I'm looking for more information about how the Village of Plain got its name. I've gathered up all the information I have and posted it to my website here:

http://violetblue20.googlepages.com/plain%2Csaukcounty%2Cwis...

What I'm looking for are official records from 1912 when Plain became incorporated.

In 1915, Plain residents wanted to change the name according to a letter to the editor in 1915. I'm hoping to find more newspaper articles.

So far, I've only seen it rumored, beginning in 1968, that Plain was possibly named for the basilica called Maria Plain (located near Salzburg, Austria). The 1968 story says, "A Catholic priest who stopped there suggested Plain because the land reminded him of Maria Von Plain in Austria. It has also been said that Plain was chosen because the residents were 'just plain people.'" Of course, the 1968 story does not name the priest. I wonder what the source was for that statement.

Late 1800 and early 1900 sources do not mention Maria Plain near Salzburg, Austria.

Please read the info at my website where I've explained this in more detail.

If anyone can shed more light on this subject, please contact me :)

Debbie

Thanks for the interesting research! I can't shed any light, but it seems fairly odd and extremely unlikely (were this story actually true) that it would be over 100 years from the first use of "Plain" before anyone mentioned it was named for Maria Plain. Sounds more like somebody wanted to fancy it up well after the fact, because the truth wasn't exiting or interesting enough.