Issue 9 - Summer 2022
CRANDON MINE PROJECT EFFECT ON ELCHO, WISCONSIN
By Dr. Charles F. Wetzel
In 1976 Exxon Minerals, Inc. announced it had discovered a massive zinc-copper deposit near Crandon, WI. Exxon began the process to gain approval to mine from the state of Wisconsin. There were strong local feelings both pro and con for this mine. Major concerns centered on how a sulfide mine could affect the drinking water, the Wolf River Basin and the environment. To date, there was not a sulfide mine that had not damaged the environment. The tailings pond that would be required was another negative issue. Over the following years, the Wisconsin DNR as well as Exxon and other mining companies that took over the project did many studies. Tourism was a major industry in the area and there was a fear that the mine would affect the natural resources in the area. Some people were in favor of the mine as it would bring well paying jobs to the area and help keep some of the youth here.
About 1980, a group had formed in Elcho called the Elcho Area Development Awareness Committee which became the Elcho Industrial Park Committee. It was composed of 9 members including the Town of Elcho Chairman, Leonard Knuth. As more information became available regarding the Crandon Mine Project, townships close to the mine site located in the Town of Nashville, Forest County, were advised to determine how the mine may affect their area. Grants from the state became available to help areas determine possible affects of construction, working and closing of the mine. For Elcho, the Elcho Mining Impact Committee was formed in 1980 or January 1981 and had the same members as the Industrial Park Committee. Besides the Elcho Town Chairman other members were Chuck Handeyside (Elcho businessman) as Committee Chairman, Dee Radtke (Elcho School teacher), Lynn Kramar (State Bank of Elcho), Bill Kelly (Builders Service), Eleanore Goepfert (Real Estate), Dr. Chuck Wetzel (Dentist), Lee Dinsmore (retired), and Al Berenz (retired).
Following many meetings with Exxon representatives (Frank Sonderman), Langlade County Resource Agent, (Joe Jopek), North Central Mining Impact Committee, DNR, Elizabeth Kohl - Executive Director of the Wisconsin Mining Investment and Local Impact Fund Board, and the Town of Nashville the Elcho Mining Impact Committee worked on how Elcho could be affected by the mine. An increase in population, traffic and possible boom and bust during the construction and closing of the Crandon Mine Project were areas of concern. Over time it was determined that the Elcho School, Sanitary District, police and fire coverage, industrial park and recreational facilities would be adequate. The main area of concern was the possibility of uncontrolled development, especially trailer parks, due to the town not having a zoning ordinance. Only the state mandated shoreland, shoreland/wetland and floodplains were zoned and administered by Langlade County.
The committee received a grant in 1981 for $7,400 to help with legal assistance in zoning and industrial development, operational expenses and planning assistance on zoning and industrial development. Over the succeeding years the committee received grants to continue their work. The committee authorized Dee Radtke, a lifelong Elcho resident in May, 1981 to locate all homes on a map of the township and to utilize assessors and town treasurers books. In July 1981, section maps were also utilized. The Committee worked with Langlade County zoning developing a zoning plan acceptable to the County. Ten to fifteen public meetings were held throughout the double township with property owners. A general meeting with Langlade Co. representatives was also held.
December, 1981 Chuck Handeyside stepped down as chairman and Dr. Chuck Wetzel was appointed as Chairman. Work continued on meeting with North Central Regional Commission and preliminary work on a Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Elcho including zoning and the Industrial Park. In 1982 it was decided to keep the Industrial Park separate from the mining impact business.
Judy Rustick was appointed as the new chairperson on March 29, 1984 for the Elcho Mining Impact Committee after Dr. Wetzel stepped down. Stockham and Vandewalle Planning Consultants were hired to write a grant proposal for a Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Elcho. A grant of $10,000 was awarded from the Wisconsin Investment Board. The Comprehensive Plan looked at development of the town including mobile home parks, land use plan, elderly housing, deveiopment of the railroad corridor, industrial park, sanitary district and lagoon system, fire protection, roads and school concerns. The plan encouraged the adoption of zoning in the Town of Elcho whether or not the Crandon Project proceeded. The final plan was adopted on August 14, 1985. In 1985 or 1986, the Town of Elcho adopted zoning under the Langlade County Zoning Ordinance. This meant that Langlade County would administer zoning on behalf of the Town of Elcho for all the land in the township.
