The Town of Cedarburg, located in the western half of Ozaukee County, has many attributes that make the community an exceptional place to live. Forbes Magazine ranked Ozaukee County the 2nd Best Place in the nation to raise a family (2008). The Public Policy Forum 2007-2008 school district rating based on Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam (WKCE) scores for 3rd, 4th, 8th and 10th graders rated the Cedarburg School District 2nd out of 50 school districts in southeastern Wisconsin. Ozaukee County prides itself on high graduation rates as well as low crime rates and an overall high standard of living. In fact, Ozaukee County has the best health in the state according to the UW-Population Health Institute. Money Magazine also ranked Ozaukee County the 19th Best Place in the nation for a long life, with a life expectancy of just under 80 years (2008).
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The Town of Cedarburg, a historically rural community of nearly 6,000 people, is located in a rapidly developing portion of Ozaukee County. The Town, which is home to Wisconsin's last covered bridge, strives to maintain its rural charm and high quality of life while balancing growth and progress.
The Town of Cedarburg
is located north and slightly west of the City of Milwaukee. The Town is approximately 25 square miles in size and is adjacent to the following communities - Village of Grafton, City of Cedarburg, City of Mequon, Town of Grafton, Town of Saukville and Town of Jackson. The arterial roadways into the Town include Highway C (Pioneer Road), STH 181 (Wauwatosa Road) and STH 60. From the Marquette interchange in Milwaukee, Town Hall is approximately 21 miles north on I-43 and 5 miles west on STH 60 (click here to see a Milwaukee area map).
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The Town of Cedarburg's 2008 population estimate is 5,789. The Town has 2,111 households. To view information from the US Census Bureau (Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights)regarding the Town of Cedarburg, please click here
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The Cedarburg area was first recognized in the 1840's. The name Cedarburg most likely was given due to the abundant forests in the area. On March 2, 1849 the Town of Cedarburg became a civil town of Washington County [Source: Harrsch, Patricia G. Civil Towns of Wisconsin (Madison: State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library, 1998), and U.S. Geographic Names Information Server]. The Town was "set off" to Ozaukee County on March 7, 1853. The Town has much history, including the last covered bridge in the state of Wisconsin (see history below), example of octagon architecture circa 1845-1860 in an old school house now used as a residence on Pleasant Valley Road, just west of Covered Bridge Road and the Hamilton Historic District, which includes Turn Halle (1867), Hamilton School House and the Concordia Grist Mill (1853).
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COVERED BRIDGE
Built in 1876 by the Town of Cedarburg, the Covered Bridge original span measured 120' long and 12' wide. Its construction was of a certain type of pine found near Baraboo, Wisconsin. All of the timber and planks were cut and squared in a mill near that city. The lumber was then hauled to the proposed site on Cedar Creek where all pieces were fitted and set in place. The type of construction is known as lattice truss with interlacing 3 x 10 inch planks all held together by 2 inch hardwood pins and floored with three inch planking. It is now very rare. In 1927, a center abutment was placed to carry the heavier traffic of automobiles and trucks.
There were many prominent farmers living in the vicinity of this covered bridge, whose descendants are still living in this area. The names of some of these early settlers were the Kaehlers, Krohns, Ernsts, Hickeys, Corrigans, Mintzlaffs, Schellenbergs and Pollows. In 1940, the Ozaukee County Board voted to forever preserve this structure as an historic monument.
Many and varied reasons are given why such bridges were covered. Some say it was to shelter travelers in storms and others hint of refuge from the Indians. There are two more reasonable conclusions - to preserve the truss structure and the fact that the teams of oxen used by the area farmers had a fear of crossing the water on an open bridge and frequently balked. One old legend states that the covered bridge leveled off the farmers' hayloads as they passed through. Another local legend has it that a member of a county crew once drove through this bridge with his tractor, fully equipped with a snowplow and dragging scrapers. Suddenly realizing-that tractors were strictly prohibited, turned around, recrossed the bridge, and splashed his way back through the creek, confident that his wrong had been righted.
On October 1, 1955, the Port Washington Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, added to the bridge its one modern embellishment, a plaque which reads:
1876 - 1955
Last Covered Bridge in Wisconsin
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HAMILTON SCHOOLHOUSE
The Hamilton Schoolhouse was built in 1887 and was used to educate children in first through eighth grades until 1958. In 1958 the school closed and the children being educated there were sent to Cedarburg Schools. The Hamilton Schoolhouse today is owned by the Rudich family and used as a quilt shop. For more on the Hamilton Historic District click here.
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TURN HALLE
Turn Halle was built in 1867 and was used as a combination meeting place and gymnasium for members of the Hamilton Turnverein society for more than 20 years. This building is the last of its kind existing in the United States. When the society disbanded, the building saw use as a shoe factory and later as a cider mill. The building fell into disrepair in the middle part of the 20th century. On July 1, 1976 Turn Halle was entered on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was then donated to the Town of Cedarburg and the Cedarburg Landmark Preservation Society by Adelaide B. Mill. Funds for restoration were provided by a combination of donations from local citizens and a matching grant from the National Park Service, which was obtained through the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (Information for this historical information came from the commemorative plaque placed on the building by the Cedarburg Landmarks Preservation Society, May 1, 1983).
