Hoel and Orilla Wright came to what is today known as the Village of Wrightstown in 1833 to establish trade with Native Americans. They also built a hotel called The American House and started a ferry service across the Fox River. As the number of settlers increased and trade opened between the communities along the Fox River, Wright decided to build a toll bridge to replace his existing ferry. In 1856, a permanent bridge was constructed in Wrightstown—the first of its kind on the lower section of the Fox River. The community’s first name was Bridgeport, but it was changed to Wrightstown in 1854 in honor of Hoel S. Wright’s contributions to the community.

German, Belgian, Dutch, and Irish immigrants flocked to the area in the 1840s and ’50s, increasing the size of the community and influencing its culture. Being located on the Fox River, Wrightstown played an important role in the lumber boom from 1850 to 1860, as lumber was shipped downriver from Wrightstown to Green Bay. This also paved the way for a manufacturing boom. Wrightstown became home to a water mill, steam sawmill, steam stave factory, shingle mill, the Kellogg & Brothers Flour Mill, and a cheese factory, among other businesses.

An important businessman from the town’s history was Carl G. Mueller, a German immigrant who opened and operated a general store, sawmill, and brewery. In 1871, Mueller purchased the Wright house, repaired it, and added two one-story wings, a front porch, and a second-floor recessed balcony. The Mueller family lived in the house until 1938.

Agriculture and dairy also became important industries in Wrightstown following the decline of the lumber trade and came to eclipse manufacturing by the 1900s. In 1901, Wrightstown was incorporated and has since been known as the Village of Wrightstown. Today, the town is home to over 3,000 people and continues to grow, hosting a wide variety of both new and long-standing businesses.

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Information for this paragraph comes from Ruth Roebke’s From Bridgeport to Wrightstown.