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WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Director, Wisconsin Historical Society Press Kathryn L. Borkowski Editor Jane M. de Broux Managing Editor Diane T. Drexler Research and Editorial Assistants Colleen Harry man, Joel Heiman, John Nondorf, Marc Sieber, Andrew White, John Zimm Design Barry Roal Carlsen, University Marketing

THE WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY (ISSN 0043-6534), published quarterly, is a benefit of membership in the Wisconsin Historical Society. 2 From Telemark to Tamarack

Full membership levels start at $45 for individuals and $65 for p Ski Jumping in Western Wisconsin institutions. To join or for more information, visit our website at by Glenn L. Borreson wisconsinhistory.org/membership or contact the Membership Office at 888-748-7479 or e-mail [email protected]. The Wisconsin Magazine of History has been published quarterly since 1917 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Copyright ©2013 y | 16 "Roaring Game" by the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. The History of Curling in Wisconsin ISSN 0043-6534 (print) by Erikajanik ISSN 1943-7366 (online) For permission to reuse text from the Wisconsin Magazine of History, (ISSN 0043-6534), please access www.copyright.com or contact the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. (CCC), 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, BOOK EXCERPT MA, 01923,978-750-8400. CCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides licenses and registration for a variety of users. 24 The Quiet Season For permission to reuse photographs from the Wisconsin Magazine Remembering Country Winters of History identified with WHi or WHS contact: Visual Materials byJerry Apps Archivist, 816 State Street, Madison, Wl, 53706 or [email protected]. Wisconsin Magazine of History welcomes the submission of articles and image essays. Contributor guidelines can be found on the 28 The Art and Life of Hazel Miller Wisconsin Historical Society website at www.wisconsinhistory.org/ Hanneman wmh/contribute.asp. The Wisconsin Historical Society does not assume responsibility for statements made by contributors. by Emily Pfotenhauer Contact Us: Editorial: 608-264-6549 44 Wood v. Boynton and the [email protected] Incredible Journey of the Membership/Change of Address: 608-264-6543 [email protected] Eagle Diamond Reference Desk/Archives: 608-264-6460 by Mara Kent [email protected] Mail: 816 State Street, Madison, Wl 53706 Periodicals postage paid at Madison, Wl 53706-1417. 54 Letters Back issues, if available, are $8.95 plus postage from the Wisconsin Historical Museum store. Call toll-free: 888-999-1669. Microfilmed copies are available through UMI Periodicals 56 Curio in Microfilm, part of National Archive Publishing, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106, www.napubco.com.

On the front cover: Four members of the Milwaukee Curling Club. The club was formed in 1845 and today is the oldest continuously operating curling club in the United States.

WHI IMAGE ID 85002

VOLUME 97, NUMBER 2 / WINTER 2013-2014 % \ From Telemark to Tamarack

BY GLENN L BORRESON ». r * ki jumping had its late nineteenth century roots in Telemark, Norway, and gained immense popularity in Wisconsin's Scandinavian commu­ nities of all sizes. This was especially so in the "Norwegian corridor" stretching from south of Westby in Vernon County to north of Eau Claire into Barron County1 So popular was this sport in its heyday that there "was a time that if a Norwegian

/ moved to your town, a ski jump was likely to appear within a year."2 Ski jumping's popu­ larity was launched in earnest as immi­ grants from Norway formed local clubs in the late centurv, and it flour­ ished for decades in many communities as the boys of summer regularly exchanged A their baseball bats for jumping skis at the \ A onset of winter snows. These same decades brought changes to the sport as old-world values entered the new American setting. By • the time World War II was over, however, jumping had lost out to downhill skiing, and ski jumpers worn by war turned their atten­ tion to work and familv. Skiing began no h ate Stone Age in Norway, illustrated by the Rodoy X petroglyph of a skier found in a cave in the

Observing the skier from the spectator's viewpoint provides an idea of a ski jump's height and length, ca. 1911-1915.

/ Crown Prince Olav of Norway ski jumping, undated

northern part of the country, created around 2,500 BCE. Norwegians moved to the United States by the thousands Through the centuries skis served as transportation for people and left their homeland for new opportunities in the twenty- as diverse as Viking warriors, hunters, and farmers. Cross­ five years between 1866 and 1891. Among them were the country was the style out of necessity, and jumping was the Telemarkingers who brought their abilities and passion for means to conquer obstacles on the path. By the late 1800s, jumping to communities in their adopted country. however, skiers in Morgedal, in Telemark County, began taking ski jumping to a new level. Flying High English writer Crichton Somerville, who was living The arrival of skiers from Telemark led to the formation of in Christiania (today's Oslo), reported an early competi­ ski clubs throughout the Midwest in the 1880s. Newly orga­ tion at Huseby Hill in 1879. He stated that most jumpers nized clubs in Ishpeming, Michigan; Red Wing and Saint just "trickled" over the jump, but the Telemark boys were Paul, Minnesota; and Eau Claire and La Crosse, Wisconsin, "erect at starting, pliant, confident, without anything but a sponsored tournaments for a spirited competition between the fir branch in their hands, swooping downwards with an ever- clubs and their members.6 increasing impetus until with a bound they were in the air, The Dovre Ski Club of Eau Claire hosted large ski- and 76 feet (23m) of space was cleared." In the infancy of jumping tournaments during these early years. A description ski jumping, the techniques were different from a modern of plans for ajanuary 17, 1888, competition indicates the scope Olympic event. Nevertheless, Somerville marveled that and drama of the event. Three weeks in advance of the tourna­ "their leaping was regarded as one of the wonders of the ment, club members cleared a wide strip on the jumping hill world."3 One skier in particular achieved virtually legendary and fenced it off to prevent locals from practicing there and status. Sondre Norheim, born in Morgedal, was supposed to gaining an unfair advantage. They erected a special platform be a shuttlemaker, but he skied all winter.4After winning the as seating just for women, while, come tournament time, men first known ski competition in Christiania in 1866, he won a and boys would even climb nearby trees for a good view.' competition at Kvitseide two years later—a steeplechase of On the day itself, a procession under the direction of two sorts on skis. There he jumped thirty-four meters, a record marshals led by the Eau Claire Cornet Band began the festivi­ that stood until 1891.5 ties. "Ski clubs in their gay uniforms bearing their skis at a

wisconsinhistory.org WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

shoulder" moved from Central Hall to the ski hill where fourteen of the best jumpers competed in first class, forty participated in second class, and a large number of boys filled out the third class.8 After practice jumps, the competition began. The top prize was taken by the premier jumper of these early years, Mikkel Hemmestvedt. At the conclu­ sion of the ski jumping, the crowd returned to Central Hall for speeches and a banquet in honor of the visiting clubs. Prizes were awarded ranging from fifty dollars in gold for first place to watches and a gold pen.9 With the price of admission twenty-five cents and tickets sold at various stores, more than 4,000 people attended.10 Following a few weak years, the Dovre club reorganized in 1905.n By January 1906, ski-jumping enthusiasts met at C. P. Larson's shoe factory to arrange a grand national tournament "so impressive that Eau Claire will be the Ski Centre of America, that sport so dear to all true sons of Thor and Odin."12 If attendance was a good measure Above: In this hand-colored photo, skier number 32 sails off the jump at of success, club members must have been Stoughton, 1911. elated. Several thousand spectators watched Parades before a ski jumping competition helped create excitement jumper H. Helland from Cameron take first around the event, ca. 1911-1915. place, followed by Menomonie's Peter Lund and Chippewa Falls great Oscar Gunderson. Immediately on the heels of this tournament, Dovre joined other clubs in making plans for a tournament in Cameron Junction in just ten days.13 The La Crosse area was determined to keep pace. The year before, in February 1905, the La Crosse Tribune reported that at Medary "one of the first and most successful ski tournaments ever held in this part of the state was pulled off by a number of Norwe­ gian sportsmen, devotees of the Scandina­ vian national sport." This tournament was intended as the first step: "It is the intention of the ski runners of this city to organize a ski club and tournaments will probably be held every Sunday the remainder of the winter season. w Ski clubs were formed in small towns too. On February 9, 1913, the Blair Ski Club of Trempealeau County hosted the first of several annual tournaments for both profes­ sionals and amateurs. Chippewa Falls skiers Anders Haugen and Oscar Gunderson took

WINTER 2013-2014 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

top honors of forty and thirty dollars in prize money, respec­ tively. A crowd of 1,200 to 1,500 included spectators from Arcadia, Dodge, Independence, and Whitehall, who had boarded a special train originating in Winona, Minnesota.15 By 1923, Westby would take its place among the ski- jumping venues that would thrive and continue into the twenty-first century. At the second annual tournament in 1924, arrangements were made to have the La Crosse and South­ eastern train held for passengers' return trip to La Crosse, an indication this was no ordinary event.16

Competing Values Not surprisingly, Norwegian immigrants to the Midwest dominated the sport they brought to their adopted country. The Hemmestvedts, for example, came to the United States from the birthplace of ski jumping itself, Morgedal, Telemark. Children give skiing a go.ca. 1911-1915. By 1881, premier jumpers Mikkel and Torjus were among the leaders in Norway and had even established their own ski- jumping school.17 Mikkel Hemmestvedt became Norway's the first skier in the world to break 100 feet with a 102-foot reigning Huseby Hill champion in 1885 and 1886. Then jump at Red Wing, establishing a new world record. Then America called the Hemmestvedts, as it had thousands of older brother Torjus broke Mikkel's record by a foot in 1893. Norwegians. Both brothers became members of the Aurora Ski Club in Red In 1887, Mikkel was jumping at venues including Saint Wing and key parts of its history. They went to work for the Paul and Red Wing, Minnesota. Four years later, he became Red Wing Furniture Company and made skis and bobsleds on their own time. A third brother, Halvor, also jumped for the Aurora Ski Club.18 In 1928, Torjus and Mikkel were awarded the Holmen- kollen medal, Norway's highest award for skiing. At a January 17, 1888, tourna­ ment in Eau Claire, the names of the winners typified the Norwegian domi­ nation of the sport: Mikkel Hemmest­ vedt, J. A. Hauge, Andreas Amdal, Peter Brensholm, and H. Amundson all jumped in first class. Surnames of winners in the second and third classes included Olson, Ranum, and Hanson. With dozens of jumpers from both Minnesota and Wisconsin, nine of the fifteen place winners were from Eau Claire, Altoona, or La Crosse in western Wisconsin. Nearly every name was Norwegian.19 Twenty-five years later the tournament results still read like a

Hand-colored photo of two girls on skis, ca. 1911-1915

wisconsinhistory.org Perspective from the top of a jump, with a view of spectators surrounding the takeoff and landing areas, undated

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Norwegian who's who, with names like Haugen, Gunderson, Landwick, and Nordby heading the list of winners.20 The Norwegian influence on the sport was not limited to the skiers themselves. The men who came from Norway brought with them the values of Idraet, meaning that they skied and jumped for the sheer love and benefit of healthy outdoor activity21 The ideal contained in this cultural expres­ sion was a rough equivalent to the ancient Classical notion of mens sana in corpora sano: a healthy mind in a healthy body. The value of skiing was found in the exercise, the skills, the exhilaration, and the enjoyment of nature. In the American setting, however, these old country ideals were almost immediately overshadowed by the monetary prizes provided to the winners. At ajanuary 17, 1888, tourna­ ment in Eau Claire, for example, nine prizes in three classes totaled three hundred dollars.22 By 1906 in the same city, the winner was promised "a magnificent silver cup" valued at $250, his to keep permanently if he won three successive years. Other prizes totaled hundreds of dollars.23 In 1905, the National Ski Association (NSA) formed in Ishpeming, Michigan, under Norwegian-American leadership, immediately created conflict between Idraet and increasing prize money. When the NSA acted to abolish all cash prizes at a 1906 Ishpeming meet, the skiers decided to boycott the event. To save their tournament the hosts immediately added

Top: A skier lands smoothly after a jump, ca. 1911-1915.

Above: A splayed landing .APT was one way to slow the pace at the end of the jump, ca. 1911-1915.

