On Wall Street (County Highway E/G) east of Main Street (County Highway C/E/G), on the left when traveling east.
In 1887, A.W. Whitcomb erected a sawmill on this site and water from the river supplied the power. In 1890, the land was platted and the settlement became the Village of Big Falls. In 1923, Big Falls was incorporated. Today it is one of the smallest . . . — — Map (db m25108) HM
Near 7th Street, 1.5 miles east of Main Street (Wisconsin Highway 22), on the right when traveling east.
It was here in Clintonville that Wisconsin Central Airlines, now known as North Central Airlines, was founded in 1944. Fostered and promoted by the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, the airline was an outgrowth of the company’s need for air . . . — — Map (db m8178) HM
On South Main Street (State Highway 22) north of 8th Street, on the right when traveling north.
On these bronze plates are the honored names of those courageous men and women from the Clintonville area, who died while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. They gave all their tomorrows so that we can have our today. We shall . . . — — Map (db m78963) WM
On Memorial Circle south of 11th Street, on the right when traveling south.
In this machine shop, in 1908, Otto Zachow and William Besserdich developed and built the first successful four-wheel drive automobile. Their first car, the “Battleship”, soon proved that it "could go anywhere a team of horses could . . . — — Map (db m8108) HM
Near 11th Street near Memorial Circle, on the right when traveling east.
Each stone represents a type of
the stones used.
The burned brick are 1700 years old.
Donated by
Sun Yat Sen · Harvey Decker
Ek Hock Fung · James A. Bell
Edward Mo Fung · Walter A. Olen
— — Map (db m25190) HM
This landing was the chief point of entry for pioneers who first settled the land between the Wolf and Wisconsin Rivers. On June 1, 1852, a legislative proclamation opened these lands for settlement. The Big Crossing almost immediately followed and . . . — — Map (db m33978) HM
On North Main Street (State Highway 49/161) at State Street, on the right when traveling south on North Main Street.
(side 1)
June 20, 1999 – Father’s Day – was disrupted by a blaze that destroyed seven buildings on the west side of Main Street in downtown Iola under a gorgeous blue-sky and calm weather. More than 200 firefighters from . . . — — Map (db m44330) HM
On East Iola St. at South Jackson St.,, on the right when traveling east on East Iola St..
Side A
The first issue of “Numismatic News” was born here Oct. 13, 1952. From this start over the next 50 years grew Krause Publications, a business that published 50 periodicals and hundreds of book titles.
The idea for . . . — — Map (db m47672) HM
On Water Street (County Route G) 0.5 miles east of Main Street (Wisconsin Highway 49), on the left when traveling east.
The Iola Old Car Show’s birth was a humble one. Its origins date to July 16, 1972, when Chet Krause extended to a couple score area collector car enthusiasts of his acquaintance to attend the 17th annual Iola Lions Club Chicken Roast fundraiser held . . . — — Map (db m55166) HM
On North Main Street (Wisconsin Route 49/161) at East State Street (Wisconsin Route 49/161) when traveling north on North Main Street.
Clifford Marshall Thompson, a giant of a man – The “World’s Tallest Lawyer” at 8-feet, 7-inches – once walked Iola’s streets, practicing law from a front office in the building now serving as the Crystal Café’s “Family Room.” Born in Silva, . . . — — Map (db m230888) HM
On Depot Street at Oak Street, on the left when traveling west on Depot Street.
Built over the summer and fall of 1919, the Helvetia Town Hall was situated on what became County Hwy. GG, about five miles northeast of Iola, serving the township until 1994. Formally inaugurated on April 6, 1920, when the first annual meeting and . . . — — Map (db m179248) HM
On Depot Street at Oak Street, on the left when traveling west on Depot Street.
The Iola and Northern Railroad was mothered by the Green Bay, Winona and St. Paul Railroad in 1892 when plans were announced for the construction of a line stretching from Scandinavia stretching 100 miles north to Prentice in Price County. . . . — — Map (db m179243) HM
On Chet Krause Drive at Iola Street, on the right when traveling north on Chet Krause Drive.
Physician and surgeon Dr. George Dale studied cancers and tumors in Chicago prior to establishing practice in Iola in 1880. He built a structure dedicated to medical purposes at the southeast intersection of Main and State streets, with second floor . . . — — Map (db m179247) HM
On Chet Krause Drive at Iola Street, on the right when traveling north on Chet Krause Drive.
