2011 | imagesmarshfield.

com
®
What’s
Online 
Take a video tour
of Marshfield’s
historic Upham
Mansion.

Marshfield, wisconsin

EFFICIENT AND
EFFECTIVE
City-wide efforts
take green further

fresh flavors
Community grows
farm-to-table movement

Sparkling Attractions
Families find fun at parks and preserves

sponsored by the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry

 The Perfect Blend
of Modern Facilities
and Small-Town Hospitality

Marshfield’s Premier Full-Service Hotel

and Conference Center
• 103 Spacious, Comfortable
Guest Rooms
• Free Hot Breakfast Mon.-Fri.
• King Whirlpool Suites and
Executive Suite with Kitchenette
• Indoor/Outdoor Pools, Whirlpool
and Fitness Room – Ask about
Our Pool Party Packages and
Monthly Fitness Membership
• In-Room Coffee,
Micro/Refrigerator, Hairdryer,
Iron with Board
• Business Center and Free
High-Speed Wireless Internet
• Cable TV with HBO
• Guest Laundry
• Full-Service Banquet/Meeting
Facilities Seating up to 500
The friendly staff is eager to ensure
a comfortable stay. Please call direct
or visit our website to book your
reservations today:
(715) 387-1761
Toll-free: (800) 227-1761
www.clearwatershotel.com
Visit Atlantis Lounge and
Clearwaters Restaurant on
Facebook to check out our daily
specials and entertainment schedule.

Serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Creative Drink Specials,

and Room Service Excellent Food and Outstanding Service
 What’s Online 
2011 edition | volume 4
®
imagesmarshfield.com

Marshfield, Wisconsin

Photos
See more photos in
our online photo gallery
Get the inside scoop from
our photographers’ blog

Facts & Stats co nte nt s

Dig deeper with in-depth data
on industries, schools and more F e atu r e s
Video
Get a moving glimpse at favorite 6 Efficient and Effective
local places and attractions Community efforts take green further.

Real estate 9 Gimme Five

Learn about the local housing Marshfield ranks fifth on Forbes.com livability list.
market and get started finding
your place 10 Always on the Move
Marshfield’s transportation and biomedical
industries are booming.
Digital edition
Easily share articles and photos
on Facebook, Twitter or via e-mail
16 fresh flavors
Farm-to-table movement grows in Marshfield.
Images Marshfield is published annually
by Journal Communications Inc. and is
distributed through the Marshfield Area
Chamber of Commerce & Industry
and its member businesses.
19 Sparkling Attractions
For advertising information or to direct questions
or comments about the magazine, contact Families find fun at parks and preserves.
Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080
or by e-mail at info@jnlcom.com.

For more information, contact:

d e pa r tm e nt s
Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry
700 S. Central Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449
Phone: (715) 384-3454 • Fax: (715) 387-8925
www.marshfieldchamber.com 2 Almanac
Visit Images Marshfield online at
imagesmarshfield.com
13 Biz Briefs
©Copyright 2011 Journal Communications Inc.,
725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067,
15 Economic Profile
(615) 771-0080. All rights reserved.
No portion of this magazine may be reproduced 18 Arts & Culture
in whole or in part without written consent.
Member The Association of Magazine Media 20 Health & Wellness
Member Custom Content Council
Member Marshfield Area 24 Education All or part of this magazine is printed
Chamber of Commerce & Industry on recycled paper containing 10%

project manager Courtney seiter

27 Community Profile post-consumer waste.
Please recycle this magazine
28 Through the Lens
On the cover Marshfield’s new downtown gateway.
Photo by Antony Boshier

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 1
 Welcome
to Marshfield
An introduction to the area’s people, places and events

Take Your
Best Shot
Marshfield makes it easy for
golfers to stay on their game,
with three great courses to choose
from. The Marshfield Country Club
is an 18-hole course that is open
to the public. The course is suited
for all skill levels, with both easier
greens and more challenging
holes for the experienced golfer.
Mystique Meadows Golf Course
is located in nearby Stratford and
offers golf leagues, tournaments
and learning programs. It’s
a shorter course designed for
all skill levels, with a practice
putting green and a 350-yard
driving range. Also close by
is RiverEdge Golf Course,
with a full 18-hole course
against a scenic background.

The Heart of the Arts

Chestnut Avenue Center for the Arts is a lively addition to the
Marshfield art scene. The center, established in 2003 and located
in an old church building, serves as a venue for the performing,
visual and literary arts. Beyond that, it provides a place for
local artists to come together and stage their own classes and
workshops, and allows the community as a whole to establish
the programs that are run in the center. Space is available for
rent to anyone looking to host an event, put on a performance
or teach a class. The wide range of people involved and works
displayed creates an eclectic collection unique to the Chestnut.

2 Marshfield
 Almanac

Walk This Way

Marshfield offers miles of trails for residents to tread.
The trails range in length and difficulty, making it easy
for anyone to find a path that suits his or her needs.
The Greenway Trail and the Griese Park Trail are well-
suited for a leisurely stroll, extending only half a mile
and three-fourths of a mile, respectively. More rigorous
trails abound as well, such as the McMillan Marsh Trail,
which extends more than 6 miles but is only open May
through September. For a complete outdoor experience,
head to the Weber Park Trail. The trail is located inside
the 37-acre park and includes multiple trails to choose
from. For a complete list of the city’s trails, go to
ci.marshfield.wi.us/pr/park_ppt/Trails.htm.

