This bird's eye view map of Washburn, Wisconsin was published by Norris, Wellge & Co. in 1886, reprint. Washburn lies in Bayfield County on the shore of Lake Superior's Chequamegon Bay. It was founded as a lumber town in 1879 and named after Cadwallader Washburn, a former Civil War general and Wisconsin governor. In 1886, Washburn was producing wood products such as lath, shingles, excelsior and boxes. The Northern Pine Land Company operated a mill at the foot of 8th Avenue West. The Rood & Maxwell Company ran a mill at the foot of 10th Avenue West. The newest mill opened the same year that this map was published, in 1886, at the foot of 6th Avenue West and was operated by Anson Bigelow. Several brownstone quarries were discovered between Washburn and Bayfield. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, much of the stone was quarried and shipped to the devastated city for rebuilding.
The map from 1886 features an inset illustration of Washburn, Chequamagon and the Apostle Islands. It contains clearly labeled streets, buildings, railway routes and shipping traffic. Features numbered & lettered references to the following locations: A. School House B. School House Church C. Town Hall D. Passenger Depot E. Itemizer Office, Barager Bros., Editors and Proprietors F. Bee Office, Allan T. Williams & Co., Editors K. Saw Mill, Rood & Maxwell, Proprietors M. Saw Mill, S. G. Cook & Co., Proprietors P. Saw Mill, S. G. Cook & Co., Proprietors 1. Hotel Washburn, C. I. Critchett, Manager 2. T. L. Patterson, General Merchandise 2. Post Office 3. Opera House Block, H. Aune, Proprietor 3. Aune & Overby, Saloon and Billiard Parlor 4. Sheridan Block, J. H. Sheridan, Proprietor 4. Rood & Maxwell, General Merchandise 5. Swain House, Fred. Swain, Proprietor, also R. R. & Street Contractor 6. Ferguson House, W. H. Ferguson, Proprietor 17. Flynn & Burns, Metropolitan Saloon and Billiard Parlor 18. Henry Elswood, Carpenter and Builder 19. W. W. Way, Blacksmith and Repair Works 20. D. H. Haner, City Dray and Express, also Contractor and Builder 21. Aune Bros., Saloon Hall and Boarding 22. Medford House, Proll & Ludwig, Proprietors 22. John Proll, Prop. 24. Bay View House, G. F. Hulbert, Proprietor 25. W. A. Fenton, Washburn Meat Market 7. C. E. Bell, Groceries and Provisions 8. Schulz & Ungrodt, General Hardware 9. C. C. Clauson, General Merchandise 10. L. N. Clauson, Town Clerk 11. N. N. Hanson, Saloon and Billiard Parlor 12. R. Slattery, Saloon and Billiard Parlor 13. James Hickey, Capitol Saloon 14. A. Beausoleil, Central Meat Market 15. Miss M. Leonard, Millinery 16. Peter Nelson, General Merchandise |