History of Racine, Wisconsin, USA

1854 - Racine
Racine, a city of Wisconsin, and capital of Racine county, is situated on the W. shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of Root river, 25 miles S. by E. from Milwaukee, and 70 miles N. from Chicago. It is the second city of the state in population and commerce, and has one of the best harbors on the lake, formed by the mouth of the river, which admits vessels drawing 12 feet of water. The city is built on a plain elevated about 40 feet above the surface of the lake. It is laid out in regular blocks, with wide streets, and contains a number of fine public buildings ; among which is the Racine college, founded by the Episcopal Church. Racine contains 12 Protestant, and 2 Catholic churches, a central high-school, and a bank in success full operation. Several newspapers are published here. The commercial advantages of this port have attracted considerable capital, and there are 10 warehouses and 126 mercantile houses in various branches of business. Over $60,000 have been expended by the... Read MORE...

1870 - At Racine, Wis, on the 4th, a boy rammed a gravel into a pistol, which, on firing, burst the barrel, the stone entering his thigh and severing the femoral artery, so that he soon bled to death.

St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
July 16, 1870

1871 - Dr. John Carhart, a Methodist minister and physician from Racine, designed and built the first steam-powered automobile. It had wagon wheels and a two-cylinder steam engine.

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1872 - Returned Interest
Seven years ago, a man living near Racine, Wis., lost a pocket-book, containing $70 in cash. The other day he received by mail the interest on the $70 for seven years, a piece of the pocket-book, and a promise that the principal should be returned so soon as the borrower could afford to do so.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
March 16, 1872

1886 - STORM AT RACINE. HAIL DOES CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE IN THE BELLE CITY
Racine, Wis., Sept. 23. - A heavy hail storm prevailed here yesterday afternoon. Little damage was done, as there was no wind at the time. Some of the hail stones measured an inch and a half in diameter. The glass in the skylight of MRS. HART'S store was badly broken. Sixteen lights of glass were broken out of GUENTHER'S factory on Sixth Street.
Racine, Wis., Sept. 23. - The storm yesterday afternoon was a very severe one. The streets were flooded and cellars inundated, and on Chatham Street, a revetment wall, owned by M. B. ERSKINS, was washed out, the damage amounting to $1,000. The clothing store os S. WOLFF, on the corner of Main and Fourth Streets, was flooded, caused by the water conductors on the roof of the building clogging. The clothing was soaked with water and $1,200 damages done. The hailstones averaged in size from a bullet to a small hen's egg and fell to the depth of half an inch. At least 5,000 panes of glass were broken in the city, greenhouses being the principal... Read MORE...

1887 - Racine food manufacturer William Horlick invented malted milk. The Horlick Malted Milk Company, started in 1875, was a pioneer in dried milk production.

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1895 - Racine
Racine, a city of Wisconsin, and county seat of Racine co., is situated on the W. shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of Root River, 25 miles S. by E. of Milwaukee, and 62 miles N. of Chicago. It is the second city of the state in population and commerce, and has one of the best harbors on the lake. The city is handsomely laid out, with wide streets crossing at right angles, and contains the court house, St. Luke's Hospital, the Taylor Orphan Asylum, new city hall, the new post-office, and the massive buildings of the "University of the West and Northwest" (Protestant Episcopal), formerly known as Racine College. Racine has 37 churches, large threshing-machine-works and woollen mills, 3 extensive wagon-factories, a steel-plough-factory, 11 fanning-mill-factories, 9 tanneries, linseed-oil-works, foundries, machine-shops, wire-works, 3 pump-factories, 5 glove- and mitten-factories, and manufactories of pianos, cotton batting, and flax. Three national banks and 1 private bank have a... Read MORE...

February 20, 1898 - Eastern Wisconsin experienced their biggest snowstorm of record. Racine received thirty inches.

WeatherForYou.com

1904 - FIRE IMPERILS INSANE. ASYLUM AT RACINE DESTROYED, AND INMATES DRIVEN OUT IN ZERO WEATHER.
Special to The New York Times.
Racine, Wis., Feb. 19. - One hundred and twenty insane men and women from the county hospital are being brought into the city from the hospital tonight on a special train as a result of a fire tonight which destroyed the structure valued at $100,000, and drove the inmates into the open air with the temperature below zero.

