DuBay Online Keeping Residents Informed
OCTOBER 2020 Vol. 1, Issue 1
FEATURED THIS ISSUE New Website Launch Knowlton Bridge Landscaping Vignettes Charcuterie Boards
Knowlton Bridge Photo by Sue Zimmerman
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CONTENTS October 2020, Vol. 1, Issue 1
EVERY ISSUE
06 President’s Message & DBPOA Purpose
Thoughts from Sue Pohlkamp, DBPOA President.
07 DPBOA Board Members & News Bytes
Contact information for DBPOA Board Members & short news clips.
Photo by Gay Alinea.
FEATURES 11 DBPOA Website Redesign Bold new changes!
12 Knowlton Bridge
Kayaking in Door County
09 DuBay Water Levels
Current water level graph and explanation.
10 DBPOA Minutes
Current DBPOA Meeting Minutes
36 New Business Members
26 Landscaping Vignettes Creating interest for your yard
38 Charcuterie Boards Hot, new trend in Entertaining.
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DBPOA PURPOSE Photo by Sue Zimmerman
The DuBay Property Owners Association, Inc. (DBPOA) is organized under Chapter 181 of the Wisconsin Statutes, without stock and not for profit, with the established philosophy and purpose being: to support the long-term protection of the DuBay Flowage resources as a public trust. In accordance with this philosophy the organization supports the following: •
Maintaining of optimal water levels to assure continued superior recreation and maximum flood control.
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Promotion and protection of water quality.
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Protection of terrestrial and aquatic wildlife populations through proper management of each species and their habitat.
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Support of development that protects the water resource associated wildlife and aesthetic qualities of the DuBay Flowage.
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Minimizing conflicts between people and wildlife.
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Minimizing conflicts between recreational users.
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Mitigating existing and potential damage to the natural environment.
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Support of good land use planning as it relates to protection of the DuBay Flowage and associated resources.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE As many of you already know, due to COVID-19’s impact, the DBPOA Board canceled the 2020 Annual September meeting and picnic. Regulations were so stringent that it was extremely difficult to structure a pleasant event that would comply with regulatory social distancing and other requirements yet still function as a casino day, meeting time, buffet and general get-together. We hope that the COVID-19 situation will abate in the coming months so we can reinstate our regular schedule of DBPOA events in 2021: • April Annual Meeting • May Community Garage Sale • Fourth of July Boat Parade • August Scavenger Hunt • September Annual Picnic • October Highway 39 Cleanup Our 2020 annual Fourth of July Boat Parade and August Scavenger Hunt both went off without a hitch—other than a rain date for the Scavenger Hunt —and everyone who participated enjoyed a great time! Luckily, both events functioned quite well within the requirements of social distancing. We received a lot of excellent, positive feedback. Be assured that your Board, regardless of COVID-19, continues to strive to insure the sustained enjoyment and preservation of Lake DuBay for all its members and for community at large. We have some exciting changes coming up in 2020 as we launch a new, enhanced Website design, work on a business directory for our business members along with a new online magazine in addition to our regular mailed newsletter. Just a reminder: if you haven’t already paid your annual DBPOA dues, normally turned in at the April Annual Meeting, you can send them via the form listed on Page 4 of this newsletter or pay directly on our website. Please indicate any name/address changes. Thank you in advance for your financial support! Your dues help support our efforts to protect and improve Lake DuBay. If you have new neighbors, please feel free to invite them to join DBPOA. Let me know their contact information and I’ll be glad to include them in our next newsletter mailing. We are now 390 households with 845 members strong and growing steadily. Have a happy Fall season!
Sue Pohlkamp
DBPOA President Sue.pohlkampdesign@tds.net Dubay Online-Oct 2020
NEWS BYTES SEEKING VOLUNTEER TO CHAIR DBPOA OCTOBER HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP After many years of graciously and successfully managing Highway 34 Clean-Up Committee, Lori Zimmerman is retiring. The DBPOA Board is seeking a volunteer Chairperson to now head that position. This person sets the bi-annual dates for the May and October cleanup sessions, organizes volunteers the morning of the cleanup, distributes materials needed and delegates a highway section to each group. The Chairperson also reports to the Association at the DBPOA Annual Meeting. If you would like to help and volunteer for this chairperson position, please contact any DPBOA Board member. This is your chance to make a difference for your community. Your help is greatly appreciated. WISCONSIN RAPIDS VERSO CLOSURE AND DAM OPERATIONS Consolidated Water Power Company (CWPCo), a subsidiary of Verso, owns the dam that makes DuBay, and is responsible for its operation. Although the Verso paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids is closed at this time, CWPCo continues to operate as it always has. It is required, by its license with the FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) to operate the dam according to the parameters of its license. Therefore, there will be no changes in DuBay’s water levels, etc. due to events affecting the mill. CWPCo’s operations at DuBay supply power to not only the Rapids mill, but also to the public and to two additional mills. NEW DBPOA APPAREL VENDOR DBPOA has a wonderful new DBPOA apparel vendor, Mosinee-based, AE Designs, who offers a large choice of hats, sweat-shirts, t-shirts, bags and more with fantastic pricing. Best of all, when you purchase DBPOA apparel from AE Designs, DBPOA receives $5 from every item purchased to support our many efforts! AE Designs will be creating a special page for DPBOA apparel in a variety of styles, several colors, fabric choices and screen-printed or embroidered logo in any color you choose with the logo placed just about anywhere you would like on the garment! The page should be operational by the middle of October 2020. We will publish a link to the page on our website and Facebook page as soon as it is completed. You can visit AE Designs at 301 Novak Street, Mosinee, WI, 715-693-0765, or check out their website at AECentralWI.com. (News Bytes continued page 8) Page 7