In 1986 Exxon decided to pull out of the Crandon Mining Project and there was a succession of several mining companies that became in charge. Due to the response to environmental problems by major companies (e.g. Exxon Valdez accident in Alaska), the development of the sulfide Crandon Mine Project received more resistance. In 2003 the Mole Lake Ojibwe and Forest County Potawatomi Indian Tribes purchased the mining site and the newly formed Nicolet Mining Company for $16.5 million with the intent of preventing mining at the site.
Paul M. Richards
By Bonnie Palmer
Paul M Richards
Paul Marcel Richards was born January 10, 1874 in Bayfield, Wisconsin to Pierre Richards and Catherine LaMoureaux. LaMoureaux was a member of the Red Cliff Chippewa Indian tribe. Paul was a member of the tribe until his death on September 24, 1947 in Elcho, Wisconsin.
The Spanish-American War began on April 21, 1898. America knew the dealings the Cubans had for their fight for independence from Spain through newspaper accounts. Sympathy began to build and many wanted to help their neighbors.
Paul entered the war as a private at 24 years old, in July 1898. He was assigned to the 4th Regiment, Company K, from Washburn, Wisconsin. From Washburn he was ordered to Anniston, Alabama. Paul stayed in Alabama until he was discharged from the Army on February 28, 1899 . His unit did not see any action.
After returning to Washburn, Paul Marcel married Ethel Chesmore on October 27, 1903, in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Ethel left the family of eight when my mother-in-law was three years old. Paul and Ethel had eight children, including my mother-in-law, Kathyrn Richards-Palmer. The children, except for Paul Raymond, were placed in a Native American orphanage for about five years. When Martha, the oldest, reached eleven years old, Paul felt she was old enough to help with chores. He picked cranberries to secure funds to remove his children from the orphanage. He was able with Martha's help, to move to Elcho and raise the family.
I have grown to have a deep admiration for his devotion for his family.
Items Donated
Dana Paublicki - Pride of Hornets Glass Mug
Otto Tiegs II - 1938 Cherry Greeting Calendar
Kathy Bergen - Shelly Bergen Elcho Football Memorabilia
Wagner’s Shell Elcho - Raffle Basket Items
Builders Service - Raffle Basket Items
Ruby May's - Raffle Basket Items
Koni K's - Raffle Basket Items
Clubhouse - Raffle Basket Items
Twin Oaks - Raffle Basket Items
Boiling Springs - Raffle Basket Items
Gerrit's Lakeview - Raffle Basket Items
Sammy's Bar & Grill - Raffle Basket Items
Shane's Drywall - Paint for Exterior of Grange Hall
Pat McGinnis - Digital Voice Recorder
Monetary Donations
Paul Reichenbacher – Elcho, WI
In Memoriam Donations
Connie & Jim Hubatch in memory of Pete Suick
Connie & Jim Hubatch in memory of Dar Lopas
Connie & Jim Hubatch in memory of Bob Curran
Robert Duerwachter Family in Memory of Robert Duerwachter
Building Renovation
CoVantage Cares Foundation - Antigo/Elcho
Charles Wetzel - Elcho, WI
Antigo High School Class of 1954
John Gilbert - Huntley, IL
Chris & Chriss Feliciano - Elcho, WI
Builders Service - Elcho, WI
Rod & Nilah Visser - Elcho, WI
Linda Best - Madison, WI
Marleen Stratton Blomberg - Antioch, CA
Anonymous - Elcho, WI
Mary Dettmering - Deerbrook, WI
Marjorie Ann Krogel - Bradenton, FL
Otto Tiegs - Elcho, WI
Otto Tiegs III - Deerbrook, WI
Rabideau - Independence, MO
Elwyn Remington Foundation INC. - Wausau WI
Suzanne Irwin
Membership Renewals
John Slwoik - Elcho School
Carole Schauer - Elcho, WI
John & Sharon Shepard - Elcho, WI
Chris & Chriss Feliciano - Elcho, WI
Bill Ahrens - Pearson, WI
Steve Shepard - Elcho, WI
Mary & Terry Maves - Elcho, WI
Jeanne & Arnie Follstad - Red Wing, MN
Linda & Jeffrey Herman - Minneapolis, MN
Lynne Lamm Family - Madison, WI
New Members
Diane Highland - Elcho, WI
Logan Raith - Elcho School
Builders Service - Elcho, WI
El Hamilton - Elcho School
Maddie Siemers - Elcho School
Kailey Kupfer - Elcho School
Charles Giese - Elcho School
John Gilbert - Huntley, IL
Dan & Renee Wink - Summit Lake. WI
Bill and Ellen Restock - Hartland, WI
Janet & Tim Holk - Slinger, WI
Connie Follstad Family - Fallbrook, CA
George Pozorski - Summit Lake, WI
John Berenz - Detroit Lakes, WI
King Family - Pearson, WI
In addition to the specific individuals listed above, we would like to THANK all those that supported and worked on our Brat Barn and Music in the Park fundraising events. We could not have accomplished what we did this year without all your generous time and effort.
