Welcome to the
Town of Little Wolf

History of the Town of Little Wolf

The history of Little Wolf

The town was first settled by William Goldberg in 1848, who was joined by George E. and J.P. More in 1849, and James and Peter Meiklejohn in 1850.[3] The first settlements straddled the river on the southern border of the township. The town was at first known as Centerville, and was organized on March 5, 1852. On November 15, 1854 the town changed its name to Little Wolf.[4] After Jack Brickley built the first bridge across the river in 1858, it was also known as Brickley Bridge, but the name Little Wolf stuck after A. P. Jones established a new town post office in January 1859.
The Town of Royalton separated from Little Wolf in 1853. The towns Town of Union was separated from Little Wolf in 1857, with the Town of Dupont separating from the Town of Union in 1864.
The area grew fairly quickly in just ten years. Goldberg and the Mores built a sawmill there in 1849. Andrew Van Adestine fired up a smithy, Dan Smith and A. P. Jones opened groceries, and Jack Brickley bridged the river. Although Peter Meiklejohn set aside a room in his house for the village's first teacher, Miss Fortner, to use as a class room in 1853, the village raised a school house in 1857, the same year that Meikeljohn opened a grist mill on the southwest bank of the river. A two-story hotel, also operated by the Meiklejohns, stood near the grist mill.
Little Wolf never grew much bigger, though, and probably began to decline in the 1870s, after another lumbermill was built upriver in 1871, and the railroad was routed through Manawa in 1873. Until recently,[when?] the hotel and the foundations of the grist mill were all that remained to show that the village ever existed. Today, even the hotel is gone.

 

Mill Pond Joint Statement

 

UPDATED on 7-2-2026: 

News Release from the Town of Little Wolf/City of Manawa

At the 2 year anniversary of the Breach of the Levy and loss of our Manawa Mill Pond, the City of Manawa and the Town of Little Wolf are pleased to update our residents on our progress.

We have been moving forward, cooperatively, towards the shared goal of rebuilding the dam, and restoring the Manawa Mill Pond.  Positive feedback from the DNR and our Legislators supports this goal.  The City and the Town remain committed to this goal!

The studies and assessments are being performed, in order to be able to put out Request for Proposals (RFP’s) for the design and build of a new structure.  This helps us get the most competitive quotes, thus getting the best product for the cost.

We appreciate the members of our community that have supported us thus far, and encourage Community Engagement on this important project!

 

To check with DNR regarding projects on your Shoreline, and to do your due diligence for the legality of your project, Please contact:

Crystal VonHoldt at 920-410-3181 or

 email at  Crystal.vonholdt@wisconsin.gov

Upcoming Meetings

Upcoming Meetings

 

The next Town Board Meeting is on Tuesday,  July 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM.

 

The next DAM COMMITTEE meeting is on Monday, August 3, 2026 at       6:00 PM

 

Planning Commission to meet on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 at 6:15 PM to consider and make a recommendation to the Board, for a Conditional Use Permit.  see  Agenda on Agenda and Minutes page.

 

 

August 11, 2026 - Primary Election

November 3, 2026 - General Election