Left: Not all jumpers were able to make graceful landings, undated.

wisconsinhistory.org WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY two hundred dollars to the prize money, thus ensuring success in attracting "name" jumpers. The old-country Idraet ideal fell victim to prize money, but the jumpers were unapologetic. For them, ski jumping was good money in the pocket when—in mining country, for example—wages were two or three dollars a day. A professional might win a top prize of seventy-five dollars, while the amateur would take home fifteen dollars. Even NSA secretary Aksel Holter was philosophical about the change, saying that Americans were "amateurs at heart— professionals by necessity"24 By 1928, the NSA had grown significantly to fifty clubs, many of them in the Midwest. It also took early steps to try to ensure that ski jumping would become a truly American sport, not to be reserved for the dominant Norwegians. Carl Tellefsen, Ishpeming Ski Club president and later NSA presi­ dent, reminded club members that "we are all Americans, not Englishmen, Swedes or Norwegians, and there is no discrimi­ nation shown, no favors, the best man gets there."25 NSA leaders publicized the presence of non-Scandinavian club members—"even Italians" in the club in Stillwater, Minne­ Above: Tricks were crowd pleasers, and tandem jumps were popular sota—and editorialized about "Irish Mick" Barney Riley's win examples, ca. 1911-1915. that would "encourage all nationalities... to take up the sport Below: Somersaults were also crowd pleasers and drew more ... that [the] National Association wants to make the National spectators to jumping competitions and events, undated. WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

winter sport of America."26 Riley frequently appeared at tour­ only provided them with a new set of ethnic heroes, but also, naments throughout western Wisconsin. according to Norwegian historian Odd Lovoll, "the daring From its beginnings, the NSA was also interested in competitive flight from takeoff to landing, affirmed the Viking expanding ski jumping to include women but rarely succeeded. spirit and masculinity of the participants."29 The NSA promoted skiing by women—not necessarily jumping—as a healthy activity, and the men often welcomed Ski-Jumping Competitions women for the socialization. Competition, however, was Though facing increasing competition from downhill and regarded as unnatural for women, though occasionally a girl slalom skiing in the 1920s and 1930s, between 1920 and 1950, or young woman would do an exhibition jump. The Univer­ the sport's popularity persisted in the "Norwegian corridor" of sity of Wisconsin Ski Club appears to have been an excep­ Wisconsin. An array of ski-jumping activities were held from tion. In 1914, women were admitted to full membership and Prairie du Chien, Westby, and Elroy in the south; to West numbered forty-six of the eighty members.2' Salem, Galesville, Tamarack, Arcadia, and Blair in the mid­ Most Norwegian American ski runners, the term by which section; to Whitehall, Pieeon Falls, Strum, Menomonie, and jumpers were known in the early twentieth century, did not Cameron in the north, and at least a dozen more places in the have such lofty or ambitious goals as did the NSA. Nor were same geographical band.30 Aside from competitions, numerous they professionals who could make a fancy dollar; they were jumps were constructed on farms and in coulees, where skiers day laborers, farm boys, and other lovers of sport for whom and their followers would gather on wintery afternoons. skiing was a good way to spend an afternoon or a whole day Typical of these events was the Tamarack ski tournament with fellow Norwegians.28 The sport's burgeoning success not held February 6, 1927, on the L. K. Strand hill seven miles

Henry Hanson somersaults on skis, Westby, 1950

'«• WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY south of Arcadia. Just as the original Morgedal skiers had been ordinary young Norwegians enjoying a sporting time, so Tamarack's first competition since 1913 was for amateurs only. At least fifteen runners participated from La Crosse, Westby Whitehall, Eau Claire, Pieeon Falls, Blair, Tamarack, and 1 " O 11 1 Winona.31 Tamarack was never more than a tiny community and today it's hardly a junction, but it could boast that more than 1,000 people attended this event.32 One of the jumpers at Tamarack in 1927 was nineteen- year-old Bennie Borreson, a farm boy who grew up in Pigeon Falls, another place crazy for ski jumping.33 For a third place finish, he won silver candlestick holders.34 Bennie had been launching off ski jumps competitively for at least nine years, and he would continue jumping from Westby to Eau Claire to Saint Paul until at least 1949. Western Wisconsin venues could attract big names even at small town events. Chippewa Falls, later home to Anders Strand ski hill at Tamarack, 1930 Haugen, America's first and only Olympic ski-jump medalist, hosted large tournaments by the first decade of the century. out jump them. At a 1911 tournament in Chippewa Falls, the According to the La Crosse Tribune for Saturday, January 22, boys jumped last, after the experts, on a slide made fast by 1910, "All the prominent American skiers are being entered for the use of many skiers. Undeterred, fourteen-year-old Melvin the big skifest of the year to take place on what is said to be the Hendrickson proceeded to jump 131 feet and fifteen-year-old best hill in America here tomorrow." The North Star Ski Club Teddy Larson followed with 129. Both had outdone the pros expected at least ninety entrants competing for cash and prizes by about ten feet.39 amounting to four hundred dollars. Expert skiers were quoted as "confident of a new world's record on this occasion."35 The Idraet ideal remained truest among these amateurs for In nearby Blair, a "Great Time [Was] Promised Skiers" whom the small prizes were not life changing. Ribbons, pins, at their fourth annual tournament in January 1916. With an pride, and sporting fun were the usual rewards for the men and abundance of snow, the slide would be in "first class shape" boys who practiced on local jumps and competed in tourna­ for stars whose names read like a who's who of ski jumping: ments in nearby towns. In addition to the big names invited to Barney Riley, Otto Landwick, Lars and Anders Haugen, and entice spectators to these events, local competitors would always former national champions Ole Feiring of Duluth and Ole be on hand to jump in the several classes available. Mangseth of Coleraine, Minnesota.36 These farm boys and men and many others like them A decade later, when Westby was beginning its long learned on the practice jumps built on the farms and in the successful run hosting ski-jump tournaments, spectators could coulees of western Wisconsin. In addition to the hill on the Eid expect noted professional jumpers such as Lars Haugen, cham­ farm at Pigeon Falls that hosted many local tournaments, the pion of the international tournament in Chicago; Barney Riley; Pigeon Falls area boasted numerous other farm jumps over the and Karl Nilsen, captain of the Norge Ski Club of Chicago.3' years: Mattison, Engebretson, Thompson, Tangen, Stendahl, It was always the hope that big names would lead to large gate Hallingstad, and Borreson, which had three practice jumps— counts, economic success, and, of course, community pride, the latter four farms all in Fitch Coulee. Myhers farm hill at although economic success usually meant having just enough Strum, Olaf and Stuve farm hills at Whitehall, and Otto Berg's 40 money to sponsor the next year's tournament without going farm hill in Lakes Coulee near Blair were not far away into debt. Events were competitive but they were also intended for In some communities, ski jumping continued strong into a good time. Conrad Johnstad, another Pigeon Falls skier of the 1930s even though downhill skiing was beginning to gain the the thirties and forties, tells of two episodes: "As a child, I was momentum that would one day overtake it. For its fourth annual attending a tournament at Eid Hill and witnessed skier Bennie tournament in January 1936, Whitehall boasted renowned Borreson as he left the take-off prematurely, soaring over skiers including three Bietela brothers from Ishpeming, Mich­ trees and landing in the top branches, then falling to earth igan. The crowd was estimated at 2,500, a fine turnout but not and miraculously surviving. I also recall Bennie at the Record equal to the 4,000 spectators one year earlier.38 Breakers Ski Meet in Whitehall. As the announcer was intro­ Local amateurs would take their turn on the ski slide along ducing him as 'Bennea Borr-ass-son,' Bennie skied down the with big name professionals, and they would sometimes even slide dressed in ladies' apparel, complete with bonnet. As he

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mere seven-year-old, dazzled the spectators by doing a somer­ sault on skis.44 Sidney Borreson, growing up in the thirties in Fitch Coulee near Pigeon Falls with his ski-jumping brothers, recalls jumping off building roofs with skis fashioned from barrel staves. One evening, as Sidney's brother Garven sat down to supper with the family, Garven announced that he had just done a somersault jumping off the shed roof, where­ upon his parents warned him in unmistakable language that he was "never ever to do that again."45 A passion for records also kept spectators coming. News­ papers announcing tournaments would entice spectators with the statements of "experts" that records would likely be set—and often they were. Meanwhile, Norway's skiers scoffed at Americans for valuing distance at the cost of form. In the scoring of ski jumping in the 1924 Olympics, this tension became transparent when the Idraet value of form-over- distance cost the Norwegian American Anders Haugen of Chippewa Falls a third-place medal. Haugen had placed first by distance but was dropped to fourth when he was judged "extremely harshly" on style and form.46 Every ski hill had its own records, of course, and record- setting distances related not only to changes and improvements in jumping technique but also to the height of the scaffold on the hill. In 1911, Chippewa Falls had one of the state's few steel slides, on which skiers could reach speeds of ninety miles per hour.47 In 1926, Westby commanded a scaffold one hundred feet above takeoff, and as late as 1941, Whitehall boasted about its new Works Progress Administration-built 114-foot scaffold Bennie Borreson, number 22, along with fellow ski jumper Karsten capable of two-hundred-foot jumps.48 Most scaffolds were Linnerud, number 16, stand in front of their jumping hill at Tamarack, understandably smaller and matched the skills of the amateurs February 9,1930. Bennie was twenty-two years old and received a who were their sole users except for tournaments. third prize of silver candlestick holders. Following the debut of ski jumping in the 1924 Winter Olympics, other western Wisconsin skiers joined Anders left the take-off and flew through the air, the dress flew up Haugen on the US team. Lemoine Batson was a teammate to covering his face, resulting in an indescribable landing."41 Haugen at the 1924 Olympics and repeated on the 1932 team. Of Scot-Irish descent, Batson was the first American-born Performing American Style Olympic ski jumper, and for thirty years he entered jumping Stunts were regarded with disdain by some Norwegian orga­ competitions around the Midwest.49 One of Batson's students, nizers of the sport. A few years after the formation of the NSA, Jimmy Hendrickson, was a member of the 1936 Olympic team Aksel Holter wrote, "Acrobatic performances do not belong to and also the 1935 National Class B Champion. Hendrickson the skisport.... A club saves money and reputation by keeping learned to jump on barrel staves from the roof of his father's fool tricks out of their tournaments."42 Yet the public loved barn at Eau Claire and by the age often was making jumps of the thrill of stunts, and they became a frequent part of tour­ sixty feet. Sadly, Hendrickson died of a cerebral hemorrhage naments. For example, twin jumps—two skiers leaping and in 1948 after completing a perfect landing and then falling at landing together—were not unusual. In 1913, the La Crosse the conclusion of a 179-footjump at Fox River Grove, Illinois.50 Tribune promoted ski jumping with this line: "What probably Willis "Billy" Olson was the 1948 National Class C (boys) is one of the most daring feats on skis is performed by John champion in Seattle with a jump of 202 feet. Another Eau Rudd of Duluth and Axel Hendrickson of Chicago, both of Claire High School student, Billy tied the US distance record whom guarantee to make a 65 foot leap and a complete somer­ of 297 feet in 1949, and he went on to complete in the 1952 sault on skis for $50 a performance on any hill in America."43 and 1956 Olympics. Adding youth to the performance made it even more Nevertheless, big names were not what made ski jumping thrilling. At a 1917 tournament in Blair, Basil Mathison, a such a booming sport in western Wisconsin. The small-town

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men and boys who caught ski-jumping fever and generated such enthusiasm that, as Eau Claire ski historian Ron Buckli

wrote, "almost every hill or bluff you can look on in and around • Eau Claire once held a ski jump."51 The argument could be • lis made that these skiers from the hills and coulees, small towns (Jj and cities, were the true protectors of the old world's Idraet. That spirit stayed alive in small towns like Tamarack, Strum, and Pigeon Falls where, come Sunday tournament-time, - H 52 young men strapped on "the wooden wings of Norway" to 'vtffWI emulate their heroes in a wholesome winter activity. Women jumpers remained the exception, but in the $ mid-thirties Johanna Kolstad of Dokka, Oppland County Norway, came to the United States for four lengthy tours as f « r || IB an exceptional exhibition jumper. Growing up a tomboy and competing with her brothers, Kolstad was already an accom­ Champion skiers of the Northwest at Arcadia, undated plished jumper at the age of seventeen, holding a record of 180 feet at Flagberg Hill in Norway53 Among the many places she jumped on her American tours were Whitehall and Strum in Trempealeau County54 Another notable girl jumper was of other nationalities entered their ranks and also excelled, ski Eau Claire's own Tootsie Severson, who was raised in a ski- jumping was a sport of Norwegian pride. When ski jumps dotted jumping family. In 1941, the ten-year-old had already attained the landscape from tiny Tamarack to a much larger Eau Claire, one hundred feet when she made one of her exhibition jumps western Wisconsin contributed its share of big names successful at Galesville's first tournament.55 in the sport that Telemark gave the world. Equally important, it produced ski jumpers in numerous communities who embraced Going Downhill with enthusiasm "the most thrilling winter sport."61 IK4 By the late thirties, interest in ski jumping was flagging even though towns such as Pigeon Falls, Whitehall, and Galesville Notes 56 1. The title of Chapter 25 describes this part of the state as follows: "Most heavily popu­ still built new scaffolds shortly before or after 1940. To stimu­ lated Norwegian area in the U.S., western Wisconsin;" cf. Hjalmar Rued Holand, History late interest in the sport, Whitehall, Pigeon Falls, and Westby of the Norwegian Settlements: A Translated and Expanded Version of the 1908 De Norske Settlementers Historie and the 1930 Den Siste Folkevandring Sagastubber fra Nybyggerlivet were among the communities that formed junior clubs in I Amerika, trans. Malcolm Rosholt and Helmer M. Blegen, ed. Jo Ann M. Winistorfer (Wau- which experienced skiers taught youngsters.57 This helped for kon, Iowa: Astri My Astri Publishing, 2006), 147. 2. J. Thomas West, "Norwegians Anchor U.S. Hall of Fame," Skiing Heritage 20, no. 3 (Sep­ a time as junior ski jumping continued into the fifties. An Indi- tember 2008): 45. anhead Junior Ski Association was formed in the forties, and 3. Tim Ashburner, The Hstory of Ski Jumping (Shrewsbury, England: Quiller Press, 2003), 16. on January 15, 1950, thirteen members of the Flying Pigeon 4. Ibid., 13. Junior Ski Club participated in the ninth annual meet.58 5. Ibid., 13—14. Other accounts say Norheim jumped 27 feet. 6. A survey of newspaper articles from these years indicates the constant exchange of com­ In a few locales, like Eau Claire and Westby, ski jumping petitors. continued to flourish. In the La Crosse area, slalom skiing 7. "The Great Ski Tournament," Eau Claire News, December 31, 1887, 4. 8. "Gliding on the Skies," Eau Claire Daily Free Press, January 18, 1888, 3. would take its place. When Sidney Borreson was asked what 9. Ibid. 10. "The Ski Tournament," Eau Claire News, January 14, 1888, 4. drove the spike into the heart of ski jumping, he simply 11. "To Reorganize Ski Club," .Eau Claire Leader, February 16, 1905, 6. 59 remarked, "The war." Ron Buckli added, "The war took the 12. "Monster Ski Tournament," Eau Claire Leader, January 18, 1906, 5. 13. "SkiJumpers Meet at Eau Claire," La Crosse Tribune, February 20, 1906, 1. heart out the [Eau Claire] ski club, which many felt could have 14. "Big Ski Match Sunday," La Crosse Tribune, February 13, 1905, 5. become a dynasty with the wealth of junior jumpers in the 15. "Big Ski Tournament at Blair on Sunday Was Decided Success," Winona Republican- Herald, February 10, 1913, 2. Flying Eagles club of the 1930s. But missing four or five of 16. "Westby to Stage Second Annual Ski Tournament on Sunday, February 10, Prominent their best years, they returned post-war much older and most Chicago Riders Entered," La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press, January 27, 1924, 14. 17. Ashburner, Hstory of SkiJumping, 16. turned their attention to making a living and raising fami­ 18. Frederick L.Johnson, Sky Crashers: A History of the Aurora Ski Club (Red Wing, Min­ lies."60 Of course the growing popularity of downhill skiing nesota: Goodhue County Historical Society Press, 2003), 41, 47, 35. Some sources indicate the Hemmestvedts changed the spelling of their name to Hemmestveit after coming to America, and simultaneous advances in equipment were reasons, too, but I have retained Johnson's use of Hemmestvedt. along with the practical reality of the time required to prepare 19. "The Grand Ski Tournament," Eau Claire News, January 21, 1888, 4. The history of west­ ern Wisconsin ski jumping has a small claim on Mikkel Hemmestvedt because he skied under even a small hill for jumping. the banner of the Saint Croix Falls (Wisconsin) ski club in both this Eau Claire tournament and another in La Crosse the same month; see Johnson, Sky Crashers, 25—27. For the two-thirds of a century that ski jumping flourished 20. "Prize Winners at Chippewa Ski Tourney," Eau Claire Leader, January 28, 1913, 2. in town-and-country western Wisconsin, Norwegian immi­ 21. E.John B. Allen, From Skisport to Skiing: One Hundred Years of an American Sport. 1840-1940 (Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1993), 49. grants and their descendants were its lifeblood. Although skiers 22. "The Ski Tournament," Eau Claire News, January 14, 1888,4.

