Cornucopia, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
Cornucopia is an unincorporated
census-designated place
in the Town of Bell
in northern Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States
. It is situated on Lake Superior
at the northern end of the Bayfield Peninsula
, on Wisconsin Highway 13. As of the 2010 census
, its population was 98. The community borders the lake at Siskiwit Bay, between Roman's Point and Mawikwe (formerly Squaw) Point. It is near a mainland portion of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
, which features the Mawikwe Bay Sea Caves.
Most residents of the Town of Bell with Cornucopia mailing addresses are considered residents of Cornucopia.
. "Siskiwit" comes from an Ojibwe word for a subspecies of Lake trout
known in English as a "fat trout". A historical marker at the Cornucopia beach tells of the Tragedy of the Siskiwit
, an Ojibwe battle on that site with a band of Meskwaki
that lead to several deaths and the kidnapping of a chief's son.
The first white settlers in the Siskiwit Bay area were loggers who came at the close of the nineteenth century. Remnants of this period include abandoned railroad pilings in Siskiwit Lake and a legend of stolen gold on Gold Hill at the southeastern edge of the community.
The first farmers were "Russians" who came to the Town of Bell from the Austrian Empire
via Chicago. They were not Great Russians but Carpatho-Russians or Rusyns
, an ethnic group found in the mountainous borderlands of Poland
, Slovakia
, Ukraine
, and, Romania
. Rusyn surnames found in Cornucopia include Kaseno, Celinsky, Sveda, Roman, and Pristash.
Commercial fishing for lake trout
, whitefish
, and freshwater herring
has traditionally operated out of Cornucopia's harbor. The Jones, Ehlers, Johnson, and Ivanow families kept the fishing industry going during the twentieth century. Today only the Halvorson family engages in commercial fishing out of Cornucopia.
In 1903, T.J. Stevenson and Albert Wescott, two land speculators from Iowa
established a post office and gave the village the name "Cornucopia" for its abundance of resources. The centennial celebration in 2003 recognized this event.
After World War II
, Cornucopia's natural beauty led tourism to replace logging, farming, and fishing as the dominant industry of the community. Today, most working-age residents are engaged in trades, service, or seasonal employment.
, 15 miles to the west. The town was awarded a grant to remodel the town hall, making it more accessible, building a new kitchen, and replacing windows. It is the site of many weddings and family gatherings and host to community events, such as the annual fish fry. The baseball diamond was the home field of the Cornucopia Little League
baseball team.
Cornucopia is the home of three active churches: St. Ann's Roman Catholic, Immanuel Lutheran, and St. Mary's Orthodox Church of America. St. Mary's was originally built as a Russian Orthodox church. Its design includes an enclosed bell tower and a small onion dome.
The Cornucopia Historic (Green Shed) Museum lies on the harbor. It contains displays of photographs, family histories and historic artifacts.
Lumberman Walter Flieth and fisherman Herman Ehlers started the Flieth-Ehlers Mercantile Company in 1915. Now known as Ehlers' General Store, it has been the social and commercial center of the community since its beginnings. The store was operated by Ehlers' son Harold and grandson Mark until its sale in 2006 to Jayne Norton and Max Taubert.
The Cornucopia Institute
is in Cornucopia.
Cornucopia has a harbor where the Siskiwit River
meets Lake Superior
. Today, two marinas, one private and one municipal, operate out of Cornucopia. There is also an extensive sand swimming beach. Numerous gift shops and lodging places line the harbor.
The Annual Fish Fry takes place on the Sunday closest to July 4.
The Annual Turkey Feed and Volunteer Firemen's Benefit takes place the first Sunday of the whitetail deer (gun) hunting season, which is typically the Sunday before Thanksgiving
.
Cribbage League is a five-week cribbage contest between the residents of Cornucopia and the nearby community of Red Cliff, Wisconsin
, taking place every January and February.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
in the Town of Bell
Bell, Wisconsin
Bell is a town in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 230 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Cornucopia, Wisconsin is located within the town.Wisconsin Highway 13 serves as a main arterial route in the community....
in northern Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is situated on Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
at the northern end of the Bayfield Peninsula
Bayfield Peninsula
The Bayfield Peninsula is a peninsula on Lake Superior. It is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin USA. It is the northernmost region of mainland Wisconsin, with the south shore of Lake Superior to the west and the Chequamegon Bay to the east...
, on Wisconsin Highway 13. As of the 2010 census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
, its population was 98. The community borders the lake at Siskiwit Bay, between Roman's Point and Mawikwe (formerly Squaw) Point. It is near a mainland portion of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is a U.S. national lakeshore consisting of 21 islands and shoreline encompassing 69,372 acres on the northern tip of Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Superior....
, which features the Mawikwe Bay Sea Caves.
Most residents of the Town of Bell with Cornucopia mailing addresses are considered residents of Cornucopia.
History
The Ojibwe used the Siskiwit Bay area as a temporary camp and a stopover on the way to La PointeLa Pointe, Wisconsin
La Pointe is a town in Ashland County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The town includes all of the Apostle Islands. There is also an unincorporated community named La Pointe on Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands . The population was 246 at the 2000 census...
