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The Society devoted its November meeting to tours of the old Fairwater schoolhouse. Members divided into three teams, one for each of the school’s former classrooms, and strategized about how to portray more than 150 years of area history. The goal was to develop ideas for furnishings, exhibits, and layouts for the museum rooms. Suggestions ranged from a general store theme for the upper division room to “shadowbox” displays in the empty space outside the primary room windows. The intermediate division classroom was earmarked for the recreation of a grade school classroom. Discussion focused on how much space to give to a collection of children’s items and whether to restore the room to a single era in the school’s 75-year history. Members also were invited to volunteer for a committee that will recommend which photos to preserve with a grant from the State Historical Society.
Florence Frei Schaefer, daughter of L. W. and Ida Frei, recorded an oral history for the Society on November 17. Schaefer remembered that she and her siblings worked in the family store, a longtime Jimtown fixture, without pay. In lieu of wages, they were allowed to take what they needed from the store’s stock. Schaefer also discussed the construction of her grandfather John Frei’s home in 1926 across from the Falbe farm on Main Street and her own family home in 1919 near the top of the Fairwater hill on Main Street. After returning to Fairwater from Oklahoma, the family first lived in the former Tinkham house in north Fairwater.
Few records have survived from which to reconstruct a picture of everyday life in Fairwater in the years immediately after the American Civil War. Of those that have been saved, perhaps the best record is in the pages of the Brandon Times, first published in 1866 by G. M. West. The earliest issues of the Times that remain-those from 1867-picture the area as church-centered, struggling with the issue of drink, and dependent on wheat farming for its economic life. In those first issues, the late war was not far removed, as indicated by the report West published on October 19: Below we give the names of those published
by the War Department as deserters from this vicinity, and are disenfranchised
unless they furnish satisfactory proof that they were not deserters.
The names of those failing to appear where drafted are also put in: For West’s readers, however, the war appears to have been less immediate than interest in the Milwaukee wheat market and the affairs of church and daily life. Throughout the summer of 1867-characterized by bitter cold early and deep drought late-the pages of the Times report almost weekly on the local wheat crop. On August 10, West writes: NEW WHEAT.—Mr. John Lyons, of Grand Prairie [south of Fairwater], has the credit of bringing in to town the first load of new wheat this season. It was a load of the so called Italian wheat, and weighed 57 pounds to the bushel. There were some wild oats in it, and some shrunken kernels, otherwise it was a fair looking article. It was bought by Paul & Rowell, at $1.65 per bushel. As a general thing, those that have threshed find their wheat turning out a great deal better than they anticipated, and if the present price keeps up, there will be a big rush of wheat to market as soon as it is threshed. A week later, on August 17, he reports that the harvest is underway and that the results are disappointing: We have heard of some fields that it was thought would go twenty bushels to the acre, only average fourteen, and we have been informed of one instance where only twenty-five bushels was received off of five acres! And on October 19, he reports a weakening market for the crop: Wheat has gone into
another decline, and the prices to day in Milwaukee is 1,83 [sic] for
number one. This sudden tumble in prices has had the effect of decreasing
the receipts, and they are not near as large as they were last week
at this time. Business activity apparently was less newsworthy than
the crop reports. Railroad affairs receive little mention during the
year, and there are only occasional references to local business ventures.
There is an October 19 report of a new barber shop over the Norris store
in Brandon and a mention elsewhere of a brick yard opening at Reeds
Corners, but most “business news” items in the paper are little
more than promotions. Although the state gazetteer for 1866 identifies seven Fairwater businesses, the paper offers only one related story- improvements at the Fairwater flour mill- on October 19: F. Blum, proprietor of the Fairwater Mill, is tearing out the old over shot water wheel in his mill, and putting in two of the improved Turbine water wheels, and making many other improvements. These Turbine wheels are very small fellows but it is said that there is a great deal more power obtained from them, than there is from the old style of water wheels. West and his readers evidently had a fascination with technology, for in addition to details about equipment changes in the mill, the October 19 paper also reports on two local patents: E. Reynolds, of Metomen, has recently received a patent for a farm gate, which is very highly spoken of by those who have seen it. Mr. Knight, of Alto, owns a half interest in the patent, and will soon be prepared to sell rights. They are having a cut of it engraved, which we will print so that our readers can see what it is, as soon as the engraving is finished. We notice in the Official report of Patents granted for the week ending Oct 8th, 1867, one granted to Wm. Hughes, of this village, for spring seat for Vehicles. We have not yet seen the model, and do not know how it is constructed. Lacking signficant business activity on which to report, West filled the paper with news of church and society. From the space devoted to them, West’s subscribers appear to have been preoccupied with accounts of illness and accidents. In the absence of a local physician, patent medicine ads prescribe preventions for everyday maladies, as in the following item from May 4: Cure that cough before
it is forever too late. One bottle of Coe’s Cough Balsam will cure.
