Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1925-03-05
EXIT LIVERY
IN BARABOO
Luce and Holsapple
Barns Sold F n
Store and Milk De-
pot

A recent issue of the Capital
Times, Madison, contained an ar
ticle on the passing of the livery
by Mrs. Paul l.. Miller, wife of DR..
Miller, Baraboo. Her former home
was at Ironton and her name be
fore her marriage was Miss Mary
Byrne The article is well writ
ten and reads as follows:
This week the curtain, falls
and the light go out in the last re.
manning livery stables in this city
and in Sank county, with the ex-
ception of the Croal barn at Reeds
burg. There is a certain pathos
about "Sherm" Luce and BILL"
Holsapple, veteran expert horse
men, widely known throughout the
state, who remained in the game
to the finish. Arthur Wilkinson,
who owned a large and splendidly
equipped stable for many years saw
with remarkable vision the hand
writing on the wall and closed out
while the going was good. He
still smiles as he drives a pair of
high stepping bays past the Buick
garage where he held forth when
the horse was king.
1t would have been a bold prog
nOsticator, indeed, who would have
foretold two decades ago, that a
day would come when garage, a
secondhand store and milk depot
would usuTp the home of the horse.
In those days spanking teams pral,-
ced in and out their portals day
and night. Dozens of hostlers fed,
watered, curried and petted their
charges, oiled and rubbed their
harnesses, washed and creased car
riages. A coach dog was an indis-
pensable adjunct and no valuable
robes were purloined while he was
on duty.
The office filled orders with the
precision of a train dispatcher. Sea-
sOned teams and special drivers
were apportioned to the long, hard
drives, grinds often 100 miles in
length. Temperamental snowy
pairs were reserved for shorter
trips and for men "who knew a
good horse when they saw one !"
small, wiry specimens could stand
an almost unbelievable strain and
come in in good condition. There
was invariably sensitive tender
mouthed nag who would run at the
drop of a hat. There were the
hacks a woman could drive and
they paid the penalty by being sent
out nights because they were safe.
The real aristocrats were the big
blacks who hauled the majestic
hearse with it's waving. plumes and
the boarders that only went out to
exercise and on Sundays.
Pride of Liveryman
The liyeryman was proud of his
horses and their devotion to their
home was without a parallel in the
animal world No matter how dis
tant or how jaded a team might be
when their heads were turned to-
ward the city, there was a joyous
Whitney and they seemed to call
upon a reserve battery of speed
that carried them to their own
doors.
Hambletonians were the ideal
livery horses and hundreds of that
breed gave their best years to the
service in this section, They were
traetable and courageous with great
powers of endurance They waded
the deep SAND to Kilbourn, toiled
through the heavy sticky clay to
Merrimack and the Baraboo Bluffs
and plunged through the spring
breakups through the treacherous
sink-holes in the Sank road, now
highway, No. H.
But the liYeryman's work was not
always arduous. There were glori
Gus, summer and autumn mornings
when holding the reins overAa well
matched, well-groomed, smooth
gated team, responsive to the
slightest word, was thrill indeed
He formed many true friendships
especially among the regular sales
men who were gilt-edge customers
as well as. pleasant companions
with funds of stories and anecdotes
Then there was a real kick in tax
ing his best girl buggy riding. whel
he had to control a pair, 'rarin Il
go9l STEADY boy, steady with on,
hand, and help her to reach TIL,
step with the other.
Gould Judge Men,
Experience made him a rare judg,
of human nature. An indefnabl
sixthsenses warned him when a maj
brutal to horses, asked for a team
You must take a driver was TIL
instant edict, from which there wa
no appeal. He was equally quicl
to assist in distress or emergencie