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23. "Monster Ski Tournament." 44. "Haugen Is Winner of Blair Tourney," La Crosse Tribune, January 9, 1917, 10. 24. Allen, From Skisport to Skiing, 60-62. 45. Sidney Borreson, in conversation with author, October 26, 2011. 25. Ibid., 50-51. 46. Allen, From Skisport to Skiing, 91. There was more drama. After a recalculation of the 26. Ibid., 52-53. points awarded the skiers, the third place medal was presented to Haugen in 1974, fifty years 27. Ibid., 54. later. Haugen had placed third by less than one one-hundredth of a point. 28. Ibid., 60-61. Allen states there were eighty professionals by around 1910, according to 47. "Scaffold for Ski Tournaments," Eau Claire Leader, January 22, 1911, 2. an NSA source. 48. "Westby Club to Stage Largest Ski Meet in This Section," La Crosse Tribune and Leader- 29. Odd S. Lovoll, The Promise Fulfilled: A Portrait of Norwegian Americans Today (Min­ Press, February 7, 1926, 15; "Whitehall, Strum Clubs Working on Tournament Plans," Wi- neapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1998), 241. nona Republican-Herald, February 6, 1939, 12. 30. Ron Buckli, Riding on the Wind: Eau Claire Ski Jumping 1886-2008 (Eau Claire, Wl: 49. Buckli, Riding on the Wind, 56-57. Ron Buckli, 2006), 246. 50. Ibid., 62. 31. "Many Riders Entered in Tamarack Ski Meet Near Arcadia Sunday," Winona Republi­ 51. Ibid., 24. can-Herald, February 4, 1927, 12. 52. Allen, From Skisport to Skiing, 12. 32. "Whitehall Rider Wins Tamarack Ski Meet; Soft Snow Slows Jumps," Winona Republi­ 53. Karin Berg, "Jump, Girls—Jump!" The Norseman, March 2000, 8—9. can-Herald, February 7, 1927, 13. 54. "Girl Jumper to Take Part in Whitehall Event," Winona Republican-Herald, February 4. 33. Ibid. The news article mistakenly gave Bennie's age as sixteen years. 1933, 8; 'Johanna Kolstad Jumps at Strum," La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press, February 34. Carol Ekern (daughter of Bennie Borreson), in phone conversation with author, Febru­ 14, 1935, 16. ary 2011. 55. "47 Entries in Gale Ski Meet Sunday," La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press, January 9, 35. "Ski Tournament at Chippewa Falls," La Crosse Tribune, January 22, 1910, 2. 1941, 11. 36. "Great Time Is Promised Skiers," La Crosse Tribune, January 15, 1916, 12. 56. "Third Annual Ski Meet for Juniors at Pigeon Falls," Winona Republican-Herald, Janu­ 37. "Westby to Stage Second Annual Ski Tournament." ary 30, 1941, 10; "Whitehall Slide Is Ready for 7th Annual Tourney," Winona Republican- 38. "Bietela Brothers of Michigan Cop in Ski Tournament," La Crosse Tribune and Leader- Herald, March 3, 1939, 10; "New Improved Slide Built By Galesville Ski Club," Winona Press, January 6, 1936, 11; "Chicagoan Wins Whitehall Ski Tourney Sunday," Sheboygan Republican-Herald, December 29, 1941, 11. Press, January 7, 1935, 10. 57. "Alvin Winjue Wins Junior Ski Tourney," Winona Republic an-Herald, March 6, 1934, 9; 39. Ashburner, Hstory of Ski Jumping, 26. "Pigeon Falls Boys Plan Ski Tourney," Winona Republican-Herald, February 10, 1939, 12: 40. Sidney and Irene Borreson, e-mail message to author, January 11, 2012; Conradjohn- 'Junior Ski Club Formed At Westby," La Crosse Tribune, January 23, 1949, 22. stad, e-mail message to author, November 9, 2011; "Blair Stages Ski Tourney on Sunday," 58. "Indianhead Ski Tourney Set Sunday," La Crosse Tribune, January 15, 1950, 16. La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press, February 11, 1938, 9; Buckli, Riding on the Wind, 82. 59. Sidney Borreson, in conversation with author, October 26, 2011. 41. Conrad Jo hnstad, e-mail message to author, November 9, 2011. 60. Buckli, Riding on the Wind, 87. 42. Allen, From Skisport to Skiing, 62. 61. "Skiing: The Most Fascinating Winter Sport." Eau Claire and Westby are two western 43. "Skiing: The Most Fascinating Winter Sport for Dwellers of Cold Climes," La Crosse Wisconsin communities that continue to have active ski jumping clubs and ski jumps. Tribune, January 8, 1913, 10.

Anderson Hill Snowflake Ski Club, Westby, Wisconsin, undated. This image shows the scale of the ski jump on the landscape.

14 wisconsinhistory.org A skier soars without poles or helmet, Westby, ca. 1975.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Glenn L. Borreson is a retired Lutheran pastor who served congregations in Wisconsin and Iowa for nearly forty years. He is the author of four books, including his most recent. Water for Your Soul, published by Infinity Publish­ ing. Growing up in Trempealeau County, once a ski jumping hotbed, he had five Borreson uncles who were competitive ski jumpers. After he began a family history blog that resurrected old ski-jumping stories, he undertook the research that led to this article. Besides writing and woodworking, he does presentations on Norwegian American heritage. He and his wife Mary live in Holmen,Wisconsin.

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ft On a cold and clear January day in 1879, curlers from Portage, Port Hope, Rio, Arlington, Dekorra, and Milwaukee met at Poynette for a social game. The Scot­ tish sport had been popular with Wisconsinites since at least the 1840s. But while the rink that day boasted its fair share of Humes, McMillans, McKays, Campbells, and McGulloughs, the players also included a Jaeger, Stevenson, Paterson, and Alverson, attesting to the sport's broader popularity on Wisconsin's lakes and rivers. More than eighty players took to the ice that day, making this social curl the largest US match to date outside New York state.1 The competition ended, as nearly all did, with a sociable feast filled with speeches, drinking, and song. "Too much praise cannot be said in favor of Poynette rinkers and their ladies, for the sumptuous repast furnished after the game was over,"

Above: A man and woman sweep the ice ahead of a curling stone during the annual Milwaukee Mixed Curling Tournament on January 11,1971. Right Top: A curling stone made of Scottish granite. The best curling stones camefrom a granite plug on top of an ancient volcano on the island of Ailsa Craig off of Scotland's Ayrshire coast. Right Bottom: Wooden curling stone, ca. 1850-1890. Many Wisconsinites used improvised wooden curling stones due to the unavailability of Scottish granite.

18 wisconsinhistory.org WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY read the game notes. "The tables were set in Wood's Hall, and sixteenth century, including Pietr Bruegel's "Hunters in never were tables more heavily laden with the good things of the Snow," show people playing a curling-like game on ice. this world." It was a good day to be a curler in Wisconsin, one Nineteenth-century Scottish curling scholar and avid curler that "will never be forgotten by the Curlers who took part in John Kerr declared, "[TJhere are no facts by which we can this Tournament."2 determine precisely the antiquity of the game or the manner Curling came to Wisconsin from Canada and Scotland in in which it was first played." And yet his definitive History the mid-nineteenth century. Scottish immigrants first curled of Curling and Fifty Years of the Royal Caledonian Curling on the frozen Milwaukee River in the early 1840s. In 1845, Club dedicates the entire first chapter to trying to do just that. they formed the Milwaukee Curling Club, which is today the Kerr suggests that Flemish immigrants may have brought the oldest continuously operating curling club in the United States, proto game with them to Scotland, where it was nurtured and and was, at the time, only the second club established in the evolved into "as truly a national institution as the haggis." 4 nation following one in Pontiac, Michigan. The Milwaukee But no matter the origins, by the mid-seventeenth century, the club elected the city's first permanent Scottish settler, James sport had become solidly identified with Scotland, and it was Murray, as its president. Four years later, in 1850, a second her people who spread the game around the world. Wisconsin club formed in Portage.3 Scottish immigrants brought curling to North America in The origins of the game itself are unclear. While primarily the eighteenth century. The sport became incredibly popular associated with Scotland today, Flemish paintings from the in Canada, where the continent's first curling club formed in

Two men sweep the ice ahead of the stone as it approaches the house and the mate watches, ca. 1956. Curling was nicknamed the "roaring game"due to all the shouting between teammates.

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Montreal in 1807. It was only a matter of time before the game was found in a pond in Dunblane, Scotland, inscribed "Stir­ made its way south to Wisconsin, with its long cold winters ling, 1511."6 Efforts to standardize the stones and the rules and tempting stretches of frozen waterways. came with the formation of the Caledonian Curling Club Curling is a bit like shuffleboard on ice. Four players on in Edinburgh in 1838. Yet on the lakes, ponds, and rivers of two teams slide their stones down an icy lane, trying to get Wisconsin, players used stones of unique sizes and shapes to closest to a distant target known as the house. The game's fit local styles and pocketbooks. The best curling stones came name comes from the curl, or curve, that each running stone from the island of Ailsa Craig, a granite plug on top of an makes as the curler twists the stone's handle during delivery. ancient volcano in the Irish Sea off of Scotland's Ayrshire Curlers release stones one at a time, eight stones to a side, coast.7 These stones were expensive and hard to get, though, through ten innings. Other players carrying brooms vigor­ and likely remained a distant dream for many early Wisconsin ously sweep the ice in front of the stone to reduce the fric­ curlers. tion between the stone and the ice, allowing the stone to travel Instead, Wisconsinites improvised. They used boulders farther. The game is scored according to the proximity of the found in rivers and fields. Some teams used iron stones. They stones to the target.5 also made "stones" out of wood. Wooden curling stones appear Where today curling stones come in a standard size and to have been unique to North America, where wood was abun­ weigh forty-two pounds, early curling stones were far from dant, accessible, and inexpensive. Submerged in water and regular. The earliest known curling stone is rectangular and frozen, these stones weighed nearly 20 pounds. Wooden stones

A woman guiding a curling stone into the house, January 1965. Women began forming curling clubs and officially competing in the 1940s.

20 wisconsinhistory.org .*-• t, .5- * JV + *)> 4k 1

Above: Four participants in the first ever over-sixty curling tournament held in Milwaukee, February 1960 Below: A tam-o-shanter with pins and medallions forWisconsin curling organizations from 1934-1955. Below Right: Curling broom, ca. 1950s

WINTER 2013-2014 21 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY found a home on Wisconsin rinks until the late nineteenth the 25th, being the anniversary of the birthday of [famed century. Curlers in Dekorra on the Wisconsin River, finding Scottish poet] Robert Burns, the Scotchmen of Caledonia, the local rocks insufficient, hired a carpenter and blacksmith Dekorra and Portage had what is technically termed in curling to shape wood stones with iron handles in the early 1850s.8 phrase a regular 'bon spiel' upon the ice at Silver Lake." The Brooms took a similar homespun course. Some curlers next winter, the curlers of Columbia County advertised in used corn brooms, the same used to sweep the floor at home, the Milwaukee newspapers that they "hereby challenge any though these tended to leave a mess on the ice. Others used county in the state to the 'roaring game' with from ten to the horsehair brush favored in Scotland. fifteen rinks to be played within the present month at or within By 1860, curlers could be found all over the state's winter thirty miles of the city of Portage."9 landscape. "The ancient and invigorating Scottish game of While the nickname "roaring game" came from the curling on the ice is becoming very popular in this neighbor­ captain, or skip, shouting instructions to his teammates, the hood," noted Milwaukee's Daily Sentinel in 1860. "Wednesday term could just as easily describe the frivolity and sociability

A spectator's view of the Milwaukee Kittle Invitational Curling match at Riverside Park, February 1967

