History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 32

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318

USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 32

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HISTORY OF TREMPEALEAU COUNTY

at which is also located the electric light plant, and the reservoir on Barnes Bluff. The mains cover the principal streets of the village. Bonds of $15,000 were voted Dec. 17, 1901, the ordinance was passed Dec. 19,1902, and the residences of the village were supplied with water the following spring.

The village park was purchased from J. R. P. Hiles Feb. 20, 1909, and consists of sixteen acres of land. It has been improved by voluntary work, and is used largely as a ball ground, the young men of the village having erected a grand stand thereon. One of the beauty spots of the village is a private park owned by J. M. Fertig. This park, located along the river front, is kept in its natural condition, and is stocked with a number of native deer, the admiration of travelers from near and far.

The iron bridge across the Trempealeau at Arcadia was built in 1899, the vote being passed March 10. This replaced a wooden bridge, on the same site, the wooden bridge, in turn, taking the place of the ford a little further down the river. In the early days there were two other fords further up the river, and the "Three Mile Bridge" was built as a wooden structure some years before the railroad came through.

A school district comprising the whole town of Arcadia was organized May 24, 1857, and a meeting held at the home of David Bishop in May. School was opened soon thereafter in a log building, with Sarah Bishop McMasters as first teacher. In June, 1860, a frame structure was erected on the same site. After the railroad came through an annex was estab- lished in a private residence. When the railroad came through the building was moved to the near village, where in time it became the county court- house. The graded brick school on the hill was built with four departments in 1875, and later two more departments were added. The present sightly high school structure was erected in 1915. The new building, which was erected at a cost of nearly $45,000, is regarded as a model of its kind. It has a large and beautiful auditorium, with stage. There are English, mathematics, history, foreign language, commercial, teachers' training, domestic science, manual training, agriculture and library rooms, besides a large gymnasium in the basement. The lighting and ventilation are per- fect, the heating is the most modern system of direct and indirect radiation, and the temperature is regulated automatically. The equipment is good and is being constantly improved.

The beautiful Carnegie Library was erected in 1906. March 29, 1905, the village council voted an annual appropriation of $500 for this library. That sum has also been given annually to support the public library for some years previous.

The Arcadia Board of Trade was organized Aug. 11, 1885, among those interested being R. L. Dickens, O. O. Peterson, Nic. Lehrbach, Stephen Richmond, J. M. Fertig, George N. Hidershide, F. F. Morgan, John Maurer, W. P. Massuere, Emil Maurer, J. D. Rainey and R. W. Wheeler. After a time the association went into the grain buying business in order to estab- lish equitable rates for the farmers. Business was suspended in the sum- mer of 1898. The land owned by the board was sold to the village and is now used as a village hall.

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The Arcadia Brewery has long occupied a leading position in Arcadia business life. It was established in 1874 or 1875 by Nick Mergner. In 1876 Bion & Co. erected an imposing structure which is a part of the present establishment.

The woolen industry was at one time numbered among the industries of the village. In the early '70s Philander Allen started a woolen mill. He sold to Dr. Isaac A. Briggs. The Arcadia Woolen Mills were built in 1876 by Dyke, Allen & Co. and were in operation for several years. The produc- tion of wool has increased in volume and importance, but the raw wool is now shipped to other places.

The Arcadia Mineral Springs are among the pleasant features of Arcadia life. In 1878 a hotel was built at the springs by George Hiles, a race track was laid out, and preparations made for an extensive summer resort. But the hotel was burned before it was completed in 1879, and the place abandoned. The spring is now permanently arched with cement, and presents an inviting appearance to the traveler, but is not now used for commercial purposes. The water has highly medicinal qualities, and con- stitutes one of the natural resources of the village yet to be developed and exploited.

Arcadia had its beginning with the settlement of Old Arcadia in 1855.

The first store in Old Arcadia was opened in 1857 by George Shelly, in his residence on the present site of the home of George Schmidt. The house was a crude pioneer structure, boarded roughly up and down. The next was opened in a lean-to addition to the home of Daniel C. Dewey by Mr. Dewey and Dr. Isaac A. Briggs. The next store was that of Gay D. Storm. Before long quite a settlement sprang up at the "Corners."

