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City, Village and County Histories
Others Before You: History of Wisconsin Dells Country edited by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-30-9) 8½ x 11, softcover, 336 pages, 250 photos, $40.00 + $4.00 s/h. No place on earth is like the Wisconsin Dells area. No place has a history as vibrant and exciting, and nowhere is its story better told than in Others Before You. Featuring photos from the renowned H.H. Bennett Studio, this book covers the entire Dells region, including native peoples, farms, businesses, churches, and families. (The 150 family histories contained herein will be of particular interest to genealogists.) There are also colorful accounts of pioneer logging days, country schools, old Kilbourn, and the birth and growth of the tourist industry.	Juneau County: The First 100 Years by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-06-6) 8½ x 11, softcover, 200 pages, 200 black-and-white photos, $17.00 + $3.00 s/h. Recipient of State Historical Society of Wisconsin Award of Merit The history of Juneau County began when a French-Canadian fur trader camped on the banks of the Wisconsin River. Using that as its starting point, this volume presents the county’s development on a thematic basis. In addition, each township has its own section in the Township Almanac.
“The Dells”: An Illustrated History of Wisconsin Dells edited by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-45-7) 8 1/2 x 11, softcover, 72 pages, 40 black-and-white photos, $15.00 + 3.00 s/h. An abridged version of Others Before You, this book omits the family lineages but does present an historical overview of the region along with the evocative H.H. Bennett photographs.	Many a Fine Harvest: Sauk County, 1840-1990 by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-11-2) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 192 pages, 190 black-and-white photos, $25.95 + $4.00 s/h. Recipient of State Historical Society of Wisconsin Award of Merit Many a Fine Harvest charts the development of the county from the days of the Sauk Indian village on the Sauk Prairie in the 1740s to the suburban environment of the 1990s. Included are biographical sketches of the county’s most notable figures: Black Hawk, the Ringling Brothers, Robert and Belle Case La Follette, Emanuel Philipp, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Aldo Leopold.
On The Rock: The History of Madeline Island Told Through Its Families by Dave Engel and Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-36-8) 6 1/2 x 11, softcover, 408 pages, 300 black-and-white photos, $35.00 + $4.00 s/h. As the title indicates, this detailed and personalized history of Lake Superior’s Madeline Island is conveyed through and by 315 established families, with accompanying photos. The book also has a broader and more inclusive 160-page illustrated chronology of Island history since the 1600s. Out of Print	In This Century: A History of Winnebago County In the 20th Century by Dave Engel and Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-42-2) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 224 pages, 220 black-and-white photos, $40.00 + $4.00 s/h. Individual sections of this book include the illustrated Winnebago County Chronicle, photo essays on life in the late 19th and 20th centuries, and histories of all county communities from Algoma and Black Wolf to Rushford and Winneconne.
Native Realm: The Polish-American Community of Portage County, 1857-1992 by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-16-3) 9 1/2 x 12 1/2, casebound with dusjacket, 169 pages with bibliography & index, color & black-and-white photos, foldout map, $29.95 + $4.00 s/h. Recipient of State Historical Society of Wisconsin Award of Merit Dating back to 1857, the Polish community of Portage County, Wisconsin is one of the oldest in the nation. In the course of two generations these hardworking new Americans built up prosperous farms and soon became full participants in the area’s daily life and long-term development—contributing, in particular, to the growth of Stevens Point. The book also looks into the historic communities of Plover, Ellis, Amherst, Custer, Polonia and Torun. An excellent springboard for genealogical research!	From Far North Norway by Eunice Kanne (ISBN 0-938627-44-9) 6 x 9, softcover. 112 pages, $15.00 + $3.00 s/h. Building on her previous work, author Eunice Kanne traces the roots of the Norwegian settlers of Burnett County to the Lapland region of Norway and tells what life was like in the land they left behind.
