
Green County, Wisconsin Historical Society
We are Closed...for now
Given that 2020 was an unprecedented year due to Covid-19, we have been forced to stay closed to the public for tours, but are cautiously optimistic that we will be able to re-open in 2021.. We will have work days on Mondays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. if you need to drop off donations. Masks are required and social distancing guidelines are in place. Please contact us at 608-324-4676 or info@greencountywihistoricalsociety.org for any other information regarding access to the building.
Richland Creek, captured in December 2020, before the snow. The photo was taken looking upstream (east) from the bridge over Richland Creek on Schueyville Road. Schuey’s Mill, a dam and a mill pond were here at one time.
In search of the Richland Timber
“From the banks of the Mighty Richland” has been the sign-in for Monroe’s radio station WEKZ since its start in 1951. For 14 meandering miles, the waterway flows through Jefferson and Clarno townships, picking up tributaries before crossing the state line in Illinois and hooking up with the Pecatonica River.
But less known is the Richland Timber, the once vast oak woods that lined the creek and served as a landmark for early travelers in the area.
Historical Society member Tom Mitchell details the history of the timber in the Society’s latest newsletter which will be mailed out next week. As a bonus, he provides a driving tour that weaves through Clarno and Jefferson townships in search of the timber. The self-guided tour can easily be completed in an afternoon.
Look for his story and a unique glimpse at Green County’s past.
“From the banks of the Mighty Richland” has been the sign-in for Monroe’s radio station WEKZ since its start in 1951. For 14 meandering miles, the waterway flows through Jefferson and Clarno townships, picking up tributaries before crossing the state line in Illinois and hooking up with the Pecatonica River.
But less known is the Richland Timber, the once vast oak woods that lined the creek and served as a landmark for early travelers in the area.
Historical Society member Tom Mitchell details the history of the timber in the Society’s latest newsletter which will be mailed out next week. As a bonus, he provides a driving tour that weaves through Clarno and Jefferson townships in search of the timber. The self-guided tour can easily be completed in an afternoon.
Look for his story and a unique glimpse at Green County’s past.

This map of western Jefferson and eastern Clarno townships shows areas (in green) that have glacial deposits and bedrock (in brown) in the driftless region that had no glacial till and was never covered in ice. Most of the Richland Timber has some till or glacial deposits. The blue areas are Richland Creek and Little Richland Creek and their many tributaries.
Celebrating Our Past--in Love
Alida and Henry Ludlow
Alida Conde was born in Monroe WI in 1854. She had an interest in seeking early education for children and
became a Sunday School teacher at the First Universalist church and was instrumental in kindergarten pro-
gramming. Henry Ludlow, also born in Monroe in 1848, was director the first Sunday school library the First
Universalist Church, now the Green County Historical Society Museum. It was here that he may have met
Alida or later known as Lida, who was appointed librarian and where their romance may have started. They
were married August 18, 1874, she being 20 years old and he, 6 years her senior, at 26. They had three chil-
dren: May Ludlow Luchsinger, Charles Arabut Ludlow and Adelaide Condee Ludlow Crawford. Together the
Ludlows built this fine home on the corner of 20th Avenue and 11th Street. Their educational interests contin-
ued with Reading Clubs, an early library in the upstairs rooms of a building on the square, and the building
and dedication of the Arabut Ludlow Memorial Library in 1905, at the present location of the Monroe Cham-
ber of Commerce building.
Photos by Green County Historical Society.
Alida Conde was born in Monroe WI in 1854. She had an interest in seeking early education for children and
became a Sunday School teacher at the First Universalist church and was instrumental in kindergarten pro-
gramming. Henry Ludlow, also born in Monroe in 1848, was director the first Sunday school library the First
Universalist Church, now the Green County Historical Society Museum. It was here that he may have met
Alida or later known as Lida, who was appointed librarian and where their romance may have started. They
were married August 18, 1874, she being 20 years old and he, 6 years her senior, at 26. They had three chil-
dren: May Ludlow Luchsinger, Charles Arabut Ludlow and Adelaide Condee Ludlow Crawford. Together the
Ludlows built this fine home on the corner of 20th Avenue and 11th Street. Their educational interests contin-
ued with Reading Clubs, an early library in the upstairs rooms of a building on the square, and the building
and dedication of the Arabut Ludlow Memorial Library in 1905, at the present location of the Monroe Cham-
ber of Commerce building.
Photos by Green County Historical Society.
Nickels and Dimes--Snow Removal

We are always in need of spare change to help with the upkeep of our 150 year-old building, and this year is no different with the inordinate amount of snow we have received. Even though we are closed, we need to be extra careful in maintaining our building, which includes snow removal.
So please, round up your change and turn it into a few dollars to help us pay those unexpected maintenance bills that are not always covered under our operating expenses!
We thank you in advance. Please mail any donations to Green County Historical Society, PO Box 804, Monroe, WI 53566 and be sure to mark your check "nickels and dimes".
So please, round up your change and turn it into a few dollars to help us pay those unexpected maintenance bills that are not always covered under our operating expenses!
We thank you in advance. Please mail any donations to Green County Historical Society, PO Box 804, Monroe, WI 53566 and be sure to mark your check "nickels and dimes".