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History of Fond du Lac

Although the Winnebago Indians had trod the land for centuries, and French explorers had visited the area in the late 1600s, Fond du Lac's history as a city began in 1829 with the inspiration of James Duane Doty, a federal judge who successfully petitioned for construction of a military road between Green Bay and Prairie du Chien in order to make his travels between courts less difficult. The route passed by the lower end of Lake Winnebago before heading southwest to Prairie du Chien.

In 1836, Doty and about 20 investors created a land company to sell 3,705 acres of rich, fertile land at the southern end of Lake Winnebago. Colwert Pier, who arrived from Vermont with his brother Edward, was the first to show interest. Pier met Doty at the headquarters of the land company in Green Bay and expressed his eagerness to settle the frontier. Doty was just as eager to get his “Fond du Lac” started. Doty would give him 160 acres, as well as build him a house, if he would provide lodging for visitors for a two-year period; Pier accepted. By June of 1836 (when Pier's wife, Fanna, arrived by boat with their belongings), Fond du Lac had a population of two.

During the next two years, only six others joined the Piers in the new settlement. However, in 1838, regular mail service was established and Fond du Lac began to mushroom. By 1848, the population had grown to more than 500; by 1850, the community had more than 2,000 residents. Five years later, Fond du Lac had close to 4,000 citizens. It missed being named the capital of the new state of Wisconsin by a single vote.

In the mid-1800s, Fond du Lac had a railroad built by John B. Macy — who had come west from Buffalo, New York. At first, the Rock River Valley Union Railroad stretched its tracks between Fond du Lac and Chester (now Waupun). It reached Chicago 10 years later — delivering Wisconsin agricultural products, lumber and Lake Winnebago ice to Chicago's markets. In 1862, Macy's railroad became the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad.

Late in the 19th century, the Fond du Lac area was a source for a wide variety of goods — railroad cars, decorative wood trim, factory-made cheese, limestone, clothing and a foaming yeast that made bread-making easier. Pleasure boating on Lake Winnebago became popular for vacationers who came north from Milwaukee and Chicago.

A good deal of Fond du Lac history is contained at the Galloway House and Village and Blakely Museum on the city's southeast side. The restored Victorian Galloway House is the focal point of a collection of 21 historic buildings that have been moved to the site and restored. The Blakely Museum houses a collection of local artifacts and materials from the estates of leading figures in community history.

In addition, Downtown Fond du Lac is home to many historic buildings built near the turn of the century that still retain their old-world charm. Fond du Lac has entered the new century and the new millennium respectful of its past and with confidence in its people and its strengths.