Spring 2024

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Preservation Press Spring 2024

Shalagoco – 100+ Years of Bogies, Pars, Birdies, Eagles, Champions

Ah, Spring……robins and wild flowers, the unique smell of the first warm rain, the crack of baseball against bat, the ping of a Jack White hickory driver knocking a hard rubber Maxfli golf ball off a tee (okay, so maybe not exactly a “ping” in those days)…….

Surely, these harbingers of spring were on the minds of a group of Shawano community leaders as they met in the winter of 1921-22 to discuss forming and building a golf course and club. Oh, and probably mix in a bit of cigar smoke.

Ergo: Shawano Lake Golf Course – Shalagoco – was founded June 10,1922. (See photo of the clubhouse beam with the names of the founders.)

Now, in its 104th year Shawano Lake Golf Course continues to be known as “The Shal” by locals. Situated just off Shawano Lake and across Lake Drive from Shawano Lake County Park, built in 1921, the course provides challenging entertainment for thousands of linksters every year; including members, campers, league players and folks who make it an annual golf trip destination.

In the mid-1930s, the developers sold the course to Martin “Marty” Gharrity, Sr. who was a teacher and athletics coach at Shawano High School. Marty Sr. built the house centered on the course. He was an innovator in many ways including using poured concrete for the basement foundation rather than the more, at the time, common concrete blocks which had replaced the stone walls of previous centuries. For a period of time, while Gharrity pursued other business interests, The Shal was operated by Ollie and Angie Hetzel on lease. In October of 1952, during the Hetzel’s tenure, the clubhouse was completely destroyed by a fire. The subsequent rebuild exists today with some remodeling and enhancements.

In 1957 Robert and Marilyn Schroeder purchased the course operating it until selling to Tom Knorr in 1993. Bob Schroeder was the son of Dr. E.L. Schroeder, one of the club’s founders. It was subsequently sold to a consortium of local business people in 2006, the current owner-operators. Shalagoco LLC has invested in improving the course and hospitality facilities to assure that it remains a “go-to” venue of the Shawano community.

Markers:

• The Shal’s original putting surfaces weren’t “greens” as sand provided the flat surfaces for putting, with rakes and brushes nearby to facilitate the holing strokes of each hole. The putting surfaces were converted to grass in 1931.
• The original clubhouse included four bowling lanes, restaurant and dining room/card room.. The building was destroyed by fire in 1952. The pro shop and locker rooms were free-standing and escaped the blaze. This building was razed in later years.
• The first officers were: C.F. Naber, President; D.H. Winter, Secretary. Club Directors were: Morris Carr, L.J. Brunner, Albert Seering and J.F. Gallagher.
• Starting (officially) in 1941, the Shal had a robust Ladies Golf Association. Esther Tischer was the initial Chairperson, with Elsie Engel, Secretary. Ladies Day golf meant playing the course, luncheon, bridge. In addition to home course activities, the ladies hosted jamborees inviting members from surrounding area golf clubs.
• Two of the most accomplished Shal-based golfers were Marty Gharrity, Jr. and Jay Lohmiller. Marty was the Wisconsin State Junior Golf Champion in 1957 and finished first in the USGA Junior Nationals that same year. Jay Lohmiller won the Wisconsin State Amateur Tournament in 1964, a match play victory at Blackhawk Country Club, Madison. Jay attributes many rounds of golf played with his grandfather Ira Weeks for learning and loving the game. Weeks, an early years regular at the club, is memorialized on a timber in the club house. He also observed: “…..playing those very small, but well-constructed and maintained greens for his mastery of the game……..hitting those ‘postage stamp targets (a little golfer lingo here) certainly helped when playing tournaments around the country……”

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Sources: SCHS Archives, Schroeder Family records, Shalagoco LLC, Jay Lohmiller

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE – JESSE BORLAN

As we begin our 84^th year here at the historical society, I am filled with thankfulness and excitement. Firstly, I am very thankful for the support of the Shawano County community throughout the years. Not only for their financial backing, but for sharing their personal history and knowledge with us to preserve for future generations. The continued support of the community has allowed us to grow into something that we are very proud of, and we hope the community shares these feelings.

Secondly, I would like to thank Mike Eidahl and Tom Aumann for their service to the Shawano County Historical Society. Although still on the board, Mike and Tom served faithfully as our President and Vice President for several years, both stepping down in November. It was under their leadership that the society continued to thrive, and I thank Mike for his continued support stepping into Vice President role.

