Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

October 15, 1992, Page 24

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Oldies 

By Dee Zimmerman

The “North side Hotel” was located on the corner of Hewett and West 10th Streets in Neillsville.  On a Sunday in August of 1887, it was successfully moved south across the O’Neill Creek.  Many men joined efforts in the move, as the creek water level was minimal on that day, as they wanted the job completed for fear of rain.

 

The fascinating photo shows the move in progress.  A series of large smooth logs were placed across the creek bed.  On top of the logs, timbers and then layers of heavy-duty wooden pallets were stacked up to reach the level of the creek bank.  The hotel building joists setting on some large timbers, was rolled on logs to the creek bank edge, then on to the pallet structure.  The hotel and pallets, as a unit, were moved across the creek bed by the large rolling logs underneath.  Teams of horses provided the power in pulling the big unit across.  During the few days the hotel was moved from the south creek bank on more logs up to the corner and on to a foundation.

 

Not only did the hotel change locations, it also had a name change.  It was called the Huntzicker Hotel and Merchants Hotel.  George Hutzicker (Huntzicker) was the hotel’s business proprietor at the new site.

 

Sometime later, an addition was built on the west side which provided many more rooms.  The building still serves the community providing space for the Family Eye Clinic, Olde Hotel Antiques, The Cellar Bar and some efficiency apartments.

 

(This old photograph was one of many found and purchased by the late Ernie Snyder.  Mr. Snyder had a great interest in the history of the community in which he lived and called “home.”  Whenever he discovered old photos at auctions, etc., he purchased the items to add to his collections.  After his death, his wife Gertrude donated many such photos to the Clark County Historical Society’s Jail House Museum.  Due to Mr. and Mrs. Snyder’s hobby and gift, many of us are able to enjoy a look into Neillsville’s past history.  Thank you, Mrs. Snyder, for sharing these interesting photos.)

 

(Thanks also to “Duke” and Alfred Boon, for the use (of) the logging photos which were shown in last weeks Press.)

 

Shown above is the “North Side Hotel” being moved across O’Neill Creek.

 

 

Compiled by Terry Johnson

 

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

 

An editorial on page 8 asked some important questions: “Where is Snake Street?  Where is Dutch Hollow?  Which is Hewett Hill?  Where is Wood’s Hill?”  It gave answers, too.  “Dutch Hollow is known now as East Second Street; Hewett Hill is the hill on which St. John’s Lutheran School stands, so-called because it was the location of the house of James Hewett, one of the early settlers; and Wood’s Hill, the Long hill three miles west of the City on Highway 10 which leads into the lake bed of the second great glacier.”

 

As for the origin of the name Snake Street, the editor gave two possible reasons for the name:

 

“….Snake Street was so named, so the late William F. Dahnert once told us, because it was originally marshy land.  Stilted wooden walks crossed these marshy areas, and in the marshlands below them one could watch the snakes slither along.  Dahnert was an old-time Snake Street tavern keeper, and we wouldn’t doubt his word for a minute.

 

“Or we would take the more popular version which had an endless number of taverns along this once-busy street leading to the old railroad station, which stood opposite the Auto-Test, Inc. plant along the railroad tracks.  Day or night one could observe people making their ways to and from the station, and their progressions from a tavern on one side of the street to a tavern on the other side of the street resembled to some extent, at least, the wriggling of a snake.  Thus the name, Snake Street.”

 

The editorial this appeared in was called; “A Name is a Name (But a Number is Not).”  The main point was that by changing street names from their former picturesque and historical names to a numerical name (Second Street, Fifth Street, Seventh Street), some important parts of our local history are lost.  (Similar arguments have been raised in 1991-92 with the implementation of a new county-wide system for road names and building numbers.)

 

FIFTY-YEARS AGO

 

The county health committee announced that an immunization program would be started “particularly for pre-school children, but open to school-age children who have not received attention in previous programs…” the vaccines to be offered were diphtheria, small-pox and whooping cough.