Fun at the Fair Fast

Central Wisconsin celebrates each year at the Central Wisconsin State Fair in
Marshfield. The fair features all the classics like live music, booths and carnival rides,
Facts
with a few added extras such as horse pulls, the History Tent and the Fantasy Corral. n Marshfield is the
The focal point of the fairgrounds is world’s largest round barn, which houses many of largest city in Wood
the activities. Built in 1916, the circular barn measures 150 feet in diameter and stands County, but a small
70 feet high. It can seat up to 1,000 people. part of the city
For more information about the fair, visit also extends into
Marathon County.
www.centralwisconsinstatefair.com.
n Demographics
Daily ranked
Marshfield and
Wood County
No. 20 on its
list of America’s
Dreamtowns.

n The Marshfield
Middle School
building is on the
National Register
of Historic Places.

n Jurustic Park is an
unusual Marshfield
attraction featuring
iron sculptures.

The New Downtown

Downtown Marshfield is getting a face-lift. The Downtown Facade Improvement plan saw success in
2009, so much so that efforts were renewed in 2010. The program’s goal is to help downtown businesses
with revitalization efforts and improvements, and ultimately usher in a renewed interest in Marshfield’s
dynamic downtown area. To go with the new-and-improved look, a new entrance was in order. Downtown
now sports a new gateway, located by Domino’s on South Central Avenue. To learn more about the
revitalization efforts, visit ci.marshfield.wi.us/planning/?id=10744.

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 3
Marshfield
in action

Don’t just take our word for it – see for yourself how great Marshfield
is in our quick videos at imagesmarshfield.com, highlighting a little
bit of everything that Marshfield has to offer.

imagesmarshfield.com

 House of History
Photo Courtesy of the Marshfield News-Herald

Marshfield’s on display at the Thomas

House Center for History. Located in the
newly restored Thomas House on South
Central Avenue, the center serves as the
first museum of the city of Marshfield.
Displays have included the history of
all 22 Wood County townships, an
interpretive display of Marshfield’s fire
of 1887 and Lest We Forget, a collection
focusing on the military contributions
of Marshfield’s men and women.
Periodic collections are also displayed.
A Winter Wonderland The center is open on Wednesdays from

in Woodland 1-4:30 p.m., Saturdays from 1-2 p.m. or

by appointment. Tours are available by
Usher in the season with a trip to the Rotary Winter calling (715) 384-5867 or (715) 384-9031.
Wonderland. Now in its fifth year, the holiday lights display has
grown to include more than 700,000 LED lights, a live nativity
scene, Santa visits, live music and various other events such as
sleigh rides and a snow sculpting contest. The event benefits
local food pantries, and over the past four years has provided
more than 136,000 items to 22 food pantries throughout
Marshfield. The Wonderland is held in Wildwood Park,
and is open every day – rain, snow or shine – starting
the day after Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.

Marshfield At A Glance
Marshfield
Population (2009 estimate) 64
64
Marshfield: 19,400
97
Marathon County: 131,612 13 52
Wood County: 73,932
Abbotsford
M A R AT H O N
29 Edgar
Location 73
Colby
Marshfield is in the center of the state 29

of Wisconsin at the intersection of 153

Stratford 39
Greenwood
state highways 97 and 13. The city Spencer 97
153

is just north of where state Highway 49

CLARK Junction City

13 meets U.S. Highway 10. Marshfield
73 Granton Auburndale
P O R TAGE
10
Beginnings Neillsville Arpin
Marshfield was named after John J. 13
WO O D
Marsh of Haverhill, Mass. He was one of 13
Pittsville
the original proprietors of the town site. Wisconsin Rapids
54

For More Information Nekoosa

Marshfield Area
Chamber of Commerce & Industry
700 S. Central Ave., P.O. Box 868
What’s Online 
Marshfield, WI 54449 Take a virtual tour of Marshfield, courtesy of our
Phone: (715) 384-3454 award-winning photographers, at imagesmarshfield.com.
Fax: (715) 387-8925
www.marshfieldchamber.com

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 5
 6 Marshfield
 Efficient
and
Effective
Marshfield community tackles
energy use with latest
green technologies
Story By Joe Morris | Photography By Antony Boshier
E
ven though it’s already a
regional leader in environ­
mental sustainability,
Marshfield continues
to go green at every opportunity.
In addition to the city’s own
successful track record with environ­
mentally sound projects and initiatives
through the Sustainable Marshfield
program, local businesses and
educational institutions also have
gotten on board, creating a sustainable
city that continues to be on the
cutting edge of new technologies
and business practices.
Marshfield’s Central
Fire Station
Consider the city’s new Central Fire
Station. It opened in August 2010, and is
so ahead of the sustainability curve that
it’s likely to be LEED-gold certified in
recognition of its many eco-friendly
design elements.
“Our design team went all over
Wisconsin to look at features, and we
really focused on the ideas relating to
The new multi-million dollar, eco-friendly Central Fire Station in Marshfield
sustainability and minimizing our
carbon footprint,” says Jim Schmidt,
fire chief. “The new station is more than
32,000 square feet, and our engineers
are telling us that our energy bills
should be about the same as they were in
our 12,500-square-foot former facility.”
Among the innovations are two
water-collection tanks to reutilize
rainwater, a white roof membrane
to reduce the heat-island effect and
passive lighting throughout, all in
a building that blends in seamlessly
with its historical neighborhood.
Wheelers Chevrolet’s
Waterborne Technology
Marshfield’s business community
is taking great strides ahead as well.
As one of only 120 woman-owned
GM dealerships in the United States,
Wheelers Chevrolet GMC is used to
being a little different. Now it’s taken
the lead environmentally as well,
becoming the first auto body shop in
the state to offer water-borne paint that
reduces emissions released into the air
i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 7
 A technician at Wheelers Chevrolet GMC’s new body shop prepares an SUV for painting.

