Fish Tales of Past

A good crowd gathers for the Dartford Historical Society Annual Picnic, which featured stories from Green Lake fishing guides. Inset, fishing guides share tales around the largest lake trout caught in Green Lake. Pictured are, from left, event organizer Ann Saddleback, fishing guides Mike Norton, Joel Baranowski, Chuck Mirr and Dan Stoneberg.   Connor Cummiskey photo

Guides share stories about Big Green fishing during historical society event

by Connor Cummiskey

It was a cool August evening, with a rain storm slowly approaching from the west and a cold northern wind blowing through Deacon Mills Park.

The Dartford Historical Society was having its annual picnic. This year, they invited fishing guides to tell stories.

Once the audience’s appetite for food was satisfied, the four fishing guides began satisfying their thirst for knowledge.

The guides were Mike Norton, Joel Baranowski, Dan Stoneberg and Chuck Mirr,  who answered questions put forth by the crowd.

They also took the chance to regale listeners with their tales about some of the largest fish caught in Green Lake.

The first topic addressed was how fishing had changed in Green Lake over time.

Stoneberg related to the crowd how fishing was in the 1950s. He described how the Norton family ran the launches.

They would often tow fishing rowboats out over the lake and the anglers would sit, fishing all day — taking a break only for a shore lunch before setting out again.

Rowboats would usually only fit one or two people.

They could not fish from the boats used today because motor trolling was not allowed.

Motor trolling was the act of trolling when the craft is powered by anything else but drifting or rowing, according to Wisconsin State Law.

Motor trolling had been opening up to the south and eventually in the mid ’50s, Big Green began permitting it.

Stoneberg, then recalled the time he had helped construct one of the first pontoon fishing boats on the lake.

They added lee boards to the bottom of the boat to help prevent the craft from drifting sideways when the wind was blowing.

The first time the pontoon boat set out, the winds were gusting — a perfect chance to test out the recent additions.

That was until the wind proved too strong and the lee boards bent sideways, making it almost impossible to control.

Eventually, they would get the pontoon boats just right.

“It has come a long way, but the pontoon boats are the way to go,” Stoneberg said.

The conversation drifted toward the state-record lake trout that had been caught by Joseph Gotz June 1, 1957.

The fish weighed 35 pounds, 4 ounces.

Stoneberg commented on how after catching that fish, Gotz only used the same boat and the same rod when he went out fishing.

The record catch is one example of how important lake trout have been to the city, according to Norton.

“The lake trout fishing is what sets Green Lake apart,” Norton said.

Before the discovery of how effective Sutton Spoons were for catching lake trout, they were very elusive.

“The fish were actually dying of old age back then,” Norton said.

One crowd member asked how old the fish were?

“We are not sure, but I would say at least 30 years old,” Norton said.

Stoneberg then told the story of a pair of anglers he brought out to 160 feet of water to catch lake trout.

They hauled in trout after trout, all roughly more than 20 pounds.

This was while jigging with specially imported hooks described by Stoneberg as having no eyes and only a flat space to tie the line.

After tales of how fishing on Big Green had been in the past, the panel looked to the future of the craft.

“I think the future looks good, but they are going to have to clean upriver,” Stoneberg said.

He referred to places such as Silver Lake, where turtles have been found with sores and scars in their shells from the effects of pollution.

Another effect that Stoneberg witnessed firsthand occurred while catching minnows by hand.

The water had caused his hands to break out in sores.

After tales of big fish gone by, and adventures had on the water, as well as discussing how to reclaim Green Lake’s heritage as a popular fishery, the picnic wound to a close.

GLCVB keeps tourists wanting to come back

The Green Lake Country Visitor Bureau (GLCVB) and surrounding community members enjoy nature at Guskey-Miller Conservancy. Pictured are, from left, Markesan Chamber of Commerce Media Coordinator Matt Mullownie, Berlin Chamber of Commerce Media Coordinator Kaitlyn Lueck, Ripon Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and GLCVB President-Elect Jason Mansmith, GLCVB Market Research Assistant Alex Thillman, Green Team member Jerry Specht, GLCVB board member Todd Sharp, GLCVB Executive Director Linda Ruggeri and GLCVB Multimedia Assistant Tsering Yangchen.   Connor Cummiskey photo

by Connor Cummiskey

Each summer, thousands of tourists flock to Green Lake to explore all that this area has to offer. The Green Lake Country Visitor Bureau (GLCVB) is responsible for keeping those tourists coming back every year.

