Nakoma League
The Nakoma Neighborhood is bounded by Odana Rd. on the north, Manitou Way on the east, Mohawk Dr. on the south, and Whenona Dr. and Waban Hill on the west. After early European settlement in the 1830's, the land, primarily farms, was made part of the Town of Madison. By 1856 the area was populated enough for the establishment of Rural School District No. 6 and a small frame schoolhouse was erected on the site that is currently occupied by Thoreau School.
The neighborhood contains one of the oldest buildings in Madison,
the Spring Tavern/Hotel built in 1854 at 3706 Nakoma Rd. Built by Charles C. Morgan and James W. Gorham, it was used throughout 1860-1895 as an inn for travelers going from the lead mines in Platteville to Milwaukee. It was closed during the Civil War and converted by Gorham to a private residence in 1895.
The Nakoma League started the 1920's as a women's group. The active group quickly grew too large and was split into “tribes”: Cherokee, Oneida, Iroquois, Seminole, Chippewa, and Ottawa. The women met one afternoon each month to socialize, attend to welfare activities and participate in educational activities such as music lessons or guest speakers. In addition, the annual 12th Night Party Dinner and Theater has been held since 1916, and was the only event at the beginning to which husbands were invited. Today, the Nakoma League includes all residents of the neighborhood's 700 homes and continues its mission, “to promote neighborliness and friendliness among its members and to contribute to the welfare of the community.” The league sponsors many community events including Easter Egg hunts, a 4th of July picnic and parade and a Halloween party.
The neighborhood contains one of the oldest buildings in Madison,
the Spring Tavern/Hotel built in 1854 at 3706 Nakoma Rd. Built by Charles C. Morgan and James W. Gorham, it was used throughout 1860-1895 as an inn for travelers going from the lead mines in Platteville to Milwaukee. It was closed during the Civil War and converted by Gorham to a private residence in 1895. The Nakoma League started the 1920's as a women's group. The active group quickly grew too large and was split into “tribes”: Cherokee, Oneida, Iroquois, Seminole, Chippewa, and Ottawa. The women met one afternoon each month to socialize, attend to welfare activities and participate in educational activities such as music lessons or guest speakers. In addition, the annual 12th Night Party Dinner and Theater has been held since 1916, and was the only event at the beginning to which husbands were invited. Today, the Nakoma League includes all residents of the neighborhood's 700 homes and continues its mission, “to promote neighborliness and friendliness among its members and to contribute to the welfare of the community.” The league sponsors many community events including Easter Egg hunts, a 4th of July picnic and parade and a Halloween party.
