Genesee Depot, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Genesee Depot, Wisconsin
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Location of Genesee Depot, Wisconsin
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Waukesha |
| Elevation | 909 ft (277 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
53127
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| Area code(s) | 262 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1565457 |
Genesee Depot is a small unincorporated community in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located in the Town of Genesee. This community is in southeastern Wisconsin, between the cities of Milwaukee and Madison. It was named after the train station, or depot, of the Wisconsin and Calumet Railroad. This railroad is now known as the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad.
Contents
Discovering Genesee Depot's Past
Genesee Depot was first settled by people from Germany, Wales, Ireland, and England in the late 1800s. Stillman Smith was the first person to settle here in the summer of 1837. In 1838, Benjamin A. Jenkins built a log cabin inn. This inn was at the spot where Hwys. 59 and 83 are today. It was a place for travelers going to and from Milwaukee to rest.
Jenkins later built a three-story mill and a wagon factory. By the 1890s, Genesee Depot had many businesses. These included a grain elevator, a place to process meat, two stores, and a blacksmith shop. There was also a shoe shop, a factory for wool products, a post office, and a lumber yard. The train depot had rooms for tickets, baggage, and waiting.
The Milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad coming through the community helped Genesee Depot grow. The Johnston Quarry started in 1842 on what is now WI 59. This quarry provided many jobs. It also helped other businesses develop in the area. The stone from this quarry was used for many buildings in Wisconsin. These included the Wisconsin State Capitol, the Milwaukee Sentinel building, and early buildings for Carroll University.
Exploring Historic Sites in Genesee Depot
Many buildings in Genesee Depot are still the original ones from the late 1800s and early 1900s. For example, the first part of St. Paul's Catholic Church was built in the early 1870s. The James Proctor House, built in the 1860s, is also still standing. The new railroad depot was built in 1897 after the first one burned down. This station building was moved a bit south of its original spot. Today, it is a coffee shop called Mama D's Coffee Shop. The original town hall, built in 1912, is now home to the Wales-Genesee Lions and Lioness Club. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Another famous historic place in Genesee Depot is Ten Chimneys. This was the home of famous actors Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. It's called Ten Chimneys because there are ten chimneys among the three buildings on the property. Lunt and Fontanne used this as their summer home. It was a popular spot for other theater people to visit. The house is decorated with their original furniture and collections from the early 1900s. Today, you can visit Ten Chimneys as a house museum.
Learning in Genesee Depot
Magee Elementary School serves students in grades K-5. It is part of the Kettle Moraine School District. The school was named after John Magee, who helped bring the railroad to Genesee Depot. Magee Elementary was finished and opened in 1922. It was updated in 1989 to fit more students. About 320 students attend the school today.
Places of Worship
St. Paul Parish
St. Paul Roman Catholic Parish was started in 1863. It is part of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. In 1961, a new church was built down the road from the first one. This was done to make space for the growing number of people attending. A school for grades K-8 was also built. This school was updated in 1997. In 2006, the second church was taken down. A brand new church was completed in the fall of 2007.
Crossing Community Church
Crossing Community Church used to be called Brandybrook Church of Wales. It moved to Genesee Depot in 2017. This church is a non-denominational Christian church. It is located in the Depot Crossing Center. This center is connected to Mama D's Coffee Shop and the Genesee Depot Post Office.
