This Memorial Day weekend, we remember and honor all military veterans and highlight the service and sacrifices of the Bushland family of Chippewa Falls during World War I.

Andrew and Minnie Bushland, natives of Norway, were listed in the 1910 census along with nine children, five daughters and four sons. Andrew and two sons, Orlando and Edwin, were listed as working at the sawmill.

From the Oct. 11, 1934, Herald-Telegram:

MacDonald Café Bought by Bert, Inez Skogmo

Chippewa Herald, May 13, 1913

Chippewa County has a number of very excellent apple orchards that will be in bloom this week and will be a sight worth seeing. The finest orchards are those in the Melville settlement (Lafayette township) about eight miles from the city. One of the fine orchards in that settlement is owned by Sheriff Connell, who put out last season about five hundred new trees, all of which are doing fine. When the orchards are in full bloom it is a sight that is well worth seeing. (Undated photo courtesy of Steve Connell/Connell’s Orchard.)

This 1908 photo shows the Gotzian Shoe Co. of Chippewa Falls.

The building was located on Duncan Creek between East Grand Avenue and Columbia Street and originally was built by the Harshman Shoe Manufacturing Company in 1902.

Flooding has been a frequent occurrence in Chippewa Falls through the years. This September 1941 photo shows floodwaters covering River Street. The view is looking toward the East Hill.

Each Saturday, the Chippewa Area History Center showcases a piece of local history in the Herald. The Area History Center at 123 Allen St., Chippewa Falls, has multiple rooms of displays about Chippewa County history and genealogy.

This A. A. Bish photograph of a fisherman on Long Lake is a great example of how Chippewa County residents did “social distancing” in years past.

Each Saturday, the Chippewa Area History Center showcases a piece of local history in the Herald.

Father Charles Francis Xavier Goldsmith was born in Rochester, New York. At the early age of 13, he entered the provincial seminary of St. Francis near Milwaukee.

He graduated in 1864 and entered the American College at Louvain, Belgium. There he earned two divinity degrees and was ordained a priest on July 25, 1868. After returning to the United States, he spent the winter as assistant to St. Mary’s in Milwaukee.

In 1994, local citizens began planning for a Senior Center to call their own.

Locations considered for the center were: the Pinetree Racquetball Club on Bridgewater Avenue, the third floor of the Metropolitan Building in downtown Chippewa Falls, the Korger-Chestnut School on the West Hill, and the First Ward School on the East Hill.

Born in 1872 at Jim Falls to a French-Canadian father and a Belgian mother, Louis “Louie” Blanchard saw Chippewa County grow from a wooded wilderness to a prosperous farming community.

With life experiences of working in the lumbering camps from a young age and growing up on a homestead, Mr. Blanchard later in life became well known as an expert in making maple syrup and a famed storyteller. Walker D. Wyman, of Wisconsin State University-River Falls, did many interviews with Mr. Blanchard and in 1969 wrote the book “The Lumberjack Frontier” based on those interviews.

April 3, 1913, The Daily Independent (excerpt.)

Cobban Store is Flooded: Anderson’s store at this place was badly flooded when the ice jam backed up the water in the Chippewa River. The stock was quite badly damaged but the building was not seriously injured. Telephone communications between this city (Chippewa) and Cornell and Holcombe were cut off last night and further reports concerning the flood were not received. A Cornell man who came in on the evening passenger train from Cornell stated that the ice jam at Cobban was still there when the train passed, and that the store floor was covered by seven feet of water. Mr. Anderson, the owner, went into the store yesterday morning in a boat. The ice jam at Cobban is about three miles long.

The supper club near the south edge of Lake Wissota that is known today as Connell’s Supper Club was built about 1932 by George and Charlotte White as a gas station.

When prohibition ended in 1933, it became a bar called Needles Tavern.

General George C. Ginty (1840-1890) published the first issue of the Chippewa Herald on Jan. 29, 1870. The Herald was a weekly newspaper until June 25, 1894, when it then became a daily.

