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Janet Schwarze
been associated with the
Bank since November 1917, and now serves as its President. Miss Soherf’s parents
were pioneer settlers in the area, coming to Withee in 1902.
Another development in the growth of the Village, upon its incorporation, was
the addition of a newspaper, the Withee Sentinel, established in 1901 by Mrs. A.
L. Barager, who was assisted by her sons, Vernon, Miles and Irving, and it was
there that the young boys were introduced to type lice. The building was located
just south of the intersection of Second and Division Streets, on the East Side
of the street. In 191k it was sold to A. K. Stauning, who changed the name to
the Clark County Journal. In 1915 he sold it to Peter Lang. A few years later,
Withee ceased to publish a paper and the Withee news was incorporated in the
Owen Enterprise which was established in 19Th by Vernon Barager, and his mother,
Mrs. A. Barager. They purchased the Enterprise from a Mr. Sherry.
1902 brought the Catholic Church to the Village.
In the early 1900’s several lodges were active, the Modern Woodmen, the I.O.O.F.,
and the Royal Neighbors of America. Home talent plays and lyceum courses were an
important part of the social life.
The water system was installed in 1907 at a cost of $11,000. The methods engaged
in installing the system, naturally took several years to accomplish, the old
pick and shovel way of digging, excavating and hand connections. The majority of
the water mains were installed in 1912 and 1913 under the superintendency of Mr.
Herman Bartholomay, who served as Water Superintendent, Street Commissioner,
Village Marshall and Constable from 1912 to 19k5. It is believed that Mr.
Bartholcmay held the State record in being elected by the people to 3k
consecutive terms as Constable.
In 1908, the year after the water system was installed, the volunteer fire
department was organized. The great loss by fire in the history of Withee was in
1897 when the Tufts store burned. In l949 Withee became a member of the Owen
Community Fire Department and in 1961 Withee was supplied with its first
automotive fire truck.
1911 was the year in which a large addition was erected on the school. The
construction men were Mr. Louis Meyer, Mr. Henry Barthclcmay and his sons,
Louis, Herman and Henry Jr. Then in 1937 additional class rooms and the
gymnasium were added.
1903 established the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Village, with
the present church building erected in 1914.
Picture used through the courtesy of Griebenow Co, Owen
and Mr. & Mrs. Peter Krarup
In november 1912, the District Superintendent of the Methodist Episccpal Church
asked permission to hold services in the Congregational Church, which permission
was granted in 1913, and then developed into the discontinuance of the
Congregational Church and the organization of the first Methodist Church in
191k. Mr. E. J. Jeffery was the first Methodist minister.
As a memorial to the World War I veterans, a group of women organized the Withee
Library. This was under the leadership of Mrs. Clyde Nielsen, Mrs. C. Beilfuss
and Mrs. J. Christensen. Mrs. Nielsen was the first librarian.
The latest church to be organized was the Seventh Day Adventist. They organized
in 1931 and held their first meetings in the club rooms over the post office
building. In 1938 they acquired the old Modern Woodmen Lodge building located on
Second Street and remodeled or rebuilt it for the purposes of their church.
The fail of 1960 terminated the railroad passenger service to Withee, and the
razing of the depot came a year later.
The latest municipal project is the addition of a sewage system, installed in
1960 by the H. F. Radandt Co. of Eau Claire, and which was hooked up for use in
January 1961. The system runs down highway 29 east, to join the City of Owen
sewage disposal unit.
Consolidation of the Owen-Withee High Schools and the establishment of a Junior
High School was accomplished in 1955. The Junicr High being located in Withee
and the Senior High in Owen. January 1962,
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