Historical presentation brings in a crowd

MARQUETTE — More chairs had to be added for the growing crowd filing into the Marquette Regional History Center Wednesday night for an early Marquette tale involving loose cows and an angry mob attack.

Bill Van Kosky’s presentation, “Trouble at the Cow Pound,” recounted an 1881 incident in which a group of angry Marquette residents stormed a cow pound, releasing the trapped livestock and assaulting the pound master. The cow pound was created upon the city’s inception for livestock running amuck, wreaking havoc on the city. Van Kosky said knowing local history is not only interesting, it’s important.

“It’s said that people that don’t learn history are doomed to repeat it. This is not a serious issue-cows running loose in 1881,” said Van Kosky. “But, nevertheless, understanding the past helps us better foresee the kinds of things we’re going to have to deal with in the future.”

Van Kosky was researching an unrelated subject when he kept running into references of a cow pound. He eventually wrote an article for the historical society publication in 2002, spreading the cow pound tale.

“There are interesting things in history other than wars and politicians and rich and famous people,” said Van Kosky. “Things that were happening on a daily basis to ordinary folks is really interesting and worth preserving. I’m glad I was able to bring this very little known aspect of early history to a group’s attention.”