In a large portion of western Wisconsin, where the Mississippi River separates the state from its neighbor, the land is folded into steep hills and narrow valleys.
During the second half of the 19th century, immigrants from Switzerland, Germany, and Scandinavia settled in this area. They found creeks and small rivers in the valleys and springs on some of the hillsides. The land was good for farming and soon crops were planted and domestic animals living on each farmstead.
Villages sprouted up around a sawmill, or a trading post. A church and a tavern soon followed. Perhaps a blacksmith moved into the settlement. Other craftsmen and merchants followed.
Not all of these settlements survive to this day. However, the region is filled with small towns with populations in the hundreds — not thousands.
Placed between two hills, this village is two streets wide. Primarily hardwood, the hillsides take on a beauty only exceeded by New England each autumn.
It was one of these villages which serves as the model for the village of Crystal Springs in my series of three sweet romances: Starr Tree Farm, Hiding Places, and Seed of Desire.
Here’s a link to the first one published: https://amzn.to/2zqIQEw