Whitewater Home-Coming - Recently Updated Pages

The Coachmen

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:02:18 CDT

Anonymous
3 minutes ago
Before there were "Mourning Dayze", there was a band called "The Coachmen". They included Roger Brown playing drums, Rick Pfiefer on guitar, a Guy (I can't remember his name) from California who drove one of those Studebaker Sporty cars I forget which model, and oh, by the way he played lead guitar and was big into serf music. I played bass. We got started in the upstairs location of the Wells Violin Shop on Main St. in 1965. Our first few dollars came from playing in front of the Wells House of Music on Center St., across from Gus's Pizza. The band began changing from an instrumental group in1966, The California guy was replaced by Doug Henry from the Milwaukee area playing lead guitar. We added Steve Elman from Oconto Falls to be the lead singer. Steve & Doug were students @ UW Whitewater. Not long afterwards, Steve took over the drum duties also. We were a busy band considering half the band being full time students. In 1968 we parted ways. I left the band and joined "The Opposition" which was a soul music band, and about a month later became "Tomorrows Opposition" an 8 piece band with trumpets, keybourds,male and female singers playing all kinds of Rock Music. Rick, Doug and Steve went on to become "The Mourning Dayze. All of that is waiting for another DAYZE story. Ralph

Forrest W. Perkins

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:23:40 CDT

Forrest first came to Whitewater in the summer of 1956 as the new football coach. It was not an easy task because there were very few good players and no real recruiting in those days. He ended up 4 and 4 his first season. During his tenure he had 12 Championships and played for the National Title in 1966, which was quite an honor in those days. He also started two departments at the university, the Safety Education Department and the Department of Coaching, and was Chair of both.

Prior to coming to Whitewater, Perk coached 11 years of high school football for Ft. Atkinson (5 years, '44-'49), Merrill (5 years, '49-'55,), and Racine Park (1 year, '55). He went to Racine Park because he felt he needed to work at a larger school to get a college job. Once he came to Whitewater he knew he wanted to stay and raise his family. He had many job offers, including coaching for the Badgers and Packers, but he wanted to stay in Whitewater because it was a small town and his wife, Mikey, and kids really liked it.

Perk and Mikey had four children; Michael, Mary, Peter and Jay. All four children, as well as a grandson and several nieces and nephews graduated from UWW. Mikey passed away from cancer in 1987, and Mike died in a fire in 2002.

According to Perk, "We lived in three places the first year which nearly drove me out of Whitewater. I believe that the football coaches should live in town. Even Bob Berezowitz lived in a little house outside of town. Dave Vandermullen (national titles in basketball) built a house in the sub-division. I built a house on Elizabeth Street. Harold Anderson, Board of Regents, local banker loaned me the money to build the house.", which is where he lived until Mikey died.

Forrest married again in 2002. His new wife Char, worked in Hearthstone where they met. Both now live at Fairhaven. Son Jay is a Protestent Minister. He lives in Cedarburg, WI, with his wife Cheri and two boys, Zack and Shane. Daughter Mary Beth has 2 sons. Michael has a son, Liam,and Sean and his wife, Katie have a daughter, Stella. Mary works in social work and lives in Ossining, NY, a suburb of NYC. Son Peter has a son, Forrest and a daughter, Vanessa. He is in real estate and lives in Gulf Shores, AL, with his wife Lisa. Michael's son Sam has 2 children and lives in Pewaukee.

One of Perk's biggest achievements was the building of Warhawk Stadium. Don Walton owned the land on which the Stadium and athletic fields and trails are now located. Getting the stadium approved was a very difficult job. Perk spent years working with many committees in Madison to get it approved (Board of Regents). He also spent many hours working with community leaders and students to raise the money necessary to get state funding. It took seven years to get the stadium funded with 100% student approval. The renaming of the stadium to Perkins Stadium in 1996 was a major event in Perk's life. Gaylon Greenhill was President then and he was instrumental in accomplishing the renaming.

Bob Berezowitz was Perk's quarterback from '62 to '66, when the Warhawks went to the NAIA National finals, and he brought Bob in as the offensive coordinator 5 years before he retired. Bob then became head coach when Forrest retired in 1984. Forrest was also the Stadium Director, Athletic Director, coached baseball and basketball, and taught P.E., Saftey and Coaching while at the university.

Perk had coffee at Herbie Duerst's "Busy Bee" every day. At his regular 9:00 a.m.visits with Pete Rogers, Dan Williams, Art Lein and Ed Joseph the seeds were sown for the creation of the Quarterback Club. He used what little membership money that was raised for recruiting. The Quarterback Club continues to be an important part of the football program at Whitewater as well as a critical link between the university and the community.

Perk always worked closely with the administration of the university. "I was fortunate to become good friends of every Chancellor since the begining of my career, wich was very imprtant to me. I have enjoyed the company of all that have come through." Bob Williams originally hired him. (editing of this entry is in process)

Remembrances of the University

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:42:09 CDT

Contributed by Mike Schumacher for Marjorie Heidingsfeld: Marjorie is 99 years young and a resident at Fairhaven. Marjorie attended The Teacher's College in 1926 and drove from Fort Atkinson to Whitewater each day in a Model A Ford with a number of girl friends. Marjorie and her friends would walk down to North Main to a restaurant for a bowl of soup and crackers.

Contributed by Beverly Ferguson: I went to Whitewater In the 1940s the University didn't have dorms, students stayed in private housing, as well as some folks who lived on the second floor of the Armory. I lived above Abel's Restaurant (The Goalpost was right across from the University at that time, about a block from the University). My middle daughter went to college at Whitewater, and they helped manage Kerry Hall, as a way of getting their room and board.

I found out I could graduate in three years (and it would be cheaper) if I went to two summer schools and took extra classes, but I needed the permission of Dean Cord Wells (Wells Hall is named after him) to take the extra classes. He said "this is one of the best times of your life so I don't know why you want to hurry, but I can see why because of the money". Now about the money, tuition was $30, and that included books - in today's dollars that would be about $299 - which makes you wonder why it costs so much more today. One of the reasons could be that we used the same books over and over again when I was at Whitewater.

