Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-25
CHANGES In THIRTY YEARS

Former Inhabitant Tells Many
Changes in City From Then
Till Now.
William Sexton, of Northport, came
to the city for the first time in thirty
years, Saturday evening, to visit with
his son, local editor of the REPORTER,
and to renew old acquaintances here.
Mr.. Sexton was here thirty years ago,
and at that time was in a harness
shop with Mr.. Lord near Spafford and
Coles. Mr.. Lord is now r. F. D.
carrier from the city.
Before entering the harness shop at
that time, Mr.. Sexton was raftsman
on the river, plotting the RATS of
lumber down to the Mississippi. At
that time, he said, the river was
nearly always full of lumber RATS
below the bridge clear to the island,
during the summer, and the city of
Grand Rapids was but numbering
town of about 400 people. Centralia,
or the west side was better known as
French Town at that time, and con-
sisted of only a few houses near the
bridge and Cranberry street, the rest
of the city, where the Dixon and
Anderson hotels, the Furniture, Hub
and Spoke factories and the saw mills
stand, being woods then.
Among the old residents of the
present day who were here at that
time, and with whom the visitor
renewed acquaintances this week for
the first time in thirty years, are Dave
Kammeron, John Garrihee, James
Walsh, Dan CASTILLO and L. Kroner.
Most of these were river men at that
time, and all worked together, taking
lumber over Grand Chute, now
obliterated by the dam. In recalling
old times, it was remembered that
what is now High street, or East
Side Third street, was then
known as Quality Row, from the
fact that the best homes at that time
were located on that street. One of
the best homes that was in exiStance
at that time on!the ''Row" is standing
now, and is almost the smallest
house on the street. At that time,
the Grace House, as 1t was known,
was considered very fashionable
place to board. 1t is the one occupied
by Henry Halverson.
In recalling further incidents, it
was remembered that there was a
strong rivalry between the inha-
bitants of CentralIa and those Of the
present east side. Whenever man
from one side of the river would
venture across to the other side, he
was sure to be engaged in fight if
seen. So strong did this rivalry
become at one time, that whenever
one had to cross the river, he usually
had number of friends 60 with him
as a body guard. Center street was
at that time but wagon track leading
to livery stable; the Rablin house
stood where the Scott library is now
located: the Roach house was at the
site of the Arpin homes; and Grand
Chute, then considered one Of the
prettieSt rapids on the river and at
the same time the most difficult to
take lumber through, was un-
obstructed by a dam; thesriver was at
higher stage, ordinarily; it was
not fenced in by line of big business
buildings; the bridge was wooden
affair; and the city was smaller
than it is now, and there were, of
course, no such fine homes, churches,
and .public buildings as there are
now.
''The growth of the city is Such,' %
said Mr.. Sexton, THAT l would not
have known where was, had l been
set down here and asked. There are
none of the old land marks standing.
There are streets where of old it was
all commons, and residence after
|
dreamed of then, stand where all was
a wilderness. In the stead of the old,
Insignificant, rough little numbering
town of few people, l find a big,
healthy, thriving city Of six thousand
people, half a dozen factories and
mills, any one of which is worth
more than all such institutions at
that time. l saw the high school, the
several churches, most of the best
residences, all of the best business
blocks; walked along the best streets
never, in all my experience, was l sc
struck with the growth and develop
ment of city as with this. The devel
lopment is almost unbelievable. was
not visiting the city l knew of old
but a totally new one, infinitely
better and one that will compare
favorably with any of even more thar
its size in the state"