Conference Point, the earliest of these. Shades of the Past. Shades of the Past is published quarterly by the Williams Bay Historical Society.

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Established 2013 Volume 1 Issue 2 Spring 2014 Quarterly Membership Meetings SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 7 p.m. Williams Bay High School Carolyn Smeltzer, Guest Speaker Annual dinner/meeting* Thursday, October 16 5 p.

* insider Tour yerkes Observatory Saturday, July 19, 2014 1:30-3:30 p.m.

1 Established 2013 Volume 1 Issue 2 Spring 2014 Quarterly Membership Meetings SITTIN ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY Thursday, July 17, 2014 at 7 p.m. Williams Bay High School Carolyn Smeltzer, Guest Speaker Annual dinner/meeting* Thursday, October 16 5 p.m. Social Hour 6 p.m. Dinner 7 p.m. Annual Meeting George Williams Aurora University Williams Bay, WI *Members Only, Reservations Required Upcoming events Members Only!* insider Tour yerkes Observatory Saturday, July 19, :30-3:30 p.m. Yerkes Observatory Williams Bay, WI *Reservations Required Wonders of Williams Bay Tour Saturday, October 18, 2014 More details to come in July Recreational Heritage of Williams Bay Throughout the years, recreational camps were established in various locations around Geneva Lake, but the five earliest camps, established between 1874 and 1898 were all located in the wilderness at the western end of the lake. In considering the historical significance of these camps, it is important to note that camping as a recreational activity was unheard of in the United States until the middle of the nineteenth century. Such camps shared a common belief that fellowship in a beautiful natural environment could have beneficial effects far beyond the short time spent at camp. As Williams Bay developed, recreational camps were established in various locations around Geneva Lake. Beyond simple recreation, visitors of these camps shared common spiritual beliefs that were enhanced by recreation and fellowship in a beautiful natural setting. Five of the earliest camps, described below, were established between 1874 and Conference Point, the earliest of these camps established in 1874, began as an informal retreat for members of a Delavan Church. The camp quickly gained in popularity and was soon opened to the public. YMCA George Williams College Camp was the next camp to open in 1886 (now owned by Aurora University). The first permanent camp building to be constructed in the Village was the Lewis Auditorium in Holiday Home Camp was established in 1887 by a group of summer residents who formed the Lake Geneva Fresh Air Association. The objective of this group was to provide a recreational environment for the education and enjoyment of less fortunate children of urban communities. Established by Dr. Alice B. Stockham in 1898 to provide a site for formal discussions inspired by the 1893 Columbian Exposition and World Congress of Religions. The property was purchased (Continued on page 3) Mission of the Historical Society: The purpose of the Williams Bay Historical Society is to assist in the preservation and exhibition of items of historical interest that are within the boundaries of Williams Bay, and the immediate surrounding area. It will seek to provide the public with educational opportunities to learn about our unique local history. It will also seek to organize and assist in the commemoration of significant dates and events in village history. is published quarterly by the Williams Bay Historical Society. Affiliated Member of the Wisconsin State Historical Society For comments or questions about this publication or Williams Bay Historical Society contact: PO Box 678 Williams Bay, WI Or visit our website:

Page 2 Valentine s Day Luncheon February 15, 2014 1922 Bird Count From Book of Lake Geneva by Paul Jenkins - October

Geneva Lake, like many of parts of the continent for the same period was none other than a literal hunter s

.. of the surrounding hills and woods are comparatively few in number, the presence of wonderful native birds in

.. In the spring of 1922, in the months of April and May, 116 varieties of birds were noted along the north shore of

the Garden Club of Williams Bay chose the Hollyhock as the village flower.

Plant them at the back of the borders, among the shrubbery, long fences, and in great clumps in any old corner, or

May be allowed to foregather in unserried ranks as one often sees them in country gardens behind a white picket

Hollyhocks are never amiss and are always beautiful. Did You Know?

Of the 116 noted, all may rightly be considered among the common birds of the middle west, either as residents or

Moonlight Melody of Williams Bay on Geneva Lake Our official song, Moonlight Melody of Williams Bay on Geneva Lake

Espedal was a Norwegian composer from the Chicago area who composed several musicals. Mr.

