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new prospect -
175 years on the milwaukee river
the FIRST SETTLERS
Long before Riverside Oasis became a gathering place, this little corner of New Prospect was known as “Jersey.”
In 1850, Mexican War veteran Benjamin D. Romaine, his wife Charity, and their eight children settled along the East Branch of the Milwaukee River. Benjamin, a carpenter and millwright, saw the potential in the rushing river and soon built a sawmill with his sons, Gerret and Ralph.
As more families arrived -- many from the Romaines’ home state of New Jersey --the settlement grew. Benjamin and Charity became known for opening their home to new neighbors while they built cabins of their own. Benjamin soon earned the affectionate nickname “Uncle Ben,” and the community became known as the Jersey Flats, with the nearby hamlet simply called Jersey.
ECONOMY OF THE MILWAUKEE RIVER
The river became the heart of the community. In addition to the sawmill, the Romaines eventually built a flour mill, giving local farmers a place to bring their wheat without traveling miles over rough trails. For generations, the mills, farms, blacksmith shops, a schoolhouse, a cheese factory and a general store helped make Jersey a thriving rural community.
Life here was never without its challenges. The mills depended on the river's water, making summer droughts particularly difficult. The miller might spend days waiting for the mill pond to fill, while spring brought an entirely different problem -- local fishermen sometimes tried to drain the mill race at night in pursuit of spawning pike!
Through the years, the community changed, but its spirit remained. The mills eventually disappeared, yet the stories, buildings and landscape left behind continue to connect New Prospect to the families who settled here more than 175 years ago.
Historic 1960's photo of former Everglades Supper Club in New Prospect, Wisconsin. Today, this building near Riverside Oasis was turned into a residence.
A supper club culture, continued
Over the years, this property was home to several local restaurants, including Fin and Feather, Woodland Creek and Beaver's Tail Food & Spirits. Today, a local family is bringing new life to the space, now known as Riverside Oasis.
We’re proud to share a few of our traditions with this community, and we're honored to be a part of this town's rich history.
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