22 wisconsinhistory.org WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY that surrounded the game. Games could get so loud that it was said in Scotland that "wives, daughters, and sweethearts in glens many miles away were assured of the curlers' enjoyment" by the ruckus echoing over the hills.10 The same appeared to be true in Wisconsin. Most games concluded with a meal and music shared by opposing teams and their families. A true gentleman's game, players shook hands both before and after each game, and teams often broke into "hearty cheers for their competitors" at the conclusion.11 People from all social classes and professions played, from blacksmiths and farmers to lawyers, though a Mr. Johnston of Milwaukee noted in 1879 that their members included no doctors. He speculated that the medical profession "perhaps thought Curling not of much assistance to their business."12 Wisconsin curlers also maintained the game's Scottish flavor even if not all of the players had Scottish roots. Some teams, including the Madison Curling Club, wore tam-o'- shanters and tartans. Calls and scores were called out in Scot­ tish brogues, leading thejanesville Daily Gazette to comment in 1861 that "it would have been but a slight stretch of the imagination for one to have imagined himself on some loch among the hills of bonnie Scotland."13 For "sweep it up," curlers shouted "soop it up" and "ca canny" for "carefully, 14 now." Dinners often ended with choruses of "Auld Lang Nicole Joraanstad (center) with Allison Pottinger (left) and Natalie Syne" and the recitation of other Scottish poems. Nicholson (right), both from Minnesota, sweeping during the 2010 The advent of artificial ice and indoor rinks changed the Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada. game in the twentieth century. Curling became more predict­ able, rule bound, and professional. It became possible to play in the summer and in places without a real winter. Curling Notes also became coed. Women began forming clubs and officially 1. Annual of the Grand National Curling Club of America, 1878-1879 (New York: Grand competing in the 1940s. In 1947, the United States Women's National Curling Club, 1880), 98. Curling Association formed in Wauwatosa.15 2. Annual of the Grand National Curling Club, 96-98. 3. Dorothy G. McCarthy, "Tales of Old Portage: 'Brithers O'The Broom,"' Portage Curling made its Olympic debut in 1924 but then Daily Register, March 11, 1960, 8; "A Brief History," Milwaukee Curling Club, www. languished for fifty-six years until it was brought back as an milwaukeecurlingclub.com/aboutus/history. 4. John Kerr, History of Curling and Fifty Years of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club (Ed­ official medal sport at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. inburgh: David Douglas, 1890), online at Electric Scotland, http://www.electricscotland.com/ Since then, curling has experienced a burst in popularity. histo ry/curling/. 5. "What Is Curling?" USA Curling Media Guide and Directory (Stevens Point, Wl: USA Wisconsin boasts the nation's largest concentration of curlers, Curling Communications, 2011), 10-11. with nearly four thousand players. It would be no surprise to 6. "The Stirling Smith Collections," The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, www. smithart gallery, demon.co.uk/collections. the men who first took to the Wisconsin ice in the 1840s out 7. "The History of Curling," Canadian Curling Association, www.curling.ca/start-curling/the- of nostalgia for their home game, sport, and camaraderie, for histo ry- of-curling. "once bitten, a curler becomes as rabid about his sport as the 8. "Wooden Curling Stone," Wisconsin Historical Society, http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/ museum/artifacts/archives/002022.asp; Don McNeil, "The Circuit Rider," Wisconsin Maga­ 16 fisherman or golfer." 1>1

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THE QUIET SEASON

Remembering Country Winters

BY JERRY APPS

The following is excerpted from The Quiet Season: Remembering Country Winters, recently published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press.

was born in the midst and of course milked the cows of the Great Depression twice a day. In winter we took I and grew up on a central a well-earned rest in prepa­ Wisconsin farm, where the ration for the busy seasons winters were fierce and seem­ to come. The short days and ingly never ending. I have long, dark nights forced us never left the North, and to follow the rhythms of the outside of the time I spent in natural world and reminded the army I have never missed us that we were in fact part of a winter in Wisconsin. nature—not as different from Over the years I have come the plants and animals as we to appreciate and even enjoy might have thought. northern winters. But I've also There's a resilience that learned that there is more to comes with having a few winter than snow and ice and northern Januaries under bitter cold. Winter has shaped your belt. Winter on the farm me in ways that go deeper than was difficult at best, even I am even aware. I believe this dangerous when a blizzard is true for everyone who has roared in from the north­ spent any length of time in the west and closed us off from North. Living through a real the outside world, some­ winter—a northern winter— times for several days. But we affects how we think, influences never worried about power what we believe is important, outages, since we had no and causes us to relate to other outside power; electrical lines people in a particular way. would not arrive at our farm For farm families like mine, winter meant slowing down. until 1947. Our kerosene lamps lit the long evenings, and The rest of the year on the farm was near nonstop activity: our wood-burning stoves kept us warm enough. We had plowing, stone picking, and planting in spring; cultivating, no indoor plumbing, either, so we used a gasoline-powered hoeing, making hay, threshing, and picking cucumbers in engine to pump water for the farm animals and for our own summer; silo filling and corn husking in fall. Through it all use. (We also kept our trips to the frigidly cold outhouse as we also built fence, repaired machinery, tended our animals. brief as possible.)

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Along with a hard-won self-reliance, I credit winter Perhaps most profoundly for me, winter embeds in us with teaching me the value of patience. It just takes longer northerners a deep respect for the natural world. Nature's to accomplish things in winter. We wallowed through inches power is formidable, never more so than in winter. There's and sometimes feet of snow to our woodlot to cut wood nothing like a blinding blizzard to remind us humans that we for hungry woodstoves, a task slowed considerably by cold are not in charge, even though we sometimes fool ourselves weather and deep snow. When snowstorms plugged our into thinking we are. road with snowdrifts and stopped all travel past our farm, Each fresh snowfall provided a canvas for recording there was nothing we could do about it except wait for the recent happenings on the landscape. By learning to identify snowplow, which always came—eventually. animal tracks in the snow, a skill I acquired from my father. The importance of family came into sharper focus during I could see where a squirrel had dug for acorns, where winter. Although we attended school no matter the weather a deer had pawed for something to eat, where a fox had (our country school never closed), some blizzards kept us walked during the previous night. One time I followed a fox from traveling into town for weeks. While those storms made trail until I found where it intersected with rabbit tracks. our farmwork all the more challenging—paths had to be A bit farther along I discovered where the rabbit had met cleared from building to building, sometimes several times its fate, nothing left but a few drops of blood on the white in one day, and our heavy winter clothing made it that much snow and a few tufts of rabbit fur. The fox track continued harder to get our work done—they were also cause for our on. There on the snow I saw life and death in their simplest family to draw closer together. When the weather was espe­ terms, a vivid reminder of the natural order of things. My cially snowy or bitterly cold, we gathered in the kitchen or interest in nature and its deeper meaning in our lives has the dining room (the only rooms in our farmhouse heated by stayed with me since those early experiences. On the snow- woodstoves) and played Monopoly, checkers, or card games swept fields on our farm, I learned a profound lesson about like Flinch and Smear. My twin brothers and I built things nature as teacher. with Tinker Toys and Lincoln Logs and read books that we had brought home from our school library. While we sat at First Snow the dining room table to do our homework around the kero­ It had felt like snow for several days. "Feel it in my bones," sene lantern, our parents joined us, Pa at one end reading Ma said. It was mid-November, and each morning's walk the Milwaukee Sentinel or the Wisconsin Agriculturist. to our country school seemed a bit chillier, and damper, Ma at the other darning socks, mending worn overalls, or too. The bare oaks alongside our country road stood silent working on other sewing projects. against a slate gray sky. More than a week had passed While winter forced us to turn our attention to home without sunshine—cold, dreary days and ever longer nights. and family, it also instilled in us a strong sense of commu­ As we walked to school on this dreary November nity. In those days farm families relied on each other for all morning, my brothers and I watched and wished for snow—a sorts of help, from barn raisings to midwifery. And it was change from the dull browns of late fall, the boring land­ never more important than during winter that we look out scape devoid of color or excitement. A few days earlier it had for our neighbors, making sure that they were warm and rained; the milk truck and the few cars that passed along our had plenty to eat. Getting caught outside in a blizzard or dirt road had created ruts that were now frozen into brown in below-freezing temperatures can be deadly. Rural people ribbons of hard walking. We hiked along the edges of the know this very well and tend to keep track of each other road, where the frozen dirt and the dried grasses met and during extreme weather. the walking was a bit easier. Pa had suggested that we wear Besides depending on neighbors for their help with such our rubber boots to school; he was that sure it would snow. winter tasks as butchering and sawing wood, we brightened My brothers and I had protested a bit but did what he said. the long winter nights with neighborhood card parties and He was usually right, especially when it came to predicting the occasional dance, sometimes in a neighbor's home, more the weather. often at our country school. We celebrated weddings, birth­ As we topped Millers' Hill, we heard the school bell days, and anniversaries together and likewise came together ringing, a clear tone that echoed through the valley and to mourn the death of a community member. Casseroles, rolled up the hills and along the country roads leading to cakes, and pies appeared at the grieving family's home, and the school. The big cast-iron bell hanging in the bell tower everyone attended the funeral, no matter what their religion on top of the school told us it was 8:30 and reminded us to or whether they were religious at all. Neighbors quickly and hurry along if we didn't want to be marked tardy. quietly showed up to help with the milking and other farm We walked into the school a few minutes before nine, chores during these sad times. the official starting time, and were greeted by our teacher.

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Miss Thompson. We stashed our lunch buckets (former Karo and feeling the snowflakes on our cheeks, trying to form snow­ syrup pails) on the shelf in the school's entryway balls—there wasn't enough snow yet—and running around "Might as well keep your coats on," Miss Thompson like we were possessed by first snowfall demons. Twenty kids said. "We're about ready for the flag raising." One of the celebrated the first snowfall, first graders to eighth graders all eighth graders grabbed the thick rope that hung in the rejoicing together. And then Miss Thompson came outside entryway and led up to the bell tower and gave it a long pull. as well, wearing her thin cotton coat and a head scarf. She Dong, dong, dong, the bell responded, and another day at held out her hand, caught a snowflake, and smiled. Chain O' Lake School, District Number 4, Town of Rose. "Let's play fox and geese," someone yelled, and we all Waushara County, Wisconsin, began. gathered at the now snow-covered softball diamond and We gathered at the flagpole, where another eighth watched while a couple of the older kids walked a big circle grader had the duty of snapping the flag to the pole rope and in the snow, then divided the circle into four parts, like spokes pulling the flag into position at the top of the pole. With the in a wheel with a hub in the center. On this day we would flag in place, we all recited the Pledge of Allegiance before not play anti-I-over, run sheep run, kick the can, pom-pom filing back into the school and hanging our coats and caps pull-away or the other school games we played after softball on hooks in the entryway. I glanced at the sky before going season ended. It was time to shift from fall to winter games. inside. The clouds appeared heavier and thicker, and a stiff To play fox and geese, one person is the fox and the breeze had come up from the southwest, from the direction rest are geese. The fox chases the geese, who run around of the lake that was a quarter mile or so down the hill and the outside of the circle and sometimes escape to the hub. bore the same name as the school, Chain O' Lake. considered a free zone. But only one person may be in the Miss Thompson had already started the fire in the big free zone at a time. The last goose the fox catches becomes wood-burning stove that stood in the back of the school, and the next fox, and the game continues. the inside of the building was warm and comfortable as we Back inside the schoolroom after recess, with rosy found our seats and took out our books for the day's lessons. cheeks and smiles on our faces, we resumed our studies. At Soon the room was quiet, just the way Miss Thompson liked noon we would do it all over again, playing and laughing it, the only sounds the tick-tock, tick-tock of the Regulator and celebrating the change in seasons. No matter what the clock on the north wall, the occasional snapping and crack­ calendar said, for most of us kids that first snow signaled the ling of wood burning in the big stove, and the southwest wind true beginning of winter. rattling the windows. Although tall windows on the north Only a few days after the first snowfall, another one and south ends of the school allowed in as much natural arrived, with more fury and spunk than the first, and with light as possible, the light was murky on this dark fall day more snow, too. This meant someone had to shovel paths and Miss Thompson flipped on the electric lights. Almost to the outhouses, to the pump house and woodshed, to the none of us had electricity at home, so we all marveled at mailbox nailed on a post at the edge of the country road, how a few lightbulbs strung across the ceiling could turn the and to the flagpole so we could continue our flag-raising dreary room into one that was somewhat cheerful on dark, ceremony each morning. The flagpole ceremony was cloudy days. canceled only when the temperature dipped below zero, and I had difficulty concentrating on my lessons; all I could even then the youngster who had received the great honor think about was the first snow of the season and how every­ of putting up the flag each day continued to do so, below thing would change when it arrived. I thought about all the zero or not. On those frigid days the rest of us stayed inside fun things associated with snow—sledding, skiing, snow­ the schoolhouse and pledged our allegiance to the flag while ball fights—and pushed from my mind snow shoveling, wet we stood at our desks or, on the coldest mornings, huddled mittens, and snow-blocked roads. around the woodstove, shivering and trying to get warm. I saw the first snowflake about midmorning, a half hour As soon as the snow was deep enough, sledding and or so before recess. At least, I thought it was a snowflake; skiing became the most popular playground activities at it was hard to tell, as the wind kicked up bits of leaves and Chain O' Lake. Lizzie Hatliff, who owned eighty acres of grass and swirled them around. Then I saw another and land surrounding the school (actually seventy-nine acres, another, saw them sticking to the schoolhouse windows as the one acre of school grounds was on her land), didn't before melting and sliding down as raindrops might do. mind that we schoolkids used the long hill behind the school leaving little moisture trails. for our recess play. Shortly after a major snowfall, we were At recess time we all burst outside, running like calves let skiing on Hatliff's Hill. The snow was fast, and the skiing out of the barn for the first time, turning our faces to the sky was outstanding. I used homemade skis my grandfather

