USA > Wisconsin > Trempealeau County > History of Trempealeau County, Wisconsin > Part 33
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The building was dedicated Sept. 14, 1899. The formal exercises were held in the afternoon, Judge R. A. Odell presiding. R. S. Cowie gave the address of welcome. H. L. Ekern, who was entitled to more credit than any one other person, gave a history of the movement. L. H. Withee, of La Crosse, and Senator Stout, of Menomonie, both had been very helpful and were present, with about 500 out-of-town visitors. A social evening session closed the day.
The library has grown from 450 volumes at dedication to about 3,000. The last year's report gave the borrowers as 615, and reading room attend- ance as 9,295.
The village appropriation is at present $300 annually, $200 for library board, $100 on librarian's salary.
The present library board is: President, C. B. Melby ; vice-president, Mrs. W. J. Webb; secretary, S. N. Hegge ; Miss Minnie Barron, O. J. Eggum,
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D. P. Gibson, Mrs. C. F. Huleatt; P. K. Risberg and A. E. Wood, with Principal F. C. Martin as ex-officio member.
At the beginning of each school year, the librarian meets the high school and eighth grade pupils to explain the working use of the library. Each teacher is given a special card on which they may draw as many books and keep as long as they need. The Whitehall Free Library is depository for county traveling library system, which at present has fifteen boxes in different parts of the county.
A Chautauqua course has been given at Whitehall every year beginning with 1913. The work had its beginning in April, 1910, when 20 ladies - gathered as a Whitehall Lecture Course committee. At the second meet- ing but six ladies were present, and these six-the Mesdames R. S. Cowie, O. J. Eggum, E. F. Hensel, J. F. Hager, C. B. Melby and J. M. Ingalls-have since constituted the entire committee. In the winter of 1910-11 a four- number lecture course was given, the talent being furnished by the Central Lyceum Bureau. In 1911-12 no hall was available. In 1913-14 and 1914-15 the University Extension Lecture Course was given. Then the lecture field was left in the hands of the high school. The Chautauqua is given under the direction of the Travers-Wick system. In 1913 the committee purchased the piano which now stands in the village hall. In 1915 the ladies, at a cost of $700, erected a cement bandstand which now ornaments the village park. They are at present planning to furnish a room in the new hospital. The officers are: Chairman, Mrs. R. S. Cowie; secretary, Mrs. O. J. Eggum ; treasurer, Mrs. E. F. Hensel.
The Trempealeau County Industrial, Agricultural and Driving Park Association held a county fair in Whitehall for several years, beginning with 1887, maintaining grounds and a race track on the south side of Dewey Street near the west limits of the village.
The vicinity of Whitehall has a history dating back to 1855, when the first settlers arrived in this vicinity. The railroad came through late in 1873, and at that time the future site of the village was yielding a rich harvest of wheat. Up and down the Trempealeau Valley, and spreading into the tributary cooleys and valleys, many a prosperous farm could be found.
A mile up Pigeon Creek was located Old Whitehall, platted on May 23, 1862, by Alex. A. Arnold for Benjamin F. Wing. Another mile further up that creek was Coral City, platted May 28, 1868, by George Hodgkin for Phineas Wright. Both of these hamlets were flourishing trading points.
For a time it appeared that the railroad was to go westward from Blair to Arcadia, without following the northern loop of the river, but the present route was finally decided upon, and a village near this point assured.
The tracks were laid through the wheat field that is now Whitehall, on Sept. 2, 1873. Charles Adams, now a leading Whitehall merchant, was one of the crew. Where the courthouse now stands, the harvesters were gath- ering wheat.
In November, 1873, Theodore H. Earle arrived and selected the site for a dwelling. He was the son-in-law of Henry Ketchum, for several years president of the railroad, and his purpose was to establish a town in the
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interests of Mr. Ketchum and C. M. Kelley, a Green Bay grain capitalist and one of the backers of the Green Bay road.
On New Year's Day, 1874, the first passenger train passed Whitehall on regular schedule. That same day the lumber was unloaded for the first depot, and a section crew in charge of Charles Adams started putting in the, sidetrack and switch. Jan. 4, C. J. Lambert purchased the first load of wheat at $1.00 a bushel. Jan. 6, Daniel C. Camp arrived as station agent and grain buyer for Elmore & Kelley. Jan. 20, the village was platted by T. H. Earle, C. M. Kelly and Henry Ketchum.
