USA > Wisconsin > Sauk County > A standard history of Sauk County, Wisconsin, Volume I > Part 48
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The first regular meeting of the Woman's Club was held on Saturday afternoon, September 12, 1896, at the home of Mrs. A. D. Dorsett, 533 Second Avenue. The first roll inelnded Mrs. H. W. Battin, Miss Jennie Cheek, Mrs. G. L. G. Cramer, Mrs. A. D. Dorsett, Miss Maude Fuller, Miss Margaret Gattiker, Miss Luise Gattiker, Miss Hattie Hall, Miss Dorothy Hutchins, Mrs. H. J. Irwin, Miss Ida Johnson, Mrs. B. F. Mills, Miss Louise McGann, Mrs. E. Pfannstiehl, Miss Ida Palmer, Miss Matilda Reul, Miss Viva Robinson, Mrs. A. R. Smith, Mrs. C. A. Swineford and Mrs. Ulrich F. von Wald. The present officers are: Miss Evva C. Var- nell, president; Mrs. Clarissa Rowland, vice president; Miss Van Etta G. Reynolds, secretary ; and Mrs. J. E. English, treasurer.
The Twentieth Century Club held its first meeting on October 7, 1897. Before this date the constitution and by-laws had been drafted by some of those who organized the club. The charter members were Miss Lydia Kingswell (commander), Mesdames T. M. Case, J. B. Donovan, Charles Gorst, R. B. Griggs, Margaret D. Hill, E. M. Hoag, Alice Lewis, W. T. Kelsey, C. E. Martin, Ward Munroe, A. F. Snyder, Edwin Sel- leek, A. Reinking, Edward K. Tuttle, Frank D. Teel, Emma Walsh, D. B. Waite, E. Aug. Runge, William Faller and H. W. Hamilton. The officers for the enrrent year are Mrs. George C. Astle, president ; Mrs. W. H. Hatch, vice president ; Mrs. R. R. Grosinski, recording secretary ; Mrs. George W. Ziegler, corresponding secretary; Mrs. E. H. Groth, treasurer; and Mrs. B. A. Clarke, auditor.
The Inter Se (Among Ourselves) Club was organized on February 8, 1898, at the home of Mrs. Frank D. Teel, 423 Third Avenue. The charter members were Mesdames W. B. Blachly, E. M. Hoag, Frank D. Teel, E. M. Adams, Emma Davis, Arthur Kellogg, Edwin Selleek, J. P. MeGuan, C. H. Evenson, John H. Newman, C. A. Stanton, D. A. Lewis, Laura Martin, Nettie Stiekney, and Miss Mayme Ryan. The present
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officers are : Mrs. Edwin Selleck, president; Mrs. Samuel Briscoe, vice president ; Mrs. S. A. Pelton, secretary ; and Mrs. Emma Davis, treasurer.
The Fellowship Club was organized ten years ago and limits its mem- bership to men. Timely topics are discussed. The officers are: Ernest Sanderson, president; L. H. Palmer, secretary; and W. H. McIntosh, treasurer.
The Koshawagos (Men of the Valley) incorporated in 1889 and have a clubhouse at Devil's Lake. The purpose of the club is of a social na- ture. M. H. Mould is the president and W. J. Power is the secretary.
The Pedro Club has had an existence of about thirty years and although pedro has long since passed into disfavor the members of this organization are inclined to believe, like wine, it improves with age. The midnight banquets at the homes of the hosts and hostesses have lingering memories.
As to the clubs which have come and gone a few are worthy of men- tion. The members of the Curling Club have long since sold their rink for a garage and placed their granite blocks away; the prompter no longer shouts for the dancers in the Midnight Organization; the bows and arrows of the Archery Club are covered with dust and rust; the members of the Goose Club, a social group, have gone to that other bourne; the rods and creels of the Grampas members are relics of the past; the charitable work of the Doreas Society has had its influence; the chapter has been closed on Hizonor Card Club; the members of the Phantoms are scattered; but now and then a remnant of the Kings Daughters, organized for charity, meet; and at the close of the annals of the Green Room Club, for the study of the drama, there has been written, "Hic Jacet."
THE CIVIC LEAGUE
The Woman's Co-operative Civic League of Baraboo obtained a state charter on April 12, 1911. The incorporators were Mrs. Alf. T. Ringling, Mrs. H. M. Johnston, and Mrs. B. H. Strong. The officers named included Miss Katherine Falvey, president; Mrs. B. H. Strong, vice president ; Mrs. F. R. Bentley, secretary ; and Mrs. T. W. English, treas- urer. The meetings of the organization have largely been held at the home of Mrs. Ringling, 103 Tenth Street. The organization was formed more particularly for the purpose of beautifying the City of Baraboo, its school grounds, streets, alleys, yards, and the parking of streets and other grounds. Much has been done in beautifying the street leading to the cemetery, the cemetery itself and other parts of the city. The present officers are: Mrs. R. B. Griggs, president; Mrs. H. C. Brown, vice president ; Mrs. James Neff, secretary; and Miss Maeta Junge, treasurer.