DBPOA BOARD CONTACT LIST 2020-21 DBPOA BOARD MEMBERS (Zone listed in Parenthesis) PRESIDENT Sue Pohlkamp (21) (715) 457-2042 sue.pohlkampdesign@tds.net VICE PRESIDENT Art Steines (21) (715) 321-1827 elainesteines@yahoo.com SECRETARY/TREASURER Tammy Smith/Russ Hessler (21) (715) 321-1827 tamara.k.hessler@gmail.com OTHER BOARD MEMBERS Sue Zimmerman (20) (715) 457-2441 szimmie@tds.net Gay Alinea (20) (715) 570-7898 alinea2417@gmail.com Jerry Corgiat (21) (715) 457-2116 jcorgiat@tds.net Fred Hebert (21) (715) 457-6395 fnchebert@gmail.com Gary Jurgella (22) (715) 321-0767 gljkaj@gmail.com Meghan Busa (22) (608) 886-3376 meg@millcreekacres.info RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS Please encourage your friends and neighbors to join DBPOA and help us protect Lake DuBay’s future. Together, we can all provide input and energy towards maintaining Lake DuBay's pristine environment and property values while interacting with similarly minded people. You do not have to live in Lake DuBay to be a DBPOA member. Dubay Online-Oct 2020
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NEWS BYTES
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HOW HIGH IS THE WATER LEVEL? If you want to know the height of the water level (measured at the dam), you can find out by going online to CWPCO.com. Select “Wis. River” in the left column on the home page. Select “Daily River Report,” which pulls up a page where you can request the date for which you want information. It defaults to today’s date unless you select a different date. Select “Retrieve Data” and a new page will pop up with a grid showing the lakes in CWPco’s jurisdiction including DuBay. This page shows the current day’s level (in feet above sea level) and flow as CFS (cubic feet per second) for each of the lakes. DBPOA publishes the legal limits for DuBay in feet above sea level in every newsletter so you can compare current levels with the regulatory limit levels. NEW SEA GRANT PODCAST The University of Wisconsin has released another great podcast series Sea Grant Institute that may interest you! “Introduced” is devoted to aquatic invasive species (AIS). Its tagline is “aquatic invaders and stories from our changing waters.” The series includes seven episodes; released each week beginning May 27. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and Sea Grant’s website: https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/audio/
Topics range from Asian carp to the trade in invasive species on the Internet. A second season of the “Introduced” podcast is anticipated, so stay tuned! Page 8
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DUBAY WATER LEVEL GRAPH & EXPLANATION
The height of the water on DuBay is regulated by the FERC license and is measured in feet above sea level. The chart below shows the variation in the level of the water on Lake DuBay. The heavy black line at the top in the grid represents the highest the water level can be during the corresponding dates. The dotted line between the top- & bottom-heavy lines indicates the preferred usual draw-down and refill of the flowage. The highest the water can be March 15 to June 15th is 1116.20, as measured at the dam. This allows for spring rains and run off. The highest the water can be June 16 to February 14, is 1115.20, or one foot lower than the spring runoff maximum. The lowest the water can be is 1109.20. This can only occur from February 1 to May 1. This low level is the draw down which allows for collection of spring runoff and snow melt and provides flood prevention. The lowest the water can be May 1 to January 31, is 1113.70. If you are building a dock, repairing shoreline or doing any work that requires knowing the current water level, call the dam monitoring staff at 715-422-3303 and ask for the DuBay water height.
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DBPOA Meeting Minutes August 19th, 2020, 5:00 pm Via Teleconference
Board Members present: Russ Hessler, Tammy Smith, Sue Pohlkamp, Sue Zimmerman, Fred Hebert, Gary Jurgella, Art Steines. Non-Board members present: Mary Sulzer, Ruth Faivre DISCUSSION • Discussion on whether to cancel the scheduled Annual Meeting/Picnic that was planned for September 12th for reasons related to COVID-19. It was mentioned that we really cannot meet the guidelines regarding the serving of food, as the provided food would be buffet style; and, depending on the number of members attending, we would have a hard time keeping to the six-foot social distancing rule when playing the casino games. After much discussion, a motion was made by Fred to cancel this event for this year, seconded by Art. Five Board members were in favor and one was opposed to this decision. The motion was passed by majority vote. • We will need to complete and mail out the August DBOA newsletter as soon as we can to inform the members of this cancellation: Mary is working on one more ad and will need a few more items before she can wrap up the August newsletter. Sue P. will provide the President’s Message to Mary. Tammy will get today’s meeting minutes out to the Board for approval and then to Mary so they can also be included in the August newsletter. We will plan for an end of August newsletter and then an October newsletter yet for 2020. • • •
The Scavenger Hunt is still on for Saturday, August 22nd. We are planning for up to 12 boats to participate. Boats are to pull up to the docks at Bar-B’s Sunset Bay Grill for the 1:00 pm start time and the packets will be brought to each boat. Regarding the Verso (Consolidated Water Power Company) closing, nothing changes with the licensing for water levels with the DuBay dam. Sue P. will provide a write-up on this to Mary for the August newsletter.