To make the purpose of the GLCVB more evident, the organization has created a new mission statement.

Its new mission now is to “Promote tourism for Green Lake Country area through marketing and community collaboration stimulating local economic growth.”

If the mission statement is a mouthful, the process by which the GLCVB is accomplishing it is pretty straight forward.

“The way that we do this is by promoting our area and promoting events that take place in our area,” GLCVB Director Linda Ruggeri said. “We try to promote them outside of our area.”

A few of the events and locations that the GLCVB is promoting this summer are a performance by the Kids From Wisconsin, Whooping Crane Festival and the local historical societies.

Music lovers should get excited for the Kids From Wisconsin, which will take place July 2 in Markesan.

“It’s like ‘Glee’ … and it’s put together by kids from Wisconsin, and they come from all over Wisconsin and they train and they audition to be on the team,” Ruggeri said.

She also explained that the GLCVB has a clever reason for wanting to host the event in Markesan.

“The reason we’re having it in Markesan is because we’re trying to bring more events to our smaller cities — Markesan being one of them,” Ruggeri said.

The Whooping Crane Festival is another major event that has been very popular in the past.

“It draws a huge audience of naturalists, environmentalists and birders … mainly from the Midwest and the East Coast,” Ruggeri said. “It is a festival that celebrates the life of the whooping crane.”

During the festival, which will take place in September in Princeton, whooping crane hatchlings will be reintroduced into the wild to follow an ultra-light plane piloted by an Operation Migration employee south for migration.

One aspect that helps in grasping the size of the Whooping Crane Festival is that the event is a collaboration between the GLCVB, Operation Migration and the Princeton Chamber of Commerce.

The three organizations plan to promote the festival with money they were awarded with after applying for a joint-effort marketing (JEM) grant in April. They just recently found out they received the $33,000 grant.

“We haven’t done that before,” Ruggeri said about applying for the JEM grant. “This is really a community collaboration program.”

The GLCVB doesn’t just promote events happening in the area, but at important tourism locations as well.

This summer, Ruggeri plans to improve the attendance and marketing of each city’s historical society.

According to Ruggeri, the GLCVB is planning a seminar that will be “a meeting of the minds of the historical societies with someone from outside our area … with experience in showcasing historical societies to see what we can do to improve the community involvement and tourism of historical societies.”

While some locals may consider tourists no more than a nuisance, the local tourism industry is a large part of the community.

According to Tourism Economics, without the local and state tax revenue that is generated by tourists, the average household in Wisconsin would have to pay around $575 more in taxes.

So it is important that the tourism industry remains lively in this community and that is where the GLCVB comes in.

“We’re really trying to increase local economic growth by promoting tourism in our area,” Ruggeri said.

Fireworks? Sure … But Green Lake area offers much more

A Disney castle makes a 3-D appearance last year during Green Lake’s annual boat parade, while the castle’s royal stewards wave to the crowd. This year’s theme for the parade is “Who Let the Dogs Out.”  Katie Warczak photo

by Connor Cummiskey

The smell of grilled brats and burgers will mix in the air with the sharp tang of ignited fireworks again this year as citizens all over our country unite to celebrate our independence.

Among the local Fourth of July celebrations are:

Green Lake

Green Lake has an extensive celebration planned.

Festivities will take place Friday, July 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. at both Playground Park and Deacon Mills Park.

Madison Malone, a singer and piano player, will perform from noon until 3:30 p.m.

The boat parade’s theme this year is “Who Let the Dogs Out” and it will begin at 2 p.m. near Sunset park.

The live music will continue with Random Maxx, who will perform from 6 to 9 p.m.

For entertainment, the American Legion will put on a game of “Sink the Bismarck.” There also will be kids’ games, a face painter and a petting zoo. This will all take place from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Playground Park.

Starting at 3 p.m. at the dam in Playground Park are the duck races. Competitors will be able to sign up for a duck at the Green Lake Chamber of Commerce’s booth by Deacon Mills Park.

The parade will begin at 4 p.m. and anybody is welcome to participate. The line-up for the parade will start at 3 p.m. outside the public works building.

The Green Lake Rotary will be selling brats and burgers alongside the Boy Scouts, who will be selling funnel cakes in Deacon Mills Park starting at 11:30 a.m. and going until 9 p.m. There also will be cheese curds and kettle corn to eat.

The fireworks display will take place over Dartford Bay starting at dusk.