A drive is underway by the Williams Bay High School History Club to officially recognize the American Cardinal the

2 Page 2 Valentine s Day Luncheon February 15, Bird Count From Book of Lake Geneva by Paul Jenkins - October 1922 Not only once upon a time, but for a time that covered uncounted centuries together, the whole neighborhood of Geneva Lake, like many of parts of the continent for the same period was none other than a literal hunter s paradise; and such it s Indian residents or visitors knew it to be and prized it accordingly... of the surrounding hills and woods are comparatively few in number, the presence of wonderful native birds in great numbers and notable variety more than make up for any deficiency of other wild life... In the spring of 1922, in the months of April and May, 116 varieties of birds were noted along the north shore of But if the remaining fauna the Lake at the points between Hollyhocks: The Official flower of Williams Bay In 1933, the Garden Club of Williams Bay chose the Hollyhock as the village flower. From the May 4, 1933 issue of Bay Leaves, No one can have too many hollyhocks. Plant them at the back of the borders, among the shrubbery, long fences, and in great clumps in any old corner, or around buildings. May be allowed to foregather in unserried ranks as one often sees them in country gardens behind a white picket fence, Hollyhocks and white picket fences have a special affinity for each other. Hollyhocks are never amiss and are always beautiful. Did You Know? Williams Bay and Delavan Inlet by four observers, who joined forces for the purpose of noting the birds arrival. Of the 116 noted, all may rightly be considered among the common birds of the middle west, either as residents or migrant visitors, except the swans, cormorants, western meadowlarks, cardinals, and yellow-headed blackbirds. Moonlight Melody of Williams Bay on Geneva Lake Our official song, Moonlight Melody of Williams Bay on Geneva Lake was composed by Stanford R. Espedal. Mr. Espedal was a Norwegian composer from the Chicago area who composed several musicals. Mr. Espedal served in the military in WWII. He is buried in Hawaii. Cardinal the Official Bird of Williams Bay? A drive is underway by the Williams Bay High School History Club to officially recognize the American Cardinal the official Bird of Williams Bay. The bird s presence is Williams Bay is directly tied to the efforts of Dr. Edwin B. Frost, ( ), professor of astrophysics at the University of Chicago and Director of the University s Yerkes Observatory at Williams Bay, Wisconsin in the early 1900 s, according to student Brandon Wulf. Cardinals at the time migrated through Williams Bay area on their way further south Dr, Frost noticed a lone male cardinal in his yard for several weeks, and hoping to keep the beautiful bird in the area, contacted an associate at (Continued on page 3)

Page 3 Williams Bay Byways Street Names and Meanings Williams Bay has many interesting street names. To better understand their meanings and locations here are a few definitions.

Road: A path, course or space for traveling between places. Drive: A driveway. Circle: Circular shaped roadway or path. Lane: A narrow route or path.

