Chasing the Ghosts of Sinnipee - A Ride Report

[larson....@gmail.com]

I became a Rivendell owner recently, and thought I would share a ride from yesterday. I use my bike to explore places, the speed of a bike is perfect for interacting with the landscape. Southwestern Wisconsin has a lot of interesting early history as part of the early lead mining region. The ride was only 25 miles, starting and finishing at the Sinsinawa Mound, but we were able to explore several places along the Mississippi River. Sinnipee is a ghost town that had an interesting, but very short lifespan. 

The man who set up the town dreamed of a transcontinental railroad, and that Sinnipee would become a major port on the Mississippi River, perhaps even rival St. Louis. This was in 1835, and a large stone hotel was built here. The story is that two future presidents stayed here during the time they were stationed at Fort Crawford in Prairie du Chien. In1838 spring snowmelt created serious flooding, and the resulting stagnate water resulted in a deadly malaria outbreak. There is a small cemetery located on a bluff above the town site, a beautiful quiet place several hundred feet above the Mississippi. There are said to be about 60-70 unmarked graves here. By 1839 Sinnipee was completely abandoned.

One of the more recent graves is part of a small family plot-the Fenley family owned most of this land as part of their farm. Roscoe Fenley died in service as a Marine in WWI. He was stationed on the USS Pittsburg, which spent most of the war in the South America region. The 1918 outbreak of influenza killed 58 men on this ship, including this young Marine from Wisconsin.

I enjoy visiting, photographing and sometimes writing about places like this in Wisconsin. The bike is such a great way to engage these place, to experience deep travel. The picture of the path in the woods is close to the Main Street of Sinnipee. The hiking picture is on the way to the bluff top cemetery. Thank you for the interest.

Randy

[larson....@gmail.com]

[larson....@gmail.com]

[Steven Sweedler]

Thanks for sharing, is the stone hotel still standing, Steve

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Steven Sweedler
Plymouth, New Hampshire

[larson....@gmail.com]

No, it was sold and taken apart to be used as part of a dam. Several other houses may have been sold, taken apart and the materials reused in Mineral Point. Part of Sinnipee may be underwater, as river levels are higher as a result of dams downstream. Thanks for the interest.

Randy