Wood County Parks in the Making, 1931-1951

Since the beginning of the parks' development many requests were received for information, relating to recreation facilities, camping, fishing, operation, financing, etc. In answer to these many requests from various schools, state agencies, as well as out of state persons, the Wood County Park Commission has authorized and approved this booklet, all facts and statements have been verified. A small charge of 25¢ has been made to cover costs of materials and printing. Additional copies may be procured through members of the Wood County Park Commission or its secretary.

IN 1933, W. A. Sprise, then President of the Wood County Conservation League, became keenly interested in the development of an area for public recreation. The necessity of public parks for recreation, picnics, fishing, and sport activities seemed to him to be obvious.

There are no natural lakes in Wood County, although the County did have an artificial lake known as Nepco Lake. But the purpose of the latter was to secure clear water for manufacture of paper and paper products rather than for public enjoyment.

Cognizant of the desireablilty of a lake solely for public recreation and the advantages it would afford, it was thought that a small lake might be created by damming one of the county's streams. The Four Mile Creek or the Ten Mile Creek appeared to be likely possibilities for the project.

Convinced of the worth of a suitable park to a progressive county, Mr. Sprise, with characteristic enthusiasm immediately set to work. He appointed a competent committee to work with him to make a survey of suitable areas. The Committee was composed of S. W. Baranowski, a civil engineer of the State High way Commission, Mr. Frank Henry, contractor and engineer, and Mr. Edward F. Timm, a Wisconsin Rapids postman, who was intimately acquainted with the areas under consideration.

During the Fall and Winter of 1933 and the Summer of 1934, an accurate and comprehensive survey was made of the regions deemed suitable for the park project. Two areas were considered. One on the Four Mile Creek where the present lake is situated. The other area centered about the Ten Mile Creek at a point near the intersection where the Ten Mile stream crosses Highway 73. The proposed lake would be approximately three-fourths of a mile long, extending from Highway W to an old road known as the Plainfield Road.

Following the completion of the survey, it was unanimously agreed by the Conservation League members that the matter be presented to the Wood County Board of Supervisors, and that the Conservation President present the material to the Board at its Fall Meeting in 1935. Prior to the presentation, the Wood County Conservation League Committee had met on several occasions with the Executive Committee of the County Board then composed of Mr. William Rusk of Nekoosa, Mr. Frank Abel of Wisconsin Rapids, and Mr. Herman Hoerl of Marshfield. They were very receptive to the proposed project and made the necessary arrangements for the presentation of the matter before the County Board.

The plan as sponsored by the Conservation League was thus presented to the Wood County Board of Supervisors, "for the creation of a lake, a park, and a recreational area located about five miles Southeast of the City of Wisconsin Rapids, in the Town of Grand Rapids, on the Four Mile Creek".

The intent was not only to develop a park for Wood County, but also to provide jobs for the unemployed -- the problem of the unemployed being especially acute at this time. Mr. Sprise appeared before the organization with the necessary maps and plans.

At the September 17, 1935 meeting of the Wood County Board of Supervisors, Mr. Sprise, Mr. H. G. Brogan representing the Works Progress Administration, and Mr. Henry Ford representing the Wisconsin State Planning Commission appeared. Mr. Ford gave a talk on the proposed park and dam, "in conjunction therewith on the Four Mile Creek in the Town of Grand Rapids". It was at this meeting that it was "moved and seconded that the Board appropriate the sum of six thousand dollars ($6,000.00) for the two projects, one to be located in North Wood County, the other to be located in South Wood County according to the proposal submitted". The Executive Committee was authorized to acquire the title in the name of Wood County for the lands necessary to the creation of the parks, and that all necessary steps be taken to create a Wood County Park System. The roll was called and the motion was carried. There were forty-six ayes and one nay.

On November 12, 1935 a resolution was brought forward at the County Board Meeting which read, "Whereas Wood County has a population of less than 150,000 and whereas it seems advisable that a Park Commission of seven members be appointed agreeable to the project of chapter 27.2, the following sections of Wisconsin Statutes, be it resolved that the Chairman of the County Board be ordered to appoint such a commission". It was moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. The motion was carried. I. P. Christensen was chairman of the Board in 1935.

