Beware Wisconsin unfound phantoms

Alli Watters University of Wisconsin
Jan 31, 2025
Jan 31, 2025

1 of 3

Agri-View editor Julie Belschner heads out to look for a phantom. She finds that 'North Lowell' doesn't exist. Its location is mostly an empty field.

Julie Belschner/Agri-View

While searching for North Lowell, Agri-View editor Julie Belschner finds the Pumpkin Center Tap in North Lowell's location. But there's no hint of North Lowell, now confirmed as a phantom.

Julie Belschner/Agri-View

In searching for North Lowell, which is now confirmed as a phantom, Agri-View editor Julie Belschner finds an uncorporated community called Pumpkin Center in its place.

Julie Belschner/Agri-View

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Alli Watters University of Wisconsin

It’s a Wednesday in June and Howard Veregin is exploring Walker in Wood County, Wisconsin. The location in central Wisconsin is one of seven suspected “phantoms” that the Wisconsin state cartographer would vet that day, but this one stood out. Pulling over to the side of the road, Veregin could see a handful of large buildings that looked like warehouses. Many of them were on the older side, but they appeared to be in operation. A cranberry-company sign offered a big clue about what he had stumbled onto, but it was still unlike any other phantom he had visited.

kAm“%9:D @?6 3F:=5:?8 H2D C62==J 2>2K:?8 – :E =@@<65 =:<6 :E H2D 7C@> E96 `ha_D[” 96 D2:5] “qFE H9:=6 x H2D =@@<:?8 2E :E[ 2 4@FA=6 @7 A:4<FA ECF4<D AF==65 FA ?6IE E@ >6]”k^Am

kAm%92?<7F==J E96 5C:G6CD H6C6 7C:6?5=J 4C2?36CCJ 8C@H6CD] ~?6 @7 E96> =62?65 @FE E96 H:?5@H 2?5 492EE65 H:E9 '6C68:?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m%CF4< 5C:G6C –k^DEC@?8m v@@5 >@C?:?8] {@@<:?8 7@C D@>6E9:?8 :? A2CE:4F=2Cnk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m'6C68:? –k^DEC@?8m (6==[ x’> =@@<:?8 7@C 42CE@8C2A9:4 A92?E@>D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m%CF4< 5C:G6C –k^DEC@?8m (92E’D 2 42CE@8C2A9:4 A92?E@>nk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m'6C68:? –k^DEC@?8m xE’D 2 4@>>F?:EJ E92E :D =:DE65 @? 2 >2A[ 3FE :E 5@6D?’E 6I:DE @? E96 8C@F?5]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m%CF4< 5C:G6C –k^DEC@?8m %9:D A=246 6I:DED]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m'6C68:? –k^DEC@?8m $FC6[ 3FE :E 5@6D?’E C62==J =@@< =:<6 2 4@>>F?:EJ] (92E :D :Enk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m%CF4< 5C:G6C –k^DEC@?8m (6==[ E9:D :D @FC 72>:=J 4C2?36CCJ 72C>] (6’G6 366? 72C>:?8 4C2?36CC:6D 96C6 7@C `ad J62CD] x’> 2 7:7E9\86?6C2E:@? 4C2?36CCJ 8C@H6C] |@DE @7 E9:D 2C62 :D AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ]k^Am

kAmpD :E EFC?D @FE E96 AC@A6CEJ :D =@42E65 @? 2 7@C>6C C2:=H2J DE@A 42==65 (2=<6C yF?4E:@?[ H9:49 9:DE@C:42==J 925 366? FD65 E@ D9:A @FE 4C2?36CC:6D] qFE E92E H2D J62CD 28@] %96 DE2E:@? 2?5 E96 ?2>6 (2=<6C 92G6?’E 366? FD65 :? 2E =62DE 2 86?6C2E:@?[ 2?5 ?@H E96 =2?5 H2D 2=>@DE 6?E:C6=J AC:G2E6=J @H?65 3J E96 72>:=J @7 4C2?36CCJ 8C@H6CD]k^Am

