History of Norwood

A Short History of Norwood

The first people to settle in the Phlox area were the Joseph S. Samz family. They started to build a dam and the mill to saw lumber on the Red River, coming in 1878 and having the mill in operation in 1879.

Coming soon after were Albert Menting and sons, and Peter Bissonnette and his father-in-law, Wm. Pribbernow. They spent the year clearing land and building homes.

Some of these early families had their claims in the Phlox area in 1873 at the outlet of Moose Lake by a man named Mitchell or St. Mitchell.

In the next few years many more families came into the area: the Corbetts, Charles Pelier (or Van Pelier), Fred Shank, Fred Nonnenmacher, John Rothwell, Frank Meyers, Robinsons, Frank Koch, Boettcher, Waterman, Harris, Moss, Menting, and in Shawano County territory, Joe and John Miller. The Martin Miller family were the first to settle in the Shawano County side, and taking on all the homestead claims around what is now the Town of Almon.

Charles Walcau came to his father John, sometime in 1873, and he was lost in the forest for three days and was taken in by a friendly Indian. The Indian escorted him to John’s claim and then left.

In 1873 father John and mother Theresa Walcau had come to build a log cabin for their homestead.

Industry first started with the Samz sawmill. Then in 1883 a shingle mill was built by the Kirchmeyer Bros. and run by Fred Nonnenmacher. Also in 1883, George King built a dam in Phlox. A sawmill was built and then changed hands many times, among them being P. J. Davis and Fred Bina. Finally in 1917, it burned and was not rebuilt.

Another sawmill was built just across the road from the Samz mill in 1886 by Christ Pophal, who sold it to the C. & J. Bowler Co. It burned and was rebuilt in 1892 by the Bowler Co. who sold it to the Heil Bros. of Milwaukee. They sold it to the V. & W. Railroad. Another sawmill was built by an Olshewsky and was called the Olshewsky mill. After that it was sold to Haish Kaufman, a son-in-law of Dave Matteson came as a head sawyer, bought the mill site and eventually took over completely. During an argument Kaufman set the dam on fire and “burned it all down”, the old dam collapsed, destroying a hotel (1893-1894)? The mill burned another few years of operation by bankrupt Kaufman. The rebuilt the mill and operated it until it went bankrupt.

Mel A. Steakbauer of Antigo bought the mill for his son-in-law, Mal Hestad. They operated only a few years when it was again destroyed by fire in 1918. This was the end of the sawmill in Phlox.

Mel A. Steakbauer of Antigo bought the mill for his son-in-law, Mal Hestad. They operated only a few years when it was again destroyed by fire in 1918. This was the end of the sawmill in Phlox.

The Mitchell or St. Mitchell mill near Moose Lake at the outlet was also a water-power mill. In 1905 the mill was closed.

The Bank Brothers operated a steam-powered mill somewhere near the corner of Section 1 from 1905 - 1915.

In 1913 the phone lines came, the Citizens Telephone Co. at about the same time as the North Central States from Birnamwood to Antigo. As time progressed these lines were sold to bigger companies.

In 1887 to 1907, the logging operations took over the immediate area. White pine was cut, sold to Bowler Co. in Antigo. Logs were hauled to the Samz or Bowler mill. The Phlox mill hauled the lumber over an iced road to Mattoon, loading it on cars there. They used sleighs which were 6 ft. wide runners and 11 ft. 4 in. chunks. In order to haul logs to the mill that time for some roads went north - one as far as the Anton Kepes farm in Shawano Co., several Section 12, logs were brought to landings and reloaded on the wide sleighs to be taken the rest of the way to Phlox. These roads had to go across private property because they could not have a public road.

After a tornado struck the area in 1907, the Wisconsin Northern Railroad built a line from Shawn to Neopit. They extended a spur to a camp. The Bowler Co. built a spur from their siding near the Fred Chelf property. The lumber and other farm products were hauled by horse and loaded on cars.

As people began to need a closer shipping point, Koepenick station was built about 1913. A potato collection station was built by Newman on a corner. A blacksmith shop by Wm. Carban. A cheese factory was built, operated by Joe Smith, then by J. Smith, eventually sold to Paul Woyte. The building burned in 1927. Until the late 1930’s it was still in operation on Joe’s farm.

As the logging era ended, farming took over, but it wasn’t until 1927 that the farming area was well under way. Then the depression years hit from 1929 to 1934.