“Wheelers Chevrolet GMC is … the first auto body shop in

the state to offer water-borne paint that reduces emissions
released into the air by around 80 percent.”

by around 80 percent. The new 11,800-
square-foot collision center also features
a 3-D measuring system, as well as
a drive-in estimating area for clients.
“We wanted to be ahead of the curve,”
says Mary Jo Wheeler-Schueller, general
manager, who owns the dealership along
with her mother Ann and brother Dan.
“Our facility was outdated, so we took
the opportunity to make this change.”
The air going into the paint booth is
dirtier than the air coming out, Wheeler
says, and the dealership is getting visits
not only from its own customers, but also
people who just want to see the new
technology at work.
“Nobody ever wants to use it,
but they tell us if they need body
work they’ll come our way,” she says.
“They like what we’re doing for
Marshfield and the environment.”
Completion
Industrial Minerals
Another business that’s working
green-smart is Completion Industrial
Minerals, formerly TexSand
Distributors, which will be using
the city’s effluent water for part of
the operations in its sand-distribution
plant. The facility is sited on 57 acres
in the city’s new Yellowstone Industrial
Park, a 104-acre site on Marshfield’s
southeast side.
Mid-State Technical College
New and existing businesses
implementing the latest technology
will need skilled employees to operate
their systems, and Mid-State Technical
College is answering the call.
MSTC’s offerings include the
biorefinery technology program, as well
as specialty academic tracks for those
looking to become a renewable thermal
energy technician, renewable electricity
technician, renewable energy specialist
or energy efficiency technician.

8 Marshfield
 Gimme Five
Marshfield ranks fifth on Forbes.com livability list

F orbes.com announced in October 2010 that

Marshfield is one of the Best Small Cities to
Raise a Family in America.
taxing to drive to Chicago and the Twin Cities.
“As for education, we have some of the best K-12
schools in the nation, plus we have post-secondary
The prestigious website ranked the top 126 cities opportunities that are extraordinary as well,” he says.
in the United States that have populations of 100,000 “Forbes.com got it right. Marshfield is a great city to
or less, and Marshfield was ranked No. 5. Forbes.com raise a family.” – Kevin Litwin
compiled its list by studying factors such as short
commute times, percentage of adults with a high
school degree, median household income, rate of
home ownership and housing affordability.
“We never had to contact Forbes.com and say
‘Hey, look at us,’ to get on this rankings list, which
made the No. 5 recognition even better,” says Scott
Larson, executive director of the Marshfield Area
Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “For those of
us who live and work in the Marshfield area, it was
simply an affirmation of something we already know.”

Specialty of the House

Larson points out that it’s true that home
ownership is high in the Marshfield area, and
the homes are nice looking. Meanwhile, the city is
above average with regard to household income.
“I think those are all testaments to the educational
opportunities here, and a testament to our solid
economy,” he says. “We are very professionally
based. For example, large employers include
Marshfield Clinic and Ministry Saint Joseph’s
Hospital, and obviously there is a need for highly
trained, highly educated people to staff those facilities.”

Driving Force
Larson adds that a convenient amenity in
Marshfield is its central location, both in the state
of Wisconsin and in the Midwest. It is easy to drive
to the larger cities of Milwaukee, Madison, Green
Bay, Eau Claire and La Crosse, and it’s not overly
Staff Photo

A family enjoys an afternoon of jogging and biking

together in Marshfield.

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 9
 Always on the
Move
Marshfield’s transportation and
biomedical industries are booming
Story By Jessica Mozo
G
etting around in Marshfield is about to get
a whole lot easier. The city is focused on
improving transportation infrastructure, and
the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
is busy expanding 31 miles of U.S. Highway 10 from two
lanes to four.
The new four-lane highway will safely and efficiently
handle the area’s increasing traffic flow and represents an
estimated $275 million investment in Central Wisconsin’s
transportation system.
“The completion of the Highway 10 project is a major
milestone for Marshfield,” says Marshfield Mayor Chris
Meyer. “This project has been discussed and studied for
many years. It will open in 2012, and it is currently open in
areas between Marshfield and Stevens Point. The four-lane,
freeway-style road will provide an important link between
Marshfield, Stevens Point and Interstate 39.”
Marshfield Transportation Improvements
City administrators know transportation upgrades are
key to keeping businesses rolling into the community and
providing a high quality of life for local citizens.
“Communities in Central Wisconsin continue to work
on the development of an inter-city bus system that would
provide a mass transit option for commutes between
communities,” Meyer says. “The city is also looking at ways
to better organize our existing transportation options …
One of our goals is to find a way to make these services
more available to the public and increase their use.”
Marshfield’s Central Avenue was revitalized in 2009,
which has increased traffic flow to the downtown area.
The city is also home to Marshfield Municipal Airport and
major trucking companies, including Roehl Transport Inc.,
deBoer Transportation Inc. and Draxler Transport Inc.
Clockwise from top right: PreventionGenetics; downtown Marshfield; Marshfield Food Safety; Marshfield Municipal Airport
10 Marshfield
Marshfield’s Biomedical Industry
Marshfield also is growing an impressive biomedical
reputation, thanks to local businesses such as the Marshfield
Clinic and PreventionGenetics. Marshfield Clinic was founded
in 1916 by six Marshfield physicians and has grown to include
52 locations covering 80 medical specialties throughout the
state. Its $40 million Laird Center for Medical Research is
known for cutting-edge biomedical research.
PreventionGenetics has been performing genetic testing
in Marshfield since 2004 and was recognized as one of 30
Wisconsin Companies to Watch in 2010 by the Wisconsin
Entrepreneurs’ Network. The company offers clinical DNA
testing, DNA banking and research genotyping for its
customers throughout the country and the world.
PreventionGenetics President Jim Weber started the com­
pany after working as a researcher at the Marshfield Clinic
Research Foundation for many years. It has 50 employees.
“It is likely PreventionGenetics will continue to grow,”
Weber says. “Our new 9,000-square-foot office building is
under construction and will be finished in April 2011. The
new building will be connected to our current building by
an enclosed walkway. We will have sufficient space to
expand our staff to near 100.”
PreventionGenetics’ goal is to prevent disease through
genetic testing.
“The science is exciting,” Weber says. “With the Genome
Project and recent technological developments, human
genetics is in its Golden Age. We also find it personally
satisfying to be able to help the patients.”
At Marshfield Food Safety LLC, scientists perform food
safety testing for food producers. The company works with
Marshfield Clinic’s team of nearly 800 physicians and
scientists to address public health issues and help
improve food safety from the farm to the table.
 S ta f f P h o t o
Photo Courtesy of Marshfield Food Safety