NEW BUSINESS: • Ruth Faivre was introduced to the Board. She is a DBPOA member and is helping us administer our current www.dubaypoa.com website and Facebook page. She has done some research on our website and provided valuable feedback to make some changes to move to an updated application for our web hosting. She spent some time creating a new website for us on wix.com. She will send the Board a link for us to see what the new website would look like and we will review and discuss it at our next scheduled Board meeting. The new wix.com site has an updated interface for administering it, is user friendly and is more appealing than our current HTML-managed hosted website. There is a monthly cost for wix.com that would replace our current yearly web hosting cost. The monthly cost would need to be paid via a credit card. Russ will work with US Bank to see if we are eligible to get a Business Credit Card if we decide to move to this new website. • Sue Z. mentioned that we are looking for a new leader to take over the DBPOA Hwy. 34 Cleanup twice a year event. Sue P. will write something up so Mary can include this in the August newsletter. Additionally, Russ will email various members who have indicated that they are interested in getting involved to see if any of those members are interested in taking it over. Art brought up the topic of how we get more members interested in joining the Association. We have relied on word of mouth or we have had new members join when there is an event impacting the lake, but we are not seeing as many new members compared to those who actually enjoy and use the lake. It was suggested to form a Recruitment Committee to focus on getting new members. Fred said he would lead this committee and Ruth said she would be interested in helping. • Sue P. will add the Recruitment Committee, Board Member Slate and the wix.com website to the Agenda for our next meeting. • Our next Board meeting will be Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 at 500 p.m. We will revisit this the week prior, but most likely this will be a tele-conference meeting.
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Board meeting adjourned at 6:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Tammy Smith
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DBPOA New Website Design Optimizes Your Viewing Experience!
The DuBay Property Owners Association (DBPOA) is thrilled to announce it has rebranded its website, www.dbpoa.com , to add more viewing excitement, increase our traffic to the site, provide a greater amount of information and improve your overall experience.
We are still working on the website business transaction functions behind the scenes but will be launching the new site shortly and will inform you when it is available but as you can see from the partial cover photo above, it will definitely be a complete change.
By moving the website to an updated web host, we now have a better interface to interact with our members and to handle membership applications and donations.
When we do launch the new website, we welcome your input and thoughts regarding the new design and its functions. Please contact any board member listed on Page 7 of this issue.
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The Knowlton Bridge Spanning the Decades
Photo by Sue Zimmerman Page 12
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Photo by Ruth Faivre
In the early days of Wisconsin’s history, lumber and other goods were rafted down the Wisconsin River regularly from 1841 to 1882.
The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad reached Wausau from the south in 1874. By the 1890s, railroads had largely taken over the transportation formerly done by water. The railroad drove expansion throughout Wisconsin during this time. The growth and prosperity of your community often hinged on whether the railroad laid their tracks and built a depot in your town. A good example of that was Kroghville and London, WI, two communities about eight miles apart. Both were thriving communities in the 1800s and both advocated for the railroad depot to be built in their town. London won and consequently, 80% of the residents of Kroghville, moved their homes (log cabins back then were small and easily dismantled or moved on a wagon), to London, decimating Kroghville and turning it into a ghost town. So, when the area now known as Knowlton and Dancy first developed, it meant the world to them to have a railroad come through their area. Dancy landed the depot/terminal location, and constructed a water tank for refilling steam engine boiler water, a steam engine pump house to fill the tank, a windmill to pump water on breezy days and large cinder pits for dumping engine fire boxes.
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Right: DBPOA Board member, Sue Zimmerman took this 80’s photo, showing Knowlton’s dual bridge for railroad and vehicular traffic. Looking north, it reveals the old pea cannery in the upper far right corner. Above: The view down the tracks and through the bridge to Myer’s Landing on a bright Fall October day Below: 1999 Western Central Railroad calendar showcasing the Knowlton bridge.
Photo by Bruce Oldenberg
Photo Courtesy of Marathon County Historical Society
Leonhard Guenther, a member of the Marathon County Board and owner of the Knowlton House, built in 1854, which served fur traders, lumbermen, and travelers between Wausau and Stevens Point, worked diligently to bring the Wisconsin Valley Railroad to Wausau in 1874, despite the realization that it might contribute to a loss of business for the Knowlton House. The Knowlton House was destroyed in the 1940s prior to the flooding of Lake DuBay. The track ran from Junction City to Wausau and was built in the 1880's. The original Knowlton railroad truss bridge was erected across the Wisconsin River in 1894. Later, cantilevered beams supporting a 10-foot roadway were attached to this bridge to accommodate Highway 34, which was then a single lane. Above: Bruce Oldenberg, a railroad historian, industrial history photographer and model railroader shot this photo of a jet ski skimming across Lake Dubay as boxcars amble across the Knowlton Bridge in the back ground. Left: Since the construction of the first modern railway bridge in the 1820s, railway bridge engineering has evolved extensively. Bridges constructed before 2007 were expected to have a service life of 50 years. Today, at the federal level, the goal is to design a bridge deck with a service life of 100 years. This photo was provided by the Marathon County Historical Society.
