Early Settlers
Prior to European immigration
to this area, evidence of Indian settlements dot the Black Earth
Valley. One prominent symbol was a “Man Mound.” This
particular mound had a torso oriented east-west and was approximately
100 feet long. The legs were estimated to be about 600 feet and
each arm extended in a north-south fashion at an probable length
of over 300 feet. The head was twenty-five feet in diameter and,
along with the torso, was over five feet high. A house currently
resides where the chest of the effigy mound was located.
The first recorded settlement of European immigrants in the
Black Earth valley dates back to 1843. These early settlers were
mainly comprised of members of The British Temperance Emigration
Society. Approximately twenty immigrants from this Society settled
in Black Earth between 1843 and 1850. The first “wave” of
English emigrants was followed by Irish and Norwegian settlers,
who moved into surrounding locations within the Black Earth valley.
In August of 1850 the village was platted. At that time it consisted
of six blocks. Additions were successively made in May 1854,
December 1855, and March of 1856, and by 1857 Black Earth had
become the first incorporated village in Dane County outside
of Madison. George High served as the first president of the
village board.
Notable Businesses
Early on agriculture and
agricultural-related businesses became a prominent fixture of
this community. In 1850 John B. Sweat built a grist and flour
mill located at the current site of The Shoe Box on the corner
of USH 14 and STH 78. During the 1860’s
and 1870’s, at its peak, the mill had three runs, and was
producing two grades of wheat flour and grist, or cattle feed.
By 1858, one year after the Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad
linked the states largest city to the Mississippi River, Thomas
Barber opened a hardware and implement store. It was located
at the current site of The Black Earth State Bank.
On April 9, 1894, the Patrons’ Mercantile Company opened
its first store at the current location at the corner of Mills
and Ray Street. In 1897 it moved to a store at the corner of
Spring and Mills Sts. This co-operative, which changed its name
to The Patrons’ Mercantile
Co-operative in 1960 (name changed to Premier Co-operative in
2001), is the oldest ongoing consumer co-op in the United States,
if not the world. The co-operative was originally established
to stabilize the Black Earth economy and to insulate the local
markets from wildly unpredictable outside influences. From the
beginning the co-operative prospered, with the exception of 1933
when a fire destroyed the store and nearly all of its contents.
A new store was built on the same site in less than ten months,
and the organization continues to thrive to this day.
Two other notable businesses to prosper briefly in the village
were:
• Barsness Manufacturing Co. (1920’s and
1930’s) – Designed, manufactured, and sold barn stancheons.
Headquarters, corporate and manufacturing, located on Center
St. just north of the Black Earth Elementary School.
• Lakeside Manufacturing Co. (1920’s) – Manufacturer
and sellers of the Lakeside and Family Electric Dishwasher. Corporate
headquarters were located in Madison; manufacturing plant was
located in Black Earth (present location of the Black Earth Municipal
Building).
Recreation
Recreation, historically, has, and still does, play
a special role in the village. Home Talent baseball has had a
home in this community since the inception of the organization,
back in the early 1930’s. Trout fishing along the world-famous Black
Earth and Vermont Creeks has been an annual tradition since the
1890’s. During the 1870’s, the Wisconsin Valley Agricultural
Society, an organization similar to the Grange, established a
local fair. The host site alternated with the neighboring community
of Mazomanie. By the turn of the twentieth century another local
festival, Field Days, had already been established. With the
exception of a brief period during World War II and the late
1950’s, this ongoing celebration has been an annual event.
The Black Earth Historical Society
More recently, August 1992 to be exact, The Black Earth Historical
Society was organized. Affiliated with the State Historical Society
of Wisconsin, it has two charges: to preserve and to educate
the history and inhabitants of the Black Earth valley, respectively.
Since its inception, and with the help of local government, businesses,
and citizens, this Society has restored and refurbished the Black
Earth Depot into a local museum. It is open during the summer
months on Sundays 1-4PM and by special appointment. For more
information, you may phone (608-767-2667) or write (The Black
Earth Historical Society, P.O. Box 214, Black Earth, WI 53515-0214).
By Tony Schreiner (B.E.H.S)