Berlin

There are three musical groups that will be performing Friday, July 4 throughout the afternoon in Berlin.

First, from 2 to 4 p.m., Old Time Sounds will perform. Then, from 4 to 8 p.m., DJ Ryan will put on his show. Finally from 8 to 11 p.m. Big Boomba’s Boppers will provide some classic rock ’n roll.

During the day, the Berlin Fire department will put on a display. The Street Cruisers also will be displaying classic cars and trucks.

Food-wise, there will be a corn roast and the Boys’ and Girls’ Club will sell funnel cakes.

A petting zoo and inflatables will entertain the children — along with pontoon rides for a relaxing ride on the water.

Fireworks will commence at dusk. If it happens to rain on the fourth, everything will be happening on Saturday the fifth.

Princeton

Princeton will celebrate the Fourth of July almost a week early as its festivities are set to take place Saturday, July 28.

It will begin with its famous flea market, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The market will run from around 6 a.m. to no later than 4 p.m. (most vendors leave between 1 and 2) at City Park.

The celebration will then continue with a parade that starts at 5 p.m. near American Bank and works its way through downtown and into City Park

Following the parade, there will be free activities for children including games, birdhouse building, a water fight put on by the Princeton Fire Department and a face painter,

The VFW band will play from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

Performing after it will be Spin from 7 to 11 p.m.

Throughout the day the American Legion will be selling refreshments in the park.

The fireworks display will take place across the street from the park at the public school, commencing at dusk.

Ripon

The annual fireworks display will occur Friday, July 4 at dusk in Murray park.

Before that, country-music favorite Avalanche Lilly will rock out at the Villae Green from 7 to 10 p.m. as part of the downtown Ripon summer concert series.

The Birthplace of the Republican Party Museum, located off Blackburn Street, also will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Civil War descendents still going ‘Strong’ in Berlin

Members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War perform a 21-gun salute.     Connor Cummiskey photo

By Connor Cummiskey

Honoring and remembering history is how society prevents horrors from repeating themselves.

Horrors like brothers fighting brothers in a civil war.

One organization that serves to keep the lessons of the American Civil War alive is the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW).

The organization does this through ceremonies such as the rededication of the Nathan Strong Memorial in Berlin, which took place Saturday, Aug. 23.

The ceremony that honored the founder of the city, Nathan Strong.

“Nathan Strong is the person credited with founding our City around 1847,” Berlin Area Historical Society President Bobbie Erdmann said. “The park was originally known as ‘Park Place,± then ‘Town Square’ or ‘City Park’ then ‘East Side Park.’ When Nathan plotted out his town, he laid aside the one square block for a public place for the people of this town. The property was never offered for sale for building lots although Berlin’s first school building was located here for a time. When Berlin celebrated its Sesquicentennial, the park was renamed in Nathan’s honor. Nathan Strong died in 1852 so never saw his town build up. Two of his three adult sons enlisted in the war and were both killed in battle. One stayed home to take care of the family properties.”

The rededication was a collaboration between the Berlin Area Historical Society and the Old Abe Camp #8 of the SUVCW.

It was comprised of a 1917 Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Service of Dedication.

The grand army being the organization’s predecessor organization that handed off its duty to the SUVCW.

The Rev. Joanne Schoblaski offered the invocation and a brief history of the monument was given by Dan Freimark.

Then, during the rededication, Berlin Mayor Richard Schramer temporarily relinquished possession of the monument to Old Abe Camp #8.

These descendants of veterans carry out a three-pronged mission: honoring Union veterans, preserving and perpetuating the GAR and patriotic education, according to their website.

To honor veterans, the organization performs ceremonies like the rededication as well as fixing grave markings.

Memorial Day is a major holiday that the organization observes. The services during the holiday play a major role in honoring veterans.

To preserve the GAR, the organization is dedicated to maintaining documents pertaining to the GAR, primarily for research purposes.

Another way it performs this duty is by maintaining their signage along U.S. Route 6, also known as the GAR highway.

To accomplish the final piece of its mission, the SUVCW teaches true history of the United States.

It promotes patriotism by presenting at schools across the country. It often involves teaching the duties of citizenship as well as how to respect the flag.

Being a Civil War re-enactor is not required for membership. However, members who are often have a trove of tales that bring the conflict to life.

Some of them are fun like Old Abe, for whom the local camp is named. He was not the great emancipator, but an eagle that served as a mascot, according to SUVCW member James Schumann.