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CONCORDIA MILL
The Concordia Grist Mill was built in 1853 in Hamilton. Hamilton, originally settled by Irish immigrants and called New Dublin, was given the name Hamilton when William S. Hamilton, son of Alexander Hamilton, spent the night at what became the first stagecoach stop between Milwaukee and Green Bay.
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At the intersection of present day Covered Bridge and Kaehlers Mill roads in the town of Cedarburg was the local crossroad community of Kaehlers Mill. According to Uhlig family history, the Carl Uhlig family emigrated from Saxony, Germany, in about 1847. The family had been millers in their native town. Upon reaching the port of New York, Carl passed away in Buffalo, NY. His widow and five children left, settling on 80 acres in the town of Cedarburg, which encompassed almost one quarter mile of Cedar Creek. More.
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HISTORIC CEDARBURG MAPS
Many of those who make their first visit to Town Hall comment on the unique collection of antique farming implements and other tools, as well as the colletion of black and white pictures illustrating the rich past of the Cedarburg community. Another way to turn back the clock is to look at old plat maps. To view a handful of these old maps from various years, click on the year: 1873, 1915, 1921, 1939, 1948.
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2009 "MY TOWN" PHOTO CONTEST
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The Town is holding its 3rd annual "My Town" photo contest in 2009. The goal of this good-natured contest is to build a collection of photographs that showcase our wonderful community that can be archived at Town Hall. Town officials feel it is important to keep a photographic record of our Town's history. Photographs were to be old or new, taken during any season, and could feature people or places in the Town. The ideal photograph would capture the Town's unique character and charm. As with the inagural contest in 2007, staff is looking forward to a great number of worthy entries, and feel that we have just begun to tap the potential of great photos out there. Town staff judging the contest were the Town Clerk, Deputy Clerk and Management Assistant.
Submissions are due by July 17, 2009, so start setting aside those memorable photos. To see the contest "rules," click here.
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2007 "MY TOWN" PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS
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The Town of Cedarburg is an ideal community to build or expand your business. Located 20 minutes north of Milwaukee in Ozaukee County, the Town of Cedarburg offers a highly educated and skilled workforce. Close proximity to Interstate 43 and Highway 45 offers easy access to the Town's historic commercial core along State Highway 60. The heart of the Town's commercial core is the Five Corners area, which averages 13,400 vehicles every day. Five Corners offers tremendous opportunities for commercial and mixed-use developments. Additional information regarding the Five Corners area can be found in the Five Corners Master Plan. For information about commercial and residential properties in the Town click here.
FIVE CORNERS MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM
On June 6, 2007, the Town Board approved the creation of the Five Corners Matching Grant Program to benefit existing businesses in the Five Corners area. This year, the Town will match, up to $5,000 total, selected improvement projects such as façade enhancements and landscaping. The deadline for 2010 applications is May 7th. Click here to view the 2010 application and guidelines.
In 2007, the Town commissioned a study to investigate the feasibility of a Town water supply to serve the Five Corners area. The water study area encompasses the land which extends approximately one-third mile south, and one mile west, north and east of Five Corners in the Town of Cedarburg. The findings of the study were presented at a Special Town Board meeting on Wednesday, February 20th. Click here to view the press release,
here to view the presentation, or here to view the water utility study.
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CONTACT US
Town Hall
1293 Washington Avenue
Cedarburg, Wisconsin 53012-9304
Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM M-F
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| Town Hall Staff
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Position
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Telephone No.
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Email
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| Jim Culotta |
Town Administrator |
262/377-4509 |
Jim
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| Bob Eichner |
Dir. of Public Works |
262/377-4509 |
Bob
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| Dawn Priddy |
Town Clerk |
262/377-4509 |
Dawn
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| Bonnie Erickson |
Deputy Town Clerk |
262/377-4509 |
Bonnie
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| Charles Pretty |
Town Treasurer |
262/377-4509 |
N/A |
| Terry Zimmerman |
Town Constable |
262/377-4509 |
N/A |
| Eric Ryer |
Management Assistant |
262/377-4509 |
Eric |
| Building Inspecton |
Position |
Telephone No. |
Email |
| Roger Kison |
Building Inspector |
262/375-1349 |
Roger |
| Elected Officials |
Position |
Telephone No. |
Email |
| Dave Valentine |
Town Chairman |
262/377-1622 |
Dave |
| David A. Flowers |
Supervisor, District #1 |
262/375-1722 |
David |
| David Salvaggio |
Supervisor, District #2 |
262/377-6779 |
David |
| Gary Wickert |
Supervisor, District #3 |
262/377-9499 |
Gary |
| Larry Lechner |
Supervisor, District #4 |
262/377-8016 |
Larry |
| Town Assessor |
Position |
Telephone No. |
Email |
| Mike Grota |
Chief Assessor |
262/253-1143 |
N/A |
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