A Merchant Farmer

It was on November 1, 1843, 178 years ago, that my great grandfather Mathias Pitzenberger was born in what was may have been Austria, or at least part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Mathias was one of three sons of Andreas Pitzenberger and Maria Entrl. Both Andreas and Maria were, according to a biography of their eldest son John, born in Austria in 1811.  Mathias was the youngest of three sons born to Andreas and Maria. The family arrived in the US in about 1846. John's biography has them settling first in Freeport, IL, and then moving to Winneshiek County, Iowa in about 1850. The biography first indicates 1850, but later says John, who was born in 1839, arrived in Iowa in 1855.  I suspect the family moved together to Iowa sometime between 1850 and 1855. In 1859, Andreas purchased from the US Government 160 acres of land in the SE1/4 of section 31, T96N R 9W, which would be Washington Township, Winneshiek County, Iowa. 

Mathias Pitzenberger Farm, Town of Washington
Winneshiek County, IA
Source: Family archives

Whatever the year of their arrival in Iowa, the Mathias Pitzenberger family would not only farm the hills and valleys of the driftless area in Iowa, but also operate a hardware/general store in the small hamlet of Festina, IA. Festina is located at the intersection of today what are known as Hwy 150 and 123rd street, and is south of the County seat of Decorah. In 1880 Festina was a larger community than it is today. With persons dependent upon feet or horse for local mobility, and train and horse for regional mobility, these small communities would provide the necessary gathering, schooling and mercantile functions required for an increasingly diverse and differentiating economy. In 1850 or 1851 a gathering place was created in Festina, likely a saloon. In 1854 St Mary's--Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church was established. It was here that Mathias would be married, and buried. It was at this church were their children would receive many of the sacraments.

Plat Map of Twin Springs, now known as Festina
Source: Pat Burns Family History and Genealogy Website

The hamlet was platted in October 1856. The Pitzenberger family was part of the growth of Festina. Festina is said to have had two general stores in 1880. At the time of its platting Festina was known as Twin Springs, but the name was changed in 1863 to Festina. Festina is a Latin derivative of the word Vesper, so the German Catholic settlement nature held strong in this part of Iowa. Some plat maps identify the property as owned by "St Mary German Catholic Church." We do know that immigrants, often spoke their home language, more so than English, and in that sense the language spoken before and after church was joined by like speakers.  After all, the whole mass was in Latin, at that time. Different immigrant groups often had different Catholic parishes. This was true in large cities, and in rural areas. 

Mathias and Theresia Pitzenberger Tombstone
St Mary's Cemetery, Festina, IA

A letter my Aunt wrote to my sister and brother, a number of decades ago, identifies that Mathias spoke primarily High German, while his wife (Theresia) spoke mainly Czech. My grandma Ida, would learn High German at home, but as far as I know did not speak Bohemian.  I suspect Theresia also spoke some German, given that Bohemia was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the children were primarily educated in German. It may have been a different German, as my Aunt says my grandfather, Rudy, knew Low German, which is odd because that is primarily associated with the northern part of Germany, the low lands, while Grandpa Rudy's Dad, was from southwest Bohemia, although his Mom hailed from what was likely part of the Sudetenland, in northern Bohemia. From what I could find online, High German is the official written language. It appears that the Austro-Hungarian Empire used Bavarian German, which is under High German, so it is a mystery to me where/how Grandpa learned Low German.  One theory I have is that the Duschecks were of German heritage, and although settled some time ago in Bohemia, they kept a language of Low German at home. Regardless of what was taught in school, the home dialect was retained by Rudy's mom.

1886 Plat Map with Pitzenberger farm circled (left)
and Location of Festina, IA circled (right)
Source: Ancestry.com

Mathias, in 1873 would marry Theresia Kamenova (Kamen is her father's surname with the suffix ova added in Czech (Bohemia) for females). The marriage would produce seven children, over a period of 18 years from 1876 to 1892. My grandmother, Ida, was the second youngest and born in 1890. 

St Mary's--Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church and School
Festina, IA
Source: Pat Burns Family History and Genealogy Website

Mathias would buy land, 80 acres in section 20 Washington township, Winneshiek County, IA at least according to a 1886 plat map. This 80 tract, along with an adjoining 80 acres to the west, owned by his brother Peter, was land locked, and was likely accessed by easement over an 80 acre parcel to the south owned by Joseph Blong. By 1905, he has sold his 80, and purchased the 80 that had been owned by his brother Peter.  He also purchased 160 acres to the west of Peter's former 80 acres in section 19, and also bought the west 40 acres of the Joseph Blong property. A dead-end road is shown along the east side of the 40 he bought from Blong. As was common at the time, his children provided some of the farm labor. We can see this through some of the census records. For example, in the 1900 US Census, six of their seven children were at home with two of the three oldest sons, Frank and John, listed as farm laborers. At this time, the oldest son, Andrew is the postmaster in Festina, IA. The funny thing is, that two of their sons opened the Pitzenberger Brothers store in Manly, IA, and hired my grandma to help clerk at their store. Manly is over an hour and half by car, about 84 miles, from Festina, IA. 