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Witt had made from birch boards that he steamed with a done was a mean, lowlife trick, but it was his pointing and teakettle so he could bend up the front ends. He then carved laughing that set me off. I picked up one of my homemade the turned-up ends to a point, so they closely resembled birch skis, swung it in a big circle, and hit Clair alongside the factory-made skis. He even nailed a strip of leather across head. He fell in the snow in a heap. He quickly stood back each ski to hold my boots in place. Unfortunately, the skis up, rubbing the place on his head where I had clobbered did not have grooves on their bottom sides, so steering was him. His face was covered with snow, and he looked like he challenging. But steering wasn't a problem on Hatliff's Hill. was going to cry. Just then the school bell rang. because after several trips down, the tracks in the snow were Our teacher quickly noticed that Clair was rubbing his well worn, and my homemade skis followed them as a train head. She inquired if he'd been hurt during the noon break. follows railroad tracks. I sat petrified at my desk. The other pupils had quickly taken On one of my trips down the hill I noticed that Clair out their work. They listened to the exchange but didn't Jenks had stayed at the bottom, standing to the side of the ski want any part of what they saw about to happen. Everyone track. Clair was two or three years ahead of me and consid­ knew what had taken place on the ski hill and why Clair erably bigger than I was; while I was four-foot-something was rubbing his head. I anticipated missing at least a week's tall, Clair was pushing toward six feet. And although he was worth of recess and noon breaks, and maybe even some time mostly a decent kid, he did like to play dirty tricks on his after school. fellow classmates. "Happened at home this morning," Clair said, "when I Just before I reached the bottom of the hill, he shoved was doing barn chores." one of his skis across the path in front of me, causing me to I breathed a sigh of relief. Now neither Clair nor I had go headfirst into a snowdrift when I struck his outstretched to look forward to the teacher's punishment, which I knew ski. I crawled out of the drift, spitting and sputtering and would have been severe. feeling the cold snow sifting down my back. I found my skis Never again did Clair Jenks stick his ski out in front of in the drift; they appeared to be in better shape than I was. me while we skied down Hatliff's Hill during noon break. Clair was pointing at me and laughing. The other kids were I don't think he tried any of his tricks on other kids at our watching and wondering what would happen next. school after that, either. The bump on the head appeared to My father had a wicked temper, but he seldom showed have mellowed him, and Clair and I got along fine following it. Only once or twice did I see him in a full rage, and it was that little disagreement on the ski hill. We had settled the not pretty. I inherited his temper but also the wisdom to keep problem without the need for the intervention of a higher it under control in most situations. I thought what Clair had authority.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See the Wisconsin Public Television Jerry Apps was born and raised on a cen­ tral Wisconsin farm before electricity, documentary indoor plumbing.and central heating came to the country. From first through eighth A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps grade he attended a one-room country school. And he experienced many winters Visit wpt.org for details. on the farm. He is a former county exten­ sion agent and professor emeritus from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he taught for thirty years. Today he works as a rural historian, full-time writer, and creative writing instructor. Wisconsin Public Television

WINTER 2013-2014 27 The Art and Lire oi Ha2;el Miller Hanneman

BY EMILY PFOTENHAUER

b^vfc WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF

* n the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, thousands of American women took up the art of china painting—the decoration of porcelain table­ wares and other ceramic objects with hand-painted M. overglaze. The legacy of this once immensely popular craft remains today in the countless teacups, plates, and vases bearing delicate flowers and landscapes found in attics, antique shops, and small museums across the country. Most of these objects have long been separated from the stories of the individual women who created them, those artists now relegated to the anonymous, unclaimed status of "somebodv's aunt and nobodv's mother."1

Opposite: Peacock platter by Hazel Hanneman, 1925. One of the most striking items in Anita Gurda's collection of her mother's work, the large platter has a wide border of peacocks and flowers. The original price for the plate was eight dollars. Gurda refused to accept it as a gift, but she said she would buy it one day. She used the paycheck from her first job to purchase the plate in 1941. It became family tradition to serve birthday cakes on the plate. Above: Designs for painting on china were transferred from tissue paper. This curved pattern is the design for Hanneman's peacock plate. WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

In contrast, the evidence of Mount Horeb artist Hazel Miller Hanneman's china- painting career is remarkably complete. Dozens of examples of her work are found in the collections of relatives, family friends, and the local historical society, along with brushes, paints, sketches, and other tools of her trade. Moreover, many of Hanneman's surviving friends and family members have shared stories of the personal connections they have to her artwork. Together, these objects and memories uncover the story of how a young woman from small-town Wisconsin built a career for herself as a professional artist in the early twentieth century. Hazel Hanneman was born Hazel Miller in Oshkosh in 1891, the first child of Jerome and Anna Miller. Her father was born in Neenah in 1864, a son of Henry Miller, who had recently immigrated to Wisconsin from Germany. Her mother, Anna Voss, was born in Brookfield in 1864, also a child of recent arrivals from Germany, Christopher Voss and Anna Heiden Voss.2 In 1890, Anna Voss and Jerome Miller were married in Winneconne and soon moved to Oshkosh. where Jerome worked as a carpenter and building contractor. Hazel grew up on Cleveland Avenue in downtown Oshkosh along with a younger brother, Arthur, and two sisters, Doris and Lucille. The Miller siblings all attended high school in Oshkosh, and it was there that Hazel first tried her hand at making art. As an outgrowth of the Arts and Crafts move­ ment—which embraced a return to tradi­ tional handicraft techniques as an antidote to an era of increasingly mechanized indus­ trial production—many public schools and colleges in the late nineteenth and early twen­ tieth centuries offered instruction in skilled manual work.3 The vocational classes in painting, woodworking, and home economics available from her local high school intro­ duced Hazel to a variety of craft techniques, but she also taught herself and experimented on her own.4

Hazel Hanneman, undated. China painting was considered a proper way for a lady to make a living.

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Above: Oshkosh High School, ca. 1909. Hazel Miller attended Oshkosh High School where she had her first experience learning about and practicing the arts.

Below: The Chicago YWCA was located across the street from the Art Institute where Hazel Miller stayed as a student.

Artistic Inspiration I After graduating from high school in 1910, nineteen-year- old Hazel Miller headed to Chicago, then the center of the Midwest art world. She paid ten dollars a week to stay in the YWCA across the street from the School of the Art Insti­ tute of Chicago.5 Unlike the formal bachelor's and master's degree programs the school offers today, the curriculum in the early twentieth century was more flexible. Students could enroll in single courses in the departments of Archi­ tecture, Drawing, Painting, and Decorative Design. The specific classes Miller attended at the Art Institute are unknown, but no matter what courses she took, she would have had ample opportunity to take in world-class works of art and soak up a multitude of artistic inspirations. Lectures offered to students in 1910 featured such diverse topics as "French Gothic, XIV and XV Centuries," "American Illus­ trators and their Work," and "Saracenic and Indian Archi­ tecture." A busy exhibition calendar included loan exhibits of bronzes, portrait paintings, and photographs, as well as

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Above: Hand-drawn and painted tissue transfer. It may have been used to illustrate how the design looked in color before Hanneman committed it to a piece. Below Left: Another of Hanneman's hand-drawn designs, likely published in KeramicStudio. This one is for a salt and pepper shaker, undated. Below Right: This plate and cup design pattern by Hanneman was published in Keramic Studio, September 1921.

KERAMIC STUDIO

PLATE AND CUP-MRS. F. H. HANNEMAN

lutline the bands and basket with Black. Flowers are Peach Blossom and Rose, with Yellow, Yellow Brown and Dark Brown in the centers. Leaves, Grey Green, Yellow Green and Brown Green. Second Fire—Retouch the flowers and leaves. Background is Ivory with touches of Violet and Apple Green around the design. Retouch the gold.

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Above and Right: This pitcher is signed "Hazel M. Miller," ca. 1910-1915. An early example of her work, it's one of the few examples of her china painting signed with her maiden name. Below: A selection of Hazel Hanneman's painting tools, saved from the trash by her daughter, Anita Gurda. The supplies included paintbrushes, vials of powered mineral colors and liquid lusters, mixing cup, and test chip. WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

Lidded box likely similar to the "Satsuma Bon Bon Box" Hanneman exhibited in the Wisconsin Society of Applied Arts exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Institute in 1916

34 wisconsinhistory.org WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY numerous displays of work by Chicago-area artists.6 "Need­ One of china painting's earliest female leaders was less to say," she wrote decades later, "I spent a lot of time at Susan Stuart Goodrich Frackelton of Milwaukee. Initially the Art Institute."7 trained as a landscape painter, Frackelton began deco­ While she worked in a variety of artistic media rating ceramics in the mid-1870s. In 1877, she established throughout her life—and also took up hat making, flower Frackelton's China Decorating Works, a decorating studio arranging, quilting, and piano playing—the focus of Hazel and retail store in Milwaukee. Numerous awards at major Miller Hanneman's artwork was her china painting. She exhibitions secured her a national reputation as a leader was undoubtedly aware of this popular craft during her in the field. She leveraged that recognition into financial youthful art explorations in Oshkosh, but she would have success by developing her own line of paints, patenting a been introduced to the decoration of porcelain tableware gas-powered kiln and writing an instructional manual for as a serious artistic pursuit in Chicago. The art of china amateur china painters, Tried By Fire: A Work on Ghina- painting arrived in Chicago in 1867, when German immi­ Painting (1886).11 grants Frederick Grunewald and Frederick Schmidt estab­ By the time Miller arrived in Chicago in 1910, a lished the Western Decorating Works, the first studio in national network of china-pain ting instructors, clubs, publi­ Chicago to offer hand-painted tablewares for sale as well cations, and supply sources was well established, thanks to as china-painting lessons and supplies. Genteel middle- the leadership of an earlier generation of women including class Chicago women soon took up the craft in droves. Frackelton, Mary Louise McLaughlin, who published the "Chicago could boast a substantial number of prosperous manual China Painting: A Practical Manual for the Use families with wives and daughters who had time to give to of Amateurs in the Decoration of Hard Porcelain in 1877. good works and the pursuit of culture. Like embroidery and and Adelaide Alsop Robineau, who in 1899 launched sketching, china painting was considered a suitable accom­ Keramic Studio, the official journal of the National League plishment for middle-class ladies."8 of Mineral Painters.12 At the School of the Art Institute However, the fashion for china painting was not limited of Chicago, a formal curriculum developed by instructor to Chicago. Thousands of women in urban centers and Evelyn Beachey offered training not only in china-painting small towns across the United States tried their hand at this techniques but in design fundamentals and color theory new pastime. An entire industry sprang up to support the china-painting trend. Porcelain blanks and supplies could be purchased from mail-order catalogs or local shops, trained instructors offered lessons in the craft, and periodicals and instruction manuals were developed to teach new techniques and designs. Contemporary observers described the art as utterly feminine, in contrast to more traditionally mascu­ line artistic pursuits such as portrait painting and sculpture: "[TJhere is perhaps no branch of Art-work more perfectly womanly and in every way desirable than painting on china. The character of the designs brings them within the reach of even moderate powers and it must be admitted that painting flowers and birds and pretty landscapes, or children's heads, is work in itself more suitable for women than men."9 Most china painters were amateur hobbyists who dabbled in the art alongside other refined pastimes. But for a significant number of women, it presented an opportu­ nity for a serious artistic career. China painting's status as "women's art" made it a socially acceptable means for a woman to earn a living as a professional artist. At the same time, china painting was a modern, new pursuit and china painters "were actually on the leading edge of art theory where decorative art was being elevated to the same plane as fine art by proponents of the arts and crafts movement."10 Thus, china painting opened a door for women not only to Plate decorated by Hanneman as a gift for the birth of Shirley find work as artists but to become true art world leaders, Martin, 1929. When presented as gifts, her work could hold immense innovators, and entrepreneurs. sentimental value.

WINTER 2013-2014 35 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

A simple vase decorated by Hanneman. Although she was a patient teacher, Hanneman had high standards and was known to touch up her students'work before it went into the kiln if it did not meet her expectations. One of her students. Belle Martin, produced a similar vase (page 37).

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i'y.'iN^: w/ L>m

Small vase decorated by Belle Martin, one of Hanneman's students. The design is simpler than Hanneman's, but her influence is apparent.

WINTER 2013-2014 37 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

This plate with dogwood blossoms was likely one of Hanneman's last works of china painting. She created it at age 89, inspired by a family trip to the Smoky Mountains.

38 wisconsinhistory.org WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY for ceramic decoration. In 1911, the school was lauded as a forms such as teacups, saucers, and other small items. More leader in china-painting education by the national journal experienced artists often took on more extensive and ambi­ Arts and Decoration: "No school in the country is doing tious projects, such as the full dinner services Hanneman better work in the department of ceramics than the Chicago created for her children and grandchildren, consisting of Art Institute. The work produced there, under the direction dozens of matching plates, cups, serving dishes, and other of Mrs. Evelyn B. Beachey, is strong in design and color, and pieces.20 shows continuous improvement."13 During Miller's time An artist rarely painted a blank freehand; instead, she in Chicago, the museum hosted three major exhibitions transferred the outline of a design to the item to be deco­ of china painting: the eighteenth annual exhibition of the rated by means of tracing and carbon paper. Designs could Chicago Ceramic Art Association, the seventeenth annual come from many sources. Professional china painters gener­ exhibition of the Atlan Ceramic Club, and the ninth annual ally drew their own designs, but a plethora of published Art Crafts Exhibition, which presented painted porcelain imagery was available from specialty publications such alongside jewelry, weaving, embroidery, and other decora­ as The China Decorator and Keramic Studio, as well as tive arts.14 general-interest women's magazines like the Ladies' Home Miller followed in the footsteps of many young Journal.21 Floral designs were by far the most popular Wisconsin women who headed to Chicago and then choice—Hanneman was particularly fond of blue forget- returned to their hometowns to give lessons and sell their me-nots—but other common motifs included fruits, birds, own artwork. Ena Hutchison of Mineral Point studied at and landscape vignettes. the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as well as the Once a design was outlined on the blank, the next step Academie Julian in Paris in the 1880s.15 Harriet "Hattie" was to apply color. Powdered overglaze paints known as Foster Alexander spent time at the Art Institute in the mineral colors were sold in small vials and required grinding 1890s before returning to Appleton to teach classes in and mixing with oil before they could be used. Paints were china painting, oil painting, and watercolor.16 Eugenie applied with fine brushes and could be built up in layers to Hutchinson Worman, who was born in Oshkosh and raised achieve a softly graded effect, as in watercolor painting. in Langlade County, studied at the Art Institute and also The final step to complete a work was to fire it in a at the Pratt Institute in New York before joining the staff kiln to harden the overglaze and fuse it to the clay body. of the Pauline Pottery, an art-pottery studio established Like most professional decorators and teachers, Hanneman in Chicago in 1883 by china painter Pauline Jacobus and operated her own kiln—powered by kerosene in the base­ relocated to Edgerton, Wisconsin, in 1888.w ment of her family's home—for firing her work and that of her students. Another option for amateur china painters, The Complex Craft of China Painting particularly those in rural areas with no local access to Even as an amateur pursuit, china painting was a pains­ a kiln, was to ship their work to a professional studio for taking, complex craft that required a substantial invest­ firing, but this was a risky option, as these fragile works ment of money, time, and skill. The necessary equipment were easily broken in transit.22 included brushes, pen nibs, tiles for mixing paints, palette knives, powdered gilt, oils and flux for reconstituting Building a Career powder colors, and burnishing rags. Although a number of Hazel Miller headed back to Oshkosh after less than a year published instruction manuals were available, the craft was in Chicago and soon set about establishing herself as a not easily mastered from books alone. As Frackelton urged professional artist. In 1914, a small notice in the local news­ beginning artists in Tried By Fire: "Do not try to learn this paper announced "Hand Painted China and Water Color art without a teacher, unless it is impossible for you to have Novelties" available from her studio at 115 Main Street.23 one. You might as well attempt the study of the graceful use The year 1916 was a landmark for Miller both person­ of the small-sword before a mirror, instead of with umaitre ally and professionally. In January, she married musician d'armes."ls and composer Frederick Hanneman of Winneconne. The To create a work of painted china, an artist first selected couple had met five years earlier while Fred was performing an undecorated white glazed piece of porcelain, known as a in a band that played on one of the excursion steamboats blank. She could choose from an immense variety of blanks that traversed Lake Winnebago in the late nineteenth produced by venerable European porcelain manufacturers and early twentieth centuries.24 After her marriage, Hazel such as Haviland and Co. of Limoges, France, available continued to produce artwork and enter competitions for purchase through catalogs and from art supply shops.19 throughout Wisconsin, mostly at county fairs. In November Beginning china painters typically worked with simple of that year, the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern proudly