Lastly, I would like to thank the Shawano County Historical Society board of directors for putting their faith in me to lead them for the upcoming year, as well as all the volunteers, especially Lana Buelow, who put in countless hours promoting the mission of the society.

I look forward to the new year and new projects on the horizon. I am also excited to be partnering with Shawano Pathways to host a vintage bicycle event in the fall, as well as exploring a potential new exhibit space downtown (hopefully more to come). As always please stay in touch with us and check out our Facebook page and website.

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GUIDING THE SOCIETY

VISION STATEMENT

The vision of the the Shawano County Historical Society to “enrich people’s lives through history.”

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the the Shawano County Historical Society is to “preserve the culture and history or Shawano County by creating a vibrant learning experience and serving as a resource for current and future generations”.

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Lift Those Buggies

The Village of Bonduel has long been “on the route,”  from the 1850s when Rev. F. Bonduel traveled through while founding a Catholic mission in Keshena, to the railroad days and, of course, folks traveling to northern lake cabins and campgrounds.  Also, a commercial hub surrounded by hundreds of dairy farms and almost as many cheese factories and creameries.

The need for farm equipment, tools, feeds/seeds/fertilizer attracted Henry G. Heck, a Milwaukee area hardware and implement business employee to the area in 1901.  He was encouraged by his brother Hubert who owned and operated H.H. Heck Mercantile Company.  Henry started H.G. Heck Hardware, originally in leased space, before building on Green Bay Street.  With home and farm building projects accelerating in the area expansion was the next step.  In 1907, Henry erected a new store on North Cecil Street.

The building stands today owned by Roxanne Tilleson operating as a unique gift and craft store known as the Rustic Shed.  She keeps pictures and writings from the Heck Hardware days in a dedicated corner of her shop.

A unique part of the Heck Hardware business served as the foundation for this article.

Heck Hardware sold horse drawn buggies in its early years.  The buggies in inventory were stored on the second floor of the building.  They were uploaded and downloaded using a block and tackle pulley system at the back of the building.

Historical landmarks of Heck Hardware:

• Henry G. Heck arrived in Bonduel in 1901 at the suggestion of brother Hubert who was operating a general merchandise business on Green Bay St.
• H.G. Heck Hardware also operated on Green Bay Street until 1907 when a new and larger store was built on North Cecil Street.
• In 1906 Henry took in Robert Specht as a partner.
• In the 1930s Henry’s son Lorenz partnered in the enterprise.
• In 1948 Specht sold his share(s) to Barney Dussling with the business becoming  known as Heck and Dussling Hardware.
• In 1978 Lorenz’s son Richard purchased the store, operating it until his passing in 1999.
• The Heck Hardware business was a Bonduel business fixture for almost a century adapting to the needs of the market place from horse-drawn buggies to gasoline-powered garden equipment.

Sources:  Bonduel Community Archives, Roxanne Tilleson-Rustic Shed

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Annual Meeting

Caspar “Cap” Wallrich was the guest speaker at the SCHS Annual Meeting in October 2023.  Cap shared out takes of family communications over the years.  The Wallrich family has been extensively involved, and invested in, the Shawano Community since arriving from Kenosha County, Wisconsin in the 1850s.  If it happened in Shawano a Wallich was involved:  chamber of commerce, banking, forestry and lumber, breeders cooperative, dairy cooperative, local politics, golf courses, etc.  One of the letters Cap shared was written by Michael J. Wallrich, whose son William perished in the Second Battle of Marne (France) in World War I.  He was taking issue with the establishment of a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Shawano.  Mr. Wallrich argued there already existed an American Legion Post which was available to all service men.  He was concerned about the conflict between those who actively served in war theaters overseas and those who did not have the “opportunity”;  those who were “prevented” from fighting overseas because of strategic needs stateside:  “…..I would not care to have my son’s name associated with any organization in this town that did not have the support of nearly every service man……”

(A VFW Post was eventually chartered in 1933, existing today as the Herbert E. McLaughlin Post 2723.)

Note:  the SCHS annual meeting is held each October featuring financial and operational reports.  It is open to the public.  Watch for announcements on the SCHS web page:  www.shawanohistory.org and Facebook page.

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SHAWANO HAS HISTORY PROJECT

Future visitors to Shawano’s Main Street and side streets will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the buildings they walk by.

Historical plaquing of Shawano’s downtown business district, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, is a project of Shawano County Historical Society, Leadership Shawano County, Business Improvement District, City of Shawano and Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce.  It start with the musings of Ben and Diane Hartwig after viewing building plaques in London, England and has steadily developed into reality.