1886 Plat Map, Mathias Pitzenberger Property
E1/2 of SW 1/4 Sect 20
Source: Ancestry.com

We can track Mathias through some of the state and federal census records. I first find Mathias with his parents and siblings in Washington Township of Winneshiek County in the 1860 census. I then found him in the 1880 census, with his wife, Theresia, who he married in 1873, with three of their seven children. His occupation is listed as a farmer.  However, by the 1885 Iowa census, Mathias is listed as a a hardware merchant.  We know that he owned and operated a hardware/general store in Festina, Iowa. although his farm appeared to have an address of Fort Atkinson, IA. In the 1895 Iowa census, he is still listed as a merchant/farmer, but by the 1900 US Census he is identified as a farmer. The 1905 Iowa census has him farming with a farm value of over $4,000. The last census in which Mathias appears is the 1910 US census, in which he is listed as a merchant, owning a general store. My grandma is listed as a clerk, and was likely working at the family owned general store. In 1910 one of his sons, Matthew Alois, also known as Mathias, is at age of 23 identified as running the family farm. At about 280 acres it was a good sized farm operation.

1905 Plat Map of Mathias Pitzenberger Land Holdings
Source: Ancestry.com

My great grandfather Mathias would enter eternal life on 11 August 1912. He died at 63 years, 10 months and 10 days of age (Interestingly, the exact age I am as I write this today on Oct 31). We know from his death certificate that his death occurred in Festina, the small hamlet in Washington Township of Winneshiek County. He appears to have suffered a stroke as the cause of death is identified as arterial sclerosis and paralysis.  Arterial sclerosis is the contributing factor. Discussions with a medical professional indicates he likely suffered a stroke on 9 August 1912, as the death certificate notes he was under a doctor's care starting on 9 Aug and was last seen alive by the doctor on 10 Aug. His time of death is identified as 6:40 am. Having died in Festina, perhaps it was a living unit, or back room associated with his store.  His death certificate identified his occupation as "Merchant."

Mathias Pitzenberger, Only Known Photo
Source: Family archives

Grandma Hovel (Ida Pitzenberger), who would marry my grandfather seven months after Mathias passed away, on Tuesday, 4 February 1913 at St Mary's--Our Lady of Seven Dolors Church, did not have the opportunity to have her father, Mathias Pitzenberger, walk her down the aisle. I am sure that she had fond memories of working side-by-side with her father as a young girl in his store. It appears, in this era, it was not uncommon for the wake to be the house of the deceased. This home, would be same home at which the small reception for Ida and Rudy, with those present being "near family," would dine in honor of their marriage on that winter day in northeast Iowa. As the strong winter winds howled outside, I can imagine that Ida would have taken the time to shed a tear at the memories of her deceased immigrant father, who worked as a merchant and a farmer in the hills of this part of Iowa. 

The Shoemaker

On 27 October, 1848, 173 years ago, one of my great grandfathers, Stephen Eiriener, was born in Ehingen Germany. Ehingen is on the west bank of the famous Danube River. Stephen was the fifth child, and first son, of Johann Eireiner, and Viktoria Meyer. It was a family of, what I believe to be, nine children; after four girls Viktoria gave birth to five sons. Stephen, and his wife Franziska Leidenheimer Eireiner, had seven children.  My grandmother, Amanda Reiner, was the youngest of the seven.  

Ship Manifest, Stephen is third from
top, has year of birth as 1847

The seven children in the Stephen Eireiner family consisted of four girls and three boys. What is interesting, is that the family must have had an exceedingly strong faith as three of the children, two girls and one boy, would go on to religious life. The sad thing is, as the youngest child, my grandmother likely had few, if any memories of her father.  Stephen died in 1893, on 18 May 1893, less than two weeks after my grandmother Amanda's second birthday. In pre-social security America, one has to give a great deal of credit to Frances, who would raise the seven children, all of whom were under the age of 16 at the time of Stephen's death. 

1875 Chicago City Directory

Stephen arrived as a young man on the shores of New York City on 9 October 1871.  The ship manifest lists his age as 22, (and his name spelled Stephan) and him having been born in 1847. Family records indicate a birth year of 1848. Immigration notes from Ancestry and other sources indicate his occupation as Shoemaker. Stephen's arrival in the US was part of a great migration of immigrants.  Unlike my Hovel side, Stephen was not part of a chain migration, where whole families moved to the US, instead Stephen was like many who were considered a lone wolf.  What is interesting, is that Stephen was stepping on the shore of New York, the City of Chicago was in the midst of the three day conflagration known as the Great Chicago Fire. Happening at the same time as the much worse Peshtigo Fire, the Chicago fire took the headlines, given its status as a major US city. If Stephen made his way directly to Chicago after arriving in New York, he would have come across a scene of devastation, not to mention the smell of burnt everything probably still hanging in the air from the charred wood. 

1891 Chicago City Directory

I am not sure when Stephen arrived in Chicago, but I do know that the 1874 city directory identifies him as being at 778 Archer Street, employed in the trade of boots and shoes. This was a time when footwear was locally made, or at least locally repaired. Shoes at the time were pretty much hand made.  Upon his arrival in the US, Stephen was a craftsman in footwear at a time when craftsmanship meant actual work with the hands. Stephen maintained the occupation in boots and shoes for several years, but sometime between 1877 and 1880 he changed occupations. On my Hovel side, my great uncle's sister married a shoemaker, who would later take up farming upon a move to Iowa from Fort Atkinson--Jefferson, WI area, about the same general time frame as Stephen gave up the occupation. What is also interesting is his change in occupation was, if not in the same year, not many years after his 3 June 1877 marriage to Frances Leidenheimer, which took place in Chicago, IL.

The 1880 directory has him, along with August Glover as partners in a grocery store at 3017 Archer Avenue, in Chicago. By 1885 Stephen is on his own as a grocer, with the 1885 directory making note that he is working at 1025 31st Street in Chicago. What is interesting, is that between 1885 and 1889 he made another change in occupation. The 1889 directory identifies him as owning a saloon at the same address as the grocery store.  He likely remodeled his grocery store into a tavern. I am not sure why he made the switch, it could have been grocery competition, or he saw a way to make more money to support his growing family. 

