Morrisonville, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Morrisonville is an unincorporated community in the Town of Windsor, in Dane County
, Wisconsin
, United States
, approximately 18 miles (29 km) north of Madison
. The Yahara River
flows through the community. The main road running through Morrisonville is County Trunk DM, which connects from State Highway 51 approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) to the village of Dane, Wisconsin
. At each entrance into the town on DM is a welcome sign calling Morrisonville "Frogtown U.S.A."
who had settled in the area by June 6, 1843. He purchased approximately 290 acres of land from the United States government. He and his family originally lived in a temporary shelter above the headwaters of the Yahara River
before moving into a log structure that was expanded and firmly established by 1851.
and Pierpont depots. The Madison and Portage Railroad Company formed on August 9, 1870 in order to build a portion of the railroad spanning from Madison
to Portage
and received aid from Madison
, Portage
and other neighboring towns. The original depot was 20' by 48' long, made entirely of wood, and located on the eastern side of the railroad tracks running through Morrisonville. The adjoining, double-doored freight room measured 20' by 27' long. The depot was sold and moved after passenger service on the railway was ended.
was established on May 10, 1871. Because another town in Wisconsin was named Morrison
, the government added "ville" to distinguish between the two, thus giving Morrisonville its name.
was activated. The railway was leased and later sold in 1878 to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
. In the early years of Morrisonville and into the 20th century, the railroad brought much business and commerce to the community. Many residences and businesses, including a hotel and stable, were established. A large number of goods, including tobacco, passed through the town, making it a local center for commerce.
By the mid-20th century, travel and commerce on the railways had declined greatly and passenger service for the Madison to Portage railroad ended in 1952. A local feed
company bought the depot and moved the building to the location in which it sits today.
still runs through the community almost daily. The post office still stands in its location, with an addition housing local county equipment, such as a snowplow. The hotel is now a residence and has been renovated. The train depot sits in an otherwise bare lot and is visible from all sides. The original bar and brothel, which were one building during the peak of the railroad business, are now two buildings on separate lots.
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, approximately 18 miles (29 km) north of Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
. The Yahara River
Yahara River
The Yahara River is a tributary of the Rock River, about long , in southern Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Rock River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
flows through the community. The main road running through Morrisonville is County Trunk DM, which connects from State Highway 51 approximately 8 miles (12.9 km) to the village of Dane, Wisconsin
Dane, Wisconsin
Dane is a village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 799 at the 2000 census. Located in the Town of Dane, the village is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Dane is located at ....
. At each entrance into the town on DM is a welcome sign calling Morrisonville "Frogtown U.S.A."
History
Morrisonville is named after James Morrison, a Scottish immigrantImmigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
who had settled in the area by June 6, 1843. He purchased approximately 290 acres of land from the United States government. He and his family originally lived in a temporary shelter above the headwaters of the Yahara River
Yahara River
The Yahara River is a tributary of the Rock River, about long , in southern Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Rock River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
before moving into a log structure that was expanded and firmly established by 1851.
Morrisonville Depot
In the 1860s construction began on the Milwaukee Road railroad. Morrison sold 43 acres (174,015 m²) of land to a prospective railroad company in 1862 on the contingency that a station be built in the area where Morrison and his family lived. It is not known exactly when construction began on the Morrisonville depot, but the structure was designed by J.U. Nettenstrom based upon the exact designs of the SummitSummit, Waukesha County, Wisconsin
Summit is a town in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 4,999 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Summit Centter and Summit Corners are located in the town.-History:...
and Pierpont depots. The Madison and Portage Railroad Company formed on August 9, 1870 in order to build a portion of the railroad spanning from Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
to Portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
and received aid from Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, Portage
Portage, Wisconsin
Portage is a city in and the county seat of Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 10,662 at the 2010 census making it the largest city in Columbia County...
and other neighboring towns. The original depot was 20' by 48' long, made entirely of wood, and located on the eastern side of the railroad tracks running through Morrisonville. The adjoining, double-doored freight room measured 20' by 27' long. The depot was sold and moved after passenger service on the railway was ended.
Post office
The local post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established on May 10, 1871. Because another town in Wisconsin was named Morrison
Morrison, Wisconsin
Morrison is a town in Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 1,651 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Lark, Morrison, and Wayside are located in the town.-Geography:...
, the government added "ville" to distinguish between the two, thus giving Morrisonville its name.
Flourish and later decline
Sometime in August 1871 the railroadRail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
was activated. The railway was leased and later sold in 1878 to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
. In the early years of Morrisonville and into the 20th century, the railroad brought much business and commerce to the community. Many residences and businesses, including a hotel and stable, were established. A large number of goods, including tobacco, passed through the town, making it a local center for commerce.
By the mid-20th century, travel and commerce on the railways had declined greatly and passenger service for the Madison to Portage railroad ended in 1952. A local feed
Feed
Feed may refer to:In animal foodstuffs:* Compound feed, feedstuffs that are blended from various raw materials and additives* Fodder , any foodstuff that is used specifically to feed domesticated livestockIn computing:...
company bought the depot and moved the building to the location in which it sits today.
Morrisonville today
The railroad, now part of the Soo LineSoo Line Railroad
The Soo Line Railroad is the primary United States railroad subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway , controlled through the Soo Line Corporation, and one of seven U.S. Class I railroads. Although it is named for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste...
still runs through the community almost daily. The post office still stands in its location, with an addition housing local county equipment, such as a snowplow. The hotel is now a residence and has been renovated. The train depot sits in an otherwise bare lot and is visible from all sides. The original bar and brothel, which were one building during the peak of the railroad business, are now two buildings on separate lots.