Historical – Page 2 – Historic Point Basse

Saturday, February 15th, 2025 |

Robert and Mary Wakely, early central Wisconsin pioneers, were noted for their mid-winter parties held at their hotel located along the Wisconsin River just south of present-day Nekoosa.
Time: 4-8pm
Where: Nekoosa Area Senior Community Center | 416 Crestview Lane | Nekoosa WI 5445

One of the many events held at Historic Point Basse is the highly anticipated Wakely’s Winter Feast. This fun-filled dinner and dance is a nod to the Wakely’s legendary parties, featuring delicious food, lively music, and plenty of laughter and merriment. It’s a time for people to come together, celebrate the past, and create new memories that will last a lifetime.

Saturday, January 25th, 2025 |

If you’re interested in experiencing the process of harvesting ice, we invite you to come to the lake and watch. You can even participate and help cut the ice and remove it from the lake, if you’d like.
Time: 10am – 1pm at Nepco Lake: 11am-3pm at Site
Where: Historic Point Basse | 364 Wakely Road | Nekoosa WI 5445

During the late 1800s, the sale of ice was the third largest export in the United States, with cotton and grain occupying the top two spots. The ice harvested in Wisconsin was transported to various destinations, such as Milwaukee for brewing beer, Chicago to cool meat in slaughterhouses, and even as far as South and New Orleans to cool beverages during hot and humid summer days. The ice was kept in sawdust, which was abundant in Wisconsin, to preserve it, and high-quality ice could last well into the summer, and if enough was harvested, even until the next winter.

Category: Historical (Page 2 of 3)

Winter Feast

Wakely Ice Harvest