Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-06-14

Dutch Hollow mines at an early udLe
He was a large man, powerfully built
1t was related that at one time he
needed a cook stove and not being sat
isfied with the price OF stoves III Po-
tosi, took his wheel barrow and went
to Dubuque to buy one. Having made
a satisfactory purchase he loaded the
stove onto his barrow and proceeded
homeWard. When a few miles from
Dubuque his wheelbarrOW broke and
became useless. Peter Joe, as he was
called, shouIdered the stove and with
a few minor utensils, continued his
tramp to Specht's Ferry and crossed
to the Wisconsin shore. Old Captain
John Specht did not charge him fare
saving that a man who could carry
cook stove that far on his back, was
deserving of free transportation on the
ferry. Peter Joe again lifted the stove
to his shoulder and started on home,
arriving at his cabin in Dutch Hollow
none the worse for wear. He died a
number of years ago leaving family
OF sturdy sons and daughters.
In 1852 the town board o. super
visors of Potosi composed of Orsam-
us Cole, Joseph Palliser and Jonathan
Craig ordered an arch stone bridge to
be built across the hollow south Of the
church to replace wooden structure
then spanning the hollow. A stream
of water then cOursed down the hol-
low. 1t was from this hollow that
Dutch Hollow derived its name. An
ton Rupp and Herbert Blindert re-
ceiVed the contract to construct the
stone bridge. They showed marked
tJ,0 concentration &c do
manifest by the fact that the old stone
bridge with seventy years usage is yet
in first-class shape and is good for
seventy years more. 1t can be said
that this bridge has not cost the tax
payers $50 for repair,
In about the year 1854 a school dis
trict was organized in the town of PO-
tosi that became known as district 3.
A small stone building was built for
public school purposes and stood
across the hollow near the stone
bridge. A man by the name of Smith
so | have been told, first taught in the
school. He was succeeded by John
Carlos, an Irishman, who came to the
territory at an early date. He had
fair common education and served
several terms as a justice Of the peace
in the township There were other
oId-timers who taught this school,
among them being Miss Lizzie DOlan,
Frank and Nicholas Liebfried, Miss
Minnie Grogan and, think, John A.
Neaville The old building was occu
pied for school purposes until 1902
when it was torn down and nice
and modern two-story frame building
was erected on the lot. There are
men and women yet living at an ad-
vanced age in this community who
attended the little Rock school and
who can relate many incidents that
occurred in Dutch Hollow in the days
Of long ago.
Dutch Hollow, in its palmiest days,
contained five saloons, all doing big
business, and many good Old-time
fights were INDUCED in. One saloon
in particular stood upon the rise after
the stone bridge was crossed. 1t had
much nOtOriety as a rough house. SO
many fights in and outside of this
saloon resulting in broken and bloody
heads that the hill gained the name
Of Bunker Hill" and is yet known by
that apDellatiOn. This was not the
only saloon where fighting occurred,
all the others had their rounds. Sun
days were the busiest days and every
thing was wide open the same as in
the other mining camps. Law and
order were not adhered to.
Among other old settlers here were
Francis Longmeier, Anton and Peter
]. Schiffman. Herman Schaefer, Cas-
per, Peter and Charles Linden, John
Longenbaum, John Geiger and Frank
81, ia man a1 followed min
ing but later on some pursued farm
ing.
In early days the feast OF Corpus
Christi, a Catholic holiday, occurring
in the month of June, was annually
observed with appropriate ceremonies
by the people of st. Andrews church
with many from st. Thomas church
ioining The day always drew i'm
mense crowds from the surrounding
country. Four stations, beautifully
decorated with flowers and evergreens
and Catholic emblems and each con-
tanning an altar, were erected along
the route Of march. Following q high
mass at the church, people formed in
line and in prayer marched to the first
station which was located near the
residence Of Anton Rupp. Here was
the priest beneath canopy carried by
four men. conducting brief services
people kneeling in prayer. The priest
and mass servers, with the choir were
preceded by about one-half of the wor-
shippers, the remainder following in
the rear At the conclusion of the
services guns were fired by squad as
signal to move on to the next station
which was near the house of Joseph
Longkamp, now Haser's, the people
moving on, chanting in prayer. Here
the same service was held as at the
first station. The people were again
signalled to move on to the next sta
tion which was near the house of John
Rupp. The same service was held
there and again the signal was given
to move to the fourth, or last station.
which was located between the houses
of John Holl and Anton Hopper. Fol
lowing the service here the people re-
turned to the church and disbanded.