Dean Wells wife was the advisor to my sorority, which was Delta Sigma Epsilon then, and today is Delta Zeta. She was like our role model or a guide for us, and I ended up being an advisor at one point. Each chapter had to have an advisor from the community or the University.

Contributed by Doris McGraw:
One of the buildings of the university was dedicated to her husband, Arthur G. McGraw, Jr. in October, 1988. This was the computer building, McGraw Hall. Arthur passed away in March of 1988; Doris was able to drive him to the top of the hill at the UW-W, near the Log Cabin, so that he could see the building being built when he was ill.

Arthur was born in 1918 and grew up in Whitewater and went to college at the UW-W with a degree in education in 1940. He taught 7th and 8th grade and was later principal at the Campus School in the Roseman Building on the UW-W campus. He also taught in Fort Atkinson and Whitewater City High. He later got his graduate degree and doctorate in administration at UW-Madison.

After he received his doctorate, he taught at the UWW and extension classes. Later he was Dean of the graduate school. He also served Whitewater School Board and was President. In 1973 he saved the graduate school, when the state administration wanted to close some of the graduate schools. He got a good many of the students in the graduate programs at the satellite schools to fight against the closures. Arthur retired in December of 1984. He was very active in the Episcopal Church.

Doris was a secretary at the UW-W, working for Dr. A. I. Winther, who was the head of elementery education and senior placement, before her first child born, in April of 1955. Doris and Arthur eventually had three boys, Bruce, Davis, and Erik.

Erik used to work at the Dravis Farm with Wally Dravis.

Baker Hall
Lucy Baker was cremated and her ashes are scattered in the flower beds outside this hall.

Contributed by Janice Knudson Redford, UW-Whitewater Class of 1964, as submitted to the memories@whitewaterhomecoming.com email address on 5/7/2007

Hello Memories of Whitewater:

My grandmother had attended Whitewater Normal School in the late 1890's, and enouraged me to attend in the 1960's.

I look at the photo of the Normal School on your home page and remember when Whitewater Teacher's College had their Physics lab. right under the highest tower on the left. It was there that I met my life-long husband in fall, 1960.

Fred Redford was the lab assistant in a white lab jacket who helped us all get experiments completed. There were 40 men in my class, and I was the only female. It was amazing how few women entered into science professions.

Out of that sea of male faces, in that building that was burned by terrorists, I can remember bright blue eyes watching over me. He is still watching over me after all these years.....

Janice Knudson Redford, UW-Whitewater Class of 1964
Cambridge, WI
P.S. I'm still teaching Spanish classes at MATC and for Viterbo University 43-years later...

Contributed by Norma Ball, Class of 1933

Since Norma was a resident of the Iron Range of Minnesota, she visited relatives on short vacations rather than travel home. While visiting her cousin Joseph Cutler in Madison who offered her a ride back to Whitewater because he wanted to see the place where the first thermostat was invented. It turns out that a Prof. Johnson got tired of calling the furnace room for more heat and to solve the problem he invented the first thermostat. He went on to found Johnson Services which became Johnson Controls.

Oak Grove Cemetery

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:39:36 CDT

James Tripp donated the land for the Oak Grove Cemetery in 1842 and was one of the first interred there in 1844. George Esterly donated the gates, which originally had a stile at the south entrance, in 1884. Local Historian Fred Kraege has compiled records of 31 area cemeteries in and around the City of Whitewater. Oak Grove is one of the few cemeteries in Wisconsin that can claim two Revolutionary War veterans, three from the War of 1812, and about 40 from the Civil War. From Whitewater by Fred Kraege.

Come Home to Whitewater

whitewateradmin — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:04:18 CDT

The 2007 Home-Coming festival is over and done, but much of Whitewater's story remains to be told: please continue to add your remembrances.

Jugendblasorchester Bibertal visits Whitewater.
Go to 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Highlights to see all the fun!
To read or write about Whitewater's past, go to Whitewater history.
Follow the rebuilding of the Old Stone Stable.
For Whitewater news, go to www.whitewaterbanner.com.

Whitewater businesses

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:36:40 CST

Accu-Rate
Miss L. Arvold - Milliner
Buick Garage on Main Street
Coburn Co.
Commercial Bank
Badgerland Co-op
Condensery
Dunham and Fiske
E. Scholl - Grocer
Ed Hahn - Baker
Esterly Harvesting Machine Co.
First Citizens State Bank
Frank Fryer, Lawyer
Frank P. Hall's Fancy Groceries
Frank Mayer's Standard Oil Station
Dr. G. R. Horne - Dealer in Candies, Cigars, Tobacco, Pipes & Veterinary Surgeon
H. A. Dierfield & Son Groceries
H. F. Buening Of the Harness Store
H. F. Rehma Representative Meat Market
Halverson Brothers Clothiers and Furnishers
Hawthorn-Mellody
Home Lumber Co.
Catania's Shoe and Clothing Store
Ketterhagens Car Dealership
Kinzie Rubber Company
Klinger's Brewery
M. McMilin - Real Estate, Loans & Insurance
Livery Stable
Moksnes Manufacturing Co.
Olsen Funeral Home
R. J. O'Conner Drugs
The Raincoat Factory
Standard Oil
The McAllister Dry Goods Co.
The Old Red Mill
The Old Stone Mill
Thiele & Son Undertakers, Embalmers and Dealers in Musical Merchandise
Weiler and Company, Inc.
Whitewater Brewery Company
Whitewater Electronics
Whitewater Garage
Whitewater Lumber Company
Whitewater Manufacturing Co.
Whitewater Garment Company
Whitewater Post Office
Whitewater Register
Wilcox & Thorn
Winchester Hardware
Winchester & Partridge Manufacturing
Wisconsin Dairy Supply Co.

