News: Clark Co. Historical Society (Hatfield - Apr 1974)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Teeples, Schaefer, Hantke, Andregg

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/11/1974

Clark Co. Historical Society (Hatfield - Apr 1974)

The Clark County Historical Society members were given highlights of the upcoming events in Hatfield at their regular meeting last Thursday evening in the Neillsville city council room. Vi Teeples, who was the first president of the Clark County Historical Society, is now president of the Hatfield Chamber of Commerce.

She told of plans for the dedication program scheduled for 2 p.m., Sunday, May 26. The canal, which is the longest in operation in the state was constructed in 1907-08. A historical marker is being set here. Then two bridges, one over the canal and one over Black River will also be dedicated.

Miss Teeples brought a number of scrapbooks and pictures showing the construction of the canal, dam and the power house. It was here her father had been in charge and so she had hears much about the building and seen the powerhouse in operation in later years. The La Crosse Power Company had arranged for the construction and years later it was taken over by the Northern States Power Company. It was from here that La Crose and Winona had electricity to run their street cars.

Of buildings left from the booming days of construction, Miss Teeples has preserved the old hotel which is now her 16 room Thunderbird Museum. Through the years the lake formed by the dam has provided recreation area which led to the sign which reads: “Population Winter 50 - Summer 5000”. It was named Lake Arbutus for the beautiful trailing arbutus in the area. The lake is in both Clark and Jackson counties.

During the business meeting Mrs. George Schaefer was appointed chairman of the cook book committee. Other members of the committee are Mrs. Geneive Hantke and Mrs. Violet Andregg.

Miss Teeples also offered space for the society to set up a lunch stand during the celebration. Details will be worked out at the next meeting. Suggestions were also brought up to take articles for the flea market.

Several of the Neillsville women served lunch.