Ben Hanneman of the Town of Grand Rapids was elected Chairman of the newly created Park Commission. W. A. Sprise of Wisconsin Rapids became Secretary - a position he has held continuously for the past fifteen years.

Other appointed members of the Commission were: F. George Kilp of Port Edwards, E. P. Gleason, also of Port Edwards, Joe Seidl of Marshfield, Edwin Riplinger of Marshfield, and Edward Gilbertson of Wisconsin Rapids. Each year a new Commissioner was to be appointed for a seven year term.

POWERS BLUFF was donated by the town of Arpin for the development of a park. This action was taken by the annual town meeting on April 7, 1936. Ebbe Park was also donated to the county - a gift of the Ebbe estate.

Powers Bluff was, for some years, the home of several tribes of Indians such as the Chippewa, the Potawatomi, and the Winnebago. They lived on the hilltop beside the rock formations in characteristic houses of logs, bark or frames. In some cases they lived in tents. Each dwelling had a fireplace in the center of the floor, and a hole in the roof or ceiling to allow the smoke to drift out. There was little or no furniture and few cooking utensils.

The squaws did most of the work, busying themselves in the making of beautiful moccasins and beaded trinkets. They tanned hides and wove colorful, but extremely useful baskets of rushes and reeds. The Indian's diet consisted almost entirely of meat, bread and potatoes. We are told that the braves traveled many miles in search of woodchucks which were considered a great delicacy.

Powers Bluff was, of course, an ideal place for the Red man of the forest. In its vicinity were the Yellow, the Black, and the Wisconsin rivers, the hard maples to be tapped for maple sap in the reluctant Wisconsin Spring, and the forests of verdant pine. The marshes furnished reeds and tough grasses to be used for basket weaving. In the Fall, the marshlands and bogs supplied red cranberries to be harvested on crisp Autumn days and then stored in decorated native baskets. Wild fowl were present in abundance and tranquil streams were alive with fish. Wild rice grew in the river beds and quiet pools; mink, muskrats, foxes and beavers could be trapped along the river banks. Deer and bear roamed over meadow and wood.

The Indian village stood in a clearing of some twenty acres on the bluff in a place still called Skunk Hill.

A careful examination of the tax and ownership records at the Wood County Court House shows that prior to 1914, a company known as the Oftelic Sondall Land Company owned much of the land in the Arpin area. However, on June 16, 1914, twenty acres of what is now Powers Bluff was sold to four Indians. They were Mixequa, Keo-Komoqush, Squagishogoquah and Shohen. These Indians lived near the top of the bluff where cars are now parked for the present day Powers Bluff activities. This land remained in their possession until 1933 when it became tax delinquent and was acquired by the town of Arpin. Then on October 27, 1936, the town of Arpin deeded it to Wood County for park purposes. The amount of land was fifty acres. In 1948, when the Park Commission completed its master plan for development, an additional fifty acres was purchased on the North side with a stipulation that the Bluff was not to be used for commercial purposes.

The Indians had named Powers Bluff Tah-qua-kik. Local historians say that some of the Potawatomi lived there as early as 1866.

In the early languid days of Spring, in the month of May, native ceremonial dances took place on Tah-qua-kik. At their conclusion the Indians returned to their firesides amid chants and the symbolic beat of drums to thank The Great Spirit for the Spring's return.

Many Indians from other tribes attended these rites. They came from other counties and sometimes from neighboring states. Some arrived by train alighting at Arpin which was the nearest station. The Winnebagos of Wood County regularly came to these Potawatomi ceremonies.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 8, 1938, the seven members of the Wood County Park Commission, together with the Executive Committee of the Wood County Board of Directors, Engineer Henry, and a representative of The Marshfield Herald and The Wisconsin Rapids Tribune met in the Wood County Court House.

The purpose of the meeting was to select a suitable name for the North Park lakes and one for the lake at South Park. It had been agreed previously by the Commission that a contest would be the democratic way of choosing the appropriate names. Prior to this meeting each judge had submitted, by mail, his choice of names from the entries received.

The following people were adjudged winners in the contest in the South lake naming contest:

The name Wa-Zee-Cha, selected for the South Park lake carries the following history:

It is interesting to note, in view of the name's history, that the man who named the lake is, himself, an Indian.

