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Former Entrance and Horse Track

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Of the many people who have owned this property, the one who had the greatest impact on the land was Louis J. Petit. Some of his many additions to the area was a horse track that was located in front of you and stone pillars that once framed the driveway. The area was a playground used by Petit, his family, and friends as an escape from their homes in Milwaukee.

Images

Former entrance and horse track of Paradise Springs, circa early 1930s.

Former entrance and horse track of Paradise Springs, circa early 1930s.

The stone pillars topped with eagles were built by Frank Von Rueden who lived about 2 miles west of here on Hwy 59. They once stood at the entrance.

The stone pillars topped with eagles were built by Frank Von Rueden who lived about 2 miles west of here on Hwy 59. They once stood at the entrance.

Louis J Petit owned the property in the 1920's and early 1930's.

Collar, Dress shirt, Chin, Forehead

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The trail you are standing on was once the road shown in the photo. Louis J. Petit, a bank president, built the track in the 1920s. Petit was by far the wealthiest owner of Paradise Springs. The track was abandoned in 1932 when Petit died and has since grown wild with trees and shrubs. Petit’s granddaughter's husband, August J. Pabst, who was a beer executive in the family business, inherited the property from Petit.

Sources

Paradise Springs Self Guided Nature Trail . Eagle, WI. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 2015.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Paradise Springs Nature Trail self guided hike brochure

Wisconsin DNR photo

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Image/IM7218

Additional Information