Badger Park, like our Badger State, took its name from this area where some of the miners, like badgers, “dug-in” for the winter, while others, called “suckers” moved on south. It includes 8½ acres of what was considered valuable land, due to lead deposits found in 1838 and 1839, when 50 square feet of ground, with rights to mine, were bought for $250.00. It is east of Badger Hill where Jesse W. Shull (founder of Shullsburg) built his home, about 1818. The west boundary of the park, now known as the Scales Mound Road, was once the Galena Wagon Road. General Grant traveled it and watered his horse at the “Bull Pump” built by Beon Gratiot, who started mining on the very spot now occupied by Badger Park. The “Bull Pump” (probably the first water pump in this territory for controlling water in the mine shafts) was powered by a bull. This raised the water from the mine.

In 1934, during Dr. Henry F. Hoesley’s term as mayor, the city council bought the land for Badger Park. It was a WPA project, approved by the U.S. Government, started September 1935 and completed without costing the taxpayers one extra cent in taxes. The shelter houses and bathhouse are of native stone and built to stand.

Shullsburg City Council

1934

Mayor – Dr. Henry F. Hoesley

Aldermen

Harry Nethery - John I. McQuiety

Charles Taylor - Thomas T. Richards

Park Commission

Dr. J.C. Hanifan

John I. McQuiety

Dr. S.A.J. Ennis

WPA --- Approved 1935

Marker is at the intersection of West Estey Steet and South Galena Street, on the left when traveling east on West Estey Steet.

Courtesy hmdb.org

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