Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1924-06-12
BARABOOES
The GEM CITY
One Of the Towns In the State,
Named For An Early French
Trader

Baraboo is well named the Gem
City The beautiful lawns, the neat
residences, the fine public build
ings, the clean business section all
proclaim the attractiveness OF the
place.
Baraboo is located on the Bara-
boo river, in boat-shaped valley,
the two ranges Of Baraboo bluffs
forming the water sheds. The riv-
er enters the valley through an
ancient canyon at Ableman and es-
capes through another gorge at the
Lower Narrows.
Baraboo is supposed to take its
name from Jean Baribeau who
snapped beads and baubles with
the Indians at his trading post at
the mouth of the Baraboo river.
Baribeau was Frenchman and
people with the same name reside
in the northern part Of the state
to this day. Whether or not he
ever navigated the river as far up
as Baraboo is not known. The
name was first applied to the
stream then to the hills and la
ter to the town and city.
Among the first to settle where
Baraboo is now located were Abra-
ham Wood, who had a squaW for a
wife; Eben Peck, his wife the first
white woman in the BarabOo val
ley; Wallace Rowin, who was as
sociated with Wood in erecting
the first mill, and others. The wa
terpower in the Baraboo river was
the loadstone which brought these
first pioneers. An effort had been
made to erect house before eth
er of the above came, but the In
dams chased them away and tore
down the cabin.
In 1847, the quarter section of
land where the business section of
the city is situated was purchased
from the government and a plat
was made by Charles 0, Baxter, an
early surveyor. He was a great
admirer of J. @. Adams and the
place was named for him. Bara-
boo Rapids, and Brooklyn were
used to designate the place but all
these were cast aside in favor Of
the name which the city now bears
The Water Powers
Ever since the beginning the
water powers have been a source
>of profit to those who established
industries A long list might be
made of the factories which have
been profitable, all of which have
changed from the original ones.
The river as now harnessed fur
nishes power for the Island Wool
EN- company. the two Macarthur
mills, the city pumping station
and hydro-electric plant. The Nc
Fetridges Qsland Wooden com
pany) and Macarthur have dyna.
mos which are in operation when
the water is not otherwise used.
Among the other industries are
creameries, stanchion works, can
ming company, ice cream factory,
soft drink factory, and others.
Highway Abundant
Baraboo is favored by being the
central point of number state
trunk highways:
Number IL enters from the
south.
Number 10 (same road enters
from the south.
Number IL enters from the
north.
Number IL enters from the north
Number SO enters from the east.
Number 3S enters from the west.
Number 113 enters from the
southeast.
Number 1873 enters from state
park.
Besides the above. 1856 joins 1873
near Baraboo and a county trunk
enters from the north
A Tourist Center
Baraboo, Devils Lake, the Dells.
and Mirror lake comprise one great
tourist center. Visitors come from
all parts of the world during the
mild season, bringing millions of
dollars into the community. The
places of unusual interest are nu-
merous and this has made the re-
gion a wonderful playground. New
summer cottages are springing up
on lake shore and river bank, add
ing to the hundreds which have
been erected.
The city is located ON the Chi
cago & Northwestern railway, IT'S
mites from Chicago
Schools, churches, hotels, busi
ness places, and other elements
combine to make Baraboo really
and truly Gem City In brief