Miscellaneous Dudgeon Monroe Neighborhood History

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• Monroe Street

Monroe Street History
Fun Facts and History

From 100 Horses Per Day to 22,300 Cars Per Day in 160 Years.

Designated as a Territorial Legislation, Monroe Street ran 47.7 miles from the "future capital" to Monroe and onto Freeport, IL. A trickle of settlers came in covered wagons pulled by horses or oxen, some with a cow tied to the back. They carried rifles for game -- deer and a few elk -- and protection against bears and wolves.

Monroe Road followed the jagged route of present highway 69, near Verona, Belleville and Monticello. It was a trail, dust and ruts in summer, mud and ice in winter, fallen trees, stones, and no funds for improvement.

The trail connected to the west via the Military Ridge Road, which evolved into U.S. 18. It was built in one season in 1835 by the army to connect Fort Crawford (Prairie du Chein), and Fort Winnebago (Portage), and then went on to Green Bay for quick movement of troops and supplies.

Who travelled Monroe Street?

Sole regular users were Winnebagos who had camped around Lake Wingra for 200 years and grew corn in Vilas Park. The new Capital wasn't finished. A lead miner looked for his stolen horse found by a fur trader at an Indian camp. Carpenters and masons sought work. Land dealers, perhaps agents for eastern investors, sought sites to subdivide and sell for $100 a lot. Sawmill operators sought trees. Millers wanted waterpower sites. Cattle drivers from Illinois heading to Green Bay stopped on King Street for refreshment and to sell fresh meat to innkeepers.

Farming began here in 1839. Oxen, favored by New Englanders, were slow, but patient and powerful and would step over obstacles. Also going west were freight and settlers in Conestoga style wagons. They were built high off the ground, had large wheels with wide rims, canvas tops, and were floatable. Some were the highly regarded Stoughton wagons. They replaced strings of pack horses.

To grasp the type of terrain they had to cross, look at the oak savanna restoration on Monroe Street.

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