The first plaque has been placed by Cornerstone Chiropractic on the Upham and Russell Building, corner of Main and Division Streets.  The coordinators have identified more than forty buildings eligible for the plaques.  Several more commitments are currently being processed.

For more information check out www.shawanohistory.org and click on “Historical Properties”, or contact Michael Oberle or Ben Hartwig through SCHS.

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“Roll Back Time”
Sunday, September 8
1pm to 4:30pm

• Antique Bicycles
• Pie and Ice Cream Social
• Beverage Booth

Sponsored by Shawano Pathways & Shawano County Historical Society

Wisconsin Wheelmen, a national club dedicated to keeping alive the heritage of American cycling, will be presenting Roll Back Time at Heritage Park, Shawano on September 8 this year, sponsored by Shawano Pathways and Shawano County Historical Society.

The Wheelmen’s presentation will bring to life the Golden Age of Bicycling, as they display and ride a rare collection of two-wheelers dating from the late 1800s through the balloon tire bikes of the 1930s to 60s.  The men and women of Wheelmen will be in period costume with presentations on collecting and restoration as well as exhibits and demonstrations.

The back-in-time theme of the day will include an old-fashioned pie and ice cream social tent and old style beverage stand.  Admission is free for the event as well as access to all Historical Society buildings from 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.

The mission of Wisconsin Wheelmen is to encourage old-fashioned cycling as part of modern living while following the historic development of the Draissine, Velocipede, Boneshaker, High Wheeler (Penny Farthing), Tricycle and High Wheel Safety and more.

Many examples of these antiques will be on display.

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Curator’s Report – By Jesse Borlan, Curator

Headstones Cemetery Walk
September 14, 2024

Throughout the past year and a half, we have been preparing to honor the veterans of the Korean Conflict at our Headstones Cemetery Walk in September. In the past, in preparation for this event, our archives at the Historical Society have been a major resource in researching the veterans of WWII, WWI, and the Civil War. However, when we first started developing our program for this year, we ran into a roadblock and discovered we had very little on the Shawano County veterans of the Korean Conflict. Thanks to one of our committee members and a dedicated researcher, Dave MacMurray, we were able to gather some great information. Dave has become a great asset and with his “boots to the ground” approach has collected photographs, letters, and other information on three of the five veterans we are highlighting.

The original problem led me to wonder how we may remedy the issue in the first place. Because the historical society usually lacks the manpower to go out and collect, we rely on families and individuals to donate the information to us. I encourage you if you have a veteran in your family to ask them to share their story and any photos or memorabilia. I also encourage you to share their stories with us for future generations. They served our country, and many have died for it. The greatest way of showing our gratitude and appreciation is by preserving and sharing their stories.

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It Takes a Village to Become a City

As the City of Shawano celebrates its first 150 years in 2024 it is worthwhile to review its humble beginnings and the leadership that guided the community through its growth.

In compliance with the statutes of the State of Wisconsin, Shawano was incorporated as a Village on March 11,1871.  The first three “chief executive officers” of Shawano, while officially a Village, were titled President.  When it became a City titles were switched to Mayor and Council of Alders.

H. E. Howe was elected as charter President of the Village. Trustees: H.H. Martin,  J.A. Winans, Jos. Maurer, Hiram Wescott.  Other officials:

Treasurer                  R.W. Ackerman

Assessor                    M.H. McCord

Clerk                           L.B. LaCount

Police Justice             Henry Klosterman

Marshall                     J.M. Robinson

Mr. Howe was a mercantile owner-operator who relocated his enterprise from Weyauwega to Shawano in 1870.  Succeeding Village Presidents were:  O. Andrews, 1872 and John Wians, 1873.

On March 19, 1874 Shawano became a City “…..comprising of the same lands included in the Village charter…..”  The City initially consisted of two wards.  The first charter election was held April 7, 1874:

Mayor                         D.H. Pulcifer

Clerk                           Spencer Wiley

Police Justice             Henry Howe

Treasurer                   J.M. Robinson

Alders                        Geo. W. Gibbs, President; Henry Klosterman, R.W. Lambert, C.A. Raisler, J.D. McGee, C.L. Wiley

Supervisors               H. Nabor, M.H. McCord

Peace Justice             H.E. Howe, H.M. Loomer

Constables                 Hiram Bruce, Fred Hawley

Subsequent Mayors (with election year):

