Valton
by William C. Schuette, Loganville, Wis. 

The village of Valton lies in the center of Woodland Township in the far northwestern reaches of Sauk County, located on the banks of Valton Creek, a tributary of the Little Baraboo River, and county highway EE. William Mann built the first mill there in 1857. By 1880 the little village boasted two churches, several stores and a factory that made syrup from sorghum cane. Though experiencing a decline through the 20th century, today Valton is the home of a folk art museum known as the Painted Forest and one of the oldest Quaker churches in Wisconsin.

This Valton street scene was taken in 1908. Photo from the collection of Muriel Blakeslee of LaValle.