Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-10-26
WATERFOWL.
PAST AND PRESENT.
from the Oconomowoc Times.7

| AS < Il M IL
From the Oconomowoc Times.
Most people, however much they may
have wandered, have a lasting attachmen
to scenes of 5earier years. Recollection
aud Associations of other and by go1e dags
impressions formed and attachments made
n the heyday Of yoath, when lie is flied
with hope, and made bright by anticipation
keep memory green, as age creeps on, o
native heath and leather dell and stream
| and bring many an earnest wish to pass tia
declinirg years af life upon the stamping
ground OF youth.
II in your absence city has sprung up
nearly new generation on the stage and
in active lie, you still may locate the old
play ground the bills are still there, the
bend in the river is the same, the points OF
| the compass come right; the scene 10 fanl-
| lar, and though yoa look in disappoint-
ment for some face "familiar," a feeling OF
| satisfaction and security is at hand that at
| fords assurance, you're AT HOME Soon an
''old settler greets you; is glad to see you
you are WELCOME, Hospitalities are extern
| ded and you go back TO the days ''when
the country was new" The years have
! flown on, friends have grown old, times
have changed and ''the country's different !
| but true hearts are still warm and grow
| young again in the interchange of please nj
| friendship. The remembrance OF old times
and love of old familiar faces carry us
back to those sunny spots of life, and earth
holds some such locality for every one.
In the bosom Of the valley of Rock
River, at the junction OF the Milwaukee Il
ST. Paul. and Chicago & Northwestern
Railway, located upon one Of the best wat
er- powers within the course Of the stream,
from which the valley takes its name, sur
rounded oJ as good country as !'ere the
sun shone on )" extensively engaged in
prosperous trade stiil,oHering inducements
and attractions to the immigrant, and Of
fording hospitality and good cheer for san
honest pioneer, we fad our station, and
write it WATERFOWL.
Twenty-Five years ago we made the trip
from Milwaukee to Watertown in three days
and took for quarters the "soft side Of
plank" opposite the Exchange. There
were three places Of s'entertainmen t for
man and beast" five grocery Stores faro
bank, two bail alleys, band OF horse
thieves, gang Of couEterfeiters one school
house, two churches, three kenos one ''ti-
ger, square poker on every corner, a race
track at each end Of the burgh, mud knee
deep and pure whiskey there ct that time
2 knowledge of the Indian tongue was es-
seutial to much progress, and our best bar
ter was IN buying furs.
Main Street terminated where Coles
block now stands. From there south, to-
ward the depot, east 80 Ri chards MIL, aud
north to Lsbarees bridge, was wild wild
~ 81 2. ~
and Linus Il. Cady- owned the pr operty Of
tue east SIDE; the Rosan5 pre-enlpted, own
cd aud improved the site west of the river
the American House Was being built st
Bern ards yhurch was enclosed Dr. T.
johnson place affor led small stock OF
drugs; II. j. Gallagher was open to .Iade;
Patrick Rogan had finished bis store. now
occupied by John Maloy y Bro, Jones &
Jackson 'stocAed the corner" and we
struck for bargaius among s'the openings"
There was high life below stairs, about
those days. A most conglomeration of ia
habiiaais. "Boys fEom Tipperary, be dad :"
s'nix fur stay, from tatherIand Bro
ther Johnashan playing sluash with bass
wood lumber, At "a per H.. aud hesn0h4h
aqua, cisco Sc0p, ket-a- aoau boo Kesetns,
good Josh, Joe Besley, high yah, from
SILVER Greek TO Boomers dam. The count
ry " as little better .han wilderness, the
condition Of society well nigh savage.
St;iuding to-day amid the busy hum and
industry Of 5000 people, oeho.ding the
spires and domes tina, rise from earth IN
multiplicity, pointing Ieavenward in &C
acknowledgements OF our Great Creator
stacks and chimneys from mill and work
shop. crOwding the vision, and lis tauing to
he crash OF press, loom and anvil, IS We
gaze in profound admiration upon sur
roundings ofmucb beauty and maguIticence,
we have furnishe.1 practical lesson III CIV
iiiZation and advanc ment. Another day
and generation Is at hand. All Is swallow
ed up n the onward progress OF the age,
and though there be some who find oppor-
tunity Gully for complaints, and are little
better than an incubus, their walings are
drowned in the seeJhiDg roar OF a current
tut.t Knows no aluderance. bat cuts alike
through rock and l.s.ness, IN its irresistible
cuur.e OF achievement, and v0uilJS the de-
oTia OF humanity upon Jhe nigh seas Of in
dOleNce "a giving place TO creature thai
may accomplish It's ends
Di this progress We element WatertoWu
pas L goodly share. Ii It's growth has been
less rapid III Latter years thaa formerly, it
all Tie more permanent and will prove
the more lasting Loca.ed as il IS in The
centre Of. lich and fiourishlng agr cultural
regloE, possessing rare educational tacli
ties, uuequaied il railroad communication,
having q fair manufacturing interest, enjoy
snE pOputaIloa alike notea Tor enterprise
ana accomplishments, and atforlIng abund-
am means loI increased facilities in these
several directions, its future can be but pros
porous. as rs cup is flied with promise.
Looking back through the vista Of inter
yening years, slucesfrst we oeheId its light,
auo contrasting its present magnitude,
wealth, prosperity and power, with It's then
narrow limits impediments, poverty aud
weakness, we fail TO find evidence of idle
hands, but on The contrary, the most conYin-
cling testimony that here ss elsewhere
the world moves