Reflections of Lac du Flambeau: An Illustrated History of Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin 1745-1995 compiled by Ben Guthrie written and edited by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-26-0) 8 1/2 x 11, softcover, 160 pages, 300 black-and-white photos, $23.00 + $4.00 s/h. A book that tells the story of the Ojibwe people at Lac du Flambeau from the time they settled the village in 1745 up through 1995. All significant aspects of community life, both past and present (e.g., the “old village,” logging, the allotment period, tourism, the treaty rights struggle) are explored. Out of Print	Oshkosh at 150: An Illustrated History of Oshkosh by Michael J. Goc Published in cooperation with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation in honor of the city’s 150th anniversary. 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 262 pages, fully illustrated with bibliography, notes and complete index, $40.00 + $5.00 s/h. By far the most thorough, honest, and colorful history of Oshkosh, Wisconsin ever published, this visually stunning volume is an absorbing and delightful read as well as an informative historical study. The narrative is further enlivened by nearly 500 illustrations, many never before published: archival and contemporary photographs, important maps, and several full-color galleries that present the works of Oshkosh artists, renditions of the Chief and other native people, and the products that have made Oshkosh proud. All proceeds will help fund the programs of the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation.
Land & Lumber: A History of Portage County by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-47-3) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 158 pages, 186 black-and-white photos, $40.00 + $4.00 s/h. This comprehensive and eminently readable history of one central Wisconsin county comes with a full, easy-to-follow chronology.	Winneconne: History’s Crossing Place by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-01-5) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 152 pages, 170 photos, $19.95 + $3.00 s/h. A complete historical portrait of this Winnebago County community.
From Past To Present: The History of Adams County by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938527-45-5) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 266 pages, 250 black-and-white photos, $30.00 + $4.00 s/h. The first and only published work devoted exclusively to Adams County history, From Past to Present has a fascinating section on why Adams was the last county in Wisconsin to be serviced by a railroad. Of genealogical interest are the book’s 148 family histories.	One Man, One Village: James P. Coughlin and Winneconne by Michael J. Goc 6 x 9, casebound with dustjacket, 230 pages, 200 black-and-white photos, $15.00 + $3.00 s/h. An interwoven personal biography, political memoir, and village history, this book offers insights into participation in local government and one man’s love for his Winnebago County community.
Portage: A Sesquicentennial History by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-61-9) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 248 pages, over 400 photos, maps, and works of art, $34.50 + $5.00 s/h. Few Wisconsin communities can claim a history as rich as Portage. Passageway of the fur trade, route of explorers and empire builders, focal point for commercial and transportation development, Portage’s story is deep and broad. It is also the story of a community where people settled to build homes, business, churches, and schools; where they raised families, organized for community betterment, pursued the arts, played sports, and found entertainment. All of these ingredients of community life are covered in this book. Out of Stock	Lake Delton: An Illustrated History by Michael J. Goc ISBN 0-938627-64-3 8.5 x 11 softcover 112 pages, 200 photos, maps and works of art, $20.00 + $5.00 s/h. The story of a pioneer village consisting of little more than a pair of water-powered grain mills that developed into one of the fastest-growing, all season vacation and recreational communities in the United States. The lake in Lake Delton was built in 1927, but not until the 1950s did the community really start to grow. In 2004, the Lake Delton strip is home to waterparks, resorts and other recreational facilities that make it a mecca for travelers from across the country. This is its story.