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Automobile drivers had to be extra wary because often, a wayward log slid off a rail car gondola and onto or in front of an unsuspecting car. This bridge was closed in 1979. The new highway bridge and reconstructed railroad bridge was completed in 1981. Now owned by the Wisconsin Central (Canadian National [CN]) Railroad, the Knowlton bridge runs parallel to I-39 and the Wisconsin River through the town. Wisconsin Central is a Class I Railroad, which means it must be U.S.-based and have operating revenue (for 2010) exceeding $398.7 million. The railroad crosses over the Wisconsin River in the SW corner of Knowlton and connects with Mosinee, Wausau and Tomahawk to the north and Wisconsin Rapids south. Railroads have been an integral part of Wisconsin's transportation system since 1847, when the state's first freight service was introduced. Above: This pen & ink drawing by artist Sue Zimmerman, also co-founder of DBPOA, is a popular item with many area residents. Left: John Kulp, a railroad enthusiast and Town of Knowlton resident, shot this photo of a CN train coming through the Knowlton Bridge, heading north on a foggy morning. Page 15 (Continued on Page 16)
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Photo by Bruce Oldenberg
With over 3,300 miles of rail lines in Wisconsin, a strong freight rail system is a key factor in facilitating safe and efficient movement of goods across the state, helping support and grow our economy. Rail shipments in the Knowlton area, primarily involve coal, pulp or paper products, lumber or wood products, chemicals or allied products and food or kindred products. Rail transportation is extremely important to the Department of Defense since the majority of heavy and tracked vehicles deploy by rail to seaports of embarkation. The Railroads for the National Defense Program along with the Federal Railroad Administration, utilize the railroad network to help support defense deployment and peacetime needs. Above: Bruce Oldenberg, Plover, WI, an avid railroad enthusiast, shot this panoramic photo on August 2019, which shows a CN Railroad train heading north to Wausau over the Knowlton Bridge. The Wisconsin River runs about 30 feet deep here. Bruce shot every car on this train, described each car, listed what he thought they might be carrying and what their final destination might be: http://www.trainweb.org/brucerail10/w191105jct/a191105.html. Left: Railway bridges and railroad tracks, like ones leading up to the Knowlton bridge, shown here, must be continuously inspected. Railroad company owners are responsible for upkeep. Photo by Ruth Faivre
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Photo by John Kulp
John Kulp, another railroad enthusiast and business manager, Kulp’s of Stratford, LLC, a roofing contractor in Central Wisconsin specializing in metal roofing, historical and religious projects and insulation solutions, lent us his Knowlton Bridge photos for this story because he is also a Town of Knowlton resident and frequent visitor to Lake Dubay. I originally found John’s photos on the Facebook group, CN Canadian National Wisconsin, NE Minnesota, & Michigan Upper Peninsula, a great source of railroad photos and knowledge and a place to share your own photos, sightings and news about the former Soo/Wisconsin Central main line.
Photo by John Kulp
The Wisconsin Central Division Facebook page is also another fabulous mine of Wisconsin railroad history. According to one of their articles, Wisconsin’s first railroad was chartered in 1847. The state’s rail lines grew to nearly 7,000 miles by the 1930s. Our vast timber resources and centralized location created a flourishing climate for Wisconsin’s railroad industry during the turn of the century. Above & Bottom: John Kulp shot these two photos of a CN train heading north, coming through the Knowlton bridge. Middle: John Kulp captured this CN train, which was 124 cars long and posted a video of it as well! Click on this link to view the video. Page 17 (Continued on Page 18)
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Photo by John Kulp
Photo by Bruce Oldenberg
in 1871, the Wisconsin State Legislator established Wisconsin Central Railroad Company, incorporated in 1871. In 1877, the railroad reached Ashland, WI. Northern Pacific Railroad leased it from 1889-1893, but then declared bankruptcy during the Panic of 1893. In 1897, Wisconsin Central Railroad Company reorganized to Wisconsin Central Railway Company. In 1908, the proposed Northern Pacific merger fell through and Wisconsin Central was leased by Soo Line. Canadian Pacific Railroad held controlling interest in Soo Line and Wisconsin Central. Above: Bruce Oldenberg, who has his own railroad photo website, http://trainweb.org/brucerail10/index.html, shot this sunny Knowlton Bridge picture in 2017. Bruce creates and utilizes many different camera gadgets in his photos, such as cameras mounted on 30-foot extension poles. Left: Wayne Becker, a Wisconsin Central Division Facebook page member, contributed this early Knowlton Bridge photo, he shot in 1968, facing north to what is now Meyer’s Landing. Photo by Wayne Becker
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Photo by Bruce Oldenberg
Wisconsin Central entered receivership in 1932. It declared bankruptcy in 1944 but re-emerged in 1954 as Wisconsin Central Railroad. Wisconsin Central was merged into Soo Line Railroad in 1961. Soo Line sold Lake States Transportation Division to private investors in 1987, who formed Wisconsin Central Transportation Corporation. The first Wisconsin Central train ran from Stevens Point to North Fond du Lac, WI on October 11, 1987, now considered Wisconsin Central Limited's birthday Above: A fishing boat passes by the Knowlton Bridge’s west side. Left: WARNING! Boaters need to use caution when crossing under Knowlton Bridge. The south span is a deck girder bridge with a little under seven feet of clearance. Boat sun canopies must be lowered to pass under it safely. Page 19 (Continued on Page 20)
Photo by Bruce Oldenberg Dubay Online-Oct 2020
Photo by Bruce Oldenberg
Wisconsin Central (WC) acquired Fox River Valley Railroad, Green Bay and Western railroads through Fox Valley & Western Ltd, in 1993 and Algoma Central Railway in 1995, through another new subsidiary, Wisconsin Central Canada Holdings. In 1997, another WC subsidiary, the Sault Ste. Marie Bridge Company, acquired 207 miles of track from the Union Pacific Railroad forming a WC connection between Green Bay, Wisconsin and Ishpeming, MI. On January 30, 2001, the WC and Canadian National (CN) announced plans for CN to purchase WC for $800 million and the assumption of $400 million of WC's debt. On September 7, 2001, The Surface Transportation Board approved the sale of WC to CN and the WC operations were acquired by CN on October 9, 2001. Above & Right: Bruce Oldenberg specializes in kite camera pictures but hasn’t taken a kite aerial view of Knowlton bridge in years, since 2008. He wants to do so soon but would prefer to capture shots with trains on the track. He has other train aerial views on his website. Photo by Bruce Oldenberg
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Photo Courtesy of Marathon County Historical Society
Canadian National then merged their three US operating subsidiaries, Wisconsin Central Limited, Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway and Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railway into one US subsidiary, known as Wisconsin Central Ltd. Today, it is referred to as the Wisconsin Central Division of the Canadian National Railway.