H. Pulcifer, 1874                             Chas. Upham, 1875

Nabor, 1876                                    D. H. Pulcifer, 1877

K.M. Phillips, 1879                          H. Klosterman, 1880

Asa Hicks, 1881                               K.M. Phillips, 1882

Henry Hayter, 1883                        Louis Rollman, 1884

Henry Hayter, 1885                        E.E. Breed 1886

Miller, 1887                                      E.J. Goodrick, 1888

Louis Rollman, 1889                       G.C. Dickenson, 1890

W.H. Murdock, 1991                       Chris Hill, 1992

Dewey George, 1893                      Louis Bold, 1895

O.O. Wiegand, 1896                        Henry McCord, 1897

D.E. Wescott, 1898                          Michael J. Wallrich, 1900

Edward Summers, 1906                 John Lieg, 1908

Frank Humphrey, 1910                  Bertsch Royer, 1912

King Weeman, 1918                        Albert Larson, 1920

Paul J. Winter, 1922                         Harry Meyer, 1932

Ernest Schroeder, 1938                  David Winter, 1942

Harry Meyer, 1944                           Sherb Dodge, 1948

David Winter, 1950                          Emil Juedes, 1956

Martin Weining, 1966                      Arvin Schrank, 1970

Martin Weining, 1974                      Fred Krueger, 1977 (acting)

Lee Schrader, 1978                          Russ Schmidt, 1996

Lorna Marquardt, 2002                   Jeanne Cronce, 2016

Ed Whealon, 2018                            Bruce Milavitz, 2021

Sources:  Archives, Shawano County Historical Society; Wisconsin State Historical Society; Shawano

              County Centurawano 1853-1953; Shawano County Sesquicentennial 1853-2003

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Our Thanks for These Donations

(received September 8, 2023 – March 15, 2024)

Memberships

New Members

• Liz Radtke-Petri – Lifetime
• Jerry Roloff – Lifetime
• Tom Lundt – Lifetime
• Gregory & Lesley Nemetz – Premier
• Dave MacMurray – Founders’
• Cheryl Tiegs – Founders’
• Carol Riemer – Founders’

Guardian  – $250        

• Stephen Fellman
• Peter Voy

Premier – $100

• Aaron Damrau
• Jim & Pat Kasten
• Jim & Judi Judd
• Lawrence Gueller
• Sam & Wendy Crawford
• Bruce Buettner
• Judy Mohr
• Randall & Mary Bohm
• Karen Kupper
• James Daniel
• Michael & Sylvia Oberle
• Ellen Ramlet
• Joann Stein
• Curt & Martha Knoke
• Roger & Pat Strebig

Cash Donations

A special thank you to these Lifetime Members who provide additional annual donations to support our mission.

$100+ 

• Robert R Thomas
• Stacey Bartz

$500+   

• Lenore Behnke
• Robert A White

$1,000+ 

• Lon & Ellen Swedberg
• Suzanne Mitton Petru
• Charles/Doug/Dan Podzilni, (in memory of Shawano Schweers Pioneers)
• Timothy & Barbara Schmitt

Memorials in memory of

• Carol Raeder
• John Salzmann 

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A Man – and a Village – Named Zachow

Shawano’s Heritage Park, corner of Franklin and First Streets, contains several buildings representing the areas past.  Prominent is the one signed ZACHOW – the train depot, an exact replica of the one built and operated in the Village of Zachow in eastern Shawano County in the early 1900s.

The depot at Heritage Park was conceived, funded, designed, built and is maintained by the Zachow Historical Committee and is owned by the Shawano County Historical Society.

The Village of Zachow is named after William C. Zachow who, in 1906, bought 84 acres of land, selling 14 for a railroad right-of-way on a new rail line being developed between Green Bay and Eland in western Shawano County.  A building boon ensued with homes and businesses constructed:  18 businesses and a population of 125.  The depot is no longer in place, however, placards mark the spot.  The village today is home of Graf Creamery, an award winning manufacturer of butter since 1926.  Graf is part of the Grassland Dairy network headquartered in Greenwood, WI.

To say William Zachow was omni-present in Shawano County is an understatement:

• Born in the Seymour area in 1857, his first stop in Shawano County was in
• Bonduel working at a general store.
• He started his own mercantile in Cecil in 1883.  His Cecil-centered businesses included:  Cecil Milling (grist mill) and Zachow Company which was engaged in livestock shipping, agriculture implement sales, saw mill and lumbering and real estate.
• In 1887 he married Mary A. Nabor, who later was one of the founders of Shawano County Historical Society (1940).
• In 1892 William purchased a half interest in the C.C. Nabor Co., Shawano, changed the business name to Nabor Drug Co. and became president.
• He was a founding investor in the Wolf River Paper and Fiber Company in 1894, now known as Shawano Specialty Papers of the Little Rapids Corporation..
• In 1901 he was elected an officer of the First National Bank of Shawano (now BMO).  Subsequently, he founded the Cecil State Bank which was eventually purchased by Shawano National.
• Mr. Zachow passed away in 1935 after he and Mary lived their later years on Sawyer Street, Shawano.

