What’s happening with the Indian Mound located inside Community Park?: What’s happening with the Indian Mound located inside Community Park? The conical (dome) shaped mound located to the right of the entrance to Community Park in Delavan is being returned to its natural state.  Native American Burial Mound (WL-0009, Burial #BWL-0079) was identified in 1924 by archaeologist Charles E. Brown, along with other effigy mounds, one shaped like an 85 foot  bird and one shaped like a 132 foot long comet within Community Park.  Estimates suggest that as many as 100 mounds might have stood on the shores of Lake Delavan. Archaeology Inventory and Evaluation, Walworth County Metropolitan Sewerage District.  David F. Overstreet, Ph.D., Principal Investigator.  9.1.76. Sarah T. Lahey, Lake Magazine, "Building Mounds, Unearthing History."  April 18, 2017. 11.30.23 Did you know the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus also has a rich history of Indian mounds? As the Town of Delavan looks into how to preserve and maintain our Indian mounds located in Community Park, the Parks and Tourism Committee reached out to Dr. Amy Roseborough for her advice and guidance.  Dr. Amy Rosebrough is a Staff Archaeologist with the Office of the State Archaeologist at the Wisconsin Historical Society. A native of the Missouri Ozarks, she has long had an interest in burial monuments and archaeology. She is an alumni of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and she received her doctorate for region-wide re-analysis of Wisconsin's effigy mounds and mound builders. Click on the link to learn more from Dr. Roseborough and to tour the Indian mounds located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin which has more effigy mounds than any other university in the world. http://www.c-span.org/video/?322375-1/native-american-effigy-mounds Source:  Native American Effigy Mounds, C-Span Cities Tour.  American History TV. 11.08.23Community Park has Effigy Mounds? Yes, we do.  We have two!  In 1924 archaeologist Charles E. Brown identified a bird and a shape similar to a comet in Community Park.  (See photo).  Brown called them the “inlet mound group” because of their proximity to the Delavan Lake Inlet.   Archeology records confirm that 65 mounds existed as of 1926 and estimates suggest that as many as 100 mounds might have stood on the shores of Delavan Lake.  (Sarah T. Lahey) The ”bird effigy” located in Community Park measured 85 feet and the “comet” shaped effigy measured 132 feet long.   Effigy mounds represented an ancient belief system in which earth, air, and water spirits lived in balance with each other.  The air effigies, often shaped like birds, signaled the strong but kind force of the Upper World.  The water effigies, resembled turtles or lizards stood for the menacing force of the Lower World.  The earth effigies, shaped like bears or men represented everything in between.  Evidence suggests that mound-builders of this period (700-1100 A.D.) were ancestors of the Ho-Chunk Nation. Sarah T. Lahey, Lake Magazine, "Building Mounds, Unearthing History." April 18, 2017. Archaeology Inventory and Evaluation, Walworth County Metropolitan Sewerage District.  David F. Overstreet, Ph.D., Principal Investigator.  9.1.76. What is the most famous effigy mound in the world? Serpent Mound is an internationally known National Historic Landmark build by the ancient American Indian cultures of Ohio.  It is an effigy mound shaped like a snake with a curled tail.  (see photo of Serpent Mound) Aerial image taken between 1960-1980 shows the full Serpent Mound site in Adams County, Ohio.  Photo courtesy of Ohio History Connection via Ohio Memory.  10.25.23What is meant by the term EFFIGY MOUND? Wisconsin is the geological center of effigy mound distribution, with more effigy mound sites than anywhere else in the world!    Effigy mounds are giant earthen sculptures that may be shrines built to honor the powerful spirits they represent.   Effigy mounds in southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa typically were used for burial. The stories and legends of the Native Americans whose ancestors built the mounds describe the effigy mounds as ceremonial and sacred sites.  Archeologists believe the effigy mounds delineated territories of choice gathering and hunting grounds.  COMMUNITY PARK in DELAVAN contains at least two effigy mounds, one shaped as a serpent-like water effigy that measures roughly 132 feet long and an 85 foot bird effigy.   Delavan’s rich Native American history is important to preserve and the Town of Delavan Parks and Tourism Committee is dedicated to honor, remember, and respect this sacred gift left to our Town. Pictured below are effigy mounds of the Wisconsin River Valley, Man Mound Park located in Baraboo, Wisconsin and a falcon effigy of the upper Mississippi River. Watch for more information about Effigy Mounds and the Indian Mounds of Community Park in Delavan.  Effigy Moundbuilders, National Park Service, May 17, 2021. Archaeology Inventory and Evaluation, Walworth County Metropolitan Sewerage District.  David F. Overstreet, Ph.D., Principal Investigator.  9.1.76. Why return it to its natural state? Burial sites are universally considered sacred, and it is DNR policy that all such areas on DNR properties will be appropriately cared for, and will be treated with the respect they deserve.  No disturbance may take place near the perimeter or base of a mound; visitors should not walk over or picnic on burial mounds and other designated burial sites.  Mounds are considered to be human burial sites and are protected on all non-federal lands in the state of Wisconsin’s Burial Sites Preservation Law (Wis.Stats 157.70) and Wisconsin’s Field Archaeology Act (Wis. Stats 44.47).  Delavan is very fortunate to have such a rich history with Ho-Chunk and Potawatomi tribes settling on the shores of Lake Delavan.  There’s a newfound respect for the wishes of descendants. These sites are sacred sites to Native Americans and the Town of Delavan plans to meet those wishes. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Burials, Earthworks and Mounds Preservation Policy and Plan.  DNR Burial Site Maintenance Plan (Final).  Spring 2008.