 

Ad:  “Every Saturday Nite at United Dairy Farmers Office talks will be given on Farmers and Washington D.C.  You are WELCOME from all walks of life.”

 

SEVENTY-FIVE-YEARS AGO

 

“John Ver Kuilen of Thorp and W. C. Tufts of Withee, were in the city Monday attending a meeting of the county liberty bond campaign committee.”

 

“Mrs. Emery Bruley was called to Kaukauna Saturday evening by the serious condition of her son-in-law, W. C. Dittmer, but who is again somewhat better.”

 

“Last Saturday night on (an) audience at the Neillsville opera house, was treated by an interesting contest between a famous artist and her Edison records.  Miss Marie Kaiser, the noted Soprano, demonstrated how thoroughly Edison has made it possible to reproduce music with a naturalness that is positively fascinating…”

 

“Christie: A farewell dance was given in honor of James Hughes at the Christie hall Tuesday evening.”

 

“West Pine Valley:  A community meeting will be held at the West Pine Valley School, Lt. Dist. 3, consisting of a Hollowe’en (Halloween) program, box social and spelling match.  Come.”

 

“FOUR MILLION IN BANKS; Indicates Wealth of County; Deposits Increase Over a Million in Past Year.”  “That Clark County is fast becoming one of the richest counties in the state is generally recognized and during the past year a veritable stream of wealth has poured into the pockets of the farmers as the circulating medium for a prosperity which has spread to every citizen…  Clark County is surely a land of milk, honey and money….” 

 

“Tioga”: “Several from Tioga attended the ballgame at Willard Sunday.”

 

“Christie”: “Ed Begley, Jr., has bought a secondhand Ford, which he expects to have made into a truck.”

 

ONE-HUNDRED-YEARS AGO

 

“The work of excavating for the new opera house basement is going jubilantly on, and the stone ought to be laid ready for the superstructure by a week from Saturday.”

 

“L. Schneller was at La Crosse Saturday and Sunday at a shooting tournament, from which he returned Monday with $10.50 in cash and a keg of wine as his winnings.

 

“The largest transfer of pine lands that was ever made in Northern Wisconsin was consummated in Ashland Thursday.  The Cornell University sold to the Chippewa Logging Company 109,600 acres of pine land for a consideration of $841,706.  The lands are situated in Price, Taylor, Chippewa, Barron and Ashland counties, and have been a prize long sought by lumbermen.”

 

“The roof of Bob Hemphill’s new barn on the Frantz farm looms over the landscape as seen from Ross Eddy like Edward Everett Hale’s moon.  Bob is clearing land at the northwest corner of his ranch, and keeps brush fires burning on every hill-top.  He has induced the pathmaster to repair the rock-ribbed road leading into the farm, and now one can drive that way in safety and comfort.”

 

“G. N. Phillips is having his barn moved to the north side of his lot—a very commendable move.”

 

“THE TIMES will be sent from now until December 31, 1893, to new subscribers, for $1.50.”

 

Trains went through Neillsville six times a day.  The three westbound trains at 7:00 a.m. (freight), 7:31 a.m. (passenger) and 11:44 a.m. (passenger); the three eastbound trains at 9:02 a.m. (passenger), 1:19 p.m. (passenger) and 3:00 p.m. (freight).

 

“H. S. Brooks’ valuable young horse, which he bought from Duchess Co., N.Y., last year, was found dead in the pasture here last week.”

 

“The O’Neill creek bridge abutments are being put in by Wm. Campbell & Co., and they will stand until the day of juggernaut.”

 

“The city will now have a night watchman, at $50 a month, who will walk the streets and fight against sleep.”

 

“Death of N. B. Holway: N. B. Holway died at La Crosse on the 26 inst. aged 69 years.  He had been sick a week with inflammation of the bowels, and a surgical operation was performed the 25th.  The patient was aware of his precarious condition, and made a disposition of his worldly affairs.  He was a heavy operator in pine and the largest manufacturer of hemlock in the west.  It is said he held $17,000 life insurance.  He had operated in Clark County for many years.”

 

 


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