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THE BAND
The Wisconsin Marine Band was organized about twenty years ago and for a time was known as the First Regiment Band, playing for the troops at Camp Douglas. Open air concerts are given regularly during the summer, the city bearing the expenses. The officers are: Emil Wei- rich, president; F. E. Morey, vice president; E. D. Seeales, secretary and treasurer ; C. A. Hofmann, manager ; and G. H. Hood, director.
CHARITABLE AND RELIEF INSTITUTIONS
The first Young Men's Christian Association of Baraboo was formed in June, 1877, with eight members. In May, 1882, when there were
OLD WISCONSIN HOUSE Torn down in 1912 to give place to Ringling Theater
numerous citizens (especially young men) of Baraboo connected with the Chicago & North Western Railway, a reorganization was effected under the name of the Railway Young Men's Christian Association. After several years of patient work, those behind the association purchased a lot at the corner of Second and Ash streets and commenced the erection of a large 2-story and basement building. The Ladies' Auxiliary ren- dered important assistance in the furtherance of the work, which was brought to a conclusion in October, 1890, when the building was opened to the young men and the public. Not only does it meet the requirements of the members for physical exercise and mental recreation, but several rooms are thrown open for club and society meetings. It furnishes a shel- ter for many young men who reside in Baraboo and is a welcome resting place for strangers as well. The present general secretary is C. II. Copley.
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Baraboo has had a much-needed hospital sinee the winter of 1913. In February of that year Doctors F. II. Powers and Henry Fehr rented the Fischer property, corner of East and Third streets. It was imme- diately adapted to hospital purposes and the building opened about the first of April. Doctor Fehr was obliged to relinquish his interest soon after and Dr. F. R. Winslow, of Baltimore, Maryland, joined Doctor Powers in the enterprise. The hospital, which has twelve beds, is under the active superintendenee of a trained nurse, who, at the present time, is Miss Charlotte Smith.
Through the efforts of F. A. Philbrick, its first secretary, the Sauk County Branch of the Wisconsin Humane Society was organized at Baraboo, March 23, 1912. Some work along the well known lines of the organization has been accomplished. Its present officers are: E. P. MeFetridge, president ; G. T. Thuerer, vice president; L. S. Van Orden, secretary and treasurer; H. E. Stone, humane officer. Sinee its organiza- tion, the society has received from the estate of the late Julia A. Getchell a bequest of $1,500. This was nearly all that she possessed.
FINANCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS INTERESTS
Three banks contribute to the growth and stability of Baraboo and are themselves supported and developed by its business and industrial interests.
The Bank of Baraboo is the direct successor to the Sauk County Bank, the first institution of the kind to be established at the county seat. The latter was organized July 1, 1857, the year of the great panie and the commencement of a long and profound financial depression. Its officers were Simeon Mills, president, and Terrell Thomas, eashier. The capital was $50,000. In 1861 Mr. Thomas purchased the interest of Mr. Mills and condueted the bank himself until 1873, when it was merged into the First National Bank. Perhaps it would be more correet to say that the First National Bank took over the Sauk County Bank. Its charter was sur- rendered in January, 1880, and the Bank of Baraboo, under the state law, sneeeeded to the business, with George Mertens, president, and J. Van Orden, eashier. In 1908 Mr. Mertens retired, and Herman Grotor- phost succeeded him as president, Mr. Van Orden continuing as eashier. At the same time the capital was increased from $50,000 to $100,000. In January, 1915, Mr. Grotorphost resigned and was followed in the presidency by Mr. Van Orden.
In the summer of 1917 the resources of the Bank of Baraboo amounted to $1,959,237.51. Its surplus was $50,000, undivided profits, $22,000 and deposits over $1,780,000.
The First National Bank was organized on December 4, 1886, by the following: T. M. Warren, president; F. T. Brewster, vice president ; C. L. Sproat, cashier ; and W. A. Warren, assistant eashier. The bank
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opened the next month and the directors, in addition to the above, were Carlos Bacon and Robert A. Cowan. Early in this century H. C. Mer- ritt, of Minneapolis, purchased a large interest in the bank, the Warrens retiring. In 1906 the bank was reorganized, Mr. Merritt selling his inter- est, the members of the new firm being T. W. English, M. H. Mould, T. M. Mould and others. In 1906 the deposits were about $190,000, and these have grown to be about a million dollars. The officers of the bank now are T. W. English, president; D. M. Kelly, vice president; M. H. Mould, cashier; T. M. Mould and J. J. Pfannstiehl, assistant cashiers.
