Bayfield County Press
Compiler's Note: Currie G. Bell, my great-grandfather, became the editor and publisher of the Bayfield, Wisconsin weekly newspaper, the BAYFIELD COUNTY PRESS, in the fall of 1882. The paper remained in the Bell family until July 1927. In addition to the usual birth, marriage and death announcements, THE PRESS printed local "chit-chat" columns that provided snippets of information on the residents of Bayfield and the surrounding towns. On a time-available and experimental basis, we have decided to post some of this data in the hopes it may be of use to family historians researching their Bayfield county ancestors. --John Griener
LINKED AT LAST
The C., St. P., M. & O. R.R
Completed to Bayfield after Twenty-seven Years of Patient Waiting
[Bayfield County Press: Saturday, October 13, 1883]
Ere this issue of the Press is read by our subscribers outside the "Harbor City," the first regular passenger train will have rolled into this village which for twenty-seven long years has waited so patiently for the arrival of the iron horse, the last blow having fallen upon the golden spike that signaled the completion of this great enterprise inaugurated so long ago.
Friday, October 12th will ever remain a memorable day to the citizens of the "Harbor City" that being the date of the completion of this iron pathway to the outer world. On the morning of that day, conductor HICKEY's construction train was at Austrian clearing and he promised to have the track in and his train at the depot ere the setting of the sun. All day long the workmen were surrounded by an anxious throng of men, women, and children, wrought up to a high pitch of excitement, and as the day wore on the train men and track layers seemed to imbibe a portion of this spirit and redoubled their efforts to reach their goal. As the hands of the clock pointed to the hour 4:04, the train halted in front of the depot, the star spangled banner was flung to the breeze, the old brass cannon belched forth flame and smoke, the whistles of the various steam vessels in the harbor united with those of the locomotive and the bells of the churches and schools in one prolonged salute that echoed and reechoed from hill-top to hill-top, while from the throats of the excited throng pealed cheer after cheer. Its completion to the old pioneers who have waited so long for its arrival �so oft been disappointed � seems more like a dream than a reality and they stand dazed in the light of their long delayed good fortune.
The importance of this event to Northern Wisconsin and the Great West as well as this immediate locality is incalculable. It forms a grand highway from the rich plains of the far west to this inland sea port over which their products may find rapid and cheap transit to the markets of the East. It opens up and renders available to settlement a grand territory of valuable timber lands and gives outlet to the great pineries of the northwestern part of the state, thus pioneering the way for the capitalist and the laborer to rich fields for their enterprise and skill. It renders available for maritime business one of the grandest harbors in the world and its coming is hailed with rejoicing by the storm tossed mariner as well as by those who heralded its coming by settling upon its shores long years ago.
To attempt even a condensed history of this enterprise is out of the question, as time or space will not permit. However, there is one point in the history of this great work that we may dwell upon with profit. And that is the fact that its completion is the result of a boundless faith in its ultimate success and a determination on the part of its projectors to push it to completion. A like manifestation of faith in the "Harbor City" by its founders and a like determination on part of her citizens to push her to the front and mark her the leading maritime port on the "Great Unsalted" may have a like result.
CONGRATULATORY TELEGRAMS
Tuesday, Superintendent H. C. HOPE arrived in the village and proceeded to connect us with the outside world by telegraph. The company have erected their line in a very substantial manner and have strung two wires � one for railroad and the other for commercial purposes. The first message sent over the wire was as follows:
"Hon. H. M. RICE, St. Paul. Wire in and train expected Saturday. Shake. Col. J. D. CRUTTENDEN"
This was followed by the following send out by order of the board:
"O. D. O'BRIEN, Mayor of St. Paul. Bayfield, the "Harbor City" of Lake Superior sends greetings to the "Saintly City" of the Northwest. Connected by wire this day."
"Mayor of Hudson, Wis.: The "Harbor City" of Lake Superior sends greetings to one of her warmest friends, the city of Hudson. - Bayfield."
""Mayor of Minneapolis: The "Harbor City" of Lake Superior sends greetings to the "Queen of the Northwest." - Bayfield."
"Board of Supervisors - Superior: The "Harbor City" of Lake Superior greets you the Superior City. - Bayfield"
"Board of Supervisors, Ashland: The "Harbor City" of Lake Superior sends greetings to the future Metropolis. - Bayfield"
"City of Milwaukee: Bayfield is this day connected with the outside world by telegraph and regular trains will be running into the "Harbor City" Monday the 15th. She sends greetings to the "Cream City" and hopes for better acquaintance. - Bayfield.
"Mayor of Duluth, Minn.: The "Harbor City" sends greetings to the "Zenith City" � Connected by wire this day. � Bayfield."
To the above dispatches the following answers were received:
"Board of Supervisors, Bayfield, Wis.: The "Metropolis of the New Wisconsin" hail with pleasure the completion of another link which binds the "Harbor City" to it in additional bonds of unity and friendship. Long may our friendly relations continue and may the good God favor and bless all our efforts in developing the twin cities Northern Wisconsin. - Ashland"
"Board of Supervisors, Bayfield, Wis.: The Citizens of Hudson cordially return their greetings to the citizens of Bayfield and congratulate them upon the completion of the thoroughfare which shall tend to make our relations for the future closer than in the past. L. NORTH, Mayor."
"Bayfield, Wisconsin: We congratulate you on this new link in the chain of Lake Superior cities. We rejoice in your growth and prosperity. - Mayor of Duluth."
"Bayfield, Wis.: "Superior City" congratulates the "Harbor City" and rejoices with you and hopes that your great expectations may now be speedily realized. - Superior."
