Historical Marker Commemorating Wisconsin's First Train Wreck Installed in Fireman's Park

A new historical marker has been installed in Johnson Creek commemorating Wisconsin’s first train wreck, which occurred right here on November 1, 1859.

The tragic accident involved the locomotive Perry H. Smith, which struck an ox while traveling from Oshkosh to Chicago, derailing five of its eleven cars and resulting in 14 deaths and dozens of injuries. This event ultimately led to the requirement for fencing livestock along this line.

Thank you to the Johnson Creek Historical Society for preserving this important piece of Wisconsin history. We’re proud to see local stories honored and remembered.

The marker is located in Fireman's Park, 417 Union Street.