Born in Toronto, Canada, on Feb. 14, 1840, George Ginty was a printer and editor by trade, but he also led a life of public service from a young age.

On Feb. 18, 1902, the Daily Independent newspaper (now the Chippewa Herald) published the following letter as written to Mr. Leslie Willson from the office of Andrew Carnegie on Feb. 15, 1902.

Dear Sir:

Born in Germany in 1846, August H. Mason moved with his parents to Green Bay when he was three years old. The Mason family moved to Chippewa Falls in 1856, when it was just a small village.

Orphaned by the age of about 14 years, August began work in the “woods” at a young age and lumbering was his primary business for the remainder of his life.

The May 3, 1929 issue of the Chippewa Herald-Telegram announced the following news.

“Opening dance at the new Rainbow Gardens pavilion, 4 miles NE of Cadott, 4 miles NW of Boyd on C.T.O, Wednesday evening, May 8. Billie’s Superior Orchestra.”

The Hospital Sisters of St. Francis sent Sister Rosa and three other sisters to Chippewa Falls in June 1885 to a small home, their first hospital on Rural Street, to nurse the sick and care for men from the lumber camps. In 1888, a three-story hospital was started at 912 Pearl Street and included patient-care rooms, a chapel, laundry, and kitchen. St. Joseph’s Hospital provided continuous medical care at that site until a new hospital was constructed in 1975. The original hospital was converted into the St. Joseph’s Apartments.

Each Saturday, the Chippewa Area History Center showcases a piece of local history in the Herald. The Area History Center at 123 Allen Street, Chippewa Falls has multiple rooms of displays about Chippewa County history and genealogy. Visit www.ChippewaAreaHistoryCenter.org to learn more about the future Chippewa Area History Center and how you can help support local history preservation and education.

When plans were finalized for the Wissota Dam and Lake Wissota, it was realized that the existing Yellow River Bridge would be below the water level of the new lake.

A new Yellow River Bridge at a different location was designed, and after much discussion, plans were made to dismantle the old Yellow River Bridge and move it to the village of Cobban.

On Wednesday morning (Dec. 24, 1873), about 3 o’clock, a fire broke out in the Waterman House, and in less than an hour, the whole structure was in ashes. Simultaneously, the alarm was given at the Tremont and Central hotels, when it was discovered that shavings and dried sticks, saturated with kerosene, were placed in the rear of the buildings, and already on fire. The alarm was given in time to save both of them, but the Waterman House, which was set on fire in a similar manner, was too far gone to be stopped. The engine was out, and the men worked nobly.

Mr. Waterman’s loss is about $10,000 besides being thrown out of business. He had insurance of $4,000 on the hotel. Five years ago, the hotel which he was keeping, was destroyed by fire, and last summer, his barn, with all the contents, was devoured by the fiery element. He had just completed the Waterman House and was doing a thriving business.

Santa (Chuck Card) and Mrs. Claus (Marie Meinen) brought the spirit of Christmas to the children (and adults) of Chippewa Falls for many years.

Their presence made the season special at Santa’s arrival on the Friday after Thanksgiving, horse-drawn wagon rides, the Bridge to Wonderland Parade and visits at the Rutledge Charities building.

Each Saturday, the Chippewa Area History Center showcases a piece of local history in the Herald. The Area History Center at 123 Allen St., Chippewa Falls, has multiple rooms of displays about Chippewa County history and genealogy. Visit www.ChippewaAreaHistoryCenter.org to learn more about the future Chippewa Area History Center and how you can help support local history preservation and education.

Deer hunting is a tradition that many Chippewa County families take very seriously. This 1988 photo shows second and third generation members of Camp Wild Wumpus, a multiple family hunting camp that began in the 1930’s. Front row, left to right: Jeff Armstrong, Dick Lea, Bill Lea, Ron Sullivan, Scott Sullivan, Joe Maitland, and Harold “Bud” Roach. Back row, left to right: Retired Brigadier General Dennis Sullivan, Mike Sullivan, guest, Chris Lea, Peter Lea, Gene Mower, Mike Lea, and Kelly Sullivan.