The attendants, as soon as the fire started, hastened to release the patients from their cells, and, though several escaped, all were secured and no lives were lost.

There were exciting times as the mad patients raved at sight of the flames, and it is feared that two women will die of exposure. The patients will be quartered at the Court House and City Hall until new quarters are secured.
The New York Times
New York, New York
February 20, 1904

1906
Racine, a city and the county scat of Racine co., Wis., is situated on the W. shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Root River, 23 miles S. by E. of Milwaukee, on the Chicago and Northwestern and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Rs. It is the third city of the state in population and has one of the best harbors on the lake. The city is handsomely laid out and contains a number of stately public buildings. It has important manufacturing industries which are represented by large threshing- machine works, woollen-mills, wagon-, steel-plough, and fanning-mill factories, tanneries, breweries, linseed-oil and chemical-works, foundries, machine-shops, boiler- and wire- works, glove-, mitten- and shoe-factories, and manufactories of general hardware, iron, brass, and copper. Among the city's institutions are Racine College, St. Catharine's Academy, and Taylor Orphan Asylum. Racine was first settled in 1835 and incorporated as a city in 1848. Pop. in 1890, 21,014; in 1900, 29,102.
Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

1916 - City of Racine
Racine, the seat of justice of Racine County and the second largest city in the State of Wisconsin, is located on the shore of Lake Michigan, in the Town of Mount Pleasant, and at the mouth of the Root River. Actual surveys show that the court house is situated in latitude 42' 43' 45" north and longitude 87' 47' 01" west. The name "Racine" is of French origin and was in all probability first applied to the locality by the Jesuit missionaries when they visited the locality in the Seventeenth Century. It means, as nearly as can be determined, "a river filled with tangled roots," and was given to the river that flows into Lake Michigan at that point, though the Indian name of the stream was "Chip-pe-cotton," which means "root." Philo White, writing on the subject of the name in 1845, says: "Racine, in French, means not only root as applied to trees, shrubs and plants, but also signifies the principal, the base, the source, the foundation; and hence a French writer says, Je crois qu'il... Read MORE...

1920 - ARTIST LOSES BRIDE IN STORM ON LAKE. Former Anna Mitchell, Painter, of this City, Washed from Motor Boat Off Racine.
CHAINED TO CENTREBOARD

Husband, Whose First Wife Way Elizabeth Flynn, Sought Thus to Save Her.

Special to the New York Times.

CHICAGO, Sept. 12. - A thrilling story of having clung to his overturned motor boat six miles out in Lake Michigan off Racine, Wis., for eighteen hours and seeing his bride of six weeks, whom he at chained to the centreboard, washed off by the waves after an eight-hour struggle, was told tonight by John A. Jones, a landscape artist, following his rescue. His bride was Anna Mitchell, a portrait painter of New York. No trace of her body has been found.

Mr. Jones was rescued by the fishing tug William, Jr., and is in a serious condition at a Racine hospital.

Mr. Jones and his bride were on their honeymoon. Jones obtained a divorce last July from his first wife, who was Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, the Socialist, and married Miss Mitchell at Crown Point, Aug. 13. Her family had objected to the match, and so the two eloped.

They had left Chicago on... Read MORE...

1936 - June 18 - 1st bicycle traffic court in America established, Racine, WI

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2023 - Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Racine:
Wind Point Lighthouse:

Explore the iconic lighthouse situated on the shores of Lake Michigan. It's not just a historic landmark; the views of the lake are breathtaking.

Racine Art Museum (RAM):

If you appreciate art, RAM is a must-visit. It features contemporary crafts and has a fantastic collection of ceramics, glass, and fiber art.

North Beach Park:

Relax on the sandy shores of North Beach Park. It's a beautiful place for a picnic, a game of beach volleyball, or just soaking up the sun.

Frank Lloyd Wright's SC Johnson Campus:

Architecture enthusiasts will love touring the SC Johnson campus. The unique designs by Frank Lloyd Wright make it a fascinating visit.

Racine Zoo:

Spend a day at the zoo with your family. The Racine Zoo is home to a variety of animals and offers educational programs for visitors of all ages.

Downtown Racine:

Take a stroll through downtown Racine. You'll find charming shops, local boutiques, and a variety of restaurants and... Read MORE...