Looking west at front side of marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,990 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 3. submitted on July 21, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 4. submitted on July 20, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.