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Madison, Dane County and surrounding towns ; being a history and guide to places of scenic beauty and historical note ... early intercourse of the settlers with the indians ... with a complete list of county supervisors and officers, and legislative members
(1877)

Tollefson, G.
Primose,   pp. 526-531 PDF (1.3 MB)


Page 526


DANE COUNTY TOWNS - PRIMROSE.
                  PRIMIROSE.
               BY HON. G. TOLLEFSON.
  Tnis township lies in the southwestern part of the
county, on its south boundary line, which separates
it from the town of New Glarus, Green county, about
eighteen miles southwest of Madison, and known as
township 5 north, of range 8 east. The town is well
watered in the northern part, by the west branch of
the Sugar river, and also by two tributaries of the
same, furnishing the town with an abundance of
water and good marsh land. The face of the country
is undulating, agreeably diversified with oak open-
ings and prairie. There is considerable highland or
small ridges, in which there is excellent stone for
building purposes.
  On section eleven there is a large rock that stands
out in strong contrast with its surroundings, and is
composed of several blocks of stone, raised one above
the other to the height of about fifty feet, the lower
one of which measures nearly twenty-five feet in di-
ameter, while the top block is about fifty feet, It is
familiarly called the "1 Devil's Chimney," because of
its supposed resemblance to the form of a chimney. In
1850 a man named Joel Blitz, said to be an old sailor,
climbed to the top by means of ropes which were
thrown over it and fastened on the ground on the
opposite side. He planted a flag on the top, the staff
of which is still remaining. The feat was never
known to have been done before or since. The base
526


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