Category: Featured

Dropping of the Carp

Published on by RandallPaske
Carpfest Schedule
Carpfest Schedule

The Dropping of the Carp Committee and PdC Parks & Recreation Department has announced their upcoming events for this year’s 17th Annual New Years Eve Dropping of the Carp and CarpFest held December 26th-January 1st at various locations within the community. This family-friendly event brings the community and people throughout the country into Prairie du Chien. The celebration begins with the Lucky Coloring Contest and ends with the famous Dropping of Lucky the Carp(who you can kiss for good luck) and who is lowered just before midnight on New Year’s Eve at Lucky Park. Additional you can enjoy a huge bonfire, meet the Carp King, listen to great music, and see an excellent fireworks show!

Just a  great way to celebrate the new year!

For more information on how you can enjoy this fun-filled event contact the PdC Tourism Info at 1-800-732-1673 or PdC Parks & Recreation Department at 608-326-7207.

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St. Feriole Island

Published on by RandallPaske

St. Feriole Island photoPrairie du Chien had its beginnings on this island. It was the first location of Fort Crawford, which was involved in the War of 1812, and is the home of the historic Villa Louis mansion, the origin of which goes back to Joseph “King” Rolette and Hercules Dousman, who made fortunes in fur trading and land dealings. The mansion already had some “natural” flood protection since it had been built on a large Indian mound. Through the years a variety of industrial andDousman House commercial operations developed on the island. The four-story Dousman Hotel thrived in the heydays of the railroad and served a variety of other uses, including a stint as an Oscar Mayer packing plant in the 1930s and 1940s. The building is now classified as a historic structure and is being restored.

This is where the industry that supported the city in the 1800s was located, so rail access was installed in 1890. After repeated floods and fires, the city was relocated to the mainland on the Wisconsin side, which was higher and far less prone to flood. Industry remained on the island, gradually closing down or moving to the mainland until well past World War II.

Old Fort CrawfordThe site of the Battle of Prairie du Chien during the War of 1812 and of the First Fort Crawford where three important Indian treaties were signed. Home of the Villa Louis Historic Site. Ideal for walking and biking, watching ducks and eagles, boat landings, and picnic areas.

 

From the middle 1860s until early 1900, it held the depot for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. St. Feriole Island was Prairie du Chien’s Fourth Ward until the Corp of Engineers spent $500,000 to relocate the residents after the record Flood of 1965. Today St. Feriole Island hosts several major annual attractions and many small family outings. The third week in June is when the Prairie Villa Rendezvous is held. In July the Chamber of Commerce Fireworks, War of 1812, and the Prairie Dog Blues Fest draws crowds. The Carriage Classic brings an elegant equestrian style to the island in September.

St Feriole Island Memorial Gardens

Published on by RandallPaske

By Caitlin Bittner

If you’ve spent time on St. Feriole Island recently, you’ve probably seen the Memorial Gardens. Tom Nelson, who is seemingly and without a doubt the voice of the garden, noted that these gardens would be nothing without the community. “It all depends on the people who come here,” said Nelson. “The gardens are really developing and new stuff is happening all the time. People come up to me all the time with projects they like to do.”

With the motto of the gardens being “May the sun shine on our garden of dreams,” Nelson does his best to incorporate everyone’s ideas and help make their dreams a reality.

Although the individual community members are almost too numerous to count, Nelson added that he is very grateful to the George Family Foundation for all that it’s done to bring the community’s dreams to life. “I’d really like to give them and the community a hand. This wouldn’t be possible without them,” said Nelson.

For his part, Nelson said he appreciates the opportunity to make the gardens what they are today. “People are really starting to realize that it’s a major attraction,” he remarked, noting that he hopes more and more people will come to enjoy the gardens soon.

“Even if you’ve been here once, you really need to come back again. The garden is always changing, always growing,” said Nelson.

He added that, although he wants to grow the gardens to include a water feature, he hopes the river won’t flood them again.

New to the gardens is the Trail of Eagles, a project made possible by Rivertown Ironworks, B&R Concrete Construction, and Blair Dillman.

For the future, Nelson said he is optimistic they will continue to receive more attention and flourish even more. “I just leave the door open for more possibilities.”

If you haven’t been down to the gardens recently, Nelson advises you to come on down and take a stroll or just sit and enjoy the nature around you.