The last years were very lean because of the drought and competition from the Antigo Coop. The top part of the factory is now the house of David Leisner, having been moved there by his father.

The Phlox mill hauled the lumber over an iced road to Mattoon, loading it on cars there. They used sleighs which were 6 ft. wide runners and 11 ft. 4 in. hunks which was the limit. In order to haul logs to the mill that time for some roads went north - one as far as the Anton Kepes’ several Section 12, logs were brought to landings and reloaded on the wide sleighs to be taken the rest of the way to Phlox. These roads had to go across private property because they could not have a public road.

After a tornado struck the area in 1907, the Wisconsin Northern Railroad built a line from Shawn to Neopit. They extended a spur from a camp near Shawano Co. The Bowler Co. built a spur from their siding near the Fred Chelf property. The lumber and other farm products were hauled with single or wagons to this spur and loaded on cars.

As time progressed, this became a busier shipping point. In 1913, the Koepenick station was built by the R. Connor Co. A potato collection station was built by Newman on a corner, a blacksmith shop built by Wm. Carban. A cheese factory was built, operated by Joe Smith, then by J. Smith, eventually sold to Paul Woyte, building burned in 1927.

Until the late 30’s, still was in operation on Joe’s farm.

As the logging era ended, farming took over, but it wasn’t until 1927 that the farming era was well under way. Then the depression years hit from 1929 to 1934.

The last years were very lean because of the drought and competition from the Antigo Coop Cheese Factory. The top part of the factory is now the house of David Leisner, having been moved there by his father.

On County B north of Valley Road was a factory constructed by John (Jack) Jeske. It was later operated by Ed Womaire. It was destroyed by fire (about 19??). This was probably built in the middle teens and burned in the mid 20’s.

Lake Chete Cheese factory was started by P. C. Frighthorn with Jensen as cheesemaker. It ran into financial problems and was taken over by a cheese board of local farmers. The Marathon Milk Producers Coop began about 1937. This place was used as a dwelling for some years, but was later torn down.

The last years were very lean because of the drought and competition from the Antigo Coop. The top part of the factory is now the house of David Leisner, having been moved there by his father.

The C & A Crestwood Road was a factory constructed by John (Jack) Jeske. It was later operated by E. Womaire. It was a factory constructed while being operated by Ed Womaire; it was destroyed by fire. This was probably built in the middle teens and burned in the mid 20’s.

On County B north of Valley Road, the Lake Chete Cheese Factory was started by P. C. Frighthorn with Jensen as cheesemaker in 1929. Factory was started by P. C. Frighthorn with Jensen as cheesemaker. It ran into financial problems, was taken over by the cheese board. In 1931 it was closed. The Marathon Milk Productions Coop began about 1937. This place was used as a dwelling for some years, but was later torn down.

On the south side of Section 12, the present owners of the property say the building was later taken down. The Maple Grove Milk Producers Co. used this building after leaving Lake Chete site. The building was later struck by lightning and burned in 1931.

The Mayking Cheese Factory was formed and built in 1917 with board of directors being John Parasnek, Anton Strohmeyer, Nick Donnelder, Frank Dobratz, Louis Stibbs. Cheesemaker was Henry Sachtler, succeeded by a Mr. Burns. In 1928 it was sold to Joe Eisner, run by Joe Eisner, then by Vern Halstead, succeeded by Walter Miller later owned by Paul M. The building was closed in 1941. This building was purchased by Ed Haen and turned into a farm building. The Marathon Milk Productions Coop began about 1937. This place was used as a dwelling for some years, but was later torn down.

On June 30, 1944, three districts combined into District 2, because these were the earliest in the Phlox area. Maple Grove Grove was the newest of the three. In 1965 the Town of Norwood bought the Red River School for a town hall. Although it is still by a barn now, it will be known of this town hall(?), though it is still by a barn. The Riverside School was closed in the 1930’s, Maple Grove School was located on County B and Maple Grove Road on the south side of Section 29.

During 1891, the Red River School was constructed on the 40 in Phlox in Section 26 on the north side of Highway 47. In 1894, the Red River School was again built in Section 26. This school was closed in 1948. The second school was in 1894. This school was closed in 1948.

One was run by Mally Robinson on his farm - at what is now the junction of County AA and S. The other was started by Bona Schisel on AA as it runs north and south between Greywood Road. Being located in a ravine it was known as “Hungry Hollow”.

