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 Author’s Note: This is also available as a podcast, The Old Cold Case, The Murder of Marshal William Gibson. 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 …
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 …
Horicon’s Early Liquor and Lager Trade, 1850–1900 Long before temperance reformers arrived to spoil the fun, the citizens of Horicon, Wisconsin, kept themselves well supplied with locally distilled whiskey and locally brewed lager. From the moment the first settlers broke ground, the infrastructure of drink followed close behind — a distillery by 1854, rival saloons …
144 Years Ago… When Smallpox Came to Horicon — April 28, 1882 Smallpox had a devastating effect on Native Americans when Europeans arrived on this continent, and it did not end there. Smallpox was a constant threat, with mortality rates up to 70%. A new wave of immigration from Europe in 1880–1883 really leapfrogged the …
