Around the Corner with John McGivern

>> "AROUND THE CORNER" WITH JOHN MCGIVERN IS PRODUCED BY MILWAUKEE PUBLIC TELEVISION, A VIEWER SUPPORTED SERVICE OF MILWAUKEE AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE, MATC, TRANSFORMING LIVES, INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY. NOW YOU KNOW WHY WE'RE SUCH A GOOD FIT. >> THIS EPISODE OF "AROUND THE CORNER" WITH JOHN MCGIVERN IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH FUNDING PROVIDED IN PART BY THE GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION'S ERNEST C. AND FLORENCE M. SHOCKE FUND. THE GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION IS HONORED TO BE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR A SECOND CENTURY. >> THE W.E. ENERGIES FOUNDATION, PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST FOR ENERGY YOU CAN DEPEND ON. >> WHAT GOODWILL CAN DO WITH YOUR DONATIONS IS PRETTY AMAZING. >> MAKING SURE ELECTRICITY IS THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT. AMERICAN TRANSMISSION COMPANY, HELPING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, BUSINESSES RUNNING AND COMMUNITIES STRONG. >> IT IS A GORGEOUS DAY, WE ARE ON THE ROCK RIVER IN BEAUTIFUL FORT ATKINSON. ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT, GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM >> JOHN GURDA ASKED ME TO MEET HIM AT THE ROCK. IT FELT LIKE WE WERE IN PLYMOUTH AND NOT PLYMOUTH, WISCONSIN, WE'RE AT THE ROCK IN FORT ATKINSON. >> HEY JOHN. >> WE'RE AT THE PRODUCT. >> WE ARE. >> WHAT'S THE ROCK ALL ABOUT? >> THIS IS WHERE THE FORT USED TO BE JOHN. >> THERE WAS A FORT HERE. >> AN ACTUAL FORT. THERE'S A REPLICA ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN BUILT IN THE 1960'S. HERE'S WHERE THE ACTUAL FORT WAS AND DATES FROM THE BACK HAWK WAR OF 1832 WHEN GENERALRY HENRY ATKINSON WAS CHASING A BAND OF SALTSAUKS UP THE RIVER. HE HAD ZACHARY TAYLOR, JEFFERSON DAVIS AND LINCOLN, THEY WERE ALL HERE AT THIS FORT AND DURING A LULL IN THE ACTION THEY BUILT A FORT, AND CONTINUED THE PURSUIT, WHICH ENDED WITH THE MASSACRE OF BLACKHAWK'S BAND ON THE MISSISSIPPI IN AUGUST OF 1832, WOMEN AND CHILDREN INCLUDED. >> IS THAT RIGHT? >> SO IT WAS NOT THE PROUDEST MOMENT IN WISCONSIN'S HISTORY, BUT THE END OF THE WAR, REALLY OPENED THE THEORY OF THE SETTLEMENT, AND THE ATTRACTION HERE WAS THE BARK RIVER AND THE ROCK RIVER COMING TOGETHER, SO SETTLERS BEGIN TO ARRIVE HERE BACK IN 1836, AND THEY BUILD THEIR HOUSES IN THE SHADOW OF THE FORT, PROBABLY EVEN USED TIMBERS FROM THE FORT FOR THEIR CABINS, THIS IS NO LONGER USED, BUILT THE USUAL MILLS ALONG THE RIVERS AND THE RAILROAD CAME IN 1859 AND PRETTY SOON, FORT ATKINSON IS A COMMERCIAL CENTER FOR A GROWING FARM REGION. >> I LOVE THAT RIVERS AND RAILROAD IS ALWAYS REALLY IMPORTANT. >> IT SURE IS. >> WHAT WAS THE FARMING, WHAT KIND OF FARMING? >> LARGELY WHEAT BACK IN THOSE YEARS, WHICH IS HARD ON THE SOIL, BUT FORT ATKINSON WAS HOME OF A MAN WHO HELPED TO CHANGE ALL OF THAT. HIS NAME WAS WILLIAM DEMOCRATSTER HOARD AND HE WAS A PUBLISHER, A WISCONSIN GOVERNOR FOR ONE YEAR AND A TIRELESS EVANGELIST FOR THE DAIRY COWS AND HE URGED FARMERS TO MAKE THEM THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR BUSINESS AND HE PUBLISHED A MAGAZINE, CALLED HOARDS DAIRY MEN, WHICH FRED THE WORLD ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND WISCONSIN, AND THE HOARD P DID MORE THAN ANYONE TO HELP WISCONSIN BECOME WISCONSIN'S DAIRYLAND AND TO THIS DAY, HOARD'S DAIRYMEN IS PUBLISHED IN FORT ATKINSON AND FORT ATKINSON IS THE HOME OF THE NATIONAL DAIRY SHRINE AND NATIONAL DAIRY HALL OF NAME. AGRICULTURE