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The Place Where Two Neighborhoods Meet

Dudgeon Monroe Neighborhood Map

Vilas NEighborhood


A Historic Connection to the Dudgeon-Monroe and Vilas Neighborhoods
Edgewood has been located in its unique setting on the shore of Lake Wingra since the former Wisconsin Governor, Cadwallader C. Washburn, gave his lakeside villa and estate to the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters in 1881. At the time, Washburn’s “Edgewood” was on the western fringes of the city and even into the 1930s the Sisters had a working farm with vegetable gardens, a corn field, an orchard and grazing pasture. The Edgewood estate itself dates back to 1855 when John Ashmead built the original villa which he sold to Samuel Marshall shortly after construction who owned it until 1873 when Governor Washburn acquired it.

The Madison Park and Pleasure Drive requested access through the property in 1904, which was granted, joining Henry Vilas Park to Woodrow Street. The road, which was to be maintained by the city, eventually fell into disrepair after years of through traffic and now remains accessible only by foot or bicycle, with the exception of limited access to several buildings on campus. At the same time, Edgewood High School gave up its baseball field and tennis courts so that Edgewood College Drive could be put through the center of campus rather than having all access to the college facilities from Woodrow Street, further reducing traffic along the street. The traffic light creates breaks in the flow that helps in crossing the street and making turns onto Monroe Street.

Respecting the Environment and Providing Access
Edgewood College installed a boardwalk that extends out into the reeds and lily pads along the shoreline, providing seating and wildlife viewing areas available to the community. In addition, all three schools on the campus have engaged in vegetation management, tree planting along the perimeter and internally, and undertaken other projects to minimize environmental impact, particularly in the area of reducing surface run-off. The Edgewood grounds are clean and well-maintained, providing a green space and woodlands area amidst the closely-spaced homes and increasing multi-story buildings along Monroe Street. The Goodman Athletic Complex track is open from 6:30 in the morning to dusk.

Cooperating and Contributing
Over the years, the Edgewood schools have worked hard to limit the impact of commuters in the surrounding neighborhoods. Edgewood College built a parking ramp and has substantially increased the on-campus residency, with the result that far fewer college students have to travel to campus on a daily basis. In addition, Edgewood High School has increased its surface parking lots to accommodate more student vehicles in order to reduce the number being parked and moved throughout the day along neighborhood streets.

Edgewood High School parent volunteers paid for and poured the first sidewalk along the school’s Monroe Street frontage in 1964. The Edgewood campus was the original site of summer concerts before they moved to the Capitol Square and now, Edgewood High School is the host site for the Monroe Street Farmers Market. Edgewood families, faculty and staff frequent the merchants and restaurants along Monroe Street, helping to keep the neighborhood a vibrant one with thriving, unique venues that make the area special for all.

Every Edgewood student fulfills 100 hours of volunteer service, and the school-wide annual day of service provides more than 3,500 hours of assistance at community non-profits, including sites like the Monroe Street Arts Center, St. James School, local parks and retirement centers, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Habitat for Humanity Restore.