December 1901 photos of Stephen's Widow Frances
and their children

Stephen died at a young age, in his mid forties, on 18 May 1893. His probate record indicates that his "property and effects...the value of which did not exceed eighty three hundred dollars." was left to his wife. This would represent a middle class estate, which today would be valued at about $252,000. He would be laid to eternal rest at St Mary's Cemetery in Evergreen Park, IL. His legacy, was not in his shoes, canned goods, or drinks he sold, but in his seven children, and their descendants. His children would go on to lead productive lives, learning some strong life lessons from Stephen and, for the very young, their widowed mother, Frances.

Reiner Grave Marker
St Mary's Cemetery
Evergreen Park, IL

The city directories of the Windy City provide a glimpse into the life of Stephen Eireiner. He was merchant for his adult life, beginning first as a shoe and boot maker to grocer, to a saloon keeper. Why he made changes in occupation remain unknown, but perhaps he saw the creative destruction beginning in his select trade of shoes and boots, made a move to consumable goods, and then finally, to the ultimate consumable good--alcohol. Upon passing the bonds of this earth on that spring day in 1893,he left behind his widow, and seven children. History is made up of stories inherent in each person who walked the earth, individually and collectively. This is part of a history formed by my great grandfather, Stephen Eireiner, who made the move at a young age to the United States to start a new life.

Note:  The surname was changed, likely between 1910 and 1920 from Eireiner to Reiner, at the urging of my grandmother's brother, Joseph Reiner, SJ.

 

Leaf Color

The arrival of fall, at least in terms of leaf color, seems different this year.  Besides the timing being late, the colors, at least in my part of Wisconsin, are not as vibrant. Many trees are still green, and some are turning much later than normal. This post will be about this fall's leaf color.  

Timm's Hill, past peak, October 5, 2021

The timing of the change in leaf color is seemingly dependent on different climatic conditions. Rain and temperature being two of the variables. Sometimes rain and strong winds will take down the leaves before one has a chance to enjoy them. Seeing fall color can be a hit and miss proposition. An arborist on the radio on Oct 20, noted that if temperatures fall to about 25 degrees (F), the leaves on many trees will simply turn brown and then fall off.  He noted that tree leaves cannot take temperatures much below 26 degrees.  However, he also noted that the best measures for turning leaves are cooler nights, and sunny days. We have yet to have a frost this year for much of the state, and that is unusual. Frost will likely come this week with low temperatures expected in the low 30's Thursday and Friday. Depending upon the forecast the low Friday night (Saturday morning, really) could be as low as 30. This could start some leaves to change more than they have, but rain is anticipated for a good part of next week, which may well take down the leaves and affect the chance for color viewing.

Volunteer Hickory, in back yard
10/20/2021

When Land Girl and I were up north a couple weeks ago, it seemed amazing how quick the colors can change. My sister-in-law, about a week before our October trip to the north woods, noted that the colors had not really changed to a large degree, but by the weekend before our trip she said they probably were at their peak, at least in the Conover area.  At the time of our visit, they had yet to have a frost, my sister-in-law's impatiens were still going strong. On one hand the lack of frost seems to dissuade the theory of the arborist, but perhaps it was sufficiently cool, and a frost is not required.

Autumn Purple Ash, 10/20/2013

In 2013 I took photos of the autumn purple ash tree in my front yard, starting on 9/25 and recorded a photo every day until the leaves were all off. The last leaf of that photo series fell on All Saints Day, 11/1. This year, the colors of the tree lack the vibrancy I have seen in the past.  Generally one sees a great deal of purple, followed by yellow on the bottom.  This year the top is purple, the middle generally green and the bottom yellow. Yet, the purple is not as prevalent as in years past. It lacks the WOW! factor one normally expects from this UW generated cultivar of the white ash. Last year at this time much of the tree was bare, but some leaves clinging with some leaves not wishing to meet their fate at ground level to be raked and used as mulch on a flower bed. On 10/20/21, as I write this, the tree has fewer branches due to being pruned last year, many leaves are still clinging and the colors are varied, and not as vibrant. To the left of the ash tree you can see part of a birch clump which was yellow in 2013 on 10/20, but has mainly green color on the same date this year.   

Autumn Purple Ash, 10/20/2021

We have three locust trees in our yard, one a street tree and two in the backyard. Two of these trees, the street tree and one in the back yard, have pretty much lost all their leaves, with the street tree going first. The other one in the backyard is still predominantly green. They may well be different cultivars of the same species, but I am surprised at the leaf loss variability. The difference in color and timing has been noticeable in the past, but seems more pronounced this season. The hickory trees I have are just starting to turn, but I cannot say how this relates to past years.  I have noticed a maple tree in my backyard is mainly green to this date, but has lost some leaves which turned brown, rather than its customary yellow. Last year I recall it being a vibrant yellow glowing in the afternoon sun,before leaf drop. It has a few leaves with a tinge of yellow, but not many. Like the autumn purple ash, it lacks its vibrancy of years past. I suppose it is possible that tree color in my mind is related to years in which the colors are vibrant, and I do not recall the down years.  Although I have photo evidence of the autumn purple ash, but the detailed documentation is for one fall season--2013. I have other photos, but none as detailed with date of photo as the file name.

