A PLACE OF TRANQUILITY, OF COLOR, OF MOTION, AND A PLACE OF DREAMS.

   
Wascott left-menu
 

Town Business Hours:

Mon-Thur
7:30am-noon

16362S Town Hall Road
PO Box 159
Wascott, WI 54890
Phone:  715-466-4252
Fax:  715-466-5382
Email:  wascott@centurytel.net

 

  • Wascott Historical Park - across from Wascott Town Hall


 

 

 

CLICK HERE TO GO TO G/W HISTORICAL SOCIEYY WEBSITE


Gordon-Wascott Historical Society

     
Jan K Jenson, Chair 218-341-2125
Doug MacDonald, Vice Chair 715-590-5000
Barb Fiandt, Treasurer 715-376-2343
Rebecca Keith, Secretary 715-413-1180
Brian Finstad, Historian 612-594-1854
  . .
. PO Box 222
Gordon WI 54838
.
 


Purpose of Committee:
Mission Statement:  To preserve and promote the rich history of our Gordon and Wascott area, providing educational programming and opportunities to tour our historical facilities.

Committee Meetings:

  • Annual Meeting is 1st Friday eveniung in June

  • Quarterly Meetings are the 1st Friday evening in March, June, September, and December

Information & Services:

  • The Whalen House Museum, built in 1907, and the 1911 Soo Line Railroad Depot, located in Gordon, are available for viewing from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Saturdays-Sundays from 10:00am-4:00pm.  Artifacts, historical items, and family histories are displayed.

  • "Back the Road a Bit," A Gift Shop is located in the Railroad Depot with a number of items for sale including historical books documenting family histories and photos, "Mr Gordon's Neighborhood," by Ron Seningen, tee-shirts, coffee mugs, and historical prints by Kate Perry..

  • The Wascott Historical Park, located across the road from the historic Wascott Town Hall, is open the first weekend of June, July, and August - Saturdays and Sundays from 1-3pm or by appointment. It consists of a one-room country schoolhouse built in 1896 and the old Wascott Community Church.

  •  

Briefly...

History of Gordon 
In the beginning, this was an untamed wilderness, rivers and lakes and glimmering pools, vast wastes of endless green forests extending westward to the prairie country.  To this untamed land came the trader, missionary and soldier.  Again, their ghostly campfires seem to burn, and the fitful light is cast around on Lord and Vassel and black-robed Priest, mingled with wild forms of savage warriors, knit in close fellowship on the same stern errand.  That errand was to wrest this wilderness from the primeval sleep of centuries.

The St. Croix river and tributaries was long an ancient trade route and war path of the Chippewa and Sioux Indian Tribes.  The struggle between these tribes was finally settled in a last great battle on this river, when the Chippewa warriors under Chief Buffalo defeated the Sioux whose defeated band retired to the prairies to fight the last great Indian wars against the white invader.

It was truly the land of Hiawatha, where members of the so-called ost tribe of the Turtle clan hunted, fished, trapped, fought and pursued their ancient culture and worshipped their gods.

History of Wascott

Wascott was initially a part of Gordon until the Town of Wascott was established in 1910. As you explore present day Wascott, you will discover interesting remnants of its early years. In the Northwest area, there remains the copper mines once worked by the pioneer miners. Third and fourth generation forests will remind you of the once booming logging business here. Occasionally, in the woods you will discover the remains of an old logging camp or trading post - rusty pots and pans, a miniature flat iron or parts of old boots.

A visit to the Wascott Kreide Cemetery which was established over a century ago will reveal pioneer family names. If you look closely, you will find a Civil War veteran amongst the WW1 and WW2 veterans’ graves.

At the turn of the last century, Wascott was a stopping place for railroads. In fact, the town’s name is derived from a W.A Scott, an official of the Chicago/St.Paul/Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad.

Wascott’s Town Hall was constructed of cedar logs in 1942 as a WPA project. There is a massive stone fireplace inside. In recent years, a kitchen and large addition have been added to accommodate local events. Across the road is the Wascott Historical Park consisting of the Community Church which was built in 1914, and the Hoffman one-room country schoolhouse dating back to 1896.

Wascott’s 54 major lakes once attracted settlers establishing farms, trading posts, sleeping accommodations  and later, small businesses to serve tourists coming by train. Today, it has become a popular tourist destination for people wishing to enjoy the lakes, woods, ATV and snowmobile trails.

 

Douglas County  was created by an Act of Legislature on  February 8, 1854, and was named after United State Senator, Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois who was financially interested in  the new settlement.  The settlement, located at the mouth of  the Nemadji River, was known as Superior.  Douglas County,  fourth largest county in the State (land area), lies in the Northwest  corner of the Indian Head Country and the State.  Superior is the  county seat of government and the home of our Court House,  which is considered the finest Court House in the Northwest.  Today, there are forty-one supervisors on the County Board  representing twenty wards in the City of Superior, five incorporated villages and sixteen towns.

 

Centennial 1860-1960
Sesquicentennial was celebrated in 2010



   

Wascott ... where the lakes touch the trees, and trees touch the sky, and the sky touches the sun, and the sun always shines on ... Wascott !

Today is: 


Copyright 2009 Town of Wascott, WI.  All rights reserved.
 Site Designed by:  LMEK Graphics & Designs

 

 .