kAm$@ '6C68:?’D DFDA:4:@?D H6C6 4@?7:C>65] xE H2D?’E 2? F?:?4@CA@C2E65 4@>>F?:EJ =:<6 D@ >2?J G6CD:@?D @7 E96 (:D4@?D:? DE2E6 >2A DF886DE] w6 925 7@F?5 J6E 2?@E96C 42CE@8C2A9:4 A92?E@>]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(:D4@?D:? DE2E6 >2A :?4@CC64Ek^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm|2AD @7 (:D4@?D:? 2C6 =:EE6C65 H:E9 E@H?D[ G:==286D 2?5 4:E:6D @7 2== D:K6D] |@DE[ @7 4@FCD6[ 2C6 =:DE65 4@CC64E=J] qFE >2?J @7 E9@D6 =:EE=6 5@ED 2C6 ?@E9:?8 3FE A92?E@>D[ D:8?:7J:?8 7@C8@EE6? A2E496D @7 =2?5 H96C6 E96C6 @?46 H6C6 E@H?D] wF?E:?8 5@H? E9@D6 A92?E@>D – 2?5 4@CC64E:?8 E96 >2AD E92E =:DE E96> – 92D 364@>6 2 3:E @7 2? @3D6DD:@? 7@C '6C68:?] w6’D 366? DEF5J:?8 >2AD D:?46 96 564=2C65 86@8C2A9J 2D 9:D >2;@C :? `hfg – E92E’D af J62CD 367@C6 E96 =2F?49 @7 v@@8=6 |2AD]k^Am

kAm“x7 J@F’C6 2 >2A FD6C 2?5 J@F D66 (2=<6C H:E9 2 D>2== 4:C4=6 2?5 E6IE DF886DE:?8 :E’D 2 E@H? E92E J@F 42? G:D:E[ J@F >:89E DE@A :? 2?5 86E 4:C4=65 3J A:4<FA ECF4<D[” '6C68:? D2:5] “xE’D 2 >:DC6AC6D6?E2E:@? 2?5 >:D:?7@C>2E:@? E@ E96 >2A FD6C :7 E9@D6 A=246D 2C6 5:DA=2J65 FD:?8 E96 D2>6 DJ>3@=@8J E92E J@F H@F=5 FD6 7@C 2 4@>>F?:EJ]”k^Am

kAm|@DE 42CE@8C2A9:4 A92?E@>D 2C6?’E 5@EE65 H:E9 3F:=5:?8D 2D (2=<6C :D] %JA:42==J E96C6’D 2 H9@=6 =@E @7 ?@E9:?8] !92?E@>D 2C6 E96 C6>?2?ED @7 232?5@?65 F?:?4@CA@C2E65 4@>>F?:E:6D] %9@D6 D>2== 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 C64@8?:K65 A=246D 3FE[ 2D E96 ?2>6 DF886DED[ 2C6 ?@E @77:4:2==J :?4@CA@C2E65] &?:?4@CA@C2E65 4@>>F?:E:6D @7E6? D92C6 E96:C ?2>6 H:E9 =@42= =2?5>2C<D =:<6 2 C2:=H2J DE@A @C E96 E@H? E2G6C?] qFE E9@D6 2=C625J D=:89E 4@>>F?:E:6D[ FDF2==J =@42E65 :? CFC2= 2C62D[ 2C6 <?@H? E@ D9C:?< @C 5:D2AA62C 2=E@86E96C E92?<D E@ E96 D@4:6E2= >:8C2E:@? E@H2C5 >@C6\FC32? 6?G:C@?>6?ED] %92E’D H96? E96J 364@>6 89@DE E@H?D – H96? E96 3@?6D @7 3F:=5:?8D 2C6 DE:== G:D:3=6 – @C 42CE@8C2A9:4 A92?E@>D H96? E96C6’D ?@E9:?8 =67E]k^Am

kAm(:D4@?D:? 92D 2 =@E @7 E96 =2EE6C] x? 724E[ E96 $E2E6 r2CE@8C2A96C’D ~77:46[ H9:49 :D (:D4@?D:?’D C6D@FC46 7@C 2== E9:?8D >2AD[ 92D :56?E:7:65 >@C6 E92? e__ A@E6?E:2= 42CE@8C2A9:4 A92?E@>D :? E96 v6@8C2A9:4 }2>6D x?7@C>2E:@? $JDE6> 52E232D6] %92E >62?D E96C6 4@F=5 36 9F?5C65D @7 A=246D >:D=236=65 :? E96 52E2 DJDE6>D E92E :?7@C> >2A AC@G:56CD =:<6 v@@8=6 |2AD[ pAA=6 |2AD 2?5 6G6? AC:?E65 2E=2D6D]k^Am

