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

The Sprague Well

Historical Landmark

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 17, 2012

1. The Sprague Well Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The Sprague Well, believed to be the first drilled artesian well in Bayfield County, was completed at 119 feet 8 inches in April, 1903 by Monroe H. Sprague at the mill office of the Akeley–Sprague Lumber Co. Flow from the 4 inch casing was rated at 224 gal. min. – “so free of minerals it was piped directly to the saw mill boilers.” In 1956 the flow was measured at 54 gal. min. from a one inch pipe and tested 104 ppm total mineral content. Long a fresh water treat for Washburn residents, it remains a landmark of early lumbering days on Chequamegon Bay.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Landmarks. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1903.

Location. 46° 40.009′ N, 90° 54.363′ W. Marker is in Washburn, Wisconsin, in Bayfield County. Marker can be reached from the intersection of 8th Avenue West and Lakeview Drive. Located in Thompson's West End Park at the end of 8th Ave. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Washburn WI 54891, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Washburn Historic Waterfront (approx. 0.2 miles away); Washburn Lumbering Days / The Hines Lumber Company

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(approx. ¼ mile away); Bank of Washburn (approx. 0.8 miles away); Washburn, The Monolith City (approx. 0.8 miles away); Madeline Island (approx. 4.1 miles away); Schooner Lucerne (approx. 4.9 miles away); Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy (approx. 4.9 miles away); Doctor Edwin Ellis (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Washburn.

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 17, 2012

2. The Sprague Well Marker

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 17, 2012

3. The Sprague Well Marker

Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 17, 2012

4. The Sprague Well Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 792 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 24, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.