Iola’s public hospital planning was formalized on July 12, 1920. Shares were sold at $50 each, with a $25,000 capitalization target. Established in the home occupied by recently retired Dr. Johan H. Lee, Iola Herald reports indicate it opened . . . — — Map (db m179244) HM
On North Main Street (State Highway 49) at Mill Street (State Highway 161) on North Main Street.
Colonel J.W. Chandler, S.S. Chandler, and S. Miller built Iola's first dam and sawmill in 1853. The partners then constructed a grist mill, adding a flour mill two years later. In 1860, Henry Wipf purchased a controlling interest in the Iola . . . — — Map (db m32951) HM
Near County Route MM, 1.5 miles west of Wisconsin Highway 49.
The Iola Winter Sports Club’s origins trace back to January 11, 1910, with the organization of the Iola Ski Club. The first organized ski jumping tournament in Waupaca County was held at the School House Ski Hill, located in the 300 block of west . . . — — Map (db m47671) HM
On South Main Street (County Route G) 0.1 miles south of State Street (Wisconsin Highway 49), on the right when traveling south.
Side 1
The office and home of Dr. T.E. Loope, a member of the first organized University of Wisconsin football team back in 1889, stood on this site. Truman Elbert Loope was born on May 3, 1870, in Eureka, Wis., and graduated from the . . . — — Map (db m78334) HM
On East State Street (State Highway 49) at South Washington Street, on the right when traveling west on East State Street.
(side 1)
Iola is located in the area previously known as the “Indian Land” – the land west of the Wolf River and north of the Waupaca (Tomorrow) River. It was opened for settlement after an 1848 treaty, initially disputed . . . — — Map (db m67232) HM
On West Depot Street at Oak Street, on the right when traveling east on West Depot Street.
Side 1 The Iola Village Board at its September and October, 1892, meetings appointed and adopted a fire protection resolution committee report. At its subsequent Nov. 4 meeting it paid a $22.62 bill for the purchase of ladders; at its Feb. . . . — — Map (db m123207) HM
On North Chet Krause Drive at East Water Street, on the right when traveling north on North Chet Krause Drive.
Side A A business that was to bring international acclaim to Iola was established at this location on August 18, 1964, with the organization of Krause Publications as a corporate business entity. Over the next 40 years it expanded into . . . — — Map (db m108281) HM
On East State Street at Chet Krause Drive, on the right when traveling east on East State Street.
Side 1 Rhinard I. Anderson began operating a garage and battery service station business here on April 14, 1914. By 1930, it transitioned into the R. I. Anderson Machine Shop.
Rugnar (Rhinard) Isidor Andersson (Anderson) was born in . . . — — Map (db m123205) HM
Near Mill Street (Wisconsin Route 161) 0.5 miles west of North Main Street (Wisconsin Route 49).
Riverside Cemetery
While the Riverside Cemetery was not officially established until 1860, records indicate that a desire had been expressed to establish a cemetery at this location as early as 1857, while Mary McIntire (1816-1856) was the . . . — — Map (db m230890) HM
On West State Street at Summit Street, on the right when traveling west on West State Street.
Iola’s organized skiing tradition dates back to Tuesday, January 11, 1910, when a group of individuals met in Justice Cleaves’ office to initiate the organization of the Iola Ski Club, which morphed into the Iola Winter Sports Club some 10 years . . . — — Map (db m123229) HM
On Water Street (County Highway G) 1 mile east of Main Street, on the right when traveling east.
The first recorded ski jumping in Iola occurred on February 28, 1909, when an impromptu scaffolding constructed atop the hill in the West State and North Summit streets area hosted a local competition. The Iola Ski Club was organized on January 11, . . . — — Map (db m179241) HM
On Depot Street, 0.1 miles west of North Main Street, on the left when traveling east.
The first half of the 20th century found Depot Street, popularly referred to as “Spud Alley,” abuzz with potato buying, storage, grading, and packing activities. Potato warehouses lined the street and railroad rights-of-way from North . . . — — Map (db m97867) HM
On South Main Street at Iola Street, on the right when traveling south on South Main Street.
Side 1 The Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2012. It dates to Peter M. Johnson, Ed A. Leer, William Selmer, and Erick Solberg – all of rural Iola – and K. M. Sannes of rural Scandinavia . . . — — Map (db m123206) HM
Near Hartman Creek Road, 2.2 miles south of Wisconsin Highway 54, on the right when traveling south. Reported missing.