When the railroad came through in the fall of 1873, Old Arcadia was the scene of busy activity. At the northeast corner of the crossroads was the hotel and store of George Dewey. North of this was the home of P. H. Varney, justice of the peace, and north of him lived Gus Quinn and his aged father.

At the northwest corner of the crossroads was the store of Campbell & Geislin, afterward owned by Ole Peterson and Thom Thompson. West of Campbell & Geislin's store was the brick store and residence of John D. Rainey. West of the Rainey store was the harness shop of Ed. DeLay. Between the Rainey and DeLay locations there had early stood the Quinn cabin in which the postoffice had been opened. Then came the residence of Daniel C. Dewey, in the lean-to of which one of the earliest stores had been kept. Next came the brick residence of Ervin J. Gorton, and next the resi- dence of Ed Gorton. West of this Isaac Ball had at one time kept a black- smith shop. Then came the postoffice in the residence of Charles Mercer, in the upper story of which was a public hall, in which justice court was sometimes held. Mrs. Mercer was the widow of David Bishop, the pioneer, who had been killed by lightning. Then came the old schoolhouse. West of the schoolhouse had once lived Albro Matterson. His straw barn was a conspicuous landmark. Further along were the residences of John Penny, J. R. Penny and Benjamin F. Holcomb.

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At the southwest corner of the crossroads was an empty lot. Pre- viously on the site there had stood a log house originally used as a school- house, and moved from the school lot to this location to be used as a drug store by Dr. George. Next west of this vacant corner was the drug store and residence of Dr. Frank L. Lewis. West of this store was a hotel and saloon on the place originally occupied by George Dewey. When Mr. Dewey moved, John P. Mallinger, better known as "Hans Pete," conducted a hotel and saloon there, followed by George Motchenbacker, who was there when the railroad came. Next to the west was the blacksmith shop of Edward Nichols, in the upper story of which was a hall, the scene of many a famous gathering. Next was the blacksmith shop of Albro Matterson. West of this was a vacant building put up and used as a store by Charles Mercer, who had previously clerked for Gay T. Storm. It passed into other hands and was opened as a saloon. Under the operation of a man named Williams, the place became so obnoxious that the good ladies of the community wrecked the place and destroyed the intoxicants. West of this was the furniture store of E. J. Tracy. Next came the brick store of E. J. Gorton. This was the famous Storm store. Early settlers tell of the gatherings of Winnebago Indians held near this place, and the famous pow-wows in which they participated. The brick for the Storm store, the Rainey store and the E. J. Gorton residence were made nearby, probably at the brick kiln of Dr. I. A. Briggs, which flourished for some years thereafter. The arrival of the itinerant tintype photographer was also an important event for several seasons, and in their tents they did a flourishing business. Next to the Gorton store was a building which had been occupied by Michael Mochenbacher as a shoe shop. This had been built as a shoe shop by John D. Rainey. Mochenbacher made and repaired boots and shoes, some- times using his own leather, but sometimes taking a piece of cowhide fur- nished by a settler, and making it into fitted boots for the whole family. Next to the shop was the Mochenbacher residence.

East of the southeast corner of the crossroads was the residence of Henry Dewey, in which George Shelly had opened the first store. The corner lot was vacant.

East of Old-Arcadia was the residence of Joseph Kellogg and his sister Jane. With them also lived another sister and Joseph Farber, an itinerant evangelist and school teacher. Next east was the residence of James Broughton south of the road, and Broughton's Mill north of the road. At the pond of this mill, in 1857, Eugene Broughton, a son of James Broughton, was drowned while swimming. Further east the road branched to North Creek, and still further east to American, Thompson and Newcomb valleys.

To the north of Old Arcadia, the first house was that of David L. Hol- combe, on the west side of the road leading across the river bridge to Inde- pendence.

To the south of Old Arcadia, the first house was Charles Fisher and his father, the Elder.

