Caryville, Wis.
A quaint village surrounded by the south shore of the Chippewa River and myths of the paranormal is nestled in the rolling hills of Western Wisconsin. Welcome to Caryville, the little town that once held the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad years before it became recognized as a settlement. In 1855, white settlers moved into what is now known as Meridean, Fall City, Rock Falls and Caryville. As the river bottoms filled with new people the natives that first inhabited the land would eventually move west. The village was originally called Pierce, after George Schuyler Pierce, before being named after John W. Cary who brought the railroad to town in 1882. In 1892 plat books were changed to recognize the community of what is now known as Caryville. Established in the mid-19th century, by 1895, Caryville had a post office, pony express and train station. The railroad was a welcome sign of transportation as it eased passages between Caryville and Meridean.
In 1883 business was prosperous in Pierce and new buildings were being founded. At this time in history, Pierce was a vital shipping destination on the railroad because of the freight it unloaded for Mondovi, Gilmanton, and Rock Falls. In its early history, Caryville boasted a grist mill, Spring Brook School, Bumps general store that held the post office, warehouse, and in 1888 a hotel and blacksmith shop antiquated themselves in town just three years before the stockyard was built. In 1914 a creamery was built, followed by cucumber salting station.
Highway 85 through Caryville, Wisconsin
There was a river ferry in Caryville as early as 1909 that offered twenty-four hour river crossing service for decades. The County Road H bridge was built in 1964 which signified the end of the ferry operation. Ferries were often down due to flooding and closed through the winter months leaving some to risk crossing the partially frozen river’s unpredictable ice. Caryville was not ever able to attract the amount of business and townspeople it needed to become the Metropolis it had hoped to become. Hills and the river cut off necessary access to the hustle and bustle that would allow it to thrive in an ever-changing society.
Luer’s Grocery once also home to the Caryville Post Office
Driving through this tranquil community it is hard to believe that myths and legends of ghosts at night is what attract outsiders to this intimate township. Documented reports of supernatural disturbances here go back several centuries and the paranormal remains on people’s minds as the spirits of the departed live on. Caryville has been painted as a haunted village with its eerie red barns that stand among low hanging trees, their walls choked by weeds and grass as cobwebs thread the stale air. The swamp bottoms of the boat landing clutch secrets of a storied past of rumored deaths and a woman named Mary Dean who haunts the boat landing with her spirit. After dark, if you listen closely, you may hear the howling of the hellhounds or even see the glowing red eyes of the beasts in the woods surrounding the boat landing. The boy whose spirit lives on at the school keeps us intrigued as if you can hear him playing the piano, the priest whose body hung in the window of the belfry, and the children playing in the cornfield of the Sand Hill Cemetery. The more sordid a locales story, such as Caryville, the more supernatural myths and activity we hear about through tales beyond the crypt as the village is haunted by spirit form. – text by Erika Johnson
Rock Creek Cottage’s building appears to have once been a trackside railroad structure.
Where the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad once ran.
Fryszki’s Country Garden
Dead End Bruce Road
Chippewa River Bridge where the ferry once crossed.
Overlooking the Chippewa Bottoms
Spring Brook Church and Schoolhouse
Dirt road up Sand Hill.
Sand Hill Cemetery
WISCONSIN: Historic City Series
Travis Dewitz is a remarkable photographer in the Chippewa Valley. He is well known for photographing local sceneries, landmarks, venues, buildings and people in various and ingenious ways. Though you may not know him personally, his work provides a unique foundation of our local community and his photographs are unmistakable. Dewitz’s pictures are an impressive feat and preserve a moment; long after our travels are over, and our memories faded, photos are what remind us of the adventures we had and the connections to the people we met. Learn More About Him Here | Buy His Book Here
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Cris Murphy
The Careyville map is a copyright.
Can I put it on a sweatshirt as a Christmas gift for an 80 year old gentleman who was born there. The family had the Rooney dairy and we would like to print this as a Christmas gift. We are simply creating a sweatshirt
May we have your permission
Please let me know as soon as you can
Thank you for your consideration and Merry Christmas
Darlene Talford Cliff
Chris, I just happened to come across this site and noticed your comment about your family member who was born in Caryville. I also had relatives that were born and raised there, going back to the first settlers. If you care to share the name of your family member, I can tell you more if you wish.
Chris Stephan
Caryville is a wonderful little town. I attended many services at the church and because of all the haunted press they had to install security cameras. The church and school house have all been vandalized numerous times. They have been so bad that now on Holloween they open up the church and school house to people and serve chili. 1 no pastor ever hung himself in the bellfry. 2 a boy did die that attended the school but he died at the hospital from tuberculosis. Many paranormal investigators have been there and found absolutely zero.
William Andrews
Many thanks for posting this story and writing the accompanying book, Travis! My Andrews ancestors owned one
of the houses in Caryville. I’m trying to find out from my father if you captured it in one of your photographs.
–Wm. J. Andrews
Kate
My family lived above Caryville until I was 5. I remember riding bikes down the huge hill to the grocery store it get a treat. So beautiful down there.
Kate
I forgot to mention our neighbors were the Andrews
Michael Butt
I would like to interview you and anyone else who knows about the hauntings of caryville
judith buchanan
Your imagery is crisp, not haunting, but thought provoking! Thank you for sharing it. One day I happened to be home from the classroom and watched an episode of Caryville, most haunted city in Wisconson. It was entertaining, but hardly credible. While viewing the program, the name of Caryville rung a bell and I leafed through a group of pictures in maternal grandmother’s collection. Among them, I found her image in front of the Caryville School, with a slew of students. Her maiden name was Moore. Born Hattie Mary Moore, it was said her dad was a judge. Again, I have no idea as to what level of government his judgeship covered. After she married, grandmother became Hattie Mary Hall. I have no idea when the picture was taken, but I’m sure she wasn’t married then (or so I believe.) My mother, Mary Ellen Hall, was born in Kirkham Valley, Wisconsin, and lived in Augusta, where she graduated high school along with her 9 sisters and 4 brothers. Does anyone know of a school marm by the name of Miss Hattie Moore?
I would attach the image to this email, but we experienced a total fire in 2018 and I’ve lost all paperwork and pictures.
Thank you for allowing me this lengthy comment.