Two Locust Trees in back yard, you can see
part of the Autumn Purple Ash in the front yard

The fleeting nature of fall seems to portend the futility of holding onto color, and warmer temperatures. All the more important for us to enjoy the beauty of nature as autumn descends.  The shorter days have us realize that the arrival of winter is not far off, and our time to enjoy the fall can be fleeting. It will be interesting to see if we get a cold snap what occurs to the leaves (is the arborist correct?), and I suppose it is possible, that like in 2019, we may get a snow before the leaves are off the tree and picked up. The 2019 snow occurred in late October, and put a damper on leaf pick up. Given how late the colors are on many trees, they may hang on until November, or December.  Although Hickory and Oaks are known for having their leaves hang on a long, long time. 

Unexpected Color

Part of last week my wife and I made a trip to Northern Wisconsin. The visit included some biking, a little hiking, a visit with my brother, his wife and son, and to see the fall colors. We stayed at an Airbnb in St Germain, which was our first time using a vacation rental through Airbnb or Vrbo. The cottage we rented was on Lost Lake which is about half way between St Germain and Sayner. Overall, the fall colors were quite nice.  The colors may have been beyond peak, particularly for the colors in the eastern part of the county. The weather, even though cloudy for over half our time in the north woods, was still enjoyable with day time temps near the mid to upper 60's. We had a good time, and enjoyed the colors provided by the scenery of contrasting yellows, and reds with green of the pines and the (sometimes) blue sky.  There is one color, that I was not expected to see, and that was green. Not the green of pines and plants, but green on the surface of Lost Lake.  

The place we stayed

I am no expert on algae, but the oily consistency and the way it appeared seemed to be reminiscent of the toxic blue-green algae. It may or may not have been blue-green algae, but I was not going to risk swimming in the water with that gunk not knowing what kind of algae it was.  I did get one swim in on Thursday, before the overcast sky arrived, on a lake at the home of my brother. That water did not have algae, but did have some lily pads. I was not expecting the green surface of Lost Lake; it reminded me of some of the lakes in southern Wisconsin. 

Lost Lake

Funny, looking at the shore of Lost Lake, at least near the cottage in which we stayed, the lake did not have lily pads or any noticeable weeds by shore, and it had a nice sand surface. Yet, the nice sandy surface is no good for a swimmer with suspect algae present on the surface of the water.  The algae, from what I could see, did not have the blue tint common in blue-green algae, so perhaps it was not the toxic blue-green algae.  Like I said, it was tempting, but I was not about to risk it. 

Lost Lake Water

Algae growth is, generally, caused by too much phosphorus and/or nitrogen in the water. In the southern part of the state, algae blooms are quite common, in fact, I saw them occur on Lake Kegonsa in May, when I usually see them in June. The algae is common in the southern part of the state due to mainly to non-point sources of pollution.  Point sources are highly regulated, so they now contribute little phosphorus, but non-point sources, think agriculture, are not as highly regulated so runoff from farm fields and feed lots can make its way with its concomitant phosphorus and nitrogen into the streams and then the lakes.  Leaves are also a good source of phosphorus, and hence why my wife and I regularly clean our drive and street gutter of leaves. Many years ago, phosphorus was in detergents, but that was banned along time ago.  About eleven years ago phosphorus became highly regulated in fertilizers in Wisconsin, particularly lawn and garden fertilizers, so that source is much reduced. 

Lake a few Miles from Lost Lake
Undeveloped Shoreline and no algae noticed

Phosphorus is a very stubborn element, and holds, for example, to soil particles. That is one reason why Dane County has been sucking the muck out of the streams and rivers of the Yahara River--to get out legacy phosphorus in the element laden sediment. Agriculture, a common land use in the southern part of the state is a major contributor of phosphorus in the watersheds in the south half of Wisconsin.

Colors of the North WI Woods

The northern part of the state, particularly Vilas County, and nearby counties, have very little agriculture that would deposit phosphorus laden silt or other algae creating pollutants into water bodies. A small lake three miles away from Lost Lake, surrounded by state forest land had no discernible algae, nor did the small lake by my brother which has his home and three cottages. Both lakes would get leaves in the water from nearby trees, but this source can be discounted because leaves have been getting in these water since, well, creation. This brings up the question of, where did the polluting elements come from that affect Lost Lake? 

Lake in which I swam in Oct 7

Was it through an aquatic hitchhiker?  Maybe, but my theory is land use.  While the area lacks farms, many of the lakes have a good deal of development, and much of this development occurred before the advent of the shoreland protection ordinance, and more restrictive septic system requirements both mandated by the state in the 1970's. We know, from the Clean Water Act, that water can be cleaned, with education, regulations, and hard work. Think Lake Erie, which was once dead and is now back to life, but again threatened by pollutants related to agriculture use in the watershed. But, in northern Wisconsin, the most common land  uses are residential (mainly cottages or second homes), some businesses, forest and lakes. It is not called the north woods for no reason. One commonality is the rural characteristics of the land use. There are many unincorporated hamlets in the area, not to mention the lots that house cottages and now houses.  Most all with their own septic system. A septic system is usually a holding tank, with an infiltration bed.  Infiltration beds are required to have a a certain distance from the bottom of the discharge pipe to a restricting element, like ground water (noticeable by mottling in the soil). Yet, the ground of this area is sand, a lot of sand.  Sand, I feel, is rather fragile. Sand will infiltrate well, but that can be a problem, it can infiltrate too well and if the depth between water and soil is not sufficient, the pollutants will get into the ground water, and perhaps make their way to the lakes. Beds can age overtime, too, and go bad without a person even knowing it.  

