As the 2026 Winter Olympics finishes up its last days of competition, one of the fan favorites is ski Jumping ; one of the most thrilling winter sports, combining speed, skill, and courage that caught the interest of Lake Mills as early as 1916. But how did this daring sport come to be? The history of ski jumping reveals a fascinating journey from simple leaps on snowy hills to the high-flying spectacles we see today. Article from the Lake Mills Leader, January 13, 1916 A Brief History of...

Knickerbocker Ice House on the south shore of Rock Lake, Lake Mills, Wi Ice harvesting in the northern United States dates back to colonial times, when winter ice was stored for summer use to preserve meat and dairy products. By 1799, blocks of ice were being shipped commercially from New York City to Charleston, South Carolina. During the 1800s, this trade expanded rapidly into a major industry, with breweries and meat packers becoming the largest consumers. Early settlers in the Lake Mills...

Tyranena Golf Course circa 1930's The Tyranena Golf Club traces its beginnings to 1926, when a group of Lake Mills businessmen purchased the former George Everson farm, an 80-acre property first settled in 1866. The old farmhouse on the land was adapted into a clubhouse and, despite many additions over the decades, still forms the heart of the building today. In 1927, 140 men invested in the dream of a hometown course, formally organizing the Tyranena Golf Club with Ty Neupert as its first...