A Forgotten Town in Northeastern Wisconsin

A Forgotten Town in Northeastern Wisconsin - Driving the backroads of Northeastern Wisconsin, I discover a forgotten town. This town, unlike a lot of small towns in Wisconsin, still holds many reminders of the Polish immigrants who made the town what it once was.

About me: I grew up in a small town the Midwest. Now I drive America's backroads exploring small towns, forgotten places, local history and more!

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[brendaalicea]

I was raised in Krakow (pronounced Kra - koe "not cow"). My great uncles were the 4 Brzezinski brothers that started the businesses. This sure was a bustling community in the 1960s and 70s when I grew up here. People and cars all over the place. I enjoyed the video. Sally happened to get on film my mother's gravestone (yes, a "ski"), my cousin's house and sidewalk, the family's old grocery store and feed mill. Nicely done.

[kyleholewinski]

Hi Sally! I was born and raised in Krakow. Your video showed the home my parents used to own and where I grew up, and their headstone in the cemetery. When I was young, there were a lot of kids my age, enough that we could form two football teams plus more; we would play on the big grass field behind the Church. My friends and I would go to the gas station that was shown at the bottom of the Krakow hill, just across the street on Highway 32, get semi trailer innertubes, for free, and played in the Pensaukee River until the streetlights came on, which meant is was time to go home. There was a playground behind the old brick building with the statue of Joseph and Jesus. I believe at one time the Catholic nuns lived there and it was also where my mom went to school. The playground had the iconic hot, 80 degree metal slide and swings and teeter totter made out of wood. :) The building you described having a European design was once a cheese factory. There are several apartment complexes now, one was the bowling alley and one was a hardware store. Just down the road from the Church is a large green, well kept patch of land, there used to be a dance hall there. There were dances, weddings, and parties there almost every weekend, man we had a blast there! The K-8 kids went to Fairview Elementary, which is just North of Highway 32 down the road a bit on the right hand side, and is still open today, I believe it is K-5 now. In 1981 Sunnyside Elementary school was built. I went to Sunnyside, but I think it is kids from the Chase and Little Suamico area now. The kids then end up at Pulaski High School, home of the Red Raiders. I had so much fun as a kid in Krakow, even though it is not what it used to be, I still enjoy visiting. I live about an hour and a half away now, but still end up there once in awhile.
If you get a chance, go on YouTube and look up "Old Time Krakow Wisconsin, " you will see the hustle and bustle of what the town looked like when my parents were kids. There are even some photos of my Aunt's and my mom as a little girl, along with several of the people I knew growing up. Thank you so much for the trip down memory lane, great work!!

[donnavaughn]

Thanks you my dear sweet friend Sally see you soon

[jeffreysahaida]

Wisconsin is filled with small towns that kept their heritage alive and celebrate it. It's possible to Start in Milwaukee and drive north through. Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Holland and Luxemburg in about 2 hours.

[neildewitt]

Sally, you do great work. I grew up in WISCONSIN in a small town. I knew everyone because I was the paper boy. It's hard to go home and drive the streets. I see and remember so much. This little town looks like mine. A few good people still but tge heart is dieing. Most of tge business's are closed and the old people are dieing. The young move to tge cities. It's so sad. I'm so happy I grew up in a small town. It teaches you so much.

[dvidgonzales]

I could not ever imagine you wanting to go to confession or needing to you come from the most wonderful culture

[ricsek]

Thanks for the video I grew up in three lakes, now in San Diego your vid really brought me back

[jeffreysahaida]

A very interesting fact about Krakow is they filmed a long forgotten Hollywood movie there and nearby Green Valley. Actor Lon Chaney starred in it . It was a silent movie " Thunder". What was really interesting was. Lon Chaney got sick because it was filmed in winter and Wis. winters are awful. He died of pneumonia only a few months after the film was released.. Also about the Polish in the area, Nearby Pulaski has the annual Polka fest and they have a bakery that specializes in Polish baked goods including Paczkis on Fat Tuesday ( but they make them year round...

[bkcamaro]

It's cool to see my town from on another channel. I live in the gray building on the corner of main and park

[michaelotto]

Only in Wisconsin... 5:58 That bent, serrated piece of metal with the two screws at the top of it that somehow serves as part of a clamp to hold the newspaper box to the post is an old ice auger blade. Good stuff Sally! Highway 32 is full of surprises!

[onrycodger]

I'm so glad you stayed with creating new videos. I just viewed your latest one a short while ago. Best of luck 👍

[donquihote]

Enjoyed your vid. My heart aches for these once vibrant towns.

[paulerickson]

What a beautiful serene little town. Nicely kept up too!

[petervanwazer]

Hi Sally you are getting better ! Visit Choice MN some time. 25 miles west of LaCrosse WI in MN.

[et]

Look's like a great little town to get away from the dinn of the noise of the big city's.Grat job on the video's keep up the good work!!!!

[howitzer]

Thanks for taking us along on this side trip. You did good. I love the history you provide with the vids. Two thumbs up!

[bimini]

I love northern wisconsin history. I traveled it in my youth. It was a wonderland as i was from a very plastic suburban milwaukee milwaukee suburb called mequon. Each summer as a teen we would explore these towns. Love it. Keep the documentary going.

[GoatchainOfficial]

Not sure how i stumbled upon this video. Nice job.

[lynann]

Sitting here in fort Wayne Indiana. And someone came in and said the towns name. I turned the video twords the person. Says that's it . Wow how amazing is that ... So glad you did the town ☺️

[paullasmith]

Definitely the little 'nook' at the peak is St Joseph holding the Child Jesus. St Joseph IS the foster father of Jesus and the patron saint of workers...and more, but that's what the statue is.