Darlington, Wisconsin

Darlington
—  City  —
Darlington Location within the state of Wisconsin
Coordinates: 42°40′59″N 90°07′03″W / 42.68306°N 90.1175°W / 42.68306; -90.1175Coordinates: 42°40′59″N 90°07′03″W / 42.68306°N 90.1175°W / 42.68306; -90.1175
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Lafayette
Area
– Total	1.4 sq mi (3.5 km2)
– Land	1.4 sq mi (3.5 km2)
Elevation	869 ft (265 m)
Population (2010)
– Total	2,451
– Density	1,813.7/sq mi (700.3/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
– Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	53530
Area code(s)	608
FIPS code	55-18875
GNIS feature ID	1563718

Darlington is a city in and the county seat of Lafayette County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 2,451 at the 2010 census.^[1] The city is surrounded by the Town of Darlington.

History

The first white man’s residence within the city limits of Darlington was a log house owned by Jamison Hamilton in 1836. He laid out the village of Avon, or Centre, in 1847.^[2] Darlington was first organized in 1849, but was known for a long time as the town of Centre. The first town meeting was held on April 3, 1849, with 82 votes being cast.

The first store was built in 1848. Two more were started in 1851, a millinery shop run by Miss Graham and a store run by Mr. Driver. The first hardware store was opened in 1852 by the Willett Brothers, and the first drug store was opened by J. Collins and Dr. Blair, who was the first resident physician in the city. The first school was opened in the winter of 1850, with 15 students.^[3] The first religious services were held some time in 1851 in the barn of Jamison Hamilton. The Mineral Point Railroad reached the town in the fall of 1856, and the citizens were very pleased that their dream of expanding their “village” was finally coming true.^[2]

In 1857, the county seat was moved from Shullsburg to Darlington, and the courthouse was built using county funds. The courthouse was also moved to Darlington in 1861, and in 1869 the town of Centre became known as Darlington.^[4] The name was changed because Joshua Darling purchased the land in 1850 with the help of J.M. Keep and J.B. Lynde.^[2] The survey of the original streets and blocks of the community took place in June 1850 by Josiah Richardson and H. H. Gray, assisted by an Indian named January.

The streets of the town were named after the wives of the planners and prominent men of the town, such as Minerva, Mary, Harriet, Lucy, Louisa, and Cornelia. “Minerva was the wife of James G. Knight, the first president of the village, and Mary was the wife of Josepheus Driver, one of the first businessmen of Darlington. Harriet was the wife of Hamilton Gray, and Lucy was the wife of William K. Jackman. Louisa was the wife of Isaah Stockwell, and Cornelia was the wife of James M. Keep, one of the original founders of the community”. He also aided Joshua Darling in the purchase of the land.^[4]

The Ringling Brothers Circus and Darlington

Alfred T. Ringling established himself in Darlington, Wisconsin at the age of 20, working as a harness maker in his own shop. He gave little shows for the students in schools and citizens of Darlington and the surrounding towns, with an act that included having four strong farmers lift up a plow, with Alfred lying beneath it. They positioned the plow so Alfred could balance it on his chin. It was a major crowd pleaser.^[5]

The Parson Brothers, Joe and Alfred E. "Butch" Parson, from Darlington were also interested in the circus. Joe Parson, the older of the two, worked in a lumber camp in the winter months in the 1870s. It was said that he bought a bison that he saw grazing in a field one spring when he was returning from the lumber camp. He made a deal with the farmer that owned it, and Joe gave the farmer his horse in exchange for the bison. Joe started showing his bison at carnivals and festivals, and he purchased a few more animals to form a show he called "The Great Palace Show". Alfred Ringling, or Al, worked in the Parson Brother’s show as a ropewalker in 1881 and most likely 1882. He also worked in Parson’s “Great Grecian Show” in 1883.^[6]

When the Ringling Brothers (Alfred T., John, Charles, and Otto) were planning their own circus, they invited the Parson Brothers to join them in 1884.^[6] The Ringlings had their own band, with Al playing the bass drum, John the cornet, and Charles and Otto the trombone and tuba. John was the leader of their band.^[5] The Parsons joined the Ringlings in 1887. Joe Parson did horseback-riding stunts and also performed on the high wire. Butch Parson ran the concession wagon, selling items such as pink lemonade, peanuts, popcorn, Cracker Jacks, cigars, and paper fans. Butch managed the stand and paid a monthly sum to the Ringlings, hired his own help. The Ringlings stored and took care of his concession wagon for him.^[6]

Both sets of brothers worked well with each other for a time until the Ringling Brothers felt that the Parson Brothers were making more than them with the concession wagon. In 1906, the Parsons cleared around $30,000, for a 44% profit. The Ringlings wanted to run the concessions by themselves so they could clear more of a profit. Through a series of letters, Otto Ringling tried to sever the ties to the Parsons in December 1907. At first, the letters were formal, requesting that the Parsons allow the Ringlings to run the stand. By November 1908, Otto Ringling wrote to Butch Parson completely ending the relationship between the two families. In the letter, he said that the Ringlings could no longer store the concession wagon because of lack of space. Although their relationship with the Ringlings ended, the Parsons had become very wealthy from the concession wagon.^[6]

Geography

Darlington is located at 42°40′53″N 90°06′57″W / 42.681335°N 90.115873°W / 42.681335; -90.115873Coordinates: 42°40′53″N 90°06′57″W / 42.681335°N 90.115873°W / 42.681335; -90.115873 (42.681335, -90.115873).^[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.5 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census^[8] of 2000, there were 2,418 people, 985 households, and 639 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,852.8 people per square mile (712.7/km²). There were 1,052 housing units at an average density of 806.1 per square mile (310.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.13% White, 0.04% Black or African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 985 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,539, and the median income for a family was $44,048. Males had a median income of $30,238 versus $22,033 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,403. About 5.9% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.8% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Darlington is served by the Darlington Community Schools district.^[9]

