Just west across the Baraboo River from downtown Reedsburg, James W. Babb registered his claim in 1848. He cultivated some of the prairie, used the timber to build a log house, and thus became the first white man to become a permanent resident in this area. Having established himself here, he left his meager possessions in the care of the Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) Indians who resided in this area, and returned to Ohio to bring other members of his family here. On the west end of the bridge on Main Street is a marker recognizing the ford which the Babb family and the Indians used to cross the river.

David C. Reed, hearing of deposits of iron and copper in the area, soon followed. He built a saw and grist mill on the river, and five shanties made of wood to house the laborers. Their shanties became known as Shanty Row and stood approximately where Main Street is today. Mr. Reed has been credited for starting the village, thus the name of Reedsburgh (Reedsburg) was given to the settlement.

Because the business buildings were mostly constructed of wood, they were easily destroyed by fire. Dating from the late 1800's, new buildings replaced wooden structures. Most of these buildings stand today on Main Street, much as they were when originally constructed.

At the west end of the Main Street boulevard stands a monument marking the fact that the 90th meridian has been calculated to lie exactly 325 feet east of that marker. When the sun is directly at a 90' angle from Reedsburg, the time is exactly 12 noon. As you travel east or west from this line of longitude, time is not as exact. When you visit our town, it is always "the right time!"