Albert SalisburyThis is a featured page

Albert SalisburyThough not a Whitewater native, Albert Salisbury was a prominent member of the community. He was the first settler child born in Lima Township, five miles west of Whitewater, and into the town's first frame house. That house, located within half a mile of the spring that fed the creek flowing northeast and entering into Whitewater, still stands.

Albert was born on January 24, 1843 and grew up on the farm. He had country schooling and then entered into military service as a recruit in the 13th Wis. Infantry in December of 1863, where he served with distinction for two years before mustering out. He then attended Milton College, graduating in 1870. After a brief stint as the principal of Brodhead High School, he was called to Whitewater's new Normal School as the Conductor of Institutes for the school for nine years. He resigned to become Superintendent of Schools for the American Missionary Association in the south and west, until he was asked back to hold the honor of President of the Normal School in July of 1985, a position that he held until his death in 1911.

It was after attending a Home-Coming reunion in Brodhead that Salisbury brought the idea back to Whitewater, which was poised to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its first settlement the following year (1907). He sent the following letter to the Whitewater Register, which printed it on July 13, 1906:

EDITOR, REGISTER:
I have recently gone through an experience as delightful as it was novel. The little village of Brodhead, where I was the village schoolmaster from 1870 to '73, is now 50 years old, and has just celebrated the event by a "Home-Coming Festival" of three days in duration. They began on the 4th of July with an old-fashioned celebration at which the oration was delivered by a "home-comer," Hon. I. F. Mack of Ohio. There were three brass bands, two baseball games, a balloon ascension, with fireworks in the evening. Neighboring towns, such as Janesville and Monroe, and all the countryside helped to swell the crowd, and it was estimated that 9,000 people were on the streets during the day; though that was possibly an over-estimate. Brodhead is a "dry" town this year, and not a drunken or quarrelsome man was seen during the whole three days.

The second day was given up entirely to the home-comers, of whom over 600 were registered, besides which many who did not register. Exercises were held in a big circus tent, borrowed for the occasion and floored with boards. The speaking was mostly extemporaneous and confined to the visitors. There were sessions both forenoon and afternoon, with a big "old folks' dance" in the evening. The home-comers in attendence came from far and near, from Maine and Florida to California; and one, an old-time pupil of mine, from London, England. There were, of course, family reunions. In one that I knew of, forty-two of kin were together for dinner. One of this company, who came from Florida with all his children, with their children, was the first time in twenty-six years.

The third day was given mainly to the old soldiers, through the 25th annual meeting of the Green County Old Soldiers' Ass'n. Addresses were made, in the afternoon session, by Hon. Pliny Norcross and Speaker Lenroot. A camp-fire in the evening, and various social reunions about town closed the program.

The attendance was large to the last. All Brodhead gave itself up to the entertainment of its guests and the enjoyment of their presence. The weather was perfect. The management under the lead of the mayor, Hon. H. C. Putnam, was excellent and not a hitch or failure marred the general festivity. Every house seemed to be filled with guests; but the visiting was done largely in the park and on the streets. One could hardly go twenty feet on the sidewalk without meeting someone whom he had not seen in years. My old pupils of a third of a century ago were much in evidence, often accompanied by grown up children, and the days were filled with joyful greetings.

Now, to come to the point. Next year Whitewater will be seventy years old, instead of fifty. No town in this land has a larger quota of its children scattered all over the land. What a Home-Coming we can have next year if we wake up and go about it. And why not? Judging by the Brodhead experience, and that of Waterloo and other towns, nobody will ever regret afterwards the time and effort put into such a reunion.

A. S.

It is not too soon to begin at once on the Home-coming for Whitewater next year. It takes some people a year to make up their minds to make a visit and then they are ready. Others require six months to decide and six months to get ready so the Home-coming should be advertised at once. Be prepared to attend a meeting called in the near future to address the matter.


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