Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve Timeline

prepared from the Circle archives in celebration of Circle Land's 20th Anniversary / Samhain 2003

1974:	Circle is founded by Selena Fox at Samhain. Selena also begins conceptualizing plans for creating a rurally based spiritual center as part of Circle's development.
1975:	In June, Circle moves to its first rural home, a rented farmhouse on land near Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Selena Fox, Jim Alan, and De-Anna Alba live together in the farmhouse and do Circle office work there. Circle begins holding classes, festivals, and other events at this site and in nearby Madison.
1979:	Efforts to locate and purchase land as a home for Circle begin in November after Circle is evicted from its Sun Prairie home by a prejudiced landlord.
1979-1983:	Land search, visioning, and fund raising happen. Proceeds from the Pagan Spirit Gathering and other festivals go to the Land Fund.
1983:	In June, the Land is found through a dream by Selena and a follow-up search; negotiations for purchase start.
1983:	Circle's first land communion ritual happens at Samhain. Selena Fox & Jim Alan connect with the Spirit of the Land atop what is now known as Ritual Mound. Circle begins purchasing the Land through a land contract.
1983:	Building repairs begin in November. Selena, Jim, & the Circle offices move to the Land.
1983:	At Yule, Stone Circle construction begins with the laying of the altar stone and fire ring atop Ritual Mound in the first Community ritual on the Land. Taking part in this first rite are Selena Fox, Jim Alan, Dennis Carpenter, Beket, Axis, Starfire, Little Hawk, and Free Spirit.
1984:	Workshops and training programs by Selena Fox begin on the Land.
1984:	Mugwort Circle is created as a ceremonial area from Mugwort plants grown and transplanted from Circle's previous home, a rented farmhouse near Black Earth several miles away.
1983-84:	Local bigots conspire and engage in a campaign to drive Circle off its Land by spreading false and defamatory rumors against Circle. They urge local government officials to shut Circle down and drive it off its Land. In April, the county zoning administrator begins an investigation of Circle's activities on land but finds no violations of law. Prayers are directed against Circle and its Land project in some local churches.
1984:	Circle staff takes part in local relief work in June after the nearby village of Barneveld is destroyed by a powerful tornado.
1984:	Dennis Carpenter joins the Circle staff and moves to the Land in early June.
1984:	A Stone Circle consecration ritual is held in December and filmed as part of an Australian documentary.
1985:	During the Summer, the Circle Barn is remodeled, mainly through efforts of Pagan volunteers, that include Sior of Ceren Ered, Randy of Georgia, Starhawk, and others. The Barn includes offices and a multi-purpose Temple Room.
1985:	In the Fall, Circle and its Land become prominent as a Pagan religious freedom center as Selena Fox and Circle help lead a successful nationwide campaign that defeats federal anti-Wiccan legislation.
1985-86:	Circle and its Land become targets of right wing fundamentalist Christian extremist groups whose anti-Wiccan federal legislation was defeated. These national groups link up with local bigots in a renewed effort to shut down Circle and its Land project.
1986:	Giving into local pressures, in April, the county zoning administrator rules that Circle must get zoning to continue its operations on its Land.
1986:	During the Spring and Summer, Bigots intensify efforts to defame Circle and its Land project through rumor mongering and conspiring at local community meetings. With the help of attorneys, Circle applies for church zoning. However, government officials refuse to grant church zoning or any type of zoning for Circle's activities, despite Circle's state and federal status as church.
1986:	In June the first handfasting and legal marriage rite is held on Circle Land. Selena Fox and Dennis Carpenter get married in the presence of family and friends in the Stone Circle in a rite conducted by Margot Adler.
1986:	Ancient Native American archaeological sites are discovered on Circle land by Selena Fox and David Lowe. Native American archaeological research and preservation work begins on the Land.
1986-1988:	Circle, its Land, and its community are repeatedly harassed and attacked. Local, state, national, and global media report on Circle's religious freedom battle. Widespread support develops for Circle in its quest to use its Land for spiritual purposes. In 1987, the Wisconsin branch of the American Civil Liberties Union takes Circle's case and provides an attorney, Dan Hildebrand, who later becomes head of the state bar association. Circle prepares to go to court.
1988:	Circle wins church zoning through a vote by local government officials at a public meeting on January 6, the night of the Full Moon and Epiphany. A federal court battle is averted.
1988:	At Imbolc, a Land blessing ritual is held and Circle Temple Room is consecrated. Circle Sanctuary and its Land join the list of worship sites in public worship directories.
1988:	At Samhain, Circle and its Land are featured in a front page article in the Wall Street Journal.
1988-1991:	A period of healing, renewal, and community reorganization for Circle and its Land.
1990:	Celebration of 20th anniversary of Earth Day in April is held on Circle Land. Circle's ecospiritual networking endeavors expand.
1991:	At Fall Equinox, elders from several Native American tribes and other members of the intertribal Peace & Dignity Journeys group come to Circle Land and do presentations. They work with Circle members in dedicating a new Sweatlodge area and building a new Sweatlodge there. Circle's Sweatlodge guardians group is founded and consists of Sky Ranger Nic, Chante, Dennis, and Selena.
1992:	At Samhain time, judges in two counties & five police departments give Circle legal protection from a bigoted televangelist who comes to the Mt. Horeb area as part of his national Witch-hunting campaign.
1993:	Circle Land becomes internationally known in interfaith realms through Circle's participation in the centennial re-emergence of the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. Representing Circle in the procession that opened the conference are Deborah Ann Light, Don Goodrich, Sky Ranger Nic, Alice Cascorbi, and Selena.
1994:	Building and groundskeeping improvements, including Temple Room rearrangement, are done by staff and volunteers.
