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In 1846 Moses Decker axed his way through the Wisconsin Driftless area searching for a place to settle. His two sons, Solomon and Reasoner, helped put up a cabin and returned later that year to Illinois. A year later Solomon and Reasoner, accompanied by the entire family, returned to settle in their new home. In 1850 a second log house was built not far from the original and that may be the house which still stands on East Decker Street. Envisioning a village, Moses contacted Samuel McMichael to survey and plat the land. By 1851 the village needed a meeting place and so Decker, with the help of other settlers, held a “Raising Bee” and constructed an 18’x22' house which stood where the Temple Theatre now stands. A gift to the community, it first became the Courthouse, a schoolroom, a church and a place for social and political meetings, with each event lending its “air” of sobriety or gaiety to the room as was required. In August of 1851 the village population consisted of the families of Moses Decker, Rufus Dunlap and Orin Wisel. Late 1851 saw the addition of several more families.
In 1852 Moses Decker, the founder of the community, donated 40 acres of land for a new Vernon county seat.
(Sources: http://www.viroqua-wisconsin.com/about/history.asp)
Viroqua lays in the unglaciated part of Wisconsin, in the southwest corner of the state. The area is one of the only parts of America consistently missed by advancing glaciers over the millennia, hence the name "Driftless Area" or Unglaciated Region". The famous bluffs, coulees and small winding streams create an atmosphere found nowhere else. The topography was formed over 100 million years ago. This entire region was a vast prehistoric sea, with an underwater mountain range.
The entire Valley was to be flooded as part of a huge Army Corps of Engineers damn project. For several reasons the project was halted in 1973. A large part of the Valley is now permanently protected in the 8,500 acre Kickapoo Valley Reserve. (Sources: http://www.viroquamainststation.com/Driftless_region.html)
The Tornadoes of June 28, 1865
On June 28, 1865 a tornado moved east from southwest of Viroqua, WI (devastating the southern part of that town) to south of Rockton before dissipating in a six-mile wide downburst near the Juneau County, WI line (Fig. 1). Multiple vortex "branches" and "eddies" were observed as the tornado passed through Viroqua around 4 pm. "Death rode upon that sulphury siroc" as "the angry elements at the beck of an invisible power lay waste the fairest portion of the village" (Glazulis, 1993). Ten people were killed on one street. A death total of 17 is usually given for this tornado, but according to the History of Vernon County at least 13 people were killed in Viroqua and as many as 12 others may have died later from injuries. There were approximately 100 injuries. The tornado was moving at an estimated 60 mph as it approached a schoolhouse 2 miles east of Viroqua containing a teacher and 24 students. The building was lifted into the air "and dashed to ground", killing the teacher and eight students. Foot-square timbers were carried "long distances; tree tops were filled with feather beds, chairs, and clothing. All kinds of livestock were either dead or writhing on the points of broken branches; 20-ton rocks were rolled, lifted, and broken" (Glazulis, 1993). Debris from Viroqua was found in New Lisbon, over 40 miles northeast of the city. The tornado was on the ground for 30 miles, with a width of 300 yards. Although this tornado does not have an official Fujita scale rating, based on the destruction it would likely be an F4. In addition, this is one of the earliest recorded tornadoes in Wisconsin history, and also one of the deadliest. (Sources: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/arx/events/tors_jun1865.php)
From a original Norwegian cultural background Viroqua is home to a diverse and enterprising community of approximately 4500 residents and represents some of what is best in small communities in Wisconsin. The rich soil has supported decades of farming, and has been particularly suited to organic farming. The surrounding area has become one of the most successful organic farming regions in the world with the Organic Valley/CROPP cooperative just 20 minutes away.
Numerous and unique round barns reside in the Vernon County area providing an interest to avid site-seers and visitors. Viroqua's Main Street Station and Public Market helps to create an interesting and vital cultural hub.