It is agreeable, cheap, and effectual. Delays are dangerous. A word
to the wise is sufficient. Sections of nearly every issue are devoted to unusual cases, as in the report on a state poisoning on August 10: A farmer in Wisconsin has been poisoned by picking and eating strawberries after killing potato bugs with his fingers. An awful warning to people who do not wash their hands. Local items also emphasize the melodramic and sensational: ACCIDENTS.-We this week have to record two accidents that have happened in our village and vicinity. A little son of Mr. Graham, the harness maker, while swinging, at Mr. Harrans place, fell from the swing and catching one of his fingers in a chain that was in the swing, it tore the end of it off up to the first joint, so it only hung by the skin. It was replaced by the doctor. but it will, if it heals, always be a stiff joint. Mrs. Brundage was thrown from a buggy on Tuesday last, by the horse running away, and injured quite badly. (August 10) We have heard of a case of genuine spotted fever occurring on Grand Prairie, one day last week. The child was taken sick, when parties went for a doctor, but on their return with the doctor, the child was found to be dying. (August 17) Mr. F. Blum, of Fairwater, met with quite an accident this week in the following manner. In attempting to put a rope on a hog’s leg, which he had been chasing with a dog, the infuriated animal turned round, and bit him in the leg just below the knee, the tusk entering the bone to the distance of nearly two inches. The leg swelled badly and medical assistance was at once called in. We hear that he is now doing well, though confined to the house. (November 23) Crime reports are another staple for West’s readers, and Waupun is the source for many of them. For the year, the Times reports two Waupun horse thefts, a horse-whipping of a former Waupun editor by an area farmer, a jewelry theft committed by sons of prominent families, and the discovery of a newborn found trussed and drowned in Waupun. On November 23, West reports: Some little excitement has been created in our village by the arrest of Dr. S. R. Hewitt, of Waupun, on a complaint of Mis [sic] Lettie Wentworth; the charge being seduction. He was brought before Justice Reynolds, one day this week, waived an examination, and gave bail in the sum of one thousand dollars for his appearance at the next term of the circuit court. E. Ensign went his bail. Related to the interest in area crimes is a concern about the evils of drink. On July 27, West reports that, “the liquor question is still exciting the Riponites, and according to their papers they are having a stormy time over it.” On October 26, the paper offers a letter to the editor which suggests that even Fairwater was part of the temperance majority: Dear Sir:—One year
ago last spring at the spring election held in this place, the question
arose, shall we grant license or not. A majority of the legal voters
voted against granting license. At the election held in Fairwater last
spring, the same question came up and was decided as at the previous
election. Now does anybody question the right of the people of a town,
city, or incorporated village to decide whether intoxicating drink shall
be sold in their town, city or village.... Then by what authority are
those individuals in our town selling liquor and beer. Is the will of
the majority to be set at defiance.—We always supposed that when
a question was left to the people to decide, that the will of the majority
became law. If this is so, why don’t these men obey the law. Why
try to evade it. For the past year and a half we have had a peaceable
town. There has been no hooting and yelling through the streets by men
under the influence of strong drink. Rowdies and blacklugs [?] have
kept clear of us, knowing that they would not find a welcome here. It
has been said far and near that Brandon was a peaceable town, and so
it has been. What right have individuals to come here and go to keeping
saloons.... The people of our town have said no saloons shall be licensed
to sell intoxicating drinks. One individual has persisted in selling,
another we are informed has lately commenced. We would say to them you
had better obey the law, your business is illegitimate. It is the means
of much evil, you had better find some other employment by which you
can make an honest living. L. A. R. C. Aside from heath and crime reporting, West’s picture of social life is dominated by the events of church life. On November 23, he reports a business meeting of the Brandon Bible Society: At the annual meeting of the Brandon Bible
Society, held at the Methodist Church, last Sunday evening, the following
