| Take Hwy. 35
north to La Crosse, WI |
Stoddard and Genoa, Wisconsin |
Take Hwy 35 south to Victory, WI |
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The
Vernon County town of Stoddard
became a river town in 1937 when the pool created by Lock and Dam #8 (located south of the
town) flooded 18,000 acres of bottom land and brought the river to its doorsteps. Unlike
its neighbors to the north and south, La Crosse and Bad
Axe City (Which is now known as Genoa), the Village of Stoddard did not start up as a fur
trading post. This is probably because Stoddard was located on a narrow slough about two
miles from the main channel of the Mississippi River, a fact that was obscured by the
water that was backed up by the Lock & Dam. The village of Stoddard came into being to serve the needs of the farmers in the surrounding area. From early on, There were general stores, blacksmith shops and a school. There was warehouses and a grain elevator built near the railroad track. In 1891, a flour mill, feed mill, and planer were built from a partnership of Henry Blashek and John H. Hanesworth. There were many carpenters and masons living in the village who were kept busy in the employment of the local farmers and businesses. They even had their own doctor (Dr. W. Tillman) since the early 1900's. The man generally given credit for being the founder of the village of Stoddard is Henry H. White. Mr. White came to the area from New England in 1867 and bought the land in and around the future site of Stoddard. Henry's son, Charles P. White is credited for the naming of Stoddard. The town was named in honor of Col. Thomas B. Stoddard, The first mayor of La Crosse (in 1856) "who helped the new community advance and expand". Col. Stoddard was also instrumental in establishing the Stoddard Post Office, which oddly enough, was in operation 16 years before the naming of the town. Col. Stoddard was a great promoter of building railroads in the area. In 1855, He helped to form the La Crosse and Prairie du Chien Railroad Corporation. This cooperation helped pave the way for building the railroad from La Crosse 10 miles south to Stoddard.
The oldest known settler on the site of this picturesque old river town was David Hastings, who erected the first house in 1853. During the next two centuries settlers from the Eastern states and Europe began to locate along the river near a steamboat landing, then called "Hasting's Landing". The village was laid out and platted in the year 1854 and was renamed Bad Axe City. The name Bad Axe was derived from a river which flows into the Mississippi four miles down stream. For a time it was thought quite appropriate as the people were kept in fear by the bad characters that came to the vicinity from off the Mississippi River, as it was quite a steamboat landing. However, in 1868 the people changed the name to Genoa, being as the community was founded and settled by persons of mostly Italian descent. The name Genoa was chosen to honor the home city of Christopher Columbus. Genoa is located in Vernon County. In 1884, the Chicago, Burlington, and Northern Railroad completed its route through Genoa. This offered freight and passenger service for the residents and gave the people of the village much closer contact to the larger city of La Crosse. Passenger service gave way to the automobile in the early 1930's and freight service was ended in the early 1960's. The Mississippi River was the force that led to Genoa's development as with many of the other villages, towns and cities in the pioneer days. Early residents depended on the Mississippi for their livelihoods and for news of the outside world in a time when steamboats provided the only form of communication and transportation. For a time, more recently, it seemed as though the railroads and river had become outdated in their usage, but now they are being used more than ever. Barges and Towboats travel the waters with heavy loads of grain, coal, etc. and the railroads are in steady use. While in Genoa, you can see spectacular views of the Mississippi at overlooks at the north end of town. On the south end of you can watch the boats and barges lock through Lock and Dam # 8. |
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