Stoughton, Wisconsin - Birthplace of the Coffee Break

In the late 1800s, Norwegian immigrants arrived in the Stoughton area, attracted by the availability of work in T.G. Mandt's wagon factory. While the men were employed building wagons, local tobacco warehouse owners experienced a shortage of workers each harvest, when it was time to bring in the tobacco. Mr. Osmund Gunderson decided to ask the Norwegian wives, who lived just up the hill from his warehouse, if they would come and help him sort the tobacco. The women agreed, as long as they could have a break in the morning and another in the afternoon, to go home and tend to their chores. This also meant they were free to have a cup of coffee from the pot that was always hot on the stove. Mr. Gunderson agreed and with this simple habit, the coffee break was born.

One of the streets that was near the factory was given the honorary name of Coffee Break Street, but aside from that and the festival there's not much to see coffee break-wise.

Stoughton also hosts one of the largest Syttende Mai Festivals in the world. [Henry Verden, 07/31/2008]