Unique and Lesser-Known Facts About Sheboygan County’s History
Sheboygan County’s rich history is filled with interesting tidbits, quirky events, and local lore that highlight the region’s unique cultural and historical development. From pioneering efforts in the cheese industry to the surprising rise of a professional basketball team, Sheboygan’s past is as diverse as it is fascinating. Here are some lesser-known facts that add to the county’s colorful history:
“The Great Sheboygan Barbecue” (House Moving by Barge)
After the economic crash of 1837, two early residents of Sheboygan went to extraordinary lengths to escape the financial collapse—by floating their houses to Milwaukee. While this may sound like frontier legend, it is well-documented. The homes became some of Milwaukee’s first structures, marking a curious chapter in both cities’ early histories. Sheboygan’s loss was Milwaukee’s gain, showcasing the resilience of the region’s settlers and the ingenuity required to survive the economic downturn.
Bratwurst Heritage
Sheboygan’s reputation as the Bratwurst Capital is no mere title—it’s a deep-rooted tradition. The city’s passion for bratwurst is so ingrained that the Sheboygan Jaycees have hosted the annual Bratwurst Days Festival since the 1950s, featuring events like the famous “Bratwurst Eating World Championship.” Local butchers, including Miesfeld’s and Johnsonville (founded in the nearby village of Johnsonville), have long competed with one another to perfect the bratwurst recipe. An authentic Sheboygan bratwurst is traditionally butterflied on a hard roll with mustard, onions, and pickles—no ketchup allowed, of course.
Sheboygan Red Skins Championship
Many may not realize that Sheboygan once had a professional basketball team. The Sheboygan Red Skins were champions of the National Basketball League in 1943, defeating what is now the Detroit Pistons franchise in the finals. The team then played in the NBA’s inaugural 1949–50 season. The Sheboygan Municipal Armory, where the Red Skins played, still stands today and is occasionally used for events. This makes Sheboygan one of the smallest cities to ever host an NBA team, adding an intriguing chapter to the city’s sports history.
Interurban Railway
In the early 1900s, Sheboygan County was connected by an electric interurban railway line. The Milwaukee Northern Railway ran from Milwaukee through Cedar Grove and Oostburg to Sheboygan, allowing residents to travel between Sheboygan and Milwaukee in about two hours. The line began operating around 1908 and offered hourly service until the late 1940s when automobiles took over. Though the trains no longer run, remnants of the old interurban substations and rights-of-way can still be found throughout the county, a reminder of Sheboygan’s early embrace of mass transit.
Natural History – The Kettle Moraine and Marsh
The western part of Sheboygan County is home to the Kettle Moraine, a region of glacial hills and depressions formed during the last Ice Age. The landscape is dotted with unique features like “kettles,” which are depressions that often hold lakes. The Sheboygan Marsh, one of the largest wetlands in Wisconsin, sits in a giant kettle in the northwest part of the county. The marsh is a popular destination for birdwatching and canoeing, and it features an 80-foot wooden observation tower. This distinctive geography not only influences local wildlife but also shaped the settlement patterns in the county, with farmers having to adapt to the region’s challenging terrain.
Notable Firsts
Sheboygan County is home to several “firsts” in Wisconsin history. The county’s first newspaper, The Sheboygan Mercury, was founded in 1839, when Wisconsin was still a territory. Additionally, one of the nation’s first junior high schools, Farnsworth Junior High in Sheboygan, was established in 1918 as part of an educational reform movement. Sheboygan also lays claim to the popularization of the hamburger by “Hamburger Charlie” Nagreen, who sold meatballs smashed between bread at the 1885 Seymour fair. While Seymour officially claims the title, Sheboygan folks proudly note that Charlie moved to Sheboygan County, where he continued his craft.
Lesser-Known Historical Figures
Sheboygan County’s history is also shaped by some unique historical figures. Judge David Taylor, founder of the Taylor Orphan Asylum and an early state Supreme Court justice, played a significant role in the region’s social development. Another notable figure is Fredericka Wineka, a female newspaper editor who ran the Sheboygan Zeitung, a German-language newspaper, in the late 1800s—one of the few women in that role at the time. In the realm of science, Edward Assel Smith of Sheboygan patented an early form of the spark plug in 1910, making an important contribution to automotive history.
Cultural Nicknames
Over the years, Sheboygan has earned several affectionate nicknames. Along with “Chair City” and “Bratwurst Capital,” it is sometimes called “The Malibu of the Midwest” due to its lake surfing culture. Despite being in a landlocked state, Sheboygan is known for strong northerly winds that create rideable waves on Lake Michigan. The Dairyland Surf Classic, held annually in Sheboygan, draws surfers from all over to take part in the lake surfing community, adding a quirky modern layer to Sheboygan’s maritime history.
These lesser-known facts highlight Sheboygan County’s unique cultural, industrial, and social history. From its culinary traditions to its contributions to sports, transportation, and more, Sheboygan continues to be a region with a rich and fascinating past that continues to shape its identity today.