Photo Courtesy of Marathon County Historical Society
Next time you are on the waters of Lake Dubay and you hear the train rumble across the Knowlton Bridge, take a few moments to cherish the memories of all the goods that have gone across that bridge. Also, you admire the hard-working structure of this historical bridge and acknowledge its impact on many communities by providing railroad passage across Lake Dubay for all kinds of merchandise. A special thanks to the incredible photographers, online web & Facebook groups, railroad buffs and others, who contributed information and photos for this article and have been named within this article. Kudos to you for helping preserve this bit of Knowlton history! ### Above: A crew takes a break from the back-breaking job of laying railroad tracks with freshly cut logs, circa 19001919. Top Right: Early 1900’s photo of the Knowlton depot, built in 1906. Barrels and boxes sit out front and the station sports a platform scale and oil platform lamp. Bottom Right: 1939 shot of the Knowlton depot and water tank where area railroad business was handled. Page 21
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Photo Courtesy of Marathon County Historical Society
A Train Buff’s Viewpoint of the Wisconsin Central by Glenn Kwarciany
The photo was shot while the WC was still rather humble. They had not yet taken over the FRVR/GBW railroads or begun large scale railroad improvements. Yet, traffic was on the increase and trains were getting bigger. This train, L017, was the local between Wausau and Stevens Point with a crew that started their day in Wausau, from the former Milwaukee Road facility, then headed South to Stevens Point. Along the way, they would stop at local industries, including a pair of paper mills, a power plant, and a manufactured housing company. This was the Westbound train (geographically Northbound) headed back to Wausau on former Milwaukee Road track (Milwaukee's Valley Line), crossing the Wisconsin River bridge near Knowlton. The bridge itself wasn't even ten years old, having replaced an older structure that had a severe weight restriction.
Photo by Glen Kwarciany
EDITOR’S NOTE: Glen Kwarciany, a railroad enthusiast who closely followed Wisconsin Central (WC) Railroad, wrote this article, providing an interesting and insightful perspective.
The photo above was taken of a Wisconsin Central (WC) local in the late 1980s, not long after operations began. WC operated primarily in Wisconsin, but also originally had tracks in Minnesota, Michigan, and Illinois and connected with Algoma Central (AC) in Ontario, CN. Later, WC would acquire the AC, along with two other Wisconsin short line railroads.
The train’s power was fairly standard for the time: a pair of former Soo Line GP30s plus a GP35M (a de-turbocharged GP35). WC obtained these during their start-up phase, plus about 40 ex-BN SD45s. Also, since this was the late 1980s, ditch lights weren't required. The late afternoon sun on the long days of summer made this shot possible. The area around the bridge was also a popular place to fish. Trespassers generally weren't a problem here as most people fishing had plenty of room along the banks of the Wisconsin River to not be too close to the tracks. Nobody was fishing this day, however. It was a hot summer day. Maybe, the fish weren't biting in the heat.
WC's startup was not smooth by any means. There were no computer records of cars online. Some crews weren't totally familiar with the railroad, having come from other railroads. A good size group of new employees came from out of state.
WC made great strides in attracting business that had moved away from rail. WC also picked up other traffic that traditionally didn't move by rail and did it profitably, too.
A fair amount of traffic had moved away from being shipped by rail and some customers were no doubt skeptical of the new company's ability to make good on promises they made prior to acquisition.
Today, WC is part of the CN. A non-scientific, casual glance at traffic moving over this track indicates far fewer cars move here, perhaps because CN might not be interested in the short hauls, which WC preferred. ###
However, the WC did turn things around by offering more reliable service, good customer care and many improvements to the railroad including tracks, freight car fleet and locomotives.
Thanks to D Scott Peterson, Wisconsin Central Division Facebook page and owner of HRM Laser Models LLC, for helping make this article possible by providing the connection to Glen Kwarciany.
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DuBay Online reaches the Lake Dubay area’s upscale audience looking to buy: DuBay Online magazine is emailed to DuBay Property Owners Association (DBPOA) members who are residents on and around Lake DuBay as well as anyone who supports DBPOA and Lake DuBay including business members. Recipients do not need to live in the area to receive DuBay Online or to be DBPOA members.