above Photo Courtesy of Paul E. Nelson

Staff Photo

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 11
Marshfield, Wisconsin

CheCk our Vitals

A Great Place to Live ...
• Centrally located in the state with easy
access to larger metro markets
• Top-notch medical and
research facilities
• Vibrant and historic downtown
• Identified as a sustainable community
• Excellent education systems including
technical college and two-year university
• Well-trained and dedicated workforce
• Affordable and available land and
existing buildings
• In the lowest 10% for electrical rates
in Wisconsin
• State and local incentives available
• Diverse industry base including wood
products, metals, transportation, dairy
food processing, agriculture and distribution

Forbes magazine recently rated Marshfield

as one of the “top five best small cities to
live and raise a family.” This was based
on the following criteria: average income,
cost of living, educational opportunities,
commute times and home ownership.

... A Great Place

to Grow a Business!
Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry
700 S. Central Ave. • Marshfield, WI 54449
(715) 384-3454 • Fax: (715) 387-8925
info@marshfieldchamber.com • www.marshfieldchamber.com
 Biz Briefs
Businesses – both large and small – that help define
Marshfield’s economic climate

Scorecard
Business At
A Glance

$1 billion
Annual retail sales

$13,440
Retail sales
per capita
STONEY RIVER ASSISTED LIVING THOMAS HOUSE restaurant
Biz: Assisted living facility Biz: Restaurant and bar
Buzz: Stoney River aims to provide quality, Buzz: The Thomas House Restaurant, $75 million
affordable senior care to the Marshfield located in the Central Avenue Historic District, Annual hotel
community. Unlike many other assisted living provides Marshfield with a unique fine dining and food sales
communities, each suite is equipped with a full experience. Chef Jesse Dolan, raised and trained
bathroom and kitchenette, and residents pay in Appleton, Wis., adds original flavors to
according to their level of care. Stoney River the restaurant’s regularly changing menu 5,500
offers in-house and off-site activities to promote and specializes in “simple fine dining.” Total number
residents’ social engagement and independence. The building was constructed in 1887. of firms
www.stoneyriverweb.com www.thomashouserestaurant.com Source: U.S. Census
QuickFacts

MARSHFIELD CLINIC DATA CENTER SECURITY HEALTH PLAN

Biz: Data center
Buzz: Marshfield Clinic opened a Tier III–
certified data center in Marshfield this year.
The currently 26,000-square-foot facility houses
the data services for Marshfield Clinic and
Cattails Software, providing a secure system
for heath-care records. The data center
should attract other IT-based companies
to the area.
www.marshfieldclinic.org
Biz: Health maintenance organization
Buzz: Security Health, developed by Marshfield
Clinic physicians in 1971, was the nation’s first
rural HMO and is now the fourth-largest in
Wisconsin. The organization serves nearly
190,000 people across 32 counties. Security
Health has been named one of America’s
Best Health Insurance Plans by
U.S. News & World Report.
www.securityhealth.org

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 13
 Felker Brothers
Corporation

Marshfield
Bringing
Marshfield 114 E. Upham St.
to the Marshfield, WI 54449
(715) 387-8691
World (715) 387-3001 Fax
Standing strong
as a family-owned,
community-driven
www.choicehotels.com
company for over 107
years Felker Brothers
Corporation of
Marshfield is a proud
manufacturer of
stainless steel piping
products throughout
the United States
and the world.

Over 200 highly

skilled and dedicated
employees provide a
stable foundation for
critical business and
technological growth
at both our Marshfield,
WI and Glasgow,
KY locations.

Manufactured stainless
steel piping products
ship to job sites
throughout the US,
Canada, Mexico,
Australia, Europe and
the Middle East.

The vision and

accomplishments
of Felker Brothers’
employees allow
us to take Marshfield
to the world’s
marketplace.

We remain proud
to be part of
Marshfield’s industrial
community since 1903.