IN GENERAL BUT MANUFACTURE HAS HAD A STRONG BASE HERE AS WELL. IN THE EARLY YEARS, IT WAS EVERYTHING FROM BUTTER CHURNS TO WOODEN CHEESE PACKAGES, TO FURNITURE, AND SAUSAGE MADE BY THE JONES FAMILY, SINCE WAY BACK IN 1889. JONES DAIRY FARM IS STILL DOING JUST FINE. BUT FORT ALSO MAKES EVERYTHING FROM ARTS AND CRAFTS SUPPLIES TO STORAGE SYSTEMS, TO FROZEN DINNER TO BEER CANS, AND IT'S ALSO ALWAYS BEEN DESTINATION FOR TOURISTS AS WELL. IN THE EARLY YEARS, THEY WOULD HAVE COME OUT, TAKE EXCURSION STEAMERS DOWN THE RIVER AND TODAY THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO COME TO THE FIRESIDE WITH A SHOW, OR FOLK MUSIC AT THE CAFE CARPE. >> WHAT'S THE POPULATION. >> A LITTLE OVER 12,000. HALF GERMAN, 9% LATINO AND THE BORDERS ARE ROUGHLY SIX SQUARE MILES, RATHER IRREGULAR SHAPED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROCK RIVER, GREAT BEAUTIFUL MAIN STREET, AND A LOT OF ROOM FOR INDUSTRY AS WELL. >> IT'S A GREAT LITTLE TOWN. >> SURE IS. >> AND RIGHT BRING THE ROCK. >> BY THE ROCK. >> WHICH USED TO BE A FORT. >> USED TO BE A FORT. >> HERE WE GO. THANKS, JOHN. SEE YOU NEXT TIME. >> LOOK AT THIS. I WOULD JUST HAVE THIS FULL AND SO ORGANIZED AND THEN TURN AROUND AND OH, YEAH, IT'S MY SHIRTS, PANTS, JUST IN CASE I NEED A LITTLE -- I ORGANIZATION. I LOVE TO KEEP EVERYTHING ORGANIZED AND HERE'S THE SOLUTION FOR ORGANIZATION. >> THAT'S WHAT WE DO. >> WE'RE A GLOBAL COMPANY, AND WE MANUFACTURE JUST A WHOLE ARRAY OF INNOVATIVE STORAGE SOLUTIONS, IN LIBRARIES, YOU SEE IT IN HEALTH CARE, YOU SEE IT IN PUBLIC SAFETY, LOCKERS. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH STORAGE, WE CAN SOLVE IT. IT. WE DON'T BUILD INVENTORY, WE BUILD ALL OUR PRODUCTS TO ORDER, WHICH REDUCES CLUTTER ON THE SHOP FLOOR. >> IS ALL OF THIS READY TO GO? >> YES, IT IS. READY TO BE PICKED UP BY TRUCK. >> IT'S TAKEN THERE AND ASSEMBLED FOR THEM. >> YES, WE'RE ONE OF THE TOP THREE EMPLOYERS IN FORT ATKINSON. >> THEY'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. >> WE'RE GLAD TO BE HERE. GREAT WORKFORCE, GREAT COMMUNITY, GREAT SCHOOLS. IT'S JUST WONDERFUL. THIS IS WHERE WE BRING CUSTOMERS, ALLOWS OUR CUSTOMERS TO TOUCH AND FEEL THE PRODUCT, GET AN IDEA OF HOW IT WORKS. >> AS WE TOOK A TOUR OF YOUR FACTORY, IT'S LIKE HOW IN THE END IS THIS GOING TO LOOK AND HERE IT IS. >> EXACTLY. IF YOU HAD AN AISLE IN BETWEEN EVERY ONE OF THESE, IT WOULD TAKE A SPACE DOUBLE THE SIZE. >> SO SMART. >> I JUST HAVE ONE OTHER QUESTION FOR YOU. WHERE DID YOU GET THE HAIRCUT, ELBARADEI? >>, LAOS -- HAIRCUT, MAN? >> LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THE SAME BARBER. >> THAT'S A GOOD HAIRCUT. >> >> WE HAVE DONE 55 COMMUNITIES AND THIS IS BY FAR THE BEST AND MOST SERIOUS WELCOME SIGN. LOOK AT THIS, FORT ATKINSON. LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS COMPANY. >> 1889 IS WHEN THE COMPANY STARTED, THE FAMILY WAS HERE LONGER THAN THAT. IT STARTED AT THE ORIGINAL FARMHOUSE AND IT WAS A DAIRY NATURAL AT ONE TIME AND THAT'S WHERE THEY STARTED PRODUCING PORK SAUSAGE IN THERE AND IT GREW FROM THERE. THEY STARTED DOING MAILINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND THAT'S WHERE THE BUSINESS GREW FROM TO WHAT IT IS TODAY. >> JEFF, THIS IS A RETAIL OPERATION. >> YES, THIS IS OUR RETAIL STORE AND THE EMPLOYEES CAN COME DOWN HERE AND SHOP, THEY GET AN EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT, BUT IT'S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, ANYBODY CAN COME. >> WHAT COMES OUT OF HERE. >> PORK SAUSAGE, HAM AND BACON, A LOT OF SLICED LUNCHEON MEATS, CANADIAN BACON IS A HUGE ITEM FOR US, WE'RE IN ALL THE COSTCO STORES. >> STUFF