Each Saturday, the Chippewa Area History Center showcases a piece of local history in the Herald. The Area History Center at 123 Allen Street, Chippewa Falls has multiple rooms of displays about Chippewa County history and genealogy. Visit www.ChippewaAreaHistoryCenter.org to learn more about the future Chippewa Area History Center and how you can help support local history preservation and education.

Dr. Bill Hopkins visited his ninth great-grandpa, Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower voyage, in 2008 at Plimouth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Dr. Hopkins is governor of the Wisconsin Mayflower Society Chapter and a member of the Chippewa County Genealogical Society and the Chippewa County Historical Society.

The year 2020 is the 400th anniversary of the 1620 voyage from England to America.

The history of Chippewa Falls begins with the Ojibwa who lived here as early as 1797. That year Michael Cadott who was the principal trader from Madeline Island built a trading post at the “Falls of The Chippewa” for the purpose of trading with the many Ojibwa people who were living there. The word Chippewa is the name the French gave to the Ojibwa. The federal government recognized the name as the Lake Superior Chippewa and six tribes in Wisconsin still use that name.

Many of Cadott’s descendants have lived in Chippewa Falls and the surrounding area. Cadott’s daughter Mary was married to Lyman Warren who was the first Indian Agent of Chippewa County. At that time Chippewa County stretched as far north as Lac Courte Oreilles and many Ojibwas lived in between. Geneva Cadott was Michael Cadott’s granddaughter. She was married to Francis LaRush who died during the Civil War and is buried in the O’Neil Creek Cemetery. Geneva’s daughter Soffie LaRush was married to Myron Martin. They had a farm in Chippewa Falls. Their son Frank Martin was a logger in Chippewa Falls. He married Mary Hoyer whose father was one of the first three employees of the Leinenkugel’s Brewery. They lived in Chippewa Falls until 1911 when they moved their family to Winter, WI so Frank could continue his logging activities. Their daughter Caroline, my mother, moved to Chippewa Falls in 1965. Her four children and many grandchildren still live in the Chippewa Falls area.

“Lansing A. Wilcox, last surviving Wisconsin veteran of the Civil War, was born in Kenosha (WI) March 3, 1846. In February 1864 he enlisted from Chippewa County in F Company, Fourth Wisconsin Cavalry, returning to the Cadott community in 1866. A farmer, schoolteacher, and postmaster, he retired in 1912. On September 29, 1951 Corporal Wilcox died at the age of 105 years, 6 months and 26 days.” These words can be found on the historic marker placed at the gravesite of Mr. Wilcox.

On December 20, 1924, as the Soo train No. 2 was traveling east across the railroad bridge on the west side of Chippewa Falls (near where the River Country Co-op is now located) the last car in the train came off the tracks and as it neared the middle of the bridge it fell into the river below.

It was later determined that a switch bolt, located about 100 yards west of the bridge, broke due to the extreme cold weather at the time. The fire department, Soo Line employees, and local citizens worked diligently to rescue those in the train car. The gates at the Wissota dam were even closed to lower the water level in the river and assist the rescue. Eight people died as a result of the accident and eight were injured.

Mr. Leslie Willson (1847-1906) was born in Pennsylvania. He moved to Minnesota with his parents in 1862 and in 1867 moved to Eau Claire to work for the Eau Claire Lumber Company. Miss Nellie Wilson, of Eau Claire, became his wife in 1884 and in 1889 they moved to Chippewa Falls where they purchased the home located at 320 Superior Street and founded the Chippewa Valley Mercantile Company. The companies large brick warehouse building still stands at the northeast corner of River and Island Streets.

Beyond being a successful businessman, Mr. Willson was active in the Progressive League of Chippewa Falls, the predecessor of today’s Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce. In 1901-1902 he was the driving force behind getting the grant of $20,000 to build the Chippewa Falls Carnegie Library. Following his death, his wife erected a prominent stone chapel in Forest Hill Cemetery in his memory.

