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The Mural below the postmaster’s door at the Neillsville Post Office was painted in 1940 by artist John Van Koert and is titled ‘The Choosing of the County Seat.’

The painting also depicts tactics to keep Weston Rapids voters away from the polls.

O’Neill’s Mills residents are pictured in the mural giving away free whisky to Weston Rapids voters. Polls were open at two locations, including O’Neill’s Mills and the other at Parker’s tavern, located seven miles south of O’Neill’s Mills.

Weston Rapids residents needed to cross O’Neill Creek on a narrow log boom to vote at either of the two locations.

 However, legend has it some O’Neill’s Mills residents transported La Crosse whiskey from O’Neill’s Mills over the river and gave it away to Weston Rapids loggers.

The mural may not be completely accurate because it displays the whiskey barrel on the wrong side of O’Neill Creek.

Once intoxicated, the loggers were not able to negotiate crossing the narrow log boom and were not able to get to the polls. Neillsville became the county seat when it was selected by a 17-vote margin. (Peter Spicer/Clark County Press)

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