TO SNACK ON IN THE WAY HOME. >> WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN THE CATEGORY OF LIVER SAUSAGE, IT'S MORE OLDER PEOPLE EATING IT. SO WE'RE NUMBER ONE IN ARIZONA AND FLORIDA. THAT'S WHERE EVERYBODY RETIRES. >> BIG SALES THERE. >> BIG SALES. >> AND THEN WE DO SOME EXPORTING OF PRODUCTS. >> MOBILE OUTREACH. >> AND THAT GREEN PLAYED, IT'S LIKE OH, I KNOW THAT PLACE. >> YOU SEE THE NAME, THEY'RE EXPECTED IN QUALITY AND THAT'S WHAT IT REPRESENTS. >> NASCO, THE NAME, WHERE DID IT COME FROM? >> THE COMPANY STARTED AS THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE SUPPLY COMPANY AND THE ACRONYM CAME IN AS NASCO. ROOTS ARE IN AGRICULTURE, IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN, ALWAYS WILL BE, IT EXPANDED INTO OTHER CATALOGS THAT SERVICE OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM. >> WHAT DO YOU PROVIDE? >> EVERYTHING IN THE CLASSROOM, EXCEPT FOR FURNITURE AND TEXTBOOKS. >> THIS PARTICULAR LEG IS TO PRACTICE SUTURING, AS WELL AS A SERIES OF PRODUCT LINES THAT ARE USED FOR TRAINING HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. THEY WILL ACTUALLY DRILL IN TO THE SHIN BONE HERE, NOBODY WANTS TO BE THE FIRST PATIENT THAT YOU DO THAT WITH. >> RIGHT. RIGHT. IT WILL TELL ME IF I'M DOING IT RIGHT. >> THERE YOU GO. >> YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE THING ABOUT OUR COMPANY, IS WHETHER WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEALTH CARE, OR K-12 EDUCATION OR AGRICULTURE, EVERYTHING WE DO, WE ARE MAKING A BETTER WORLD FOR OUR PEOPLE AROUND US. WE HAVE BETTER HEALTH CARE, PEOPLE TRAINED, OUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING BETTER FROM TEACHERS WHO ARE BETTER PREPARED, OUR AGRICULTURAL CUSTOMERS ARE EQUIPPED WITH PRODUCT TO CARE FOR THEIR LIVESTOCK. >> WHAT'S THE CRAFT STORE? >> THE CRAFT STORE SAN OUTLET STORE FOR OUR CATALOGS. WE HAVE TWO LOCATIONS, THE FARM STORE AND THE CRAFT STORE. YOU CAN WALK INTO THE STORE AND PURCHASE ANYTHING THAT'S IN ANY OF THE CATALOGS THAT WE DISTRIBUTE AND SELL. >> AND THE PUBLIC CAN DO THIS. >> THE PUBLIC CAN DO THIS. >> IT IS A FRIENDLY TOWN. I MEAN, HOW MANY PLACES ACTUALLY HAVE A SIGN THAT SAYS, WELCOME TO OUR STORE? IT'S THE BELLS. -- IT'S THE BEST. >> INTERESTING PLACE. >> VERY INTERESTING, YES. INDEED. >> ALL WOODEN CANOES. >> ALL WOODEN CANOES, KAYAKS AND ROLLING BOATS. >> WHY WOULD SOMEBODY WANT A WOODEN BOAT AS COMPARED TO FIBERGLASS. >> THEY'RE STURDY. THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, BUT ALSO LIGHTWEIGHT. >> LIGHTWEIGHT. >> AND ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, PRETTY EASY TO MAINTAIN. >> WHAT'S THIS? >> THESE ARE THE FORMS FOR HOW A BOAT STARTS. BOAT BUILDING AS I TELL PEOPLE, ISN'T PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT, IT'S JUST DIFFERENT. >> THESE GUYS COME INTO BUILD THEIR OWN WOODEN CANOES IN YOUR SPACE. >> WITH OUR HELP. WE'RE BASICALLY TEACHING THEM HOW TO DO IT. >> HOW MANY PIECES OF WOOD DO YOU HAVE? THESE ARE ALL INDIVIDUAL? >> THIS MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT 40 STRIPS A SIDE. WE HAVE PEOPLE COME IN HERE LITERALLY WHO HAVE NOT KNOWN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SCREWDRIVER AND CHISEL. AND WE'VE GOTTEN THEM OUT OF HERE WITH RESULTS. WE SUPPLY VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING EXCEPT HARDWARE AND VARNISH. FIBERGLASS GLUE, EPOXY, ALL THE SYSTEMS UNTIL YOU GET OUT OF HERE WITH A GOOD BOAT. >> MOWING DOES IT TAKES? >> SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS. WE HELP THEM EVERY STEP OF THE DAY. >> ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOAT, GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM. >> MERRILY, MERRILY. >> WE ARE IN FOSTER STREET IN FRONT OF THE FOSTER HOUSE, BUILT IN 1841. IT'S THE OLDEST HOUSE IN FORT ATKINSON. AND I HOPE I LOOK THIS GOOD AT 174 YEARS OLD. