History: Greenwood, Wisconsin (1909) Greenwood Gleaner 29 Jul 1909)

Contact: janet@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

----Source: 1909 Greenwood History, Originally published by Max C. Baldwin in the Greenwood Gleaner, Enhanced and edited and compiled with various photo collections by Janet & Stan Schwarze.  Copyright 2008

1909 Greenwood History

Originally published by Max C. Baldwin in the Greenwood Gleaner

Enhanced and edited and compiled by Janet & Stan Schwarze.

Copyright 2008

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Source: Greenwood Gleaner 07/29/1909

M. C. Baldwin’s First Impressions

Coming directly from the glare and glimmer of the sea shore, where the mid-summer gaiety and the amusements of such places are in full blast, our first impressions of Greenwood were decidedly queer to say the least.

On our journey from Fairchild to Greenwood, our first thought was that we had left the frivolities of the social world to come out into the backwoods to die, and we almost wished we had never left our happy home, but as we journeyed along, the wild, rough, picturesqueness of the forests appealed to us as nature’s handiwork only can appeal to anyone who has a spark of love for the beauties of nature as God created it, and we were glad.

Greenwood, WI Soo Line Depot

The Greenwood, Wisconsin Foster and N.E. "Nobody Else" Depot

The greatest surprise in store for us was at the end of our journey, Greenwood.  On alighting from the train and turning the corner to come up the hill to Greenwood proper, what was our consternation to behold a huge Ferris wheel planted in the center of the road.  We stopped dazed, as the mirage, such as is often seen on our great deserts, commenced to take on a definite shape; the house gradually forming in to vessels of the deep and the trees attaching themselves thereto in the form of masts and solls; the many colored electric light across the roadway the tents and apparent amusement places, all added to the illusion.  Verily, we thought we had jumped from the frying pan into the fire, until some kind person woke us up and explained that a street carnival was in town, whereupon we let loose of the frenzied grip we had on our “grip” and mopped the moisture from our heated brown.

1910 Birdseye View of Greenwood, Wisconsin.

Vates and Shanks Homes on Hendren Ave., Greenwood, Wisconsin.

After regaining a somewhat normal condition, we commenced to look around, and what we saw was most interesting.  Beautiful residences with large, well kept lawns and majestic shade trees, many nice stores with their wares displayed in large windows; church spires against a background of blue above the tree tops, in fact, everything that nature and invention can give to make a place beautiful.

Mid-summer rural roads in early Clark County, Wisconsin

In our different journeys through the country the past week, another, and even more beautiful panorama, was spread out before our delighted eyes.  Acres and acres of the ripened grain ready for harvest, besides the later crops yet in their mantle of green; beautiful meadow lands where abundant crops of hay had been harvested, and the green of the second growth peeping through the stubble; pasture lands where thousands of head of cattle chew their cuds in silent contentment.  Interspersed with this was the Black River, which roared against giant boulders only to flow serenely on over graveled beds and deep pools where the finny tribe taxes the ingenuity of the sportsman, and little rivulets winding through forests whose grandeur is sublime.

Verily, Greenwood and vicinity is a home of riches for the investor; a home of pleasure and plenty for the industrious, and a home of rest and peace for the weary.

Greenwood, Wisconsin (1910 ca).

Early Greenwood River Scene.

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