Starin Park

mschumacher — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 08:00:19 CDT

Some of my best memories as a child happened at this park. I played t-ball up through women's softball league at that park--probably 25 years of my life. We'd play in the park, roll down the big hill, watch fireworks on the big hill, bucket brigade games, eating at the concession stand, 4th of July carnival, picnics--so much, it was wonderful.

Aug 21, 2007: Lost is the most beautiful Oak tree in the City this morning located in Starin Park.

The tree is located directly off of the parking lot, next to the walking/bike path, in front of the senior center. The tree has lost a large section all the way down the trunk to the ground level (above). Chuck Nass, City Forester, will be taking a closer look at the tree, when the city crew, pictured above, gets the part that has broken off cleaned up, to see if any of the tree can be salvaged, but Chuck's first examination of the tree is that too much of the main portion of the tree has been lost. There also has been some loss of trees on private property, due to the saturated grounds.
(Whitewaterbanner.com)

Retail, restaurants

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 19:33:34 CDT

Retail, services

Zingg Auto Group Chrysler Dodge Jeep Pontiac Buick GMC
A & P
Abel's Restaurant
Achen Photography
Arman's
Baker's (Harley) DX Station (by the bridge)
Barty's Dress Shop
Bayer's Jewelry
Benner's Market
Bergey Jewelry
Box Shop
Bowling Alley
Bradley's Ice Cream Parlor
Breadwagon Bakery
Brown's (Don) Sinclair Station
Burns Western Auto
Busy Bee
Campbell's Department Store
Catania's
Carriage Trade
Chamberlain Shoe Store
Chamberlains Menswear
Channing's Sports
Circle Inn
Clark's Office Supply
Coast-to-Coast Hardware
College Grill
JC Cox's Grocery Store
Cream Top Brewery
Cumming's Auto
Dale's Bootery
DJ's Mercantile
Durst Meat Market
Eagle Foods
Earthworks
Egnoski's 5 Points
Engel Implement
Featherston's Old Stone Mill
Five Point's Beauty Parlor
Flames & Things
Floral Villa
Froemming Flowers
Gallery of Art & Sound
Gambles
Gift Hutch
Golden Ear Stereo
Hackett's Grocery Store
Hamilton Antiques
Handy Food Store
HD Cafe
Heilermeiers Bakery
H. G. O'Connor Drugstore
IGA
Izzy Meske's Antiques
Johnson's Market
Joseph's Jewelry
Ketterhagen Motors
Kent's Furniture
Kettwig's Paint Bucket
Kettwig's Record Shop
Kranke's Drug Store
Crummey's Drive-In
Leffingwell's
Lein's Menswear
Leonhardt's Grocery
Loop Liquor
Martin's Men's Fashions
Max's Walgreen and Soda Fountain
Mayer's (Frank) Standard Oil Station
Meyer's Auto
Modern Beauty
Naiper's
Norm's Bookstore
The Mop Shop
Pamida
Parker's Bakery
Pescheret Art Studio
Pete's Barber Shop
Pieor's Ben Franklin
Platner's Shoe Store
Pleez-U Laundry
Piggly Wiggly
Record Shanty
Power Station
Regan's Dress Shop
Rod-a-Rue
Rossing's
Sanderson's
Sauerberg's Grocery Store
Schonath's Flower Shop
Schultz Bros. Variety Store
Sears
Skindingsrude's Furniture
Stop n' Go
The Strand
Supervalue Five Points
Thomas Photography
Towne Theatre
Trudy's Antiques
Wayne's Barber Shop & Hair Emporium
Wells House of Music
White's Dress Shop
White Elephant Antiques
Whitewater Brewery
Whitewater Bus Station (Greyhound)
Whitewater Travel
William's (Danny) Cities Service Station
Winchester TrueValue
Wishing Well
Zabel's Cleaners

Restaurants and Pubs

Jugendblasorchester Bibertal

whitewateradmin — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 06:09:57 CDT

(adapted from a news article)

From August 16 - 19, Whitewater was visited by group of young musicians from Bavaria, members of the Jugendblasorchester (youth wind orchestra) Bibertal. Members of the group stayed with area families as part of a four-city concert tour, which culminated in a free concert at Whitewater High School on Saturday, August 18.

Waiting to meet their host families at Cravath Lakefront Center
(photo courtesy of Dawn Hunter)

Waiting to hear the Piper Road Spring Band at the Cravath Lakefront Park on Friday night
(photo courtesy of Ron & Marilyn Binning)

Whitewater City Manager Kevin Brunner, who once lived in Munich, welcomes the guests in German and presents them a token of the city's appreciation.
(photo courtesy of Ron & Marilyn Binning)

A warm welcome in the form of a German flag and a local favorite - the Piper Road Spring Band. Some students remarked they had never seena washboard used as an instrument!

(photo courtesy of Ron & Marilyn Binning)

Some of the students get in the swing...

(photo courtesy of Dawn Hunter)

Marcia James, the organizational force behind the Jugendblasorchester Bibertal visit, sits with her husband Richard and shows her appreciation for the good food supplied by Dapper Dogs.

(photo courtesy of Ron & Marilyn Binning)

On Friday, the group went to the Milwaukee Public Zoo, followed by an evening at the Beloit Snappers (a AA baseball team, the farm team of the Minnesota Twins), complete with dinner and fireworks.

Fun at the Zoo

(photos courtesy Deb Weberpal)

Snappy visits the German guests as they enjoy the Snappers game

(photo courtesy of Marcia James)

Marcia James explains "potlock protocal" to Zaballos children, who eagerly await the dinner...

Soon the kids line up for their meal

... followed by a beautiful cake! Our appreciation was expressed in frosting: Thank you, "youth wind orchestra!"

About the visit
Bibertal, a community located approximately one hour west of Munich in Bavaria, is named for the brook, the Biber, that flows through the area. "Biber" means "beaver," animals that still take up residence in the waterway.

