Signal Oak, Ripon, Wisconsin | Print | Wisconsin Historical Society

Print

Signal Oak, Ripon, Wisconsin

Signal Oak, Ripon, Wisconsin | Print | Wisconsin Historical Society
View of the Signal Oak taken from the original, which was the first in a series of Heritage Prints. The idea for the series was conceived by the First National Bank of Ripon and the 9 x 12" prints were "hand printed by the silk screen process at the Ripon Community Art Center, 1956."
DESCRIPTION
View of the Signal Oak taken from the original, which was the first in a series of Heritage Prints. The idea for the series was conceived by the First National Bank of Ripon and the 9 x 12" prints were "hand printed by the silk screen process at the Ripon Community Art Center, 1956."
RECORD DETAILS
Image ID:39604
Creation Date: 1956
Creator Name:Unknown
City:Ripon
County:Fond du Lac
State:Wisconsin
Collection Name:Place File*
Genre:Print
Original Format Type:prints, fine-art
Original Format Number:3-3903
Original Dimensions:Unknown
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The accompanying brochure states: "On a side street in Ripon, not far from the heart of the city, stands the Signal Oak - a mute but magnificent monument to our historical heritage. A huge bur oak tree measuring nearly 12 feet in circumference, its age has been set by Dr. E.J. Kohl at approximately two hundred years...It was a robust youngster when our nation was a-borning. Only a short distance to the west in 1844 the Fourierites experimented in communistic living at Ceresco. Almost in its shadow in 1854 the Republican party was born. In 1861, just a short walk to the north of it, the First Wisconsin Cavalry was mustered to preserve the Union and free the slave. It stands close to the campus of Ripon College, organized in 1851. It is to Richard Dart, early resident of the Ripon area and son of the founder of Dartford (Green Lake), to whom we are indebted for the historical facts which gave the tree its name - the "Signal Oak." According to Dart, this tree and another like it (which is gone) were conspicuous landmarks on the Butte des Morts trail from Green Bay to Portage. Indians, trappers, traders soldiers moving between the frontier forts followed the trail when they could not use the Fox-Wisconsin waterway. Highway 44 between Ripon and Oshkosh follows a segment of the original route...Today at the northwest corner of Ransom and Thorne Streets the Signal Oak rears its venerable head, a noble reminder of our past and a solemn inspiration for our future. Lyle Cors, 1956" There is no artist's name on the print, but, according to David H. Penke of Oshkosh WI on 12/14/06: The artist was Eve Faustman of Ripon. This was one of a series - mostly buildings in and around Ripon - done as large reproductions in frames and also as a set of cards, with pertinent information about the subject of each picture on the back of the card or as an insert.
SUBJECTS
Trees
Cities and towns
Historic sites
Drawing

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Reference Details
Location:Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, 4th Floor, Madison, Wisconsin

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