Sinipee was originally set up in about 1831. Because of its close proximity to the Mississippi River, and location on the Sinipee River, Sinipee was for a short time a very prosperous traffic area. It competed with Galena, Illinois, and Dubuque, Iowa for superiority of shipping at the time. Also, SInipee boasted a glorious stone hotel. The town was well known enough at the time that two men who would later become presidents (one was for the confederates)stayed at the stone hotel on more than one ocasion. The hotel was fed from within by a small spring. Supposedly the hotel foundation, with the still-running spring, can be seen today. Unfortunately, the town only lasted two years. It flooded in about 1833. Although the flood damage was easily repaired, malaria spread from the sitting pools of water. Most of the town died of the illness. Some of the buildings (which were new at the time) were moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin after the town was deserted. The site overgrew with vegetation and is now mostly forgotten. Very few Wisconsin history books even acknowlege Sinipee's short-lived existance. Submitted by: Matt Jegerlehner

You're way off base on Sinippe, Wisc It lasted along time  before the "big flood". The big flood was cause by the Federal Gov intentionally. Today we call it the Mississippi River Lock and Dam System.  Construction was started in 1933 and completed in 1937. That is what caused the end of Sinippe, Wisc. They did have a plague of sorts, but the lock and dam was the real reason. The town's people had ample warning. So much so that they relocated much of the town and the entire cemetary to higher ground. With building materials being so plentiful at the time, I would be surprised if very much was moved to Mineral Point, Wisc. It was already well established by then as a large mining area. If you want to see Sinippe, I can show you the only remaining fondation next to a hillside bluff.  I've been there. I live only a few miles away and have hiked in that area with my Boy Scouts many times. At one time it is said to have rivaled Dubuque, Ia in barge traffic. (just across river) There was more barge traffic on the Wisc side than Ia at the time because most of the lead mining was on the Wisc side. When Sinippe was flooded in the 30's barge traffic shifted down stream to Galena, Il.

Arnie Alt Jr