GRAB THEIR ATTENTION! Advertise in
DuBay Online Contact Ruth Faivre rmfaivre@gmail.com for ad rates & further information!
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Lawn & Garden Equipment & Services Furniture & Appliances Boats, Docks, Lifts & Services Landscaping Services Building & Remodeling Services Investment Services Sporting Good & Services Vehicles & Servicing Clothing & Other Goods Restaurant & Tavern Eating & Drinking Grocery Goods Computers & Services Medical Services
& much more! Dubay Online-Oct 2020
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Landscaping Vignettes
Creating Interest for Your Yard By Ruth Faivre & Barb Wendorf Photos by Ruth Faivre
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Stunning curb appeal is your first thought as you view Jeff and Barb Wendorf’s front yard. Perfectly balanced with a variety of interesting focal points and a spectacular array of perennials and annuals of every type imaginable. Best of all, the excitement doesn’t stop there because it is extended throughout the entire yard, even the side yard and curbside where groupings of personal items near and dear to Barb’s history are featured amidst plantings that pay close attention to form and function. Their front yard features an oasis of perennials and annuals, grouped together in sets of three, a parameter most avid gardeners adhere to quite closely, contrasted with different ground levels and hardscaping providing continuous interest. This oasis area was created to hide the septic system cement and covers that are above ground, a creative solution indeed! Above: The front yard spotlight feature shown above and on the opposite page, offer many eye-catching components such as the arbor, a quaint, raised seating area and a washtub filled with coleus & nasturtiums. Right: Fairy gardens are always popular, but Barb raised the bar when she installed this “magic mailbox” in which she inserts presents for the grandchildren when they visit. If the red flag is up, they know they have a present! Creeping thyme, morning glories and succulents anchor the setting. Page 27 (Continued on Page 28)
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Barb, a first-class gardener and retired nurse, never attended any gardening classes or programs but rather learned like a lot of us, from her closest relatives. Barb’s mother, her grandfather and her great uncle were all avid gardeners. She worked with them in their various gardens from the time she was quite young. Her grandfather had a vegetable and flower hobby farm with rabbits and a nanny goat. She spent many summers learning how to weed, grow and cultivate plants. Above: The white basket with petunias, morning glories and Dusty Miller, is from Barb’s great grandmother, Catherine, a florist, who made wedding and funeral arrangements from her own garden’s flowers. Barb’s granddaughter, Catherine, her great grandmother’s namesake, gave her the flower pot with handprints, for a Mother’s Day gift. The metal table was her husband Jeff’s maternal grandmother’s kitchen table. Barb’s Great Uncle Walter, Catherine’s son, made the wood stand, originally a workbench. The rain chain was a gift from Barb’s daughter Pam. Other items came from antique stores and flea markets. Left: Barb loves the aged toolbox filled with trowels, all made by her grandfather, a former Industrial Arts teacher. A small collection of McCoy pottery holds a variety of lovely succulents. Hanging below the lamp is a Dutch shoe purchased in the Netherlands while visiting Jenna, her daughter, studying abroad. Antique flower frogs add further interest to the entire scenario. Page 28 (Continued on Page 29)
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However, what sets Barb’s landscaping vignettes apart is not just her interesting annuals and perennials weavings, but rather, the way she mingles new and old items from family members who are special in her life, into her displays. When Barb and Jeff moved into their home in 2006, there were few landscaped areas and the soils were rather sandy, so they knew they had a lot to do to transform the yard. Additionally, a large cement slab, used for a trailer home before the new house was built in the 1990’s, took up the middle of the back yard. They removed one-third of the slab and paved it with brick to create a firepit and seating area. Barb then began designing the gardens around the paved area, eventually moving outwards to the perimeter of the property, down the lake banks and onwards to side areas and front yard. Above: Old watering cans hang from the fence, full of Pistachio Petunias. An old cast iron sink is filled with trailing Coleus and Gaura. Border plants include Caesar’s Brother irises, Gloriosa Daisies, Obedient Plants and Ladies Mantle. The antique pump is from Barb’s great grandmother, Catherine. The old wood duck house on the ground in the photo middle, came from their previous home. An antique seeder, in the corner by the two old birdhouses, is also from Barb’s great grandmother. Barb’s Dad built the bluebird house, which has a planter on top, holding Nasturtiums (started from last year’s seeds) for a pop of color. Right: Old skis, a gift from a close gardening friend, are flanked by a tacklebox with succulents. Page 29 (Continued on Page 30)
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Barb and Jeff were happy to be able to keep the slab and could do so only because it was pre-existing. Marathon County’s regulations don’t allow slabs that close to the water today. Do check into your local regulations when lakeside landscaping because they do vary sometimes from county to county, especially important for any hardscaping projects. Barb focuses on continuous seasonal interest in her plantings for color throughout the year. While snow is an inhibiting factor, there are ornamental barks like dogwoods that can introduce color in the winter landscape. Like most avid gardeners, Barb is a seed saver, collecting each year’s seeds for next year’s plantings. She also propagates many new plants from cuttings of existing plants. She separates plant clumps, which grow together over the years, like Irises and Hostas. This keeps them healthier as well. Above: Pavers, rock and landscape cover what was once a cement slab for a trailer and is now home to a lovely seating/firepit zone. The red pump is from one of Barb’s grandparents. There are other stumps planted with Begonias and Lobelia. Hanging jars (one for each grandchild) have “twinkle lights” inside them. Barb’s grandchildren check to see if Tinkerbell will show up with the “fairy dust” that lights up the jars. Left: Climbing Hydrangea cover a tree split for exactly that purpose. A bird house was added to the top of the tree but that is now also completely covered. Splashes of bright color are achieved in front of the tree with Barberry bushes and three barrels filled with Begonias and succulents. Page 30 (Continued on Page 31)