22 N. Chestnut Ave. • Marshfield, WI 54449

(715) 384-3121 • (800) 826-2304
www.felkerbrothers.com

14 Marshfield
 Economic profile
ECONOMIC OVERVIEW
Marshfield is home to the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation,
one of the nation’s leading medical care and research facilities
that performs cutting-edge work in epidemiology, farm medicine,
clinical research, human genetics and informatics.

TAXES Marshfield Bus Service

1507 N. Anton Ave.
Marshfield, WI 54449
0.5% (715) 387-0101
(800) 380-1287
County Sales Tax
Marshfield Municipal Airport

5% 400 W. 29th St.

Marshfield, WI 54449
State Sales Tax (715) 384-9385

5.5% workforce
Total Sales Tax
24,236
income Total Workforce

$32,818 76%
White Collar Jobs
Per Capita

24%
Income
major employers
$53,641
Blue Collar Jobs
Marshfield Clinic
(Marshfield Only) Average Annual education
Household Expenditure
4,148 employees
Roehl Transport, Inc.
2,003 employees
TRANSPORTATION 31%
Associate Degree
Saint Joseph’s Hospital Greyhound
1,645 employees Bus Lines 13%
Marshfield DoorSystems, Inc. 400 S. Central Ave. Bachelor’s Degree
570 employees Marshfield, WI 54449
de Boer, Inc. (Blenker, WI)
405 employees
(715) 387-4030
www.greyhound.com
10%
Graduate Degree

Thimbleberry Books
& Monday,
Usedsual Tuesday,
Unu
Wednesday
& Friday
9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Thursday
9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday
9 a.m.-3 p.m.

166 S. Central Ave. • Marshfield, WI • 715.387.3049

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 15
 Local Flavor
Fresh Flavors
farm-to-table movement grows in marshfield
Looking for fresh dairy, fruits and veggies or homemade breads, jellies and jams?
Well, look no further than Marshfield – a city known for bringing homegrown delights
straight to the dinner table.
Fresh Food Options in Marshfield
With a booming farming industry, fresh food
options abound. The town’s multiple farmers
markets offer an array of farm grown favorites.
The Main Street Marshfield Farmers Market, located
downtown on Central Avenue, keeps freshness as
a top priority. Open Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m.,
mid-June through September, the market draws
about 200 customers a week, and has everything
from fresh fruits and vegetables to arts and crafts.
Putting their health advice into practice in their own
backyard, Marshfield Clinic hosts a farmers market
in its parking lot throughout the summer months
to promote healthy eating for patients and staff.
Local farmers also bring their farm fresh goodies
to the 10-year-old market held in the parking lot of
Festival Foods on North Central Avenue every
Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
mid-July through October.
“We have all – and only – local growers at our
farmers market,” says Andy Cveykus, store director.
“Our vendors – anywhere from 20 to 30 every week
– grow the food they sell. We don’t allow vendors
to bring in food they’ve bought somewhere else.”
16 Marshfield
photo by Jeffrey S. OTTO
Talk about fresh! And, if homemade whole grain
bread is what you crave, Burich Bunch Bakery has
booths at both farmers markets. Gary Burich and
his family own and operate the bakery at their farm.
“We have six children, ages 3 through 13, and they
all help on some level,” Burich says, “from grinding the
grain into flour to measuring grains into bins.”
Buy Local Marshfield
With the creation of the Buy Local Marshfield
campaign, finding fresh, homegrown products is even
easier. The initiative, started to encourage businesses
and residents to buy locally, helps keep freshness
locked into the community and its products, and
gives restaurants more ways to enhance their menus.
The initiative doesn’t stop at food. It encourages
all businesses in the area to buy locally.
One such business is West 14th, which is located in
the historic Parkin Place. One of two great restaurants,
West 14th strives to provide a dining experience that
expands and complements the menu of Blue Heron
BrewPub that is located downstairs. Opening at
5 p.m. each evening except Sunday, West 14th offers
classic dining in a casual, smoke-free environment.
 Other restaurants in the program include
Someplace Else Bar & Grill and World Buffet.

Goodies, Gifts and Cheeses

Marshfield also is the home and birthplace
of Figi’s Gifts in Good Taste, which specializes in
cheeses, meats and the fresh produce Wisconsin
is known for. The company offers unique gifts
assembled by hand, and their exquisite holiday fare
includes baked goods, chocolates, nuts, sweets and
snacks. For more wine, cheese and local delicacies,
The Market on Sixth is a local favorite.

Foodie Fest
Food for Thought, hosted by The University
Foundation, provides an elegant evening of gourmet
food, distinctive silent and live auction items, and
entertainment. Funds raised at Food for Thought are
used for activities such as scholarships, professional
development of faculty/staff and to offset
administrative costs at the University of
Wisconsin-Marshfield.
– Tiffany Williams and Carol Cowan
Antony Boshier