WINTER 2013-2014 39 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY announced: "Winnebago County has attained addi­ and other decorative arts.26 The stated goals of this orga­ tional fame through the recent achievement of Mrs. F H. nization—which remains active today, under the name Hanneman of Winneconne, formerly Miss Hazel Miller of Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council—closely mirrored Oshkosh. Mrs. Hanneman has this fall won no less than 180 the ideals of the Arts and Crafts movement: "to promote prizes and ribbons for china painting and other art work fellowship among the designer craftsmen of Wisconsin; to displayed at county fairs."25 raise the standards of beauty into objects in common use; Hanneman's most significant professional achievement to encourage designer and worker into a mutual relation­ in 1916 was not her dozens of awards, but her participa­ ship; and to further and support all branches of applied tion in the inaugural exhibition of the Wisconsin Society of arts produced in the state."27 Hanneman's submission for Applied Arts at the Milwaukee Art Institute. Hanneman was the exhibit was a "Satsuma Bon Bon Box." Satsuma refers one of sixty-one artists, almost all of whom were women, to a decorative technique using low-relief enamel colors in who exhibited their work in ceramics, textiles, metalwork. imitation of ancient Japanese ceramics.

Hanneman's daughter, Anita Gurda, rescued art tools and media from her Main Street home in Mount Horeb when Hanneman and her husband moved from there in 1965.

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The building on Main Street in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, that once housed the Hanneman's shared studio (currently an Italian restaurant), 1996

Setting Up Shop in Mount Horeb provided music lessons for local high school students and Hazel offered classes in china painting and watercolor to In April 1917, Fred Hanneman was hired as the director of the area women. Close-knit small-town social networks meant Mount Horeb City Band and the organ player for the Mount that students came to her through personal connections and Horeb Evangelical Lutheran Church, so the Hannemans left word-of-mouth. Many of the women who tried their hand at Winneconne for southwest Wisconsin. The couple's reputa­ china painting under Hanneman's guidance were members tion as talented artists was soon confirmed. In 1918, Hazel of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, where her husband presented her china painting in a window display at the served as the organist. Most were housewives Hanneman's Brager jewelry shop on Mount Horeb's Main Street. The local age or older who were also linked through local women's newspaper lauded her skill and highlighted her availability as organizations such as the Ladies' Aid Society and the bridge a teacher: "Anyone interested in this work will be fortunate club.29 Although she was a patient teacher, Hanneman was indeed if they can receive instruction from Mrs. Hanneman as known to touch up her students' work before it went into the she will be able to take only a limited number of pupils as her kiln if it was not quite up to par.30 many other duties demand most of her time."28 Not long after their arrival in Mount Horeb, the Art, Home, and Family Hannemans established a studio on the second floor of the Although she maintained a studio for teaching classes, most Hanley Auto Garage at 209 East Main Street. There, Fred of the work Hanneman created for sale to local customers

WINTER 2013-2014 41 From left: Hanneman's son Bud; husband, Fred Hanneman; Hazel Hanneman; and daughter, Anita, pose on the occasion of Fred's retirement as church organist, ca. 1965. Preserving a Legacy

In 1965, Anita Gurda of Madison rescued several boxes her mother's offer to give it to her, saying she planned to buy from the trash as her parents, Fred and Hazel Hanneman, it someday. When she finished college and got a job teaching prepared to move from their home on Mount Horeb's Main home economics at DeForest High School in 1941, she used Street to a smaller house a few blocks away. The boxes held her first paycheck to buy the platter at its original price. It soon sketches, paintbrushes, rags, and half-full vials of paint— became a family tradition to use it to serve every birthday cake remnants of Gurda's mother's career as an artist. Hazel's in the Gurda household.33 artworks, including watercolor paintings and hand-decorated Often presented as gifts, Hanneman's work holds immense ceramics, were treasured family heirlooms. But in her mind, sentimental value for friends and family. Shirley Martin, a the well-worn tools of her trade were simply clutter. daughter of Carl Brechler, who partnered with Fred Hanneman Fortunately, Gurda's curbside rescue prevented these in 1939 to open the Cave of the Mounds attraction outside materials from disappearing forever. She saw to the preserva­ Mount Horeb, holds several items Hanneman decorated espe­ tion of her mother's legacy by assembling the sketches, along cially for her as gifts to mark significant life events. When Shirley with photographs, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera, was born in 1929, she received a small plate decorated with a in a series of scrapbooks that tell the story of her mother's life. yellow chick. When she graduated from high school in 1947, She also gifted the salvaged tools and paints to the Mount Hanneman presented her with a plate painted with her signa­ Horeb Area Historical Society. ture blue forget-me-nots. When she was married in 1955—to Family stories show that Hanneman's artistic practice was the grandson of Belle Martin, one of Hanneman's students—she closely tied to her home life. Gurda recalls that the family's was gifted with a small footed dish. And when her own daughter kitchen table was frequently covered with her mother's work, was born, Hanneman gave her a plate and cup featuring the and the scent of oranges—from paint solvents and oils—was same yellow chick Martin received as an infant decades earlier.34 often in the air. One of the most striking items in Gurda's The artworks, tools, drawings, and personal stories collection of her mother's work is a large platter with a wide preserved by family members, Mount Horeb residents, and border of brightly colored peacocks and flowers. Gurda recalls the local historical society come together to reveal a uniquely the platter, priced at eight dollars, prominently displayed in detailed case study of the craft of china painting and the story her mother's studio in 1925. She loved the piece and refused of one Wisconsin woman's life in art. WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY was completed in her own home. She almost always worked Horeb, just three days shy of her 101st birthday.32 The story on commission for individual customers rather than deco­ of her lifelong passion for art remains intact thanks to the rating production pieces for retail sale. Distinctive reoccur- preservation efforts of her family and her community. IXfl ring design elements, including blue forget-me-nots and gold bands paired with purple and pink flowers, meant that Notes local residents could instantly recognize her work when it 1. Cynthia A. Brandimarte, "Somebody's Aunt and Nobody's Mother: The American Chi­ na Painter and Her Work, 1870-1920 "Winterthur Portfolio 23, no. 4 (1988). appeared on the dining tables of Mount Horeb families. 2. "Millers Are Wed 70 years," Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, May 23, 1960, 19. In addition to giving lessons and selling her work 3. Douglas Kendall, "Of Craftsmen and Consumer: Wisconsin and the Arts and Crafts Movement, 1885-1940," Wisconsin Academy Review 45, no. 2 (1999): 14-19. locally, Hanneman continued to push herself as an artist 4. Conversations with Anita Gurda, 2010. by creating and publishing her own designs. Between 1916 5. Hazel Miller Hanneman, biographical note in Gurda scrapbook, 1988. 6. Bulletin of the Art Institute of Chicago 3, no. 3 (January 1910): 39-41. and 1923, she submitted original design drawings for publi­ 7. Hanneman, biographical note, 1988. cation in the nationally distributed china-painting journal 8. Sharon S. Darling, Chicago Ceramics and Glass (Chicago: Chicago Historical Society. Keramic Studio. Launched in 1899 by ceramic artist 1979), 7, 10. 9. "Art-Work for Women," Art Journal, March 1, 1872, 66, quoted in Nancy E. Owen, Adelaide Alsop Robineau as the official monthly publica­ Rookwood and the Industry of Art: Women, Culture, and Commerce, 1880—1913 (Athens: tion of the National League of Mineral Painters, Keramic Ohio University Press, 2001), 21. 10. Ellen Paul Denker, "The Grammar of Nature: Arts and Crafts China Painting," The Studio (the alternate spelling was a reference to the ancient Substance of Style: Perspectives on the American Arts and Crafts Movement, ed. Bert Den­ Greek spelling and pronunciation of "ceramic") sought to ker (Winterthur, DE: Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum, 1996), 287. 11. Lynette Korenic, The Decorative Fire of Susan S. Frackelton: China Painting, Art Pot­ professionalize the field of china painting through historical tery, and Book Illumination, PhD diss., University of California—Santa Barbara, 2006. For essays and in-depth examinations of design and technique.31 more on Frackelton, see Rachel Cordasco, "Tried by Fire: Susan Frackelton and the Arts and Crafts Movement in Wisconsin," Wisconsin Magazine of History 95, no. 4 (Summer Robineau also encouraged readers, the vast majority of 2012): 28-41. whom were women, to share their original designs and 12. Mary Louise McLaughlin, China Painting: A Practical Manual for the Use of Ama­ patterns. Hanneman, who invariably submitted her work teurs in the Decoration of Hard Porcelain (Cincinnati: R. Clarke, 1877); Catherine W Zipf Professional Pursuits: Women and the Arts and Crafts Movement (Knoxville: University of under the name "Mrs. F H. Hanneman," saw at least Tennessee Press, 2007), 117-141. twenty of her pattern drawings for plates, vases, and other 13. Arts and Decoration 1, no. 6 (April 1911): 266, quoted in Darling, 41. 14. Exhibition History, Art Institute of Chicago Libraries, www.artic.edu/aic/libraries/ tablewares published in the journal. research/specialcollections/aic/exhibitions/1910/1910.html. Energetic and ambitious, Hanneman created her last 15. Obituary, Ena Hutchison, Mineral Point Tribune, January 23, 1930. Hutchison's only identified works of china painting, a set often plates and a platter, completed in 1887, are piece of china painting at the age of 89—a small plate deco­ held by the Mineral Point Historical Society. rated with dogwood blossoms inspired by a recent family 16. "Auction to Focus Attention upon Appleton Artist," Appleton Post-Crescent, November 22, 1964, 16. Examples of Alexander's explorations in a wide variety of media, including trip to the Smoky Mountains. For her one hundredth pyrography (decorative wood burning) and china painting, are among the collections of the birthday, her family surprised her with a display of the History Museum at the Castle in Appleton. artwork she had created throughout her life, including 17. Pauline Jacobus, "Summer School of Pottery," quoted in Bertha Jacques, The Ameri­ can Potteries: The Pauline Pottery (Wis.: The Castle Pierce Press, n.d.). Examples of the china painting, watercolors, oil paintings, and a quilt, all work Worman decorated for the Pauline Pottery are in the collection of the Neville Public on loan from family members and local residents. On April Museum of Brown County in Green Bay. For more on the Pauline Pottery, see Maurice Montgomery, Edgerton's History in Clay: Pauline Pottery to Pickard China (M. J. Mont­ 22, 1992, Hazel Miller Hanneman passed away in Mount gomery: 2001). 18. Susan Stuart Goodrich Frackelton, Tried By Fire: A Work on China-Painting (New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1886), 11. 19. Brandimarte, 214. ABOUT THE AUTHOR 20. Conversation with Anita Gurda, 2011. 21. Dorothy Kamm, American Painted Porcelain: Collector's Identification and Value Emily Pfotenhauer manages the Recol­ Guide (Paducah, KY: Collector Books, 1997), 19-20. lection Wisconsin program, a collaborative 22. Brandimarte, 216. statewide digital history collection spon­ 23. Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, December 12, 1914, 2. 24. Conversation with Anita Gurda, 2011. sored by WiLS (Wisconsin Library Services). 25. "Short Notes," Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, November 20, 1916, 3. She holds an MA in art history with a cer­ 26. Catalogue of First Annual Exhibition, Wisconsin Society of Applied Arts (Milwaukee tificate in material culture studies from the Art Institute, 1916), "Wisconsin Society of Applied Arts," Museum of Wisconsin Art online archive, www.wisconsinart.org/archives. University of Wisconsin-Madison. She first 27. "New Art Society Is Launched Here," Milwaukee Sentinel, September 1916. Cited on learned about the work of Hazel Hanneman Wisconsin Designer Crafts Council website, www.wdcc.org/about-wdcc/a-rich-history/. in 2007 while visiting the Mount Horeb Area 28. Undated newspaper clipping from Anita Gurda scrapbook, private collection. 29. Conversation with Shirley Martin, 2011. Historical Society to conduct fieldwork for the Wisconsin Decora­ 30. Conversation with Brian Bigler, president, Mount Horeb Area Historical Society, 2011. tive Arts Database, a digital collection of Wisconsin-made deco­ 31. Zipf, 117-141. rative arts and craft objects she compiled in partnership with the 32. Obituary, Hazel M. Hanneman, Wisconsin Statejournal, April 24, 1992, 13. 33. Conversation with Anita Gurda, 2011. Wisconsin Historical Society and the Chipstone Foundation. She 34. Conversation with Shirley Martin, 2011. lives on Madison's west side with her husband.