TEST TW WEATHER

Posted on , by Town Clerk

Budget Proposal 2022, Public Hearing, Mtg of Electors & Special Town Board Mtg

PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING

Tuesday, November 16 @6pm

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELECTORS

Tuesday, November 16 immediately after the Public Hearing.

SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING

Tuesday, November 16 immediately after the Special Meeting of Electors.

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OFFICIAL NOTICE PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 at 6pm in the Town of Delavan Town Hall, 5621Town Hall Rd, Town of Delavan, WI, a PUBLIC HEARING on the PROPOSED 2022 BUDGET of the Town of Delavan, Walworth County, will be held. The proposed budget in detail is available for inspection at the Town Clerk’s office between 8:30am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday. Below is a summary of the proposed 2022 Budget. 

Click Here to View the Detailed Proposed Budgets 

Administrative Budget

Cash Flow Budget

Fire & Rescue Budget

Lake Budget

Operating Budget

Park Budget

Plan Commission Budget

Police Budget

Public Works Budget

OFFICIAL NOTICE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELECTORS OF THE TOWN OF DELAVAN, WALWORTH COUNTY

Notice is hereby given that on Tuesday, November 16, 2021 immediately following completion of the Public Hearing on the proposed 2022 Budget, which begins at 6:00 p.m. at the Town of Delavan Town Hall, a Special Town Meeting of the electors called pursuant to Section 60.12 (1) (a) of Wisconsin Statutes by the Town Board for the following purposes will be held:

a)       To adopt the 2021 Town Tax Levy to be paid in 2022 pursuant to Section 60.10 (1) (a) of Wisconsin Statutes

 

OFFICIAL NOTICE SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING

The Town of Delavan Town Board will hold a Special Town Board Meeting immediately following the Special Meeting of Electors on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, in the Town of Delavan Town Hall, 5621 Town Hall Road, Town of Delavan, WI.

AGENDA

1)     Call to Order

2)     Pledge of Allegiance

3)     Roll Call

4)     Declaration of a quorum present for doing business

5)     Communications

6)     Comments and Suggestions of citizens present

7)     Approval of Minutes:

a)    Minutes of the Public Hearing Proposed 2021 Budget/Town Electors Meeting/Special Town Meeting—November 17, 202

8)   OLD BUSINESS: None

9)  NEW BUSINESS               

a)        Discussion/possible action on any changes being made in the 2022 Proposed Budget

b)       Discussion/possible action on adoption of the 2022 Proposed Budget

10) ADJOURNMENT

Kristy McChristy, 

Town Clerk                                                                                                                          10/25/21

A Quorum of the Town Board May be Present

The agenda may be posted at any two of the following places: Town Hall, www.townofdelavan.com, FNBT, Lakefront Mobil, Maxi One and Piggly Wiggly Copies: Committee Members, Town Board, Delavan Enterprise, and Janesville Gazette. Any person who has a qualifying disability as defined by the American with Disabilities act that requires the meeting or the materials at the meeting to be in an accessible location or format must contact the Town of Delavan, 5621 Town Hall Road, Delavan Wisconsin at least twenty –four hours prior to the commencement of the meeting so that necessary arrangements can be made to accommodate the request.

The Town of Delavan is an Equal Opportunity Employer