Community Life
Hewett Township, Clark County,
Wisconsin
The Columbia School
was the site of many community events like the Fourth of July
celebration in this picture. The roof also provided a place
for ambitious Halloween pranksters to reassemble buggies. As
the photo indicates, some such boys decided to perch upon the roof
for the photo. (Photo courtesy of Ruby Yndogliato/Clark
Co. Press) |
In 1900, the four room school was built ( the
building in the photo above) with two rooms on the main floor being used for up
to grade eight. It was thought that as Columbia grew in population the
upstairs would be used for a high school. The upper floor was used as an
auditorium as it had a stage. Many home talent plays were given there.
The Columbia school was closed in
January 1945 and the building was sold at an auction in 1952. It had been
built of very fine lumber and material. Art and Jane Ehlers bought the
building. Ruby Poetner Yndoliato purchased the 500 pound school bell for
her son who wanted the souvenir.
1930-1940
Snyder Lake
swimming area as it appeared on a warm summer day. Kids from
the area went there to swim, cool off and have fun with friends.
We don't know the exact date of the photo above, but it was likely
between 1930 - 1940. |
Area
Businesses
1904
Hewett Dairy Company (1904)
In the
early 90’s the first general merchandise and post office
(pictured above) was built, owned, and operated by George
Heynderichx, a Frenchman from Brazil, South America. Their
four children were Lelia, George, Jr., Cecil and Helen. About
1900 they sold and moved to the state of Washington.
Charles Graves bought their
store.
|
1917
A cheese factory was started in Hewettville in 1914, the building being
rented from the Farmers Creamery Co., who had operated a creamery there for
a time. Fred Theiler rented the building and ran it as a cheese factory for
four years, or until October 1917, when, on account of the Condensery at
Neillsville, the factory closed, probably never to open again.
Clark County Press
1943
December, 1943--The Calway cranberry development, in the town of Hewett, has
been sold to Leonard Rodiger and
Edward G. Johns of the Wisconsin Rapids area.
The young men are in possession and are proceeding with plans to carry on
the development, which was started by the late
Forrest D. Calway.
This transaction is one of the most important transfers in the recent
history of Clark County, involving an opportunity to develop a project that
may well attain high value. The beds already planted extend over about 11
acres, but the opportunity is there to developing seven or eight times the
present area of cranberries. That means it is an important project with very
substantial potential.
The cranberry project, in the town of Hewett, became the chief interest and
life work of Forrest D. Calway, who in the Depression years, turned to it in
preference to exclusive devotion to the practice of law. Mr. Calway felt
that such a development, in the lean years of the Depression, would grow
with recovery to an important investment.
In developing this idea, Mr. Calway purchased about 640 acres of land and
possessed himself of water rights needed for the development and perpetual
care of the cranberry beds. He had first investigated the possibilities of
that particular area and had satisfied himself that the correct elements
were present in land and water for the growth of cranberries. He retained
all of the water right and all of the land, about 320 acres, needed for the
cranberry project.
Having collected the necessary land and rights, Mr. Calway did such
construction work by way of dams, ditches, ponds and flumes as would provide
for the cranberry beds. He made considerable plantings and had brought some
of the first beds to bearing. It was in the company's pickup truck, which he
used for his work at the cranberry marsh, that his seizure came, not quite
two years ago, which brought Mr. Calway's efforts summarily to an end.
This left the responsibility of the marsh to Mrs. Calway, who has managed it
for two seasons, but who at no time intended to attempt its further
development and permanent ownership and management. With the sale now
concluded, she is relieved of the burden. Clark Co., Press
2003
Christie, Robert's Feed Mill (demolition)
2008
Silver
Dome
Celebrates 75 years (12 Nov. 2008)
Silver Dome Celebrates 75 yrs Additional (19 Nov. 2008)
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