1994:	In the Spring, Circle Land becomes a reporting site for a nationwide wild birds study sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Selena conducts the research.
1994:	At Beltane, the Oak Apple Morris dancers perform on the Land and become part of Circle's yearly Beltane Festival traditions.
1994:	Celebration of Circle's 20th birthday as an organization is held on the Land at Samhain.
1995:	In July, Circle pays off the Land mortgage and gets title to the Land.
1995:	Circle's website begins and includes information about the Land project.
1995-1996:	Circle and its Land project becomes more widely known through Circle's participation in international academic Pagan Studies conferences in England.
1996:	Circle Land is selected and placed on the state and national register of historic places as a result of its ancient Native American site preservation work.
1996:	Circle offices are remodeled, reorganized, and improved, and new staff and volunteers are added. The driveway is upgraded and upper parking lot is expanded.
1996:	Circle's prairie restoration project begins in the Fall, under the direction of Reed Cockrell and Karl Schroeder.
1997:	Angie begins archival system for cataloging and storage of event photographs.
1997:	Circle's website expands and pictures of the Land go on-line.
1997:	First prairie burn to preserve Circle's remnant prairie near Spirit Rock takes place at Beltane, and the first seeding of the restored prairie area near Ritual Mound happens just before Samhain.
1998:	Circle's quarterly newspaper changes to magazine format in February and more land photos begin being including in each issue.
1998:	Circle Land becomes an observation site in Wisconsin's annual Crane Count. Research is conducted by Reed and others.
1998:	Circle Sponsorships and Benefactorships are created to provide addition support for the center, its work, and the Land.
1998:	The area of the restored prairie expands. More seeding is done in the Fall.
1998:	Circle Land celebrates its fifteenth birthday at Samhain.
1999:	Circle joins statewide and national efforts to protect forests from ravages of non-native and invasive gypsy moths.
1999:	Circle Land joins regional and local environmental networks in Wisconsin.
1999:	More remodeling work is done in Circle's buildings in preparation for Circle's 25th anniversary.
1999:	Two groups of scholars from around the world visit Circle Land as part of a field trip connected with an ancient Indian sites conference held in Wisconsin.
1999:	Circle Land goes on-line with its own home page.
1999:	At Fall Equinox, Festival Circle is dedicated as a site for large group rituals
1999:	The Circle Cemetery site is consecrated at Samhain.
1999:	The Stone Circle is presented and acknowledged as a Gift of Service to the world by Circle delegates Selena and Dennis during the Parliament of the World's Religions in South Africa in December.
2000:	The Circle farmhouse undergoes more renovation after Selena & Dennis move to their own land adjoining Circle Land. House kitchen becomes the main kitchen for events. WillowHawk and MoonFeather help coordinate kitchen organization.
2000:	Eastern Bluebird preservation work expands with the addition of more Bluebird boxes and research coordinated by Reed. Circle's Bluebird Trail joins the network of trails in North America.
2000:	Circle Sanctuary expands educational activities on the Land. Craftway Circle, a Circle Craft study group facilitated by Selena, begins meeting monthly at Samhain time.
2000:	Shrinekeeping work continues. The Fairy Shrine is created and dedicated at Beltane. Theresa & Cindy create the Burning Times Memorial, which is dedicated at Samhain.
2001:	Circle Land's Earth Day celebration is featured on Madison area television news along with an interview with Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson.
2001:	Circle's Library project expands with the addition of a computer and professional library database software for cataloguing books and other materials. The Circle Audio-Visual resources room is created. Andrea & Sylvia begin cataloguing books in the collection.
2001:	Events on Circle Land expand in number and scope. Jessica Phoenix Fey creates a new web section for events: www.circlesanctuary.org/events
2001:	More rare species are sighted on Circle Land, including Upland Boneset (plant) and the Regal Fritillary (butterfly).
2001:	At Samhain, cremains are interred at Circle Cemetery - those of Linda Selby, Ray Nelson, and Christopher Adams.
2001:	Circle Land is among the places included in the Sacred Sites of Wisconsin guidebook published by Wisconsin Trails. It also is featured in a traveling Sacred Sites photo exhibit.
2002:	Facilities reorganization continues. The Circle Resources Shop expands and moves upstairs in the barn. The Magic Room in the farmhouse is cleared and renovation work begins. The farmhouse gets new gutters, new air conditioners, a reconditioned garden tractor, and refurbished floors. Granite benches are added to ritual sites.
2002:	Circle joins with government agencies and environmental groups in efforts to research and combat chronic wasting disease in the wild deer population in south central Wisconsin.
2002:	A wolf is sighted on Circle Land on Spring Equinox.
2002:	The Garden Circle forms in March and begins doing projects. Planters are set by the barn doors and filled with flowers. In the Summer, a new Garden area is created along the eastern exterior of the barn.
2002:	A Medicine Wheel, created in the late 20th century by a Native American medicine man and originally located in Illinois, is donated and relocated to Circle Land at Fall Equinox.
2002:	Circle holds its first Raffle fundraiser. It is coordinated by Shel & Shawn.
2002:	Goddess Circle forms at Samhain time and this women's spirituality group facilitated by Selena begins meeting monthly on Circle Land.
2003:	Cat Shrine is expanded and a large cat image donated by Carol and Bob is added. The expanded Shrine is dedicated at Beltane.
2003:	Circle's Labyrinth project begins with the creation and use of a ritual candlelight labyrinth facilitated by Angie at Beltane.
2003:	Circle festivals expand in size and scope. Circle office and events staffing undergo restructuring.
2003:	Circle Land gets new picnic tables through Garden Circle fundraising eforts.
2003:	Samhain: Circle Land celebrates its 20th Anniversary! Animals Shrine is dedicated. Circle Land website is expanded by breeze.