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Gloria Hills Sculpture Garden
aka Schwartz Art Gallery
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location: Green Lake
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roadside attraction / outsider artist |
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Lester O. Schwartz (1912 - 2006) was a lifelong artist who left a big mark on the landscape south of Green Lake, where he created "Gloria Hills," a sculpture garden named after his late wife. Les, who had been known mostly for his paintings, began covering the grounds with large metal sculptures made of discarded materials. The park is open to visitors, but an appointment must be made one week in advance.
2013 UPDATE: The sculpture park is no longer open for visitors. There are talks underway to display one of Lester's sculptures in town. Some of Lester's paintings can be seen in the old Green Lake County Courthouse. |
Click here for MORE PHOTOS
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was at: W908 Scott Hill Road
Ripon, WI 54971
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New Low
www.newlow.org
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Wisconsin Art
www.wisconsinart.org
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book:
"Oddball Wisconsin"
by Jerome Pohlen
Chicago Review Press, Inc. (2001)
page(s) 41 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Great Little Museums of the Midwest"
by Christine Des Garennes
Trails Books (2002)
page(s) 32 buy it at
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book:
"Strange Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
page(s) 30 – 32 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Miracles of The Spirit: Folk, Art, and Stories from Wisconsin"
by Don Krug & Ann Parker
University Press of Mississippi (2005)
page(s) 98 – 99 buy it at
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Judson Tower
at the American Baptist Assembly & Green Lake Conference Center
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location: Green Lake
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unique architecture / historic structure |
"For a magnificent view of the Green Lake area, climb to the top of Judson Tower. Built in the early 1800's by Victor Lawson, the tower's observation platform is 121 steps above the foundation, 200 feet above the lake. The tower is made of poured concrete, and the roof is made of imported ceramic tile. The well is 400 feet deep, and the tank holds 75,000 gallons of water."
– section from Explore Wisconsin website
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W2511 State Road 23
Green Lake, WI 54941
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Woolly Mammoth Uncovered in 1989 |
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location: Markesan
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historic discovery |
"In May of 1989, Ed Westra of Markesan, unearthed the skeletal remains of a woolly mammoth while digging an irrigation pond on his farm... Paleontologist John E. Dallman identified the bones as the shoulder, tusk, tooth, and lower jaw of a woolly mammoth, a hairy elephant like mammal."
– section from Markesan Chamber website
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Markesan Chamber of Commerce
www.service-life.com
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Chapel Car Grace
at the American Baptist Assembly & Green Lake Conference Center
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location: Green Lake
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historic conveyance |
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"Chapel Car Grace is one of nine chapel cars put into service by the American Baptists from 1892 to 1914, carrying the Gospel to the rugged and wild western frontier. For many, these chapels on wheels were the first and only houses of worship in their communities. Grace contains the missionary's living quarters and a chapel which seats about 65 persons."
– section from Explore Wisconsin website
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W2511 State Road 23
Green Lake, WI 54941
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former manure tank
Castle Arkdale
aka Happy Tales Bookshop
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location: Markesan
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business with character / unique architecture |
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In Green County's scenic countryside sits an castle-themed bookstore converted from an old manure storage tank. (Not many of those floating around out there.) Owners Lloyd & Leonore Dickmann say that they have at least 1 million books for sale. You will be impressed by this unexpected collection, which fills several buildings on the property.. |
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The portcullis is raised, young knights and rangers. Enter Castle Arkdale and the blessed Halls of Learning. |
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W1778 County Road K
Markesan, WI 53946
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hours:
call for hours, but mostly Saturdays (9am – 5pm) |
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web links
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books & video
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book:
"Sidetracked in Wisconsin"
by Mary Bergin
Itchy Cat Press (2006)
page(s) 213 – 215 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Strange Wisconsin"
by Linda S. Godfrey
Trails Books (2007)
page(s) 75 – 76 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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book:
"Wisconsin Curiosities"
by Michael Feldman and Diana Cook
Globe Pequot Press
(2nd ed., 2004) page(s) n/a
(3rd ed., 2009) page(s) 65 & 68 buy it at
buy it at Barnes & Noble.com
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“Bill Geist visits a Bookstore made from a Manure Tank”
video by despondentisthmus
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“A Visit to Castle Arkdale / Happy Tales Bookshop”
video by Brandon Domer
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The Pawlaks have chosen a pachyderm to guard their driveway from brush salesmen, vagabonds, and the UPS man, but who protects the protector from poachers who prize those scrap metal tusks? |
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W 1644 County Road AW
Markesan, WI 53956
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Bowling Ball Tree
at Prairie Lanes Bowling Alley
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location: Markesan
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roadside oddity |
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This is another creation of Ken Soda, the farmer in Marquette county with the giant bowling ball rosary on his property. He and his two sons built this colorful attraction in the parking lot of an appropriate site: a bowling alley. Thanks to Barbara Beane on Facebook for the tip! |
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W1646 County Rd S
Markesan, WI 53946
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image courtesy of official site |
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Do you possess the fortitude it takes to win the highly-desired Silver Rubber Chicken? All it takes is accuracy to gain past the initial trial (chucking a rubber chicken through a pair of goal posts), then going for distance (sending your bird hurtling down the street) to claim your prize. Children can toss the fowl as well in their own competition. You can even meet the event's mascot, Chuck, while checking out the other attractions available. |
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Princeton City Park |
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hours:
Memorial Day Weekend |
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