Special Subjects
A Naturalist's Journey by Kenneth I. Lange (ISBN 0-938627-63-5) 6 x 9, softcover, 224 pages, 118 black and white photos and art, $20.00 + $5.00 s/h. The Wisconsin DNR naturalist at Devil’s Lake State Park for 30 years, Ken Lange relates his love affair with the land and people of the Baraboo Hills and Sauk Prairie Region A Naturalist’s Journey describes the bountiful wildlife, plants and landforms of this area, with focus on Lange’s favorites, such as the eastern white pine, talus rock and the Steinke basin. This book is a treat for anyone who has ever taken a silent walk through the woods. Not to be forgotten are Lange’s accounts of the bachelor farmers, farm hands, the singing bowler, and other free spirits that the author met while enjoying the always “good soup” at John’s Coffee Shop in Baraboo.	MiG Killers of Yankee Station by Michael O’Connor (ISBN 0-938627-58-9) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound with dustjacket, 272 pages, lavishly illustrated with over 370 photos and original works of art, including a 16-page full-color gallery of combat-aviation photos and paintings, $45.00 + $5.00 s/h. The story of the Navy’s real “Top Guns,” this book chronicles the air war over North Vietnam via fighter pilots’ dramatic narratives combined with the results of O’Connor’s painstaking research (including information culled from recently declassified government documents). In the prefatory words of Randy “Duke” Cunningham, Representative to the U.S. Congress and first American ace of the Vietnam War, “MiG Killers of Yankee Station will certainly be the definitive history of the Navy’s MiG battles.”
Forward in Flight: The History of Aviation In Wisconsin by Michael .J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-40-6) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound with dustjacket, 352 pages, 300 black-and-white & color photos, $45.00 + $4.00 s/h. Recipient of State Historical Society of Wisconsin Award of Merit The first, only, and definitive story of aviation in Wisconsin. From hot air ballooning in the 1850s to the astronauts who walked on the moon--with biplanes, barnstormers, and Air Force bombers in between--Forward in Flight is a must-read for aviation buffs everywhere.	Distinguished Service: University of Wisconsin Faculty and Staff Helping to Build Organizations in the State by Ayse Somersan (ISBN 0-938627-38-4) casebound with dustjacket, 160 pages, 100 black-and-white photos, $35.00 + $4.00 s/h. This book describes the UW Extension Service’s implementation of the “Wisconsin Idea,” which is, in essence, that “the boundaries of the university are the boundaries of the state.” Working in conjunction with other UW campus faculty and private citizens, the Extension has helped create “self-sustaining organizations for the arts, tourism, agriculture, marketing, conservation, health, community development, equal rights,” and other arenas of public of interest.
On Thin Ice: Windsleds at Madeline Island written and illustrated by Charles R. Nelson (ISBN 0-938627-49-X) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 176 pages, 160 black-and-white photos, approx. 100 original illustrations, $30.00 + $4.00 s/h. Recipient of State Historical Society of Wisconsin Award of Merit Covering fifty years of adventure and invention, On Thin Ice is a lively account of one of the most essential means of transportation on one Lake Superior island. The author draws from historic newspaper articles and the vivid memories of local residents—many of whom are self-styled windsled experts—to capture both the history and spirit of a unique vehicle intricately bound to the community that spawned it. The book’s detailed illustrations are fine enough to serve as builders’ blueprints.	Wings North: Wausau’s Aviation History By Robert C. Wylie (ISBN 0-938627-53-8) 9 x 12, casebound, 168 pages with appendices and index, black-and-white photos, $35.00 + $4.00 s/h. Primarily chronicling events in Wausau’s aviation history from 1910 to 2000, this volume also contains frequent references to flight activities in Merrill, Medford, Mosinee, Tomahawk, Antigo, and other neighboring communities.
Where the Waters Flow: A Half Century of Regional Development, 1941-1991 by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-15-5) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound with dustjacket, 152 pages, 200 color & black-and-white photos, $24.95 + $4.00 s/h. A handsome history of the Dairyland Power Cooperative of La Crosse, which has served western Wisconsin, northern Illinois, eastern Iowa, and Minnesota since 1941. The book covers DPC’s impact on the industry, transportation, natural resources, and people of this region over the course of a half-century of progress.	A Tradition of Excellence: Winneconne Community School District, 1848-1988 edited by Polly Zimmerman (ISBN 0-938627-32-5) 8 1/2 x 11. softcover, 224 pages, 125 black-and-white photos, $35.00 + $4.00 s/h. Focusing on single-room rural schools and the village schools with which they merged, this study traces the development of one of the first consolidated school districts in Wisconsin.
