| Early 1800s |
The area was occupied by Winnebago Indians,
who had a village right by the springs. They called
the springs "Makamai" which meant "medicine
springs." |
| 1832 |
The Black Hawk Indian War resulted in Native Americans
being relocated out of southern Wisconsin. |
| 1833 to 1835 |
Eastern land companies came to Dane County survey the
land for sale & settlement. |
| 1835 |
The first lots in the Spring Harbor area were sold to
Eastern land speculators at $1.25 per acre. These
purchases were made a "section" at a time, which
represented about 640 acres. These owners didn't
actually live on the land. One of the first of these
speculators was
Francis R. Tillou. |
| 1836 |
Wisconsin Territory was created from part of the Michigan
Territory. The new terriroty included Wisconsin, Eastern
Minnesota, and the area east of the Missouri River. |
| 1836 |
During
the
first legislative sessions at Belmont, James
Duane Doty persuaded the Wisconsin Territory legislature
to select the site of Madison as its capital. |
| 1846 |
Madison was incorporated as a village. |
| 1848 |
Wisconsin became the 13th state. Madison's population
was 300. |
| 1849 |
The first University of Wisconsin class was given for
17 students. |
| 1850's |
Settlers who farmed & lived on their own land started
purchasing acres around Spring Harbor. Alfred
Merrill, for whom Merrill Springs is named, was one
of these early farmers. |
| 1853 |
John Clute, who had purchased a large portion of Spring
Harbor from Francis Tillou, sold the land to Rev.
Louis Jenkins and his wife, Adelia Tyler Jenkins. |
| 1856 |
Madison was chartered as a city. |
| 1873 |
A detailed plat
map shows local land owners. You can also view
an entire
map of Dane County. |
| 1877 |
Gertrude
Jenkins and Joseph Pearson were married and over time
the Jenkins property became known as the Pearson property. |
| 1901 |
Highlands-Mendota
Beach School opened on the same site where Crestwood
Elementary is now. |
| 1905 |
This photo of the Pearson
family's cows standing where the Spring Harbor is currently
located was probably taken in the early 1900s. |
| 1907 |
Joseph Pearson sold 160 acres to Ernest
N. Warner for $30,000. The lot went from the
railroad tracks to Lake Mendota Drive and also included
a number of lots along the lake. Warner had already owned
80 acres, so this purchase gave him 240 acres for his
dairy farm. |
| 1910 |
Ernest N. Warner
gave Merrill Springs to Madison's Park and Pleasure Drive
Association, which was a forerunner the the Madison Park
System. Merrill Springs Park was formed from this
gift. He also gave an the city an easement from
the springs up to Lake Mendota Drive, which exists as
a footpath today. |
| 1910 |
The marshy land at the end of Spring Harbor's river
was dredged to form a harbor very similar to what is there
today. Lake Mendota Drive had to be moved in order
to accommodate this change to the lakefront. There
had previously been a rock foot bridge spanning the marshy
land, which was removed to create the harbor. |
| 1920 |
Madison population was around 35,000. |
| 1934 |
University Avenue was constructed, bisecting the Warner
farm. Cattle would pasture on the lake side of Univeristy
during the day and cross through a cement walkway which
was located near Perkins in order to reach the barn at
nightfall. |
| 1940 |
Risser
Road was named and placed on a map of the Madison
area. (year approximate) |
| 1940 |
Madison's population was around 67,000. |
| 1949 |
The Spring Harbor area became part of the City of Madison. |
| 1958 |
Indian Hills development was platted and construction
began. |
| 1960 |
The city of Madison placed a deep well in Indian Hills
in order to keep up with the demand for city tap water.
As a result, many of the natural springs in Spring Harbor
have gone dry. |