Music has a long tradition in Bibertal: professional music teachers begin teaching children at a young age. The education often begins in preschool with recorded lessons, so that by the time most kids reach 6 years of age, they are playing an instrument. After one year of instrumental instruction, children gain their first experience in the "Schülerorchester." The next step, after several years of performances and practice, students can pass an exam for entrance in the "Jugendbalsorchester Bibertal."

The goal of the Blasorchester, directed by Hermann Taubenheim, is to give guests interesting and demanding pieces of music of various genres with the best possible professional sound.

The Stone Stable

whitewateradmin — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 21:06:35 CDT

The Old Stone Stable is being rebuilt!

Updates: Thursday, August 16
Over a dozen volunteers showed up to move the last of the stones onto pallets. Thanks to pizza from Toppers, beverages from Sentry, and cookies from Jan Bilgen Craggs, the workers were energized and motivated to finish the job.

Working to clear, sort, and palletize the stone

Marian Coburn lends a hand and a smile, cleaning the stone

Katie Strait has a smile too, for a job well done. Katie was our mortar specialist, separating it out from the stone. Thanks Katie!

Aidan Coburn demonstrates his technique - and strength! - as he helps

Ross Walton, general contractor to the project, uses his skid to sift the dirt for stones

Bruce Parker (l) is ready to pick the stones up

Motivated by the progress, volunteers such as Lynn Binnie work until dark to clear and stack the last of the stone...

... with beautiful results! The next morning, the site is clear and ready for the masons, who will begin the week of August 20. Thank you everyone!

The stone sits on pallets, waiting to be used on rebuild the Stone Stable on the site at the back of the photo, tucked under the ash tree

Wednesday, August 15
The spancrete was laid on top of the foundation of the stable. Spancrete will allow for heavy loads, such as carriages, horses, and even vehicles, to be supported by the stable floor (great idea for spancrete courtesy of Bruce Parker, who thought of it, and Tom Morrison of Home Lumber, who incorporated it into the plans). After the walls are built, two inches of concrete will be laid over the spancrete, and then the original floorboards laid over that.

A crane sets the first length of spancrete
(photo courtesy of Bruce Parker)

A worker sets in the fourth segment of spancrete, clearly marked for the Stone Stable

The last piece goes in! The hole in the back was cut to provide access to the crawl space in the foundation
Note: the last segment broke when the crane picked it u; the piece was later supported, mortared in, and attached with L brackets.

Background:
One of the special events of Whitewater Homecoming in 1907 was the rebuilding and rededication of a pioneer log cabin from early Whitewater. This event symbolized the purpose of the Homecoming which was to look back with nostalgia at the early years of Whitewater, beginning with settlement in 1837, and to appreciate all that had been accomplished since then. Likewise, a special event of Homecoming 2007 will be the rebuilding and rededication of a small stone stable built during the first decade of settlement.
Who built the stone stable and for what purpose? Little is known for sure. The first settlers came to Whitewater in 1837 and by 1850 a small village existed in a triangle formed by Church, Whitewater and Main Streets. The stable stood within this triangle. According to research by historian Carol Cartwright, Nelson Combs, a wagon-maker and immigrant to Whitewater from New York State, paid taxes and built houses on adjacent properties in 1845 and 1847, about the time the stable was believed to have been built. Combs was typical of many “Yankee immigrants who came to Wisconsin with education or a skill. Unlike later homesteaders.....early Yankee immigrants usually came with money to buy land or establish a business in Wisconsin.”

For individual homeowners to own horses was uncommon at the time which suggests a business of some sort. Stone construction is expensive in materials, labor and skill. Who went to the expense and trouble to build a well-proportioned, durable, fireproof building and, furthermore, one with an elegant arched doorway? Was the stable part of an early wagon-making enterprise? Perhaps a precursor to the Winchester & Partridge Mfg. Company, the wagon and plow factory founded about 1850 which by 1870 was producing 3500 wagons per year including the reknowned Whitewater Wagon. Although there is no evidence of the presence of a forge inside the stable, perhaps it was made of stone in order to be fireproof in the vicinity of a forge.

The stable is made of limestone which is the bedrock stone of the Whitewater area lying quite close to the surface in many areas. Quarrying began very early and is still in operation at the South Franklin Street site in Whitewater. Very possibly, the stone protruded from the earth in 1837 when settlers arrived. The upper layer of a limestone outcropping, to about six feet down, is softer and more weathered than the deeper-lying stone. Stone chipped or gathered from this softer layer is known as "limestone rubble." There are examples of entire buildings made of limestone rubble in southern Wisconsin, but they are not common, making the stone stable even more valuable. Granite fieldstone, in contrast to quarried limestone, litters the soil of Wisconsin as part of the debris left by retreating glaciers over several millenia. Fieldstone buildings and especially barn foundations are more common than limestone as fieldstone can simply be gathered in the fields whereas quarried stone must be cut out of the earth.

A fieldstone barn from 1903

A detail of a fieldstone wall

Historic mortar mix dried and cured much more slowly than the modern fast-setting Portland cement in use today, allowing buildings to settle over several seasons. The mix was made of lime, sand, water and some sort of a protein-based material such as animal or human hair. Masons often had their own favorite recipes. The lime reacted chemically with the protein causing a “coagulation” into a durable waterproof mass. The reconstruction of the stable will be done with something as close to the historic mortar mix as is feasible and compatible with modern methods and standards.

The stable’s arch is one of its most distinctive features. In use for centuries and celebrated in Roman and Gothic construction, an arch is elegant and strong, but not the easiest way to create an opening in a building. It would have been much easier to use a timber piece or long flat stone for the span than to construct an arch which required a scaffold to hold the shape until the carved arch stones were fitted in place.

