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

Location of Oconto County in Wisconsin

Oconto County in Wisconsin is home to many important places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps us keep track of buildings, sites, and areas that are special because of their history, architecture, or what they teach us about the past. There are 26 such places in Oconto County! Let's explore some of these cool historic spots.

Historic Places in Oconto County

Archibald Lake Mound Group

Imagine ancient people building huge earth mounds! The Archibald Lake Mound Group is a collection of these mounds, shaped like cones and long lines, located on a ridge overlooking Archibald Lake. These were likely built by Native Americans between 200 and 1500 AD. They are a fascinating look into the lives of early people in this area.

Arndt's Pensaukee Sawmill Complex

This site holds the remains of Wisconsin's very first sawmill that used water power! It started operating in 1827 and ran until the 1860s. A sawmill is a place where logs are cut into lumber. Today, the only part left is the dam levy on the Pensaukee River, which helped power the mill.

Beyer Home Museum

The Beyer Home is a beautiful brick house built in 1868. It started in the "Italianate" style, which was popular then. Later, around 1881, it was changed to the "Queen Anne" style by George Beyer, a German businessman. Now, you can visit it as a museum and step back in time!

Boulder Lake Site

The Boulder Lake Site is an archaeological spot. This means it's a place where scientists study human history by digging up old tools, pottery, and other things people left behind. This particular site dates back to the "Woodland period," a time when Native American cultures were developing new ways of life.

John G. Campbell House

Built in 1892, the John G. Campbell House is another example of a "Queen Anne-styled" home. It was built for John G. Campbell, who was a "timber cruiser" (someone who explored forests to find trees for logging) and a businessman.

Chute Pond Dam

The Chute Pond Dam is a concrete dam built in 1937. It was a project by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a government program during the Great Depression that created jobs. This dam helped create a recreational lake on the Oconto River, perfect for fun activities, and it also provided much-needed work for people.

The Chute Pond Dam, built by the WPA.

Citizens State Bank of Gillett

This building was once the Citizens State Bank of Gillett, built in 1904 in a grand "Neoclassical" style. The bank operated until 1932. Since then, the building has had many different lives, housing a grocery store, a clothes store, a glove factory, and now a dentist's office!

First Church of Christ, Scientist

This church in Oconto is very special. Built in 1886, it's designed in a style called "Carpenter Gothic," which uses wood to look like stone Gothic churches. What makes it truly unique is that it was the very first church built anywhere specifically for the Church of Christ, Scientist.

The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Oconto.

Holt and Balcom Logging Camp No. 1

Step into the past at Holt and Balcom Logging Camp No. 1! This log building, built in 1880, includes a cookhouse and a bunkhouse where loggers lived. It might be the oldest logging camp in the United States that is still standing in its original spot. Today, it's a museum where you can learn about the tough life of loggers.

Holt and Balcom Logging Camp No. 1, possibly the oldest logging camp in the U.S.

Holt-Balcom Lumber Company Office

This building, constructed in 1854, was the office for the Holt-Balcom Lumber Company. It has elements of the "Greek Revival style," which was popular for its classic, temple-like look. This office was the center of operations for a busy sawmill and lumber business.

Huff Jones House

The Huff Jones House, built in 1851, is possibly the oldest home still standing in Oconto. It's built in the "Greek Revival style." Mr. Jones and his sons were important figures in the area's history, as they built the first sawmill powered by a stream on the Oconto River.

Daniel E. Krause Stone Barn

The Daniel E. Krause Stone Barn is truly one-of-a-kind! Built in 1903, it's made from "stone cobbles" – rounded stones used in construction. This barn is the only remaining barn of its style in the entire state of Wisconsin, making it a very special piece of history.

The unique Daniel E. Krause Stone Barn.

Mathey Building

The Mathey Building is a two-story building in Lena that was built in 1906. It originally served as a grocery store, a central place for the community to get their supplies.

Mountain Fire Lookout Tower

Standing tall in the Nicolet National Forest, the Mountain Fire Lookout Tower is a galvanized steel tower. It was moved to this spot by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935. The CCC was another government program that put people to work during the Great Depression. From this high tower, spotters would watch for forest fires, helping to protect the beautiful forest until at least 1970.

The Mountain Fire Lookout Tower overlooking the forest.

Mountain School

The Mountain School, also known as the Union Free High School or Mountain Elementary School, is a brick high school building constructed in 1905. It served as a place of learning for many generations of students in the Mountain area.

Oconto County Courthouse

The Oconto County Courthouse is an elegant building with a domed tower, built in 1891 in the "Romanesque Revival style." This style often features round arches and sturdy stone. The courthouse was damaged by fire in 1907 but was repaired and has had additions since. It's where important legal and government work for the county takes place.

Oconto Main Post Office

The Oconto Main Post Office is a brick building designed in the "Georgian Revival" style and built in 1922. Post offices are important community buildings where people send and receive mail, connecting them to the rest of the world.

Oconto Site (Copper Culture State Park)

This is a very important archaeological site! The Oconto Site, located in Copper Culture State Park, is a burial ground for at least 45 ancient Native Americans who lived here between 3000 and 4000 BC. Discoveries at this site helped archaeologists understand how old copper tools found in other places were. It also showed that there was a large trade network for copper that reached from the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Gulf Coast!

A view of Copper Culture State Park.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Guild Hall and Vicarage

This group of buildings includes the 1866 "Greek Revival" Guild Hall, which was once a Methodist Church and now hosts a local theater group. The vicarage (the home for a priest) was built around 1866 or 1871 and is now styled in the "Queen Anne" way. The original church building was taken down in 1998, but these other historic structures remain.

The Vicarage of St. Mark's Episcopal Church.

St. Peter's and St. Joseph's Catholic Churches

Oconto is home to two historic Catholic churches. St. Joseph's started as a wooden building in 1870 and grew into a beautiful "Victorian Gothic" church. St. Peter's was built in 1899 in the "Romanesque Revival style," similar to the courthouse. Both churches have served their communities for many years.

Gov. Edward Scofield House

This "Italianate" style house was built in 1868. It later became the home of Edward Scofield, who was the 19th governor of Wisconsin. A governor is the leader of a state government. Governor Scofield lived here until he passed away. The house is also known as the "Tellez house."

Smyth Road Bridge

The Smyth Road Bridge is a metal "Pratt Truss" bridge built in 1928. A truss bridge uses a framework of connected triangles to support the weight, making it strong and stable. This bridge crosses the North Branch of the Oconto River.

The Smyth Road Bridge over the North Branch of the Oconto River.

Weber Lake Picnic Ground Shelter

This "Rustic-style" log picnic shelter was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1937. The CCC built many parks and outdoor structures during the Great Depression. This shelter provided a nice place for people to enjoy picnics by Weber Lake. It's also known as the Green Lake Picnic Ground Shelter.

West Main Street Historic District

The West Main Street Historic District is a special area in Oconto with 20 historic homes. These homes show off many different architectural styles from different time periods, ranging from the 1857 Smith house to a 1914 "bungalow" and even a 1929 "Spanish Colonial Revival" house. It's like a walk through architectural history!

White Potato Lake Garden Beds Site

This site features amazing "garden beds" built by Native Americans between 1000 and 1650 AD. These are raised garden plots arranged in a geometric pattern, showing how early people carefully planned their farming. It's a wonderful example of ancient agriculture.

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