In 1976, fish managers filled this raceway with 20,000 hybrid tiger muskies and installed mechanical feeders. Why? To find out if muskies would eat food pellets dispensed from mechanical feeders instead of minnows. The experiment worked! Pellets . . . — — Map (db m76130) HM
Near County Road QQ at Bell Avenue, on the right when traveling north.
Charles King, one of America's most illustrious soldiers, was born in New York and came to Milwaukee in 1845. His father was Rufus King, editor and publisher of the Milwaukee Sentinel and first commander of the famed Civil War Iron Brigade. . . . — — Map (db m146391) HM
On Bell Avenue at Wright Avenue, on the left when traveling west on Bell Avenue.
The Grand Army Home was established in 1887 by the Wisconsin Department of the Grand Army of the Republic, a nationwide organization of Union veterans of the Civil War (1861-1865). The Home provided care for indigent veterans and their wives in a . . . — — Map (db m4272) HM
Near Hartman Creek Road, 2.2 miles south of Wisconsin Highway 54, on the right when traveling south. Reported missing.
George Allen's crude birch bark cribs provided habitat to grow 1-inch trout fingerlings large enough to be transplanted into area streams. These cribs still exist, preserved and concealed beneath the lake.
In 1939, the State of Wisconsin took . . . — — Map (db m79038) HM
On East Windfeldt Lane east of Hartman Creek Road, on the right when traveling east.
The old Coach Road ran from Oshkosh to Stevens Point and connected the towns of Rural and Amherst.
Horses snort, wheels rattle and dust flies. If you were traveling between Oshkosh and Stevens Point during the 1880s, you'd have traveled . . . — — Map (db m74529) HM
On Windfeldt Road, 0.3 miles west of Hartman Creek Road, on the left when traveling west.
In 1962, the Windfeldts sold this 80-acre site to the Wisconsin Conservation Department to be included in Hartman Creek State Park. Windfeldt Road honors this family.
Can you spot any reminders of the old Windfeldt estate? Look for flowering . . . — — Map (db m74969) HM
On Depot Street (State Highway 22/110) south of South Bridge Street (County Highway B), on the right when traveling north.
Master Sergeant Melvin O. Handrich of the U.S. Army was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his courageous action in battle near Sobuk San Mountain, Korea on August 25–26, 1950.
Handrich was born in Manawa, . . . — — Map (db m10758) HM
On State Highway 110 at Schoneck Road, on the left when traveling south on State Highway 110.
Chief Waupaca, better known as Sam Wapuka, was a friendly Potawatomi Indian who lived in this vicinity about the time the first white men arrived. Although he was friendly to the settlers, his tribesmen were bitterly opposed to the invasion of the . . . — — Map (db m20634) HM
On East Beacon Avenue (U.S. 45) east of Division Street (County Highway D), on the left when traveling east.
Of all the breeds of dog recognized by the American Kennel Club, only five were developed in the United States and one, the American Water Spaniel, originated in Wisconsin. The development of the Water Spaniel as a purebred was due largely to the . . . — — Map (db m8224) HM
Near State Highway 54 west of County Highway S, on the right when traveling west.
This machine was used by local farmers to clear stones from the land. Two golf ball sized holes were picked 180 degrees apart in the stone in which hooks were placed for lifting. Horses pulling a chain that wound around a drum were able to raise . . . — — Map (db m193468) HM
Near State Highway 49, 0.1 miles east of Lake Breeze Lane, on the right when traveling north.
Jorgens Park Preserve
For nearly 100 years, the Jorgens family lived and worked the land which is now Jorgens Park Preserve. Through generous contributions from the communities of Scandinavia and Iola, the property was purchased from the . . . — — Map (db m165279) HM
On County Highway G, 0.8 miles north of County Highway B, on the left when traveling north.
Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Our Redeemer,
first Lutheran church in Waupaca
county, was built in 1856
directly across the road. It was
enlarged in the form of a Cross
in 1867, and demolished in 1928.
Pastor Nils Brandt . . . — — Map (db m21919) HM
On South Main Street south of East Fulton Street, on the left when traveling south.
Korea • Vietnam
Erected
to honor those of
Waupaca County
Wisconsin
who answered their
country's call and gave
their lives for
the great cause of
liberty
1917 – 1919
Erected
to honor those of
Waupaca, . . . — — Map (db m47077) WM