kAm%2<6 r=J56[ 7@C 6I2>A=6] {@@<:?8 2E 2 >2A[ @?6 >:89E E9:?< :E’D 2?@E96C E@H? =@42E65 ?62C @?6 @7 (:D4@?D:?’D >@DE 3FDE=:?8 E@FC:DE 2C62D[ s@@C r@F?EJ] qFE 5C:G6 E96C6 2?5 E96C6 H@?’E 36 >F49 @7 2?JE9:?8]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 ?@E ECJ:?8 E@ 6=:>:?2E6 A92?E@>D[” '6C68:? D2:5] “(6’C6 ;FDE ECJ:?8 E@ 86E E96> AC@A6C=J :56?E:7:65 2D A92?E@>D – ?@E 2D 4@>>F?:E:6D H96C6 J@F 4@F=5 DE@A 2?5 86E 2 4@7766 2?5 2 D2?5H:49 @C D@>6E9:?8]”k^Am

kAm(96? '6C68:? DE2CE65 2D E96 DE2E6 42CE@8C2A96C :? a__h[ 96 C62=:K65 ?@ @?6 H2D 4@==64E:?8 52E2 23@FE F?:?4@CA@C2E65 4@>>F?:E:6D @C A92?E@>D – ?@E 6G6? E96 r6?DFD qFC62F[ E96 DE2E6 @C :?5:G:5F2= 4@F?E:6D] $@ H92E DE2CE65 2D '6C68:?’D A2DD:@? AC@;64E 92D D:?46 364@>6 2 @?6\@7\2\<:?5 677@CE 7@C E96 (:D4@?D:? $E2E6 r2CE@8C2A96C’D ~77:46[ H9:49 :D 9@FD65 H:E9:? E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 (:D4@?D:?\r@==686 @7 {6EE6CD U2>Aj $4:6?46 2D A2CE @7 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 v6@8C2A9J]k^Am

kAm“x E9@F89E E9:D D@F?565 =:<6 :E 4@F=5 36 <:?5 @7 2 7F? AC@;64E[” 96 D2:5] “xE’D :>A@CE2?E 7@C :>AC@G:?8 >2AD 2?5 ?@3@5J 6=D6 :D 5@:?8 :E[ D@ =6E’D 8:G6 :E 2 ECJ]”k^Am

kAm%9FD 3682? 9:D A92?E@>\7:?5:?8 BF6DE] w6 DE2CE65 3J :56?E:7J:?8 9F?5C65D @7 A@E6?E:2= A92?E@>D @? 5:776C6?E EJA6D @7 >2AD 2?5 AFEE:?8 E96> :?E@ 2 86@8C2A9:4 :?7@C>2E:@? DJDE6> – 2 vx$] %96? 96 9:E E96 C@25[ =:E6C2==J] u@C E96 A2DE `d J62CD 96’D 366? 5C:G:?8 E@ 9F?5C65D @7 A@E6?E:2= A92?E@>D E@ 4@==64E A9@E@D 2?5 52E2 2D 6G:56?46 @7 H96E96C E96 4@>>F?:E:6D =:DE65 DE:== 6I:DE] w6 9@A6D E@ FD6 E9@D6 7:?5:?8D E@ 92G6 E96 &]$] v6@=@8:42= $FCG6J 4@CC64E E96 v6@8C2A9:4 }2>6D x?7@C>2E:@? $JDE6>[ 2?5 E9FD 7:I E96 >2?J (:D4@?D:? >2AD E92E 2C6 :?7@C>65 3J :E] %96 AC@3=6> :D[ E96 $E2E6 r2CE@8C2A96C’D ~77:46 <66AD 7:?5:?8 >@C6 2?5 >@C6 A92?E@>D]k^Am

People are also reading…

Understanding mineral tags can help cattle producers better understand what to provide
Missouri cowgirl bakes to fund her trick-riding ambitions
Finding her niche on family farm: Newman Grove farm wife builds pork business
Trend of growing production expenses troubling for agriculture
Bull breeding soundness exams should not be overlooked
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Variety of fencing meets needs on the farm
Heart River Ranch Annual Production Sale
MacDonald Ranches Performance Power 2026 Sale
Berwald Red Angus 4th Annual Bull & Female Sale
Working cattle, then hitting the books
Short corn offers risk, timing alternative
Eichacker Simmentals & JK Angus
Thorstenson's Lazy TV Ranch 45th Annual Bull Sale
Gustin's Diamond Gelbvieh Annual Production Sale

