Follow the River.......

Historical Recollections by Lula Mae Stewart

Contributed by the Greenwood Public Library, Transcribed by Janet Schwarze

At that time Harry Mead operated the hotel there were few roads. The settlers followed Black River carrying their groceries on their backs. Some times these trips took three days or more, so the settlers needed a place to rest before continuing on their journey. There was a Blacksmith shop owned by Tony Barr. This was a popular place in the days of the horse and buggy.

There was a creamery I think it stood near where the old cheese factory stands now. The cheese factory building still stands although it hasn't been used for that purpose for a number of years now. I remember going along with my parents when they hauled milk to the factory. The long wait we had as the farmers lined up at the intake where the milk was weighed and emptied into vats. If we got tired of waiting we would walk across to the store and buy some candy to eat or play with the other children who had come along with their parents. Some of the people who operated the cheese factory over the years were a Mr. Merryfield, Art Schutte, Ben Douel, the Laabs family and the Zelms.

A popular race track was built in the area by Ben Andrews and John Laneville and a Mr. Conrad. I heard many stories about this race track from the older people. I think it was located east of where the old store building stands. It provided lots of entertainment for the residents of the area.

Mike Carlon had a saw mill on a creek west of Longwood. Many local men were employed there, my father worked there at times as Carlon and Pefhner owned the farm on the corner about one half mile from our farm. There was a barrel stave factory on a creek just north of the Greschner farm. There were two schools in the area one was located on the McCarthy farm and the other was on the Louis Mill land. The state Graded was built in 1904 and combined with the Owen-Withee district in 1961.

The Old Brick School House

The old brick school house

stands alone, deserted now and still

No happy voices fill the air

No flowers on the window sill

No teacher there to ring the bell

when recess time is o'er

The old pine tree has been cut down

No path worn to the door

And though it is no longer used

this story it does tell

Through summers heat and winters cold

It served its purpose well

Author Lula Mae Stewart

Table of Contents< >Next Page