The road leading along the highlands east and south of the present village was well occupied. West was the Benjamin F. Holcombe place, already mentioned in connection with Old Arcadia. Then came the Alonzo

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Kenyon residence. From across the street from the Kenyon residence, a foot-path led southwest toward the Gaveney residence, skirting a natural pond which then stood in a depression in the fields, but which has since been drained. West of the Kenyon residence was the Henry Proctor residence. West of this was the road which led north to the mill pond and mill owned by David Massuere, and thence across the ford to the Independence road. Near the mill was the residence of Louis Massuere. From the mill a track led westward to the home of Elliott Van Valkenberg. At the Briggs' Cor- ners lived Dr. I. A. Briggs in a brick house still standing. Dr. Briggs was a self-educated homeopath. Being the only physician in the locality, his practice extended from Fountain City to Coral City. From Briggs' Corners, on the line between sections 32 and 33, a trail led north to the home of David Massuere, beyond which was a river ford. From the Corners, a trail also led through a gate down through the present village, following the high land formed by the sand thrown up by the creek, and crossing the river at a ford a few rods down the river from the present bridge. Across the ford on the south side of the road was the house of Simon Wojczik, while Peter Case lived on the north side. Further up the river toward Independ- ence were Bragg, William Bennett, David Bennett and Charles Richardson. In the other direction, over the line in Buffalo County, Glencoe was well settled. At Glencoe village, Thomas Courtney had a tavern and store, and George Cowie kept the postoffice.

The main road led south from Briggs' Corners, following a zig-zag line. The first house along the road southwest of Dr. Briggs' was the residence of James Gaveney, over the line in township 20, range 9. South of the next turn in the road was the house built by Noah Comstock, but occupied by Ole B. Canutson. The next house on the west side of the road was that of Noah Comstock, and west of this stood the pioneer cheese factory owned by Noah Comstock and James Gaveney. Further along the road, this same farm several years later was the scene of the pioneer sorghum operators in the county.

At the center of section 6, a branch road led west. On the north side of this road lived A. L. Robinson, while south of it lived Daniel Bigham, and west of him John Bigham.

East of where the road turned was the home built by John Dennis. Further south, at the point where the main road met the south line of section 6, stood the schoolhouse and the Catholic church, the church being east of the road and the schoolhouse west. There the road branched east and west to Meyers Valley and Bill's Valley. On the road to Bill's Valley the first house was that of J. P. Hartman.

With the coming of the railroad, the village of Old Arcadia gradually dwindled away. The drug store of Dr. F. L. Lewis, the blacksmith shop of Ed. Nichols, the schoolhouse, and later the mill, were moved to the newer village, other buildings were moved to other locations and converted to other uses, some of the structures were left on the same location and con- verted into residences. The famous Gay T. Storm store was vacated and is still standing, a notable relic of the past. The only store now at Old Arcadia is that of James Brownlie, who occupies the old John D. Rainey

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store. Mr. Brownlie is the town clerk, and a wooden addition has been built to the building for the purposes of a town hall.

The railroad reached Arcadia in the fall of 1873, and the depot was constructed on the present location. Southwest of it along the right of way, in the rear of the present village hall, Canterbury & Smith built a warehouse, and still further along Elmore & Kelley, of Green Bay, built a warehouse. The Elmore & Kelley warehouse was a unique structure, with high sloping runways, up which teams were driven to enable the pouring of grain into the flathouse.

Considerable bitterness followed the building of the railroad, and it was not until the following spring that a village was platted. The people of Old Arcadia, who had believed that the railroad would pass through their village, were determined to keep the business at the old site, regardless of the railroad. Others were reconciled to the site of the depot, as one large village at the depot seemed better than two small villages.

Consequently, in 1874, after the village was started, the business houses began to spring up. The land was a swamp, no grades had been established, the houses were built on piles, and the sidewalks on stilts, while the customers wallowed through mire and pools.

Probably the first business house to go up was the hotel of James Alexander, afterward operated by John Eckel, the saloon being conducted by John Gaugler. Many business houses followed, and the sound of build- ing was heard on every side.

Two Fountain City concerns, realizing that much of the Waumandee, Glencoe and Montana trade would be turned in the new direction, estab- lished branch stores here, Bohri Brothers & Hensel, with Charles Hensel as manager, moving into a building erected by A. F. Hensel, and Fugina Brothers & Fertig, with J. M. Fertig as manager, moving into a store erected by Edson A. Morgan, who had previously lived at Old Arcadia and vended patent medicines throughout the region. The W. P. Massuere Company had its beginning the same year in a building erected by John D. Rainey, who had been a merchant of the old town. For a time E. J. Geis- lin and Milo Campbell, also merchants at Old Arcadia, were interested with Mr. Massuere in the venture. The Bryan drug store, with a stock of drugs, paints and oils and notions, was also opened.

