Uniquely Wisconsin | Washington County

Michelle Gormican-Thompson from the Wisconsin Counties Association joins Eric, Susan, and Josh in TheCabin to share stories about Washington County. They discuss the iconic Holy Hill Basilica and theNational Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, which sits atop the highest point in southeastern Wisconsinand has been an area of religious worship since the mid-1800s. The twin steeples that crown Holy Hillcan be seen for tens of miles and draw people in for Mass and activities weekly. They touch on theartistic works of Paul Bobrowitz of Colgate; from his Bobrowitz Sculpture studios metal art has emergedand found its way to private and public collections around the nation, including the popular ThreeStooges sculptures that welcome visitors to Milwaukee’s Lakefront Brewery. They cover the history ofHartford’s Chandelier Ballroom, which opened in 1928 and features a unique octagonal ballroomcomplete with a one-ton Art Deco chandelier flanked by 26 smaller chandeliers – an indication it isproperly named. From its use as a POW camp in 1944 to its continued service as a live music and majorevent venue today, it’s worth a visit. Michelle then dives into the history of Held’s, a popular meatmarket a staple in Slinger since 1886. A historic farm with a more recent redevelopment, OldGermantown Farm Kitchen, traces its roots to 1842 but was refurbished in 1989 by Scott & GeorgineSommer to become a sausage crafter and brewery for people to visit and enjoy. Josh Schoemann,Washington County Executive, joins Eric for more unique quirks and charms of the county, and Michellepreviews additional stories in the Uniquely Wisconsin video series you can watch. They include the 9/11Memorial, inspired by Julie Haberman, a local resident who perished on that day; the musical,mentoring, and conducting skills of Jim Barnes, who grew up in the area, left, and has returned as the“Music Man”; and Foster Closet, an organization that has fostered over 400 children is just the last sixyears and works to bring inspiration and stabilization to kids in need. You can watch the UniquelyWisconsin show on DiscoverWisconsin.com, YouTube, or wherever you stream your shows.