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Location of Mosinee, Wisconsin

Sign on Wisconsin Highway 153

Downtown Mosinee

Mosinee is a city in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,063 at the 2000 census. The 2006 population estimate is 4,186 according to the Wisconsin Department of Administration Demographic Services Center.^[1]

Geography

Mosinee is located at 44°47'30" North, 89°42'19" West (44.791709, -89.705301)^[2].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.6 square miles (22.2 km²), of which, 7.8 square miles (20.2 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it (9.11%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 4,063 people, 1,635 households, and 1,111 families residing in the city. The population density was 522.2 people per square mile (201.6/km²). There were 1,711 housing units at an average density of 219.9/sq mi (84.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.79% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 1,635 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together and 32.0% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,109, and the median income for a family was $51,776. Males had a median income of $34,494 versus $25 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,700. About 2.8% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

• Kevin Cywinski, NASCAR driver
• John Altenburgh, National Jazz/Blues Recording Artist

Joseph Dessert Branch Library

Joseph Dessert came from Canada to Little Bull Falls (Mosinee)in 1844. He decided that a library was needed and built and equipped a free library for the community.

Dedicated on February 11, 1899, the building was used as a library and at times also as a post office, village hall, school room, and was the scene of many events including dances and balls. The library was the only place in town with theater facilities, so amateur plays were presented here and school commencements were held in the Hall. The library existed as a city library until 1974 when it was recommended by the Library and municipal boards that the Joseph Dessert Branch Library join the Marathon County Public Library.

Celebrations have marked two significant anniversaries for the library, the first in 1949 at the 50th anniversary and the second in 1999 at the time of the 100th year. Renovations have been completed with the most recent occurring in 1995 as part of the county-wide building program for libraries. Today, the library maintains its status in the City of Mosinee as both an important community service and as a building significant to the history of the community. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mock Communist Invasion

On May 1, 1950, local residents acting as Communist invaders seized control of Mosinee.

The action was a part of an elaborate pageant organized by the Wisconsin Department of the American Legion. The "Communists" dragged Mayor Ralph E. Kronenwetter and Police Chief Carl Geweiss out of their beds. Mayor Kronenwetter surrendered at 10:15 AM in the town's new "Red Square" with a pistol to his back. The police chief was reported to have resisted and was "liquidated."

Road blocks were set up around Mosinee, the library was "purged," prices of goods were inflated for the duration of the coup, and local restaurants served Russian black bread and potato soup for lunch.^[4]

As he arrived at a rally to restore democracy to the community the night of May 1 Mayor Kronenwetter suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and never regained consciousness. He died five days later on May 6, 1950 at age 49. The mayor's doctor said the excitement and exertion probably contributed to his collapse.

Franklin Baker, commander of the local American Legion post, said, "It was a terrible coincidence."^[5]

Local minister Will La Brew Bennett, 72, who, during the Communist invasion, demonstrated to the media how he would hide his bible in the church organ if the Communists really invaded and was herded with other residents into a barbed-wire ringed "concentration camp" near "Red Square" was found dead in his bed hours after the mayor's death on May 7, 1950.^{[citation needed]}

Footage from the "invasion" was used in the movie "Atomic Cafe."