The following persons were awarded cash prizes in the North Wood County lake naming contest:

The winning names of Kau-ne-win-ne and Ma-na-ki-ki mean in the Chippewa tongue Yellow River (Buck Horn) and Maple Forest respectively.

It will be seen that at this time Wood County had come into the possession of four tracts of land which, when developed, would become ideal recreational centers and parks.

Lands for the South Wood County Park were purchased from private individuals until the year 1939. This area consists of three hundred thirty-two acres, one third of which is flooded by water because of the erection of the dam on the Four Mile Creek. At the beginning it was thought that a much smaller area would be flooded. However, a petition by the residents of the area to increase the size of the lake was filed with the Park Commission at this time. The Commission, thereupon, purchased additional land to provide for a larger lake.

The original plan for the North Wood County Park had called for a site approximately two miles farther up the Yellow River. The land was unavailable, and the present site was acquired. Land was obtained from individuals during the years 1935 and 1936. Here there are one hundred twenty-seven acres of a living wilderness on the banks of the Yellow River with no roadways to the region.

Dam on Lake Wauzeecha

Powers Bluff is located two and one-half miles southwest of Arpin on the highest point of land in the county. Its altitude is 1472 feet, the thirteenth highest point in Wisconsin. Ebbe Park is located on the Yellow River one mile west of Bakerville in the Town of Lincoln.

The areas to be flooded at South and North Park were freed of timber and brush. A clearing crew with power shovels and trucks set to work. Despite the fact that the chosen sites were located in relatively rugged terrain the job was accomplished in good time.

Meanwhile hearings were held with the Public Service Commission which granted permission to erect the proposed dams and dikes. A dam with a twenty foot head was built at South Park. Two dams with a six foot head were constructed at North Park.

Two beaches were developed at the South Park, one just north of the dam, the other on the south side of the lake about one-half mile from the village of Kellner. Bulldozers leveled the beaches and were useful in some of the road building around the Lake at South Park and throughout the North Park.

Mr. Frank Henry of Wisconsin Rapids, drew the plans for the bath houses. The most beautiful of these structures is built of hard-cut sandstone and is located at South Park. It is ninety feet in length. The building has running water and electric lights. There is a concession stand in the center of the structure. The area surrounding the building has been landscaped in a formal plan that sets off the house to its best advantage.

A bathhouse of similar style and design was erected at the North Park. It has running water and a sewage system. The building is fashioned from locally cut sandstone.

North Beach and Bath House

A suspension bridge was built across the river. The bridge is two hundred and twenty-five feet in length and four feet wide.

Suspension Bridge at North Park

The bridge is suspended from heavy steel cables. A smaller foot bridge was built at both North and South Park over the lagoons. They are constructed of fir timbers and add much to the beauty of the recreational centers.

A 24x24 shelter was also built at Ebbe Park of material similar to that used in the buildings at the other Wood County Parks.

Today each of the parks has a caretaker: Walter Pietz at Lake Wazeecha, W. A. Krainz at Powers Bluff, Frank Krainz at North Park. The caretakers are employed throughout the year with two additional men as laborers. The construction work on the parks, the erection of the bridges and roads is done by regular park crews. This has been the practice since 1944.

There are eleven acres of lawn at North Park, three wells, and twelve springs. There are fifty-two picnic tables here and thirty-six benches. At Lake Wazeecha there are fifty-eight picnic tables, fifty-eight benches and fourteen wells. At Powers Bluff there are two wells, seven picnic tables and three benches. There are fifty fireplaces in the park areas.

Typical Picnic Unit - Lake Wazeecha

The combined number of tables in the parks would accommodate 1,200 people at one sitting. Each winter approximately 200 cords of wood are cut for use in the fireplaces.

Immediately after the creation of the North and South Park projects, it was decided by the Commission that a master plan be drawn up for all park projects. This was done by a special Committee of the Commissioners consisting of F. G. Kilp and personnel connected with the Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Company.