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Throughout the yard, Barb also likes to introduce a bit of whimsy and fantasy to make it appealing to her grandchildren, which is another important element. Fairy gardens are a perfect way to achieve this. There are a ton of sources on the web if you want to find out exactly how for ideas. Here is a good starting point for 15 fabulous kinds: https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/15-breathtaking-diy-fairy-gardens/
Barb also likes to use a lot of ornamental grasses, which add unique texture to the landscape. Whether mass planted as a hedge; grouped together with complimentary plants; or used as a large specimen plant in the lawn or garden, grasses are often overlooked as a beautiful landscape plant. She maximizes the effect by planting varying ornamental grasses in the same landscape. These grasses can soften the look and feel of walls, paving, benches or other hardscapes. To obtain the most dramatic effect, choose unusual grasses in contrasting colors, textures, shapes and sizes like blue grasses in a yellow pot. Above: This whimsical lineup includes an old tricycle basket filled with Pansies and Lemon Thyme and an old wagon with Alyssums, Red Snapdragons and Dusty Miller. An antique birdcage from Barb’s great uncle, Walter, who raised all types of birds, is filled with red Calibrachoa. The tilted “bench” was made with rocks from a quarry on Jeff’s hunting ground. Barb made the cement leaf as a craft project with some of her gardening friends. Right: An old oilcan from an old antique store perches in this lakeside tree’s crook. Red Honeysuckle vine climbed up the tree and into the can. Barb was hoping for a bird to nest in the can instead! Page 31 (Continued on Page 32)
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Barb and Jeff have been repurposing antiques and other items for use in their home and yards for years before it became fashionable to do so. It’s something everyone can do and a perfect way to put your personal stamp on your home. Don’t be afraid to try something different. Most of us are gardeners and handymen at heart and from what you can see on these pages all it takes is a little imagination and some good old dirt digging. There is a plethora of information on the University of Wisconsin Master Gardener Program, https://wimastergardener.org, if you are really serious about getting into gardening. Ask around and you may be surprised at how many of your friends and neighbors are willing to help you in your ventures, especially those with beautiful yards like Barb and Jeff’s. One thing about flowers and shrubbery is that if you don’t like something, it is easily replaced! ### Above: The back of the house features a barnboard fence built by Barb’s Dad, which serves as a backdrop for the border area. The white Hydrangeas are from Jeff’s grandfather’s cottage, which at the time Jeff got them, the cottage had passed to Jeff’s Dad. Together with the stately Golden Rod, they both stand out as focal points for a wide variety of smaller plants like Ligularia, white Begonias, Bergenia and Astilbes. Left: An old rake head serves as a prop for a Black-eyed Susan vine emanating from a galvanized bucket. The stump in front is planted with pink Lobelia and a perennial succulent. Turtleheads and Goldenrod bloom in the background. Page 32
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DBPOA Hwy 34 Fall Cleanup Often the first impression tourists form about an area is centered on the condition of its highways and roads. That’s why highway cleanup programs are so important. Seven volunteers showed up at Meyer's Landing parking lot on Saturday, October 3 around 8:30 a.m. to pick up garbage bags/ties/safety vests and get assigned an area for cleanup. The weather was comfortable and dry with a slight breeze and some sunshine. The volunteers worked hard collecting 12 bags of debris to help cut down the litter on Highway 34. Unlike previous years, the most numerous objects picked up were blue plastic disposable gloves and disposable facemasks and curiously, even a blue swimming noodle. A big “Thank You” to our Volunteers: James Edwards, Mike Downs, Laurie Kallstrom, Dave Kallstrom, Riley Alcoba, Lori Zimmerman and DBPOA board member, Sue Zimmerman. Above: Eager volunteers kick off the Hwy 34 cleanup. Sue & Lori Zimmerman and Riley Alcoba. Left: Trash picked up at the north end of the DBPOA sponsored area. This is DBPOA’s 15th Year sponsoring the cleanup of this two-mile section that starts just north of the Hwy 34 Knowlton Bridge and ends just north of County Trunk C by Dancy. Page 34 (Continued on Page 35)
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SEEKING VOLUNTEER TO HEAD DBPOA HIGHWAY CLEANUP After many years of successfully managing the Highway 34 Clean-Up Committee, Lori Zimmerman is retiring. The DBPOA Board is seeking a volunteer Chairperson to head that position. This person sets bi-annual dates for May and October cleanup sessions, organizes volunteers the morning of the cleanup, disseminates materials needed and is the one who delegates a highway section to each group. The Chairperson also reports to DBPOA at the DBPOA Annual Meeting. If you would like to volunteer for this position, please contact any DPBOA Board member. This is your chance to make a difference for your community. A BIG “THANK YOU” TO OUR VOLUNTEERS! Above Left: James Edwards has served as a dedicated volunteer at every clean up we’ve organized over the years. Thank you, James Edwards! Above Right: Laurie and Dave Kalstrom are supreme debris collectors in progress. Someone is missing their blue swimming noodle. You wonder if it flew out someone’s car window or perhaps off the back of their boat! Right: We Love Newbies (first time volunteers)! Thank you, Mike Downs! ### Page 35
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Charcuterie Boards By Ruth Faivre, Editor
Newest Food Trend
