May 5, 2012

My husband and I took a day trip to Delavan, Wisconsin to explore the southeast area of Wisconsin.  We found out the city has a rich history associated with both the circus and the Civil War.  Downtown was a large statue of an elephant and a giraffe commemorating that fact. Also their century-old brick street and school of the deaf.

There was a Cinco de Mayo celebration going on that day too.

On the advice of a local, we were directed to the Civil War Monument in Spring Grove Cemetery to learn more of the town’s Civil War History.

Good thing we went that day, Ken Wargo,  Chairman of the Civil War Monument Restoration Committee happened to be there. We took our picture with him outside the partially-underground vault on the grounds.

He informed us we were among the first to see these recently discovered tombstones of soldiers that were unknown until just recently.  We were in awe, they looked like new!

  He told us about the tree where civil war soldiers gathered around to plan strategies before battle.  It is called the “Muster Tree”,  it still lives today.

We really enjoyed our visit to Delavan and learned a lot!

Related articles

• A Giant Mystery: 18 Strange Skeletons Found in Wisconsin (mysticablog.wordpress.com)

• Delavan Civil War monument nears restoration goal 9-20-13