Driving north on Highway 12 out of downtown Tomah there is a vast, mostly empty field on the left side of the road. Today one can hardly imagine that this land was once home to the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad’s (“Milwaukee Road” for short) complex of railroad shops. For over a century, the Milwaukee Road operated a series of manufacturing and repair shops employing skilled machinists, blacksmiths, electricians, welders, and tinsmiths. Their job was to repair and fabricate the rails, switches, and crossing assemblies (known as “frogs”) used on railroads throughout the country. Though the work could be described as dirty, hot, noisy, and dangerous; working for the Tomah rail shops was considered a desirable job, often employing multiple generations of Tomah area men. This highly important operation, which at one time employed over 300 people, served as the backbone of the city’s industrial activity until it was phased out in the early 1990s. A 1930 article in the Tomah Journal boasts, “The Milwaukee Road shops are a great factor in the industrial life of this community, providing labor for hundreds of men…the removal of any part of this splendid industrial institution would be keenly felt and leave a vacancy of considerable magnitude.” The Milwaukee Road experienced financial difficulty throughout the 1970s and 1980s, resulting in furloughs at the shops and the eventual closing and demolition of much of the complex of buildings.
On Thursday, April 25th at 7pm the Monroe County Local History Room & Museum will present: “Shop Talk: History & Memories of the Milwaukee Road Shops in Tomah,” a public program to be held at the Sparta United Methodist Church. Join us for a discussion about the history and importance of the Milwaukee Road railroad shops in Tomah during their decades of operation. Hear stories from those who worked for the railroad in the Tomah “Frog Shops.” Please note that to provide more seating space, this program will not be held at the Local History Room but nearby at the Sparta United Methodist Church, 210 N. Court St. Parking available in Museum/Monroe County Parking Lot off Central Ave. Free admission but a $1 donation to offset programming costs is always appreciated. For more information visit http://www.facebook.com/mclhr or call 608-269-8680.
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