Shullsburg

Shullsburg is a city in Lafayette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,226 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to the Town of Shullsburg. Founded in 1827 it is one of the oldest settlements in Wisconsin. There are 34 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places[4] on its historic Water Street Commercial District. It is located within the Midwestern Driftless Area and is known for its history of lead mining and its cheese industry.

Shullsburg was founded during the 1820’s in parts by Jesse Shull and Henry Gratiot and due to their ventures into lead mining. Following the Black Hawk War conflict Gratiot’s Grove (Wisconsin) and other small settlements consolidated into Shullsburg. In 1841 Missionary Priest Samuel Mazzuchelli platted the Northeast section of town and named the streets after the virtues of life[5]. After arrival of railroad in the 1880’s the Water Street Commercial District saw the construction of its many brick and limestone buildings. The Shullsburg High School was built in 1900 designed by the town physician Dr. C.C. Gratiot. The 8-Acre Badger Park, designed by Phelps Wyman, was completed in 1942[5] by the Works Progress Administration and lights were installed at its baseball park in 1948[5]. In 1974 the Emily Franz Scholarship Fund was formed to help high school students pay for college and is today worth 1.8 million dollars.[6] The last working lead mine in the Upper Midwest Lead District closed at Shullsburg in 1979[7] and the town fell on hard times. During the 1990’s and 2000’s the restoration of buildings became important to building preservationists. In 2001 a new library and community center was built with private funds only. In 2016 it was named a Wisconsin Main Street Community.[8]