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT FORT ATKINSON? >> HARD TO BE OBJECTIVE. WE'VE LIVED HERE ALL OF OUR MARRIED LIVES. VERY PLEASANT, VERY EASY LIVING. >> WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE WHO HELP A LOT OF OTHER GOOD PEOPLE. VERY GOOD. YEAH. >> BOATLOAD OF GOOD PEOPLE MAKES IT A GOOD COMMUNITY AND A COMMITMENT TO THAT COMMUNITY. WE HAVE PASSED THIS BEAUTIFUL OLD ORIGINAL FARMHOUSE AND I BELIEVE THAT MUST HAVE BEEN THE FIRST HOME ON THIS PROPERTY? >> WELL, THERE WAS A LOG CABIN, BUT THE LOWER PART OF THE FARMHOUSE THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WAS BUILT IN 1843. >> THE REST OF THIS PROPERTY BUILT UP SINCE. >> SINCE THAT TIME, YES. RIGHT IN BACK, WHAT WE'RE IN NOW WAS BUILT IN 1950. >> WE ARE IN AN AREA WHERE A LOT OF YOUR FAMILY -- >> STILL LIVES. >> STILL IS RIGHT HERE. >> YEAH. >> A GROUP OF HOUSES THAT WE HAVE HERE NOW IS OUR FIVE HOUSES. AND THEY'RE ALL OCCUPIED BY FAMILY. >> RELATION? >> ALL RELATED, YEAH. YEAH. AND FRIENDS. >> AND FRIENDS. THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. >> IT'S AMAZING. IT REALLY IS AMAZING, THAT EVERYBODY GETS ALONG, AND EVERY GENERATION SEEMS TO GET ALONG. >> YEAH. YOU KNOW WHAT YOU SHOULD DO, DRIVE DOWN MERCHANTS AVENUE AND GET A LOAD OF SOME OF THESE HOUSES. THIS IS GOVERNOR HOARD'S HOUSE IN THE 1870'S, THIS WAS THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION. YEAH. WHAT A GORGEOUS HOUSE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> CAN WE TALK HISTORY OF THIS HOUSE. >> WE CAN. DEPENDING ON WHAT NEWSPAPER ARTICLE YOU READ, IT'S EITHER BUILT IN 1865 OR 1873. >> WHICH ONE DO YOU BELIEVE? >> 1873, BUILT BY A GUY NAME MANMOUTH AND HE WAS FROM BROOKLYN NEW YORK, AND I'M GUESSING HE CAME HERE FOR LUMBER OR FUR PURPOSES. KIND OF OUR FAVORITE HANGOUT IS IN HERE. >> HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN HERE. >> 12 YEARS. >> DO PEOPLE STOP BY KNOCK ON THE DOOR AND SAY CAN I GET IN THERE? >> ALL THE TIME. WHAT'S MORE TYPICAL IS PEOPLE WILL COME UP TO IF WE'RE SITTING OUTSIDE AND ASK IF THEY CAN WALK AROUND THE GARDENS AND I ALWAYS ALLOW THAT. >> THIS IS ONE CAR GARAGE. >> NO, THAT'S A PLAYHOUSE, BUILT IN 1947. IT'S GOT ITS OWN BRASS KNOCKER AND IT'S GOT ELECTRICITY. COME ON IN. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL FORMICA AND CHECK OUT THIS OUT, ISN'T THAT ADORABLE, AND PEDESTAL SINK AND TUB. A LITTLE RADIATED HEAT. >> THAT'S COOL. >> ANYBODY THAT GREW UP IN FORT ATKINSON IS PROBABLY 55 OR ORLANDO, PROBABLY PLAYED IN THAT HOUSE. >> THIS IS HOMERSON'S POND. >> IT WAS THE ORIGINAL SITE OF THE FORT ATKINSON BRICK MANUFACTURING COMPANY, THEY MADE THE CREAM CITY BRICK THAT LITERALLY BUILT FORT ATKINSON. IT BECAME THE CITY SKATING RINK. WE'RE BUILDING A TIMBER FRAME STRUCTURE, FOR A PLACE CALLED HOMERSON'S POND. THE FRONT DOOR IS HERE. >> THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BATHROOM. >> THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. WE'RE DOING A TIMBER FRAME WHICH IS A BUILDING WHEN YOU PUT IT UP, YOU CALL THE COMMUNITY OUT AND THE COMMUNITY LITERALLY PUTS THE BUILDING UP IN A DAY. >> LIKE BARN RAISES. >> EXACTLY. IT IS A BARN RAISING. WHAT WE'RE BUILDING, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IN OUR TIMBERS IS ACTUALLY HOW THEY BUILD A BARN. THE TOOLS WE'RE USING ARE ALL FROM THE 1800'S AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO