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Article: New Glarus preserves its heritage
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- June 14, 1992
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1992 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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NEW GLARUS, Wis. You needn't cross the Alps for a glimpse of Alpine
country. America's Little Switzerland, as New Glarus styles itself,
conveys the alluring culture of that land less than three hours by
car from Chicago.
In 1845, 118 immigrants despairing of economic hope in their
Swiss canton of Glarus reached this Wisconsin site 23 miles south of
Madison. Former artisans and textile workers, they found farming
rough going at first. Despite formidable hardships, they persevered.
In April, 1850, New Glarus was officially established. The next
year, the first store opened; in 1853, the first hotel; 17 years
later, the first cheese factory. By the 1880s, this succesful
cheesemaking ...