March Rapids, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
March Rapids, Wisconsin
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 March Rapids, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
March Rapids, Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Marathon |
| Elevation | 390 m (1,280 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 715 & 534 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1569022 |
March Rapids is a small, unincorporated community in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located in the town of Eau Pleine. An unincorporated community means it's a group of homes or businesses without its own local government.
Contents
History of March Rapids
March Rapids has a rich history tied to the lumber industry. It started as a busy mill town.
Early Days and the Hope Village
In 1877, two men named J. B. Holmes and B. D. Holmes built a mill. This mill was used to cut lumber and shingles. It was built on the Big Eau Pleine River in a large pine forest.
A small village grew up around this mill. It was called Hope. About 75 people lived there at first.
Thomas March Takes Over
In 1887, Thomas March bought the mill. He had experience running mills in nearby Spencer.
By 1891, a special logging railroad reached the town. It helped move a lot of lumber. Sometimes, five carloads of lumber left the town every day. A post office was also set up, named March.
However, the town faced challenges. A big flood in December damaged the mill. In May, the dam broke, and many cut logs were lost.
The Barrel-Making Era
In late 1892, Thomas March sold the mill. It was bought by Doud & Sons. This company made barrels. They had other factories in places like Winona and Pittsville.
Doud & Sons added new machines to the mill. These machines made parts for barrels, like staves and headings. By 1897, they sent most of these barrel parts and lumber to Superior. Doud had a barrel factory there.
The town grew quite a bit during this time. About 200 people lived in March Rapids. It had many businesses, including:
- A general store
- A hotel
- A butcher shop
- Two saloons
- A shoemaker
- A blacksmith
- A dance hall
- A church
- A school
Transportation Challenges
In 1905, the Wisconsin Central Railroad removed its tracks. This made it harder to move products from March Rapids. Doud & Sons needed a new way to transport their lumber.
They bought two early tractors. These tractors pulled wagons of lumber to the railroad at Stratford. This worked well for a few years. But in 1911, a bridge at Noisy Creek collapsed. A steam-powered tractor fell, and two workers died.
Fire and New Mills
In 1913, a terrible fire destroyed the entire mill. But Doud & Sons rebuilt it. The new mill was more modern. It had a band saw and electric lights.
In 1914, Doud built its own railroad. This five-mile track went from March Rapids to Staadt. It was used to haul out more logs.
The End of the Lumber Boom
Eventually, the timber in the area ran out. The mills had to close down. By 1921, the population of March Rapids had dropped to only 100 people.
Today, March Rapids is no longer a bustling town. All that remains is a park. You can find it where County P crosses the Big Eau Pleine River. The park has a picnic area and a historical marker.