DO IT. WE HAVE A LIST OF VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE ACHING TO COME MAKE SAWDUST WITH US. >> IS THAT RIGHT? BUILDING THE COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT. >> I APPRECIATE THAT. THIS WHOLE THING IS COMING FROM THE PEOPLE. MOST OF OUR DONATIONS CAME IN THE FORM OF $10 AND $20. >> WOW. >> THAT'S COMMUNITY AND WE WILL CALL THE COMMUNITY OUT, AND WE WILL PUT THIS UP. SIMPLE IN CONSTRUCTION, BUT IT'S A BUILDING THAT WILL ENDURE TIME. >> WE'RE IN FRONT OF THE MUSEUM, AND THE NATIONAL DAIRY SHRINE, SO IT'S KIND OF TWO ENTITIES IN ONE BUILDING. >> CORRECT. THE HOARD MUSEUM, HOARD HISTORICAL MUSEUM, WE FOCUS ON THE HISTORY OF FORT ATKINSON AND OUR SURROUNDING AREAS, THE COMMUNITY, OUR REGION AN WE HAVE EXHIBITS ON INDIAN MOUNDS AND NATIVE AMERICAN LIFE THAT USED TO BE HERE, AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, FORT ATKINSON HISTORY TOO. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE LIVING IN THE FORT ATKINSON AREA FOR 10,000 YEARS. NATIVE AMERICANS WERE LIVING HERE FIRST. WE HAVE ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF THEM BEING HERE, BUT WE'RE ALSO THE HOME OF THE NATIONAL DAIRY SHRINE, TWO MEAUX SUE MUSEUMS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE. >> CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT PRICE. >> AND NATIONAL DAIRY SHRINE, THEY FOCUS ON PRESERVING DAIRY, THE IMPORTANCE OF IT IN OUR STATE AND IN OUR COUNTRY. DAIRY IS A VALUABLE PART OF WHO WE ARE, AS A CULTURE. SO LOOKING AT THAT. >> THEY'RE GORGEOUS. >> THE MUSEUM, YOU KNOW, THE MUSEUM PROFESSION WE TALK ABOUT GROWING OUR COLLECTION, HERE WE'RE LITERALLY GROWING OUR COLLECTION. IT'S AN ACTIVELY GROWING GARDEN, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE -- >> SAY IT AGAIN. >> WE HAVE THE LARGEST PUBLIC COLLECTION OF INTERSECTIONAL PEONIES. >> I LOVE THIS FENCE IN FRONT OF THE ROCK. WHY IS THERE A FENCE AROUND THE ROCK? CAN ANYBODY ANSWER THAT QUESTION? HEY, EXCUSE ME. WHAT'S WITH THE FENCE AROUND THE ROCK? I HAVE IT FIGURED OUT. WHY IS THERE A FENCE AROUND THE ROCK? IT'S NOT SO THAT PEOPLE WON'T STEAL IT. IT'S SO THAT DOGS DON'T -- ON IT. >> WE'RE AT THE FORT. REPLICA OF THE FORT. A PREMATURELY CATEY -- >> A REPLICA OF THE FORT. THIS FORT WAS BUILT IN THE 1960'S, BY A NUMBER OF CITY FATHERS WHO WANTED TO REVISIT EARLY HISTORY OF FORT ATKINSON, AND SETTLEMENT OF FORT ATKINSON, NOT EVER CLAIMING THAT THIS WAS THE SITE WHERE THE FORT ACTUALLY WAS BUILT, AND WE'VE CREATED THIS STRUCTURE, WHICH IS SYMBOLIC OF THE FORT THAT WAS ERECTED IN 1832. WE DRAW 3,000 OR 4,000 PEOPLE HERE EVERY MEMORIAL DAY, SO WE HAVE EDUCATION DAY ON FRIDAY AND WE'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. SO WE HAVE COMPETITIONS, WE HAVE FOOD, WE HAVE PERIOD MUSIC, I'M BIASED, BUT I THINK WE HAVE THE BEST TWO DAY LIVING HISTORY EVENT IN WISCONSIN. IN THE 1960'S, THIS WAS BEING ERECTED BY CITY FATHERS, AND IN THE 1960'S, A FEW FRIENDS OF MINE AND I STARTED CELEBRATING FOURTH OF JULY EARLY WITH FIREWORKS, AND GOT CAUGHT SO WE WERE SENTENCINGED TO EIGHT HOURS OF -- SENTENCED TO EIGHT HOURS OF HARD LABOR BUILDING IN IN THE 1960'S, SO I FEEL LIKE I'VE COME FULL CIRCLE, BUT I'VE HELPED BUILD IT AND NOW I HAVE THE KEYS TO IT. >> BROTHER MICHAEL, HOW ARE YOU? >> GOOD. >> FORT ATKINSON. >> HOME OF THE BLACKHAWKS. >> GIRLS SOFTBALL. >> I WAS WONDERING. >> I'M GLAD YOU GOT THAT. A LOT OF COMPETITIVE TEAMS AT FORT ATKINSON, BUT GIRLS SOFTBALL IS ONE WE NEED TO KEY IN ON. 1976, STARTED THE PROGRAM, JOHN, TWO LOSING SEASONS SINCE 1976. SINCE CHIP AGNEW TOOK OVER, 22 YEARS, NO LOSING SEEN. 15-13 THIS YEAR. REALLY