kAm“(96? x DE2CE65 @FE 2== E9@D6 J62CD 28@[ :E D66>65 =:<6 2? :>A@DD:3=6 :562 E92E x H@F=5 6G6C 86E E@ E96 6?5 @7 G:D:E:?8 A=246D 2?5 E2<:?8 A:4EFC6D[” '6C68:? D2:5] “qFE D@>69@H @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 E:>6 E92E 92AA6?65[ 2?5 :E H2D 2 >@>6?E@FD 6G6?E] qFE :E H2D :>>65:2E6=J <:4<65 E@ E96 8C@F?5 3J E96 724E E92E H6 C62=:K65 E96C6 2C6 2 =@E >@C6 A92?E@>D] $@ ?@H H6 92G6 2 H9@=6 =@E >@C6 H@C< E@ 5@]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mu:?5 A92?E@>D 72DE6Ck^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmt?E6C |:<6 w2D:?@77] w6’D 2 vx$ C6D62C49 2?2=JDE 7@C E96 $E2E6 r2CE@8C2A96C’D ~77:46[ 2?5 E96 A92?E@>D AC@;64E 92D 364@>6 @?6 @7 9:D >2:? 2DD:8?>6?ED] w6’D =@@<:?8 E@ 7:?5 H2JD E@ DEC62>=:?6 E96 AC@46DD 2?5 7:?5 A92?E@>D H:E9@FE D6?5:?8 '6C68:? E@ 6G6CJ F?:?4@CA@C2E65 4@>>F?:EJ :? E96 DE2E6] %92E’D 2? 6DA64:2==J 3:8 E:>6D2G6C[ 3642FD6 E96C6 2C6 >@C6 E92? `[___ F?:?4@CA@C2E65 4@>>F?:E:6D :? (:D4@?D:?[ 2?5 ?@E 2== @7 E96> 2C6 A92?E@>D] |:?@4BF2 – 2 A@AF=2C G242E:@? E@H? :? ?@CE96C? (:D4@?D:? – :D ;FDE @?6 6I2>A=6 @7 2? F?:?4@CA@C2E65 4@>>F?:EJ E92E 92D 2 G:3C2?E 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am

kAm$@ w2D:?@77 4C62E65 2 D@7EH2C6 AC@8C2> E92E 96 42==D E96 u2DE !92?E@> u:?56C] xE =@@<D 2E A=246D E92E 2C6 DFDA64E65 A92?E@>D 2?5 4C62E6D 2 BF2CE6C\>:=6 3F776C 2C@F?5 E96 =@42E:@?] xE E96? 4C@DD\C676C6?46D E92E 2C62 H:E9 E96 (:D4@?D:? $E2E6H:56 !2C46= |2A E@ D66 :7 E96C6 2C6 2?J D:8?:7:42?E C6D:56?E:2=[ 4@>>6C4:2= @C 28C:4F=EFC2= AC@A6CE:6D ?62C3J] x7 E96C6 2C6 K6C@[ E96? :E’D 2 DEC@?8 A92?E@> 4@?E6?56C]k^Am

kAm“%96 >6E9@5D 2C6 862C65 E@H2C5 7:?5:?8 ?@E9:?8[” 96 D2:5] “%92E’D H92E 96=AD FD ?2CC@H E9:?8D 5@H?]”k^Am

kAmqFE :56?E:7J:?8 E96 A92?E@>D :D?’E 6?@F89] w6 DE:== ?665D 6G:56?46 E@ AC@G6 E92E E9@D6 4@>>F?:E:6D 2C6 8@?6 – 6G:56?46 =:<6 E96 A9@E@D '6C68:?’D 366? 4@==64E:?8 7@C J62CD]k^Am

kAm“x? @C56C E@ 86E &$v$ E@ 492?86 E9@D6 >2AD[ E96J ?665 FD E@ 36 hh]hh A6C46?E DFC6[” w2D:?@77 D2:5]k^Am

kAm'6C68:? DE:== 9:ED E96 C@25 C68F=2C=J E@ D4@A6 @FE E9@D6 =@42E:@?D] qFE w2D:?@77 :D 2=D@ =@@<:?8 7@C H2JD E@ 4C@H5D@FC46 D@>6 @7 E96 C6D62C49] (96? 96 8:G6D E2=<D 23@FE E96 AC@;64E[ A6@A=6 H:== =@@< 2E E96 >2A 2?5 D66 A@DD:3=6 A92?E@>D :? E96:C ?64<D @7 E96 H@@5D] w6 2D<D E96> E@ 4964< @FE E96 2C62 2?5 D?2A A:4EFC6D] w6UCDBF@jD 2=D@ =@@<:?8 2E 86@E28D @? A9@E@D E92E 2C6 AF3=:4=J 2G2:=23=6 2?5 6G6? 4@?D:56C:?8 D6EE:?8 D@>6 @7 E96 A92?E@>D 2D 86@4249:?8 56DE:?2E:@?D 2D 2 H2J E@ 7:?5 @FE H92EUCDBF@jD @FE E96C6] ':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^8@]H:D4]65F^F8`bKfQm8@]H:D4]65F^F8`bKfk^2m E@ D66 2 >2A @7 A@E6?E:2= 42CE@8C2A9:4 A92?E@>D]k^Am