officers were elected for the coming year: In nearly every issue, the Times makes reference to the Fairwater Free Baptists. Among them are the following items about Baptist services and events: We had the pleasure on Thursday of this week of attending the picnic of the regular Baptist Sunday School of Fairwater, which came off at the picnic grounds on the south side of big Green Lake.... Here tables were soon erected and there was placed such a quantity, and variety of good things for the inner man, as only our true; generous hearted western ladies know how to get up..... The Brandon Brass Band furnished the music for the occasion. After the dinner, boat riding, rambling in the woods, and swimming came next in order, and each one enjoyed himself some of these ways until about five o’clock, when “home again” was the cry, and we forthwith started. (July 27) We do not know that it is publicly known that the Baptists hold meetings every Sunday in our village [Brandon].... Rev. J. O. M. Hewitt, of Fairwater preaches each Sabbath in Hillman’s Hall, but owing to the large increase in his congregation, there not being room last Sabbath for all that wished to attend, the society we understand will try and secure one of the churches, and in a few weeks we are in hopes to hear that a better room has been secured. (August 3) On Monday night a party of young folks made Rev. J. O. M. Hewitt, of Fairwater, a surprise visit, the result of which was he was presented with a nice sofa, and other presents, including money, amounting to $75. (November 9) One measure of the paper’s focus on church affairs is that West makes no comment in reporting the last of the items above, but feels the need to editorialize in printing the following non-church story on July 27: We learn that some of the young men of Fairwater are talking of organizing a brass band at that place. Look twice before you leap boys—it not only takes a sight of money to get the thing started but it keeps on taking it for a year or so after. Although West and his readers had no way of knowing,
the paper’s 1867 focus on the poor wheat harvest and its report
elsewhere on the success Chester Hazen was having with his Springvale
cheese operation were prophetic. Over the next fifteen years both would
become more common as the area’s wheat fields played out and its
farmers turned to dairying. A large number of emigrants have arrived here within the past two weeks, mostly from Germany. They are an industrious, clean, healthy looking set, and just such as we like to see settle among us. Tom Montag was contacted recently by an Iowa radio station about the use of his recent book, Curlew:Home, for a book-of-the-week reading. Allen Buechel, the Fond du Lac County executive, and Sam Tobias, county planner, toured the former Fairwater Electric Company grounds and waterwheel on November 12. They were assessing the property firsthand in response to the Society’s proposal to make it a county historical park. Kingston residents visited with Arlene Erdman and Bob Schuster on Veteran’s Day to discuss their plans for a Kingston Historical Society. They plan to turn the old library into a museum. Charlie Horse recently retired to Fairwater, courtesy of Kurt Kunert, his son Wayne, and grandson Arthur. A Portland, Oregon, collector has sent the Society a 1919 photograph of Governor Horner’s great-granddaughter christening the City of Ripon in Manitowoc. Horner was the Michigan territorial governor and a cofounder of Ripon. The Society will donate the photo to the Ripon Historical Society. A writer from Minnesota recently contacted Bob Schuster about Fond du Lac County information for a book on Wisconsin taverns. Schuster used the occasion to email some of the notorious 1880s history of Fairwater’s own Hildebrandt’s Saloon. The Society has arranged to purchase nine display cases from a North Fond du Lac antiques dealer. Payments will be made over the next nine months. Bob Lenz has volunteered his time and talents to begin repairing the woodwork in the Fairwater museum this winter. The Society extends its appreciation. Florence Schaefer has donated six photographs of operations at Utley taken early in the 1900s, which show stone being moved in carts on the quarry’s narrow gauge rail system. Schaefer also has donated an early photograph of the L. W. Frei store at its location on the east side of Main Street. Stellmacher Lumber completed the museum roofing project in October. The Society extends its gratitude for their donation of labor and materials for the northeast quarter of the roof. Ness Electric and Blair Heating will begin electrical service and furnace installations the first week of December. Renewal of annual memberships are scheduled for January 1. Please take a few minutes to copy and mail the form below.
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NEWSLETTER
Meetings Acquisitions Membership Web Site www.wlhn.org/fairwater_histsoc Newsletter
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