The Stone Stable by Marilyn Fuerstenberg

Here is the stone stable in its future location near the Whitewater Depot. Imagine it is July 4th. Children stroll by on their way to the carnival and a team of horses pulling a Whitewater wagon stands ready to load passengers for a sightseeing tour. After reconstruction, a goal will be to locate a historic Whitewater wagon, restore it and house it permanently inside the stable for exhibition on special occasions. Local artist Marilyn Fuerstenberg has generously donated this painting to the Stone Stable Project. The framed size of the watercolor is 30" X 37". It is for sale to the highest bidder with a minimum bid of $500.00.

After standing for over 150 years, the stone stable had to be moved in 2003 to make way for First English Lutheran Church’s expansion project. Several citizens stepped forward to prevent the total loss of this important part of our history. Historians were consulted who praised the building for its significance in the everyday life of the times, its ability to endure generations of change around it and, especially, its unique stone construction. The stone stable was dismantled under the supervision of historical preservation expert Gary Goyette with all parts preserved for eventual rebuilding. A committee was formed during the summer of 2006 and the City of Whitewater was petitioned to allow rebuilding of the stable on a site west of the Whitewater Depot, a site that is just three blocks to the south of the stable’s original location. The City agreed, and the fundraising effort began in earnest. A Friends committee has formed to direct the reconstruction project and raise the necessary funds. The fundraising goal is $75,000.00 with which we plan to reconstruct the building and refit the interior stalls and bunkers to recreate a functional working stable of the era. The Leadership Team includes the following citizens and officials:
Jerald Wendt & Ginny Coburn, Co-Chairman
Carol Cartwright, Liaison to Whitewater Historical Society
Kim Clarksen, Liaison to City of Whitewater Park Rec & Forestry Board
Dawn Hunter, Siting Committee Chairman Bruce Parker, Liaison to City of Whitewater
Jim Stewart, Liaison to Whitewater Common Council
Kristine Zaballos, Liaison to City of Whitewater Plan Board

Please donate generously to the Stone Stable Rebuilding Project. Your contributions will be the “mortar” that puts the stable back together.

The permanent record will show contribution categories as follows:
$5,000 “Cornerstone Contributor” $500 “Keystone Contributor”
$100 “Stone Mason” $25.00 “Own-a-Stone Club”
Please list the names as you would like them to appear in the permanent record. A gift made in honor or memory of a loved one would be a lasting tribute to a special person. Checks should be made payable to: The Stone Stable c/o Whitewater Community Foundation. Mail to: Stone Stable P O Box 403 Whitewater, WI 53190
The Whitewater Community Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Donations are tax deductible.
Thank you for your donation in any amount.

2007 Home-Coming Festival Merchandise

PeterZ — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:04:58 CDT

Special! Randy's Funhunters Pub currently offers the Home-Coming logo minis (or tasting glasses) for $2 and the pints for $5.50, filled with one of their current microbrews: Pre-Prohibition Lager, Oatmeal Stout, Warhawk Wheat, and Summerfest (more details). Next week their wonderful Pale Ale will be ready. Enjoy the beer, walk away with the glass, and support the Home-Coming Festival to boot: don't miss this great bargain!

Help support the 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival and the ongoing administration of this storysite by purchasing some fabulous collectable Home-Coming merchandise!

Visit our new eBay store: http://stores.ebay.com/Whitewater-Home-Coming-Store. The first 5 people to purchase Home-Coming items at our eBay store will receive a 2007 medallion for free! (2 purchases have been made; you still have a chance to be one of the remaining 3).

2007 Whitewater Medallions
Festival price: $15
On sale now: $10 Buy one now at eBay!

Solid brass on a fan drape ribbon; 2007 Festival logo on one side and an image of the soon-to-be rebuilt historic Stone Stable on the other. Medallion on 30" red, white, and blue ribbon also available.

Think ahead! These are great stocking-stuffers for kids or grandkids on your list. Or, surprise a far-flung former resident with this easy-to-send momento of their Whitewater days.

For a limited time: purchase a medallion or medal and send a message to 2107! Send us your message when you place your order, and we'll print it on acid-free archival paper to be included in the 2007 Home-Coming time capsule and send you a copy with your order for your records. This time capsule will be sealed in October and placed in the rebuilt Stone Stable (featured on the medallion), with instructions that it is to be removed and opened in 2107. Will your grandkids be there to witness it? Send them a message! Any words of wisdom to the future? Let them know!

Festival logo t-shirts
Festival price: $13
On sale now: $10 Buy one now at eBay!

100% cotton t-shirts with 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival logo on the front in slightly metallicized silver (the 2007 logo is an update of the 1907 logo). The back is plain.

These great-looking t-shirts are available in adult S to XL in grey, eggplant purple, and cardinal red. 2XL and 3XL are available in cardinal red. Grey is the "official" 2007 Home-Coming color; eggplant and cardinal are shameless attempts to interest Warhawk and Whippet fans (but the colors look great too).

All sales of these limited-edition t-shirts offset the cost of the 2007 festival and the ongoing administration of the Whitewater, WI storysite.

Price is $10 per t-shirt. Thank you for supporting Whitewater!

Birge Fountain t-shirts
Festival price: $18
On sale now: $15 Buy one now at eBay!

100% white cotton t-shirts in adult sizes S to XL. Three full-color images of Whitewater's Birge Fountain in a beautiful triptych on the front, along with the words "Whitewater, WI"; the back is plain. Images are (left to right) Leon Pescheret's 1954 etching of the fountain, a current color photo of the (post-2003) renovated fountain, and Whitewater native/Milwaukee artist Shelby (Scharine) Keefe's painting of the fountain. This was the same image used on the "save-the-date" postcards sent to 4,000 Whitewater High School graduates earlier in 2007. This image is also available as boxed cards.

All sales of this limited-edition t-shirt offset the cost of the festival and the ongoing administration of the Whitewater, WI storysite.

Price is $14.95 per t-shirt. Thank you for supporting Whitewater!