WINTER 2013-2014 43 T WOOD V/ EOYNTON ;DIBLE JOURNEY ver a century ago, an obscure yellow stone was discovered by chance in Eagle, Wisconsin. The stone became famous when the townsfolk learned that it was really a sixteen-carat, uncut yellow diamond. After its discovery, the diamond took on a life of its own, prompting a short-lived diamond rush in Wisconsin and eventually landing in the American Museum of Natural History in New York City In 1964, after the diamond had been on display at the museum for many years, jewel thieves broke in and stole it. The Eagle diamond was sold on the black market, and to this day, its whereabouts are unknown. iinMniiim Upon discovery of its value, which was over one thou­ sand times what it was originally purchased for in 1884, the Eagle Diamond became the subject of a famous 1885 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, Wood v. Boynton.2 The case is studied by nearly every first-year law student around the country, and it is discussed in some of the most influen­ tial legal collections on contracts law today3 It makes the distinction between the ability to rescind a contract based on a true, mutual mistake and the inability to rescind a contract where both parties assume the risk of the unknown at the time they enter into the contract—as was the case for the Eagle Diamond. The Eagle Diamond began its journey thousands of years ago. Many scientists, including Dr. Bill Gordua at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, believe it was created by a glacier that moved through Wisconsin some 15,000 years ago. Other scientists, such as Dr. William Herbert Hobbs at UW-Madison, believe that Wisconsin diamonds, like the Eagle Diamond, may have been formed in place. Regard­ less of the diamond's origin, scientists have since declared Wisconsin to be "the most prolific of the Great Lakes states in revealing diamonds."4 But back in the mid- 1800s, this was not a well-known fact. In 1836, Eagleville, as it was known then, received its name when settlers came to a prairie and saw a huge bald eagle soaring overhead. The first house was built in Eagleville that year, and before year's end, settlers had built the first mill.5 By 1851, the southern branch of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad had come through the town, and the village of Eagle Center was created. Over time, the village name evolved into Eagle. During the next thirty years, Eagle became the third-ranking community in Waukesha County in commercial importance, boasting two dry goods stores, two hardware stores, two clothing stores, and many other businesses and establishments.6 Early pioneers settled near running water, around the county's plentiful lakes, rivers, and bubbling springs.7 Those settling away from the lakes and springs sought property where veins of water flowed below the earth's surface.8 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

Specifically Eagle was blessed with several natural springs, and rial to be thrown out. The stone apparently came from the it became known for resorts such as Eagle Springs and Minne­ bottom of the well, which was about sixty feet deep.n Because haha Springs (later called Paradise Springs), which was once no one thought the rock was anything more than just a pretty owned by Louis J. Petit, the Morton Salt king. Throughout stone, it was initially given to a young girl who was playing this time, Eagle's economy was based primarily on agricul­ in the yard at the time it was found. Charles and Clarissa ture, and the railroads helped tourists discover the plentiful Wood were relatives of the girl, and they were also tenants on springs in Waukesha County. The area became a destina­ Devereaux's farm.12 Apparently, the girl left the stone with the tion for people seeking relaxation and restoration of the mind Wood family when she moved away13 Clarissa Wood kept the and body. Farming and manufacturing were also important stone in her collection of natural oddities, and it was used as a to the development of the county, and several manufacturing "children's plaything" for some time.14 The stone remained in foundries created useful products for farming, railroads, auto the Wood family for approximately seven years, where it was making, and other industries.9 kept in a box of collectibles that lay "gleaming in obscurity"15 In 1876, one event changed Eagle's history forever. A hot. Friends had commented so frequently on the stone's dry summer caused the water level in the well on Eagle resi­ brilliance that, one day, in September 1883, Clarissa Wood dent Tom Devereaux's farm to drop. Devereaux hired several decided to find out what her pretty, yellow stone was worth.16 laborers to deepen the well. At that time, wells were dug by Wood brought it to a small jewelry store located in a wooden hand, and the workers had a difficult task: they had to dig building at 207 Grand Avenue in Milwaukee, which stood through about twenty-five feet of loose gravel, four feet of clay on the present Merrill Block, between Second and Third and, finally, through a yellow matrix.10 While digging the new Streets.17 The store was owned by Colonel Samuel Boynton well, one of the laborers found a hard yellow stone with mate- and his son Charles, who were former gold miners from Cali­ fornia. 18 Samuel and his son had moved to Milwaukee in 1879 and opened their jewelry store there. Boynton was a watch­ maker who was considered a politician 'tttrPjf "of sorts," a temperance advocate, and a "man-about-town."19 59.0f When Wood arrived at the Boyntons' -tfrsJFCtib\ jewelry store, she placed the box on the -VJferertru. counter and asked Samuel Boynton if he could fix her earring. When Boynton 2% saw the stone that was also in the box,

Left: A map of Eagle, Wisconsin, from the 1873 Waukesha County atlas showing the Devereaux property where the Eagle Diamond was found Below: A Civil War roster page showing the name of Thomas Devereaux, the owner of the land where the Eagle Diamond was found

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Above Left: George F. Kunz, the curator of precious stones forTiffany and Company. Kunz organized an exhibit called "Gems and Precious Stones from North America," featuring the Eagle Diamond, for the Exposition Universelle at the World's Fair in Paris. Above Right: J. P. Morgan purchased the Eagle Diamond as part of a collection for fifteen thousand dollars. Morgan later donated the Eagle Diamond to the American Museum of Natural History. he asked Wood where she got it. Wood explained the story her what he had offered her for it, and Wood replied, "One of its discovery several years earlier, and she said that "neigh­ dollar." Boynton then stepped to the change drawer and gave borhood experts" had advised her it was a topaz. Wood later Wood the dollar, and the yellow stone was sold.22 recounted that Boynton was interested in buying the topaz, or At some point in 1884, Boynton took the stone to a gemol- "whatever it was."20 She took it out of the box and showed it to ogist in Chicago, Illinois, to determine what it was.23 After him. There, he took it in his hand and looked at it for a little inspecting the stone, the gemologist concluded that it was a while. Although Boynton was a jeweler, he had never seen an sixteen-carat yellow diamond, valued at approximately seven uncut diamond, and he, too, had no idea what it was. He told hundred to one thousand dollars. In fact, at the time, it was the Wood that he would buy the stone if she ever decided to sell largest diamond ever discovered in the United States. Boyn­ it. Unsure, she inquired what it would be worth. Boynton told ton's mind began working rapidly, and he soon realized that if Wood he did not know the stone's value, but he would give there was one diamond on the Devereaux property, there were Wood a dollar and keep it as a specimen. Wood replied that likely more.24 He kept his incredible news secret while he quietly she would not sell it at that time because it was pretty to look purchased the property where the diamond was discovered. at, and then she left the store. He purchased the four-acre parcel of land on a land contract, After initially refusing Boynton's offer to buy the stone for agreeing to pay Devereaux eight hundred dollars in three one dollar, Wood took the stone to several other jewelry estab­ installments. He then hired William P. Merrill, a Milwaukee lishments, but none of them were willing to buy the stone. Three attorney, to help him locate more diamonds on the property25 months later, apparently needing money very badly, Wood The two conducted soil samples and obtained further help returned to the Milwaukee jeweler in an effort to "dispose of from diamond miners from Brazil and Africa, whose identi­ some valuables."21 Wood inquired of Boynton whether his orig­ ties are unknown today. The two miners told Boynton and inal offer to buy the stone still stood. Boynton replied by asking Merrill that the dirt was "diamond bearing soil," and if one

WINTER 2013-2014 47 WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

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48 wisconsinhistory.org WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY diamond had been found, there were "certainly others."26 Under the pretense of chicken farming and so Boynton would not to attract the attention of neighbors, he erected an enclo­ sure of black cloth several feet high around his property2' I Boynton and Merrill then began systematically mining the hillside. In the beginning of March 1884, townspeople observed five workers opening the Devereaux well and sinking a shaft /- £, / / // // / -/ / into it. By May, the "the town was electrified to learn" that Boynton reported finding two smaller one-half carat diamonds "in the soil near the well."28 When the public heard about Boynton's find, they flocked to Eagle, and a diamond rush began. One paper reported "intense excitement" among the citizens of Eagle and surrounding areas as the news about the additional diamonds became public.29 As another reported. "A diamond mining company set up operations and Eagle 30 became a wild and speculating place." The news spread The log of the Supreme Court decision upholding the Milwaukee around the county, and Eagle's mayor received inquiries about Circuit Court decision in favor of Boynton the diamond from as far away as New York and Canada.31 The mayor responded to the inquiries by inviting speculators found.40 Based on Kunz's conclusion, Boynton was deemed to "come here and investigate the matter themselves."32 It was to be a fraud, and " [a] fter being revealed, Boynton closed his even reported that Boynton was "about to present" Clarissa mining operation and left town."41 No additional diamonds Wood with a costly gold watch and chain,33 but there is no were found, and the townspeople's hopes of renaming Eagle as evidence to verify that Boynton ever carried out his planned "Diamond City" were dashed. In short, the Eagle Diamond thank-you to Wood. The papers at the time were reporting the was one of a kind. After being shamed out of Eagle, Boynton flurry of activity in Eagle, while capitalists and miners flocked moved back to Milwaukee for a short time, and eventually the village to purchase all the property they could get a hold moved to Chicago in 1885.42 He never paid the final install­ of. Property values rose over four times after the additional ment on the land contract he had with Devereaux. The title to diamond discovery was made public.34 the property reverted to Devereaux, who sold it a year later.43 During this period of time, Boynton was quoted in the Meanwhile, when Clarissa Wood learned the stone she press, "[I]t is a dead sure thing that other diamonds will be sold to Boynton was really a diamond worth one thousand found and they will be larger and better than the others."35 times what he paid her for it, she offered to buy it back for Boynton created additional hype "by announcing that the $1.10 (the ten cents representing interest). He refused, and miners had also found topaz, malachites, chrysolites, sardonyx Wood subsequently filed suit in the Milwaukee County circuit and other semi-precious stones [that] 'when polished would court against Boynton to recover possession of the diamond. In give off good brilliance.'"36 With all the excitement, several September 1884,44 the circuit court directed a verdict in favor property owners and diamond speculators proposed that the of Boynton, and Wood appealed the decision to the Wisconsin town name be changed to "Diamond City"3' Supreme Court. By late 1884, the news about the diamond mines had In October 1885, the Wisconsin Supreme Court held that spread to other states, and a noted gemologist of New York's Wood was not entitled to rescind the sale of the diamond once Tiffany and Company, G. F Kunz, visited Eagle to examine she discovered its true value.45 The court noted that at the time the yellow Eagle Diamond and the two smaller diamonds the sale was made, the value of the stone was open to investiga­ Boynton claimed to have found on the same property38 What tion by both parties, and neither party made any further inqui­ came next was shocking—the smaller diamonds had been ries about its intrinsic value. Wood insisted that either the law planted. Kunz's verdict on the authenticity of the smaller of mistake or the law of fraud should offer her relief, but the diamonds was disastrous to the future of the Eagle Diamond court disagreed. As to mistake, the court held that there was mine.39 After examining the diamonds, the gemologist stated no pretense of mistake.46 The stone was produced by Wood that the two smaller diamonds were "salted," in the yellow clay and examined by Boynton before the purchase price was paid. near the surface of the well and could not possibly have come Boynton was not an expert in uncut diamonds, and he made from the Wisconsin soil where the original Eagle diamond was no real examination of the stone other than to take it into his

Left: The Milwaukee Circuit Court Judgment Book entry for Wood vs. Boynton, June 1884. The court ruled in the favor of Samuel Boynton.

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. "tvho kilts a man kills a reasonable creature, God's image; but he tuho destroys • good book, kills reason it- self, kills the image of God, THE LIMA NEWS j it mere in the eye." — John Milton Serving Northwest OhUy For Over 79 Ycurs Ever striving for Limaland to be even a better place to live.

