Langlade County Historical Society

06/13/2026

Mesker Store Kits:
In the early 20th century and up to the mid- 20th century a number of companies sold home kits. A customer would order a particular kit to be delivered (in stages) for assembly into a house. Sears was the largest such company, but there were others and a number of kit homes were built in Antigo and we are aware of one in Mattoon.
But homes were not the only buildings that came in kits. Two rival companies, operating from 1800s to the mid- 20th century provided kit for storefronts. The Mesker Brothers Iron Works was based in St. Louis and was operated by brothers Bernard and Frank Mesker. A third brother, George Mesker set up a rival business in Evansville, Indiana. The rival companies designed and manufactured ornamental sheet-metal facades and cast iron storefronts for business throughout the U.S. They also produced ceiling, railings, stairs, skylights, freight elevators, roof cresting, ventilation grates and iron awnings. These buildings are generally referred to as “Meskers” As with the home kits, individuals in small towns who wished to have a distinctive style building but did not have access to an architect or skilled builder could select from a catalog showing a wide variety of styles with unique architectural features. Kits included cast iron columns, lintels, sills, and embossed metal cornices and panels. They offered a fast low cost option for buildings or update brick structures. According to a 1915 catalog there were “Meskers” in every state of the union. It is estimated that about 3,500 “Meskers” survived. Records showed that four kits from this company were sold to clients in Antigo: two fronts to F. W, Haefs, one to J.L.Klock and one to Laughlin & Kelley. F.W. Haefs operated a harness shop in the late 19th century on the 700 block of Fifth Avenue , but that building has vanished. Laughlin & Kelley ran a hardware store also on Fifth Avenue but that building seems to no longer exist. However, the Mesker kit sold to Klock may still have left a trace. The Antigo Daily Journal in 1916, stated that Klock built onto the Louis Krom building which was the former Thelma’s store (808 Fifth Ave) The top facade of the store is typical of that offered in the Mesker catalogs. That building was the Palace Theater in 1909 then later was home to the Krambo Food Store from 1934-1957 then became the House of Diamonds in 1967, today it is the Vintage Addiction Interiors store. Surviving facades often include unique stamped metal pediments which sometimes display the buildings name, construction date or the “Mesker” name itself. Antigo may still have the remnants of a significant example of the early 20th century vernacular architecture a -“Mesker”.
The Evansville foundry closed in 1981 marking the end of the original storefront era.

05/23/2026

Recognize the true purpose of Memorial Day—To pay homage to the valiant men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States of America. Their bravery has protected the freedoms we exercise today. May their memory never fade.

05/16/2026

Wisconsin once had over 138 fire lookout towers. It was the demand for lumber that first brought settlers to Northern Wisconsin in the years after the Civil War. By the early 20th century, the logging companies had slash the forests and where building rail lines through the forest creating a major fire hazards. Wisconsin recognized the need to create a conservation policy and controlling forest fires as early as 1867 when they established a committee to look into the matter. From 1899 to 1915 a number of state parks were created. In 1927 the legislature established the State Conservation Commission which divided the state into four major regions. One district headquarters was originally in White Lake. Its territory covered parts of Oconto, Shawano, Marathon and all of Langlade County. In 1933 , its headquarters were moved to Antigo. Another district headquarters was based at Summit Lake where the State Conservation Commission relied heavily on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a federal program and was an important part of fire control. Camp 657 in Elcho, erected and manned watch towers, established fire lanes and fire breaks and trained employees in fighting forest fires. Fire towers were used by park rangers to look out to spot wildfires and smoke in remote forested areas. They were the primary method for spotting and locating wildfires before aerial surveillance. They were generally built of wood or steel ( often by the CCC). A small cabin or cab was built atop the tower. A “lookout “ lived or worked from the tower watching for smoke and tracking lighting strikes. By the 1980’s most were replaced by airplanes and satellite detection. Today, many have been removed but others have been restored by volunteers and used as hiking destinations. These historical landmarks represent the region fire fighting history. Wisconsin has almost 13 million acres of forests under the state fire protection program, in all or parts of 32 different counties. The forests of Langlade County are an important economic resource and also a source of recreation and tourism. There is a reason that we call our region the Northwoods. The history of how we care for this resource is an important part of our history.

05/04/2026

04/11/2026

Hey everyone, our open sign is currently broken, but we are still open during our usual hours, Thursday through Saturday, 10am-4pm!

And as a reminder, our summer hours start in May, when we'll be open Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-4pm. The Deleglise Cabin and 440 Locomotive and Caboose will also be open for tours upon request from May through September, weather permitting.

04/10/2026

As spring arrives, it's time to declutter closets, attics, and basements. What becomes of the treasures you uncover? Consider donating them to the Langlade County Historical Society's annual rummage sale. This event is a significant fundraiser, held on the museum grounds, which relies entirely on donations and special events to operate. This year sale will be on Saturday May 16th from 8 am-1pm . Please consider donating items for this worthwhile event. Our hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10:00-4:00. We cannot accept large appliances or clothing.
NOTE: NO ARTIFACTS that are on display or in storage at the museum will be sold at this event.

