Weyerhaeuser in Rusk County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Chippewa River & Menomonie Railway

"Crooked, Rough and Muddy"

Photographed by Keith L, July 21, 2011

1. Chippewa River & Menomonie Railway Marker

Inscription. During the middle 1870's, when the great logging era of Northern Wisconsin was in its infancy, the Mississippi River Logging Company attempted to float pine logs down the Soft Maple and Potato Creeks to the Chippewa River but the streams were too shallow and crooked. To solve the problem the first logging railroad in Wisconsin was constructed in 1875-76 from Potato Lake to the Big Bend of the Chippewa River with a later extension northward. The town road which can be seen to the immediate west of this site follows that railroad grade. Sleds pulled by horses carried the locomotive, cars, and tracks overland from Chippewa Falls. In July 1884 this railroad and a subsequent line constructed through the Blue Hills were formally organized as the Chippewa River and Menomonie Railway Company.

Erected 1959 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 90.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1884.

Location. 45° 25.185′ N,

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91° 24.977′ W. Marker is in Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin, in Rusk County. It is on U.S. 8 0.1 miles west of County Road F, on the left when traveling west. Marker is at a highway pull-off. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Weyerhaeuser WI 54895, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

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 one other marker is within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Apollonia (approx. 5.9 miles away).

Also see . . . Friedrich Weyerhäuser. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on July 28, 2011.)

Photographed by Keith L, July 21, 2011

2. Chippewa River & Menomonie Railway Marker

View from Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, July 21, 2011

3. View from Marker

Historic Road, the road to the immediate west as mentioned in the marker text, can be seen.

Historic Road image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith L, July 21, 2011

4. Historic Road

The road mentioned in the marker text that follows the railroad grade.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,853 times since then and 149 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 28, 2011, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.