COMPETITIVE, TO A TEAM THAT WORKED HARD TO GET THERE. '80S PROGRAM THEY'RE PROUD OF. THE GIRLS PLAY MULTIPLE SPORTS, THEY PLAY SUMMER BALL WITH ROCK RIVER STICKS. IT'S KIND OF A TRAVELING TEAM AND THEY ALL GET BETTER ALL YEARLONG. >> IT'S LIKE A FEEDER PROGRAM. >> IT'S A REGIONAL PROGRAM THAT JEFF AGNEW IS HAPPY TO BE A PART OF DIVISION 1 SCHOOL, AROUND 900 KIDS, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW. >> A BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL. >> UNBELIEVABLE SCHOOL. REALLY, REALLY GOOD COMMUNITY AND THE GIRLS SOFTBALL PROGRAM IS ONE THEY REALLY LIKE. >> GIRLS SOFTBALL. BLACKHAWKS. >> LADY BLACKHAWKS. >> AND THEY GIVE YOU HAVE THE NICE LITTLE -- YOU THE NICE LITTLE OUTFIT. >> SURE. THANKS, JOHN. >> HEY, MIKE. TRAIL. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE. I SHOULD HAVE MET JOHN GURDA RIGHT HERE. WASN'T THAT GURDA? >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO JONES PARK. 1, 2, 3, 4. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FORT ATKINSON GENERALS. IT'S AMATEUR FAST PITCH BASEBALL. >> THAT IS CORRECT. THE GENERAL SINCERE A HOME TALENT BASEBALL TEAM. WE'VE BEEN PLAYING IN THE SAME LEAGUE SINCE THE LATE 1970'S. >> IT'S THE LARGEST ADULT AMATEUR BASEBALL LEAGUE IN THE STATE, IN FACT, SOME SAY IN THE NATION, 44 TEAMS, IN SOUTHCENTRAL WISCONSIN. >> WE HAVE 20 GUYS, OUR YOUNGEST IS 18, UP TO 28. >> CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS PARK FOR THIS COMMUNITY? JUST TO LOOK AT THE PARK IS COOL. >> IT IS. MANY OF THE PLAYERS FROM THE OTHER TEAMS REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO PLAYING BASEBALL DOWN HERE. >> THAT SAYS IT ALL. >> IT REALLY DOES. AND OF COURSE, THE PARK HOLDS OTHER EVENTS AS WELL, BUT IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL BASEBALL FIELD AS YOU CAN SEE OUT THERE, VERY WELL KEPT, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF IT HERE IN FORT ATKINSON. >> AND THE COMMUNITY SHOWS UP? >> YES. >> YOU KNOW WHAT, WE HEARD ALL DAY, THIS IS WHAT WE HEARD ALL DAY, DOLLAR BEERS. THAT'S WHAT WE HEARD. >> WE'VE GOT GOOD FOOD, WE'VE GOT CHEAP PRICES, AND OF COURSE, WE'VE GOT DOLLAR BEERS, YOU KNOW, SO WE WANT TO HAVE IT IN AN ATMOSPHERE THAT'S FAMILY FRIENDLY. WE'VE GOT GREAT SUPPORT FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND WE JUST LOVE IT, AND WE DO A LOT OF IT FOR THEM. >> I IMAGINE THIS IS A DESTINATION SPOT FOR LOTS OF KIDS. >> IT IS. WE DO FIELD TRIPS SEASONALLY IN THE SPRING AND IN THE FALL, AND ON THE WEEKENDS, WE'RE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN MAY AND SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER. >> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT FARMERS PLAN AHEAD. >> IT'S ABOUT EDUCATION, ISN'T IT? >> IT IS. >> DO THE KIDS KNOW THEY'RE GETTING AN EDUCATION? >> I THINK THEY'RE HERE HAVING FUN, BUT THEY LEARN AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT'S -- THEY DON'T KNOW THEY'RE LEARNING, BUT THEY DO. >> AND IT'S FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT, AN ENTIRE FAMILY CAN COME AND ENJOY IT. >> CORRECT. EVERYBODY IS A KID AT THE FARM. >> LOOK AT ALL THE PENS WITH ALL OF THE ANIMALS AND KIDS OR KITTENS, I'M NOT SURE. >> BIG OR LITTLE, OLD OR YOUNG. EVERYBODY PLAYS AT BUSY BARN GENTLEMAN. >> IT'S A BARN PAD. >> FALL IS THE BUSIEST SEASON FOR YOU? >> AT THIS POINT, THE SPRING IS REALLY GROWING, BUT EVANOFF -- EVEN OFF SEASON, WE'RE BUSY, DOING PAINTING, AND DESIGNING AND WE DO WEDDING FARMS AT THE FARM, OUTDOOR WEDDINGS AND FARM WEDDINGS HAVE GOTTEN TO BE A BIG THING AT THE FARM, AND THEN THEY GET TO ENJOY THE WHOLE FARM, SO THEIR GUESTS