Posts Tagged ‘sauk city’

A sign that says “Help Bring The Bradford Bison Home” is still stuck to the wall outside the Tripp Memorial Museum in Sauk Prairie.  It’s now been over 5 years since Joshua Bradford, then age 7, discovered the partial skull and intact horns of an extinct Bison occidentalis (Buffalo to the rest of us..) estimated to be at least 5,000 years old. At the time, the horns were sent to Madison to be dated. It was assumed that they would then be returned to Sauk Prairie to be put on display for the whole community.

Of course once it was realized that the boy’s discovery had real value, the adults began to wrangle over ownership and other such “grown-up” issues.  From 2005 onward the artifact has rarely been seen by anyone.  A resolution of sorts came when there was a decision that Alliant Energy owned the horns because they own the dam on the Wisconsin river near where the artifact was discovered.  They then donated them back to the local historical society.

The Sauk Prairie Area Historical Society is now working to bring the Bradford Bison back to Sauk Prairie where it will finally made available to everyone.  The problem now?  Well, money of course.  The building housing the Tripp Memorial Museum in Sauk Prairie is over 100 years old and in need of some maintenance. According to their website, after discussions with Laura Halverson, a curator at the University of Wisconsin Zoological Museum, the museum needs to invest about $25,000 into repairs and upgrades before they will be able to bring the artifact back to the community in which it was found. Even when the money is available, it will take some time to get the work done before we actually see the return of the Bradford Bison. The sad part of all this,  is that the boy who made the historic find in the first place could practically be an adult by the time his find is returned. A great lesson in how the adult world works I suppose.

We’re not talking about massive sums of money here to protect Sauk Prairie’s history for everyone to share. They look like they are about half way so far, let’s hope that it won’t be another 5 years before those who can, come up with the rest.

• Tripp Memorial Museum – Learn More & Donate
• Boy, 7, Makes Stunning Archaeological Discovery - Wisconsin Historical Society
• Bradford Bison will return to Sauk Prairie – WN

Two Modern Day Buffalo on a farm near Baraboo, WI.

The Blue Spoon Café in Sauk Prairie, WI., calls itself, “a casual Euro style restaurant offering “food with personality”.  The downtown restaurant offers soup, sandwiches and gelatos along with lattes, teas and a solid wine list.  I know you’re wondering what “Euro style” means and we’re thinking it means something like, “cheeseburgers & chips cost more than 8 bucks”. Still, you get what you pay for as they say…   Read the rest of this entry »

Workers are busy putting the finishing touches on the new Veteran’s Memorial display at the Sauk Prairie airport just in time for this Saturday’s fly-in event.  There will be a Fly-in/drive in breakfast from 7 to 11am. At 11am the new memorial display will be dedicated. Lunch will follow. Throughout the day (7am to 4pm) there will be a huge Mega Flea market, scenic airplane and helicopter rides, kids games, K-9 agility demonstrations and more. According to signs posted yesterday, drivers are asked to pay just $1 for parking.

For More Information Visit: www.saukprairieairport.com

Map (Event location marked by blue plane)

View Baraboo Area Travel Guide in a larger map

After years of planning and the enviable political nightmare that precedes any decisions made in our form of government, the state of Wisconsin’s representatives did something  increasingly rare, they made a good decision.  They voted to protect the Lower Wisconsin Riverway for us, and our children. That was now just over 20 years ago.

The Lower Wisconsin State Riverway encompasses a 93 mile stretch of the Wisconsin River from Prairie du Sac to Prairie du Chein, covering nearly 80,000 acres of river, bluffs,  islands and flood plains.  Since its establishment  1989 the region has become a major attraction to nature lovers and sportsmen alike.  Over 44,000 acres of state owned land offer opportunities for camping, hiking, hunting, skiing, horseback riding and all sort of outdoor endeavor. 93 miles of unbroken riverway offers one of the longest stretches of river open to boating, canoeing, kayaking and fishing in the midwest. What’s more, all this activity is shared with the amazing wildlife of the area including of course the majestic American Bald Eagles that are commonly seen overhead.

FLOW Sponsored Lake Delton Clean Up Event

One of the groups instrumental in fighting to preserve this slice of Wisconsin for all of us was called the Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway.  The group went on a bit of a hiatus after winning the war so-to-speak  in 1989, but then came back to life when the member’s realized that the real work was just beginning.  In 1998 FLOW kicked off once more under the guidance of Timm Zumm and former DNR State Riverway Coordinator, Dave Gjeston with the goals of protecting the ecological integrity and public trust interests of the LWSR.

Over the last dozen years FLOW has done so much to protect and manage the Lower Wisconsin Riverway including everything from area clean ups to pollution investigations, that it will take another article or two to cover it all. Stay tuned…

What is important today however is that on Jan 31st the Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway will be hosting their first annual membership meeting since becoming an official Non-Profit Organization which means there will be much to discuss.  It’s also an opportunity for those of you interested in the preservation and protection of the Lower Wisconsin to become involved in this new stage of FLOW’s life.  What’s more the big shindig looks to be a great family event as well with a big bonfire, ski trails, horse drawn sleigh rides and more. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. Especially the kids. Festivities start at noon and run until 9pm.  The first annual FLOW meeting will begin at 4pm.  There will be a heated shop for food, socializing and for the meeting.  Bring your own activity equipment, chairs, beverages and finger food to share.  At twilight the bonfire will kick off with the natural pyrotechnics last year’s Christmas trees.  Feel free to bring yours as well!

Directions

County Hwy C is just south of the Wisconsin River off of State Hwy 23. The property is approximately three miles west of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin, near Lower Wyoming Road. Please park your vehicle along the side of the road and walk up to the building. Contact us before the event if you think an uphill trek is too difficult and you would prefer to have a ride up the driveway.

Side Notes:

RSVP requested to help us plan, but not required.

Are you available to help staff the event?
If yes, please contact Timm Zumm at: 608-575-0325
or email: wisriverfriends@yahoo.com

More Information:

FLOW on Facebook
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board Website
KayakQuixotica photo story – Extreme Lower Wisconsin Paddling!

* Photographs reprinted with the kind permission of the Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway.

American Bald Eagle on the Baraboo River, Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Bald Eagle watching days are coming up in Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin beginning with a 7pm presentation by David Stokes called “Fun with Animals” on Friday, January 15th.  The following day, Saturday, January 16th, there will be a variety of exhibits and events around Sauk Prairie including presentations on eagle conservation efforts in Wisconsin, an Eagle Wine wine tasting at Wollershiem winery and hourly bus tours out to see the stars of the festival as well.  Every year the annual Eagle Watching Days festival offers a great opportunity for families to break the often claustrophobic habits of winter and just get out and enjoy nature and community.

Now, the guy in today’s picture is a Baraboo Eagle.  I took his portrait about an hour ago actually. I counted 15 in the 20 minutes or so I spent down by the river.  Suddenly this winter Sauk Prairie isn’t the only place to see these magnificent birds.

Related:

• 2010 Eagle Days Events
• Ferry Bluff Eagle Council
• Wisconsin DNR Eagle Information