This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Sailboat Hero From Zenda Turns Olympic Gold in Kiel
On a quiet Wisconsin farm in Zenda, Harry “Buddy” Melges Jr. built a sailboat legacy. The Melges Boat Works founder and world champion sailor rose from local rows of corn to Olympic glory, winning gold in Kiel after guiding rivals with his innovative sails. His family, business, and race lineage anchor a regional legend that grew from a small town to international acclaim.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Zenda
Wis
Wisconsin
Harry C
Buddy” Melges Jr
Jaycees
Melges
Melges Boat Works Inc
Lake Geneva
Zenda Tap
Boat Works
Meiges
Big Foot
Buddy Melges
Joon Sodder Canor
Buddy Meiges
Harry
Buddy’ Melges
Cornelius Shields Jr
Shields
Buddy
Tate
Toland Lakes Yachting Association
Cseow
North Amenes
Champne
Winnipeg
Canadas i
Dean Sarior
Aod
Rot Melges
Racine
Bork
Seacott
Peter Mays
Ana
Melges Boat Works
Melees
Doug Elliot