Why is Montello, Wisconsin so mean? (Milwaukee, Madison: landscaping, buy, schools)

[KatieBug06]

I have a friend who lives near Oshkosh. Any plans she and her husband make are with their family. Both come from large families - and have all of their family members living within 10 miles of their house. She cannot fathom being like me - and having at least a 6 hour drive separating her from her nearest relative. Her family is her world. She doesn't have any friends she does things with.....she only does things with her family. It doesn't make her wrong or right - just different from me.

She has been trying to get me to move to WI for several years. Physically I cannot handle the cold temps or snow....Emotionally, I cannot handle the thought of my whole world revolving around my family. I live in SC now. We've been here 7 years (moved from upstate NY) and we are still outsiders. People are nice to us, but don't do things with us. You are their "friend" - but only at work, on a superficial level. To my co-workers, I'm a ___ Yankee - no matter what, I will be an outsider because of my accent.

As many of the posters have already said - research the area you are considering. Go there several times - more than just a weekend. Keep your mind and heart open. You will know if the area is right for you or not. You cannot go into the situation with "oh, I don't want to be here" and expect the community to greet you when you put walls up; cross your arms, not smile, mentally tell yourself "everyone here is miserable". In that case, it's not "everyone", it's you.

[montellobornnbred]

Grew up in Montello... Left for the military, came back and had good and bad experiences... bottom line, life is what you make it and we moved away, and now came back... we are were and always be locals... again life is what you make it.

[weekender]

Have been going to the northern part of Montello for over 20 years. Could not ask for better neighbors. Last year, we decided to buy a place on Montello Lake. Again, we were accepted with open arms. There is good and bad everywhere. Make the most of what you have. When I get older, I may make it permanent.

[shannonM]

Originally Posted by Drover

It's kind of sick to laugh at other peoples' misfortunes, even if you didn't like them or get along with them. Just hope that if something like a tornado or flood sweeps through your town that people help instead of laugh. I'd like to think someone capable of laughing at something like tornadoes and floods affecting people's lives and wrecking the landscape wouldn't be welcome in my community either.

i totally agree with you

[anntinasia]

In Montello, you are in red neckville. It's been observed by many people I know in the area that once you get north and west of Berlin....you really hit the red necks....and some of them run the towns. I live in Berlin. Been here 10 years. It's a great town to raise kids in. However, there is some truth to what "heartbroken" has said. You DO meet some down right mean people and you just have to realize they are probably the red necks. It takes a while to find your place in the community. I'm sorry things did not work out for you in Montello. It is a pretty town. I have lived in WI for 30 years and I've met ALL kinds of people and the red necks are harder to get along with. Next being the natives. It hasn't stopped me from living where I want to live. Maybe it's because I'm a hick from KS and have had some "experience" with mean people before.
Don't let it stop you from loving WI. It's an incredible state with incredible people, trust me on this one.

[KatWisc7]

I've driven through Montello several times over the years, but have never really spent any time there. In fact, the only place I stop at is the Kwik Trip station for just a few minutes before hitting the road again. I've never interacted with anyone who lives there, while in the town, so I don't have any impression of what they're like. However, I used to work with someone who lives in Montello, and I have to say, he was probably the nastiest, meanest person I've ever encountered in my life! But, that doesn't necessarily mean everyone there is like that.

I admit, I know very little about Montello. My impression of it from just passing through? It has a strange vibe. A little creepy? A little backwards? Reminds me of the Adams-Friendship area. I do enjoy seeing the pretty waterfall when I pass through, but I don't think I'd ever consider living there.

Don't get me wrong! I like small towns in Wisconsin. I'm from a small town in Wisconsin. Every town has it's own vibe - some better/worse/different than others.

I definitely believe you! Many towns are very cliquey and mean. If your entire family isn't rooted in the town and if you're not completely obsessed with high school athletics, then you are nothing to them. I grew up in one of these towns and moved away as soon as I could. I moved to a different town that was only about 15 miles away, but what difference! The people were so nice in comparison and the town had a much better atmoshpere.

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience in Montello.

[ccjarider]

KAtWisc7 - That is a pretty funny comment about Adams Friendship. I have to laugh as I have owned property near A-F for 20 years. Good hunting place but I could never imagine living with those freaky people.

Funny story - my 10 year old daughter was waiting in the car for me while I picked up some stuff in the grocery store. When I came back to the car, she asked me why this town has such weird looking and ugly people?? Not that nice of a comment but I must admit made me laugh.

It does give off a vibe- no doubt about it.

[JoshB]

I'm not from Adams Friendship, but I would like to comment on it.. Sorry this is getting off topic. Any ways my friends always talk about how backwards and inbred like A-F is.... I had to defend the AF residents the other day though at a grad party... I think the problem with A-F is it's an area full of uneducated, poverty level residents... It's really not there fault.... I will say they are mildly weird but nothing more.... Poverty and uneducated people shouldn't ruin a beautiful part of the state.... Quincy bluff is up that way and is one of the most beautiful areas on this green earth. Small towns will be small towns... If your not from there you will notice more than if your brought up "there way."

[parent123]

Yes I do understand what you are saying, I live by Priceton. Princeton and Montello are getting so slim of people that the two schools are pairing up for the public school athletics. Education soon to follow.
You will probably understand why my children are in a private online school. I do get frustrated that I pay property taxes and extra to a private online school comes out of my pocket.
We could move but our jobs are around here. We own our property, and the only prospective buyers would be from the area, and would not pay the value.
I believe that pretty much all areas are the same.People seem to stay within a small circle. ( Just observe going through a store, instead of people greeting you and starting conversation, they are on their cellphones and absent from the real world. Just know that the people that treated you and your family bad will encounter the same treatment someday, and remember yourself wwhat situation you were in when meeting new people. To bad people won't accept change as a good thing. There are some decent people yet, but you really have to search for them. Hope you found a more welcoming place to live.

[JR0709]

I can't believe I read this entire thread. Anyways, we are thinking about renting a home in Montello. We currently live in Portage. I've lived in different places of the country, mostly the west coast and here in Wisconsin. I think people get put off by small towns because when you are new in a town....you are noticed. In small towns everyone knows everyone. In big cities you can go into a Wal-mart without a second glance, no one cares because they'll probably never see you again. In a small town, chances are you will have to give an extra effort to be kind and friendly yourself to recieve kindness and courtesy in return. It takes a while to get used a small town. It's definetely not cut out for everyone. If you gave it a fair shot and still absolutely hate it...I would steer away from the small towns.