Fun Fact: All-Seeing Eye
The very first Modern Woodmen of America Fraternity was chartered in 1883 in Lyons, Iowa. The Valton camp, chartered in 1899, is Camp 6190 – an attestation to the rapid growth of the organization. The Original Charter for Camp 6190, Valton, WI, now known as the Ernest Hüpeden’s Painted Forest, hangs inside the building on the South Wall. Ernest Hüpeden arrived in Valton in 1899 and adds that date above the Charter. Ernest Hüpeden bedazzled the charter with the Great Consul (the Highest-ranking officer at each MWA camp), the “All-Seeing Eye”, and a Cornucopia of Bounty.
Written by Lisa Buttonow
Multi-disciplinary writer Lisa Buttonow brings a love of history and hidden stories to Ernest Hüpeden’s Painted Forest. Her diverse background includes degrees from Cornell University and UW-Madison, after which she opened her own locally focused restaurant, Branding Iron Roadhouse, and founded the Hill & Valley Exploration Tour. Across all of her pursuits, Lisa explores the intersection of art, history, food, and the character of rural places.