The youngest bank in Baraboo is the Farmers and Merchants, which opened for business in May, 1917. Its officers are: George C. Astle, president; Wilber Cahoon, vice president, and N. H. Gerber, cashier. Its capital is $50,000, and its average deposits (in the fall of 1917) $50,000.
The financial operations of the Baraboo banks are naturally connected with its business houses and industries. Its stores are well stocked and arranged, and among its leading industries are the large mills operated by the old Island Woolen Manufacturing Company, the large canning works, the linen mills which turn out a good grade of towels, the Humane Stanchion Works, Gollmar's Machine Shop and other plants. From 1872 to 1883 Baraboo's leading industry was the plant of the Chicago & North Western Railway Company, with its large roundhouse, machine shop and other buildings. At one time more than a hundred men were employed, and the place was considered one of the leading railroad towns in Wisconsin. Although still a division town, not so many men are employed in the shops.
BARABOO COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION
During the very last years of the last century there existed for a short time the Baraboo Business Club, the organization being for purely social purposes. The members occupied rooms at 106 Fourth Avenue and after a short life the furniture was sold and the club disbanded.
This was followed early in this century by the Ten Thousand Club, Edward L. Luckow, then editor of the Sauk County Demoerat and now auditor of the navy department at Washington, being the moving spirit. Banquets were held but no marked results followed the efforts of the organization.
The Ten Thousand Club was succeeded by the Baraboo Commercial Association, incorporated September 15, 1913. The presidents have been E. S. Jolinstou, L. S. Van Orden, T. F. Risley, T. Edw. Mead and G. W. Andrews, the last named holding the office at the present time. The secretaries include T. Edw. Mead, Attorney J. W. Frenz and W. E. Baringer. For a number of years the business and industrial interests of the city have been fairly represented by this general organization of leading citizens.
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THE RINGLING BROTHERS
Baraboo has become known throughout the country as the home of the Ringling Brothers. The Gollmar Brothers also gave the place stand- ing as a "circus town"; and that feature of its activities can really be classified as one of its business assets. It happened, also, that the Ring- ling family was publie spirited as far as Baraboo was concerned and did much for it in many ways. The most noteworthy act was, of course, the building of the $100,000 theater by the late Al Ringling, its formal opening to the public on November 17, 1915, and the subsequent donation of the splendid temple of amusement to the City of Baraboo. Mr. Ring- ling died January 1, 1916, about a month and a half after the opening. In his will the building was left in care of the four remaining brothers,
AL RINGLING'S THEATER
Mrs. Ringling to receive the profits. Mrs. Ringling released her interest, and in July, 1917, it was offered to the city, to be always known as the Al Ringling Theater. Announcement of the gift was made by Henry Ringling, then the only brother residing in Baraboo. Charles E. Ringling has his home in Evanston, Ill., and John and Alf T. are in New York. The theater is pronounced the finest municipal playhouse of any city of the size of Baraboo in the country.
The people of Baraboo are justly proud of the Ringling Brothers and will therefore appreciate a condensation of their record in the show business made from the book which they issued in 1915, entitled "Routes, 1882-1914." It succinetly tells of their lives as showmen. They began with what they termed the "Ringling Classie and Comic Coneert Co.," and their first concert was in Mazomanie, Monday, November 27, 1882.
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The season closed at Oregon, Saturday, February 3, 1883. The company embracing Al Ringling, then twenty, oldest of the boys, who dedicated at Baraboo a $100,000 theater; Alf T. Ringling, Charles Ringling, E. M. Kimball, E. S. Weatherby, Fred Hart and William Trinkhouse, with M. A. Young as agent. John Ringling joined the company at Sanborn, Iowa, December 18th, about three weeks after the organization ventured forth. The route included Mazomanie, Spring Green, Richland Center, Boscobel, and so on, out into Iowa, with Bangor, Norwalk, Wilton, Ken- dall, Elroy, Wonewoc, Ironton, Reedsburg, Baraboo, Lodi, Waunakee and Oregon on the return trip.
That was the first season-the very beginning of the show business for boys who as circusmen have now become world leaders.
