Town of the Week

Mayville, Wisconsin
March 20, 1999

I doubt you'll ever forget the sound that more than two hundred thousand Canadian Geese make when they honk at the same time. You too can experience this when you visit the Horicon Marsh National Wildlife Area in central Wisconsin. It's the main Midwest stopover for the geese on their one thousand mile flight from Hudson Bay to wintering grounds in the southern United States. On the eastern shore of the marsh is the gateway city of Mayville.

It's a pretty, small town of just under 5,000, with booming industrial parks, historic architectural styles and beautiful views of the Rock River. Mayville was developed in the late 1840s, and was the site of the first blast furnace in Wisconsin. Iron was king here for the rest of the century and, for a time, Mayville was known as the "Pittsburgh of the West."

In fact, the town's name comes from the May family, specifically Uncle George, who began smelting ore in 1848. There is a walking tour of the downtown area, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. In the old White Limestone School building, you'll find historic exhibits, including the Rock River League Baseball Hall of Fame. There's also a feature on the town's most famous son, Dick Ruedebusch, an outstanding trumpeter who recorded with the "Under-Privileged Five," and appeared on the Ed Sullivan show in 1962.

The local historical society operates the old Hollenstein Wagon and Carriage Factory as a museum, offering free tours on some summer Sunday afternoons. Today, Mayville is home to two cheese plants, seven metal fabricating businesses, and a farmer's market in Main Street on Wednesday mornings. The town's biggest event is the Annual Audubon Days Festival, held the first weekend in October. It's the home of the high school Cardinals, and our Town of the Week, Mayville, Wisconsin.

Be sure to visit these Mayville websites

The Mayville home page: http://www.mayvillecity.com

Travel America - Mayville, WI: http://www.travel-america.com/wi.21.htm

WISinfo - Fond du Lac Region:Mayville: http://wisinfo.com/fonddulac/mayville/

The Dodge County Wisconsin home pagee: http://www.dodgecountywi.com