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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