Stewards of the Wisconsin by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-19-8) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound with dustjacket, 152 pages, 100 black-and-white & color photos, $29.95 + $4.00 s/h. A private company charged with overseeing the use of Wisconsin’s largest river, the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company has managed to meet the demands of industry, recreation, and natural-resource management since its organization in 1907.	Just Plain Chet: The History of Krause Publications by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-87341-231-1) 6 x 9, paperback, 280 pages, $25.00 + $4.00 s/h. A World War II veteran with a passion for collecting coins, Chet Krause of Iola, Wisconsin built one of the largest publishing houses in the world devoted to collecting of all sorts. This is the story of one man’s rise to success while remaining “just plain Chet.”
Wisconsin County Forests by Michael F. Sohasky (ISBN 0-938627-22-8) 6 x 9, trade paperback, 100 pages, $9.00 + $3.00 s/h. Chronicled here, in readable style, is the battle over public-land logging rights between the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and county government, and the far-reaching legal decision that eventually put an end to the conflict.	Wingwalker: From Wisconsin to Norway (A Story of Early Flight) by Bernice Lee Krippene (ISBN 0-938627-29-5) 6 x 9, softcover, 256 pages, black-and-white photos, $15.00 + $3.00 s/h. Wingwalker tells the story of Wisconsin’s pioneering aviation family. The four Larson Brothers, of Larsen in Winnebago County, built one of the state’s first airports. Cousin Clyde Lee, who toured with their “flying circus” airshow in the 1920s, was a daredevil stunt pilot and wingwalker. In 1932 Clyde attempted a trans-Atlantic flight that insured his place in aviation history.
There Stands “Old Rock”: Rock County, Wisconsin and the War to Preserve the Union by Thomas Walterman (ISBN 0-038627-50-3) 6 x 9, softcover, 399 pages with appendices and index, black-and-white photos, $30.00 + $4.00 s/h. Recipient of State Historical Society of Wisconsin Award of Merit During the four years of the Civil War, 2,817 Rock County men left their homes to defend the most devoutly embraced principles of their nation. They saw a variety of action, from Navy to Iron Brigade and from monumental battles to minor skirmishes to numbing routines. Whether they served nobly or ignominiously, this book at once personalizes the volunteers’ experiences and places them in a broader historical and humanistic context.	The University of Wisconsin Colleges, 1919-1997: The Wisconsin Idea at Work By Jerry L. Bower (ISBN 0-938627-55-4) 6 1/2 x 10, softcover, 300 pages with index, black-and-white photos, $25.00 + $4.00 s/h Examining the interactive influences of Wisconsin politics, the state’s educational system, and the University of Wisconsin, this scholarly and yet accessible history traces the evolution of the U.W.’s two-year campuses from “centers” to colleges that embody the ideal of bringing higher education to all state residents.
Island of Refuge: Northern Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled, 1897-1997 edited by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-34-1) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 160 pages, 125 black-and-white photos, $40.00 + $4.00 s/h. Any account of the struggles and triumphs of Wisconsin’s disabled citizens would not be complete without the history of the Northern Wisconsin Center, established for the express purpose of meeting their needs. Moving and inspiring, this is much more the story of very special people than of an institution.	The League of Wisconsin Municipalities: A Centennial History by Dave Engel and Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-43-0) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 104 pages, 90 black-and-white photos, $30.00 + $4.00 s/h. The League of Wisconsin Municipalities is the leading advocacy group for local government in Wisconsin. This book presents a detailed chronology of the League’s development—determined largely by the myriad community issues it has tackled—since its inception in 1898.
Ring Them Bells (A Mid-State Poetry Towers Collection) edited by Dave Engel and Justin lsherwood (ISBN 0-938627-48-1) 6 x 9, softcover, 96 pages, 13 black-and-white photos, $15.00 + $3.00 s/h. Ten men from diverse backgrounds, at a table, in a tower built in the woods of central Wisconsin. They come together regularly to read and critique their own essays, short stories, and poetry. Here is a sampling of their work.	Doing Something for Someone Else: A History of the Wisconsin Lions by Donald P. Rasmussen (ISBN 0-938627-27-9) 6 x 9, casebound, 288 pages, 42 black-and-white photos, $25.00 + $4.00 s/h. The story of the hard-working, dedicated people of the Lions Clubs of Wisconsin and the many ways in which their selfless efforts have benefited others.
