Click here to see the Hwy 29 Wisconsin Yellowstone Trail Brochure

The Yellowstone Trail is a historical automobile route beginning at Plymouth Rock on the East Coast to Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington. The trail crossed the northern United States with a spur to Yellowstone National Park. In Wisconsin, the trail stretches from Kenosha to Hudson.

For more information about the NATIONAL YELLOWSTONE TRAIL, the first coast-to-coast highway through the northern tier of states, visit: www.Yellowstonetrail.org

WISCONSIN TRAIL DAYS

Trail Days historically was the time when neighbors and communities pulled together to groom the trail for the upcoming travel season. Posting appropriate signs for the travelers to find their way, the placement and care of the “yellow stones” were groomed. With modern signage, Chippewa and Clark County trails in Wisconsin are also marked with signage and the symbolic yellow painted rocks with black arrows.
 

MAY IS WISCONSIN HISTORY MONTH

May has been proclaimed as Wisconsin History month. In addition, the 4th grade includes Wisconsin history. In the local schools, the two were combined so the 4th grade class could participate in the Re-Dedication Tour on May 5, 2006. Members of the Highway 29 Community Partnership made visits to the local 4th grade classes to share tidbits of local history close to home. A book called “Introducing the Yellowstone Trail; A Good Road from Plymouth to Puget Sound 1912-1930” by Alice A. Ridge and John William Ridge was donated to some of the local school libraries. More information may be found on the website http://www.yellowstonetrail.org .
 

2006 Re-Dedication of Yellowstone Trail
 

Highway 29 Community Partnership sponsored a Dedication of the Yellowstone Trail for the area from Curtiss to Cadott on May 5, 2006. Each community sponsored a short program noting the historical aspects of their community.

CURTISS: The Dedication Ceremony was opened by Lila Meske and
Les Bowen talking about the Village of Curtiss and the activity along the trail.
The Ray & Sue Holtzheimer family donated a plaque in memory of daughter Julie Holtzheimer who was killed in an automobile accident March 12, 1998, at the CTY E crossing of STH 29.

OWEN-WITHEE: The 4th grade class and community citizens joined the dedication of a historical plate on the brick building – Taylor’s Do Drop Inn Tavern, Owen – marking the Trail. After the historical dedication by Mayor Tim Swiggum, a historical overview of Owen and the Old School building was provided to the 4th grade class by June Roohr, representing Friends of the Old School.

THORP: Renaming and dedicating the community park as Thorp Yellowstone Trail Park with a new sign was handled by Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton and Mayor Rich Wnek.
A few drivers of vintage cars joined us, beginning in Thorp.

STANLEY: During the unveiling of a Historical Plate in the Soo Park, City Council President Ron Holverson and Stanley Historical Society President Connie Pozdell spoke about the significance of the Yellowstone Trail. Jim Shuh, representing Chippewa County, spoke about the continuation of the trail thru the county and he was instrumental in having owners from the Antique Car Club join in the celebration.

BOYD: Village Board Parks Committee Chair Steve Pilgrim led the Boyd program with his remarks. Community members created a display of the village’s history.
 

CADOTT: The Re-dedication ceremony ended at the Lions Club city park with a lunch sponsored by the Historical Society and with ending remarks by Mayor Tim Swiggum and Senator Dave Zien.

HIGHWAY 29 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

Highway 29 Community Partnership was formed in 2001 to build communication and regionalization of the communities along Highway 29. The initial purpose was to prepare for housing and/or economic development opportunities that could occur with the opening of Stanley Correctional Institution. For more information on the Highway 29 Community Partnership, visit the website www.partner29.com . Meetings are open to everyone and are held the second Monday each month. We rotate communities from Cadott to Curtiss, traveling west to east in order. To enhance the communication between the communities, a resource team sponsored through Wisconsin Rural Partners ( www.wirural.org ) had 6 professionals hold a series of listening sessions and tours followed by a report back to the community. A copy of this report can be found at http://old.wirural.org/archives.htm  following the Team Works archives under Resource Teams.

Highway 29 Community Partnership has sponsorship from Xcel Energy, WHEDA, USDA Rural Development, Chippewa County Economic Development Corp and Clark County Economic Development Corp and TADEVCO (Thorp Area Development Corp).

We are always looking for new members, new ideas and community involvement. Cities, towns and villages pay the membership dues.

Contact any city or village hall (Cadott, Boyd, Stanley, Thorp, Withee, Owen or Curtiss) for next meeting date and place or you may call Arlene Scalzo or Bryan Antony at 800-334-6873 ext 623 or 611 respectively.