(Edgerton's Historic Downtown District pictured above)

Edgerton was the heart and soul of Wisconsin's tobacco growing region.
The industry was so intertwined with the town that at one time, nearly 52 tobacco warehouses were located in

and around the downtown area.

(Photos above courtesy of Wisconsin Historical Society)

Today, that innovative spirit that brought Edgerton to agricultural prominence is evident throughout the city's reinvented downtown. Some of the town's more prominent brick warehouses have been restored and converted to retail and apartment rentals.

Edgerton's historic train depot built from 1905 to 1907 to serve passengers between Chicago and Milwaukee for over 75 years, is fully restored and serving coffee (The Coffee Depot.)

(Photo courtesy of The Edgerton Reporter)

Edgerton is also where the boyhood home of Sterling North, author of the children's book, Rascal resides. Rascal, the raccoon became a world-wide phenomena inspiring a young, creative animator in Japan named Hayao Miyazaki   to co-create Araiguma Rasukaru (Rascal the Raccoon), a successful animation series (1977) in Japan. Miyazaki went on to receive international acclaim for full length, animations My Neighbor Totoro, and Spirited Away among many.

After you have spent the entire downtown exploring Edgerton's many historic buildings a visit to Lake Koshkonong is just a short drive away.

SILVERWOOD COUNTY PARK

Silverwood County Park is Dane County's Outdoor Classroom

(Dane County Map of Silverwood County Park)

For Life long learners,

homeschoolers, and field trippers the 300 acres of Silverwood provide visitors a sampling of Wisconsin's varied landscapes, ecosystems and connectedness with the Badger State's latest agricultural innovations. (More...)

LAKE KOSHKONONG

Wide-open walleyes on Koshkonong, Wisconsin's eighth largest lake

by Jeff Brown

Posted from past Lakes Edition article

(The Buckhorn Supperclub at Sunset on Lake Koshkonong)

One hundred and sixty-nine years ago Lake Koshkonong was a vast marsh. sac, Fox, Potawatomi and Winnebago (Ho-chunk) tribes lived along its' shores and paddled along meadows of wild rice in birch-bark canoes to harvest rice, lake fish, ducks, and clams.

The water level rose significantly after the first dam was installed along the Rock River at Indianford in 1846, and the marsh became Wisconsin's eighth largest lake and a prime fishery, with walleye its' bread-and-butter. (More...)

(The Buckhorn Supperclub at Sunset on Lake Koshkonong)

Sterling North's Historic Home and Museum

The autobiography by Sterling North, recounts his youthful adventures with adopting a baby raccoon at the turn of the century. The well-loved novel was also made into a Disney movie by the same name. (   More )

Visit the home at 409 W Rollin St, Edgerton, WI.

Email: sterlingnorthsociety@gmail.com

Edgerton Sterling North Book and Film Festival

(The book fair, photo courtesy of Edgerton Sterling North Book and Film Festival)

 The festival is changing from a 'Book' festival to a 'Sterling North' festival. All programs and events will be geared toward Sterling North. 

The festival hosts regret not being having a Book Fair where they  rent tables for authors to sell books. They will be having the premier some time in 2022 of a new play titled "The Life and Times of Sterling North" by Gayle Corcoran Stettler and Isabelle Spike.

Edgerton Pottery & Art Festival Celebrates Local Clay Heritage

Submitted by Edgerton Clay day, Pottery & Art Festival 

The spotlight on Edgerton's former prominence as a pottery center returns with the 11th annual Edgerton lay Day, Pottery & Art Festival on Saturday, July

18, from 9 am to 4 pm. The admission-free festival will herald the city's past in the clay industry featuring hands on pottery making at Edgerton's Central Park, near the Swift Street pavillion. Using clay dug locally in Edgerton, as it has been for decades of potters, the festival will feature demonstrations by potters and an opportunity for attendees, both adults and children alike, to get their hands messy. In addition to dirty hands, one can also have dirty feet by participating in the type of clay stomp.  "The intent of the festival is to educate people about the art of pottery and Edgerton's significant clay heritage," says Vicki Morris, one of the organizers of the festival. "We are hoping people will take advantage of this opportunity to play with our local clay."  A variety of art and pottery vendors will be on site to enhance your art experience and your retail enjoyment. Live music will be on hand. A selection of food vendors will round out a day of fun for all those attending. In junction with the Pottery & Art Festival, the Edgerton Tobacco Heritage Days. Other notable history locations in the city include the log cabin, one of the buildings once used by the renowned potter Pauline Jacobus, which still stands at Fishing Pond Park.  For more information on the Pottery festival please visit https://www.artscounciledgerton.com/pottery

Edgerton Farmers' Market

Located in Edgerton's Central Park, the market offering a wide variety of locally grown produce and producs is open from May thru October.