Cottage Grove, WI. Area Historical Society

06/13/2026

This year marks the 95th Annual Cottage Firemen's Festival!

For nearly a century, this tradition has brought our community together to celebrate the dedicated volunteers of the Cottage Grove Fire Department while enjoying all the fun that makes summer in here special. From carnival rides and baseball to live music, great food, and time spent with friends and neighbors, there is something for everyone.

Be sure to check out the schedule for the rest of the weekend, and take a look at this vintage festival poster from many years ago that is part of the Cottage Grove Area Historical Society collection. It's a wonderful reminder that while times may change, community spirit endures.

Let's show the Cottage Grove Fire Department our appreciation with a big turnout today and tomorrow. Here's to 95 years of tradition and many more to come!

06/03/2026

Mark your calendars for the Cottage Grove Area Historical Society's Brat Feed on June 19!

This year, all proceeds will benefit the Cottage Cottage Grove Schools & Family Organization (formerly the Cottage Grove PTO). While our mission is to preserve and celebrate Cottage Grove's past, we also believe in investing in its future. Supporting local students, teachers, and families is one way we can help strengthen the next chapter of our community's story. Please join us!

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to honor more than 2,400 men and women from Cottage Grove who gave their lives in service to our country. These are not just numbers. They are neighbors, families, and stories woven into the very fabric of our community. Their sacrifice is the reason we are able to gather, to live freely, and to remember.

Among them, we reflect on the extraordinary service of Cottage Grove’s most decorated veteran, Amos Johnson. Drafted into the U.S. Army on December 2, 1941, Amos served until September 23, 1945, during one of the most defining periods in our nation’s history.

Amos’s bravery on the battlefield was nothing short of remarkable. He received a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant and was later promoted to 1st Lieutenant, also on the battlefield. His list of honors reflects both courage and sacrifice: the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. He took part in the D Day landing and fought in five major European battles, earning the European Theatre Ribbon with Bronze Arrowhead and additional recognition for his valor. He was also awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the American Defense Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, and an Expert Rifleman Badge while serving with the 8th Infantry, 4th Division.

His story stands as a powerful example of the courage carried by so many from our community.

On this Memorial Day, we remember those we have lost, we honor their sacrifice, and we extend our deepest gratitude to all who have served. May we never forget the cost of our freedom, and may we continue to carry forward the legacy of those who gave everything.

04/29/2026

We had a great time learning about the rich history of Camp Randall from its beginnings as a Civil War training ground to the iconic stadium it is today. Robert Block brought it all to life, even sharing some of the traditions that make it so special, like singing “On Wisconsin” and, of course, Jump Around. A fun and meaningful evening celebrating a true piece of Wisconsin history!

04/28/2026

Don't forget to join us tonight!

04/25/2026

Someone recently inquired about the Thaden Farm Homestead. We wanted to share this post from 2024 on it.

The Thaden Horse Farm used to be along Highway BB in the mid 1900s. What happened to it? What is there now?

04/19/2026

The 4-H tradition runs deep in Cottage Grove — and it’s still going strong today.

These photos from a 4-H scrapbook dating back to the 1930s are a powerful reminder of the generations of young people who have learned leadership, service, and community through this incredible organization right here in our village.

And this isn’t just history — it’s a living legacy.

Our local 4-H club continues to meet, grow, and give back. Just last winter, members volunteered their time serving at the Cottage Grove Food Pantry, carrying forward the same spirit of service that began nearly a century ago.

From past to present, 4-H has helped shape our community — and it’s inspiring to see the next generation continuing that tradition.

💚 Thank you to our 4-H members, past and present, for all you’ve done — and continue to do — for Cottage Grove.

04/03/2026

Join us for our spring speaker, Robert Block, for a fascinating journey through the rich history of Camp Randall Stadium in Madison from its origins as a Civil War training ground to the iconic Wisconsin Badgers football stadium we know today. This free event will be held at Drumlin Reserve of Cottage Grove. We hope you can join us for an engaging and educational evening!

12/09/2025

This 1911 Dane County plat map captures Cottage Grove at a time when the community was almost entirely agricultural, a landscape of family-run farms, barns, livestock, and fields stretching to the horizon. Each parcel on the map represents a working life: generations milking cows at sunrise, tending crops by hand, and building a community rooted in the rhythms of the land. Take a look at the names on these farmsteads that shaped Cottage Grove’s identity (you'll recognize many of them today). These homesteads fed families, anchored neighborhoods, and laid the foundation for the community we know today.

10/26/2025

🔍 Happening Tomorrow!
Join the Cottage Grove Area Historical Society for a fascinating presentation — “Forensic Science: Wisconsin Crime Laboratory,” featuring Bob Block, retired head of drug investigation at the Wisconsin Crime Lab.

Go behind the scenes to see how science and technology help solve crimes right here in Wisconsin!

📅 Tomorrow, October 27
🕡 6:30 PM
📍 Drumlin Reserve
🎟️ Free and open to all!

Don’t miss this unique insider’s look at Wisconsin’s premier crime lab!