Rich in History
Whether you are a resident or a first-time visitor, we hope that your experience is rich and plentiful.
Mayville is rich in history, being first settled in 1845, by the families of Chester May and Alvin Foster who opened a saw mill. Shortly after this, the discovery of iron ore in the area led to a rapid growth of the settlement. Full of industrious, hardworking, and friendly people, Mayville gained the reputation as Dodge County’s most progressive city. As the iron industry grew in Mayville, so did its downtown, hosting an array of businesses from cigar factories and breweries, to piano stores and creameries.
Once the country moved from iron to steel, that same spirit helped Mayville transition into a manufacturing and farming community. Unlike many other iron cities across the country, Mayville and its downtown continued to prosper. Most of the original, historic buildings are still present today.
Mayville is a city with a remarkable history that includes many innovations, including: the roots of John Deere, cheese packaged into wedges, the shotshell reloader, milk trucks, and the aircraft carrier net. That progressive tradition continues today with Mayville being the first city in Dodge County to allow sidewalk dining, hosting an array of unique shopping, and the area’s best restaurants.
We hope you enjoy Mayville’s fascinating history, our energizing present, and return for the exciting future.
Once the country moved from iron to steel, that same spirit helped Mayville transition into a manufacturing and farming community. Unlike many other iron cities across the country, Mayville and its downtown continued to prosper. Most of the original, historic buildings are still present today.
Mayville is a city with a remarkable history that includes many innovations, including: the roots of John Deere, cheese packaged into wedges, the shotshell reloader, milk trucks, and the aircraft carrier net. That progressive tradition continues today with Mayville being the first city in Dodge County to allow sidewalk dining, hosting an array of unique shopping, and the area’s best restaurants.
We hope you enjoy Mayville’s fascinating history, our energizing present, and return for the exciting future.
Mayville Limestone School Museum
In 1857-1858, after almost ten years of existence in a small frame schoolhouse, the people of Mayville decided to build a larger school to accommodate the growing population. A stone structure forty by sixty feet was erected, which was at that time one of the finest school buildings in the state. White limestone used for the building came from local area stone quarries. Edward J. Foster, Ernst A. Murry, R.S. Chapman, and Miss Adra Reynolds were the first teachers in the new building. Click here to read the entire story!
Carriage Factory
The Museum of the Mayville Historical Society occupies what once was the home and workplace of John Hollenstein and family. Coming to Mayville in 1873 and working a small farm, Hollenstein set up his own wagon and carriage business, erecting a factory east of his home. He operated this shop until 1908, and then sold it to his son, John Jr., who continued the business until 1941. Click here to learn more about the Carriage Factory.
Horicon Museum
The museum is located in the former Satterlee Clark house. It was built in the 1850’s for the family of Mr. Clark, an attorney. He was active in local, county, and state politics for most of his life. The red bricks used to build the house came from the Chandler Brickyard; the first brickyard in Dodge County. Two other buildings on the museum grounds are a one-room schoolhouse, and a garage which houses antique farm equipment.
Mailing Address:
PO Box 65
Horicon, WI 53032-0065
