Germantown History

Brief History of the Town of Germantown

The Township of Germantown lies in the central plain of Wisconsin, midway between the cities of Madison and LaCrosse, ten miles from Interstate 90/94. Germantown is surrounded by the Townships of Necedah, Clearfield, Lisbon, Lemonweir, and Marion. Our Community Center, Town Hall, and Germantown Park are located at:

Town of Germantown
N7560 17th Avenue
New Lisbon, Wisconsin 53950
(View location on a map)

Dominant water features in the Township are  the Wisconsin River, Castle Rock Lake, and the Yellow and Little Yellow Rivers.   The Lake and the Wisconsin River serve as the  border on the east with Adams County.

Woodlands constitute 39% of the Township.  Much of the land would be considered wooded residential and recreational property.

The Village of Germantown was situated at the junction of the Wisconsin and Yellow Rivers. Its first settlers were Walter Gaige and Jacob Gundlach, who came in 1851. The Village was named after the large number of German settlers that came to the area and it was incorporated as a 30 block town on the Wisconsin River in 1855. When its population peaked in the 1880’s, Germantown had four sawmills, a church, Post Office, school, dance hall, blacksmith shop, hotel, saloon, and the first brewery in Juneau County. The Germantown Ferry ran across the Wisconsin River to Quincy, Adams County and back.

The Germantown Cemetery, which still exists today near Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, was the main cemetery in the area. Bodies from the Werner Cemetery were moved to the Germantown Cemetery when the lake was flooded.

The plans for the two lakes and dams began in the late 1920’s by the Wisconsin River Power Company. The buildings in Germantown were disassembled and used for houses in Mauston and the area became the Castle Rock County Park. The site of Werner was submerged beneath the waters of the lake. The same lake waters that submerged its early beginnings have, in recent years, led to the remarkable growth that the town is experiencing. The Castle Rock and Petenwell Lakes and Dams, completed in 1950, opened up a new era for both Juneau and Adams Counties.

Recycling and Trash

Recycling is Mandatory!

* Or, do-it-yourself:  you can take it yourself to the Juneau County Landfill as per the CRAM agreement:

CRAM
The Township of Germantown is a member of CRAM (County Recycling Agreement of Municipalities).  Ten townships are currently members of this agreement.  The county is responsible for its enforcement in the Townships that belong to C.R.A.M.  The disposal site for the C.R.A.M Recycling Program is at the Juneau County Landfill located at W7611 Ceylon Road, New Lisbon, WI.  You must first stop at the scale operator window at the landfill to let them know your name and that you are from the Town of Germantown each time you bring your recyclables to the landfill.  Information on how to recycle and what is to be recycled is available below.  See the Juneau County Landfill Trash & Recyling Guide.

Germantown Brush Dump -for Yard Waste ONLY generated only from Germantown properties:  

The Brush Dump is NOT for lot clearing.   It IS for normal residential yard waste generated only in the Town of Germantown, such as leaves, grass clippings, yard waste, brush, and small branches up to 10” in diameter from yard maintenance.  Commercial is for GRASS CLIPPINGS ONLY.  It is open during daytime hours, except in winter when the area is under snow.

The Town of Germantown continues to process record amounts of brush.

Due to this ever increasing demand, expense for disposal, and misuse of the brush dump, a permit will be required to be purchased. The corresponding sticker that is issued MUST be adhered to and displayed on the driver’s side of the windshield of the vehicle it is assigned to at purchase to be able to use the brush dump. Cost for an annual Germantown residential permit for one vehicle is $25; an additional residential permit can be purchased for $5 for a second vehicle.  This year, an annual Town of Germantown Commercial permit is available FOR GRASS CLIPPINGS ONLY and is $250.  Permits will be available at the Germantown town hall. They must be adhered to the driver’s side of the windshield of the vehicle applied for.

Not accepted and Not to be left in/at the dump area:  Any tree greater than 10” in diameter (even if cut into segments), tree stumps, building materials. It is Not for lot clearing. Metal or other debris as it would damage equipment that is used to mulch the piles and haul it away.

Please refer to signage at the entrance.  If dump rules are not followed, the security cameras will be used for enforcement.

Please complete the Brush Dump Permit application  .  For any questions, Inquire with the Town Clerk.

Juneau County Board

Please click to view the PDF’s on the county website. The files say “agenda” but they include both the agenda and the minutes, after the meeting.

http://www.co.juneau.wi.gov/juneau-county-board-meetings.html

Agendas and Minutes are in the same document.