During the winter two grain houses went up, one owned by Elmore & Kelley, of Green Bay, and one by T. H. Earle and C. J. Lambert, who came here to make their homes. Mr. Earle's interest was soon acquired by H. E. Getts.
The first residence started was that of T. H. Earle, the second that of George Olds.
During the spring and summer of 1874, the village presented a scene of busy activity. Hotels, business houses and residences went up here and there, and before fall a flourishing hamlet had been established.
The first hotel was the Empire House, erected by Henry Stratton. The Alexander Hotel, owned by S. L. Alexander, and the Whitehall House, moved in part from Coral City by M. V. Allen, soon followed.
H. E. Getts built the first store. August Cook and Nelson Comstock started hardware stores, but before they could open the tornado demolished their buildings, and they never opened for business. The general store of L. H. Whitney was also swept by the tornado, but he at once rebuilt, and put in a stock of goods.
D. L. Camp put up a double block, and opened a general store in one ·side, while T. C. McDermott opened a hardware store in the other. C. E. Scott put up a building and opened a general store. Benjamin F. Wing, the original proprietor of Old Whitehall, moved in and erected a general store. John Rogerson and C. H. Warner opened a hardware store and Melby & Johnson a tailor shop.
The first carpenters to locate permanently in the new village were William Blodgett, Joseph Augustine, A. J. Roscoe and James Hiner. A year or two later came William Scott, also a carpenter, and Alonzo Tucker, a mason.
The first physician was Dr. R. G. Floyd.
Charles Adams thus describes the village in the late fall of 1874 :
South of the track and east of the street was the store of B. F. Wing.
North of the track and east of the street on the present site of the Model Store was the Alexander Hotel. North of what is now the John O. Melby & Co. Bank was the store of H. E. Getts, the building being still standing. D. L. Camp and T. C. McDermott were on the present site of the Solsrud Mercantile Co., Camp occupying the side farthest north.
East of the present site of the Solsrud building was the tailor shop of Melby & Johnson. East of this was L. H. Whitney, east of this were the foundations of the stores of August Cook and Nelson Comstock.
North of the track and west of the street north of the present location
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of the Huleatt Mercantile Company was the home of George Olds, the second residence in the village. North of this was the Rogerson & Warner store. On the northeast corner of the block was the store of C. E. Scott. The building is still standing. In this block, the first term of Circuit Court in Whitehall was held.
The Empire Hotel was on the present site of the American House. The Whitehall House, now called Hotel Allen, is still standing and is operated by Mrs. M. V. Allen.
The Earle House was a block east of the present site of the Model.
Various other residences were scattered about the plat.
The Trempealeau Messenger had already been started, Bert E. Clark having purchased the Galesville Journal and Recorder from George S. Luce and moved the material here.
A schoolhouse had been moved from its location a half mile east, and a new building, still standing but not now in use, had been built west of what is now the O. P. Larson residence.
The wisdom of the establishment of the village was shown by the fact that during the year there were shipped from Whitehall 225,000 bushels of wheat in addition to quantities of oats, barley and corn.
The village was now well established, the various lines of industry were satisfactorily represented, and during the next two years there were but few new business houses erected, though there were many additions to the number of residences. The schoolhouse was completed in 1875, and the Baptist and Methodist churches erected. In that and the succeeding year the new business houses were the grocery store of A. J. Cady, the tailor shop of M. C. Olson, the harness shop of Edward Romander, the general store of Decker & Lawton, the general store of Melvin Johnson, the lumber yards of A. S. Trow & Co. and T. H. Earle Company, and the liveries of Eugene Webster and J. R. King.
Galesville
Galesville, situated in the Beaver Creek Valley on the banks of Lake Marinuka, a beautiful artificial body of water, is one of the most picturesque villages in Western Wisconsin. The site of the village is divided into an upper table, the residence section, and the lower table and flats, which constitute the business section, most of the stores being located about the Public Square or the street immediately adjoining. An extensive park system adds to the beauty of the village, and numerous mineral springs attract tourists. The village is equipped with electric lights, waterworks, sewer system, village hall, fire department and high school. Two telephone systems furnish excellent service. The two banks reflect the financial stability of the surrounding country. A public library is well patronized, and a modern newspaper chronicles the weekly life of the neighborhood.
The Norwegian Lutherans have two churches, and the Presbyterian, Catholic and Methodist denominations each one. A band adds to desira- bility of life here. The annual celebration of the Burns Club and the annual county fair bring visitors from near and far. The Commercial Club has taken an active interest in the civic development of the village. The leading
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industries are the mill, the creamery, the elevators and the stock yards. Gale College is one of the oldest in the State, having opened its first classes in 1859. Galesville is connected with the outside world with a branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and by an excellent system of im- proved highways.
