The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-02-12
THE EARLY BRIDGE PIERS OF
KENOSHA AND THE ONCE.
GREAT WHEAT MARKET.

Kenosha county, as well as all the
southeastern portion Of Wisconsin,
west to Rock river, began to be de-
veloped as early as 1910 as a territory
adapted to wheat growing. Although
the price of wheat ranged low for
number of years, it was about the only
farm crop which farmers relied upon
to realize money. Southport, after
ward Kenosha, was the chief point de.
pended upon for market. The con-
veniences for. shipping at this place
were limited; there was no .harbor
and no wharfs to which vessels could
approach. Steamers and sail vessels
usually anchored about thirty rods off
shore, tina. being about as near as it
was deemed safe for them to come.
Wheat was put on board " lighters a
kind of a row-boat capable of carrying
several tons, and used in early times
In carrying freight and passengers to
and from steamers and vessels. This
was found to be laborious way Of
loading vessels with grain.
The question has been frequently
asked, who originated the first bridge
pier ESQ called on the great western
lakes? Opinions are divided between
Roswell G. Otis and b. P. Cahoon, both
early and active residents in this place.
The project of building bridge pier
OH piles, extending from thirty to forty
rods into the lake, was declared by
steamboat captains and vessel men
could not be made o success; it was
believed the accumulation of ice on
the piles in winter would be certain to
wreck any structure of this sort. Otis
and Cahoon, however, had given the
matter thorough study, and resolved
to push the enterprise. The work Of
building substantial dock as start.
ing point on the shore was begun in
April, 1S41, Mr.. Cahoon taking charge
Ct the work. To encourage the enter.
prise the citizens Of the place had a
general turnout to work on the shore
dock one day. In due time large
pile driver was constructed, and the
first pile driven August 8, 1S41, in the
presence of large number of specta-
tors. From that time forward the
work went steadily on, but operations
were suspended during the following
winter, and in the spring of 1912 ths
firm of Hu tchinson, Wheeler & Peters
leased the pier and war ehouse connect
ed with it, ard extended the pier into
the lake, making it over so rods
in length, where the water was of suffi-
Gent depth to admit large steamers
and vessels to come alongside. The
pier was not ready for use until 1s4S,
when it was found to fully meet tho
expectations for which it was built.
The most important fact must not
be forgotten, that this was the first
pier of the kind ever constructed on
the chain of lakes. Its success having
now been tested, the example was
followed by many other towns on the
lakes where no hal0ors had been con-
structed. The bridge piers furnished
great facilities for the conyenienees OF
steamers and vessels, but provided no
refuge of safety for any kind of craft
on the lakes.
The first pier having been so salts
factory. q second pier and warehouse
was built by Jared Lake in 1913, ten
or fifteen rods north Of the first one.
This warehouse and pier was leased to
John Fl. Nichols and Serene Fisk.
And there being demand for still
further shipping facilities, third
warehouse and pier was built by David
Blish and Charles M. Reed. of Erie, Pa,
in 1874. This was south of the first, |
and known as the South pier. Some
idea may be gained of the magnitude Of |
the wheat product in the southern
counties IN Wisconsin when it Is stated |