3 Page 3 Williams Bay Byways Street Names and Meanings Williams Bay has many interesting street names. To better understand their meanings and locations here are a few definitions. Parkway: A broad roadway bordered and often divided by trees, plants and grass. Court: A street without through traffic. Street: A road or paved passageway to get from one place to another. Road: A path, course or space for traveling between places. Drive: A driveway. Circle: Circular shaped roadway or path. Lane: A narrow route or path. Boulevard: A wide street often lined with trees with a central grassy area dividing the street. Highway: Main road; thoroughfare. Avenue: A street or thoroughfare that is generally wide; that is sometimes lined with shrubs or trees. Place: A particular location or space or the particular area normally occupied by something. Terrace: Road imbedded in a hillside edging a hill. Bailey Road: Named after the C. S. Bailey Family. Cedar Point Drive: Named for the Cedar Trees found there; Sacred site of the Potawatomi People. Frost Drive: Named for Dr. Edwin B. Frost, director of Yerkes Observatory. Johnston Terrace: Named for the John Johnston Family who sold the land to be used for Yerkes Observatory. North Street: Goes east and west at the northern end of the village. Sheridan Place: Named for Civil War General Philip Henry Sheridan who visited the area in the1880s. Notable People in Williams Bay History Major Edward B. Meatyard * Of English heritage. * Born in Piasa, Illinois on February 13, * Infantry soldier during the Civil War. * Married Anna E. Boswell on December 24, * Lived in Williams Bay * Wealthy landowner/inventor/mine owner. * Owned 730 acres of land, including all of Cedar Point. * Was instrumental in extending the railroad to Williams Bay by selling the 16 acres right-of-way needed to the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. * Died penniless on May 13, 1889 in Shipman, Illinois, after his mines failed and he was forced into bankruptcy. Patent Information by Edward B. Meatyard for his Steam Hammer On This Date in Williams Bay History * May 14 Dr. Edwin B. Frost dies 1935 * May 23 Williams Bay Land Company founded 1893 * May 24 Groundbreaking ceremony for Williams Bay Lutheran Church 1953 * June 1919 Petition began to incorporate Williams Bay * June 13 Norman B. Barr Camp founded 1909 * June 18 Chicago & Northwestern railroad comes to Williams Bay Williams Bay Women s Banquet Celebrates 87 Consecutive Years The Williams Bay Women s us dinner! A legend was born! Banquet is unique. Begun The Banquet Committee is in 1927, it is likely the only made up of a wide variety of all-women event in the country ages, skills & talent, new every year. For 87 years, this that has been held consecutively since that time. Like Williams group has put on an evening Bay, it is one-of-a-kind. event that is always amazing! The Williams Bay Women s Banquet began as a female rebellion. Williams Bay men apparently had numerous all-male weekly nights out, and finally the women of Williams Bay, led by Hazel Bjorge, said Enough! One night a year, we want to get dressed up, go out with our friends & have someone serve Cardinals (Continued from page 2) the University of Chicago & asked that the associate bring a female cardinal from the aviary there on the train up to Williams Bay as further incentive for the male cardinal to make Williams Bay his home. The associate did as Dr. Frost requested and Dr. Recreational Heritage (Continued from page 1) on January 2, 1909 by The Olivet Summer Assembly Association led by Rev. Norman B. Barr and named Olivet Camp. The camp was renamed to Norman B. Barr Camp and incorporated on October 1, Wesley Woods Camp began as The Eleanor Camp in The purpose of the camp was to provide a proper vacation retreat for female students and business women. It was purchased in the late 1940s by the Rock River Conference of the Methodist Church and was renamed Wesley Woods. Private camping associations also gained popularity in the area surrounding Geneva Lake. Congress Club, founded in 1876, was established as a social and musical club. The club was formed by residents who resided near Congress Street on Chicago s west side. The first of several buildings was constructed in The Club s architectural significance rests on the 19th century interpretation of the Queen Anne style as an appropriate summer cottage form. Reprinted from Village of Williams Bay Comprehensive Plan, Chapter Four: Cultural Resources. Adopted September 20, 2010 Frost released the female into his screened porch to see if any interest was exhibited on the part of with either of the two cardinals. It was love at first sight! Dr. Frost released the female cardinal, the pair successfully nested, and we have had cardinals in Williams Bay ever since.

4 Page 4 Donations to Looking for a meaningful way to remember a loved one? Historic Markers The purpose of The Williams Memorial donations to the Bay Historical Society is to Williams Bay Historical assist in the preservation and Society is way to keep a commemoration of events loved one s memory alive and help the society realize its mission of preserving the rich history of the village. Let us know if you designate and places of historical significance within the village and the immediate surrounding area. To accomplish this goal the Historical Society is the Williams Bay raising funds to purchase his- Historical Society for the torical markers recognizing memorial for a loved one. noteworthy places and events in the history of our village. Gifts and Bequests You can help The Williams Bay Historical Society and make a vital contribution toward preserving the history of our village by making a memorial donation, bequest, or other gift. There are a variety of ways to give to the Historical Society that will support our efforts and offer you a tax benefit. We Collect History As we continue to record and collect the ongoing history of our village, we are pleased to accept donations of historical items. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your gift is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Geneva Lake A Look Back In Time We are pleased to have author Carolyn Smeltzer as the guest speaker at our General Membership Meeting on July 17. Geneva Lake focuses on the people, places, pioneers, physical chores, play and beauty in all areas surrounding the lake. This book is extremely unique. The authors guarantee readers will not have seen the majority of images as they were retrieved from family scrapbooks. Some of the photographs were removed from frames, taken off the wall, and searched out of the attic or family trunk. Geneva Lake uses individuals memories to describe an era that otherwise would be forgotten. Oral history is used as a collection and study of historical information about the lake s people, physical chores, pioneers, places, and play. The oral history focuses on families, important events, communities, and everyday life through interviews and written personal notes. These notes were usually found in scrapbooks or on the back of historic pictures. About the Authors: Carolyn Hope Smeltzer, is a founding partner of Consulting Healthcare Services, a nurse, and a retired PwC partner. Carolyn feels fortunate to share history on three of her passions: nurses, Chicago, and Geneva Lake. All of her books were written in Williams Bay. Martha Cucco is a real estate broker. Her interest in local history, combined with her knowledge of Geneva Lake, helped to recreate the lake s history in both books. PO Box 678 Williams Bay, WI Name Address City, State, Zip

