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From: "The Bethke's" <>
Subject: [WIRICHLA] Cheyenne Valley - a unique heritage
Date: Sun, 13 May 2001 23:23:38 -0700


from the Wisconsin State Journal, Sunday, May 13, 2001, C1
A Unique Heritage
by Susan Lampert Smith

The Cheyenne Valley's Reunion will be rich in history and will
show the area's rare blend of black and white.

(also photo of 1910 baseball team and round barn under construction)
(following are a few paragraphs from the article)

Beginning in the 1850s when Micajah Revels, a free man of color, settled
here, about 150 African-American settlers came in the years before and
after the Civil War. Ever since, the valley has been a mix of black and
white, unusual to the rest of us, but totally normal in this deep,
isolated valley west of Hillsboro (Vernon County).

"Historians are coming from all over the country," Emerson said.
"They're all excited that it will help them with their own research" on
African-American migration and settlements. Ed Emerson, Hillsboro city
administrator, expects a big crowd and says the city is setting up a
trailer where historians and folklorists will conduct interviews.

Another organizer, Gen Reko, was a child in the 1930s and 1940s, which
means she was old enough to know Effie Revels, the youngest daughter of
original settler Micajah Revels. (Gen Reko's grandfather Algie
Shivers)... he was the architect and builder of at least 15 round barns
in Vernon and Monroe counties, giving the area the distinction of having
the highest concentration of these barns anywhere.

Earlier this month, the State Historical Society of Wisconsin named the
Shivers round barns to its annual list of Wisconsin's 10 most-endangered
historical sites because many of the barns need extensive work to
survive another century.

Saturday's events will include tours of the barns, as well as a pig
roast and potluck lunch, and talks by descendants and historians.

What: Cheyenne Valley Heritage Reunion
When: 10am to 3:30pm Saturday
Where: Cheyenne Settlers Park on Elm Avenue in Hillsboro. The
rain location is Hillsboro High School.
For more information call Hillsboro City Hall 608-489-2350

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