Category: History in the Park

Baker Manufacturing: Making History in Evansville for 150 Years

The History in the Park program for 2024 featured a presentation by Dan Stephans on the history of Evansville’s Baker Manufacturing Company, which celebrated its 150th year in business over the past year. Stephans, formerly the Chief State Architect of Wisconsin and a long-time member of the Grove Society’s Board of Directors, brought artifacts and a slide show to complement his discussion of the Baker Company’s development and its contributions to Evansville history.

The Baker Company, located on Water Street in Evansville, is the oldest and one of the most successful businesses in town.

Since it was organized in 1873 by six local businesspeople, the company has produced a wide variety of products, from windmills and water pumps to steam and gasoline engines, mechanical toys, and scientific instruments. During the Second World War it produced hydrofoil boats, a machine tool for manufacturing aircraft propellers, and targeting equipment for anti-aircraft weapons. Baker was the first company to deliver electric power to Evansville homes and businesses.

The company has provided continuous employment for local workers in the century and a half since its founding. In 2024 it was the 60th largest
wholesaler in the United States. It is a leading supplier of equipment for
water wells, operates a widely-recognized quality iron foundry, and
produces gear pumps for heavy viscous fluids in the fast-food industry.
Stephans’ talk highlighted the company’s ability to adapt to economic
change and its responsiveness to the needs of the surrounding community.

Ice Age in Wisconsin: What was happening 15,000 years ago in the region that is now Evansville?

August 27, 2023, the presentation in Leonard Park (the Upper Park), provided the answer to this question.

George Christiansen III, noted Lecturer with the Department of Anthropology, Madison Area Technical College, provided a brief introduction to the Archaeology of Rock County, Wisconsin. The first people to live in the area that we call Rock County today found their way into the fertile river valleys and rolling hills almost 13,000 years ago. Since then, their story has been one of adaptation and survival in the face of changing natural and social environments. Understanding the basic history of the region leads us to realize that while there is a framework for their story, there are important pieces missing. Discovering that lost history will be a future challenge and must involve revisiting 150 years of previous archaeological research, reaching out to First Nations people and avocational citizen scientists and most important, long-term dedication by a community of stakeholders.

Dennis James, Chapter Coordinator – Rock County Ice Age Trail Alliance, continued the conversation and spoke about the Ice Age and the geology it created in Wisconsin and Rock County. He then featured the Ice Age Trail and its development here in Evansville. Rock County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail contributions to the Trail and the communities it passes through. Mr. James had with him some displays and Monty, the Rock County Ice Age Trail Alliance mammoth mascot.

http://rock.iceagetrail.org

https://www.facebook.com/iatarock/

The Leonard Park Legacy

The Grove Society’s 2022 History in the Park event drew a lively and appreciative crowd as it turned its focus to Leonard Park—one of Evansville’s most cherished historic spaces. Attendees enjoyed a rich afternoon of storytelling and reflection on the city’s early development and the evolution of its parklands.

Local historian Dan Stephans opened the program with a presentation on Evansville’s formative years. He highlighted the city’s earliest settlers and the original platting and land additions that shaped the municipality.

His talk traced the significance of Allen’s Creek and the early dams and mills that harnessed its flow, emphasizing the vital role of the mill ponds—one of which is Lake Leota.

Stephans then explored the origins of Leonard Park, describing its use before formal designation as a municipal park. In 1883, the Village purchased the land overlooking the mill pond from pioneer settlers Levi Leonard and Lansing Mygatt, establishing Evansville’s first municipal
park—Leonard Park. He went on to recount the 1923 restoration of Lake Leota and the creation of Leonard-Leota Park, made possible through a generous donation from Burr Jones, Levi Leonard’s stepson.

The presentation also covered the park’s transformation during the 1930s, when Robert Antes secured federal funding through the Federal Work Relief Programs and oversaw extensive improvements to the park’s infrastructure. While some of this material echoed themes from the 2017 History in the Park, Stephans offered fresh insights and context.
He concluded by noting that Evansville is home to four Historic Districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places—including Leonard-Leota Park itself.

The program continued with Bill Lathrop, who offered thoughtful recognition of the recent rehabilitation work on the Allen’s Creek retaining walls.

His remarks celebrated the craftsmanship and dedication that went into preserving this historic feature, underscoring the community’s ongoing commitment to honoring its past.

Honoring the Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Rock
County

The 2021 History in the Park celebration spotlighted a remarkable chapter in American history: the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Rock County, Wisconsin. The featured presentation was delivered by Roger J. Moore, author and historian, whose research into the CCC has enriched both local and national understanding of the program’s impact.

Moore’s talk drew from his recently completed book, The Civilian Conservation Corps in Rock County, Wisconsin, developed in collaboration with Ruth Ann Montgomery. Copies of the book were available at the event, and Moore graciously signed copies for attendees.
Before settling in Verona, Wisconsin, Moore served as an American History teacher in the Scottsdale, Arizona school district and spent many seasons as an interpretive ranger in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. His hands-on experiences with the U.S. Forest Service sparked a deep interest in the CCC, leading to his first book, The Civilian Conservation Corps in Arizona’s Rim Country.

