Place:Alpha, Burnett, Wisconsin, United States

source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Alpha is an unincorporated community in the town of Wood River, Burnett County, Wisconsin, United States. The community is located in the western part of the county, in northwestern Wisconsin. There are fewer than a dozen households in the community.

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Alpha was settled primarily by Scandinavian immigrants from the Småland District of Sweden. The community was originally called Småland Prairie, a name rejected by the United States Postmaster General. The town's postmaster, also the local buttermaker, at a loss to come up with a better name, simply filled in the name of his Alpha brand cream separator.

The postmaster's butter business eventually became the Burnett Dairy Co-op. Early on, it processed so much milk that the excess whey turned the stream a creamy color; thus the stream's name, Buttermilk Creek.

The Alpha Store survived long after most general stores had closed. The business was owned through most of its years by the Anderson family. Gordon Anderson, the last owner of the store, sold everything from shoes to groceries to television sets. The building is now home to a small engine repair shop.

Research Tips