Darlington High School contains grades 9 through 12. In 2006-2007 there were 280 students with about 23 full-time teachers, and a student-teacher ratio of about 13 students per teacher.^[10] The school mascot is the Redbird.^[9]

Darlington Elementary-Middle School serves children in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. In 2006-2007, there were 521 students and 42 full-time teachers, with a student-teacher ratio of about 13 students to every teacher.^[11]

Attractions

Darlington's historic Main Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The community is known as the “Pearl of the Pecatonica” because the Pecatonica River flows through the town, and people used to harvest the clams out of the river to make pearl button blanks.

The Pecatonica River Trails Park is a city-maintained campground with 24 sites of river-front camping. There is also a paved walking/biking trail that follows the River through town. Many people also canoe and fish in the Pecatonica River. Darlington has a public swimming pool that is open everyday from June until August. Riverside Park has a softball field, basketball court, and playground, and Black Bridge Park has sand volleyball courts, soccer field, and flag football field. The community has a Veterans Memorial Park and Festival Grounds.^[12]

Darlington is near Yellowstone Lake State Park, where there is swimming, camping, fishing, and boating. The Darlington Golf & Country Club has a nine-hole golf course. The Cheese Country Recreational Trail, which is over 50 miles long, can be used by ATV riders. It passes through Monroe Belmont, and Mineral Point.^[12]

During the summer, there are Friday night stock car races, and a county fair. Darlington hosts the annual Canoe Fest in June, where there are canoe races, live music, a carnival, and a parade. The Lafayette County Fair is in July and has displays of livestock, a midway, a carnival, and a concert. Pecatonica Valley Antique Days are held in September, and the Holiday Open Houses are in November. There is an annual Holiday Parade the first Saturday in December.^[12]

Notable people

• Darlington was the home of Sylvan Muldoon (February, 1903-October,1969), author of Projection of the Astral Body, and other works on psychic phenomena. In the preface to his 1936 The Case for Astral Projection, Muldoon invited his readers to write to him with information on cases of astral projection (now called out-of-body experiences or OOBEs): "In this connection, any communication will reach me at my home address: Darlington, Wisconsin" (p. 10).
• U.S. Representative John Morrow (D-New Mexico) was born near Darlington.
• MLB player Charlie Dougherty was born in Darlington.
• U.S. Army General Francis Marshall lived in Darlington.
• Screenwriter Dan Fitzsimons was born in Darlington.
• Author and journalist Penelope Trunk documents life in the town in media outlets such as CNN, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the New York Times.
• U.S. Representative Henry S. Magoon kept a summer home and died in Darlington.
• State Senator Harry C. Martin was born near Darlington and served as Mayor.
• U.S. Representative James G. Monahan was born near Darlington.
• Lafayette County WI Judge Daniel McDonald. Featured in A&E TV's program "City Confidential" - Episode #113. In April 1985, Judge McDonald lost his bid for re-election, defeated by Darlington's long-time city attorney, Bill Johnston. After the election, McDonald began following Johnston around town. On 22 June 1985, two months before Johnston was to be sworn in, the soon to be ex-judge visited his rival's law office. Johnston wasn't there, but his young partner James Klein was. Klein and McDonald argued. The argument turned into a fight and Klein was stabbed in the chest. He died on the spot. McDonald fled the scene, but was captured later that same day. His initial arraignment hearing took place in the very courtroom that McDonald had presided over for years.

Unable to make bail, McDonald remained locked in the Lafayette County jail until his trial began three months later in Milwaukee. Initially, McDonald pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but changed his plea to not guilty and argued self-defense in court. A Milwaukee jury refused to believe McDonald and he was found guilty of first-degree murder. McDonald was sent to the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupan, a hostile facility where McDonald had sent many a criminal over the years. The switch from judge's robes to prison blues didn't sit well with McDonald, and on 10 March 1986 he died of as a result of a drug overdose.

References

1. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder2.census.gov. Retrieved 2011-05-14. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Western Historical Company. History of Lafayette County. Chicago: Windmill Publications, 1881.
3. ^ Darlington History. Wisconsin Historical Society. 6 Oct. 2008. <http://www.wisconsinhistory.org>
4. ^ ^{a b} Lafayette County Bicentennial Committee. The Lafayette County Bicentennial Book. Madison: Straus Printing and Publishing, 1976.
5. ^ ^{a b} "Ringling Show Had Start in Darlington." Milwaukee Journal, 13 Dec. 1925.
6. ^ ^{a b c d} Parson, Frank. Candy Stand Book, Ringling Bros.Show, Season of 1906. (Taken from the book Managing Two Big Shows: 1908-1909.).
7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
8. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
9. ^ ^{a b} Darlington Community Schools
10. ^ Darlington High. 2006-2008. School Digger. 6 Oct. 2008. <http://schooldigger.com/go/wi/schools/0315000348/school.aspx>
11. ^ Darlington Elementary/Middle. 2006-2008. School Digger. 6 Oct. 2008. <http://schooldigger.com/go/wi/schools/0315000348/school.aspx>.
12. ^ ^{a b c} Darlington Wisconsin. Main Street Program. 6 Oct. 2008.<http://www.darlingtonwi.org>.

External links

• Darlington, Wisconsin city website