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Monday, April 7, 2014

Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Interurban Bridge
With the beginning of some warmer weather, it's nice to get out and about.  Last Saturday, we took a little day trip up to Cedarburg, Wisconsin.  We've passed through the area (about twenty miles north of Milwaukee) a number of times, but had never stopped in Cedarburg before.  What a charming little town!  It is filled with nineteenth century limestone and fieldstone buildings that now house shops and restaurants.  It is very pedestrian friendly.  There were lots of people milling about, many of them tourists like us, but also locals with their dogs who had walked into town for a cup of coffee or lunch.  We found a place to park out of the hubbub by the fire station on the non-shopping side of Cedar Creek.  We were able to cross the creek on the Interurban Bridge, a former train bridge, now open only to pedestrians and bikes.


Looking up Cedar Creek toward one of the dams.  Cedarburg Mill is on the left.
Cedarburg Mill
The creek is a natural centerpiece of the town, and it served as its economic engine in the 1800s.  At one time, five dams and five mills operated on the creek.  The largest of these, Cedarburg Mill, is five stories tall.  A plaque near the mill said it produced 120 barrels of flour during its heyday.  It currently serves as home to a feed and seed store, a design or architecture business, and a craft brewery. There was also at least one other grist mill and a woolen mill.  The woolen mill is part of what is called the Cedar Creek Settlement, now home to Cedar Creek Winery (where we bought a bottle of Settlement Gold, which we're told is a sweet wine with pineapple and golden apple flavors--haven't tried it yet) and lots of little shops and galleries.

Cedar Creek Settlement.  Amish-made plastic (!) furniture to the right, sold in one of the shops.  We wanted to eat at Anvil but couldn't find it before I dropped dead of starvation, so we ate at a very good place called Stilt House, where I had a Stiltburger which came on a pretzel roll with ale-braised onions.  Yummy!
After lunch and shopping (mostly looking), we nabbed some candy at one of the numerous chocolate shops -- dark chocolate almond bark for me. Then we headed just north of town to see the last remaining covered bridge in Wisconsin.  It was built in 1876 and was used until 1962.

One last scenic view before heading home.  The bridge trusses are held together with two-inch wooden pins, no nails or bolts.



15 comments:

  1. Charming photos. I love to visit places like this and you have made me hungry for chocolate!

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  2. Amazing that the covered bridge is held together with wooden pins!

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  3. That looks like a place I would like to visit. The old mill buildings and the covered bridge just perfect

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  4. My late Bil and Sil and family live in Cedarburg, I love it there, I have been to those fabulous shops years ago. It is a very lovely place to visit. Thanks for taking me back there.
    Meredith

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  5. Yay!!! Welcome back to the world of blogging. I always enjoyed your blog and am so glad you are back. If you do it for the right reasons, it's fun and rewarding. I've missed you!

    Thanks for sharing your day trip with us. The creek is just beautiful! I'm also fascinated with buildings like that. So much charm.

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  6. What a lovely way to send the day! Why did they need covered bridges? Here in the UK the weather is improving too and we've had some lovely warm days...at last!

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  7. Looks like a beautiful place. Good to see you back again xx

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  8. I must needs visit Cedarburg.....did you say, "Multiple Chocolate Shops?" :D
    What a charming little town.

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  9. I'm glad the weather is warming up for you, especially after such a long and cold winter. The scenery is beautiful and I love the bridge xx

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  10. What a beautiful and peaceful place! I would love to visit it too.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Angie

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  11. Replies
    1. I can hear Frank Sinatra singing, but that's Chicago.

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    2. I love the bridges. It looks nice and warm. Brrrrr it's nippy here. Let us know how the Settlement Gold goes down. Great to have you back. Missed all of your posts for a year but now that you're back it doesn't seem that long ago.

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  12. Hello on a gorgeous, spring day in TENNESSEE. Wow---after the long and bitter winter we had this year, Spring is even more inviting and lovely.

    Cedarburg looks like a great little town. Love the creek (cascades) and the mill.... AND of course, I love covered bridges... This area reminds me a little of Strasburg, VA where we stayed this past week. Strasburg is in the Shenandoah Valley and the Shenandoah River flows through town.. Neat place with some gorgeous old homes and lots of history.

    We are now home 'again' --after our 5th trip since the end of February.... Seems as if we visited five different states --although the trips weren't planned for that reason... ha... BUT--as I always say, it's great to be home... I did publish a blog post today--so check it out when you have time. Have a wonderful weekend.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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