


Muskego Historical Society
Timeline of Muskego
Prior to 1835 it was a principal campsite & village of the Potawatomi
1827 Amable Vieau arrived to establish a fur trading post. Amable was the son of
Jacques Vieau, whose daughter Josette, married one of Milwaukee's founders,
Solomon Juneau-other founders Byron Kilbourn and George Walker 1833
1833 Potawatomi ceded land for 4.5 cents per acre and by 1850 sent west of the
Mississippi River
1836 First white settler and past president of "Indian Stream Republic,"
Luther Parker, arrives from New Hampshire
1838 Established as a town, Prattsburgh Muskego Centre-named after
William Pratt (who bought some land from Anson Taylor in 1854)
1839 First post office established in Muskego area, section 12 near Tess Corners
1839 March 9th, Muskego reduced to present size. Previously it included Waukesha, Vernon, New Berlin, and part of Racine County
1848 July 13th, Prattsburgh changed name to Muskego Centre and first post office established there
1849 Plank roads constructed 1849-1854 (only 24 mile stretch to Mukwonago completed of the 65 miles planned)
1850 Government relocated the Potawatomi people west of Mississippi River but many returned until the 1870's
1850 Forest Home Cemetery started by St. Paul's Episcopal of Milwaukee, followed by cholera outbreak of 1851
1852 Arrival of Francis & Barbara Wollman who set up a veterinary business. They bought 110 acres
1860-1862 Christian Schuet bought land for the first hotel and store. John Schuet partnered with his father, Christian, after getting training with Jacob Tess's store and a year in St. Louis, Missouri. J.C. Schuet was also the founder of the amusement park known as Muskego Lake Resort.
1880 John C. Schuet donated one acre of his land for the first cemetery. The Muskego Centre Cemetery Association was formed. John's parents, Christian and Mary, and two of John C. Schuet's infant children were buried there.
1883 On June 22nd the name changed from Muskego Centre to just Muskego.
1904 The Milwaukee Electric Railroad reached Muskego (1904-1939).
1905 Peter Vieau, brother of Aumable, dies at 85 years old. He was the first native Milwaukeean of the Caucasian race. He moved to Muskego Centre in 1856. He was born on January 10, 1820 at the top of the bluff near where what is now Mitchell Park Domes, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
1905 St. Paul's built a new church; it was taken down in late December, 2024.
1918-1920 Property identified as Muskego Lake Resort became Muskego Beach.
1923 E.J. Salentine opened a Buick dealership in Tess Corners. It closed in February 2013 after 90 years.
1926 Boszhardt & Fidlin purchased the business from Schuet estate to start Muskego Beach Amusement Park.​
1927 Dance hall was built
1927 Brothers Oscar & Arnold "Mike" Horn started the Horn Brothers' Feed Business. It closed in 2018.
1928-1929 Cyclone Roller Coaster constructed at Muskego Amusement Park
1944 Charlie & Elsa Rose bought Muskego Beach Amusement Park from Nellie Boszhardt.
1950 May 6th wind gusts of 90 mph toppled 200 square feet section of the roller coaster onto three other rides causing $125,000 damage and was rebuilt in fall of 1950.
1959 The roller coaster had to be rebuilt a second time when high winds again knocked its highest part to the ground. The damage this time was more extensive that the 1950 mishap.
1963 V.F.W. started Country Fair as a community get-together project. Original site of three-day event on Hwy. 24 just off of Lannon, a cornfield on present site of Pick-n-Save.
1964 Muskego incorporated as a city. Population 10,497 (50 year celebration in 2014)
1968 Amusement Park changed name from Muskego Beach to Dandilion Park. Coasters were Cyclone from 1929 to 1967 and Tail Spin from 1968 to 1977. Dismantled in 1983
1970 Construction began on current Muskego City Hall and occupied in 1972.
​1971 Hwy Y - Racine Avenue constructed
1973 Rear addition added to Muskego Fire Station on Janesville Rd.
​1975-1976-1977 Photos on view of Country Fair Parade showing residence of Otto Schuet, son of John C. Schuet, was converted Muskego's first Police Department with the last of the amusement rides of Dandilion Park in the background.
1976 The Old Muskego Settlement Centre started as a "Bicentennial Community Project."
1977 Last year of operation for Dandilion Park. Park did not reopen for the 1978 season.
1980 A replica of the Heinrich Log Cabin reassembled at Old Muskego Settlement Centre. Original building was from 1850's.
1981 Mill Valley School celebrated 125th anniversary of 1856. Replica constructed in 1983 at Old Muskego Settlement Centre.
1983 Demolition of Tail Spin roller coaster after sitting idle since 1977 season.
1998 House from Crowbar Drive moved to the Old Settlement Centre. Siding removed to reveal the Kearney Log House.
2000 Muskego Public Library moved to new location on Janesville Rd. from shared quarters in City Hall.
2002 June 19th, Old Town Hall moved to Old Muskego Settlement Centre from location on Pioneer Drive across from Horn Brothers. The hall was built in 1921 and used for community purposes from 1921-1964 when it became the interim City Hall from 1964-1972.
2009 Demolition of Schaumberg's Suburban House, built in 1905 as the Holz Hotel.
2014 Muskego celebrated 50 years as a city.
2014 (Summer) The Historical Society of Muskego put up historical sign in city.
​​
​
Original timeline researched and created by Joan Schuet Bauman and Gary Kulas. (February 2025)
​
​
​
​
​

