HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge, Wisconsin was established in 1847 by Norwegian and Scottish settlers. Within a few years, saw and grist mills, two general stores, two hotels, a boot and shoe shop, a harness shop, cabinet shop, a tailor, a milliner store (located in The Victorian) and a saloon all lined Main Street. One of the hotels on Main Street still stands and is currently home to the jewelry store.
By the 1860’s, Cambridge had grown to a population of 250. The residents were mostly retired farmers and shop keepers. Many of the village’s young men enlisted to serve in the Civil War. A statue in the Village Square today honors the veterans of that war.
In 1890 a fire broke out that destroyed much of the business district, as well as some of the homes on upper Main Street where The Victorian is located.
Vacationers started coming to Cambridge and Lake Ripley from Chicago as far back as the 1800’s. By the 1900’s, the population had grown to 700. In the 1920’s the automobile had a profound impact on Cambridge spurring its growth as a popular tourist town.
In the 1900’s, Cambridge became a prosperous town filled with quaint shops, restaurants and a beautiful public beach on Lake Ripley. Festivals, vacation getaways and the talent of local artisans bring vacationers to our small village to this day.
Cambridge became a world renowned pottery town with the help of Jim Rowe whose innovative effort to revive the historic Americana salt glazed pottery of the 1800's soon became very popular with collectors throughout the United States. Rowe Pottery Works and Cambridge Stoneware Company, LLC draw people from all over in search of their beautiful salt-glazed and art pottery. Cambridge has a strong artistic community consisting of a diverse collection of independently owned businesses and services. Inside Victorian storefronts and century old buildings are a variety of specialty shops featuring antiques, boutiques, art galleries, Amish made furniture, jewelry, pottery, home accessories, specialty foods and coffee shops.
Some of the famous residents of Cambridge include:
Ole Evinrude, inventor of the outboard motor
Arthur Davidson, one of the founding members of Harley Davidson
Matt Kenseth, NASCAR Racer #17, won 2003 Winston Cup, 2009 Daytona 500 & Fontana
Recently voted one of the 100 Best Small Town Getaways in the Midwest (Midwest Living Magazine June 2007), Cambridge is full of everything that’s great about Wisconsin and the Midwest in general.