Figi’s Gifts in Good Taste of Marshfield specializes

in unique food gifts and gift baskets

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 17
 Arts & Culture
From Cultured to Quirky
Marshfield has art and cultural activities galore
Art and culture abound in Marshfield.
Whether one seeks an artful fix, or
just so happens to stumble across
an exhibit while waiting for an X-ray,
Marshfield’s got everyone covered.
Antony Boshier
18 Marshfield
marshfield clinic
The state-of-the-art Marshfield Clinic prides
itself on top-notch patient care, but there also
is something unusual about the medical center –
it doubles as home to a nonprofit museum and
art gallery. New Visions Gallery resides in a
1,600-square-foot space in the clinic’s lobby, and
since 1975 has been providing a delightful diversion
for those awaiting procedures or appointments.
arts and history
The Chestnut Avenue Center for the Arts offers a
variety of arts for the community to enjoy and plenty
of art-filled activities. Performing arts, visual arts and
literary arts all call this place home. There also is
access to individual artists’ and musicians’ studios,
classes and much more.
Upham Mansion, the restored home of former
Wisconsin governor William Henry Upham,
preserves, advances and disseminates knowledge
about the history of Marshfield, the surrounding area
and the state of Wisconsin. Within the walls of the
mansion are vintage Victorian furnishings, many
of which were left by the Upham family. The site is
listed on the National Register of Historic Places and
serves as the center for the North Wood County
Historical Society exhibits, activities and local
history research.
unique attractions
At Jurustic Park, visitors can see more than 250
iron sculptures created by Marshfield resident
Clyde Wynia, a former lawyer. Back in 1993, he began
sculpting iron creatures from scrap metal or other
pieces he could find. Now, around 15,000 people
from all over the world tour the attraction each year.
If that’s still not big enough for you, head on over
to the World’s Largest Round Barn. Built in 1916, the
barn stands 70 feet high and 150 feet in diameter.
The interesting structure is the main attraction of
Marshfield’s fairgrounds, especially during the
Central Wisconsin State Fair.
Also attracting its fair share of folks each year is
Dairyfest, which consists of three delectable days of
dairy celebration each June.
– Tiffany Williams
Creating pottery at the Chestnut Avenue Center
for the Arts in downtown Marshfield.
 Sports & Recreation

It’s Wild Here

Marshfield offers outdoor recreation for all ages

If you love animals and the joy of being outdoors, then Marshfield is sure to have
just what you’re looking for. Whether you’re into biking or bird watching, this city
situated in the heart of Wisconsin offers alfresco fun for everyone.

MCMillan Marsh Wildlife Area
Hunting, hiking, berry picking and wildlife viewing
are just some of the recreational activities available
at McMillan Marsh Wildlife Area. Located near the
headwaters of the Little Eau Pleine River, this diverse
landscape of wetlands, woodlands and grasslands
encompasses approximately 6,500 acres of land.
Animals All Around
At the Mead Wildlife Area, visitors will find even
more acres of wetlands, forests and grasslands.
Containing a whopping 33,000 acres, Mead is home
to more than 267 species of birds that inhabit or
migrate to the area each year.
Marshfield’s Wildwood Park and Zoo, one of the
largest municipal zoos in all of Wisconsin, has even
more animals and outdoor fun. Mammals big and
small reside here, along with raptors and other birds.
For no charge at all, families can go see Amber and
Liberty, the zoo’s two bald eagles, or go say hello to
sister-and-brother mountain lions, Star and Thunder.
For more, visit ci.marshfield.wi.us/pr/Zoo/default.htm.
More Outdoor Fun
Still searching for more outdoorsy activities? Well,
head to Hamus Nature Preserve and Recreation Area
and escape from everyday life. This 32-acre preserve
is located on Marshfield’s north side. Facilities
include restrooms, a grill, picnic tables and more.
Although the land was initially purchased to protect
the city’s wellhead, there are now hiking/walking/
biking trails that allow outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy
the scenic property and its accompanying wildlife.
Three small ponds also were constructed on the
preserve to further enhance the acreage.
– Tiffany Williams

Perri, a peregrine falcon, lives at Wildwood Park and Zoo in Marshfield. photo by todd Bennett

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 19
 Health & Wellness
Cutting-Edge Care
Marshfield has top-notch health care facilities
Marshfield is a small town that boasts a big reputation for health care.
Nestled in the heart of Wisconsin, this city offers two full-service medical
facilities, and is a quality alternative to traveling to the big cities.
Ministry Health Care
Keeps Patients First
Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital, a 500-plus-bed,
state-of-the-art facility, is known for its superior
medical care and cutting-edge technology, and
is designated as one of three children’s hospitals
in Wisconsin.
“We’re located right in the middle of the state,”
says Carla David, the hospital’s public and
community relations manager. “The alternative for
patients would be driving all the way to Madison or
Milwaukee or the Twin Cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul,
Minn.), and for those in north central Wisconsin,
Marshfield is closer to home.”
As part of Ministry Health Care, a values,
ministry-driven health care delivery network
of aligned hospitals, clinics and other providers
based in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Ministry Saint
Joseph’s puts its patients first, offering hands-on,
compassionate care.
It also is “the only verified pediatric and adult
trauma center in the north central part of the state,”
Davis says. Some of the ways the hospital enhances
its reputation is by keeping up with some of the
world’s most up-to-date technologies, including
gamma knife radiosurgery, intraoperative MRI,
nuclear medicine imaging and the da Vinci
robotic surgery system.
Marshfield Clinic Right Next Door
Physically linked to the hospital is Marshfield
Clinic, which has quietly become one of the nation’s
leading medical care and research facilities. The
clinic performs cutting-edge work in epidemiology,
farm medicine, clinical research, human genetics and
informatics every day. Marshfield now takes its place
Top right: A senior research associate works in the
Human Genetics lab at the Laird Center for Medical
Research. Bottom: The Laird Center for Medical Research
is named after health care advocate Melvin R. Laird.
20 Marshfield
among Wisconsin’s “3 Ms” – three cities in the state
known as biomedical research hot spots, the other
two being much bigger Southern neighbors,
Milwaukee and Madison.
Designated as a national model for health care
reform, Marshfield Clinic is one of only 10 sites in the
United States selected by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services to take part in a project focusing
on reducing health care costs through increased
patient education, care management and monitoring
between visits with your health care provider.
The clinic also recently opened the $40 million
Laird Center for Medical Research, named after
former congressman and U.S. Secretary of Defense
Melvin R. Laird. In addition to its reputation in
research, the clinic staffs more than 400 physician
specialists and subspecialists, provides library and
seminar facilities, and features a medical school.
– Tiffany Williams
Marshfield Clinic Hopes
to Start Dental School
The Marshfield Clinic has a plan to deal with the shortage of
dentists in rural Wisconsin.
The renowned clinic hopes to start the state’s second dental
school, with a goal of training dentists to practice in rural and
other under-served areas in Wisconsin and other states. The
clinic already operates seven dental clinics – including the
latest addition, The Marshfield Dental Center – which serve
all patients, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status.
The proposed school is at least several years and about $20
million away, but “we believe we have enough background and
experience and success to say to people, ‘You can believe in
us. We can get it done.’” says Greg Nycz, executive director of
the Family Health Center of Marshfield and director of health
policy for the Marshfield Clinic.
 Staff Photo