He would fly above battles, demoralizing the Wisconsin 8th Regiment’s enemies with his piercing cry. Or at least annoy them enough so they took shots at him.

Other aspects are darker.

Such as the terrible medical service for the soldiers.

It was a time when getting shot meant almost certain death from infection, or at least loss of limbs.

Knowledge about hygiene was so bad that often medics would re-use bandages; though this was probably partially due to their lack of supplies.

To find out what makes the Civil War interesting, instead of the often more boring aspects usually taught in school, Schumann has a simple suggestion.

“Read books. Read a lot of books,” Schumann said.

There are dozens of good books about the Civil War that can give readers an accurate perspective on events.

Two that Schumann suggests are books written by Winston Groom about Vicksburg and Shiloh.

The SUVCW is for male descendants of veterans only.

However, that does not mean women are left out. They can join the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (ASUVCW).

There usually is an auxiliary for each camp of the SUVCW and without them, very little could get done.

To learn more about the SUVCW, visit its website at suvcw-wi.org.

To stay up to date on the activities of the local camp, visit the Old Abe Camp #8 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW) Facebook page.

Ripon Medical Center Triathlon draws 223 finishers

Swimmers, cyclists and runners descended upon the Green Lake Conference Center grounds July 27 to compete in the 16th-annual Ripon Medical Center (RMC) Triathlon.

Two hundred and two individuals and 21 teams finished the event.

Participants could choose between competing as an individual or a team in an Olympic distance (1.5k swim, 24 mile bike ride and 10k run) or sprint distance triathlon (.5k swim, 15 mile bike ride and 5k run).

Proceeds from the RMC Triathlon benefit building a wellness center at the new hospital and IMPACT concussion testing for area high school and college athletes.

IMPACT testing is a diagnostic tool that analyzes the severity of an athlete’s head injury during competitive sports.

Todd Jensen of Brookfield, Wis., and Michelle Brost of Medford, Wis., were the top overall male and female finishers in the Olympic Distance Individual category, while Matt Kohl of Kaukauna, Wis., and Kari Heyn of McGregor, Iowa, took home the honors in the Sprint Distance Individual category.

Winning the Olympic Distance Relay Team division was Brett Rittenhouse’s squad from Suamico, Wis. Tom Schmitt’s crew from Syracuse, N.Y., won the Sprint Distance Relay Team category.

The top-five male and female finishers in each category, as well as the places of Ripon area competitors (italicized); are as follows:

Olympic Distance Individual

Males (out of 59 participants): 1. Todd Jensen of Brookfield, Wis. (2 hours, 13 minutes, 59 seconds); 2. Dere Jones of Appleton, Wis. (2:18:05); 3. Jerry Pianto of Highland Park, Ill. (2:19:58); 4. Kale Mason of Thiensville, Wis. (2:20:21); 5. Ted Shue of Glendale, Wis. (2:23:07); 9. Shane Garner of Berlin (2:29:15);14. Mark Dudzinski of Ripon (2:35:24); 15. Dennis Galatowitsch of Princeton (2:35:45); 20. Christopher Badtke of Rosendale (2:40:26); 28. John Dalziel of Ripon (2:49:02); 30. Thomas Kloosterboer of Markesan (2:51:45) 36. Franklin McShane of Green Lake (2:58:14); 50. Josh Denk of Markesan (3:26:15); 52. Kevin Carter of Pickett (3:30:39).

Females (out of 29 participants):  1. Michelle Brost of Medford, Wis. (2:34:07); 2. Linda White of Highland Park, Ill. (2:39:00); 3. Maddy Blain of Evansville, Wis. (2:40:12); 4. Amy Hanrahan of Fond du Lac, Wis. (2:48:21); 5. Karen Wehner of Highland Park, Ill. (2:48:47); 16. Christina Calvello-Huber of Ripon (3:10:19); 23. Leesa McShane of Green Lake (3:25:05);

Olympic Distance Relay

Co-ed (out of seven teams): 1. Team Brett Rittenhouse of Suamico, Wis. (2:12:57); 2. Team Ric Damm of Ripon (2:25:00); 3. Team Katie Gustavson of Madison (2:48:23); 4. Team Elizabeth Gates of Platteville, Wis. (2:51:22); 5. Team Amanda Gintoft of Wauwatosa, Wis. (3:01:06).
Sprint Distance Individual

Males (out of 66 participants): 1. Matt Kohl of Kaukauna, Wis. (1:11:14); 2. Mark Meyer of Neenah, Wis. (1:17:11); 3. Dean Lillge of Merton, Wis. (1:20:49); 4. Jarred Cassady of Lake Mills, Wis. (1:22:22); 5. Anthony Gonzales of Sister Bay, Wis. (1:23:32).

