Washburn, Bayfield, Wisconsin, United States

Notater:
Washburn History (1913)

Source: Milwaukee Free Press (24 Jan. 1913) Submitted by Diana Heser Morse

WASHBURN - Washburn, a flourishing city of 4,500 population is located on the north shore of Chequamegon Bay on Lake Superior. It is the county seat of Bayfield county and the largest city in the county. Washburn is perhaps one of the oldest points in the state, this territory being reached by the first missionaries who came to the region in the early eighteenth century. The city was not started until 1852 when the C., St. P., M. & O. railway built its line. During the early days Washburn had a very rapid growth, built up largely on the lumbering industry.

The population jumped to over 6,000, but as usually with lumbering towns, slumped

again to less than 4,000. During the past five years the growth started again on a more substantial basis.

Washburn's leading industry is the dynamite plant of the DePont de Nemoures Powder company located four and a half miles south of the city. This company employes from 200 to 300 men year around, the men going from this city by special train every morning, returning in the evening.

Washburn also has two large saw mills and a box factory plant. The mills run night and day during the summer months, employing over 300 men, while the box factory plant operates the year round; giving employment to over 100. The mills are the Stearns Lumber company plant and the plant of the M. H. Sprague Lumber company. The box factory is the first plant established by the Kenfield-Lamoreaux company.

Washburn also has the large coal docks of the Northwestern Fuel company and the merchandise dock of the Omaha railway. Stone quarries are also located north of the city but these have not been operated for some years, although the quarries contain as fine a deposit of brown sand stone as is to be found in the country. It is the hope of the people here that the industry will be revived.

The city is located in the center of a fine agricultural country. The farming started to open up only about ten years ago and has made a wonderful growth. Today fine farms are to be found in every direction. The chief crops will eventually be fruit for large commercial orchards are being opened up in all directions by men of means. The region around Chequamegon bay is so tempered by the water of the lake that the seasons are most

ideal for the growing of fruits, grains, grasses and vegetables. According to government reports the district surrounding this city has a longer growing season than Sioux City, Iowa, or any point in southern Wisconsin.

Last season over sixty-five car loads of strawberries were shipped from the Washburn-Bayfield district. A co-operative warehouse has been erected in this city where the produce of the farm and orchard will be handled for the farmer and fruit grower. Within five years many of the commercial orchards will have come into bearing and this will mean thousands of dollars season for the farmers and fruit growers, all of which will go to build up the city.

Two railroads enter this city, being the c., St. P., M. & O. and the Northern Pacific. There is also talk of the Soo Railroad building from Superior to connect with Its line at Ashland.

Washburn has fine school buildings, they Walker High school building being constructed of Bayfield county sand stone at a cost of nearly $75,000. There is also the Garfield school, the Pioneer school and the Lincoln school, all fine buildings, the Garfield being the last constructed.

The court house building is also one of the finest in northern Wisconsin. It too, is constructed of Bayfield brown sand stone. Other public building are the Carnegie Public library, erected at a cost of $18,000, the city hall building costing $22,000 and the town hall building, a brick structure.

The city government is in the charge of twelve aldermen and a mayor. It is conducted as economically as any city in the state.

In churches almost all denominations are represented. There is the Catholic, Congregational, Methodist, Episcopal, Norwegian, Lutheran, German Lutheran, Swedish Lutheran, Norwegian Methodist, and Mission. The Catholic church is the most largely attended, followed closely by the Congregational and Norwegian Lutheran.

Washburn is a city of man fine residences.

The city has a Commerical club, two live newspapers, many mercantile establishments, two banks, a farmer's warehouse, and many other establishments.

Of the men who have been prominent in the upbuilding of the city many might be mentioned, among them being D. M. Maxey, vice-president of the Bayfield County bank, president of the Washburn Water company and president of the Washburn Commercial club; M. A. Sprague, president of the Northern State bank and the Washburn Electric Light and Power company; L. N. Clausen, present city clerk; William Olson, D. W. Corning, O. A. Lamoreaux, president of the Kenfield-Lamoreaux company, John Walsh, E. C. Stevens, W. H. Irish, Nels Nelson and others.

Washburn has one undeveloped public park, large picnic grounds and excellent driveways leading in all directions from the city.

The scenery is most beautiful, particularly along the lake shore. Here the numerous caves, rock ledges, and waterfalls form a most magnificent sight. Then the Apostle Islands, the most beautiful and picturesque in the United States, as well as the most historical are also located within two miles distance.

Every season hundred of tourists flock to this point. Hay fever patients also find great relief in this section.

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