Prior to retirement, Moore was honored as American History Teacher of the Year by the Arizona chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)—a testament to his passion and dedication to historical education.
After completing the Rock County book, Moore reached out to Ruth Ann Montgomery to make a donation in support of local preservation efforts. At her recommendation, he generously donated 39 copies of the book to the Evansville Grove Society, where each copy was sold as a fundraiser. The proceeds went directly to support the Grove Society’s mission of historical stewardship.

We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Sound Track of the Vietnam War

“We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War” placed popular music at the heart of the American experience in Vietnam. The presentation explored how and why U.S. troops turned to music as a way of connecting to each other and the World back home and of coping with the complexities of the war they had been sent to fight. The presentation demonstrated how music was important for every group of Vietnam veterans—black and white, Latino and Native American; men and women; officers and “grunts.”

Doug Bradley was a veteran of the Vietnam War and the author of two books, DEROS Vietnam: Dispatches from the Air-Conditioned Jungle, and We Gotta Get Out of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War (co-authored with Professor Craig Werne). Rolling Stone magazine named the latter “Best Music Book of 2015.” Bradley and Werner co-taught a very popular class at UW–Madison on the music of the Vietnam War. UW Badger Talks made Bradley available for the event.

Bradley spoke at the Grove Society’s fourth annual History In The Park event on August 25. The well-attended event began with lunch from BBQ Bob’s Brat Bunker. The Society welcomed a number of local Vietnam veterans, with thanks for their service and regrets for the harsh treatment that many of our retuning Vietnam veterans received after returning from the war.

Bradley’s presentation included a moving explanation of the music of the era and what it meant to the soldiers in Vietnam, as well to as their families back home.  Listening to the music was all the more special because Matt Koser’s volunteered sound system made the music reach us all.  Several people and the Grove Society picked up copies of Bradley’s book, “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place: The Soundtrack of the Vietnam War,” on which the presentation was based.  Bradley told many touching stories of interviews with Vietnam veterans that he collected with Professor Werner.

Stan Sperry: A Career in Baseball

Held March 24, 2019 at Emma’s Table, 104 West Main Street, Evansville, WI

The third annual History in the Park was originally scheduled for August 2018 in Leonard-Leota Park. However, due to a scheduling conflict with a major end-of-season baseball game, the event was rescheduled and relocated to Emma’s Table in downtown Evansville.

Despite the shift in date and venue, the event delivered a vibrant celebration of Evansville’s baseball legacy. The presentation, titled Stan Sperry: A Career in Baseball, was led by John Graf, who brought to life the story of one of Evansville’s most notable professional ballplayers.

A warm and enthusiastic crowd filled the room—including Pop’s son Peck and several other members of the Sperry family—and the evening was rich with reminiscence, laughter, and shared pride. Guests swapped stories, reflected on the local teams of yesteryear, and honored Stan “Pop” Sperry’s contributions to Evansville’s sporting heritage and those of his family.

This season opener for the Grove Society was, as usual, free, and included hotdogs and Crackerjacks with a little local history thrown in. The gathering was a heartfelt reminder of how Evansville’s history lives not only in its landmarks, but in its people, its pastimes, and its enduring community spirit.

(original notes by Sue Berg)

What Makes Leonard-Leota Park Special

On August 27, 2017, the Grove Society’s annual History in the Park
celebration featured a wonderful program about the history of Leonard-Leota Park in Evansville. Former Wisconsin State Architect Dan Stephans was one of two featured speakers.  The other was Tim Heggland, an expert consultant on historic preservation. 

Stephans discussed the mystery surrounding the naming of Lake Leota,
about which no verified information has emerged to date. Levi Leonard, an Evansville pioneer, sold some of his land to the city in 1883 to create what is known as the “upper park.” A prominent citizen, Leonard was the first teacher in the community, although he described himself as a “capitalist” in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census.  In 1922, the city acquired the “lower park,” which expanded the park to include the lake area.  WPA projects during the 1930s added features that contribute to the park’s special appeal today and led to the park’s inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in January 2011.

Tim Heggland, the second speaker at the Sunday program, wrote the
successful nomination to place the park on the National Register.  In his
presentation he described features of Leonard-Leota Park that specifically contributed to its inclusion on the National Register. The Historic District includes 29 contributing buildings, site, structures, and objects and 11 noncontributing buildings and structures.  Of particular importance was the extensive stonework built by WPA workers during the 1930s. Stonework required hand labor, which brought employment for many local citizens. WPA workers installed stone for rip-rapping the creek bed. They built the stone picnic tables and benches that dot the park today. Other WPA features that survive include the warming house by the lake, the park store, the duck house, the beehive fireplace, and the bell tower. The unique twin spillways and the pedestrian bridge are notable features that were added later.

Attendees enjoying the facts, trivia and historic photographs of the presentation included some 35 adults, members of Girl Scout troop 3699 and numerous children.  The Girl Scouts sponsored craft activities, including constructing lighthouses and airplanes from popsicle sticks, and playing with marbles, Lincoln Logs.   Also on hand was a World War I soldier’s field kit, on loan from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum to commemorate the 100th anniversary of U.S. entry into the war.

The Grove Society’s museum in the historic Baker Building and the Antes
Cabin were open extra hours during the “History in the Park” event. Special exhibits focused on the early supporters and structures in the park.  Other activities included a walking tour of the Grove Street Historic District, led by John Decker, former president of the Evansville Grove Society and current director of the Wisconsin Council for Local History. Visitors submitted stories and memories about their experiences in the park.