Festival glassware:

(beer glass on left, mini on right)

Beer glass

Top-quality, heavy classic pint glasses with the 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival logo on the glass in permanent black ink. These logos will NOT peel or fade over time. Glasses are 5 and 7/8 inches tall and hold 14 ounces (not quite a pint). Dishwasher safe. This is must for your collection. All you need is an "Old Cream Top" to drink from it! Or, bring it back on your next visit and try it with a Randy's microbrew.

All sales of this limited-edition pint glass offset the cost of the festival and the ongoing administration of the Whitewater, WI storysite.

Price is $4 per glass. Buy one now at eBay! Thank you for supporting Whitewater!

Mini (juice glass)

These truly adorable tasting glasses are 3 and 5/8 inches tall and hold 5 ounces of your favorite beverage. These are great for juice in the morning and are a stylish way to drink wine on the deck or porch in the evening... a nice bourgogne blanc under the pergola on a hot summer evening and you'll never think about Whitewater the same way again! Try them as kids' glasses: the size is perfect for smaller hands. Glasses are sturdy yet lightweight. 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival logo etched on side; etching will not fade over time and glasses are dishwasher-safe.

All sales of this limited-edition mini glass offset the cost of the festival and the ongoing administration of the Whitewater, WI storysite.

Price is $2.50 per glass. Buy one now at eBay! Thank you for supporting Whitewater!

Wine glasses

White or red? Both are appropriate (but not together!) in these medium-sized classic wine glasses, which are just under 6 and 3/4 inches tall and hold up to 8 ounces. Glasses are sturdy yet lightweight. 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival logo etched on the side; etching will not fade over time and glasses are dishwasher safe. 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming recommends a sauvignon blanc or a nice chianti (wine not included).

All sales of these limited-edition wine glasses offset the cost of the festival and the ongoing administration of the Whitewater, WI storysite.

Price is $4 per wine glass. Buy one now at eBay! Thank you for supporting Whitewater!

Travel mugs

Be different: toss aside the corporate logo travel mugs and promote the community! These stylish stainless steel travel mugs feature the 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming logo in black permanent ink "float mounted" on the exterior for a cool effect. Mugs will keep up to 16 ounces of your favorite java hot and happy on your commute (sorry: no guarantee this effect will spill over to you, but we do guarantee your coffee won't spill over). The logos will not peel or fade over time, but the manufacturer recommends handwashing of these travel mugs for best results.

All sales of this limited-edition travel mug offset the cost of the festival and the ongoing administration of the Whitewater, WI storysite.

Price is $8 per mug. Buy one now at eBay! Thank you for supporting Whitewater!

Commemorative festival booklets
Festival price: $35
On sale now: $15

These handmade, limited-edition 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival Booklets were made and signed by local artist Dawn Hunter. Each booklet opens to reveal a festival medallion (value $9.95); a button; one each of 6 different Whitewater view cards, an original "save-the-date" postcard, a Whitewater Historical Society notecard featuring the Historic Train Depot, and a special vintage postcard of Old City High (City High operated until 1959; the building was later demolished). The vintage postcard is circa 1950s and comes from a stack of unused cards was found by a Whitewater native in the early 1960s. After you''ve used the cards in the booklet, its folders would be great for storing current correspondence or special momentos.

All sales of this limited-edition booklet offset the cost of the festival and the ongoing administration of the Whitewater, WI storysite.

Price is $15 per booklet. Buy one now at eBay! Thank you for supporting Whitewater!

Boxed Cards
Views of Whitewater cards (6)
On sale now: $5 Buy a box now at eBay!

One each of the following local landmarks, photographed by local artist Dawn Hunter: The White Building (Old Library/New Cultural Arts Center), the Halverson Log Cabin (UWW campus), the Prairie Tillers Mural (repainted in 2004), the Historic Train Depot through crab apple blossoms, the Bassett House (celebrating its 150th year in 2007), and Cravath Lakefront Plaza.

Birge Fountain Cards
Festival price: $6
On sale now: $5 Buy a box now at eBay!

10 notecards on high-quality matte cardstock, with envelopes. Three full-color images of Whitewater's Birge Fountain in a beautiful triptych on the front, along with the words "Whitewater, WI"; the back details the fountain's history. Images are (left to right) Leon Pescheret's 1954 etching of the fountain, a current color photo of the (post-2003) renovated fountain, and Whitewater native/Milwaukee artist Shelby (Scharine) Keefe's painting of the fountain. This was the same image used on the "save-the-date" postcards sent to 4,000 Whitewater High School graduates earlier in 2007. This image is also available as a t-shirt.

All sales of these limited-edition notecards offset the cost of the festival and the ongoing administration of the Whitewater, WI storysite.

Price is $5 per box. Thank you for supporting Whitewater!

Home-Coming merchandise is available locally at the following locations:

The Double Dip Deli

180 W. Main Street
262-473-2855
Hours: M - F, 10 am to 9 pm; Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 8 pm

Finance Department, Whitewater Municipal Building

312 W. Whitewater Street
262-473-0500
Hours: M - F, 8 am - 5 pm

For queries or purchases of larger amounts, contact Kristine Zaballos at 473-9822 or zaballos@charter.net.

Impressions of the 2007 Home-Coming

whitewateradmin — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:23:35 CDT

Did you attend the 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival? Tell us what you think! Just click "easy edit" above, and add your thoughts at the top of the list below!

General impressions:

(add your thoughts here)

Some thoughts: Home-Coming 2007
Here it is...Monday,July 23,2007....The Home Coming of 2007 has passed by much faster than I thought it would. Thank you so much to all the people that put the Home Coming together...what an amazing job you all did. I will write a bit tonight...but I guess I plan on stopping by here to add some more thoughts off and on. First of all...I am so excited to have been a part of all the fun!

Our grandchildren that came along with us on one of the days, although quite young (Lilin 7 years old and Amelia 5 years old) loved it too...I must say...there really was something for everyone.

