ARGYLE — From 1850 to 1959 a rural farming community of Black families existed in Grant County known as Pleasant Ridge. 

That history will be presented by James Hibbard at the Argyle Public Library at 6 p.m. on March 15. The library is located at 401 E. Milwaukee Street. This location has stairs.

Established by former slaves from Virginia and Missouri, Pleasant Ridge grew to a population of approximately eighty people. This presentation will chronicle — with photographs and other materials — who the people of Pleasant Ridge were, some of the interesting events that occurred, and why this community eventually declined.

James Hibbard has been the University Archivist at UW-Platteville for over 20 years. During that time, James has published articles in several publications, including the Wisconsin Magazine of History. He has also published two history books, one on Platteville and the other on Lancaster. James lives in Lancaster with his family.