We stopped at one antique store in Sheboygon. The owner is trying to sell his Father's collection of antique cash registers, slot machines and other high priced items. Interesting to see but not interested in buying.
We continued on down the road and decided to take an off road to another store. It was in a barn over 100 years old. Gordon, the owner is 83 and has been doing this for 40 years. It is amazing the people we meet along the way. That is probably the most interesting thing about our traveling.
John found 5 Tom Swift books to add to his collection. We also found a beautiful sand painting that we are not bringing home. It is so big we really don't have a place to hang it. Gordon made a recommendation for dinner and another store about 30 miles west. The store was not organized and really dirty but John did find a map book that he thought was interesting.
Carmex is my favorite lip balm. John, Charles and Jennifer think it stinks but I love how it helps my dry lips. Anyway, Carmex is made in a small town just south of Milwaukee in Franklin, WI. The company was started in 1936. In the early days Alfred Woelbing made the salve on the stove top, bottled it by hand and sold it throughout Wisconsin from the back of his car. In 1957 Alfred took the business from his kitchen to a rented manufacturing facility. In the 1975 the business they changed to an assembly line business and expanded the business.
We went across the street for dinner to the Mine Shaft. This restaurant has a occupancy of 379 people. The restaurant has 2 floors, serves pizza, burgers, fish, pasta, ribs, steaks and on and on. Every night is a special night of one thing or another. Tonight was a Fish Fry, all you can eat for $10. Had shrimp and perch. Both were delicious but one plate was more than enough. We arrived about 5:30 and had a 45 minute wait. People came in in droves with children and babies. Hartford has about 15,000 residents. I think people drive here from miles around to come to this restaurant.
Fish Fry is a common term along the lake cities and towns. Usually includes fish, coleslaw and the rye bread.
I have to take back my comment about putting away the warm clothes. We are back to our coats and gloves.
We use the internet along the way to find places we want to go but are finding we need to call stores before driving how every far as the internet is not always correct. Sometimes the addresses are wrong, most of the time the hours are wrong. One store we were going to, the internet said they were open until 8:00 pm. I called to verify and was told they store was closed except on holidays. She said Google wanted $600 to correct the listing. Another store owner said their posting was incorrect and Google wanted $1000 to correct his listing.
We drove through a lot of farm land today. Love seeing the green pastures or bare land where hay or soybeans are grown. Wisconsin is the cheese state but we have seen just one dairy farm.
Passed an old farm with many old rusted tractors. Reminded me of the Car's movie where the tractors did their dance in the field.
Saturday April 10, 2021 - We stayed in Hartford last night. This morning we started out for the Auto Museum. Kissel was an automobile manufacturer in Hartford. They made some beautiful cars but had to shut down when the depression hit. After the depression the family attempted to bring back the company but were not successful. Instead they started to build small motors for boats. Today those motors are called Mercury.
There was also a 1950 Nash car at the museum with 61 original miles. She purchased the car so she could learn how to drive. After the first few miles the vehicle was towed where ever she took it. The car still has the original blue paint and was referred to as the blue pickle.
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| 1950 Nash - Blue Pickle |
After the museum we traveled through the country side to another small town, which they refer to in WI as Villages. It rained on and off today but when the sun was out the rolling green hills are beautiful. The trees are beginning to burst with their tender green leaves.
Oconomowoc is a small village on the edge of Okauchee lake. I love small town America. The Village was busy today I can just imagine what is like on a warm sunny day in July.
From Oconomowoc we drove to Brookfield, just a few miles from Milwaukee. Tomorrow we want to go down to wharf to see some of the ships. Also will search out some antique stores.
One of the things I have noticed is how the weather and the different water has an affect on our skin. At one point in northern Minnesota my skin was so dry and my whole body was itchy.
Sunday, April 11, 2021 - Today was a great day. We started off my driving into downtown Milwaukee and walking along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The temperature was 45, partly sunny and a light wind off of the lake. The sound of the waves coming in sounds just like the pacific ocean. There is a narrow beach along the shore but it is long enough to accommodate a large number of people. There is a huge park along the shoreline separated by a path to the lake.