We Like it Where? The Sovereign State of Winneconne by Polly Zimmerman (ISBN 0-938627-35-X) 6 x 9, casebound, 166 pages, 33 black-and-white photos, $24.95 + $4.00 s/h. In 1967, the village of Winneconne was inadvertently left off the official state highway map. This is the hilarious story of the village that seceded in order to regain its dot within the boundary lines of the state of Wisconsin.	Park Hall: A Symbol of Freedom in America Edited by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-62-7) 10 1/2 x 6 1/2, paperback, 64 pages, 57 photos, $25.00 + $5.00 s/h. In 1884, the men and women of the Free Congregation of Sauk County, Wisconsin erected a new meeting hall in a wooded lot on the edge of Sauk City. They hired Alfred Clas, a young man raised in the Congregation, to draw the plans and Clas, who would go on to become one of Wisconsin’s most important architects, produced a simple but sturdy structure that has served its community for 120 years. This book tells the story of the people who commissioned the work, the community it served and the man who designed it. Park Hall is more than a meeting place. It is a symbol of the freedoms its builders sought when they came to the United States from Germany after the failure of the liberal revolution of 1848. Here they could practice their beliefs, express their thoughts, search for the truth, as they could not in their native land. This is the story of Park Hall, a symbol of freedom in America.
Powder, People and Place: Badger Ordnance Works and the Sauk Prairie By Michael J. Goc Softcover, 404 pages with 95 photos, maps, and illustrations. Annotated and indexed, with bibliography. $25.00 + tax and shipping. The First Comprehensive History of the Badger Ordnance Works - Badger Army Ammunition Plant The Badger Ordnance Works, which came to southwestern Wisconsin's Sauk Prairie in 1941 and forever altered it, was in operation through three major wars. Author Michael J. Goc presents in this book a comprehensive history of the powder plant in both its natural and social contexts, seamlessly weaving a tale of the B.O.W., the people whose lives it changed, and the unique place where they came together. Out of Print
Hard To Find Books
Rooted In Resources: Iron County, Wisconsin 1893-1993 by Catherine Techtmann (ISBN 0-938627-1 8-X) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 160 pages, 240 black-and-white photos, $30.00. Hard-rock, deep-tunnel mining for the ore of the Penokee Range and hard nights in old-time Hurley are featured in this complete history of Wisconsin’s only iron-mining community.	Pieces of the Past: Pioneer Life in Burnett County by Eunice Kanne (ISBN 0-938627-00-7) 6 x 9, softcover, 91 pages, $15.00. Eunice Kanne’s first book is an entertaining and educational collection of vignettes constructed from life in the Grantsburg area of northwestern Wisconsin.
Looking Backward, Moving Forward: Ashland, The Garland City of the Inland Sea edited by Jane S. Smith and Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-02-3) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound with dustjacket, 166 pages, 150 black-and-white photos, $50.00. Ashland was the boomtown of northern Wisconsin in the 1880s, apparently destined to rival Milwaukee and Chicago as a lakeshore metropolis. Here is the story of those grand early days and how they ushered this Lake Superior community into the twentieth century.	Celebrating our Heritage: Kendall, Wisconsin 1894-1994 by the Kendall Centennial Committee and New Past Press, Inc. (ISBN 0-938627-21-X) 8 1/2 x 11, softcover, 152 pages, 125 black-and-white photos, $35.00. Founded as a railroad town, Kendall prospered with the farm community that surrounded it. In addition to outlining the town’s history and spotlighting its businesses, civic groups, and government officials, this book includes 200 family histories.