The Town of Norwood has the distinction of having the oldest Christian church of the area, St. Joseph’s Congregation of Phlox. Members are preparing information on this so no more will be said here.

During the days when the mill was in full operation, Lutheran services were held in the Red River School with pastor … from Mattoon to conduct services. In 1911 the present church was built on the corner of Section 4. A small log church was built earlier, but was still known as the Red River Church, served by pastors from Aniwa and Mattoon. It is now known as St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

The Sanborn Methodist parish traces it’s connection to the organization in 1904, School across the Red River in Shawano County, then a building was built near the present site in 1905. The first pastor was the father of Rev. A. J. Buxton of Mattoon.

The Aniwa Methodist parish was formed and had a station at Phlox under the pastorate of Riverside from 1908 to 1912. The building at Phlox was built about 1909, dedicated in 1910, served by pastors from Antigo and Mattoon. In 1918, the old building was sold to the Catholic Congregation, who in 1922 moved it to the present site, added a basement, tower, and named it St. Boniface, later changed to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The building was remodeled in 1958, the front removed and replaced, the building was raised in 1974 and a new basement put in. The Catholic Congregation was begun in 1914, Mass was said in the store building, the rectory was built in 1922. The congregation is known as St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

The village general store was built by John Jansen and operated by him and Dr. Moses. In 1902, it was later rented to other operators and John Jansen, Dr. Moses, ?. It was later rented George Guertz. Arnold Menting had a stand, Wm. Guetz, and others. On July 4, 1925, this store burned. Also burning at this time was a saloon where the Red River Bar is today and the home of Frank Falk.

A little further east from the present store and about the same time as the store, John Staten built a large house. This building was later purchased by Jake Becker who, with Wm. Matteson, used it for a hotel (Hotel Antigo). Eventually it was abandoned, Tony and Ida Keyzer purchased it in 1947, sold it to Tchernish in 1950, who eventually tore it down.

The Old Mill Tavern property was originally owned by Joseph St. Louis, purchased in 1902 by M. M. Love, who in 1907 sold it to Matt Lawe, and eventually about 1915 by John Bowler, then again purchased by Jake Becker, then by Ed Roth in 1936, who turned it back into a tavern. The building burned in 1961 and was replaced by the present building.

St. Louis in 1902, purchased by M. M. Love, 1907 by Lawe, about 1915 by Bowler, again purchased by Jake Becker in ? turned it back to a store, then purchased by Ed Roth in 1936 who turned it back into a tavern. In 1961, the building burned, replaced by present building.

Dr. Moses practiced in the area. Although he was blind, he gained quite a reputation in his profession and people came from great distances to see him.

People in the 30’s suffered a great deal because of the drought and depression. In 1934, this was a plague of grasshoppers that consumed what little crop we did grow. A Farmers station was set up in the Koepenick area to supply farm suppieson for the grasshoppers. Farmers were given feed grants to be worked off later, mostly in road work. One bright spot is the dance hall, and eventually Town Hall, built by W.P.A. workers and farmers working off feed tokens.

In 1936 the town decided to buy a four wheel drive truck equipped with plow and eventually took over completely. During the war men returned, etc. The county joined the roads about 1940. The first plow was a used 4 wheel drive truck. The first plow was a used 4 wheel drive. In 1942, the second 4 x 4 was purchased. In 1948, the third 4 x 4 was purchased. In 1961, a Reo 6 x 6 was purchased. Then 1971 a motor patrol grader was purchased. We have had the same county highways since.

The Fire Department was started in 1947 and makes wreaths and Christmas decorations.

Another cheese factory was started in 1902 or 1903 in the corner near the corner of Section ?. Owned by Marie (Mrs. Ralph Hilger) and sons.

Since the depression years ended, men returned from the war and the roads were built, more land cleared. The first snowplow was purchased by the town in 1929. The Fire Department was started in 1947, the present Chief of the Fire Department is Norbert Waldvogel. Other officers are Ray Braun, Marvin Duehrow, Jim Seichert.

At another special meeting on June 27, 1977, the voters decided to build a new town hall and fire station, 80 ft. by 50 ft. The 1975 open house on the new building, the 1978 opening Memorial Day.

The main sources for this article were “The Story of the Phlox Area” as told by Wm. Bissonnette, Charles McMillan, The 1913 Atlas of Langlade County by George Geible and Co.; which Cheese Factory?, Bernice Ver Haagh (Sanborn County?), and Tim Clapps, Town Clerk.

Richard Labus
April 1978