From 1920 to 1977, a building 5 miles east of Chippewa Falls on Highway X was a popular entertainment destination. The building was known over the years as the Wissota Pavilion, the Wissota Beach Pavilion, the Wissota Beach Ballroom, the Wissota Ballroom, Al’s Roller Rink, Leo’s Roller Rink, and finally Dickinson’s Factory Surplus. Local, regional, and national bands and orchestras provided entertainment such as an “endurance dance” on July 15, 1923, with music by Williams’ Shieks of Arabia; a “Charleston dance contest” was held on May 14, 1926; and the king of trumpet, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and his World Famous Orchestra played there on June 16, 1942.

From 1948 to 1959, the building was a roller rink and in the 1960s became an unclaimed freight/surplus warehouse. Later life saw the building become abandoned, and in the Sept. 23, 1977, Chippewa Herald, a photo shows the building as it looks after being torn down. Brown Builders Inc. built a new, modern office and shop on the site in 2002.

Before Seymour Cray Jr. became the “father of supercomputing,” he honed his science skills at Chippewa Falls High School. The following article from the Oct. 6, 1941, Chippewa Herald-Telegram newspaper mentions his early mastery in the science field.

Persons walking past the chemistry room these days are apt to hear remarks such as “Phew, this stuff smells!” or “Watch out! That’s hot!” for the students are conducting their first experiments, concerning elements, compounds, and mixtures. Lorraine Allison and Seymour Cray Jr. both received As in this experiment.

Recently, the family of Duane Boettcher donated photos and historic football clothing that belonged to their dad. Duane played football for Bloomer High School, the University of Wisconsin Badgers and the Chippewa Marines. The Chippewa Area History Center is honored to be entrusted with the preservation of these important local history artifacts.

This vintage colorized postcard depicts historic log driving on the Chippewa River.

Lorenz Bischel, a German immigrant and farmer, moved to Chippewa Falls in 1863. He began his first meat market in 1883 on Bridge Street in Chippewa Falls.

In 1907, Bischel constructed a new building at 514 N. Bridge St. for his growing business. Now the Chippewa Falls Main Street Association building, the murals on the building serve as a tribute to Bischel’s legacy in the community.

In the fall of 1926, plans started for the construction of the Northern States Power Co. hydroelectric plant located at the foot of Bridge Street in Chippewa Falls.

This site was previously the location of the “Big Mill” from 1836 to 1911, an important historic industry in the Chippewa Valley. Although NSP was already operating other hydroelectric plants on the Chippewa River in 1926, this would be the first hydro facility constructed by NSP in Wisconsin.

Chester Adgate Congdon was born in Rochester, New York, in 1853, the oldest of six children born to Sylvester Congdon, a Methodist Episcopal Minister, and Laura Jane Adgate. In 1868, the family tragically lost three children to scarlet fever and their father to a heart attack. Chester worked at a lumber yard to help support his remaining family, causing an interruption in his education. Later years allowed him to continue his education and attend Syracuse University, from where he graduated in 1875. Following graduation, he studied law and passed the New York bar in 1877.

The year 1878 brought Chester to Chippewa Falls, where he took the position of principal of the Second Ward (high school) School, earning an annual salary of $900. By 1879, he moved on to St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 1892 moved to Duluth, Minnesota, where he became a prominent figure in the mining industry. In 1905, the Congdon family began construction of a new family home, the “Glensheen”, which cost $854,000. What an amazing transformation in the fortunes of Mr. Congdon.

Glen Loch Dam neared completion of its repairs in the fall of 1984. The familiar feature of Irvine Park was originally constructed in about 1875.

At that time, it was called the Glen Mills Dam and was owned by the Consolidated Milling Company, which had a mill at the site.

June 13, 1931: Chippewa Herald newspaper: An A&W root beer stand was opened in Chippewa Falls at Bridge and River streets.

July 17, 1931: Chippewa Herald newspaper: Elton Boettcher and Norman Kaste are working in the A&W root beer stand at Chippewa Falls.