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| Lake Michigan Shoreline About 12 Noon we drove into downtown Milwaukee. It appears to be a clean city. Homelessness does not seem to be a major problem here. Talked to one person that indicated there are a few homeless people but there are not homeless camps like we have at home. Visited 3 antique stores today, 2 large ones and 1 very small one. We hit the jackpot at the small store in Milwaukee. John has been looking for an old cabinet with 1/2 inch deep drawers. There are 36 of them and 4 drawers that are about 6 inches deep. And yes we were able to get it into the back of the truck. Found some very unusual chairs (new) that I thought were over the top.
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At the end of the day we found a classy restaurant for dinner. Had cloth tablecloths and napkins, excellent brisket and grilled asparagus.
End of a great day. Tomorrow we will head west toward Madison.
Do you know where the name Jeep came from? Well, when the military first requested the vehicle designed like a jeep they referred to it as a General Purpose Vehicle. From there is was abbreviated to GP Vehicle, which if you say it fast enough becomes g-e-e-p. Not sure how the G became a J. At least that is the story.
Tuesday April 13, 2021 - Monday (yesterday) we were doing to drive to La Crosse, WI. Well, we made it to Madison and felt that tug. Just had to stop at a couple of stores as well drive through some beautiful farm country. Saw a few more dairies along the way. I don't know where the milk comes from for all the cheese they make but it is not where we have been. In and around Madison and some of the other areas we have been in, the city limits seem to cross each other. For instance when we pull up a town on the truck GPS it will list the town several times with another town in parenthesis.
As I said before we use the internet to hunt down stores in the little towns and off the beaten track. Monday we were directed to a store named "An American Classic" Now doesn't that sound like a winner? Turned out to be an auto shop for corvettes. There were 8 in the shop in different stages of restoration or repair. I believe there was one from the 1950's. The guys in the shop were nice and John talked to them for a bit, but they were surprised to learn they were listed under Antique Stores.
Then we went around the corner to a lovely shop in an old house. She had 3 more Tom Swift books that we are bringing home. Again, the conversation makes the day.
So we stayed on the west side of Madison Monday night and Tuesday (today) we were going to drive to La Crosse. But Monday we had driven by a store that was 15 miles back and decided to go back to see what we had missed. Boy we sure are glad we did. We picked up a couple of items and found a piece of furniture we would have like to bring home but we don't have the room. When we get home we may see if it fits in a couple of places and if it does, send for it. See the picture.
One more stop outside of Madison and then on our way to Baraboo, WI. Baraboo was a disappointment but there is always another down the road. Not far from Baraboo, WI there was another store we were skeptical about but turned out to be large but not having items we were too interested.
Options: Do we drive to La Crosse tonight and pay a higher price for a hotel or stay in Wisconsin Dells at a lower price hotel and leave early in the morning to get to La Crosse by 10:00 am. The later was decided on. Found dinner at Kimberly's a quaint Mexican restaurant. There was a small Mexican grocery attached to it and we think they spoke very little English. However, it was delicious and different than what we have at home. Wisconsin Wells appears to be the Branson, MO for kids. The town has a population of 3,000 people and 45 hotels and resorts. Most of the resorts have huge water parks or some kind of theme park. I would hate to be here in the summer.
Tuesday was a fun day, exploring the differences in this part of the country from where we live. The high was about 46 today with wind so we are defiantly wearing our coats again.
Tomorrow we will try to make it to La Crosse. It is about 50 miles north west.
I was sad to hear Baraboo WI isn't like it was when I visited it as a young girl. My mother was born in Milwaukee. My aunt and uncle lived in Wisconsin Dells (hard to say Dells when we have The Dalles in OR.) I am enjoying reading your adventures.... since I have been there long ago. Maybe even when some of these stores you are going to were brand new! haha!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy hearing about the adventure across the country! Fun that your hunting the antique stores for treasure. Hope it warms up for you soon.
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