Fall Colors on Lost Lake

My theory is that much has changed in the last 30 or so years up north. Cottages, which were owned by a single family often were occupied a few weeks out of the year, mainly in the summer.  Today, many are occupied year around, perhaps rebuilt and reconstructed as a more expansive dwelling--holding more people. Add in the vacation rentals, like we used, and one can see that the lake properties are being used much more than they used to be, which increases the risk of pollutants and elements like nitrogen entering the water, such as from septic systems. With this added burden, the resiliency of the lakes to offset or handle the pollution, is now not possible. Some of these residential buildings, or cottages, may have a failed septic system and do not even know.

Forest Lake Recreational Path, near CTH B

One possible solution, which has been used on other lakes in the state, is a sanitary sewer system.  Waste water would be collected and transported to a treatment facility.  Of course, this would be expensive, but what price should be put on clean water? I know Bear Lake in the Nicolet National Forest had blue-green algae this year (I was told that by a Forest Ranger with the Nicolet National Forest), and so it would not surprise me if Lost Lake's algae was also blue-green.  The unexpected color I noticed on Lost Lake could be a precursor to other problems that could beset the lake.

Oak tree

Planning and care need to be exercised to assure clean water, regardless of where it is located.  However, for the Wisconsin north woods, water is part of its economic life blood.  The lakes are one reason why people are drawn to the north woods, this is evidenced by so many home constructed along lake shores. The water, and woods, draw people, like my wife and I from the southern part of the state, and other states. People wish to recreate on, and in the lakes. This unexpected color on the lake surface could become problematic to the enjoyment and use of the lakes, and that would not serve any one well. 

  

The Edifice Complex

For years the nation has experienced what I call an Edifice Complex.  That is naming of buildings after a major donor, or person held in high-regard  This old expression came back to mind on Saturday when I heard that The University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) would be renaming Camp Randall Stadium, with the field to be named Barry Alvarez Field. Showing the affinity in this time for recognition, the stadium will be now be referred to as Barry Alvarez Field at Camp Randall Stadium. This post is an exploration of the edifice complex and how it relates to Barry Alvarez and a few other area projects.  

Barry Alvarez Field at Camp Randall Stadium
New name effective 2022
UW Football

Let me begin with Camp Randall Stadium. Camp Randall received its name from t then Wisconsin Governor Alexander Randall. I guess in itself the edifice complex. He would also serve as Postmaster General of the United States.  Camp Randall was a training ground for Union Soldiers, and many of the former trained soldiers did not like the idea of this becoming a site for housing or other uses, so the state gave it to the University, who then started to use it for athletic fields. Since then, it has evolved into one of the largest college football stadiums in the nation. As a stadium it can seat 82,000 people, all for a few Saturday afternoons in the fall. The name Camp Randall has continued for many generations, and will continue until next year, when it is amended with Barry Alvarez Field being first two words in the name. The change takes effect.  In my mind they (UW administration) bastardized it by giving credit to a former state employee.  

Alvarez house, Fitchburg, WI
Google maps

Like many treasured traditional names, the UW did not wish to change the name of Camp Randall Stadium, but they apparently had a desire to recognize Alvarez so they are now naming the field after Barry Alvarez. What does "Alvarez Field at Camp Randall Stadium" actually mean?  If I break it down, it seems that the playing field is named after Alvarez, but the structure itself remains named Camp Randall Stadium.  Apparently a field is different from a stadium, which raises the question is a stadium different than a field? How does this work if I were to do a Venn Diagram?  Is the field within the stadium, or part in and part out? For generations Camp Randall Stadium also meant the playing surface. This begs the question if the two are separable, how was the field before this titled? Did we have Untitled field at Camp Randall Stadium? In actuality this is simply a nod to the edifice complex in recognition for Barry Alvarez's work as a civil service employee. 

Alvarez came to coach football at the UW after a brief stint as defensive coordinator at Notre Dame under the Irish then head coach Lou Holtz. Alvarez also served as UW's athletic director for many years. Yes, he had winning programs. Yet, the guy was a state employee.  This is like giving a gold star to every person in a class room. He was doing the job the University hired him to do, with the idea that he would be successful. He certainly made a good deal of money and earned prestige off of the University to afford a very large house in Fitchburg, built a few decades ago. I recall doing a presentation on GIS, Geographic Information Systems, to students at McFarland Middle School about 20 years ago, and the students were most impressed when I showed them an air photo of where Alvarez's house was located. For me, I think it is wrong name a major facility after a former state employee who was doing the job for which he was hired.  

Given that only the field is named after him, that means when you attend the game you are going to sit in Camp Randall Stadium, and watch the game played on Barry Alvarez Field. I guess the ticket should simply be for Camp Randall Stadium, section 10, row 35 seat 35, as an example. But, I am sure they will add Barry Alvarez Field at Camp Randall Stadium.

The Sun Prairie School District faced a similar dilemma. They rebuilt Ashley Field, their long time football stadium to orient the field north to south from its long-time east-west orientation.  Playing games with the sun setting in the west was problematic. However, they will have two high schools, Sun Prairie East and Sun Prairie West, play at the field.  They received a large donation from the Bank of Sun Prairie to offset part of the cost of construction, and they decided on a similar tack as UW, but reversed. It will be Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at Ashley Field.  What does that mean? Is teh playing surface Ashley Field, and the seats Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium? Is the second part of the name supposed to be more important or the first part of the name? What takes precedence, a field or a stadium?  In our athletic centrist world this is important to know.  What came first, the chicken or the egg? Ashley Field is important to those of us who grew up in Sun Prairie, and now that they divided the city by high school, they wished to keep some old familiarity. It could be worse, it could be AmFam Field, the new name of the Brewer Stadium, for why I wonder, did not American Family lower my rates instead of investing in such advertising dollars?  What does it say about our nation and economy when a major manufacturer, Miller, loses out to an insurance company for naming rights?

Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium at 
Ashley Field, Under construction, Sun Prairie, WI
Google maps

A few days before the announcement by the UW naming Barry Alvarez Field at Camp Randall Stadium, it was announced that Jim and Sue Bakke (of Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove) donated $20 million toward a $113.2 million recreational facility for the west part of the UW campus. This building will be known as the Bakke Recreational and Well-Being Center.  Last year the UW completed construction of the Nicholas Center which replaced the 1983 constructed Southeast Recreational Facility. With a construction cost of $70 million, this project received a donation from from Abe and Nancy Nicholas of $20 million.  What does it say about our construction when the life span is less than forty years? The Southeast Recreational Facility has a definitive bureaucratic name which well fits with Madison. Naming rights for athletic venues at the UW pretty much started on the campus with the Kohl Center. 

Artist Rendering Bakke Recreational and Wellness Center
UW Madison

Wealthy businessman and former US Senator Herb Kohl donated about a third of the cost of the construction of the UW sports venue for hockey and basketball and hence it was called the Kohl Center, or as I refer to it as the Herb Garden. He donated $25 million of the over $76 million cost. Abe Nicholas donated $10 million and had the practice area named after him. Abe apparently decided he needed greater recognition and later gave an additional 20 million dollars for a recreation center to bear his name. Some persons actually donate to academic causes, such as Grainger Foundation (for alumni David Grainger) who donated for part of the construction cost of Grainger Hall for the UW Business School.

In the village of McFarland, the current library was built in 2005 and after construction was started E D Locke, president of the local bank at the time, gave $600,000 of the over $5 million construction cost and now has that library named after him; my local library is known as the E D Locke Library. Locke, decided not to give it in the name of the bank but his own name. The library, at the time, raised just over $1 million in donations to the construction cost, with his gift the obvious largest. Since the taxpayers funded the vast majority of the cost, at over four million, I wondered why it was not named McFarland Taxpayer Library. Where is the recognition for the people who do not make millions? 

Artist Rendering Bank of Sun Prairie at Ashley Field
Main entrance
Sun Prairie School District

The edifice complex is an interesting part of US times past and present. Many years ago there were libraries built by Andrew Carnegie, such as the beautiful library in Baraboo which I sometimes went to back in 1985, and was named the Baraboo Carnegie library.  We don't build structures like that anymore.  Hence, some donors go into oblivion, like the Pettits in Milwaukee who donated for the Bradley Center (named after Jane Bradley Pettits father founder of the Allen-Bradley Company. This facility met the dust in 2018, serving only about thirty years as an arena for the Bucks and Marquette basketball. Apparently, back in the early 2000's the NBA Commissioner, Mr Silver, decided it was a few thousand sq ft short of what the NBA desired and put in on the block.  What does it say about our culture when a building has a life of only thirty years?  Worse yet, what does it say when one czar can make a decision about a sports team needing a new arena or stadium. Hence, we had another major state funded stadium. The $500 million project was funded by using one-half public monies, $203 million from the state, and $47 million from the city of Milwaukee. Owner and naming rights covered the remaining costs--plus cost over runs.

E D Locke Library Preview, Jan 8, 2006
McFarland Thistle, ED Locke Library News Paper Archives

The nation has a love-hate relationship with the wealthy, Universities and many private non governmental organizations like the donations, but at the same time complain about wealth in too few hands. Can we as a nation have it both ways? Of course, most of these large donations are accomplished for tax purposes and are placed out over many years. 

The McKenzie family of Madison donated for the McKenzie Boys and Girls Club in Sun Prairie.  They made their money in construction and real estate. I had the unfortunate opportunity to meet with the patriarch of the family, Richard, who, because he simply had money, thought he could get the city land use plan changed so he could develop over 200 acres in the south of the city. Land he bought knowing the land use plan and zoning requirements. The land was was slated for permanent farm land preservation, and was miles beyond the city urban service area. Or course, he came across a rather immovable force in this matter. That would be me. He then started a campaign which lasted several years, and had its own registered political action group, to get me thrown out. I am proud to say I out lasted that effort. When he did not get what he wanted, he illegally constructed two dwelling units in what was supposed to be a barn. I am not sure if giving money to the construction of a Boys and Girls Club assuaged his guilt, but I doubt it.  He probably knew the change in city governance, I think was then Mayor Pfaff, would allow him to get the code amended to keep what he illegally did. I did not see him having any remorse over his pitiful actions, or a desire to destroy an individual. It only set for me that at times principal can overcome money, but it took a great deal of effort and heartache on my part. I guess it is good that some of his money was put to a good use. 

E D Locke Library, McFarland, WI
McFarland Library

In some respects, naming, can be fleeting. Just ask the Pettit family. Yet, Camp Randall has been around along time, and I suspect may always see reconstructions before it goes to the dust.  Yet, does a man who was doing his job as a civil servant deserve such an honor? Really, Barry Alvarez Field at Camp Randall Stadium?  The fascination with naming makes a donor look good, or a civil servant with the last name Alvarez, but is it not dismissive of others who make payment or donation, or did grand works? The Edifice Complex is well at work, but some humility is needed.  

76 Trombones

In the movie the Music Man, which is said to have taken place in Mason City, IA, 76 trombones led a big parade. Last night, my spouse and I made our way a couple blocks from our house to the local ice cream shop, next to, and a part of, the McFarland House Cafe.  While making our way to the ice cream shop we noticed persons lined up on  part of Exchange and Farwell streets. We correctly guessed that they were lining up for the Homecoming Parade. It was not a big parade.

