kids encyclopedia robot

National Register of Historic Places listings in Iron County, Wisconsin facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

In Iron County, Wisconsin, there are some really special places that are part of history! These spots are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are super important because of their past and what they teach us. Let's take a look at five of these amazing historical sites.

Map of Wisconsin highlighting Iron County
Location of Iron County in Wisconsin

Historic Places in Iron County

Here are some of the cool historic places you can find in Iron County, Wisconsin:

Annala Round Barn

Imagine a barn that's shaped like a circle! The Annala Round Barn is exactly that. It was built in 1917 by a skilled stonemason named Matt Annala, who was from Finland. This unique barn and its round milkhouse are made from fieldstones, which are rocks found right in the fields. It's a great example of how people built things a long time ago.

Annala Round Barn Buildings Hurley Iron County Wisconsin
The unique Annala Round Barn

Montreal Company Location Historic District

The Montreal Company Location Historic District is like a whole town built for workers! In the early 1900s, the Montreal Mining Company created this planned community for its employees. It had everything they needed.

This district included many homes for the workers and their families. There was also a machine shop for the mine, where tools were fixed. The Hamilton Club was a place for people to gather, and the Roosevelt School was for the children. They even had community gardens where people could grow food. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church was also part of this special community. It shows how companies used to create entire neighborhoods for their workers.

Montreal Company Historic District Larger House Style August 2012
A house in the Montreal Company Location Historic District

Old Iron County Courthouse

The Old Iron County Courthouse is a grand old building in Hurley. It was built way back in 1893. This courthouse has a very special feature: a clockworks made by the famous Seth Thomas Clock Company. This part was added in 1922. The courthouse reminds us of how important these buildings were for local government and justice in the past.

2009-0617-OldIronCtyCourthouse-Hurley
The historic Old Iron County Courthouse

Plummer Mine Headframe

Have you ever wondered how miners got deep underground? A headframe is a tall structure used to lower miners and equipment into a mine shaft. The Plummer Mine Headframe is a great example of this. It stands near Pence, Wisconsin.

This headframe was part of an iron mine that operated from 1904 to 1924. Miners would go down a long shaft, about 2,367 feet deep, to dig for iron ore. Today, this headframe is very important because it's the last one still standing in all of Wisconsin! It's a cool reminder of the state's mining history.

Plummer Mine Headframe Iron County Wisconsin
The Plummer Mine Headframe, a relic of mining history

Springstead

Springstead is a historic area located on Stone Lake. This place has a rich history with different groups of people. Long ago, the Ojibwe people, also known as Chippewa, lived here and made maple sugar. This was an important part of their culture and food.

Later, around 1868, French Canadians settled in the area. Over time, Springstead also became a popular "northwoods resort." People would come here to relax and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. It shows how the area changed over many years, from a native settlement to a vacation spot.

Springstead - end of Stone Lk. Rd. 9.4 mi. W of Jct WI 47 and C.R.182
A view of the Springstead area
kids search engine
National Register of Historic Places listings in Iron County, Wisconsin Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.