Bayfield County Journal
Bayfield County Journal Memories Column


Zoe von Ende Lappin, granddaughter of P.J. Savage, editor of the Iron River PIONEER from 1898 to 1952, has obtained permission for us to post the Memories and Yesteryear columns that are printed weekly in the Bayfield COUNTY JOURNAL, successor  to the PIONEER and other newspapers in the county. The COUNTY JOURNAL announced the upcoming Web postings in its Dec. 3O, 1999, edition with the headline, "Genealogy columns to appear on the web".

I would like to thank Eric Sharp, Editor of the Bayfield County Journal for his willingness to work with us in our genealogical search. We look forward to the wonderful articles that will appear here. Thank you also to Zoe von Ende Lappin for all her work and the hours of typing.

Iron River Memories

Beverlee Thivierge

Reprinted from the Iron River Pioneer

July 23, 1942

Headline -- Bayfield Area Suffers From Flood Waters -- On Thursday night and Friday morning that area of Bayfield County forming the peninsula which extends into Lake Superior experienced the heaviest downpour of rain in its recorded history. The hills surrounding the city of Bayfield extend back three miles, permitting the water that fell in that area to rush into the city. Right in the center of that city is what is known as the "Big Ravine," which forms a natural drain in normal times. This rainfall was so heavy the ravine was inadequate, the water rose so fast in carried away homes, businesses, blocks, boats, all types of debris, even caskets fromt he cemetery. The Bayfield Waterworks was out of commission, thus endangering the citizens of Bayfield. Red Cross officials are on the scene and as Bayfield County citizens have liberally contributed to the Red Cross for years, and we cannot recall when assistance from that source has been asked, they deem that now is the time when a Bayfield County community can expect reciprocation. They shall have it! Morticians from Ashland, Superior and other points answered Bayfield’s distress call, went to Bayfield and assisted in reburying those dead whose caskets could be located, and it is thought that all were found. . . .

Mr. and Mrs. Howard DIAMON of Seattle announce the birth of a daughter, June 29. Howard is employed in a defense plant there. Mrs. Charles DIAMON, grandmother of the new arrival, has been out to Seattle for the last month and is expected any day to be back home.

Turn out to Iron River’s Frolic Saturday night and Sunday, and spend a few nickels to swell the fund being raised here to help the flood sufferers in Bayfield. . . .

M.J. BELL of the Bell Lumber Co. informed friends here that his company has been awarded the contract to furnish poles for the telephone line which will extend along the entire route of Canada -- some 900 miles in length. Quite a contract. The company has timber and a yard in British Columbia.

July 21, 1960

Darlene ANDERSON, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred ANDERSON of Iron River, has been named to the Dean’s List at Stout State College, Menomonie. Miss Joan KUECHLER, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. William KUECHLER of Herbster, is included on the honor roll at Wisconsin State College at River Falls.

Mrs. Maybelle CHANTELOIS left Wednesday to attend the 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Harry NIMMO ("Babe") of L’Anse, Mich., formerly of Iron River.

Mr. and Mrs. Edward BURNETT of Iron River announce the engagement of their daughter, Joan Cecelia DIPPEL, to Mr. Richard Lee FORSYTHE, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard FORSYTHE of Delta. The prospective bride and groom are both graduates of Iron River High School. Miss DIPPEL attended Wisconsin State College in Superior.

Municipal Judge Joseph MORAN had a distinguished caller Tuesday morning, Miss Emily DODOE, executive secretary of the Wisconsin Judicial Council. She was here to get the annual report of the court.

Guests at the Ed BOUSLEY residence during late June and early July were Mrs. James REDA of Chicago. (Mrs. Bousley’s niece), and Mr. and Mrs. Robert WORRELL of St. Louis, Mo.; the Rev. Father Joseph MILLER and his mother of Rhinelander; the Leonard GONEAU family of Anaheim, Calif. Mr. GONEAU is Ed’s nephew, son of Mina BOUSLEY, who was raised in Iron River, and is a sister of Ed BOUSLEY.

From the files -- July 20, 1950 -- The following girls have announced as candidates for queen of the Blueberry Festival: Katherine KNAPP, Mary Ellen GIDLOF, Jackie FINNEY, Shirley JOHNSON, Joanne KAUPPI and Jean HENKEL.

Mr. and Mrs. Ted DEROSIERS (sic) of Stevens Point announce the birth of a baby boy July 12. They have one other daughter, Sheral, age 3. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Stanley BARNES; great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred KAUFMAN; and great-grandmothers, May BARNES ESCHRICH, Mrs. Letia DESROSIERS (sic) and Mrs. John BRADLEY.

The state has added a pump to the Wayside one mile east of Iron River. This offers much better accommodation to the many travelers stopping for a rest or picnic lunch.

The 1959 agricultural census reports 897 farms in Bayfield County, average acreage 179.9; average value of land and buildings was $8,499; average age of farmer was 50.7 years. There were 147 farm operators over 65 years of age.

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