Letter From The President
By Bear Wheeler
Fortunately this long, cold winter is finally over, but in the activities of the Elcho Historical Society it was pretty warmed up! Our fundraising efforts were very fruitful, thanks to many generous people. There is an article about fundraising in more detail later on. We were able to gather bids for the complete replacing of our museum's foundation and we decided on a local contractor to do the work. Siemer's Northwoods Excavating is doing the work which has already begun, but not without its weather related hold ups. We are in the process of getting carpenter bids for the wood structure work. This is a very exciting time for us here in Elcho because one of our beloved buildings is being restored.
We are getting the help of Modern Woodmen in our next fundraising drive. They are the company that originally built the “Woodman Hall” in 1913, which we call the Grange Hall. Modern Woodmen of America was a fraternal benefit organization which came to Elcho when the G. W. Jones Lumber Company ran the sawmill. Our earliest records of the MWA that we have is from 1900, and they were our first men's lodge. Insurance was a big drawing point for gaining and keeping employees for the lumber company and other vocations. Our Modern Woodmen also did charitable deeds such as raising the money needed to send John Peterson, the crippled son of Nick Peterson to a school in Milwaukee to take up the jewelry trade. John wanted to have the skills to start his own business, so they presented him with the opportunity.
First Modern Woodmen Hall white building all the way to the left
Any community is built up of many people of different skills and talents that make the area unique. These skills and talents from the yesteryear are all more involved hands on than what goes today. Much pride was taken in the skills of craftsman and artisans, as you can see much of their work exists today because of the quality of their skill. As a historical society we want to present history to the public that can make them realize that they can leave a mark on the community as did the people before them. It is our positive actions that can benefit and influence people for many years to come. It can be as big as what CW Fish had done when the business district burned down in 1923 and he rebuilt it bigger and more beautiful than what was there before. His efforts were written about in newspapers and magazines that touted it as the most beautiful wood structure buildings in the state. The skills of Dr. Paul Dailey, who preserved the lives of many people and delivered a town full of babies, all who made their impact on the world. The talents of John Jacobs, selling and maintaining chainsaws, so the harvesting of trees for lumber, paper, and firewood could meet the needs of many people. This is what a community is made of the beauty of a variety of people, of all makes, models, sizes, skills, and talents.
Please enjoy this summer and all that it has to offer, whether you live here year round or vacation here. There is no time like the present to make new memories with your family and friends. If you have time please come and see us on the dates we have the brat barn or Music in the Park. See you then!
Grange Hall Restoration Fundraising Progress
By Greg Mejak
The Elcho Historical Society has made great progress during the winter months on the restoration of the Grange Hall. The Hall was originally built in 1913 by the Modern Woodmen of America. This building is the future site of the historical museum for Elcho and our surrounding communities.
Grange Hall after a coat of paint
Over the prior four months, we have successfully completed two fundraising events. During the fourth quarter of 2021 we partnered with the CoVantage Cares Foundation matching funds campaign. This was followed by the Historical Society being awarded a grant by the Elwyn Remington Foundation in the first quarter of this year. The result of these two events provided us the funding to begin the restoration work on the basement and foundation of the future museum. At the present time, we have raised an amount slightly north of $90,000 towards the $350,000 goal for this restoration.
On behalf of Bear Wheeler, President of the Society, and our 176 members we would like to thank each individual and organization that has made this a successful funding campaign to date. In the future we look forward to partnering with more individuals and organizations to preserve and share the history of Elcho and the surrounding communities for future generations to enjoy.