The same "Classic and Comic Concert Company" was out in 1883, opening at Baraboo March 12th and closing at Viroqua April 27th. As before, only the small places were visited. Madison, though close to Baraboo, was studiously avoided. This year Otto Ringling joined the brothers, and in 1883-4 the company had developed into what was desig- nated as "Ringling Bros. Grand Carnival of Fun." This year Otto was out as agent, and there was a slight expansion of the company. It now included besides the brothers about eight people. A notice here says that "on November 2d all people were discharged and on November 3d, at Starbuck, Minnesota, made a parade. Alf Ringling, cornet ; John Ringling, alto; Charles Ringling, baritone; Otto Ringling, bass drum." It is further noted that "Alf Ringling, Charles Ringling and John Ring- ling gave the show alone. Ran this way until Al Ringling joined January 6th." When the company reached Minneapolis there was "no show" and again, passing through Minneapolis, "no show," but four days were spent there "visiting vaudeville shows"-the boys were learning-and at Des Moines a little later there were "three days' recreation" and the same sort of a vacation at Omaha.
So far it was a mere concert company, with a little juggling, and always appearing in a hall.
In 1884 the first real circus was given. This was called the "Yankee Robinson and Ringling Bros. Great Double Shows, Circus and Caravan." It opened at Baraboo May 19th and closed at Benton, in Grant County, September 27th. It was a wagon show and the admission was 25 cents, but there was no band wagon, and the band, such as it was, "paraded on foot," while "all the people stopped at hotels." There were "nine wagons without privilege wagons." The canvas was 49 by 90 feet and the side show 35 by 15. Robinson died at Jefferson, Iowa, about August 25th, aged sixty-six. The members included Al Ringling, Otto, Alf, Charles and John. Here the five brothers were associated together as circusmen for the first time, and they continued in that relationship until the death of Otto in 1911, when Henry took his place. Mrs. Louise Ring- ling, wife of Al, is listed as a member of the company which included
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fifteen other people, besides an agent. This circus gave its second per- formance at Sauk City, its third at Black Earth, fourth at Mount Horeb, fifth at Mount Vernon, sixth at New Glarus and after 103 performances elosed at Benton, Grant County, September 27th, and went to Baraboo for "winter quarters."
That same year, 1884, the summer circus season over, the brothers continued their "Carnival of Fun" as a winter affair, opening at Garden Prairie, Illinois, November 12th, and closing at Mount Horeb March 14th. Their route, as before, lay through Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska. They gave 94 performances that year and in 1885-6 the "Carnival of Fun" still ran on, opening at Warren's Mill April 6th and closing at Barron May 5th, a very short season. The company now embraced Alf, Charles and John Ringling and two others, Al for some reason having dropped out temporarily. The boys still avoided the larger towns. They were moving upward cautiously.
In 1885 we have "Ringling Bros. Great Double Shows, Circus Car- nival and Trained Animal Exposition," the Yankee Robinson legend having been dropped. It opened in Baraboo May 18th and after a tour through Wisconsin, Iowa and Northern Illinois elosed at Randolph Octo- ber 3d, going thenee to Baraboo for the winter. But the "Carnival of Fun" was at once resumed. November 12th it opened at Ironton, and closed at Fort Dodge, Iowa, January 30th. Al Ringling was again in the "carnival" with Charles, John and Alf, while Otto went ahead as agent. Then, says a notation, "went to Janesville and bought two eages, advance wagon and wardrobe." This winter the "Carnival" was snow bound half a dozen times in Iowa and Nebraska, which meant "no show."
In 1886 the "Carnival of Fun" opened at Waunakee March 2d and closed at Rice Lake April 23d, another short season. In this year's "Carnival of Fun" the names of neither Al nor Otto appear, but Alf, Charles and John were on duty with two others.
In 1886 we have the name "Ringling Bros. Great Double Shows and Congress of Wild and Trained Animals." Now the boys had a 90-foot round top. At this time they had eighteen wagons, whereas two years before they had but nine. Their equipment included "two cages, ticket wagon, band wagons, hyena, bear, monkeys, eagle. Bought the donkey and Shetland pony, January and Minnie (the first trick aet with the show) at Winnebago City, Minnesota, June 23d. Bought another Shet- land pony during the season." Henry Ringling, youngest of the broth- ers, joined the show September 9, 1886, not, however, as an owner but as as employee of his five elder brothers. Mrs. Al Ringling is again included among the members of the company. During the latter part of the season glanders broke out in the stock and fourteen head were lost. including several shot in the winter quarters.
The "Carnival of Fun and Specialty Co."-its name, too, had grown -was now the title of the winter attraction which went on the road. the
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Ringlings running circus in summer and concert in winter. Their winter entertainment embraced musie, in which about all the Ringlings partici- pated with one instrument or another, also other things. Al Ringling balanced a plow on his ehin, then a peacock feather, then a table.
