{{short description|Peak in Wisconsin}} {{Infobox mountain | name = | other_name = Rat Lake Hill | image = | image_caption = | map = Wisconsin | map_caption = Wisconsin | elevation_ft = 1939 | coordinates = {{Coord|45|33|28|N|88|48|50|W|type:mountain_region:US-WI|display=inline,title}} | etymology = Grove of Sugar Maple trees | location = Forest County, Wisconsin US | country = | state_type = | state = | region_type = | region = Northern Highland }}
'''Sugarbush Hill''', also known as '''Rat Lake Hill''' in Forest County, is a peak with the second highest elevation in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The peak is on the Forest County Potawatomi Indian Reservation and it is considered sacred by that community.
==Location== The peak is the second highest elevation in Wisconsin at {{cvt|1,939|ft|m}} above sea level. It is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.<ref name="Dawson"/> The Forest County government website states that Sugarbush Hill is "just off State Highway 32 and US Highway 8 between Laona and Crandon".<ref name="Forest">{{cite web |title=Forest County, Wisconsin |url=http://www.co.forest.wi.gov/index_print.asp?locid=145 |website=www.co.forest.wi.gov |publisher=Forest County Government |access-date=7 November 2023 |archive-date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107150751/http://www.co.forest.wi.gov/index_print.asp?locid=145 |url-status=live }}</ref> The geographical region of the state where Sugarbush Hill is located is referred to as the Northern Highland.<ref name="WO">{{cite web |title=Wisconsin: Geographical Provinces: Northern Highland |url=http://www.wisconline.com/wisconsin/geoprovinces/northernhighland.html |website=Wisconsin Online |publisher=Wisconsin Online, Inc. |access-date=5 November 2023 |date=9 February 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010209022211/http://www.wisconline.com/wisconsin/geoprovinces/northernhighland.html |archive-date=2001-02-09 }}</ref>
==History== The Native Americans taught settlers in Wisconsin how to make maple syrup and sugar from maple trees. A grove of maple trees is commonly referred to as a "sugar bush". The hill was named for the maple trees that surround it.<ref name="Vogel">{{cite book |last1=Vogel |first1=Virgil J. |title=Indian Names on Wisconsin's Map |date=1991 |publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |location=Madison, Wisconsin |isbn=978-0-299-12984-2 |page=107 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xrYfektNvoQC&dq=sugar+bush+hill+wisconsin&pg=PA107 |access-date=5 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref> The land is on the Forest County Potawatomi Indian Reservation and it is considered sacred.<ref name="Paprock">{{cite book |last1=Paprock |first1=John-Brian |last2=Paprock |first2=Teresa Peneguy |title=Sacred Sites of Wisconsin |date=2001 |publisher=Big Earth Publishing |location=Boulder, Colorado |isbn=978-1-931599-01-6 |page=76 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sgf7JmzmBO0C&dq=sugar+bush+hill+wisconsin&pg=PA76 |access-date=5 November 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
A large fire tower was situated near the top of the peak.<ref name="WHS">{{cite web |title=Memories of Forest Co. : historical research project |url=https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wch/id/66537 |website=Wisconsin Historical Society |access-date=5 November 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105152221/https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wch/id/66537 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1939, the ''Wisconsin State Journal'' stated that the tower was {{cvt|110|ft|m}} tall. A local resident confined himself to the tower in 1939 and held a strike.<ref name="Sit-Down">{{cite news |title=High Up Sit-Down Assailed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-sugarbush-hill/134662969/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |work=Wisconsin State Journal |agency=United Press |publisher=Wisconsin State Journal |date=9 March 1939 |pages=6 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105153252/https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-sugarbush-hill/134662969/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The tower has since been removed.<ref name="Dawson"/> People suspected that the sitdown strike was a publicity stunt meant to call attention to Sugarbush Hill as the tallest peak in Wisconsin. The locals near Rib Mountain claimed that their peak was higher and they referred to Sugarbush Hill as "Rat Hill": a name that was in use for the hill in the 1930s.<ref name="Rib">{{cite news |title=Rib Mountain's Reputation as Highest Point Disputed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/271785177/?match=1&clipping_id=134664771 |access-date=5 November 2023 |work=Newspapers.com |publisher=Wausau Daily Herald |date=3 March 1939 |language=en |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105160744/https://www.newspapers.com/image/271785177/?match=1&clipping_id=134664771 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1956, the Wisconsin Historical Society placed a historical marker near the hill.<ref name="Hmdb">{{cite web |title=Northern Highland Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=33686 |website=Hmdb |publisher=Historical Marker Database |access-date=5 November 2023 |language=en |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105174641/https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=33686 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Elevation controversy== At different times, three separate hills in the state of Wisconsin were referred to as the highest elevation. In 1937, the ''Antigo Journal'' called Sugarbush Hill "Rat Lake Hill" and stated that a geological survey had determined that Rat Lake Hill was the highest point in the state. One local newspaper proposed that the hill be made into a state park. Prior to the geological survey, Rib Mountain was thought to be the highest point in Wisconsin.<ref name="Herald">{{cite news |title=Sitting On The Sidelines |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-sugarbush-hill/134718496/ |access-date=6 November 2023 |publisher=Wausau Daily Herald |date=23 November 1937 |pages=8 |archive-date=6 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106142942/https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-sugarbush-hill/134718496/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1951, the ''Wisconsin State Journal'' called Sugarbush Hill the highest elevation in Wisconsin with a height of {{cvt|1,950.8|ft|m}}.<ref name="McClelland">{{cite news |last1=McClelland |first1=Harold E. |title=Sugar Bush Hill rated Highest Point in State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-birch-lake-laona/132070817/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |publisher=Wisconsin State Journal |date=11 November 1951 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105152220/https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-birch-lake-laona/132070817/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2023, the ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'' stated that Timms Hill in the town of Hill is the highest elevation in Wisconsin at {{cvt|1,951.5|ft|m}}.<ref name="Dawson">{{cite news |last1=Dawson |first1=Drew |title=These are the 10 tallest peaks in Wisconsin |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/travel/wisconsin/outdoors/2023/08/14/wisconsins-highest-point-the-10-highest-natural-peaks-in-the-state-timms-hill-rib-mountain-east-hill/70541605007/ |access-date=5 November 2023 |work=Journal Sentinel |publisher=Journal Sentinel |date=14 August 2023 |archive-date=5 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105152221/https://www.jsonline.com/story/travel/wisconsin/outdoors/2023/08/14/wisconsins-highest-point-the-10-highest-natural-peaks-in-the-state-timms-hill-rib-mountain-east-hill/70541605007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Forest County government website refers to Sugarbush Hill as the "third highest part of our state".<ref name="Forest"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Tourist attractions in Forest County, Wisconsin Category:Forest County, Wisconsin Category:Hills of Wisconsin Category:Landforms of Forest County, Wisconsin Category:Forest County Potawatomi Community Category:Sacred mountains of the United States