J. C. Muir, from Glencoe, who had assisted in building the bridge across the river that spring, formed a partnership with G. H. Krumdick and erected a flathouse for the buying of grain. He also dealt in hides and farm produce. C. N. Paine & Co., of Oshkosh, with C. E. Hollenbeck as manager, opened a lumber yard. A year later they erected an office building on Main Street.

Several saloons were opened, the first being that of Matt Danuser.

A number of residences went up the same year.

The village grew in 1875, and when the flood came in the spring of 1875, the flats already contained a village of considerable size, the business houses being scattered along Main Street both sides of the track, and down Com- mercial (Grant) Street.

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Whitehall

Whitehall, the county seat of Trempealeau County, is located at the geographical center of the county, within the northernmost bend of the Trempealeau River. Platted on the river bottoms, the village is almost entirely level, but is almost entirely surrounded with picturesque hills and bluffs, broken here and there by cooleys and valleys which lead into some of the richest farming lands in the county, notable among which is the Pigeon Valley region, known far and wide for its prosperity and fertility. The Trempealeau River, dammed a short distance below where it receives Pigeon Creek, forms a picturesque artificial lake, excellent for boating and fishing. The public bathhouse and the city light plant are located below the dam.

The business section of the village is located north of the Green Bay tracks. This section is surrounded by a portion of the residence district. Many of the principal residences, however, are located on the two principal streets south of the tracks, one of the streets being at right angles to the tracks, and the other parallel with the tracks.

In the south portion of the village are the courthouse, the jail, the high school, the hospital, the village hall, the public library, the town hall, and the churches, as well as the public park and the cemetery.

Among the leading business industries of the village are the tobacco warehouse, the creamery, the pickling station, the mill, three elevators, two banks and the newspaper. The principal shipments are tobacco, butter, grain, eggs and potatoes.

Especially beautiful is the park system. Beginning at the railroad tracks, a small park north of the village hall is ornamented with numerous flower beds and a cement bandstand erected by the ladies of the Chautauqua Circle in 1915. Southwest from the village hall, the courthouse yard begins, with its spreading lawns and magnificent trees. The courthouse and jail are of yellow brick, and the schoolhouse, west of these buildings, is of the same material. Without interruption, the courthouse grounds and the school playgrounds merge into the John O. Melby Park, and this in turn stretches to the sightly public cemetery, and likewise faces the community hospital. On the hill above towers the reservoir of the waterworks system.

The waterworks system was originally inaugurated in 1895. A large tank, on a nearby ridge, gives ample pressure, and the system covers the principal streets. On Feb. 23, 1895, the village voted bonds for the installa- tion of a waterworks system, and on May 31, 1895, the first contract was awarded for about $6,500. The original sewer system was installed in the spring of 1902, bonds of $2,500 being voted for the purpose. Addi- tions to the water and sewer system have since been made, and an elaborate extension is now planned in the north and west part of the village at a cost of some $12,000, bonds of $8,000 having been voted.

The electric light current is furnished by the mill. It gives an every- night service from twilight until midnight, and also furnishes power for domestic purposes on Tuesday forenoons. Bonds of $2,000 were voted

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for electric light service on Oct. 21, 1897, and the lights were first turned on Oct. 21, of that year.

The village hall is a sightly brick structure, which houses the fire department, the public library and the council chamber, and provides a large audience chamber for theatrical entertainments and public meetings. The hall cost about $18,000. Bonds of $12,000 were voted Dec. 8, 1911, the hall was opened late in December, 1912, and the first council meeting was held therein on January 13, 1913. Elections are still held in the town hall of Lincoln, half a block south of the village hall.

The town hall was built in 1877, in anticipation of securing the county seat. It is of frame, originally designed to be one story high. But the Odd Fellows subscribed $600 and the original plan was changed to make the building two stories high. It cost a total of $1,200. For a time before the courthouse was built it was used for county offices.

The principal streets were macadamized in 1915 and 1916 at a cost of about $8,000.