photo by Todd Bennett

photo by Todd Bennett

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 21
 Various room plans to choose from
Medication administration
Assistance with showering, dressing, etc.
Emergency response system
Fine dining served tableside
Scheduled transportation for medical appointments,
social events and shopping trips
Personal laundry and housekeeping
Large sunroom and elegant community rooms
Small pets welcome
Social activities
Hair salon

Prairie Run Dental, S.C.

Family Dentistry & Orthodontics

• Barry L. Cole D.D.S. •

1807 Prairie Dr.
Marshfield, WI 54449
305 S. Chestnut Ave. • Marshfield, WI (715) 387-1724 • (715) 384-5310 Fax
(715) 384-6611 • www.angeluscommunities.com www.prairierundental.com

22 Marshfield

Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital
Plans Much-Needed Upgrades
M inistry Saint Joseph’s Hospital is getting
an upgrade.
Plans are in the works to make significant
improvements to the Marshfield hospital, which
has invested almost $60 million in the past five
years toward remodeling, construction, facility
infrastructure and new technology.
The biggest changes will be the addition of two
floors to the West Pavilion, each of which will add
another 30 single-patient rooms, along with
renovations to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,
Health & Wellness
and upgrades to the adult and pediatric Intensive
Care Unit environments. Construction is expected
to take approximately 18 to 20 months.
“Creating the capacity for private rooms for a
majority of our patients has been a long-standing
goal of our board and leaders,” says Brian Kief,
president of Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital. “We
are embarking on a planning and design process
that will lead to the achievement of this goal.”
For more information about Ministry Saint Joseph’s
Hospital, visit www.ministryhealth.org/SJH/home.nws.
i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 23
 Education

One-on-One Education
Marshfield schools bring small-town charm to the classroom

Family-friendly Marshfield is a great place to raise children, in part due to

its excellent schools that include public, private and higher education facilities.

Public and
Private Education
In keeping with the city’s
small-town feel are the host of
schools within the Marshfield
School District and Columbus
Catholic Schools.
The five elementary schools,
one middle school and one high
school that compose MSD serve
more than 4,000 students. Its 282
teachers and 164 support personnel
give students the personal
attention they need to succeed.
The district is committed to
the academic achievement of
its students, with Marshfield
High School offering more than
22 advanced placement classes.
The school also prides itself on
the one-on-one attention it gives
to students, and its programs
that help develop a base for
knowledge, critical thinking
skills, responsible citizenship,
and respect for self and others.
MSD’s popular 4-year-old
kindergarten program starts
students out early, giving them
personal attention and preparing
them for the educational
journey ahead.
The area’s Columbus Catholic
Schools are dedicated to providing
a high-quality Catholic education.
The preK-12 system includes St.
John the Baptist Primary School,
What’s Online  Our Lady of Peace Intermediate
Read more articles about Marshfield’s diverse learning School, Columbus Catholic Middle
environments by going online to imagesmarshfield.com. School and Columbus Catholic
High School.

24 Marshfield
 Higher Education
The University of Wisconsin-
Marshfield/Wood County and
Mid-State Technical College offer
quality higher education minus
the massive class sizes.
At UW-Marshfield/Wood
County students receive
individual attention, with class
sizes averaging about 23 students
and a student-teacher ratio of
17-to-1.UW-Marshfield/Wood
County saw a record enrollment in
the fall of 2010 with 712 students,
including 251 new freshmen.
Located just west of downtown
Marshfield, the campus is situated
on 114 acres in a quiet residential
neighborhood. It offers a wide
range of programs, including
associate degrees, specialized
certificate programs, and arts and
language classes for those who
wish to expand their own horizons.
The school’s Office of
Continuing Education also keeps
community members in mind,
offering non-credit programs
that include training and business
development, and promoting
intellectual stimulation and
personal and professional growth
through a variety of seminars,
workshops and short courses.
Mid-State Technical College, a
student-focused and community-
based campus, also keeps class
sizes small and attention on
individual students. Offering
more than 50 career opportunities
through associate degrees,
technical diplomas and certificates,
the campus continues to invest
heavily in its workforce-related
programs, preparing students
for the road ahead.
MSTC also is one of the 16
campuses within the Wisconsin
Technical College System.
– Tiffany Williams

Investing in the Future

At Marshfield High School, students are getting real-life experience in money management with a new Central City Credit Union branch
office right in the school.
Credit union staff collaborate with teachers to help students learn about the importance of money management, investing, loan and
credit card applications, business ethics, financial safety and security.
The branch office also provides work experience and career exploration to students in Marshfield High School’s Youth Apprenticeship
program, sponsored by the Marshfield Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to help students gain experience, and help employers
develop skilled workers within the community.