In view of the large expenditures tied up in the parks, it was felt by the Commission that the county should have a full-time man or Park Superintendent. Mr. Earl Wallace, a former member of the Wisconsin Conservation Department and one of forty-three applicants was hired by the Commission on March 15, 1941. It may be of interest to note here that Mr. Wallace is at present Director of the Fish and Game Division of the State of Kentucky, having resigned as Superintendent of the Wood County Parks in the spring of 1944. He was then succeeded by Mr. Emil F. Mueller, town clerk of the town of Arpin, a true son of Wood County and a man of great capabilities.

Wells were drilled at the North County Park and at Powers Bluff Park. A C.C.C. building was donated to the Park system by the Wisconsin Conservation Department. This building was cut into two equal parts. One of the halves was taken to Lake Wazeecha and remodeled into a caretaker's cottage and workshop. There was room for four rooms to be used as living quarters and a large space for a workshop. Electric lights and running water were added to the house. The other half of the C.C.C. building was remodeled into a large workshop and storage room for tables and benches.

A Close View of Bathhouse - North Beach Lake Wazeecha

General improvements were continually being made. A stone entrance was added to the bathhouse at South Park. Dead trees, rubbish and brush were removed from the north side of the lake. Roads were improved. Additional fireplaces were erected and more tables and benches were put to use.

Fish rearing ponds, which had been built under a National Youth Administration program were ready to rear trout. These ponds are located below the dam at Lake Wazeecha. There are two of these ponds 9' by 100' in size.

In 1945 a dike one-third mile long was built at the North Park. A new road was put across the river making it possible for cars to go on to the west side picnic area. Previously one could only cross over to the other side by walking across the suspension foot-bridge.

A swimming pool was built east of the bathhouse by draining a swamp and excavating the area to a depth of about eight feet. A pipe line was laid from the pool up river, thus diverting the water from the Yellow River through the pool, thereby providing a continuous flow of water.

Bathhouse, North Park - Swimming Pool visible in background

At the request of the North Wood County Boy Scout Leaders and with the permission of the Wood County Board of Supervisors, the Park Commission gave Ebbe Park to the Scout organization. This park area consisted of a small strip of land about one-half acre, which was not used by the public for any purpose, since, it has been rebuilt and maintained by the Boy Scouts at their camp.

Ice Jam in North Park - Spring of 1946

In the spring of 1946, high water and ice caused considerable damage to the North Park, uprooting some of the newly planted pines. The old dike was damaged in several places. The entire park was flooded, with only two feet of the bathhouse visible above the water. Roads were washed out and the smaller buildings swept away. After repairing the damage, caused by the flood, the beaches were equipped with Life Guard perches and first-aid materials. Guards were placed on daily duty from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

In 1947 the roads at the two largest parks were covered with oil to eliminate the dust nuisance. This, obviously, added much to the comfort of the Park users.

A new shelter building was built at Lake Wazeecha. It was erected on the south side at the very popular picnic area. It was constructed of hard sandstone in a design compatible with other park buildings. The structure was 40' x 60' in size.

Shelter Building, South Side - Lake Wazeecha

A program of "On the Job Training" had been set up under Public Law number 346 and a veteran was being trained at two of the County parks. Each trainee completed the two year training period.

During this year a plan was submitted to the County Board of Supervisors for the development of various winter sports at Powers Bluff. An appropriation was made for the purchase of additional land on the north slope of the hill. A bulldozer began work leveling three ski trails from the top of the hill, winding down to its base. These trails were 1330 - 1410 - and 1500 feet long ending at the lower end of the property where a Ski tow line was assembled to tow the skiers back up the hill. A power unit with a 20 h.p. electric motor and 2200' of 1" ski tow rope is used for the towing line. These ski trails were formally opened, on January 22, 1948. Some two hundred ski fans attended the opening day.

The shelter building at Lake Wazeecha was completed in the summer. Lights were added to the picnic areas and telephones installed at the two largest parks. The newly acquired winter sport area was being planted with white pine for further protection and beautification of the winter playground.

A hard sandstone shelter was built at Powers Bluff. It was two stories high and 30' x 80'. There is a large room on the west end of the first story for a general service room for skiers with a large heater at one end. The other end of the first floor is a shop and power room for the ski tow unit. There is electricity throughout the building. The first story of this building was completed during 1949.