5 First Quarterly Meeting of 2014 ICE, ICE, BABY Minutes, January 16, 2014, 7:00 p.m. Williams Bay Village Hall Officers and Directors Present: Deb Soplanda, President; Judy Bausch, Vice President; Phyllis Janda, Secretary; Directors: Greg Trush, Tom McReynolds and Pat Grove Before the meeting began, we watched a wonderful video on ice harvesting in the 1920 s. Deb told the audience that there were once three ice houses in the Village. Deb called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.. After the minutes from the October 17, 2013, meeting were approved, she reported that the 501(c)3 application and the application for Affiliation with the Wisconsin Historical Society had been filed. The Society is awaiting approval on both these applications. Deb explained the displays around the room beginning with the story of how a Mastodon tooth was once found in Williams Bay. She asked the audience to be sure to spend some time at the displays at the conclusion of the meeting. Deb introduced the Society s intern, Michelle Bie Love. Michelle has been a wonderful asset to our organization and is presently working on the Society s first newsletter which will be distributed to members by February 1st. In the absence of the Treasurer, Phyllis Janda, reported that the present balance in the Society s treasury was $l, Pat Grove, Chair of the Fundraising Committee, reported that the Society would one day like to have a Village Welcome/Tourism Center and Historical Museum highlighting the many historical sites in the Village. Presently, the goal is to raise $25, Pat asked if any member of the audience had suggestions or ideas for such a site to contact her or Deb. She reported that a membership table would be located in front of The Studio on Walworth Avenue during Day in the Bay on February 1st and a Valentine s Luncheon is planned for February 15th at Sherwood Lodge. John Grove, Program Committee Chair, and Deb reported on the planned upcoming events: Membership Table and Cider at Day in the Bay, Feb. 1st, a Valentine s Day Luncheon, A Night at Geneva Lakes Museum, A Behind the Scenes Tour of Yerkes, a trip to the Field Museum in Chicago to see the 1896 Columbian Exposition display and a fall trolley tour of historical sites the Village. Deb asked the audience to indicate their interest on the sign-up sheets in the lobby. Cindy Rademaker, Publication Committee Chair reported that the Society s website would be launched shortly. Michelle Love has been working diligently on our first Newsletter which should be distributed on or about February 1st. Phyllis Janda, Chair of the Membership Committee, reported that at present there are 48 members. Membership has increased by 40 since the October, 2013, meeting. The breakdown is: 29 Individuals, 9 Family memberships, 5 Sustaining, 4 Organizations/Businesses or Churches, and 1 Lifetime Member. Greg Trush, Director, explained plans for the trolley tour of Bay historical sites sometime in the Fall. Golden Years has offered one of their buses for these tours. Judy Bausch, Vice President, reported that the first meeting of the Oral Historian program would be Wednesday, Jan. 22nd at 3:00pm at the Library. Judy contacted the various nursing homes in the area to identify former Williams Bay residents who could be interviewed. The process will be explained in detail at Wednesday s meeting. She asked that anyone interested in doing interviews please come to the meeting. Deb Soplanda announced the winner of the logo contest: Pete Oehmen. The logo was passed around and generated much approval and excitement. Pete will get a free membership to the Society for his excellent work. Deb introduced Bob Pegel and Sparky Lundberg for their presentation on ice boating. Bob and Sparky presented a fascinating program filled with facts about ice boating history and their personal adventures. Both were able to add their remarks and stories to Deb s showing of ABC s Wide World of Sports Ice Boating video. Deb adjourned the meeting at approximately 8:15p.m. and many attendees remained to share stories and very positive comments. Submitted: Phyllis Janda, WBHS Secretary

6 Ice, Ice, Baby!! January 16, 2014

Brief History of Williams Bay By Frank M. Van Epps

Brief History of Williams Bay By Frank M. Van Epps The first man to recognize the site of our present village of Williams Bay as a good place for a home site for himself and others was named Cole, who