Females (out of 49 participants): 1. Kari Heyn of Madison (1:23:57); 2. Janelle Olund of Weston, Wis. (1:27:13); 3. Maria Meyer of Neenah, Wis. (1:29:09); 4. Meghan Teich of Milwaukee (1:30:11); 5. Jenna Rindo of Pickett (1:31:00); 7. Sara Shattuck of Berlin (1:32:49); 21. Kristin Galatowitsch of Princeton (1:44:24).

Sprint Distance Relay

Co-ed (out of 14 teams): 1. Team Tom Schmitt of Syracuse, N.Y. (1:23:02); 2. Team Chuck Wagener of Lake Forest, Ill. (1:27:02); 3. Team Timothy Morrissey of Rochester, Wash. (1:27:34); 4. Team Scott Krause of Green Lake (1:29:40); 5. Team J.J. Zack of Ripon (1:30:05); 8. Team Danelle Phillips of Berlin (1:42:49).

Moo-vin’ on the Mascoutin

Fifth-annual bike ride will take riders past animals, wildflowers

by Connor Cummiskey

The sounds of whizzing bike wheels and feet crunching on gravel will permeate the air Saturday, Aug. 16 during Movin’ on the Mascoutin.

Green Lake Greenways is galvanizing the community to come out and explore the recently improve Mascoutin Trail from 9 a.m. to noon.

Participants are encouraged to bike, run or walk along the 12-mile route.

“The Mascoutin Trail is one of the most beautiful trails in the state,” Green Lake Greenways President and Founder Lauree Renaud said. “It offers cities at both ends with cookies, ice cream, restaurants and bike shops. Yet while you are on the trail, you are with nature — birds, wildflowers and cows. What more could you want?”

Green Lake Greenways wants everyone to know how beautiful the trail is.

“The goal of the event is to raise awareness of the Mascoutin Trail — all that it has to offer — and of Greenways,” Renaud said.

As an added bonus, participants will get the chance to speak with two specialists about rare birds living near the trail.

“Tom Schultz and Jon Roti Roti, local bird experts, will be on hand at the Rush Lake water area for the Movin on the Mascoutin ride,” Renaud said.  “White-Faced Ibis have been frequenting the water area this summer. Bikers and walkers are in for a treat.”

For work or leisure, the trail is a great way to travel between Ripon and Berlin.

“The surface is nicer every year thanks to the work of the counties and their support of the trail,” Renaud said.

While the bike ride is not a fund-raiser, donations from generous riders, runners and walkers are welcome.

“Our organization is always looking for donations,” Renaud said. “We recently received a donation from a gentleman who rides the trail to work.”

Green Lake Greenways is one of the leading advocacy groups for maintaining trails in the area.
“Greenways helps raise needed money and speaks on behalf of bikers and walkers,” Renaud said.

Because being a voice for the biking community is its purpose, its ensures that the area’s trails are well maintained and well known. That is where events like Movin’ on the Mascoutin come in. Weather permitting, the organization is confident that it will be an enjoyable event. At the end of the day, it just wants cyclists to enjoy a smooth ride on the trail.

“There are always difficulties when arranging an event,” Renaud said. “The pay-off is the day of the event, [with] no rain and happy trail users. Our favorite part of the event is seeing all the participants discover or rediscover all that the trail has to offer them.”

Movin’ on the Mascoutin has encouraged bikers, runners and walkers for around half a decade.

“This is actually the fifth year of the event, but the second year it is being held in August,” Renaud said. “Originally it was in October, but due to poor turnout we moved it to August, and since then, we have had great turnout.”

Greenways leaped at the chance to exhibit its hard work when community members decided to collaborate on the awareness campaign.

“Danelle Phillips from Ripon Medical Center worked with Green Lake Greenways,” Renaud said.
Riders, walkers and runners continue to participate every year. It is a great way for them to enjoy company during what is often a solitary activity“Riding and walking with a group of people is exciting,” Renaud said. “People should show up because they will enjoy themselves.”

To stay up to date on the event or to learn more about Green Lake Greenways or the Mascoutin Trail, visit greenlakegreenways.org.