CANNOT ONLY ENJOY THEIR WEDDING, BUT THEY CAN BE ENTERTAINED AND PLAY AND BE A KID THEMSELVES AGAIN. >> ROOM FOR TOURISTS. THAT WORKED OUT GREAT. GUESS WHAT? I'M A TOURIST. BEAUTIFUL HOUSE. >> THANK YOU. >> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN OPERATING, THIS IS A B & B? >> YES. 26 YEARS. >> YOU'VE BEEN IN THE B & B BUSINESS 26 YEARS. >> RIGHT. >> THAT'S BEFORE ANYBODY KNEW WHAT A B & B WAS. >> WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST ONES. >> THIS WAS NOT AN OPERATING B & B WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT? >> IT WAS ABANDONED. >> IT WAS ABANDONED. YOU HAD A VISION THOUGH. >> WE DID. >> YOU HAVE AN INTERESTING COLLECTION. YOU COLLECT WHAT? >> VINTAGE CLOTHES. WE HAVE CLOTHES FOR ALL SIZES FOR PEOPLE TO DRESS UP IN HERE. >> THIS IS HEAVY. >> AND THEY USE THE CLOTHES? >> CLOSETS, BOTH CLOSETS ARE FULL. >> SOME JUST, YOU KNOW, PUT ON HATS OR WHATEVER, TAKE PICTURES, BUT SOME GET FULLY DRESSED UP. >> LET'S TALK ABOUT THESE PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS IS VICTROLA. >> IT IS. >> THIS IS ONE OF 13. >> 13. >> WHAT'S YOUR INTEREST IN THESE. >> I ALWAYS LIKED OLD THINGS, EVER SINCE I WAS A KID, OLD THINGS FASCINATED ME. >> CAN I TOO? -- CAN I TRY? >> YEAH. >> IT'S A LOT OF WORK. >> OH MY LORD. >> THAT IS LORENE WHO IS A LOCAL POET AND THAT'S HER WALL. FISH, FOUL, FLOOD, WATER LILY MUD. MY LIFE. SHE SAYS NOT A BAD LIFE. EXCEPT THE FLOOD. AND THE MUD. >> THE FIRESIDE DINNER THEATER. >> DINNER THEATER USED TO BE EVERY OTHER CORNER. >> SURE. >> YEARS AGO. IT'S GONE OUT OF FAVOR, NOT HERE THOUGH. >> NOT HERE. >> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES US UNIQUE, WE ARE ONE OF THE FEW DINNER THEATERS LEFT. >> SO MY MOTHER COMES TO THIS PLACE A LOT AND SAYS THE SHOW WAS GOOD, BUT YOU NOE WHAT'S REALLY GOOD IS THE SWEET POTATO SOUFFLE, I LOVE IT. >> IT SPEAKS TO HOW THIS STARTED BECAUSE IT REALLY STARTED AS A SUPERREGIONAL -- SUPERCLUB. >> IT STARTED AT A SUPERCLUB AND THAT'S WHAT DIFFERENTIATES US A LITTLE BIT FROM TYPICAL DINNER THEATERS. IN OUR MINDS, IT'S A UNIQUE THING IN OUR FAVOR, THE THEATER IS SEPARATE FROM THE RESTAURANT. THE THEATER HAS BEEN HERE 37 YEARS, WE'VE HAD BETWEEN SEVEN AND EIGHT MILLION PEOPLE COME IN THE THEATER DURING THAT TIME. WE'RE PROUD OF THAT AND EXCITED TO BE WHERE WE ARE. WE HAVE SEVEN PERFORMANCES A WEEK, BIG BROADWAY MUSICALS TO COMEDIES, TO GIVE OUR CUSTOMER DIVERSITY AND VARIETY. >> IT'S MORE THAN DINNER AND A SHOW HERE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE LIKE A VILLAGE SHOP. IT'S QUITE AN OPERATION. >> WE TALK ABOUT BEING THE FIRESIDE EXPERIENCE AND THAT'S REALLY FROM GREETING THE GUESTS AT THE FRONT DOORS, TO PICKING UP THEIR TICKET TO THE GIFT SHOPS AND IT'S REALLY, I GELS THE FIRESIDE'S VERSION OF MAIN STREET U.S.A. >> CAN I TAKE IT HOME? >> YOU CAN TAKE IT HOME. >> FINISHING TOUCH WITH CARROT CAKE AS WELL AS OUR HOUSE MADE RUM RAISIN ICE CREAM. >> MY MOM LIKES THIS ONE TOO. YOU CAN WRAP THIS ONE. >> WE ARE STANDING ON THE PROPERTY THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE MOTOR COACH DESTINATION IN OUR GREAT YVETTE WILLIS. GREAT -- IN OUR GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN. >> YES. >> I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE CAN COME IN HERE ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND HAVE A GREAT LUNCH AND ON FRIDAY NIGHT COME BACK. >> WE'RE A TRINITY, A TRINITY OF THE RESTAURANT, THE BAR AND THE MUSIC. >> THIS IS NICE. >> HALLOWED GROUND. >> AND IF IT'S PACKED OUT, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SITTING HERE? >> I CAN GET UP TO 65. >> CAN