04/02/2026

Due to weather conditions, the museum will be closed today. We will be open Friday and Saturday 10:00-4:00

02/21/2026

A major moonshine crackdown takes place in Langlade County in March 1927. What led to this and why?
The 18th amendment to the United States Constitution established the nationwide prohibition of alcohol, banning manufacture, sale or transportation of liquor. The prohibition era (1920-1933) drove the alcohol industry underground during these years when it was the law of the land. Enterprising moonshiners produced millions of gallons of illegal h***h, organize crime flourished and it moved into bootlegging operations and tens of thousands speakeasies popped up across the country. Moonshine flourished here in Langlade County for a number of reasons they include an excellent rail and road system. The prominity to the thirsty Chicago market, available vacant land and an excellent supply of ground water and a large number of logging camps that brought in boxcar loads of supplies including the necessary ingredients for “h***h”. Langlade County was also home to a huge influx of residents from the hills of Kentucky who brought their love and knowledge of sour mash technology. Then in 1927, Willis Jones who was 26 years old and a son of a former sheriff C.E. Jones was just elected sheriff. He began to carry out his pledge to enforce the law. Brothels closed, saloons were locked and moonshiners were jailed. One of the sheriff’s first target was the Marigold Gardens a tavern on Highway 55 between Highway K and the Forrest county line. In the month of February the crackdown got into high gear and moonshiners were caught like flies. Two commercial operations were uncovered in the Post Lake area and 58 barrels of illegal whiskey were found in the basement of a home at the intersection of Superior Street and Badger Avenue. There were raids on homes and “soft drink” parlors and saloons. Sheriff Jones and his men stormed into a Bryant tavern and smashed slot machines and arrested the tavern keeper for possession of moonshine. Taverns on Field Street and Edison Streets were closed and bartenders jailed. Then on October 12th, 1932 Federal Agents swooped into the city in nine automobiles some of which bore Illinois license plates. The agents broke into pairs and closed in on seven taverns and arrested 13 men for serving or owning places where illegal alcohol was being served. The agents teams struck places simultaneously eliminating the prospect that information would spread from one place to another allowing time to dispose of the contraband. Agents took owners and bartenders into custody and dumped the liquor into drains. The raid apparently followed some footwork here. The men reportedly came to town armed with search warrants that they felt were justified following a visit to the north posing as hunters and fishermen. Those that were arrested were taken to temporary headquarters federal agents had established at the Langlade County jail. These men were than taken to Milwaukee to face charges in federal court. Arrests continued to be made during the next week as some tavern owners who were out of town at the time of the raids were found and charged. These men were bound for trial by a grand jury and held in bonds that ranged from $500 for the bartender and $1,000 for tavern owners. Some Antigo residents couldn’t figure out how they decided who to arrest, “There were a lot of places around here than that, they were everywhere and I’ll bet the raids didn’t slow things down one bit”.
Prohibition ended in 1933 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment which repealed the 18th Amendment. Prohibition failed because it was nearly impossible to enforce, leading to widespread illegal bootlegging and the rapid rise of organized crime, the loss of tax revenue and the declining of public support.

