Near Brokaw in Marathon County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Pomeranian Settlement

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 17, 2019

1. Pomeranian Settlement Marker

Inscription. In the 1850s, in the midst of Wisconsin's lumber boom, a large group of Germans helped settle Marathon Lincoln Counties. This unique group hailed from Pomerania, a former Prussian province in present-day northern Germany and Poland. Immigration continued for the next several decades, but the largest movement occurred in the 1860s. These settlers from Germany brought with them a strong work ethic and firm religious convictions. They were farmers, lumberjacks, craftsmen and entrepreneurs. Pomeranians spoke Platt Deutsch, also known as Low German, and established several Lutheran churches. Members of today's Pommerscher Verein (Pomeranian Society) of Central Wisconsin work to preserve the language and traditions that helped shape the culture of this region. This marker is a tribute to those immigrants who made central Wisconsin the place it is today.

Erected 2012 by Pommerscher Verein Central Wisconsin.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 45° 4.505′ N, 89° 47.325′ W. Marker is near Brokaw, Wisconsin, in Marathon

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County. It is at the intersection of Berlin Lane and Naugart Drive, on the right when traveling south on Berlin Lane. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11248 Berlin Lane, Athens WI 54411, 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 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pomeranian Settlement in Marathon County (within shouting distance of this marker); Our Story (approx. 6.6 miles away); Three Arch Stone Bridge (approx. 8.3 miles away); T.B. Scott Free Library (approx. 8.4 miles away); Merrill Post Office (approx. 8.7 miles away); Merrill City Hall (approx. 8.7 miles away); Lincoln County Courthouse (approx. 8.9 miles away); Baesemann Cemetery (approx. 9 miles away).

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 17, 2019

2. Pomeranian Settlement Marker

Photographed by Joel S., August 7, 2015

3. Pomeranian Settlement Marker

View to the northeast showing the backside of the marker. A Wisconsin Historical Society marker is at the far left of the photo.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, August 17, 2019

4. Pomeranian Settlement Marker

View looking to the southwest, with the Town of Berlin Center in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 31, 2019. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 2,296 times since then and 172 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 31, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 3. submitted on August 10, 2015, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 4. submitted on August 31, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.