Phillips High School - Wabasso Yearbook (Phillips, WI)

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l' X . 93215 :fi S-X!l..-Q - . ,qi gy . lg gan, 3 Hgxvff c VWBASS ' :-: ' 5 , 1. ch ef. . ,.,v-f-Sfc5.L.---1' 1. an Af- 65,11 I ,f I William Farrell, and W. F. Turner planned to organize a settlement on the bank of the Elk River. The village was named Phillips after the manager of the Wisconsin Central Railroad. Lots were soldg but all lots were not on the market, because D. C. Beebe of Arcadia, New York, who owned the land in what is now called Beebe town, had platted an addition, and the owners of the Phillips plat did not propose to encourage the sale of these lots. W. D. Gumaer was the first settler in Phillips. His daughter Priscilla, was the first white child born in Price County. The first logging operations were started in 1882. All the virgin timber was still standing. The pine trees were especially beautiful, often attaining a height of one hundred feet, and a diameter of five feet. The timber was cut by the John R. Davis Lumber Company of' Phillips. This company has since changed hands, and is now known as the Kneeland McLurg Lumber Company. On May 8, 1877, Lake Street in the village of Phillips was declared a public high- way. Previously it had been an Indian trail. The red men often came to pay their white brothers friendly visits. They belonged chiefiy to the Chippewa tribe, which now resides on a reservation near Willow Lake, in Oneida County. The first election was held in September, 1878. The village plat had been re- corded but three days and only half a dozen families composed the town, but over three hundred votes were cast. There was no Australian voting system at that time, but at the next election, a new method was used, which had the essential features of that .sys- tem. The people realized by this time that they were in need of a church. The first religious services held in Phillips were conducted by the Catholic Father July, of Stevens Point, in October, 1876. The organizer of the Presbyterian church in Phillips was the Reverend Jacob of' Stevens Point, who preached to a congregation of four on April 10, 1881. The first Methodist sermon was given January 21, 1877. The German Lutheran Church was founded July 6, 1885. The first newspaper of this village was The Phillips Times, a democratic paper, the editor being F. W. Sackett. The first issue of this paper was printed January 4, 1887. Although news was scarce, there were several subscribers, considering the limit- ed number of families residing in the village. Later Charles H. Darlington published the Republican paper, The Phillips Bee . The first school was conducted in a ware-house. Miss Matilda Dunn was hired as teacher for a three months term. In most of the districts, school was in session but six months during the year, three months in the spring, and three in the fall. The salary received by the teachers was about forty dollars a month. On July 27, 1894, the Phillips Fire broke out, coming from Kennan and destroy- ing everything in its path. Of the entire city, only a few shacks remained standing. When the fire came, everyone hurriedly carried away his valuables or buried them. One man, who lived where Friedlfs store now stands, was burned to death when the roof of the house collapsed as he was trying to take out a trunk. People took refuge in the water, wrapping wet blankets around their heads, that they might breathe without in- haling the smoke. The fire traveled to the box factory and from there to Tannery town. Twelve men, who were in a boat, were either drowned or burned to death. Later a relief train came from Prentice to carry the people to temporary refuge. -41 73 pe..

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Z' A? Fi fi wx r MBASS ' f .. 2. 'na - ,gr :g a qg, ,E 'f-b3gilEslsf.. . 3 WL., ,gtg , s .sq-1 who is about to die gasps for breath, and then the cabin was in darkness, save for the reHection on the wall of the firelight. The storm continued to rage. But where was Dan, the old trapper who had spent nearly seventy years in the wilderness? Several nights later, after the storm had passed, all the bold creatures of the forest were out beneath the clear, starry sky, seeking for something to satisfy their hunger. Several miles up the river, at the head of his pack, the old cunning wolf, which Dan had tried to lure into his traps on several occasions, raised his nostrils to the wind, sniffed the ai1', and giving a loud, fearful howl, which seemed to be a mixture of savage delight and human anguish, bounded eagerly over the snowdrifts, darting through the shades of the forest as something made of air, with the rest of the shadowy forms of his pack in close pursuit. Their cry seemed to tell of revenge and to sing of the death of the old trapper, who never returned to the cabin. Henry Landa '26 Glhe Ziiriumph uf Phillips A spirit of anxiety prevailed and there could be detected that feeling of doubt and unlest which prevails when the monsters, fear, and uncertainty, threaten the hearts and homes of men. It was stiningly hot and sultry, there was smoke in the airg a sense of impending chaos reigned, as the torrid rays of the sun beat mercilessly down upon the struggling frontier city of Phillips, which was filled with smoke coming from the northern woods. At that time this city, one of the largest and most beautiful in northern Wiscon- sin, held two thousand five hundred staunch souls-pioneers-men of rare calibre, in whose hearts burned the principles of progress. They had braved the dangers and dis- comforts of the northern wilds, that they might establish homes and leave as a monu- ment to their efforts, a complete and settled community, a place better fo1- their having been there. For many days before this, hre-man's most deadly enemy-had been raising havoc throughout .ne surrounding forests, leaving naught but destruction and desolation in its wake. Such was the enemy faced by the citizens of Phillips on that fatal day, Friday, July 27, 1894. The fires had been Working close to the city, and men had almost continually been fighting them. The greatest menace, however, were the burning peat bogs, south and west of the city. Up to Friday noon, the iight appeared to be successful. Then there arose a heavy wind from the southwest, and the Hre swept on toward the city, destroying everything in its path. It first devastated Beebe-town, Kimball's and Palm's additions on the west side of Phillips. Then the entire city, like chaff before a hurri- cane, was swept by the great blaze. Nothing but total ruin remained. Thus the early city, valued at over one million and a quarter dollars, fell before the fire-but only to rise again-to again become one of the leading cities of northern Wisconsin, Leland Lucas '26 Gihe Bistnrg nf Phillips In 1879 the county of Price was organized, which, up to that time, had been a part of Chippewa County. Such men as Charles F. Williams, E. W. Murray, Chris Dardis, .sq 72 Il.-

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f .0-ni 45 - ff I vwrnss Phillips has been rebuilt, and is now an enterprising city, the county seat. Her future is bright and all citizens may look forward to her steady growth. Lllur Egmnzmium Did you ever consider the terrible shame, to think that Phillips has the name of having a school so fine and greatg one of the very best in the stateg, but hasn't a gymnasium? When it comes to pupils it can't be beat, and other requirements it can meet. It has turned out pupils, brilliant indeedg but in spite of this it has a need of a gymnasium. You can talk to scholars and men so Wise, but it brings the burning tears to my eyes, when I remember we can't compete with other schools for an athlete, because we have no gymnasium. Now to you who may read these lines I will say that the school pines that in this modest work you may see our fervent and our anxious plea: Give us a gymnasium. Lucille Merritt '26 ibiiztnrg of Phillips in Herne 1'm no poet, as you will see - But here's a few words about our city. What I say of this little burg, Is not what I've seen, but what I've heard. The older ones have told to me About this city in its infancy, Of the streets and buildings of wood, Built where once pines and hemlocks stood. The woodpecker was out in the morning sun Hunting food for his little one. Passing underneath along the trail, You'd catch a glimpse of a cottontail. Fighting bobcats and coyotes too, Wolves, and bear, and caribou. But lo at last, the woodsmen came, Endured the cold, the storms, and rain. Cut down the trees, and with their teams, Hauled the logs to the nearby streams. Then came at last the lumber mill, Then lumbersjacks and Fighting Bill . Then finally the railroad came, And took the place of horse and wain. Then houses were built, churches and store, Restaurants and saloons, every fourth door. 74. Ig.