Whitehall was incorporated in 1887. The census of April 15, 1887, having shown a population of 318, application was made to the circuit judge, who on April 26 ordered an election to be held on July 8. The election was duly held in charge of C. E. Scott, L. L. Solsrud and C. A. Adams, resulting in a vote of 47 to 25 in favor of incorporating. The first election of officers was held Aug. 12, and resulted as follows: President, H. E. Getts; trus- tees, J. S. Tull, Even Ekern, John Porter, M. C. Olson, Joseph Sherwood and A. T. Tucker ; clerk, F. M. Scott ; treasurer, L. L. Solsrud ; supervisor, C. E. Scott ; constable, William Duer ; justice, R. A. Odell; police justice, A. Tuttle. The officers for 1917 are: President, Ludvig Hammerstad ; trustees, Anton O. Melby, A. E. Wood, E. A. Sorenson, C. A. Adams, George Larson and Ed. Scott ; clerk, F. N. Larson ; treasurer, J. E. Wilberg ; assessor, O. F. Harlow; supervisor, N. L. Fredrickson ; justices, F. N. Larson and Henry Hundt.

The Whitehall Community Hospital was started in 1916, and will be completed late in 1917. It is a beautiful structure, constructed along the most modern lines, and occupies a most commanding position facing the John O. Melby Park. No less than 843 citizens are shareholders in the venture, and the rooms are being furnished by various local organizations. The officers are: President, Ludwig Solsrud ; vice-president, Ole J. Eggum ; secretary, George Larson; treasurer, S. N. Hegge; directors, Ludwig Sols- rud, Richard H. Holtan, Claude Everson, F. W. Lowe, Gilbert Peterson, A. E. Wood and Ole J. Eggum.

The John O. Melby Park is to be developed into one of the beauty spots of Whitehall. Already it is beautified by a boulevard and a number of shade trees. It is devoted at present largely to athletic purposes. The original gift was made by Mr. and Mrs. John O. Melby, Sept. 28, 1906, and at the same time the village acquired an additional tract by purchase. Mr. and Mrs. Melby's dedication of the park declares that its purpose is to promote the comfort, enjoyment and well being of the people of Whitehall. The park borders on the cemetery, the community hospital, the courthouse, the jail, the high school and several churches.

Music has been an important factor in the life of Whitehall since the

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earliest days. The Whitehall Concert Band, which enjoys a wide fame, was established some thirty-five years ago. The present officers are: President, Joel Haugh ; vice-president, Herbert Holtan ; treasurer, A. P. Tall- man ; secretary, Ralph H. Wiezorek. The leader is Leo Haesle. The White- hall Ladies' Band is a notable organization that has won extensive praise wherever it has appeared. It was organized in 1913, composed of the leading ladies of the town, and is an important social as well as musical organization. The officers are: President, Mrs. Ted Harnden; vice- president, Mrs. Ward Lowe ; secretary, Miss Mabel Larson ; treasurer, Mrs. Eugene Sorenson ; leader, Leo Haesle.

The Whitehall Free Library is one of the vital educational features of the village. In early days, the idea of a free library had been growing in the minds of the citizens of Whitehall, and in May, 1881, we find from the Whitehall Times, a dime entertainment was given to start a fund for estab- lishing a public library.

In June of that year, a library association having been formed, the first order of books was made from Holmes, Hawthorne, Bryant, Longfellow, Dickens and Scott. Maple sugar parties and other fornis of entertainment helped until in 1883, the "Ladies Athenæum," a reading club being founded, they began immediately to incite more interest, so that at the end of that year 152 volumes were in the library, as reported by J. O. Melby. The old bookcase in which the books were stored can still be seen in the Whitehall Times-Banner office. The checking system was very primitive.

In March, 1899, the village president, Charles Harnden, called a meeting of the village board to consider the proposition of a free library in Whitehall. It carried and he appointed Messrs. F. E. Beach, E. Berg, A. M. Dake, H. L. Ekern, J. O. Melby, Ludwig Solsrud, Mesdames W. J. Webb (who has served continuously to present time), O. Rogan, W. H. Stallings and Professor C. F. Huleatt as ex-officio member from the public school. Five hundred dollars was appropriated. "Whitehall was the first village in Trempealeau County to vote an appropriation for such a cause." Besides the village, the town of Lincoln gave $100, with promise of further support. J. O. Melby donated a lot, and private individuals increased the amount until at the first meeting of the library board, April 9, it was decided to build.

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History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin, Part 32

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1318

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn; Pierce, Eben Douglas
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Chicago Winona : H.C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1318