Historic Map - Lake Geneva, WI - 1882

Bird's eye view of Lake Geneva, Walworth Co., Wis. 1882. Drawn by Wellge & Poole. Beck & Pauli, lithographers, Milwaukee, Wis.

Bird's eye view map, looking Southwest, of the beautiful resort town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, drawn in 1882 by H. Wellge & Poole, reprint. Archeologists know that the Oneota Indians lived in the area of Lake Geneva as far back as 1,000 B.C.. The Oneota tribe were among the mound-building tribes that were prevalent in the area, though none of their intaglios (symbolically shaped mounds) remain today. The first U. S. citizens to visit the area were the family of Colonel Kinzie and his traveling party, who were traveling from Fort Dearborn (Chicago) to Fort Winnebago (Portage City) in 1831. At this time, a peaceful tribe known as the Potawatomi had settled in the area, who called the lake "Kish-wah-kee-tow", meaning "clear waters". The tribal chief, "Big Foot", was a popular figure with both Indians and whites. "Big Foot" and his tribe were forced to move to Kansas in 1836, following the Black Hawk War of 1831-32. The account of the land that was visited by Colonel Kinzie's party brought other settlers to the lake in the early 1830's.

The powerful waterfall and adjacent land was claimed by government surveyor, John Brink in 1835. John Brink gave the lake the name of his native home, Geneva, New York. The first log cabin in the town was built, by Brink's rival for water rights, Christopher Payne, in 1836 where a plaque now marks the location on Center Street. The strength of the fourteen foot waterfall and such a prime location for sawmills and lumber transport brought prosperity to Lake Geneva. By 1840, in addition to mills, cabins and houses, the town included two hotels, two general stores and a distillery.

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871, while a terrible tragedy, marked the beginning of new prosperity as wealthy residents of Chicago sought refuge from the reconstruction after the fire. Palatial mansions were built along the lake shore and the town became known as the "Newport of the West". New businesses flourished as they catered to the new wealthy residents. Guests were now able to travel from Chicago to Lake Geneva by the newly completed railroad line.

This map captures the town as it appeared the year the name was changed from "Geneva" to "Lake Geneva", just four years before becoming incorporated as a city.

Illustrations of the following buildings are featured in the map's margins:

Warwick Park: Woolfert's Roost, Observatory: Warwick Heights. Wharf & Summer House.
"The Commodore" Steamship.Lake Geneva Seminary.
Sake Side Park (Elgin Camp).
Bon Ami Camp.
Englewood Camp.
"The Lucius Newberry" Steamship.
Pishcotaqua Park House.
"The Lady of the Lake" Steamship.
Kaye's Park Hotel.

Features numbered & lettered references to the following locations:

1. Lake Geneva Seminary.
2. Public School House.
3. Ford's Opera House.
4. Methodist Church.
5. Baptist Church.
6. Presbyterian Church.
7. Episcopal Church.
8. C. & N. W. R. R. Depot.
9. C. & N. W. R. R. Engine House.

1. "Herald" Office.
2. News Office.

10. Geneva Flouring Mill.
11. Oat Meal Mill.
12. Whiting House.
13. Lake House.
14. St. Denis Hotel.
15. Union House.
16. Lake-Side Park, (Elgin Camp).
17. Pishcotaqua Park House, C. F. Hall, Proprietor.
18. Camp Collie, Rev. J. Collie, Proprietor.
19. Russell's or Forest Glen Park.
20. Belvidere Park.
21. Fontana Park, Porter & Montague, Proprietors.
22. Marengo Park Hotel.
23. Harvard park.
24. Bon Ami Camp.
25. Englewood Camp.
26. Kaye's Park Hotel, Arthur Kaye, Proprietor.
27. Warwick Park, W. Anson Barnes, Proprietor.
28. South Park.
29. Button's Bay.
30. Manning Point.
31. Cedar Point.
32. Williams Bay.
33. Black Point.
34. Long Point.
35. Douglass' Roller Flouring Mill.
36. Sanford & Morris, Boat Livery.
37. La Salle's Bathing House.
38. Green House, Thos. H. Price.
39. Fish Hatchery.