Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-12-11
Little Journeys In
and About Baraboo
Interesting Places of the Region Both to Local History and
Scents Features
PART !

Where was the first house in Bara-
boo, who built the first dam in the
river, how high are the bluffs, how
did the Baraboo river receive it's name,
where did Ringlings give their first
circus performance, how long ago did
the old Opera House burn, what do
the letters on the fountain at Dur
wards Glen mean, when was Fort
WinnebagO at Portage established,
what is Congress Hall, where is the
Natural bridge, and many other ques-
lions about this region are often ask
ed. In order that the recent residents
of the community may know about
these things, possibly to jog the
geography and history Of some of
the older ones, also, a series of short
articles win be given. The first is a
short walk through the western part
OF town. visiting the important
places, a few words first being de-
voted to Baraboo.
Baraboo
BaraboO. the Gem City, is supposed
to have been naRed for Jean Bari.
bault (pr0nounciation corrupted into
BarabOos, a French trader and trap
per who is said to have bartered with
the Indians near the mouth of the
stream which bears his name. First
the river was called Baraboo. spelled
in various ways, then the name was
applied to the hills to the city, and to
the town.
The city Of BarabOo is situated in
a bOat6hAped valley about twenty
miles in length and Of varying width
The north and south range of the
Barabo0 bluffs enclose the valley.
the river entering through q gap at
the Upper Narr0WS and escaping
through similar opening at the
eastern extremity Of the depression.
The first families came to Bara-
boo about 1910, among them being
those OF Eben Peck, Wallace Rowin,
and Abe Wood. The water power was
the lOadstOne that attracted these first
settlers, Peck laying claim to the
land at the lower oxbow" and the
other two to the. power site at the
upper OXbOw" of the Baraboo river.
Eben Peck was the first to erect a.
house in Madison, Mrs. Peck was the
first white woman in the Baraboo
valley, and their only daughter Mrs
A. S. HaWIey. the first white person
born in Madison, now resides in the
neighboring village Of Delton.
Museum IN Courthouse
The museum of the Sank County
Historical society in the courthouse
contains many relics of pioneer times
and pictures of the pioneers them
selves. There are cases Of stone and
copper Indian relics; display of bad
+ges given by the late Phillip Cheek,
at one time department commander
of the Grand Army of the Republic
OF Wisconsin, by Mrs. Cheek by c.. S.
Blanchett and others; number of flint
lock and other old guns; exhibit of
polished shells, stalactites, and many
other interesting curios of this local
1ty. The society also possesses
remarkable collection of handmade
tools.
The First Courthouse
The first courthouse in @Baraboo
stood on the north side of the square
at about 100 Fourth avenue. The
second story was used by the pioneers,
not only for a courtroom but for
church, school, lecture and dancing
hall. On one occasion citizens be-
gan to arrive for both religious SER
vices and a dancing party, there being
some mistake in announcing the two
events For time there was some
question as to how the matter would
terminate when violin was brought
forth and the floor was soon filled with
dancers indulging in the light fam
tastfc. After being deserted by the
county officers, and while being used
as saloon, the building was burned
ION the night of July 4, 1857.
The AL. Ringing Theatre
The beautiful Al. Ringing theatre.
136-14O Fourth avenue, just west of
the old courthouse site, was erected
by the oldest Of the circus firm of
Ringing Brothers on the ground once
occupied by the Wisconsin House. the
brick portion of which was known in
pioneer times as the Little Dutch Tav-
ern. The theatre, building of un-
usual beauty, was built in 1915, at a.
cost of about 100000. The interior
is of French design; instead. Of a
gallery there is a crescent of seven
teen boxes above the main floor. The
building seats almost 1000 persons
and was opened to the public on the
night of November II, 1915, the own
er, then In i'll health, being barely
able to be present. Mr. Ringing died
soon after. January 1, 1916, in the
large mansion around the corner to
the right.
The Al. Ringing Residence
The AL. Ringing residence of
Lake Superior brown stone was erect
ed in 1909. the cost being about $780,
600. Here the funeral of brother,