McFarland Homecoming Float (circa 2011)

No longer with kids in the district, and with my wife now retired as one of nurses at the district, we really have no connection to the happenings in the district. What we noticed was that the parade, started probably at the middle school, or at the rather new Exchange St entrance to the high school and made its way to Farwell and back to the high school's main entrance on Farwell St.  This is a change from the past, when the parade would start at Christ the King Catholic Church, and make its way along Main to a short stint on Exchange then right on Farwell to the school. Actually, the homecoming parade has had many different iterations.

2011 Homecoming/Family Festival Parade
My wife would be saying, in not out loud in her heart:
"That is my Joey!"

When we first moved to the village, 31 years past, the parade was right after school, probably on the Thursday before the homecoming football game. Homecoming is a tradition across the nation, and is a way of alumni connecting with present day, and/or recall their past exploits. McFarland's band has/had (not sure if this is the case anymore) taken it a step further by having an alumni band play a short stint at the football game. Later, as when our kids were in high school, there was the family festival parade, which included the homecoming parade, generally held the Sunday before the game which would follow on Friday.  This guaranteed more attendees as the parade had more units than a few high school floats and cars or trucks with the homecoming court, and the band. 

Float under construction

The family festival would conclude that Sunday, and generally things were wrapped up by about 3 pm, (attendance would drop depending on the time of the Packer game) which really is not a big deal, because other than some rides, the main attraction for adults for many years was a tent with the Mary K lady, a person selling replacement windows, and other commercial vendors. There were not many games, other than those the carnies provided.  Growing up, when I attended the Sun Prairie Corn Festival, we were told by our parents to play the games on the local side, not the carnie games.  My favorite was the pop ring toss.  This was a time when they had the quart glass bottles which seemed to hold the ring much better than the now 20 oz plastic bottles. One time I won a whole case, and it was not easy carrying that home. McFarland, had little in terms of games by locals, which is not too dissimilar from the more recent Corn Festivals, at least my last attendance a few years past. 

For its first many years of existence, (I am not sure if has ended due to Covid, or its death was in the making) the McFarland Family Festival was held across from the high school at a local strip mall, then at a large park north of town, the high school, at the village hall, and probably a few other places.  It never really was successful in my mind.  Being a predominantly a teetotal-ling Lutheran city, alcohol sales have always been suspect in this community. When Christ the King tried a parish festival, first no alcohol was allowed and later the village allowed it but with such restrictions it was overly expensive.  That put an end to that festival. This was an awakening for me, as the parish festival in Sun Prairie, generally had the beer tent 15' from the back corner of the church. In the early days of the village, but only about 100 to 110 years distant, a local merchant, who happened to be Catholic, had his shop vandalized and he, his wife and child bullied, harassed, and injured by a group of Lutherans who dressed up in some type of disguise, with the idea to thwart what for sure he was doing--selling alcohol in a dry town. The vandals did not find the alcohol, and because the local law enforcement was part of the group, no charges were ever brought. For some reason, this self proclaimed group of vigilantes never thought a Lutheran may be the source of the illegal sales of alcohol. The village has come some way into the current century. However, even, as it was on life-support, and they tried alcohol sales, the family festival never made much of a go. I found it odd that the fire department fund raiser was allowed to have alcohol, and was very successful, but not the family festival. Heck, in times not long past, many volunteer fire departments had beer, and it would not surprise me that some in the state still do. The thinking of the Village minds was alcohol and family do not mix/  I guess this goes back to the old days when the ruling the Lutherans thought a dry town was best, and not mixing with Catholics.

McFarland High School Band, 2011

Catholics are now more accepted in the village (a few years ago even one was on the village board) after all, for many years, the parade start at its parking lot.  Although that was probably more due to geography than anything else. Yet, culture has changed in other, not so good ways.  One sees it in the loss of local games at the Corn Fest, as one example. The changes in culture and society are significant, and if a person wants a partial reason why I would direct them to Robert Putnam's book Bowling Alone. Or, you can read an earlier blog post here. As an urban planner, part of me thinks the cultural changes are related to our acceptance of a sprawling land use pattern.  

High School Homecoming game, half time

Back at the ice cream shop, as we sat outside eating our ice cream choices, we watched as police cars cut off the access to that part of Exchange and Main, and then the lead police car.  It is like they were setting up a roadblock for an escaping criminal, absent the road spikes.  We saw the vehicles north of Farwell, getting stuck and needing to make a decision. This  brought back a few memories, and also a few observations.  First,  in the past listening to (which we can do from our home) or at the parade it struck me how for the homecoming parade the middle school band always seemed to sound better than the high school band.  I suspect the high school band was trying out some new music, while the middle schoolers struck with old, rather easy, staples.  Most of the way on the parade route the band sound was just the drummers keeping cadence, so to hear a piece of music from the band next to you was a real treat--even if it was the not to pleasant sound of high schoolers who would rather be with their girl friends, or somewhere other than marching in warm polyester (probably) uniforms with the standard band hat. As a parent with two kids who were in band, we wanted the music, even if the high schoolers, to yell, out, not unlike the parents in River City, "There is my (Andrew, Joey)." Middle school students in band got to wear a t-shirt with the band emblem emblazoned in the left breast. Of course, McFarland is so small, that with cub and boy scouts, girls scouts, the 4_H and the Benevolent Order of the Buffalo all marching, the tree trimmer and garbage trucks, (not to mention fire trucks) it seems that more were in the parade than watching the parade.

