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LaCrosse, WI
A Historical Overview
The first inhabitants of LaCrosse were Native Americans who found the juncture of three major rivers to be a natural place to live as the rivers were a main source of transportation. The archaeological record of humans living in and around LaCrosse is ancient. This area is 'bluff country' of the Mississippi river, with picturesque valleys and hills framing this riverside town.
The LaCrosse area is part of a larger geological formation known as the 'driftless area', a area encompassing the south west portions of Wisconsin and some of Iowa. This driftless area is a region bypassed by the glaciers during the last Ice Age and is an area unusual in the general terrain of the mid-west for it's rugged hills and and beautiful valleys with large rock out-croppings showcasing often forested land.
Mississippi River at LaCrosse, Wisconsin--1939
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USF35-1326]
The 18th century fur trade brought French trappers and traders into the area now known as LaCrosse. The name derives from the game that these first europeans witnessed the native inhabitants of the LaCrosse area playing--the game they knew as lacrosse. Father Louis Hennepin, with a group of French explorers, were the first europeans to view the area now know as LaCrosse in 1680. La Crosse became a major trading post, as commodities, freight, and more settlers arrived in the area. Lumber, limestone, and farm products built the local economy.
A Permanent settlement in La Crosse began in 1841 when eighteen year old Nathan Myrick journeyed west to the Mississippi from New York to seek his fortune. Myrick built a cabin and trading post on Barrons Island (now the site of Pettibone Park), and began trading with the Winnebago Indians. Myrick moved to the mainland and set about laying the first tracts for the city that would become LaCrosse in 1842.
LaCrosse's position on the Mississippi helped to foster in the era of trade and travel by steamboat which flourished in the mid-1800's.
On March 14, 1856 the village of La Crosse became a city with a population of 745 people.
Street in LaCrosse, WI-1939
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, FSA-OWI Collection, [reproduction number, e.g., LC-USF35-1326]
Like much of Wisconsin, LaCrosse became deeply involved with the lumber industry in the mid-1800's until the decline of the forests thoughout much of Wisconsin took its toll. But in the wake of the vanishing lumber era, LaCrosse became a city renowned for its beer making, with around five breweries operating in LaCrosse near the turn of the century. The below is an abbreviated account from the Libray of Congress showing just a glimpse of what life was like in those days:
"The camps and independent loggers inland along the tributaries of the main waterways would blast and "peavy" the logs from the rollways into the water and drive to the main lake or stream. Upon reaching Clam lake or the West Fork of the Chippewa River, all logs were turned over to the Chippewa Lumber Boom Company's (original Weyerhaueser Company) "corporation drive".
The corporative drive on the west fork covered about 160 miles from Clam Lake to Flambau farm. From this point many logs went an in rafts to LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Winona, Minnesota; Clinton and Dubuque, Iowa. At Clam Lake the "Wannigans" were constructed from lumber "whip-saved" from logs on the spot. Whip-sawing was a process in which logs were placed on a frame erected an sunken posts high enough to allow a man to saw from a standing position below; and sawed to desired specifications by hand. The "Wannigans" were the boats used to carry equipment. There was the "Cook-Wannigan" and the "Tent-Wannigan", each about 18 feet wide by 60 feet long. The "Cook-Wannigan" was equipped with two large cooking ranges and portable tables and benches, as well as food supplies. Five meals a day were served; breakfast at 5 a. m., first lunch at 10 a. m., dinner at 12 noon, second lunch at 3 p. m. and dinner at 6 p. m. The "Tent-Wannigan" carried the tents, blankets, and personal effects of the men. Each "Wannigan" was handled by two men, one at a large sweep in front and the other at a similar sweep in the stern. Of necessity these men were very able rivermen. The "Wannigans" followed the drive to its destination and then, their usefulness over for that years were turned loose to drift down stream. Many of these corporation-drive "Wannigans" could be recognized on the Mississippi below St. Louis in use as house-boats enroute to New Orleans. When there was sufficient wind at Clam lake, the drive would get underway with the logs heading into the west fork of the Chippewa. At strategic points along the river, "boats" would be patrolled with several men to each beat. This to avoid jams. Logs halted by a rock or other obstruction in mid-stream were described as a "center jam". Logs obstructed on either side of mid-stream were "wing-jams".
Today, LaCrosse is a city with varied industry and commerce. It is the county seat of LaCrosse County and has somewhere near 50,000 people as residents. It has another 100,000 people living in the greater LaCrosse area.
Birds eye view of the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin 1867. Drawn by A. Ruger.