. "Siskiwit" comes from an Ojibwe word for a subspecies of Lake trout
Lake trout
Lake trout is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char , touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans...
known in English as a "fat trout". A historical marker at the Cornucopia beach tells of the Tragedy of the Siskiwit
Tragedy of the Siskiwit
The Tragedy of the Siskiwit was an event that took place in the pre-contact history of the Ojibwe and Meskwaki Indian nations in present-day Wisconsin...
, an Ojibwe battle on that site with a band of Meskwaki
Meskwaki
The Meskwaki are a Native American people often known to outsiders as the Fox tribe. They have often been closely linked to the Sauk people. In their own language, the Meskwaki call themselves Meshkwahkihaki, which means "the Red-Earths." Historically their homelands were in the Great Lakes region...
that lead to several deaths and the kidnapping of a chief's son.
The first white settlers in the Siskiwit Bay area were loggers who came at the close of the nineteenth century. Remnants of this period include abandoned railroad pilings in Siskiwit Lake and a legend of stolen gold on Gold Hill at the southeastern edge of the community.
The first farmers were "Russians" who came to the Town of Bell from the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
via Chicago. They were not Great Russians but Carpatho-Russians or Rusyns
Rusyns
Carpatho-Rusyns are a primarily diasporic ethnic group who speak an Eastern Slavic language, or Ukrainian dialect, known as Rusyn. Carpatho-Rusyns descend from a minority of Ruthenians who did not adopt the use of the ethnonym "Ukrainian" in the early twentieth century...
, an ethnic group found in the mountainous borderlands of Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. Rusyn surnames found in Cornucopia include Kaseno, Celinsky, Sveda, Roman, and Pristash.
Commercial fishing for lake trout
Lake trout
Lake trout is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char , touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans...
, whitefish
Freshwater whitefish
The freshwater whitefish are fish of the subfamily Coregoninae in the salmon family Salmonidae. Along with the freshwater whitefish, the Salmonidae includes the freshwater and anadromous trout and salmon species as well as graylings...
, and freshwater herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
has traditionally operated out of Cornucopia's harbor. The Jones, Ehlers, Johnson, and Ivanow families kept the fishing industry going during the twentieth century. Today only the Halvorson family engages in commercial fishing out of Cornucopia.
In 1903, T.J. Stevenson and Albert Wescott, two land speculators from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
established a post office and gave the village the name "Cornucopia" for its abundance of resources. The centennial celebration in 2003 recognized this event.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Cornucopia's natural beauty led tourism to replace logging, farming, and fishing as the dominant industry of the community. Today, most working-age residents are engaged in trades, service, or seasonal employment.
Landmarks
The Bell Town Hall, a large brick building in the center of the community, was a school until the 1970s. Today children from Cornucopia attend school in Port Wing, WisconsinPort Wing, Wisconsin
Port Wing is an unincorporated census-designated place in the Town of Port Wing, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on Wisconsin Highway 13, 30 miles west of Bayfield. The Flagg River enters Lake Superior at Port Wing's harbor...
, 15 miles to the west. The town was awarded a grant to remodel the town hall, making it more accessible, building a new kitchen, and replacing windows. It is the site of many weddings and family gatherings and host to community events, such as the annual fish fry. The baseball diamond was the home field of the Cornucopia Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
baseball team.
Cornucopia is the home of three active churches: St. Ann's Roman Catholic, Immanuel Lutheran, and St. Mary's Orthodox Church of America. St. Mary's was originally built as a Russian Orthodox church. Its design includes an enclosed bell tower and a small onion dome.
The Cornucopia Historic (Green Shed) Museum lies on the harbor. It contains displays of photographs, family histories and historic artifacts.
Economy
Siskiwit Bay Marina is near the center of Cornucopia, WI where boaters from all over the midwest come to enjoy their summer times. Siskiwit Bay Marina also hosts a bed and breakfast that serves breakfast every morning.Lumberman Walter Flieth and fisherman Herman Ehlers started the Flieth-Ehlers Mercantile Company in 1915. Now known as Ehlers' General Store, it has been the social and commercial center of the community since its beginnings. The store was operated by Ehlers' son Harold and grandson Mark until its sale in 2006 to Jayne Norton and Max Taubert.
The Cornucopia Institute
Cornucopia Institute
The Cornucopia Institute is a non-profit organization headquartered in Cornucopia, Wisconsin, with the mission of "Seeking economic justice for the family-scale farming community."...
is in Cornucopia.
Cornucopia has a harbor where the Siskiwit River
Siskiwit River
-See also:*List of rivers of MichiganThe Siskiwit is a river in Michigan. It is situated on Isle Royal in Lake Superior.-References:*...
meets Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
. Today, two marinas, one private and one municipal, operate out of Cornucopia. There is also an extensive sand swimming beach. Numerous gift shops and lodging places line the harbor.
Annual events
Cornucopia Day takes place every year on the second Saturday in August. The event, put on for the benefit of the volunteer fire department, includes a parade, flea market, and street dance.The Annual Fish Fry takes place on the Sunday closest to July 4.
The Annual Turkey Feed and Volunteer Firemen's Benefit takes place the first Sunday of the whitetail deer (gun) hunting season, which is typically the Sunday before Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
.
Cribbage League is a five-week cribbage contest between the residents of Cornucopia and the nearby community of Red Cliff, Wisconsin
Red Cliff, Wisconsin
Red Cliff, also known as Miskwabiikong, is an unincorporated community in the town of Russell, Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. Red Cliff is the administrative center of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa...
, taking place every January and February.