Stone foot-bridges were constructed at North Park. This allowed people to use Pine Isle which is located below the swinging bridges. Dikes were improved, lawns resown and various signs erected and posted throughout the park systems. In August, 1949, the County Board adopted a County Park Ordinance whereby the parks are now patrolled by police officers. This has decreased vandalism.

Foot-bridge To Pine Island, North Park

In 1950 the warming house at Powers Bluff was completed. The top floor is one large room with a large fireplace at each end. There are fourteen windows and two doors to provide ample light. Concession stands will be operated at specified seasons during sport activities and events.

The road to the hill has been blacktopped, and these roads are plowed and sanded in winter by crews of the County Highway department. A public address system has been installed for the convenience of winter sports. During the summer this equipment is used by the Guards at the beaches in the swimming season.

The following sums represent all monies appropriated by the County Board to the County Park System. These funds have been carried under three classifications known as County Park Funds, W.P.A. Project Funds, and the Maintenance of Dams and Dikes Funds. The figures for the three headings follow:

A total of four thousand, four hundred and seventy-one (4471) man months of labor were provided by the W.P.A. to men on Park projects who were certified by Wood County's Welfare Department to W.P.A. If these men had been left on direct relief and given only the necessary food and clothing to maintain life, it would have cost Wood County $101,228.23 less the 12% State or Federal Aid, or in net figures, a total of $89,080.85. It appears, therefore, that Wood County not only saved money, but had something of tangible value to show for the expenditures of the appropriations made by the Wood County Board of Supervisors during the eight years (1935-42) that the W.P.A. functioned. It will thus be seen that Wood County profited greatly by the development of the Park system with its fine recreational centers.

At the present time it may be said, that for all practical purposes, the cost of maintaining the park system in Wood County is met by two-tenths of a mill on the total assessed evaluation of Wood County. When the Park Commission was first organized the amount allowable for park purposes was one tenth of a mill on the assessed evaluation of Wood County.

Through recent legislation the amount allowable for park purposes has been increased to two-tenths of a mill of the assessed evaluation of Wood County. In other words for every one hundred dollars ($100.00) of assets valuation of Wood County, only two cents may be appropriated for Park purposes.

New projects have been completed and various general improvements have been made throughout the park system.

The warming house and recreational building have been completed at Powers Bluff. The ski trails at this park provide skiing for several hundred persons. The power ski-tow is operated each week-end of the season. The tow can accommodate as many as thirty-five skiers at one time. A refreshment stand is operated in the 30' x 80' recreational room by the Marshfield Post of the V.F.W. organization.

One of the most popular projects of the entire park system is the children's fishing pond at Lake Wazeecha. The pond is located at the lagoon on the north side of the lake. The pond is approximately a thousand feet long and twenty feet wide with a maximum depth of six feet.

North Bridge over Lagoon South Park

Fish Pond

The Heart of Wisconsin Conservation League of Wisconsin Rapids furnished labor and materials for the fishing pond. The Wisconsin Conservation Department set fyke nets in the lake to catch the fish to put in the pond.

Children up to fourteen years of age are permitted to fish in the pond on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 until 4 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 to 8 p.m. A supervisor from the Conservation League has been in charge whenever fishing was permitted. On the opening day some four hundred children enjoyed fishing. The children were taught good fishing methods by the supervisor in charge.

The rearing ponds below the dam at Lake Wazeecha are increasing in popularity. The Conservation League again aided greatly by donating labor and materials. Five thousand inch-long brown trout have been planted and it is hoped that by the summer of 1951 some 4,500 legal-sized trout will be put into the streams of Wood County. More rearing ponds may be created. The small trout already there are fed daily by the caretaker at the park, feed for the fish being furnished by the Conservation League.

Rip-rap work is done each year to eliminate banks washing into the lake. Seedling pines are constantly being planted in barren regions. Thirty-five hundred white pine, spruce and Norway pine trees were planted in 1950.

The spillway at the lower dam at North County Park has been greatly improved by the addition of two concrete wings. This was done with a view to maintaining a uniform water level on the lower lake, and to protect the dam at the time of sudden spring thaws. The banks of the Yellow River have also been improved to relieve the spring ice conditions. It is interesting, at this point, to note that in the spring of 1950, seven hundred fifty pounds of dynamite were used to release various ice jams.