Amelia (l) and Yilin with Soo Line conductor G. Ostrand during the festivities

I grew up in Whitewater... always liked the town...but even more so now. I really don't know where to start. The tour of Oak Grove was so interesting...The carriage rides with the beautiful horses pulling it were was so much fun..yes,we went a few times..the log cabin rededication was nice...and I actually got to go inside! Meeting Mr. Kraege was a delight...and I was happy he signed my book..It was fun looking at all the pictures etc. at the University. The girls,amd my husband and I loved seeing the Soo Line steam engine...there were so many things going on all around town and at Starin Park...you couldn't do or get to everything....it was perfect..Whitewater is such a beautiful town...come on everyone....take a walk thru town...look at all the work being done on Center Street...the cute birdhouses hanging on the light poles,the fountain by the old library..look at Whitewater really close and take in all the sights...sit by Cravath lake ..look around and you'll have to smile.....

Congratulations Whitewater!
As a community, we can be very proud of this five day production of many activities that brought out the very best in our community.

We saw the involvement of a cross section of our community all working together to make this an event of the century.

In 1907 our city had suffered the loss of many jobs. Whitewater’s Homecoming 2007 enjoys a much stronger local economy as demonstrated by the tremendous amount of building improvements currently under way at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater as well as the downtown revitalization of several buildings and the possibilities for a number of new development districts that are being proposed that postures our community for a very bright future.

With this tremendous momentum in place, Whitewater is well positioned to take advantage of even greater possibilities for the future! (...)

The result: Homecoming 2007 was a great success!

James K. Caldwell
First Citizens State Bank

What a great event!
What did I enjoy the most? Seeing lots of people participating from the parade to the sack races, from the 1st Brigade Band to the Cravath Cup, From the Historical Tours to the Battle of Bands, from the Train arriving to the show at Crossman Gallery ... There was something for everyone. (...) I am excited about what Whitewater has accomplished and what is yet to be accomplished.

It was FUN!! Thanks to everyone.

I wish I had been there!
I started out for Whitewater on July 1, planning to attend the College High School reunion picnic at the park (I was a member of the class of 1950) and perhaps a few other events. I never got there. I was stopped by a truck that overturned on the expressway and spilled pig parts and grease all over the road. By the time I got off, the picnic was over, and I returned home. Today, I saw the wonderful parade photos on whitewaterbanner.com, and was filled with nostalgia! I had written about Whitewater's much earlier parades on my own blog, "Never too Late!" at http://www.seniorwriter.blogspot.com. I haven't many, if any, connections in Whitewater any more, but I haven't forgotten. I wrote a review of Fred Kraege's book on Amazon.com. Perhaps I'll make it to a future parade.

My favorites
It was a wonderful celebration and congratulations and thanks to those who helped put it all together. My favorite events of the week were listening to the amazing and very entertaining 1st Brigade Band on a lovely afternoon and watching the steam locomotive as it puffed, smoked, and blew its whistle while coming down the tracks into town. Both of these reconnected me with our days gone past and gave me a glimpse back in time. I was almost like we could have been back at the original Home Coming. I also loved the red white and blue flags and buntings around town.

The Soo Line 1003 visit

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 21:18:44 CDT

On Saturday, June 30th, at about 5 pm, an unusual sound was heard in Whitewater... the sound of a steam whistle, from an approaching train.

2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Highlights

PeterZ — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:15:47 CDT

Four days of events that Whitewater should be proud of!

The SOO LINE 1003 rolls into town!
The Music Man at Whitewater High School
2007 Home-Coming Opening Ceremonies
Bucket Brigades and Baseball Games
The Festival Dinner
Family Day at Cravath Lakefront Park
The Badger Marching Band and the Warhawk Pep Band
The Oak Grove Cemetery Tour
The American Legion/VFW Veterans Salute
The Halverson Log Cabin Rededication
The Crossman Gallery Reception
The 2007 July 4th Parade
The Closing Ceremony

Remarks at the Closing Ceremony to the 2007 Home-Coming.

Add your impressions.

Read about Whitewater in the Wisconsin State Journal!

Margaret Nicholas turns 105; she was at the 1907 Home-Coming!

Read Whitewater essays from Ms. Doshi's 6th grade class.

Read "What Whitewater Means to Me" essays from schoolchildren.

See the winners of the Home-Coming Storysite "Find the clue" contest

Home-Coming Storysite Contest

PeterZ — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 18:13:05 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

2007 Home-Coming Opening Ceremonies

whitewateradmin — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 22:00:01 CDT

The 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival officially opened with a ceremony at the Historic Train Depot, across from the Whitewater Municiapl Building, on Sunday morning, July 1, at 11:30 AM.

Following an open-air ecumenical service at the Cravath Lakefront, the Soo Line 1003 steam engine pulled into town at 11:30 AM to mark the official beginning of the festival events. The depot was decked in patriotic bunting and speakers were arranged on the dias: State Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, State Representative Kim Hixson (43rd District), State Representative Steve Nass (31st District), and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Interim Chancellor Dick Telfer.

Home-Coming King and Queen Fred Kraege and Marilyn Kienbaum were also on hand, in their festival finery, to lend a regal air to the event. After the speakers were finished, a ribbon-cutting took place.

(left to right)
Steve Nass, Dick Telfer, Fred Kraege, Marilyn Kienbaum, Kim Hixson, and Judy Robson on the dias, as City Manager Kevin Brunner speaks

Home-Coming Queen Marilyn Kienbaum and co-chair David L. Kachel chat before the train pulls into the depot

Home-Coming King Fred Kraege and co-chair Kristine Zaballos before the Opening Ceremonies began

Albert Hanson

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:46:35 CDT

As shared with Geoff Hale, by Dr. David Cleven, son of Dr. Henry Cleven, grandson of Albert Hanson.