Founded, settled and platted in 1854, Galesville soon assumed substan- tial proportions as the county seat and the home of Gale College, enjoying its greatest growth from 1856 until the year following the Civil War. It was not materially affected by the railroad which was built in the southern part of the county in 1870, or by the railroad built through the Trempealeau Valley in 1873. The loss of the county seat late in 1876 took away some of the hotel and legal business, and possibly a little of the mercantile trade.
With the coming of the railroad in 1883, the village took on new life and soon assumed an importance which it still retains as a shipping and trading center.
In that year efforts were made to incorporate the village. A census taken on Oct. 16, 1883, having shown a population of 439 persons, an appli- cation was presented to the district court asking for the incorporation. A remonstrance was presented at the same time. Accordingly on Dec. 16, 1883, Judge A. W. Newman appointed Hugh Cameron, of La Crosse, as a referee to hear the testimony in the matter. Mr. Cameron failed to act and the application continued in abeyance for several years. In 1887 the proposition was revived, and on June 13 of that year Judge Newman ap- pointed Isaac Clark, George H. Smith and Moses King inspectors of an election to be held to decide the matter. July 2, 1837, Gustavus Holmberg was appointed in place of Moses King. The election held Aug. 1, 1887, with H. L. Bunn and Charles T. Silk as clerks, favored the proposition by a vote of 80 to 32. The first election was held on Aug. 20, 1887, and resulted as follows: President, G. Y. Freeman ; trustees, C. B. Thrall, O. N. Sagen, A. Kribs, A. H. Czepull, G. F. Myhre and F. Langenohl; clerk, H. L. Bunn; treasurer, A. Tibbitts; supervisor, Wilson Davis; constable, William Ray- mond; justice, A. Tower. The first meeting of the council was held Sept. 5, 1887.
The present officers are: President, A. T. Twesme; trustees, Carl McKeeth, I. G. Herried, R. H. Ashley, R. E. James, W. F. Plummer and J. A. Berg; clerk, O. D. Witherbee; treasurer, Nils Lund; assessor, J. A. Kellman ; supervisor, Ben W. Davis.
The village government has been most admirably conducted. Water- works and a sewer system have been installed and extended, the streets have been improved and excellently cared for, a city hall has been built, a good fire department maintained, the business center has been paved, and considerable attention has been given to the extensive park system and to public health and recreation, in addition to the usual routine village main- tenance.
The park system is in charge of a commission which was created in 1915, and now consists of A. T. Twesme, O. D. Witherbee, J. F. Cance, Rev. L. M. Gimmestad, Bert A. Gipple, Emil Francar and Charles Bortle. City beautiful plans have been prepared by John H. Forrer, of La Crosse,
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and are being gradually worked out by the commission. The plans include public and private property and will make the village one of the beauty spots of the Northwest. The Upper Table Park and the Public Square on the lower table were platted with the village and were donated by George Gale, the founder of the village. The wide streets which enclose the Public Square were paved in 1912, and soon afterward a cement bandstand erected at a cost of nearly $1,000 raised by public subscription. The Upper Table Park is well shaded with old trees and is also supplied with a bandstand. Reception Park, originally called Riverside Park, was acquired from C. E. Perkins in the summer of 1889. At once upon its purchase the property was turned over to William C. Pierce, who agreed to pay Mr. Perkins for the property, to keep the park open to the public except when in use for baseball, horse racing or fair purposes, and at the end of ten years to sell to the village at a fair valuation. Two years after, Mr. Pierce disposed of all his interest to the village. In 1892 extensive plans were made for the advertising of Galesville as a summer resort. A landing platform was erected at Reception Park for the convenience of railroad excursionists, a pavilion was built, an excursion steamer was purchased, lights were installed in Reception and High Cliff parks, and the weeds were cleared from the lake. Efforts were made to have the railroad move its station to the lake front. But the depot was not moved and in a few years the steamboat was sold, owing to lack of patronage. In December, 1902, a curling rink was erected in the park by the Galesville Curling and Burns Club. The park consists of a little over 11 acres lying along the banks of Beaver Creek. It is well shaded and in addition to the pavilion, curling rink and landing platform already mentioned, has an excellent baseball field and an artesian well 600 feet deep. The High Cliff Park consists of a narrow strip of land having Beaver Creek on one side and high, perpendicular water-worn cliffs on the other. It is covered with native foliage and has several springs and caves. The park is open to the public through the courtesy of Ben W. Davis. East Side Park is on the lake shore and is made up of groves of native trees. It is open to the public through the generosity of the heirs of Captain A. A. Arnold. On the flat above the East Side Park are the grounds of the Trempealeau County Agricultural Society, purchased in 1892. At the head of the lake are the Arctic Springs, which will also soon be sur- rounded with a park. The waters of the spring are widely known for their purity and health-giving qualities, and a company has been formed for exploiting and developing this important asset. In connection with the beauty spots, the public cemetery deserves special mention. The Associa- tion was organized in 1861 with Isaac Clark as president and A. A. Arnold as secretary, and eight acres of land obtained from George Gale. The Asso- ciation has continued to be maintained, and the cemetery is being constantly beautified.