An anti-rust campaign was completed in the park area and adjoining lands in 1950. A new baseball backstop is being erected at Hawthorn Hill. A flag pole base was constructed in late fall for a new flag pole donated by the Marshfield V.F.W. group. The pole is made of welded steel pipe and is forty-five feet long. Plans for a formal dedication in May, 1951 were made.

Several hundred feet of 16 mm. colored film has been shot of the county parks. This film is available to any county organization upon request.

Playground equipment was put up at suitable spots and many picnic tables and stone fireplaces were provided.

During the year 1949 the attendance records proved the popularity of the Wood County System of Parks. The 1949 statistics are as follows:

During the same year the Park superintendent traveled 21,585 miles in the discharge of his duties.

Forty-one different organizations made reservations and held picnics or outdoor gatherings in the park areas. This included thirteen churches of various denominations, the 4H Club groups, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, Eagles, the County Beekeepers Association, the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune Employees, political groups, Ahdawagam, and many other organizations too numerous to mention.

Plans have been made to build a new Shelter Building at North County Park in the summer of 1951. The location has been chosen. However, the size of the building has not been decided upon. It is agreed that the new structure will match the other buildings in the park areas as to material and design. It is hoped that plans for an ice skating rink and a tennis court may also become a reality.

The story of the Wood County Park is not finished. It is not finished because the story concerns an enterprise that is alive, vital and growing. Each year will bring new plans, new developments, and we are confident, new successes.

An excellent example of this may be seen in the fact that Park history was made on Sunday, February 4, 1951 - the dedication date of Powers Bluff as a Winter Sports Park. W. A.. Sprise, Secretary of the Wood County Park Commission, acted as Master of Ceremonies and gave an outline of the history of Powers Bluff. Other speakers on the afternoon program were: Will H. Dix, Chairman Wood County Parks Commission, W. W. Clark, Assemblyman, Dick Greeneway, Chairman of the Wood County Board, and Emil F. Mueller, Superintendent of Wood County Parks. Between fifteen hundred and two thousand people attended this gala event.

Shelter House at Powers Bluff Park

The criticism is almost gone. There was criticism, of course, for it is a truism that nothing worth-while has ever been accomplished without it.

But the public now understands and is aware of the tremendous job the whole Park Project entailed. It has gained a comprehension of the sweat, hardship and sacrifice that was needed to bring the dream to reality and make the park system what it is today.

The citizens of Wood County know these things, because they have learned them through observation and experience. They have watched the skiers on Powers Bluff on a brilliant, cold, February day and stood in awe at the same spot on an April afternoon gazing at the chaste trilliums blooming in the Potawatomi dancing ring of yesterday. They have sat with friends and loved ones at the picnic tables, in the shade of the sheltering pines at Lake Wazeecha, on a languid summer evening and reflected that life is good. They have watched sweethearts crossing the swinging footbridge over the Yellow River. They have witnessed a thrilling moment in a youngster's life as he caught his first "big one" from the Children's Fishing Pond.

PERSONS WHO FIGURED PROMINENTLY
IN THE CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE
WOOD COUNTY PARK SYSTEM

The Original Survey Committee
S. W. BARANOWSKI
EDWARD F. TIMM
FRANK J. HENRY
W. A. SPRISE

Charter Members of the Wood County Park Commission
BEN HANNEMAN
F. G. KILP
E. P. GLEASON
JOE SEIDL
EDWARD G. GILBERTSON
W. A. SPRISE
EDW. S RIPLINGER

Other Members of the Wood County Park Commission
OLEO GILBERTS
RALPH B. ROBERTS
FRED MEYER
ROY E. PUCKER
OTTO ZIEHER
WILL DIX
ROY C. LUBER
WILLIAM RUSK

South Park	$103,512.25
North Park	8,4330.25
Powers Bluff Park	3,280.00
Ebbe Park	350.00
Total	$191,472.50

Sight-seeing, fishing and picnicking	147,060
Swimming	52,082
Skiing	6,051
Total attendance for 1949 at the three parks	205,193

Wood County parks in the making, 1935-1951 :
a depression-born development for your leisure and recreation.