Granton Village

Granton Village

Granton is located in Section 2, Grant Township, on the banks of O'Neill Creek, on the Chicago and Minneapolis route of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway, its important neighbors being Marshfield to the east and Neillsville to the west. The village is surrounded by gently sloping hills, and has many features which make life comfortable and prosperous. The population is about 350 persons.

The vicinity of Granton was first settled in 1856, the first pioneer being Eli Williams, soon followed by J. D. Wage and Levi Marsh, all three of whom took up war claims. The next year came Nelson Marsh, his son, Sylvester ("Vet") Marsh, born a year later, in 1858, being the first in this region to claim Clark County as his natal place. At the home of Nelson Marsh, on the old Neillsville-Steven's Point stage line, was established a tavern and postoffice, around which the hamlet of Mapleworks developed.

When the railroad came through, April 1, 1890, a new village was projected, but its actual site remained for a time in doubt. The present site was the property of T. D. Wage, and the doubt arose from the inability of Mr. Wage and the railroad officials to agree upon the terms at which the company was to obtain a location for its buildings. Owing to this difficulty, the company actually made its plans to build its station a half mile further east. But Sylvester Marsh, the first white native of the vicinity, finally secured a sixty-acre tract from Mr. Wage, and persuaded the railroad officials to build the station at the present site, and on Nov. 22, 1890, platted the present village, the surveyor being C. S. Stockwell.

The first business building within the village proper was the store of D. A. Baker, the same structure also housing the postoffice, This store is now occupied by P. J. Kemmeter. About the same time several buildings were moved to the new site from the pioneer hamlet of Mapleworks. W. H. Butler and A. Knorr, the latter still a resident of the village, erected the store building now occupied by the Witte Cash Store. John Trimberger built the first structure in the village on the site of the Eagle Hotel.

Efforts were made to incorporate the village of Granton on Jan. 21, 1903, some twelve years after the site was platted. In making this effort, E. A. Beecker took a census, showing a population of 313 persons, and John P. Kintzele made the survey. The prime movers in the effort were E. A. Beeckler, A. J. Knorr, F. L. Snyder, J. J. Wright, Carl Whitaker and L. A. Marsh. July 7, 1916, more than thirteen years later, H. L. Rose took the census, showing a population of 328 persons, and C. 8. Stockwell made a survey of the plat. The signers of the petition were Charles Neinas, B. F. Winn, J. M. Tompkins, L. G. Morris, Edward Schroeder, R. C. Beecher and E. R. Monser. The petition was granted by the court Sept. 2, 1916. The charter election was held at Woodman Hall, Sept. 30, 1916, in charge of Philip J. Kemmeter, Edward J. Schroeder and Price Lee. Of the total eighty-five votes cast, forty-eight were in favor of incorporating, and thirty-seven against the proposition.

The first annual election was held Oct. 28, 1916. The first officers were: President, P. J. Kemmeter; trustees, H. C. Wettie, Dr. R. R. Rath, A. J. Knorr, O. C. Peterson, Price Lee, F, G. Hart; clerk, F. H. Davis; treasurer, C. A. Welke; assessor, D. §. Rausch; supervisor, W. M. Winn ; Justices of the peace, Dr. H. L. Rose and W. J. Thayer; police justice, G, E. Amidon.

The public improvements consist of the high school and graded school, and the fire department. The principal business institutions are the Granton heading mill, the Farmers State Bank and the Granton News. Shipping and storing facilities are excellent. The cement sidewalks are a matter of special pride. The Business Men's Association has done considerable community work with a view to making the place an attractive rural center.

The Granton high school building is a monument to the public spirit of the village and surrounding countryside. Excavations were started July 24, 1917, and the building was formally opened Feb. 16, 1918. The building covers a space of ground 50 by 100 feet. It is built of handsome dark Menomonie wire cut brick, tile, and Downsville stone, and the complete structure ranks well among the finest and best equipped school buildings in the county. It is a one-story structure, with basement throughout. The building is equipped with modern improvements, and the basement, besides housing the heating, ventilating, water and lighting plants, retiring rooms and girls' and boys' shower baths, has the Domestic Science and Manual Training departments, and the gymnasium, which, with its commodious balconies at either end, the portable stage, and other accessories, is a model of its kind. The upper floor is occupied by the general assembly room with a capacity of about 140, four recitation rooms, the principal's office, library, two cloak rooms, and two retiring rooms.

The woodwork of the whole interior is yellow pine. Beautiful paneled doors are to be seen throughout the building. The heating and ventilating systems are constructed along the latest approved lines, insuring an even temperature and a constant supply of pure air. Sanitary drinking fountains are conveniently placed throughout the building, and a most excellent electric lighting system is maintained by an individual plant located in the building. The building was designed by J. E. Hancock, of Eau Claire. The building committee was composed of the school board, Director P. J. Kemmeter, Clerk Charles E. Brooks, Treasurer W. S. Davis, and three members, Charles Neinas, Henry Lawson and H. E, Williams, selected at large.

The ward school constitutes the graded school of the village. The building consists of four rooms, moved in from Windfall and enlarged, after the starting of the village.

The Granton heading mill was started in 1890 by P. J. Kemmeter, and is engaged in the manufacture of headings for pails. It has an annual output of 2,000,000 pieces, and employs some fifteen hands.

Granton postoffice was established in 1890. The first postmaster was William Butler, followed in turn by Ely Williams, J. W. Thompkins and the present incumbent, Edward Schroeder, Daniel 8. Rausch is the assistant, and Amelia Krause the clerk. The carriers on the rural routes are: Route 1, Albert L. Mabee; Route 2, Bohnmil Tykax; Route 3, Theodore Tykax; Route 4, Rolla 8S. Beecher. The offices of Lynn, Brook and Nevins have been discontinued into this office since the establishment of the rural routes.