Dodge County not only features a large habitat for migratory birds with the Horicon Marsh it also features one of North Americas largest bat hibernaculums.In the late 1800's Dodge County was a large iron ore mining area.The old mines in the Iron Ridge & what was once called Neda area are the winter home for hundreds of thousands of bats.There are several differant species of bats hibernating there.The area is protected & owned I believe by the Univerity of Wisconsin.Humans can not access the mines.Alot of bat study & research takes place there.Articles have been published in the Milwaukee Journal on the subject.I've read that if you park near one of the entrances at night fall you can witness the thousands of bats leaving for the night.The County also has lots of historical socities,with museums that are open to the public.The city of Mayville has a museum in an old wagon factory.Contact Mayville City Hall at 920-387-7900 for museum times.Theresa the village I live in lies on the banks of the Rock River,which used to be the super highway for the indians.It at one time was an indian encampment site & trading place.One village resident told me that after the farmers plowed their fields near the river he would look for arrow heads & find lots of them.In the mid 1800's Solomon Juneau,the same man that founded the east side of Milwaukee established a trading post in Theresa to trade with the indians.The original trading post is still here on main street,but it is a private home.Juneau moved here after Milwaukee & his original home is still here,it is a museum & is open to the public at certain times.Call Theresa Village Hall for times at 920-488-5421.Juneau was a french trader & later became a government indian agent.If my memorey is still intact he married an indian chiefs daughter & I believe it was chief Oshkosh's daughter.They had 13 children.He platted the original village of Theresa & 2 of the streets are named after men he new that where missionaries Henni St. & Bonduel St.He also had a son named Bonduel.He was highly respected by the indians & when he died he was buried by them.Later he was dug up & moved to a grave site in Milwaukee.One of his sons also became a government indian agent.Theresa also features the Widmer Cheese Factory which offers public tours.Joe Widmer is a master cheese maker of several varieties of cheeses.On main street you will find Confections for any Occasions a quaint little shop where chocolates are handmade by Joel Bernhard.The shop features lunch specials,breakfast on weekends,chocolates,candy,ice cream treats,gifts,wisconsin wines,cards,&bridal favors made to order.Another stop in Theresa is NJ's on main street.NJ's features homemade gourmet pizzas with names like Porkys Revenge,Sesame Street,The Ton 80,which I highly recommend.They also serve sandwiches,subs,wraps,& appetisers.The T-Town twisters appetiser comes with numerous topping choices.Say hi to Nate the owner.If your day is a date with nature Theresa offers Riverside Park with covered shelters to picnic in,playground,& public fishing on the Rock River.The park has a historical marker where Solomon Juneau's mill once stood,the mill once damed the river & created a large lake that was a resort area in the 1800's.Dodge County has lots to do & see if you know where to look,come explore!