Sources:  SCHS Archives-Sikora Center, Zachow Historical Committee

Downtown Zachow, Wisconsin 1949 as depicted in a diorama, from an aerial photo, which is featured in the replica depot.  The scale is N-gauge which is 1:160 used by professional modelers.  The sixteen foot long freight room of the depot was the perfect fit!  This photo, only a partial view of the exhibit, includes 17 of the total of 48 buildings.  Construction of the model structures began in 2005 by John Dornfeld, Milwaukee (Depots by John), with later assistance from Jim Rindt, Sheboygan Falls (Rindts Relics).  The layout, with elevations and landscaping, was developed by Chris Comport, Merrill.

Work continued until 2013 when the depot was dedicated to the Shawano County Historical Society.

The larger buildings, from left to right:  Farmers State Bank, Mert’s Tavern, Keenway Grocery Store, Schmidt’s Tavern, Radtke’s Hardware, empty yellow grocery store, Dobratz Farm, apartment building in a former department store.  Notice the ballplayers in the triangle in front of  the store.

Along the railroad track are the Pauly and Pauly Cheese Co. (receiving and storage) and the C&NW Railroad Depot.

The SCHS website (www.shawanohistory.org) has a manual slide show which permits enlargement of 34 photos of Zachow.

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2024 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

May 31 – June 1      Sundrop Dayz Beverage stands

June 15                    Rhubarb Fest

June-July-August    Museum Tours

July 25-26-27          Charlie’s Red Barn

Aug 29 – Sept 2      Shawano County Fair Exhibit

Sept 8                      “Roll Back Time”

Sept 15                    Headstones: Korean War (Woodlawn Cemetery, Shawano)

Oct 21                      Annual Members’ Meeting

be sure to check out our new website: www.shawanohistory.com

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SHAWANO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

2023-24 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jesse Borlen, President
Mike Eidahl, Vice-President
Lana Buelow, Treasurer
Cheryl Tiegs, Secretary
Tom Aumann
Brian Carroll
Priscilla King
Mike Oberle
Dean Proper
Mike Rindt
Marcalene Rosenow
Jim Schmitt
Ron Schumacher

Newslesletter, Jim and Pat Kasten

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MEMBERSHIP HAS BENEFITS!

If you aren’t already a member, consider joining now.  Membership donations are an important part of generating operating funds.  Join now through our website www.shawanohistory.com “Membership” link.

A change is coming October 1st.  A base fee of $20.00 will apply for non-members requesting Research Assistance.  Research will begin after receipt of payment and covers search time, regardless of whether the search is successful.  Staff will spend up to 60 minutes per request plus $.25 per page for copies.

Research requests can be submitted through the “Contact Us” link on our website and completing the Research Assistance form with your questions or comments.

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Guiding The Society

VISION STATEMENT

The vision of the the Shawano County Historical Society to “enrich people’s lives through history”.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the the Shawano County Historical Society is to “preserve the culture and history or Shawano County by creating a vibrant learning experience and serving as a resource for current and future generations”.

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WAYS YOU CAN HELP US FINANCIALLY

• Membership* Consider upgrading to a higher membership level when you receive your annual renewal information by mail.  Encourage friends and family to join.
• Cash Donations* Monetary donations help us maintain historical documents and artifacts, adhere to professional museum and archival standards, maintain museum buildings, and pay operating expenses.
• In-kind Donations. Donations of goods and services allow us to keep operating expenses low and use the funds we raise for our programs and historic preservation.
• Other Ways to Donate
  • Utilize employer donation matching programs to benefit SCHS, such as Benevity Causes (Prudential), Thrivent Your Cause, Prevea Circle of Giving, ThedaCare community volunteer program.
  • Designate SCHS to receive merchant charity donations, such as Amazon Smile and Thrivent Choice Dollars.
  • Memorials on behalf of a missed loved one
  • Community Foundation grants
  • A gift of appreciated stocks, bonds, or real estate to the SCHS eliminates federal taxes on capital gains.
  • Use your required minimum distribution from your IRA as a tax free gift.
  • Make the SCHS a beneficiary of a percentage of your IRA, 401k, annuity, will, or trust.

Membership and Donations available online at www.shawanohistory.org