The Rich History of Wausau-WI

We went to Wausau, WI to see our old friends from New Jersey back in the 80's. The host, Sharon and her husband, Paul took us to the Peking Restaurant to enjoy a fine Chinese lunch. The restaurant is located at the 9-floor Landmark building, a historic site of Wausau.

Paul told us the story about the Wausau.

In the early 20th century, before the invention of automobile approximately in 1920's , Wausau was a bustling town because of the Fromm Fur Farm. The Fromm brothers raised fox and mink in the farm. The younger brother even bred a purple mink. Fox and mink were in high demand, because their skins could make expensive fur coat for rich women and men (There were no animal right protection at the time.) The buyers came from New York City would take trains or boat to Wausau; then rent a horse-carried carriage and rode the 6-hour carriage to the farm to shop the fur.

Six hours ride was quite inconvenient for the buyers. Thus the city built a 9-story hotel which is called the Landmark Tower for those visitors to rest and stay.

After the fur trade went out of favor, the 2nd generation Fromm Brother raised the ginseng farm which opened a big market in the East Asia. Today, there are many players in managing the ginseng farm. Our host, Mr. Hus is one of them. Their business is called the Hsu's Enterprise.

Here are historic photo of the Fromm Fur Farm.