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MUKWONAGO HISTORIC PRESERVATION In February of 2000, the Village of Mukwonago adopted a plan to create a historic district and appoint a Historic Preservation to help preserve the history of our Village. Our mission is to work with business and home owners in our community to help restore and preserve the many treasures that make this Village unique.
The Historic Preservation Commission serves property owners by safeguarding the charm and character of the Village, and enhancing our architectural history. The Commission meets with property owners in the Design Sensitivity Areas to discuss, review and make recommendations to any exterior alterations, restorations, improvements, fencing, roofing, siding, gutters, windows, trim and painting for example. To view the dates and times the Commission meets, as well as who is on the Commission, click here.
A Certificate of Appropriateness must be granted prior to the work beginning. If you are uncertain that a project requires review and approval, please contact the Village Clerk's Office. The Certificate of Appropriateness must be completed and submitted to the Village Clerk's Office no later than 10-days prior the the next Historic Preservation Commission meeting.
The National Trust website offers a wonderful link where colors can be sampled on different style homes. The could be a helpful resource on what base and trim colors may look like together on an entire project.
“Nestled amid the glacial
hills of south west Waukesha County is the semi-rural Village of Muk as the most beautiful area that he had ever seen.
The Mukwonago River, fed by springs in the surrounding hills and the waters of Spirit Lake, would provide ample water for a flour and a saw mill. The countryside, a mixture of forest and prairie, would provide an abundance of food and lumber for a growing community.
Formerly the site of the Bear Clan of the Potowatomi Indians, Mukwonago was the first platted village of what is now Waukesha County. The first brick house in the County (built from brick locally made) is now the home of the local Historical Society. Mukwonago was the junction of roads from Platteville and Janesville to Milwaukee and Green Bay.
The first settlers, mostly New England Yankees, by use of brain and brawn, built a thriving community. Many of their descendants are still living in the community.”
-D. E. Wright, 1990
The Village of Mukwonago was first settled by the Potowatomi Indians in the
For the duration of the 19th century, Mukwonago grew as a farming community. In 1885, construction of the Wisconsin Central Railroad, which runs through the Village, provided farmers with transportation and distribution of their crops. During this period milk processing was the main economic activity.
In the early 1900’s, the character of Waukesha County began changing from an
agricultural-only-region, to include resort and tourist activities. Travelers
from Milwaukee, Chicago, and all over the country, came to enjoy the fresh water
springs located throughout the Town of Mukwonago. The Village of Mukwonago was
Throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s, an influx of new homes began to encompass the Village. Construction of Interstate-43 (the Rock Freeway) from Milwaukee passing through Mukwonago toward Beloit, aided this influx of new residents.
In the mid 1980’s, the Village of Mukwonago made the commitment to invest in industrial development. The Mukwonago Industrial Park (176 acres) was established in 1986 and sold its last available lot in 1999.
Today, Mukwonago
receives monthly inquiries from companies looking to locate in the area.
Large
commercial developments such as Pick-N-Save Grocery Store, Home Depot and Wal-Mart already
anchor the north and south ends of the Village. The reality that Mukwonago could become a
A long time ago, about 100 years ago,
this country was inhabited by Native Americans. There was a
tribe of Winnebagoes living on the shore of Miniwaukan (Water
Spirit) Lake. As Spring advanced into Summer, the surrounding
country became dry and u
The Winnebagoes would have nothing to do with the new invaders, except for a young brave named Zicahota (The Squirrel) and a maiden named Iwoso (Pouting Lips) of the latter tribe. Zicahota thought Iwoso was a beautiful girl, but his infatuation was ruffled by a rival, Homaba, a Sac warrior. Zicahota was discouraged and went to the father of the maiden, Chief Matacincala, and avoided the beauty. He told the chief of his wealth and his aspiration for the place of his father, the chief of the Winnebagoes. This won the respect and favor of the sachem. Homaba, meanwhile, shunned the father and wooed the girl. He easily won her love by his tales of adventure in war and hunting.
Iwoso never told anyone of her preference, and Homaba was seldom seen at her wigwam. However, Zicahota was warmly welcomed by his friend, the chief, and was treated well by Iwoso. Suddenly, Homaba mysteriously disappeared.
Some of the wise ones accused the young Winnebago of killing their warrior. After a week of anxious waiting and no sign of Homaba's return, the chief told Zicahota that unless he produced the young Sac within four days, he would be punished. This seemed a hopeless case, but the young brave set out to find his rival. He was gone three days without any luck. On the fourth day, while an old man was telling the people of the Miniwaukan, or Water Spirit who lived in the lake, that claimed for his bride the fairest maiden of the tribes, Zicahota came into camp. He had not found Homaba, but said that the people would see him before the moon was an hour high if they would go to the shore and wait quietly. They remained there the allotted time. When it was almost gone, a canoe suddenly darted out from the dark of the Sac shore and started down the lake.
Zicahota waited in his canoe until the other was almost opposite him. Then, paddling with all his might, the brave intercepted it. By the light of the moon, the watchers on the shore could see two people in the strange canoe. Then they saw Zicahota, with a cry of exultation, leap from his canoe into the other, and with his 'mila,' or hunting knife, grapple with the foremost figure.
A shrill death cry pierced the silence and the two figures fell over the side and disappeared. During this whole terrible scene, the third figure had not moved. The people had hardly realized what an awful sight they had witnessed when a dark form rose from the water and dragged a shrieking girl under the surface. The ripples died away, and all that could be seen was the two empty canoes.
The spellbound watchers gazed in wonderment for a long time and then went back to camp muttering, "The Miniwaukan has received his bride." Those who had been skeptics became believers.
At half past eleven, on the night of September, the second, of every year, a faint, ghostly light comes over Phantom Lake, and this same tragedy is re-enacted. One may see for himself the fatal duel, hear the splash and witness the disappearance of the rival lovers; see the Miniwaukan claim his bride and hear the shriek of the Princess Iwoso. Then who will not judge that the little lake is not rightly called Nagi, or PHANTOM LAKE.
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wonago. One
of the early settlers described it
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1700’s. The term “Mukwonago” translates to “Place of the Bear.” In spring of
1836, Sewall Andrews and Henry H. Camp built their homes just northwest of the
Indian Village. In 1836, Mukwonago’s first plat was made. Soon afterward, more
residents would begin developing homesteads and businesses in the area. The
Andrew’s house still stands today and is now home to the Mukwonago Museum.
incorporated separate from the Town of Mukwonago in 1905.
regional employment
and/or shopping center increases with each passing year. The Village’s commercial Trade Area services approximately 46,000 residents, of which, more than 6,300 residents call the
Village home and another 14,000 live immediately nearby in the surrounding towns (Mukwonago’s regional population is
approximately 20,000). Residential growth in the Mukwonago region is
expected to increase significantly in the coming years just as in other
favorable Milwaukee suburbs.
nyielding.
Thus it came about about that a stray band of Sacs that had been
starved out of their territory came to camp across the lake from the
native tribe.