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 25
 Mon.-Wed.
9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Thur.-Fri.
9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sat.
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Golden LivingCenter – Three Oaks
209 Wilderness View Dr. • Marshfield, WI 54449 • (715) 389-6000 BICYCLES
SKIS
Short-Term Rehabilitation • Long-Term Care
CLOTHING
Alzheimer’s Care Unit
INLINE SKATES
Inpatient and Outpatient Therapy
1202 S. Central Ave. • Marshfield, WI 54449 SNOWBOARDS
This facility welcomes all persons in need of its services and does not discriminate (715) 384-8313 • Toll-free: (800) 369-4754 SNOWSHOES
on the basis of age, disability, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, E-mail: sports_den@frontier.com
FITNESS
sex, or source of payment. GLS-02234-08
www.thesportsden.net SKATEBOARDS

Full Spa
Unique Clothing Lines

715-384-8000
249 S. Central Ave.
Marshfield, WI 54449

26 Marshfield

time zone
Central
WEATHER
81 F ° 47%
July Average High
2° F
January Average Low
33”
Annual Rain Fall (vs. National
Average Annual Rain Fall of 37”)
visit our
advertisers
Angelus Retirement Company
www.angeluscommunity.com
Central City Credit Union
www.centralcitycu.com
Clearwaters Hotel
& Convention Center
www.clearwatershotel.com
Comfort Inn
www.choicehotels.com
Felker Brothers Corporation
www.felkerbrothers.com
community profile
SNAPSHOT
Marshfield has all the benefits of small-town living with the
educational and health care facilities of a much larger city.
It was ranked Best Place to Live in Wisconsin and 20th
Best Place to Live in America by Demographics Daily.
household
information .29%
Black
18,814 .86%
Total Population
Hispanic
41 2.5%
Median Resident Age
Other
58% transportation
Married
42% 11 minutes
Median Travel Time to Work
Single
cost of living
23%
Age 19 and Under
$51,312
Median Household Income
Age 20-54
$107,000
30% Median Home Price
Age 55 and Over
$625
96.35% Median Rent for a
White Two-Bedroom Apartment
Golden Living Center Marshfield Insurance Roehl Transport Inc.
www.goldenliving.com www.marshfieldinsurance.net www.roehl.net
Innovative Machine Specialists Inc. Merle Norman & Security Health Plan
www.innmacspe.com The Day Spa Boutique www.securityhealthplan.org
M&I Bank Ministry Health Care
www.micorp.com Sports Den
www.ministryhealth.org www.thesportsden.net
Marshfield Area Chamber
of Commerce & Industry Prairie Run Dental SC Thimbleberry Books
www.marshfieldchamber.com www.prairierundental.com
Marshfield Clinic Re/Max – Design Unlimited
www.marshfieldclinic.org www.americandream-wi.com
i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 27
 Through the Lens

Get the Story Behind the Photo

Now that you’ve experienced Marshfield through our photos, see it through the eyes
of our photographers. Visit imagesmarshfield.com to view our exclusive photographers’
blog documenting what all went in to capturing those perfect moments.

From Our Photo Blog:

Marshfield
The new fire station in
Marshfield, Wis., is well worth a
visit. The lobby houses a museum
showcasing a historic fire engine
and lots of artifacts from the
department’s history. And of
course, the station itself has a lot
of modern “equipment” (that’s
firefighter-speak for fire trucks and
ambulances). In addition, the multi-
million dollar facility is the state’s
only fire station to achieve
gold-level LEED certification.
A geothermal system heats the
station, and solar energy heats the
water. There is also a gray-water
system to collect runoff from
showers for flushing toilets; a
separate system collects thousands
of gallons of rainwater that is used
to wash the station’s equipment.
In short, Marshfield’s firefighters
are as adept at saving energy as
they are at saving lives.

Posted by Antony Boshier

More Online 
See more favorite photos and read
the stories behind the shots at
imagesmarshfield.com.

28 Marshfield
 AUTO • HOME • BUSINESS • LIFE • HE A LT H

Marshfield
Ins u r a nce
715-387-4443
208 W. 5th St.
Marshfield, WI 54449
www.marshfieldinsurance.net

i m ag e s m a r s h f i e l d . c o m 29

22 Angelus
Retirement Company
26 Central City
Credit Union
C2 Clearwaters Hotel
& Convention Center
Ad Index
C4 Marshfield Clinic
29 Marshfield Insurance
26 Merle Norman & The Day
Spa Boutique
22 Ministry Health Care

14 Comfort Inn 22 Prairie Run Dental SC

14 Felker 29 Re/max – Design Unlimited

Brothers Corporation
26 Roehl Transport Inc.
26 Golden Living Center
17 Security Health Plan
29 Innovative Machine
Specialists Inc. 26 Sports Den

15 M&I Bank 15 Thimbleberry Books

12 Marshfield Area
Chamber of Commerce
& Industry