McFarland Band at Homecoming game (c 2011)

The second memory was in May of 1990 when my soon to be wife moved into our current house, and I was going to visit her on Memorial Day.  As chance would have it, I arrived as the parade was starting and the access off of Hwy 51 was blocked near the high school.  I then made my way back to Hwy 51 to the south end of Exchange thinking I might sneak through to Bashford and then the short block to our house.  No luck. I had to turn around, and then made my way to AB near Stoughton and back up and in the "back" way.  Given how short the parade probably was, I would have been better often just parking and waiting.  Back then, and today, the street patterns in McFarland are not conducive to getting around when a major street is closed.  From Hwy 51 to County AB east of town Main-Exchange is the only north south street through most of the village.  There is another street that is partial, but it is one way. Hence, travel options during a parade are limited.  

Gathering for 2021 Homecoming Parade

As we sat eating our ice cream with the now low in the sky getting ready to set sun in my view to Farwell, that memory came back as I saw cars needing to turn around to avoid the parade route, my wife even saw a car going the wrong way on a one way street.  Drivers will not be deterred. The nice thing is that by Memorial Day, the high school band sounds much better than the middle school band. Part of the issue of street pattern is lakes, and wetlands, and part is the suburban sprawl development pattern which favors closed subdivisions over connectivity.  The village has brought some on itself, as the only other street that could provide some connectivity is in front of the schools next to us and is one way.  That is the one way street some one snuck down.

My wife was the first of the two of us to observe the lead police car for the parade, with its lights flashing amidst the people on the street terrace, and cars trying to turn around and avoid a crash, or have to wait.  What most struck me was no music.  Who has a parade without a band? The ice cream shop was going to be closing at 6:30 pm to allow the staff to attend the pep rally. Yet, the person working was called in, because the high school staff, who were scheduled, called in sick. I guess they wanted to watch the parade, and not just go to the pep rally. With the pep rally, I wonder if they had the band, or if it was all on hold due to Covid?

2021 Home Coming Parade Lead Police Car
(see headlights near top)

We departed for home, and for the short distance home and while at home, on that pleasant early autumn evening, there was no music--not even the thumping of drums.  I don't know what was up, but there was not one trombone to be heard, much less 76 trombones.  While we did not watch the parade, I have to think it was a rather small event.I also did not hear any cheering. I guess it gave the homecoming court their five minutes of fame. A parent may not be able to yell to those around that a member of the band is their child, but the court gave them that opportunity.  Even though I did not have to put up with a somewhat off-key high school band, it is still rather sad to think that some of these band students, as much as they may not like, will have limited experience in a true marching band. This loss of a key moment for band members, but more importantly it is a loss for the community.  The parade, with the band is one of those institutional acts which can bring varied factions, for at least one moment in time, together. We could use more of that. Here is hoping that the trombones, and tubas will make a comeback in the parade.

One Chickadee

This past summer there was a report of a mysterious illness affecting varied birds. Later it turned out to to affect mainly fledgling birds. I am not sure the source or the type of illness has ever been discovered, but, nonetheless, the Audubon society and other bird groups asked people to empty their feeders and bird baths.  I did that, and still await the return of the birds. Since refilling the feeder a few weeks ago, I have seen only one chickadee at the feeder.

Years ago, when I was perhaps a teenager, or young teen, my mom put up a finch feeder.  We had never seen finches in the yard and we wondered if they would all of a sudden appear with a finch feeder.   There was skepticism among some of the siblings that the finches would arrive in any short time frame.  Sure enough, about a day or so later there were finches at the feeder. So, I figured when I refill the feeders, the birds would soon arrive.  I was mistaken.

Still waiting for the return of Finches

I dutifully did what they asked, taking down and cleaning the bird feeders and not refilling them, and regularly cleaning the bird bath, and allowing it to stay dry, or turning it over for some time.  I cannot recall when I started this, perhaps some time in late June or in early July.  I do know I took down the feeders after seeing it online, and later noticed an article in the newspaper. Even though the disease was not in Wisconsin, the bird organizations asked for cooperation to avert the spread, lest there be a pandemic among the bird population.  The thinking was that birds can depend on berries and other sources of food during the summer months, so there is no need for them to be fed. Which begs the question, what did birds do before people started feeding them?

As noted, I started feeding the birds a few weeks ago with cleaned feeders, and the next day, the newspaper had an article that people can start feeding the birds once again. Come to find out, that guidance was actually issued in early August for allowing regularly cleaned feeders to once again be used.  With the feeders now filled for a few weeks, the birds have been non-existent, except for that one chickadee.  My wife thinks the birds probably got used to other feeders and yards, and it will take some time for them to reappear. I don't know why the finches appeared the next day when my mom set up a finch feeder, and I am now three weeks in and waiting for the return of the finches. 

Feeder at which I saw the one Chickadee

At first, the disease issue was concern for song birds, but later turned out to be Blue Jays, Robins and grackles. I have not seen a Robin eating out of a feeder, they seem to poke around the ground and plants, and the dry summer probably cut off some of the supply of worms. The disease, unlike Covid, had apparently run its course. As far as I know, the origin, or what the disease was,has yet to be determined.  Some experts think it may be due to the large outbreak of cicadas in some states.  While correlation does mean causation, some scientists think there may still be an link--although this is pure conjecture.  

In any event, I wait the return of the birds, and hope that as fall has now arrived the birds will once again make their way to one of my two feeders. If not, it will save me purchasing bird seed. One chickadee has found its way, and I trust the others will too.