Herbster in Bayfield County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

"The Gym"

Photographed by Paul F, September 22, 2010

1. "The Gym" Marker

West side of two sided marker

Inscription. When the community sought funding for a new gymnasium and town hall, they looked to the Work Progress Administration, a depression-era program, which utilized local materials and labor to create jobs for unemployed workers. Architect Roland C. Buck of Superior designed the building in the Rustic Style, a style popular in the north woods because its log construction evoked nostalgia for pioneer and early logging history.

The Federal government granted approval for the project on May 13, 1939, and work was completed in the spring of 1940 at the cost of $30,000. The community has preserved “The Gym” for its continued use as a public gathering place and town hall. Today, the center is recognized as one of the most impressive WPA projects in northern Wisconsin and is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places.

Erected 2008 by Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 522.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society, and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1837.

Location. 46° 49.876′ N,

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91° 15.776′ W. Marker is in Herbster, Wisconsin, in Bayfield County. It is on Lenawee Road 0.1 miles south of Wisconsin Highway 13, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Herbster WI 54844, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Wisconsin’s North Shore. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Corn Belt,

and on Lake Superior’s South Shore Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

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 3 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Port Wing Brown Stone (approx. 7 miles away); School Consolidation (approx. 7 miles away); Tragedy of The Siskiwit (approx. 8.1 miles away).

Photographed by Paul F, September 22, 2010

2. "The Gym" Marker

East side of two sided marker

"The Gym" Marker Reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Greta Schassler, September 26, 2025

3. "The Gym" Marker Reverse

Photographed by Greta Schassler, September 26, 2025

4. "The Gym" Marker

Photographed by Paul F, September 22, 2010

5. "The Gym" Marker

Entrance sign along Lenawee Road

Photographed by Paul F, September 22, 2010

6. "The Gym" Marker

Photographed by Paul F, September 22, 2010

7. "The Gym" Marker

Marker is just to the right of the flag pole.

"The Gym" and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Greta Schassler, September 26, 2025

8. "The Gym" and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 4, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,646 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 4, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 3, 4. submitted on September 26, 2025, by Greta Schassler of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 5, 6, 7. submitted on October 4, 2010, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. 8. submitted on September 26, 2025, by Greta Schassler of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.