The village waterworks were inaugurated in the summer of 1888, when the village contracted with Wilson Davis to extend his mill waterworks to protect all the property on the lower table, to put in hydrants and to furnish hose for the use of the fire company, the hose and hosecart to be kept in repair by the village. This contract was renewed until the present
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water and sewer system was put in operation in 1899. Aug. 5, 1898, the citizens voted bonds of $3,000 which were used to construct a reservoir on the property of Charles Boulin. Technical difficulties stood in the way of voting sufficient bonds for the construction of the entire system, so a number of citizens organized a temporary firm known as the Galesville Waterworks Co., and engaged John P. Dales, of the Western Engineering & Construction Co., as contractor. The contract price was $20,000, to be paid by the village at the rate of $1,000 a year under the guise of a hydrant rental.
The electric light system was installed in the fall of 1889 by T. P. and W. W. Benton under the firm name of T. P. Benton & Co. Since then the system has been continuous, and is now operated by the Davis Mill Company.
Local telephone service was started in the fall of 1895 by W. P. Veitch and George S. Luce.
The city hall was erected in 1896 and opened Oct. 9 of that year. It houses the opera house, the fire department, village offices and the jail.
The splendid high school building was erected in 1908, replacing the earlier building erected in 1873-74. In addition to the usual classical and English courses, work is given in domestic science and manual training, and special attention is paid to music, oratory, debating, athletics and general community endeavor.
The public library is supported by the village, the building having been donated by the will of Ellen Burchard Burdick, who died Oct. 9, 1913.
The Galesville Commercial Club, whose name was changed from the Galesville Business Men's Association on Nov. 18, 1916, was organized Sept. 16, 1899, the first directors being G. O. Gilbertson, L. N. Hammer, E. F. Clark, F. A. Kellman, Ben W. Davis, Henry Yeoman, W. S. Wadleigh, R. H. Robertson and George Rall. The present officers are: President, J. A. Berg ; vice-president, Carl McKeeth ; secretary, Emil Francar, and E. F. Clark.
Independence
Independence is a thriving village located at the junction of Elk Creek and the Trempealeau River, on the line of the Green Bay & Western, and at the mouth of the far-reaching Pleasant Valley. It is an important shipping point for stock, poultry, butter, eggs, cheese and pickles, and aside from the usual business activities, has four elevators, two banks, a creamery, a mill, two stock yards, a pickling station, and a newspaper. Municipal improvements include the village hall, electric lights, waterworks and sewer systems, and a public library. There are three churches, the Catholic and the Norwegian Lutheran, and one which is used in common by the Metho- dists and the Evangelical Association. The streets of the village are paved with petrified brick, and macadam roads extend in all directions.
There are a number of beauty spots in the village. The railroad right of way south of the track has been parked, furnishing a beautiful approach to some sightly houses which parallel the track. Elk Creek, dammed at this village, forms a beautiful artificial lake, admirably suited for bathing, boating and fishing. A bath house was erected in the summer of 1917 by popular subscription, and the beach is being improved.
Independence was incorporated in 1885. A survey having been made
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May 5, 6 and 7, by H. B. Merchant, a census was taken Oct. 21, 1885, by J. C. Taylor, showing a population of 350. A petition was accordingly pre- sented to the court by E. S. Hotchkiss, J. C. Taylor, P. Husom, J. A. John- son, A. W. Liver and John Sprecher. Judge A. W. Newman, on Dec. 16, 1885, granted the petition, and appointed an election. This election was held at the lumber office of E. S. Hotchkiss Jan. 22, 1886, in charge of L. E. Danuser, J. W. Runkel and E. S. Hotchkiss (clerk), and resulted in a favor- able vote of 49 to 29. Officers were chosen Feb. 26, 1886 as follows: Presi- dent, M. Mulligan; trustees, Thomas Thompson, J. . C. Taylor, Edward Linse, John Sprecher, E. S. Hotchkiss and Frank Tubbs; clerk, W. B. Faulds; treasurer, George H. Markham; supervisor, J. A. Johnson; con- stable, Daniel Garlick; justice of the peace, B. M. Johnson; police justice, A. W. Liver.
