While traveling the Indian trail between Green Bay and Milwaukee, Solomon Juneau, a trader for the American Fur Co., discovered an Indian settlement along the Rock River. He built a trading post in 1833, attracting settlers—many of them German—and founded the Village of Theresa in 1846. The village flourished with businesses such as hotels, mills, breweries, and general stores, later adapting to include garages, a bank, and a cheese factory. Recreational venues like dance halls, bowling alleys, and parks were popular, and early churches and schools became community staples. After World War II, many businesses closed due to societal changes, but the village's heritage remains evident in its thriving institutions and community spirit.