Private First Class Thomas F. Philipsky 1938 Horicon High School Graduate Private First Class Thomas F. Philipsky of Horicon, Wisconsin, is honored as the city’s first World War II casualty—a devoted son, athlete, and serviceman whose life story remains an inspiration to his community. Early Life: “Tommy” Thomas F. Philipsky was born on December 19, …
A History of Tourism at Horicon and Horicon Marsh Long before Horicon was a city — before the dam, the ducks, the duck hunters, the drainage ditches, and the hard-won restoration — this corner of Dodge County was shaped by forces far older than any of us. What we now know as Horicon Marsh began …
Sometimes the archive surprises you. A digitized film reel surfaces online. A few minutes of footage that should have been lost turns out not to be. Or better yet — you’re digging through a collection and there it is. An old 8mm or 16mm film, still in its canister, label faded, sitting in the dark …
Where Water Shapes Memory: Horicon’s Boathouses through Time. The history of boathouses in Horicon, Wisconsin, is deeply intertwined with the evolution of Horicon Marsh. When European settlers arrived in the vast wetland once known as the “Great Marsh of the Winnebago,” they built some of the earliest structures along the banks of the Rock River. …
The Terror of the Rock River An Ancient Legend of the Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi Peoples Carl G. Reinemann, Historical Horicon Wisconsin Long before European settlers pushed into the river valleys of southern Wisconsin, the Rock River was a storied waterway — a corridor of travel, sustenance, and deep spiritual significance for the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) and …
S.S. Rich: Horicon’s Man with the Team Long before trucks and delivery vans crowded Horicon’s streets, Selby Simeon Rich was already doing the town’s heavy lifting. From 1907 until 1933 he worked behind a steady team of horses, a high‑seated wagon, and an aging bus, becoming one of the most familiar figures between Horicon’s depots …
Horicon, Dodge County, Wisconsin · October 19–20, 1882 Carl G. Reinemann, Author The Man Who Came Home from the War Not all of Horicon’s losses came on distant battlefields. William Gibson, an Irish immigrant, had served his country in Company H of the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, enlisting in October 1864 and mustering out in …
Not sure where to start? Pick something that sounds interesting and just dive in — that’s how Carl does it too. Browse the podcast episodes, explore the Horicon history section, or wander through the research and writing pages until something grabs your attention. History has a funny way of pulling you in when you least …