Washington High School - Neshotah Yearbook (Two Rivers, WI)

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gg g l My Ntsuomu 191 1 i f 2f.!!x,!!.riaii4W'f:.- -sf ,-.1 - Early Days In Two Rivers The village of Two Rivers began at the eastern end of Nlain St 'eet and occupied the space between that street and the river south of lkfiain Street, and extending as far west as the present plant of the Aluminum Mfg. Co. That portion nearest the river from lN'Iain Street to YVashington Street Bridge had the most of the population. Dense forests and underbrush encircled the settlement on all sides-east, West, and north, being an unbroken wilderness. The following incident shows how dense the forests were only a little over 50 years ago. Henry Hempke, a newcomer here, purchased a tract of land from H. H. Smith and Co., to build a home on. Having been assigned the location by lVIr. Smith, Nlr. Hempke began clearing away the timber at once. VVhen he returned the second day to resume clearing, the forests were so dense he was unable to locate his lot, and was obliged to return and have Mr. Smith again point out the land he had purchased. lVIost of the buildings were one-story board structures or log houses. H. H. Smith of the Hrm of H. H. Smith and Co. conducted a general store located on the present site of the Ott-Glick Company. This firm also conducted a saw mill on the northern bank of the Neshoto River, a few feet west of the YVashington Street bridge which was a familiar land-mark until lately destroyed by Ere. Adolph Lemeres' boarding house was the first frame building erected in Two Rivers. V ln 1848 lumbering and fishing were about the only ji industries in Two Rivers. The fishing was carried p,Lf'QJ on principally by P. Clarke and Co., a firm having ' .ii- headquarters at Detroit. They employed a crew here all year round. Lumbering was carried on by the H. Z i V -K H. Smith Company, who operated the only saw mill f which was located on the north bank of the Neshoto ' -- River near VVashington Street bridge. Immense tracts of timber, principally pine and hemlock, were ' -' -'5 -1: 1 .- IA: il 4, 1 K ,bl K L ' 'B f if H ' ., -1 -M-..1.. ' ' I .. standing everywhere. Logging operations were carried '- iv: ' Z- Q X C-Sf -iv - - Q, y 6 -4- - ' .:.g.. . . -f-'lif' ?'+-- , , --- 174 i - ,-, ' -,n Y 7,7 , ,, I Lf -7 '1 1- -i'4, - ' ,' ' lr -LT '?+-ivi Y gi? si- Y Q, V , --,,..,.., -,.- J-T, :Q--sf ,.caa:LTM -gl ,Lb if-5 - , - 6-,eb ' ..g. .4 --- ff xi- ...Q ...Q-ff ,J , - - -- ' '-' .... -Au L' -. N' --- . -3' .-s f' 3 Puyv six

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NWOT A 1928 5-F' X ,A - K.: ? ,-.12 1713 1 1 -- . ,. xg '- ,,..,,,- - -.a itll - -,L Q - :f5 Y 3' ' ' 44l Q f-'- - ,f -v -, . -fr . ...gm ,wi Y A-, . A vi , x Y, H-2. ,.: -. -- . - , , , , 5 Q - Q , .,,.. .. . E .D -.S , F -'9 Page' five

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gg tk NlI5IJ0TALIi192' f sf svlkcuawiifmfs- A ,.....- OH quite close to the settle- sr u 5 Lumznm cn nc 1 ' ment. The logs were rafted down in summer and hauled onthe ice in winter. Con- sfderable timber was also be- ing cut down right where the city is now. As there were no schools here illrs. Diantha Hamilton opened a private school in 1851. lt was attend- ed by twenty pupils. The pop- ulation at this time was 92-1. The Indian name for Two Rivers is Neshoto. The Katoose or Quatoose Indians lived here at that time. They were very friendly and there are no instances recalled where the white settlers in this locality were ever molested by them. An lndian cemetery was laid out about where the St. Lukes Catholic Church is now located. The Indians were finally removed by the government to the Oneida Indian Reservation in Brown County. but continued to visit this locality for many years. The south side which still retains the name of llflexico side received its name from Chief llflexico, who resided in this neighborhood during the summer months. ln 1851 Cyrus VVhitcomb came to Two Rivers and began the erection of a tan- nery later known as the VVisconsin Leather Company. The first tannery built was located on the east bank of the llfflishicot River, and its location was marked for years by a tall square brick chimney. About 100 men were employed. The com- pany bought about l,200 acres of government land covered with hemlock, for 50c per acre. The bark was peeled from the trees within a stone's throw of the tannery. The hides were brought from Chicago and llflilwaukee by boat. Of all the industries, woodworking industries gave If V e , the settlement its permanency. It was the timber and 'sf' I ' saw mills that paved the way for the first woodworking 57, manufactures, and it was on these early beginnings that w the foundation of the city of today was built. The chair ' L ' V5 ' X factory was built in the summer of 1856 by the New X Xb? , J- England llflfg. Co. lhus from a few log houses, and ? one story shanties Two Rivers grew, fostered by the spirit of friendship and loyalty which so completely characterized its early founders. A 1 Q J' If c 'ff - -- -f :agile-igffe t ,iffijigxffcie f -L3 P v -1 s -5 -s -S g if ess - Page .vw ve' n i 1