The Independence Public Library was organized some time in 1907, under the auspices of the Wisconsin Library Commission. The first board consisted of George A. Markham (president), and Dr. C. F. Peterson (secre- tary), and Anton Senty. When the village hall was built, provision was made for a library, so, upon organization of the board, $500 appropriated by the board was wisely spent in buying books, and the library opened, with Edna Elstad as librarian. The village appropriates some $200 or $300 annually, and the library is open three evenings a week, in charge of Mrs. Minnie Cole and daughter, Sadie Cole. The present board consists of Dr. C. F. Peterson (chairman), Mrs. George A. Markham (secretary), and Mrs. E. E. Runkel.
The first village hall was a two-story wooden building, purchased from John Sprecher June 21, 1886. Later the need of a larger and modern building was apparent, and accordingly on May 5, 1902, the village voted bonds of $8,000 for a village hall and electric light system, the vote being a close one of 98 to 79. The hall is a sightly, two-story building fully ade- quate for all purposes. It houses the public library, the council chambers, the fire apparatus, the jail and the opera house. A splendid clock adorns the stately tower of the building. The hall was partly demolished by the cyclone of 1903 and was not completely rebuilt until 1906. In 1903 the electric light system was installed, separate bonds having been voted.
The village has an excellent system of waterworks and sewer, consist- ing of six wells, a pumping station, and a reservoir at the top of the neigh- boring bluff. The elevation of 176 feet gives adequate fire protection for all needs, a volunteer fire department being well equipped with all neces- sary apparatus. The first waterworks consisted of wrought iron mains covering about three blocks, and a pump which the village put in at the mill. Water was obtained from the pond. This system was inaugurated in 1886. In 1895 the system was extended, an artesian well drilled and a reservoir built. In 1898 a shallow filtration well was dug.
On June 22, 1909, a special election was held to determine the issuing of bonds for putting in a complete sewer and water system. The proposi- tion was rejected by a vote of 65 to 54. But in the meantime, the old sys- tem was condemned by the State Board of Health and on April 25, 1911, sewer and waterworks bonds were authorized by a vote of 93 to 37.
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A system of street grades was established Aug. 5, 1908. Oct. 20, 1915, the village voted $1,000 tax for highway purposes, and with this beginning some 12,000 square yards of petrified brick have been laid. There are also some two miles of limestone macadam in the village limits. Two miles are macadamized west to New City, a short link being missing. South, the macadam extends a mile. North the macadam extends up Elk Creek four miles, one mile being in the village and three in the township. In 1916 the business men subscribed $1,000 to help build a macadam road east from the road to the town limits of Lincoln. The permanent street improvements for the two years cost the village $2,500 without creating any bonded indebtedness.
The new High school building, erected at a cost of some $40,000, is one of the finest in the state, and is constructed along the latest improved lines. It was first occupied in January, 1916. The building is of brick. It is ex- cellently equipped, and surrounded by spacious grounds. Aside from the usual graded and High school studies, there are special courses in domestic science, agriculture and the manual arts. The school history of Independ- ence is a most interesting one. The district was organized in July, 1876. In the fall, school was opened in Taylor's Hall. A storehouse on Adams street was next used. In 1880, a brick schoolhouse was erected on a tract of land donated by D. M. Kelley, the village proprietor. Two additions were later erected. In 1914, the agitation for a new schoolhouse was started, and a bitter controversy ensued, resulting finally, however, in the decision to build the new structure. Frank Tubbs and B. L. Hutchins, who had just platted a new addition, made the village what was considered an excellent offer of 24 lots, most of them 50 by 120 feet, on the most advan- tageous terms. A committee was appointed, consisting of John A. Mark- ham, August A. Mish, John F. Kulig, Frank A. Hotchkiss, C. J. Peterson, H. O. Carthus and Peter C. Schrock, to consider suitable plans. The com- mittee decided upon the present model, and the decision has since met with general favor. The old school is still used for several phases of the school work, the original donor not having yet cancelled the clause in his dedica- tion of the property, which provided for the revision of the property to him in case its use for school purposes would be abandoned.
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