Old World Wisconsin: Around Europe in the Badger State

by Frederick L. Holmes

Book by Fred L. Holmes

Genres: History

368 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1974

About the author

1883-1946

Reviews

[Laura]

This is a very niche read, but it’s remarkably lively for those who feel an affinity for the variety of small towns Holmes visits. He captures the distinct ethnic heritage of several towns in Wisconsin and in doing so preserves a history that has all but disappeared. He’s an interested guest, and this book reads like a Netflix or PBS travel show where the host makes sure to sample the local cuisine and knows how to hunt out the old timers who can still recall the myths and legends of a place. He interviews Italian housewives in Madison and Cornish pasty makers in Mineral Point. I’m so glad he preserves 1940’s Wisconsin, which was likely just the tail end of each community still retaining the distinct flavor of its original settlers. I’ll admit I skipped the cities that didn’t interest me but loved any chapter that mentioned the cities I know. I especially loved his observation that Irish mothers were an easy Mark for traveling salesman who sold educational books for children; My own Irish grandma insisted on scraping together the money for a set of World Book Encyclopedias bought from a traveling salesman. I loved reading a book that is rich with distinctive that are long gone, diluted in the bizarre melting pot of present culture.

[Debi Emerson]

When I bought this book, I thought it was going to be about the outdoor museum, Old World Wisconsin. Instead it is a fascinating study of the many different peoples who flocked to Wisconsin & made it what it is. Published in 1944, it gives a good picture of what life was for the various ethnic groups in Wisconsin. It is a life that was vanishing then & is probably almost non-existent in the today of the 21st century. It would be interesting to find a follow-up study comparing the 2.

In the introduction to the 2nd edition, copyright 1990, the author of the preface points out that the author of this book was a contemporary of Richard W. E. Perrin who was one of Old World Wisconsin's founding visionaries.

Though born & raised in northern IL, I have spent my entire adult life in several different areas of WI & have seen 1st hand the various groups that make up this state. I loved reading about their roots!

[Carol]

I read this book for a Wisconsin history online book club. I didn’t finish it by before they discussed it, but I enjoyed listening to what others said. The edition I read was very old and the writing was old style and a little difficult to understand at times.
There was fascinating information from the 1940s when the material was gathered much has happened in the last 75 years or so.
I wish they would’ve put a map near each town mentioned showing where it was. Also, that the pictures they shared were placed closer to where they referred to in the text. Also, within the text, they used ethnic words that I had to look up the meaning of. I was thankful I had the Internet. The author could’ve easily added description in his paragraph.

[Sam]

This book isn't breaking any boundaries with it's writing but something in it feels a bit like time-travelling. Getting to read about what existed in places I know intimately is heart-warming.

[Rick]

I am a proud son of Wisconsin. Although rather dated, this book provided some wonderful insight into life in the 50's.