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When the Covid-19 pandemic hit and
everything was locked down, many people, including me, got hooked on cooking for lack of anything else to do. About the same time, I stumbled across a new Facebook page, called Eating through the Pandemic, started by some exceptional cooks from the Lincoln, Nebraska area. Their rules were simple: play nice, no politics, only recipes, drinks, cooking tips and cooking related humor. Within a month, this FB group went from a few members to over 8,800 and were featured in a major Lincoln, NB newspaper‌all because the recipes, photography, cooking tips and featured advice were fabulous! This is where I first learned about charcuterie boards. Several members create them on either a professional or entertaining level and post about them. I used many photos from group members in this article. Opposite Page & Above: Part of the fun crafting these culinary masterpieces is knowing your audience and adapting to tastes and styles of the guests who will eat them. All three of boards pictured here include the basic food groups found in most boards but all are quite unique. The board pictured at bottom right is from Sonja Zanders, an Eating through the Pandemic group member. Her Instagram account, @healthyandthensome, displays more of her fantastic creations. Page 39 (Continued on Page 40)
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Charcuterie is a French word that means smoked or dried meats, but it transitioned into a stylized upscale appetizer offering, normally served on a board. The ingredients can be creatively arranged on any surface, even directly on a table! You can create specially themed boards for specific holidays or special tastes such as vegan boards as well. The best part about a charcuterie board is that you don’t have to be a pro to style it. One of the easiest crowd pleasers over the holidays (or any time of year), a charcuterie board can cater to a variety of tastes, themes and of course, many different wine pairings! The key elements for a perfect charcuterie board are listed next in this article. CHEESE Of course, Wisconsin cheese is best, but a rule of thumb is to offer two hard and two soft cheeses. Gouda, goat, Brie, Manchego, Brie, hard cheddar, fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, marinated feta, are normal staples on many boards but don’t be afraid to experiment. Above: The Facebook page, Eating through the Pandemic, offers many ideas for charcuterie boards but allows no politics, just cooking tips, lots of photos and cooking humor to brighten your day. Right: Angela Alesio, an Eating through the Pandemic contributor features several boards she creates on a social/professional level for all sorts of gatherings using many elements and surfaces. Page 40 (Continued on Page 41)
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Above & Below: Two more traditional charcutier boards by Sonja Zanders, featuring meats, fruit, crackers, veggies, eggs, cheese & more!
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SWEETS Cheese pairs well with sweets like honey/honeycomb, fig jam or other jams/jellies (especially homemade ones) and chutney. Add fruits like melon, grapes, apple, mandarin orange slices, even dried fruits such as dates or cranberries. Or you can throw in some specialty chocolates or chocolate sauce. SAVORIES Olives (particularly stuffed specialty olives), nuts (almonds, walnuts or pecans), pickles (baby dill pickles are a super addition), tapenades and other relishes round out this portion of the board. Pickled red onions and garlic and melons add a nice twist. You can put the nuts in a separate bowl for guests who may be allergic. SPREADS & DIPS Stone ground mustards, red pepper spread, hummus or Pâtês class up your board and provide the perfect finish to whatever your guests select. Above: Becky Sheffler, also an Eating through the Pandemic member and a Wisconsin resident, loves to entertain and created this board with all the main elements! Right: This charcuterie board fills an entire table. What a feast! Page 42 (Continued on Page 43)
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MEAT The star of the show usually includes a variety of cured meats and sausages. Thinly sliced meats work best. Experiment with new choices like Genoa or peppered salami, sopressata, prosciutto and capicola. BREAD & CRACKERS Fresh baked baguettes combined with a variety of crackers works fabulously. Depending on your main board size, you may require a separate bowl/basket for your bread and crackers. VEGETABLES Radishes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, green beans and celery offer color, crunch and texture. GARNISH Use edible flowers or fresh herbs like thyme & rosemary to decorate empty spaces. If you create a board using these elements, then you will have something for everyone! Above: You can theme your boar to a holiday or ethnic group as well. This board is a Spanish-themed board with Spanish cured meats, aged cheeses, delectable Spanish olives, grapes and sauces. Left: Another traditional charcuterie board covers all the normal food groups involved in this versatile appetizer feast, displayed in a most artistic manner! Page 43 (Continued on Page 33)
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The pairings are limitless, and they can even be styled to your specific party theme or ethnic group. Once you chosen the surface for your board, whether it is a cutting board or perhaps a large white platter or other surface, place meats first, then cheeses, as these are the bulk of the board. Meats can be sliced, rolled or stacked. Slicing cheese is recommended. Place equal amounts of items on both sides of the board for easy access. Jams and sauces can be placed in decorative bowls to keep things neat and pretty. Breads and crackers can be placed around the board or in a separate plate or in a basket. The best way to start is to just experiment and do your own thing. I always say, “You never know until you try.� Happy charcuterie styling! Top: Sonya Zanders adds an artistic flair to all her boards and this one is so particularly colorful. Middle: Angela Alesio creates charcuterie boards to go for some of her customers, but this is also a great way you can transport them to parties. Bottom: Sonya Zanders assembles vegan boards as one of her specialties, using a colorful array of fruits and vegetables. ### Page 44
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