Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1919-10-16
KILBOURN-
GRANDRAPIDS
HIGHWAY
Sixty-five Automobiles Loaded with
Grand Rapids Boosters Picnic
at Brimmer Farm.

Sunday, October 18th, was the day
selected by the Grand Rapids business
men to meet with like delegation
fromKilbourn, Baraboo and the farm
ers residing along the highway be-
tween Nekoosa and Kilbourn. The
day was clear but a strong north
west wind was blowing which made
the trip for the Grand Rapids people
rather chilly one for driving dis
tance of forty-seven miles.
Such weather conditions don't re-
tard the ardor of Grand Rapids boost
ers when they determine to accom-
plish a good purpose. From Grand
Rapids, Port Edwards and Nekoosa
about siXty-five automobiles with an
average of five persons to a car as
sembled at the Brimmer farm and
there met about thirty five auto
mobiles loaded with boosters from
Kilbourn and Baraboo and vicinity.
Jointly they enjoyed a picnic dinner
on the east shore of the Wisconsin
river in a grove suitable for picnic
purposes. An informal picnic lunch
was enjoyed during which the Grand
Rapids band furnished several of their
choice selections of music. At the
close of the lunch, T. A. Taylor, off
ciated as chairman, who took the op-
portunity of explaining the object and
purpose of the meeting after which
he called upon the following speakers,
who talked upon the feasibility and
advantages to be obtained by the i'm
provement and construction of suit
able highway connecting the cities of
Baraboo, Kilbourn, Holmesville, Ne
koosa, Port Edwards and Grand Rap
ids following along the Wisconsin
river; H. E. Van Dyke of Kilbourn, o.
K. Roenius of Grand Rapids, R. E.
Walker of Plainville, J. G. Chase, a
farmer, land L. II. Hill Of Baraboo. At
the close of the speaking the follow
ing committee was appointed to form
a suitable organization for the purpose
of pushing the work of highway cor
struction along the east bank of the
Wisconsin river between the cities "a
bove mentioned: T. A. Taylor, Presi-
dent; Harry Fitch, Nekoosa, secretary;
L. H. Hill, Baraboo; John Zentner,
White Creek; R. C. Walker Plainville,
II. c. Hockerman, Holmesville, and Viii
liam Wiggert, Quincy
Many Of the people who took part in
the picnic on this day made this drive
for the first time. Those who did, real
ize the possibility of the scenic beauty
along the Wisconsin river on this high
way. In many places the roadway is
very near.,the river bank and III many
other places a view of the river could
be obtained by those owning the land
between the road and the river by
trimming out some of the under brush
and trees. A portion of this highway
south of Nekoosa is III pretty good con-
dition at the present time, but the con-
dition of the highway between Holm
esville and the Brimmer farm where
the picnic was held was in very poor
condition and needs great deal Of
Improvement Kilbourn being sum-
mer resort, on account of the Wiscon-
sin Dells, and the beauties along the
Wisconsin River it's entire length
would make the travel from Kilbourn
to the Northern Lakes greatly sought
after, if this highway was improved
so that the travel would not be attend
ed with so many difficulties as it is at