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Register of the Adrian (Sylvester "Syl" F.) John Muir
Memorial Park, Wisc. Papers,
1954-1982
Mss207
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Title: Adrian (Sylvester "Syl" F.) John Muir Memorial
Park, Wisc. Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1954-1982
Collection number: Mss207
Creator:
Ronald H. Limbaugh
Extent: 0.25 linear ft.
Repository:
University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of
Special Collections
Stockton, CA 95211
Shelf location: For current information on the location of
these materials, please consult the library's online catalog.
Language: English.
Collection is open for research.
[Identification of item], Adrian (Sylvester "Syl" F.) John Muir Memorial
Park, Wisc. Papers, Mss207, Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections,
University of the Pacific Library
Sylvester "Syl" Adrian of Montello, Wisconsin was an inventor, resort
and tavern owner, museum owner, conservationist and local historian. He was
instrumental in the creation of the John Muir Memorial County Park on the first
Wisconsin homesite of John Muir. The site was located at Fountain Lake farm,
near Montello on County road F South in Marquette County, Wisconsin. Syl Adrian
was an inventor like Muir, inventing with his brother a player piano, the coin
slot for vending machines, the Adrianola juke box, an x-ray shoe fitter made
until 1926, and an electric starter motor. As the operator of Adrian's Indian
Echoes Resort and museum, he displayed a large Winnebago Indian artifact
collection, World War I memorabilia, and information on Muir.
Adrian began his campaign for a Muir Park at Fountain Lake when he
became concerned about the closing of the locks on Fox River. He felt that the
Fountain Lake was the most appropriate site for a Muir memorial. He worked with
descendents of Edward Harriman, the Union Pacific Railroad President who had
organized and financed John Muir's Alaskan Travels on the Harriman Expeditions.
The Mary Harriman Foundation helped to purchase some of the 150 acre park which
includes the farm area, meadow and lake. Involving agencies such as the City of
Montello, Marquette County, the Wisconsin Historical Society, and local
landowners around Fountain Lake, he worked for 12 years to establish the park.
He was unsuccessful in his additional effort to include the Muir farm on the
Ice Age National Scientific Reserve Trail.
The John Muir Memorial Park was dedicated on May 5, 1957 and featured
Jean Hanna DeLipkau, Muir's grand-daughter, as a speaker.
The collection includes newspaper clippings, articles, correspondence,
photographs and taped interviews of the Adrians and others living on Muir
family historic sites by Dr. Ronald H. Limbaugh, Dir., John Muir Center,
University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif.