Near West Salem in La Crosse County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Village of Neshonoc
Photographed By Keith L, October 7, 2009
1. Village of Neshonoc Marker
Inscription.
Village of Neshonoc. . The nearby limestone grist mill and dam are the remnants of what once was a mid-19th century village located at this site. Vermont millwright and speculator Monroe Palmer purchased fifteen acres of land on the La Crosse River and constructed the dam and mill in 1852. Three years later, Palmer hired a surveyor to plat a village of eighteen blocks and 147 lots, which he called "Neshonoc," after the Ho-Chunk name for this place. Neshonoc was considered for the La Crosse County seat and a La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Company station, and soon businesses, a church, a school, and homes sprang up. The forward thinking Palmer and his brother, Dr. Horace Palmer, built two innovative Octagon houses near the river. But in 1858, the railroad bypassed Neshonoc, laying its line closer to the nearby Village of West Salem. Many residents of Neshonoc moved their homes and businesses there, and by the 1890s Neshonoc had almost disappeared from the landscape.
The nearby limestone grist mill and dam are the remnants of what once was a mid-19th century village located at this site. Vermont millwright and speculator Monroe Palmer purchased fifteen acres of land on the La Crosse River and constructed the dam and mill in 1852. Three years later, Palmer hired a surveyor to plat a village of eighteen blocks and 147 lots, which he called "Neshonoc," after the Ho-Chunk name for this place. Neshonoc was considered for the La Crosse County seat and a La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad Company station, and soon businesses, a church, a school, and homes sprang up. The forward thinking Palmer and his brother, Dr. Horace Palmer, built two innovative Octagon houses near the river. But in 1858, the railroad bypassed Neshonoc, laying its line closer to the nearby Village of West Salem. Many residents of Neshonoc moved their homes and businesses there, and by the 1890s Neshonoc had almost disappeared from the landscape.
Erected 1997 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 349.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.
Location. 43° 54.766′ N, 91°
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4.553′ W. Marker is near West Salem, Wisconsin, in La Crosse County. Marker is on State Highway 16 east of State Highway 108, on the left when traveling east. Marker is at an unpaved highway pull-off. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Salem WI 54669, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,205 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on October 17, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. 2. submitted on May 1, 2015, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 17, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.