Early Whitewater 4th of July Parades were often led by Grand Marshall Albert Hanson and his dancing horse, "Prince." Albert was Whitewater's turn-of-the-century public relations man. He met most every traveler at the train depot and gladly provided free taxi service to one and all. Albert also ran cattle drives from the west, down Hwy. 12 into Whitewater's stockyard for shipment to parts east. Bolstering Whitewater's rail economy, Hanson shipped more than 3000 Holsteins annually by way of cattle cars. As one of Whitewater's first philanthropists, Albert bailed out more than one struggling farmer during the depression by paying off their bank mortgage, no strings attached.

The Albert Hanson Farm was originally located at the end of Ridge Rd on Whitewater Lake. In the early 1900's, Whitewater Lake was actually 3 separate lakes; Whitewater Lake to the West of Ridge Rd, Bass Lake to the North, and Round Lake to the East of Ridge. Before the damn was layed, which would flood the 3 lakes into one, Albert rowed out to the middle of Round Lake to test its depth. In 1910, with a 100' rope and weight, he was not able to find the bottom. Due to silting in today, you might be lucky to find a depth of 30 feet.

SOO LINE 1003 to visit Whitewater

whitewateradmin — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:23:55 CDT

Press release:
The 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival is delighted to announce a special appearance by the historic SOO LINE 1003 Steam Locomotive to their centennial celebration. The engine, a 1913 2-8-2 steam engine generally stored at the Wisconsin Automotive Museum in Hartford, Wisconsin, is dedicated to the purpose of “reminding all and educating new generations about the most visible manifestation of the power of railroading.”

Visitors to the festival will be able to view the engine and a caboose at Cravath Lakefront Park on Saturday evening, June 30, after 6 PM and tour the caboose Sunday, July 1, from noon until 5 PM. Sunday is the Grand Opening of the 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival, with Opening Ceremonies slated to begin at 11:30 AM at the Historic Train Depot. The steam engine will leave early on Saturday, June 30, to make the 120-mile round trip from Hartford. It will be brought in through the efforts and courtesy of the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad and the expected arrival is 5 PM. All of the operations of the engine involve volunteer efforts. Occasionally on Sunday the locomotive will enter and leave the station under its own power. According to SOO-LINE 1003 representative Burt Mall, restoring and maintaining the 1913 engine has been a labor of love: “Following the presentation of 1003 to the City of Superior on December 30, 1959 for a park display the condition of the locomotive began to worsen. After a considerable amount of this deterioration, there was an attempt to restore the engine. The first attempt failed, but a second attempt was mounted in 1994. Work was completed in about two and a half years at a cost in excess of $300,000.00, in contrast to the original price of the locomotive of $25,654.63 in 1913. The restoration work was accomplished in Superior, Wisconsin, and the engine made its initial test runs at the Duluth Transportation Museum in November of 1996.” The steam engine generally leaves its home in Hartford to make appearances only 2 – 3 times a year, according to Mall. Accompanying the steam engine will be a Milwaukee Road caboose, salvaged from a scrap yard and recently renovated. Visitors will be invited to tour the caboose on Sunday, July 1, from noon to 5 PM.

The steam engine’s visit to the 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival was prompted by a recent inquiry by local resident Richard Ehrenberg, who called festival co-chair Kristine Zaballos to ask if anyone had looked into getting a steam engine for the occasion. “I told him that an initial effort had been made,” said Zaballos, “but that nothing had come of it. Richard asked if I would mind if he looked into things a bit, and I said ‘Go to town.’ I honestly didn’t expect much, given the fact that the festival was less than two weeks away, but with Richard’s enthusiasm, key financial support, and the quick response of city and event staff, it all came together.” The steam engine’s trip to Whitewater, not previously budgeted for, was made possible with the support of Whitewater’s Coburn Company and DLK Enterprises. Like most of events in conjunction with the 2007 Home-Coming Festival, tours of the caboose will be free of charge. In honor of the rare steam engine appearance, the Historic Train Depot, home of the Whitewater Historical Society, will be open for extended hours from 12 to 5 PM on Sunday. And both Saturday and Sunday there will be the many fabulous events planned by the 4th of July Festival, including fireworks at Cravath lakefront Park at 10 PM Saturday evening. For a detailed schedule of events, go to www.WW4th.com. The 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming, held July 1-4, commemorates Whitewater’s rich heritage and bears witness to its past, present and promising future as it brings the community together, connects current and former residents, and creates a living legacy of shared memories. This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the first Home-Coming festival, held in 1907. For more information on the 2007 Whitewater Home-Coming Festival, go to www.whitewaterhomecoming.com. To learn more about the SOO-LINE 1003 steam engine, visit www.sooline1003.com.

Terrie Munger is the winner of the Storysite "Find the clue" contest for week 3,

with her submission at 2:37 pm on June 28, 2007

The Badger and Warhawk Bands

whitewateradmin — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 00:07:44 CDT

On Monday, July 2, Cravath Lakefront Park was the scene of an unusual event: The wonderful Warhawk Pep Band and Willie Warhawk played to a large crowd, followed by 20 members of the famous Badger Marching Band, who performed with Bucky Badger. Over 1,000 people were on hand to hear the music, feel the high spirits, and witness the fun.

Was that Willie dancing with the Badger Band? Was that Bucky with Chancellor Telfer?

The Badger Band - 20 members thereof - performing, with Bucky "conducting"

Here a Badger Band member braves the crowd assembled to watch the fun.

Willie Warhawk was the first to jump in and be playful, to the crowd's delight.

Badger pride. Jim Caldwell, President of First Citizens State Bank, is a Madison alum. The bank sponsored the Badger visit and Commercial Bank sponsored the Warhawks.

Interim Chancellor Telfer is proud to show Badger/Warhawk spirit!

Festival co-chair (and Madison alum) Kristine Zaballos is proud to pose with Bucky... but says it was more fun to polka with Willie!

The 2007 July 4th Parade

whitewateradmin — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 20:25:38 CDT