kAm“(96? x AC6D6?E[ A6@A=6 H:== D2J ‘E92E’D ?62C H96C6 x =:G6[’” w2D:?@77 D2:5] “%9:D AC@;64E :D D@>6E9:?8 A6@A=6 42? D66 E96>D6=G6D 2D A2CE @7 2?5 :56?E:7J H:E9 :E]”k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mxE’D ?@E ;FDE (:D4@?D:?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmr2CE@8C2A9:4 A92?E@>D 2C6?’E F?:BF6 E@ (:D4@?D:?j E96J’C6 2== @G6C E96 4@F?ECJ] qFE E9:D 8C@F?53C62<:?8 C6D62C49 23@FE E96> :D @?=J 92AA6?:?8 96C6 :? E96 (:D4@?D:? $E2E6 r2CE@8C2A96C’D ~77:46] p?5 E96 H@C< :D DE2CE:?8 E@ 86E 2EE6?E:@?] '6C68:? C646?E=J 962C5 7C@> 2 >2A AC@G:56C H9@’D :?E6C6DE65 :? :>A=6>6?E:?8 E96:C C6D62C49 E@ 4@CC64E E96:C >2AD]k^Am

kAm“%96J H2?E E96:C >2A E@ 36 36EE6C E92? v@@8=6’D[” '6C68:? D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 4C62E:@? @7 E96 u2DE !92?E@> u:?56C 4@F=5 96=A >2<6 E9:D H@C< >@C6 H:56DAC625[ E9@F89 ?@E 6G6CJ DE2E6 92D 2D 8@@5 @7 2 A2C46= >2A 2D (:D4@?D:?’D] p?5 >@DE DE2E6D 5@?’E 6G6? 92G6 2 42CE@8C2A96C’D @77:46]k^Am

kAm“(:D4@?D:? 92D @?6 @7 E96 36DE A2C46= >2AD :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[” w2D:?@77 D2:5]k^Am

kAm'6C68:? D2:5[ “p?5 (:D4@?D:? 92D E96 @?=J DE2E6 42CE@8C2A96C’D @77:46 E92E :D 2EE24965 E@ 2? 24256>:4 56A2CE>6?E[ 2==@H:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C 4C@DD\A@==:?2E:@? H:E9 C6D62C49 DE277[ 724F=EJ 2?5 DEF56?ED]”k^Am

kAm'6C68:? 2?5 w2D:?@77 2C6 2:>:?8 E@ 3F:=5 2 36EE6C >2A 7@C (:D4@?D:?:E6D E@ FD6 :? E96 7FEFC6[ 3FE E96J’C6 2=D@ 3F:=5:?8 2 C64@C5 @7 E96 DE2E6’D A2DE] |2?J @7 E96 DE@C:6D E96J’G6 F?4@G6C65 5FC:?8 E96 A92?E@>D AC@;64E 92G6 :?7@C>65 2?@E96C 677@CE 3J E96 $E2E6 r2CE@8C2A96C’D ~77:46 – '2?:D9:?8 (:D4@?D:?] %96 8@2= @7 E96 ?6H AC@;64E :D E@ 4C62E6 2 9:DE@C:42= 5:8:E2= 2E=2D 7@C E96 DE2E6] xE’D DE:== :? 2? 62C=J A92D6[ 3FE E96 4@==64E:@? @7 7@C8@EE6? 4@>>F?:E:6D 4@F=5 6G6?EF2==J 364@>6 2 5:8:E2= 5@4F>6?E2E:@? @7 (:D4@?D:?’D A2DE]k^Am

kAm“(6 DEC:G6 E@ 36 E96 (:D4@?D:? x562 :? 24E:@?[” w2D:?@77 D2:5]k^Am

kAm':D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^8@]H:D4]65F^F8`bKfQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm8@]H:D4]65F^F8`bKfk^2m 2?5 6>2:= k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i96=AoD4@]H:D4]65FQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm96=AoD4@]H:D4]65Fk^2m 7@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?]k^Am