From Roche-A-Cree to Trinity: The History of Trinity Lutheran Church Arkdale, Wisconsin 1853-2003 (ISBN 0-938627-57-0) 9 1/2 x 12, softcover, 180 pages, black-and-white photos, $35.00 + $4.00 s/h. In this sesquicentennial celebration of its heritage, a venerable congregation not only remembers the past with fondness and gratitude but looks toward the future with faith as the “key to a new door.” Included are lists of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and funerals—an invaluable resource for genealogists.	Upon This Rock: Saint Peter Catholic Church, 1876-2001 (ISBN 0-938627-52-X) 9 1/2 x 12 1/2, casebound, 112 pages, color & black-and-white photos, $30.00 + $4.00 s/h. A detailed and comprehensive history of this Stevens Point, Wisconsin parish, including biographies of notable members and a wealth of genealogical information.
100 Years On The Flambeau by Michael J. Goc (ISBNO-938627-08-2) 8 1/2 x 11, softcover, 450 pages, 500 black-and-white photos, 250 family histories, $50.00. Recipient of State Historical Society of Wisconsin Award of Merit This book--the first history of Park Falls, Wisconsin and the neighboring towns of Lake and Eisenstein—is both a comprehensive regional chronicle and a genealogical goldmine: it lists the members of over 250 local families and tells the stories of their lives. The hundreds of historical photos that supplement this written record make 100 Years on the Flambeau a highly collectible, heirloom-quality volume.	Edgar, Wisconsin: An Illustrated History, 1898-1998 edited by Allen and Jane Huebsch (ISBN 0-938627-41-4) 8 1/2 x 11, softcover, 160 pages, 200+ photos, $40.00. The complete annals, with excellent historical photos, of this Marathon County, Wisconsin village.
Land Rich Enough: An Illustrated History of Oshkosh and Winnebago County by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-89781-253-0) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound with dustjacket, 127 pages, 110 color & black-and-white photos, $40.00. An attractive, wide-ranging history of this Wisconsin county and its largest city.	Lives Lived Here: A Walk Through the History of Sauk City compiled by Myrtle Wilhelm Cushing written by Michael J. Goc (ISBN 0-938627-17-1) 6 x 9, casebound with dustjacket, 255 pages, 25 black-and-white photos, $30.00. An unconventional history of a unique place, Lives Lived Here takes the reader on a house-by-house, family-by-family, business-by-business “tour” of Sauk City. The resulting mosaic is profoundly fascinating as well as informative.
Koshak Brothers Logging by George Koshak (ISBN 0-938627-39-2) 6 x 9, softcover, 84 pages, 25 black-and-white photos, $15.00. The story of one of the last old-time logging families of northern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.	The Chippewa County Chronicle by Michael J. Goc Recipient of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Award of Merit (ISBN 0-938627-28-7) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 166 pages, 125 black-and-white photos, $40.00. Chippewa was the premier logging county of northwestern Wisconsin. This book covers the era when Chippewa Falls was home to the “largest water-powered sawmill in the world” and also looks into the communities of Cornell, Bloomer, Cadott and Stanley.
Going for the Iron by Dean Connors (ISBN 0-938627-23-6) 8 1/2 x 11, casebound, 80 pages, 50 black-and-white photos, $40.00. The Hayes family struck it rich on the iron range in northern Wisconsin in the 1890s, then abruptly pulled up stakes for a luxurious life in San Jose, California. This book is their story. It includes portraits of the Hayes men and of Victoria Hayes, the matriarch of the family.	Were They Really the Good Old Days? by Eunice Kanne (ISBN 0-938627-25-2) 6 x 9, softcover, 160 pages, $10.00. Using period news items, other source materials, and her own reminiscences as well as original works of art, author Eunice Kanne depicts “the olden days” in the Grantsburg area of northwestern Wisconsin.
Wiltonians: A Centennial History of the Wilton Area Wilton Centennial Committee and New Past Press, Inc. (ISBN 0-938627-09-0) 8 1/2 x 11, softcover, 144 pages, 130 black-and-white photos, $25.95. The history of this Monroe County village includes the stories of 215 of its families.