02/07/2026

The story of the Deleglise family and how they came to establish a small settlement that became Antigo.
Francis Augustine Deleglise was born February 10th,1835 in Commune of Baynes, Canton of Valais, Switzerland to parents Maurice and Catherine Deleglise. Maurice family were a highly esteemed Catholic families of Valais vineyardists. Maurice was a teacher and
surveyor, he was not following the occupation of his ancestors. In 1848, when Francis was 13 his parents and two brothers ( a sister stayed behind in Switzerland) emigrated to America they settled in Theresa, Wisconsin. Francis mother Catherine died 5 years after the family settled in Wisconsin . Maurice moved the family to Manitowoc County where as a civil engineer he surveyed the land and located settlers. It was as his father’s assistant that Francis learned what would eventually be his profession. In 1856, Francis married Mary Bor in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. Mary Bor and her family emigrated to America from Bohemia settling on land adjacent to the Deleglise tract. Francis age 20 at the time spoke French and English and Mary spoke Bohemia and German. Nonetheless they were married one year later. The couple moved to Appleton, Wisconsin in 1858 with infant daughter Mary. By 1861, the family consisted of Francis and Mary and 3 children- Mary Theresa, Sophia Emelia and Francis Joseph and the country was on the brink of civil war. Francis enlisted at Fond du Lac and became part of the Iron Brigade “Bragg’s Rifle” Company E Sixth Wisconsin Infantry. He left his wife and children and reported to his troop in Madison at Camp Randall. His unit shipped out to Virginia after six months at Camp Randall and saw a great deal of action. Francis was wounded three times at the battle of Antietam and Gettysburg. At Gettysburg he was taken prisoner and held for six days with little food and no attention to his wounds. He was eventually released and sent to a hospital in Baltimore to recuperate. In 1864 he wrote to his wife that he was getting along and his wounds were all healed and he can walk well with crutches. He hope his letter finds the family in good health. He was honorably discharged in July of 1864. After the war his wounds required a further year of recuperation in Madison, Wisconsin Harvey Hospital where he noted in his diary: “Doctor Culbertson took the ball out having been 11 months, six days and 20 hours in my side.” His weight had decreased from 180 pounds to less than 100 pounds. After his recuperation Francis became a timber cruiser. This involved exploring and surveying an area and studying the forests determining how useful it would be for logging. Francis would be gone for two to three months surveying land. It was during this time that Francis began to think of buying land and starting a settlement his life ambition. He began to think of a region on the banks of the Springbrook as a central point of a town. All the tracts of land was then held by the state and was on the market for $1.25 an acre. He purchased the land what is now the intersection of 5th Avenue and Superior Street in his wife’s name using money from an inheritance of hers. In the fall of 1876 he returned to Appleton to inform his wife Mary and the children that they will be moving to their new home in the spring. In March of 1877 the family left Appleton and took five days to arrive to their home. In 1878, the small settlement consisted of three families, 18 people. The Deleglise home would serve as a stopover for many travelers that first summer. Francis had supplies brought in from Wausau for his own family and new settlers. He secured the first storekeeper, the first mill proprietor and banker who came to Antigo. People were enticed by the prospect of the lumber industry, farming and offers of land. Francis real estate business thrived and he became involved in the community, encouraging the establishment of certain business . Francis and Mary donated many sites to industries, churches and business interests in Antigo. In 1878-1880 a railway line was planned to go within two miles of Antigo. Francis induced the builders to come through the town with a gift of eight blocks of land. In 1881 the rail line was completed. Within two years the population went from 100 to 500. By 1884 the population reached 1,300. By 1885 Antigo was incorporated as a city. Francis was not only a pioneer resident of the region but through his business ventures and political activities was an important factor in its development. The development he founded had become the county seat. The name of the town was changed from Springbrook to Antigo. The Native American word Nequi-Antigo-Seebeh meaning “a group of evergreens with stream running through it” Francis Deleglise died on Easter Sunday March 25th, 1894 at the age of 59. He will be remembered as the most spirited Antigo citizen of his day.

01/03/2026

The Steffen Memorial Home was destroyed by a fire in December of 2025 and the remaining parts of the home was knocked down in January 2026. Let’s learn th history of the two Doctor Steffens that practiced in Antigo.
Ignatius David Steffen was born in 1855 to John and Appolonia Steffen in Hortonville,WI. His parents were both born in Germany, emigrating to the United States in 1847. He was raised on a farm in Outagamie County. After graduating from high school he attended Lawrence College and graduated from the institute in 1879. He taught four years in the Hortonville schools and at the same time did some work in office of Dr. Hardacker, a practicing physician of that city. He saved enough money to take him through Rush Medical School at Chicago. He completed his course there and came directly to Antigo to practice his profession that was in 1887, two years after Antigo had been incorporated as a city. His sister Mrs. John (Mary) Olk lived in Antigo, this was a factor in influencing him to come to Antigo to practice. Dr. Steffen married Effie Lois Nye of Oshkosh in 1883. The had five children. They lived at 637 Clermont Street. In 1890 Dr. Steffen along with Dr. J. F. Doyle rented a building for use as a private hospital. The building contained thirteen rooms. The hospital functioned for 3 years. In 1898, Dr. Steffen purchased property and opened the Antigo Hospital which was located at 5th Avenue and Elm Street. It was later sold to Dr. Moore in 1918. Dr. Steffen also was active in public affairs, he served as Mayor of Antigo three different times. He was also an officer and a director of the First National Bank of Antigo. He later resigned and upon the organization of the Langlade National Bank he was made a director later vice president and at the time of his death was serving as its president. Dr. Steffen had built up an excellent practice and had been very active when he permitted his son Dr. Lyman to relive him largely of his work. Dr I.D. Steffen died in 1922 due to an attack of acute diabetes.

Dr. Lyman Steffen was born in 1887 son of I.D. and Effie Steffen. He graduated from Antigo High School in 1905. He entered the University of Wisconsin in 1905- 1908. He then entered the medical department of the University of Chicago being there from 1908-1910. The next two years he spent at the famous Rush Medical College, he graduated from there in 1912. Dr. Steffen became the first assistant to the chief of physician and surgeon in charge of the employes of the Virginia- Rainey Lake Lumber Company at Virginia, Minnesota, largest lumbering institution in the world. He returned to Antigo in 1913 and became associate with his father I. D. Steffen in his practice. In 1914 he married Miss Erma Hessel, daughter of John Hessel , pioneer Antigo merchant . They had two children. They reside at 503-511 Fifth Avenue . During World War I he served overseas and then returned to Antigo. Dr. Lyman Steffen died in 1940. In 1966, the daughters donated their Antigo home at 503-511 Fifth Avenue to the people of Antigo and Langlade County in memory of their parents and grandparents, for the purpose of civic and cultural events. The home was sold in 2021. The home was destroyed by a fire in 2025.