Riley

The unincorporated community of Riley was founded in 1881, when the Chicago and North Western railroad was built. Platted as Sugar River Station on William Riley’s farm, it became known as “Riley’s Station and Post Office” and has been known as Riley’s for most of its existence. It was the best known water stop for the steam engines between Madison and Lancaster. At the turn of the century Riley’s had a population of 100 or more, a creamery, stables, a depot, stockyards, general stores, a church, and a large hall.
In 1943, the Chicago and North Western received permission to remove the station buildings and equipment.  A grocery was the only substantial business near the station, the Public Service Commission noted, and no carload freight had been shipped from or received at the station for four years. The only remaining business today is a tavern, in the building that once was a general store and post office. The tavern features Sunday morning pancake breakfasts. Bluegrass music jams are held on the first Saturday afternoon of the month.

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Verona

​The City of Verona grew out of two communities settled in the 1840’s.  The first, Taylorville, was near a grist mill built in 1943-44 along Badger Mill Creek.  The Corners, a mile to the north, was the crossing of two main roads. In 1848 Verona became a village. Verona’s population was mainly German and Scottish. Josiah Matts sold a 100 feet strip of land through Verona to the Chicago and Tomah Railcoach Co. in 1880 for $50. The railroad depot was in the block west of Main Street. Two hotels were nearby. One of the hotels, the Eagle’s Nest, was a stagecoach stop for the Milwaukee to Mineral Point and Green Bay to Galena routes. It was built in 1850 and included a carriage barn for the horses and stagecoaches.

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