YOU? >> THE MUSIC PART OF IT IS ACTUALLY WELL KNOWN. >> IT'S A GOOD ROOM TO PLAY. >> PEOPLE SAY THAT. >> IT'S ACTUALLY, AS GOOD AS A ROOM CAN BE FOR PLAYING MUSIC IN. >> I GOT TROUBLE, I'M SO BLUE. >> THEY USED TO BUILD ROOMS IN CASTLES IN RICH PEOPLE'S HOMES FOR CHAMBER MUSIC AND THIS ROOM IS EFFECTIVELY THAT. >> I HAD NO IDEA. >> LIKE ROYALTY. >> KIND OF. YEAH. TROUBLE IN MINE, I'M BLUE . >> THERE'S NOT ONE IN MADISON, NOT ONE IN MILWAUKEE. >> SO PERFORMERS ABSOLUTELY RESPOND TO IT. >> HOW OFTEN IS SOMEONE MAKING MUSIC IN THIS ROOM? >> ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND. >> EVERY WEEKEND? >> YEAH. 100 TO 110 SHOWS A YEAR. THIS IS AN EXPERIMENT. FOR ME. 30-YEAR EXPERIMENT. WE'RE STILL EXPERIMENTING. >> IS THAT HOW IT FEELS? >> IF I SAY IT THAT WAY WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING, I FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER ABOUT WHAT I'M ABOUT TO DO. >> FORT ATKINSON, IF YOU'RE LOCAL, YOU CALL IT FORT, BECAUSE THAT'S THE KIND OF TOWN IT IS, IT'S COMFORTABLE, CASUAL, FEELS LIKE HOME. WE ARE HERE WITH THE CITY MANAGER, GREAT TOWN. >> I CAN'T TAKE ALL THE CREDIT BUT I APPRECIATE IT. >> HERE'S THE DRILL, MATT TREBATOSKI, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS TO TELL US WHY FORT ATKINSON IS THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY AND START NOW. >> FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT STARTS OFF WITH THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE. THEY MAKE YOU FEEL WELCOME AND YOU GET A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING AND PRIDE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND THAT TRANSLATES RIGHT OVER TO THE BUSINESSES IN TOWN, WHO ARE EXTREMELY GENEROUS, AND COMMUNITY DRIVEN, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT EVENTS THAT GO ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WE HAVE BASEBALLFESTS THAT HAS A LOT OF GREAT BASEBALL TO TAKE IN, CARNIVAL RIDES TO ENJOY. WE ALSO HAVE RHYTHM ON THE RIVER THAT TAKES PLACE IN THE SUMMER AND THAT FEATURES LIVE MUSIC AND GOOD FOOD AND WE ALSO HAVE AN EXCEPTIONAL PARKS SYSTEM WHERE WE HAVE RECREATION -- >> 3, 2, 1. MATT, MATT, YOU'RE DONE. MATT, YOU'RE DONE. >> I'VE NEVER FELT SO SMALL IN MY WHOLE LIFE. >> BY THE LAKE. >> ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S HERE RIGHT NOW, BUT SHE IS HERE. >> IT'S GOT LIKE 3-FOOT THICK WALLS. >> IT IS VERY, VERY SOLID. THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IF THERE'S EVER AN EARTHQUAKE OR A HURRICANE IN FORT ATKINSON. >> RIGHT. >> THIS EPISODE OF "AROUND THE CORNER" WITH JOHN MCGIVERN IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH FUNDING PROVIDED IN PART BY THE GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION'S ERNEST C. AND FLORENCE M. SHOCKE FUND. THE GREATER MILWAUKEE FOUNDATION IS HONORED TO BE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY FOR A SECOND CENTURY. >> THE W.E. ENERGIES FOUNDATION, PEOPLE YOU CAN TRUST, FOR ENERGY YOU CAN DEPEND ON. >> WHAT GOODWILL CAN DO WITH YOUR DONATIONS IS PRETTY AMAZING. >> MAKING SURE ELECTRICITY IS THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT. AMERICAN TRANSMISSION COMPANY, HELPING TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON, BUSINESSES RUNNING, AND COMMUNITIES STRONG. >> YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW FUN IT IS TO BE SHOOTING SEASON FIVE. >> WE GET TO EXPLORE THE ENTIRE STATE AND SHARE WHAT WE LEARN. >> WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHOUT SUPPORT OF VIEWERS LIKE YOU, SO ON BEHALF OF THE CAST AND CREW OF "AROUND THE CORNER" WITH JOHN MCGIVERN, THANK YOU.