In 1887 we have "Ringling Bros. United Monster Shows, Great Double Museum, Caravan and Congress of Trained Animals." So-ome na-ame! This year one camel bought on the road died and by this time a kangaroo had been added, as well as an elk and two lions. Now we have the legend for the first time-" Al Ringling, Otto Ringling, Alf T. Ringling, Charles Ringling, John Ringling proprietors and managers." But again Mrs. Al Ringling and Henry Ringling appear among the eir- cus people. The nearest it got to Madison that year was Stoughton.
The "Carnival of Fun" for this season, 1887-8, was divided into two companies. Alf, Charles, John and Henry headed one and Al and his wife the other. Here we have the notice that while this company (No. 1) was on the road, the Ringling brothers bought two elephants; "after this important event no further interest was taken. John had to see the elephants five days before we closed, leaving the rest to give the show without him ; having previously lost William and Madeline Wheeler, the company was reduced to Alf, Charles and Henry, C. White and Frederick Madison."
This season, 1887-8, was the last of the "Carnival of Fun." There- after the Ringlings devoted themselves wholly to the circus. The title of the organization in 1888 was "Ringling Bros. Stupendous Consolida- tion of Seven Monstrous Shows." It opened at Baraboo May 5th and closed at Sauk City November 13th. There now were two advance wagons and the circus tent had grown from 90 feet to 100 by 148, with a menagerie 70 by 100 feet, sideshows 40 by 80 feet, and two or three horse tents, also a 35-foot dressing room. The two elephants were Baby- lon and Tony. It was Babylon that died recently. This was the first season that a 50-cent show was attempted. Before it had been 25.
This year the circus had a tragedy. Mons. Dialo (James Richardson) was shot and killed at Webster City, Iowa, June 23d, by Thomas Bas- kett, who was sentenced to fifteen years in state prison ..
This was a very wet season. "Did not see sun for four weeks. Missed many afternoon stands on account of mud and rain. Finally were obliged to abandon advance wagons and bill by rail for a short time. Business was, of course, bad, and after we were out two weeks we deter- mined to drop the price of admission to 25 cents. We played six stands at this priec and found it did not do; we immediately raised the admission again to fifty. We left the rain and mud on June 5th, after which business was good and we had a good season."
In 1889 the name was "Ringling Bros. and Van Amburgh's United Monster Circus, Museum, Menagerie, Roman Hippodrome and Universal World Exposition." Here we are told that "a small amount was paid Vol. 1-30
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Hyatt Frost for the use of Van Amburgh's name." Now the number of horses had grown from 9 at the beginning to 110, and the third elephant had been added, as well as leopards and other animals. This year there were three advance wagons instead of two, and the personnel of the circus had grown greatly. This was the last season in wagons.
In 1890 the show took up the rail. There were two advertising ears, one performers' sleeper, one workingmen's sleeper, one elephant car, five stock cars, and eight flat cars. But there was only one ring. The main tent had now grown to a 125-foot roundtop with two 50-foot additions for the menagcrie, etc. Out in Iowa and Nebraska Wallace & Andrews' and Sells' shows were in opposition. This year the. circus opened at Baraboo May 3d and closed at Chicago Junetion October 21st. There were 107 horses.
In 1891 the hippodrome, an aquarium and a spectacular tournament, a production of Caesar's Triumphal Entry Into Rome were added. Twenty-two railroad cars were necessary to carry the show, and there were 130 horses and ponies. This year the Ringlings first showed in Madison.
In 1892, among other features, a chime of bells and a "steam trac- tion engine" were added. May 17th the train was wrecked at Concordia, Kansas, four cars being destroyed and twenty-six horses killed with many others injured. Two men also were killed and four badly injured. Only two stands were missed, however, as a consequence of this disaster. A bit later the same season the train was wrecked at Centralia, Missouri, and six cages demolished. But no further damage was donc, and only one day was lost. Then, on October 28th, while the train was en route to Baraboo for winter quarters, a rear-end collision occurred. But little damage was done. Twenty-eight cars were with the show that year.
The year before, 1891, at Bolivar, Missouri, on September 26th, "a very serious battle was fought between the show and the people of the town and vicinity. Many of the local bad men were badly injured. The show got away after having a very exciting experience without suf- fering any injury."
In 1892 the Ringlings were opposed by the Barnum & Bailey show at Kansas City and various other places, including Milwaukee, as well as by the Wallace and the John Robinson shows. This spring the show had thirty days of rain, yet it was a profitable year.
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