SATURDAY. OCTOBER 31. 1964, LIMA, OHIO VOL. KO. NO (TEN CUNTS) Museum Burglar Heists $380,000 Jewel Cache LBJ Eyeing NEWS Gains Entry BRIEFS Via Window Election Win NEW YORK (L'PI) — A steel-nerved cat burglar Bv KARL BAt'MAS "I want you to know — and to r broke through a fourth story window at the American i Museum of Natural History Thursday night and made CHICAGO (AP) - President: understand — that so long as I WASHINGTON (LTD—The Johnson said Friday night "we- may serve in this office, I will Labor Department reported [off with a king's ransom in jewels including two of the will wm this election" and "we share with them the opportunity } world's most precious gems. BURGLAR'S PERILOUS PATH - floor window police figure the bur­ Friday that living costs edg­ 1 At left is exterior of the Museum of glar used to enter The Morgan Hall are going to raise our sights." as well as the obligation of sav­ ed upward in September. But Among the 22 gems stol- " In a speech prepared for a ing our . itwo-party) system,; en were the Star of India. ?h5 mufllm said, howeier, it Natural History In New York City of Precious Minerals. Police said the record highs in take-home pay where a daring burglar stole more thief apparently inched his way big Democratic rally at the Chi­ increasing our strength, encour-i for factory workers more than ... . ,, had a blanket insurance policy cago Stadium Johnson called aging our growth and pursuing • than S300.O0O in jewels. At right is along the molding of the museum's kept pace. the largest blue star sap- thal may cover A least p^r[ ^ lor "a strong Democratic Con* research for peace of the rear of building showing open fourth- granite facade to reach the window. world." ,phire in the world, and the loss. iUPI Telephoto) gree to keep this country mov­ jDelong Ruby. Ihe world's The valuations of some gems ing ahead. Johnson said he has always •most perfect red ruby. were set as long ago as 1905," Johnson said, while flatly defined the basis for consensus WASHINGTON (LTD-In­ as taking the other man's view-' I A museum expert listed the when Morgan donated them to predicting victory for himself ternal Revenue Sen-ice value of the gems at S380.000. the museum. Hforgan gave the next Tuesday, that -this elec­ point into consideration—and to (IRS) agents Friday launched tion won't have settled all the work with him for the good of But jewelry experts said that museum the Star o£ India, coordinated raids on book- the Star of India and the De- which weighs 563.35 carats, and! things it should have settled " our country and the success of making and policy gamblers our cause. long Ruby were both beyond one or the world's largest col-j Barry Charges "This country will decide not in 3H states. price lections of semi-precious stones' to go back, but there will be "In these times of danger. differences left about how to Experts said the burglary assembled for him by Tiffany's Americans cannot msrch under could be one of the greatest of of Kew Y»""k- nwe forward."' he said a Republican flag or a Demo­ stone He said a Democratic victory cratic flag—but only under one PARIS (L'PI) — France its kind in history because "Priceless" will not mean a "'blank check, flag, one nation and one peo­ and the .Soviet Union signed gems of this quality" no longer Walter Hoving, president of but there are differences which ple." he said a new five - year commer­ are in private hands. They are Tiffany's, said the stone i cial pact Friday, boosting found only in museums or "priceless — because there i Power Misused remain and those differences In his Chicago speech. John­ must be honored " trade SO per cent and perhaps among crown jewel collections nothing to which you could com- c ,.-_„_.- „._ri _ ,„ . , .... , , ., son said- '""Ae are going to see JAa He said these differences will that every American child has initiating a new era of clos­ Collection Of Jewel, pare it" AAOELES (TJFI)—Sen.i Lyndon s political power,self joked about the nicknama er Paris - MOSCOW relations. Barry Gr>ldwater be honored, but added: "'we an equal chance at the fullest CM,,„. • , . caraThte Delong Ruby is a 10l}day eschargedent d JnhnFri-stoppeast asd iEa bafuls l investigation-,he received after the 37-vote have been settling for too little education that a child can use a XltoStrfhe™!f stone presented to ths mu-! *!*£ ^ £' » - i stopped investi- victory - "Landslide Lyndon." a collection donated to the mu- ^ |SOn wielded political power negations of wrong doing ever But the senator said that dec in this country. We are going to We have been educating most of , ' Delong. It is described by ex- raise our sights " our children, now we are going f^^Ttaxo^iyexKMs.3.9.^^^^Morgan more than h.-.lf-a^SiJ^-VM- 'one otfo thhale darkest investigatiot electionn s inof'since!"! •Laugh. Goldwates At rPeople said, " ' tion wa"Do-Nothins no jokeg Policv" LA PAZ, Bolivia (L'PI)— tury ago. They were housed j perts as the finest and largest In a speech m Rockiord. III-. it of its kind in the world - a history" that first put Johnson "Lyndon laughs at the people I Campainging in the West on Troops and armed militia pa- three display cases in the mu- in ,l e U S Senate which is in strong Republican most. • - t - , n ,T" stone of unoaralleleri nerfwHnn „ l , " ' - he wants to lead like children, i a jet-pace schedule, Goldwatep territory, before he flew into troled the streets Friday as sams fourth-floor 3 P. M^™"^"JS* PT^ Go,dw3t^ referred to the into his personal Great Socie- also accused the President o£ "We have declared war on uneasy peace returned to I,a

Above: An article in the tima News reporting on the theft of the Eagle Diamond and other jewels, October 1964 Right: A postcard view of the American Museum of Natural History

50 wisconsinhistory.org WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY hand and look at it before he made the offer to buy it for one dollar. The court presented a scenario: what if Wood had produced the stone and said she had been told it was a diamond, but she had no knowl­ edge whether that statement was actually true? If Mr. Boynton had given her five hundred dollars for it, could he have rescinded the sale if it had turned out to be a topaz on the grounds of having made a mistake? The Eagle Diamond (right) in 1929 Answering its own question, the court stated, "Clearly not."4' The opinion of the court was that the law of fraud did not and after 5 months of haggling over a price . . . J.P. Morgan apply to the case because there was no evidence from which came up with $15,000 to purchase the collection."53 Morgan to infer that Boynton had any knowledge of the real value kept the stone for some time and then eventually donated it to of the stone at the time he offered to buy the stone. In fact, the American Museum of Natural History, of which he was a there was no evidence that Boynton had even entertained a museum trustee.54 The collection became known as the Tiffany- belief that the stone might be a diamond. Therefore, because Morgan Collection of Gems, and the diamond remained on Wood received one dollar as consideration for the sale, title display at the museum until 1964.55 to the diamond was vested in Boynton. The court concluded, "However unfortunate [Wood] may have been in selling this valuable stone for a mere nominal sum, she has failed entirely to make out a case either of fraud or mistake in the sale such as [would] entitle her to a rescission of such sale."48 The litigation was long and costly, and eventually the Woods were charged with $28.20 for the cost of the lawsuit.49 The case is most often cited as a classic example of the doctrine of "conscious uncertainty" in contracting.50 Legal commentators uniformly agree that where the parties are consciously uncertain about what it is they are buying and selling, the parties have assumed the risk of their uncertainty and may not void the contract because of a mutual mistake.51 It is relevant today because the case provides lawyers and law students with a solid legal framework for understanding intri­ The Star of India Sapphire (above) and the DeLong Star Ruby (below) cate and subtle distinctions about the law of rescission based were stolen along with the Eagle Diamond in 1964. Both were later on mutual mistake. Although the case is over one hundred recovered. years old, it is still taught, discussed, analyzed, and written about. But with such a famous case as this, is it possible that the subject of the sale, the Eagle Diamond, could have a story that is as enduring as the law on which the case was decided? If diamonds are forever, the Eagle Diamond is no exception. While the case was pending in the court system, Boynton sold the diamond to Tiffany and Company for $850. "Tiffany's never cut the diamond because they could never prove posses­ sion, hence it remained in their store" for some time.52 In 1889, Tiffany's world-renowned curator of precious stones, G. F. Kunz—the same gemologist who exposed Boynton for a fraud— organized an exhibit called "Gems and Precious Stones from North America" for the Exposition Universelle at the World's Fair in Paris. "The collection of 382 entries won a gold medal.

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Far Left: Jewels for the Journey, written by Jack Murphy. The book was a spiritual guide for prison inmates and at-risk people. Left: Jack"Murf the Surf" Murphy, in dark glasses, was arrested on January 4,1965, after he and two others stole the Eagle Diamond and other jewels from the American Museum of Natural History.

In October 1964, John Hoffman, senior attendant at the turned on the TV and listened to the various reports of the American Museum of Natural History, unlocked the metal jewel heist. In the morning, Kuhn went out for a walk, and gate to the museum hall where the Tiffany-Morgan Collection when he returned, FBI agents arrested both men. Clark was of Gems was housed and found broken glass and empty cases. arrested in New York City. Apparently, the New York police Some of the museum's most precious gems were gone. Thieves had received a call from someone who was a resident at the had taken the famous 563-carat Star of India Sapphire, the hotel where the thieves were staying. The resident told the 100-carat DeLong Star and 116-carat Midnight Star rubies, police that he shared an elevator with some suspicious men and multiple other precious gems and stones, including the who were talking about a museum.56 The police then went 16-carat Eagle Diamond. to the apartment suite the burglars rented while they were in Police were able to later determine that the robbery was New York. There, they found a gun, several books on gems, conducted by three men: Jack Roland Murphy (better known and drugs as well as floor plans to the museum. The press as "Murph the Surf), Allan Dale Kuhn, and Roger Frederick latched onto Murphy's good looks, "beach boy life style," and Clark. The three thieves were from the Miami, Florida, area impeccably tailored suits, and he became a news sensation. and were visiting New York City to see the World's Fair. While "A few days later the police arrested Janet Florkiewicz, in New York City, they saw, Topkapi, a movie about a jewel a 19-year-old secretary who was held as a material witness robbery and subsequently visited the Museum of Natural and accused of having carried the missing jewels to Miami. History. While there, the three saw the extensive and valuable She allegedly accompied Kuhn and Murphy on a flight from collection of gems and decided they could steal them. After a New York to Miami the morning after the theft."57 She later few days of deliberations and a dry run, they climbed a fence recanted her story but, eventually, Kuhn cooperated with the into the courtyard and ran to the bottom of a ladder they authorities and led them to two waterproof bags located in discovered. Two of them scaled a ten-foot wall to a fifth floor a locker in Miami. In the bags, the police found the Star of office. There, they climbed down the cords from the Venetion India sapphire and the Midnight Star ruby, as well as some of blinds into the gem hall window, which had regularly been left the larger emeralds. However, the DeLong Star Ruby and all open. Clark dropped off Murphy and Kuhn, and the two hid of the diamonds, including the Eagle Diamond, were missing. in the hall until the security guard passed by on his rounds. The police had a difficult time locating many of the gems, but Then they began cutting the cases that housed the diamonds. they eventually recovered the DeLong Star Ruby.58 There Luckily for the thieves, the alarm battery had been discon­ were "tales of underworld double-crosses and triple-crosses nected years earlier so it was never triggered. They grabbed [that] multiplied as authorities kept trying to deal with various the gems and easily escaped the museum. shadowy intermediaries."59 After ten months of involved nego­ That same day, Murphy and Kuhn flew out of New York tiations, the ruby was returned, but the other stones were and returned to Miami. Once in Kurm's apartment, they never recovered. Regarding the diamonds he stole, Murphy

52 wisconsinhistory.org WISCONSIN MAGAZINE OF HISTORY

stated that the purchase "was set up in advance, and the jewels 5. Alice Baker, "Thieves Must Have Cut Missing Eagle Diamond," Waukesha Freeman. February 17, 1968. were probably in the hands of the buyer within a couple of 6. "History of Eagle," Eagle Historical Society, accessed September 2, 2013, http:// days, perhaps hours."60 eaglehistoricalsociety.org/?page_id=277. 7. "County Well Diggers Once Unearthed Tiffany Diamond," Saturday Review, September To this day, the Eagle Diamond has never been recovered. 16, 1961. 8. Ibid. It was likely cut and sold as smaller diamonds, or it could still 9. "History of Eagle." be intact, sitting in someone's jewelry box, gleaming in obscu­ 10. "County Well Diggers Once Unearthed Tiffany Diamond"; Publis V. Lawson, The Story of the Rocks and Minerals of Wisconsin (Post Publishing Co., Appleton, Wisconsin, 1906), rity, as it did in Clarissa Wood's possession over a century 181-182; "Is It a Diamond Field?" Evening Wisconsin. ago. Since the discovery of the Eagle Diamond, about twenty 11. Lawson, Rocks and Minerals of Wisconsin, 181 —182. John Schroeder, "Eagle Diamond Lifted 20 Years Ago Today," Waukesha Freeman, October 29, 1984. diamonds in total have been found in Wisconsin, all of which 12. John Schroder "Eagle Diamond Lifted 20 Year Ago Today," Waukesha Freeman, October are yellowish in color and ranged in size from one-half carat 29, 1984. 13. Alice Baker, "An Added Chapter in the History of the Eagle Diamond," Fan Mari:(Winter to the sixteen-carat Eagle Diamond. However, fifteen of those 1964-1965). were found between 1884 and 1912. The Eagle Diamond 14. Ron Kurowski, Unusual Diamond Was Discovered in Eagle, on file with the author. 15. Harry A. Friedman, "The Story of the Eagle Diamond," Waukesha Freeman, September turned out to be the largest glacial diamond in the United 18, 1976. States found at that time.61 The hill where the Eagle Diamond 16. Ibid. 17. Monfried, "Treasures on Our Doorstep." 62 was found has been named Diamond Hill, and in 1992, the 18. Eau Claire News, March 8, 1884. Waukesha County Historical Society erected a plaque at its 19. Friedman, "The Story of the Eagle Diamond." 20. Ibid. site. The plaque reads in part: 21. Ibid. 22. Wood v. Boynton, 25 N.W. 42, 43 (Wise. 1885). 23. "Is It a Diamond Field?" Biggest sensation: 1876 discovery of 16-karat [sic] diamond 24. Ibid. 25. Ibid. in the Tom Devdreaux [sic] well. After many lawsuits, 26. Ibid. fake mines, and several years at Tiffany's in New York, the 27. Baker, "An Added Chapter." 28. Kurowski, Unusual Diamond ; Friedman, "The Story of the Eagle Diamond." stone, still uncut, was on display at the American Museum 29. "Is It a Diamond Field?" of Natural History until 1964 when it was stolen and never 30. "County Well Diggers." 3l.Janesville Daily Gazette, March 5, 1884, 1. recovered. Here the Hill was renamed "Diamond Hill." 32. Ibid. 33. "Is It a Diamond Field?" 34. Friedman, "The Story of the Eagle Diamond." Although the Eagle Diamond has likely been forever lost, 35. Ibid. 36. Ibid. what remains is the incredible story of its journey from 37. Kurowski, Unusual Diamond; Friedman, "The Story of the Eagle Diamond." obscurity in Wisconsin to its brief but sparkling presence on 38. Kurowski, Unusual Diamond. 39. Friedman, "The Story of the Eagle Diamond." the world stage. ft(l 40. Kurowski, Unusual Diamond. 41. Ibid. Notes 42. Friedman, "The Story of the Eagle Diamond." 43. Ibid. 1. Sir Thomas Browne, The Works of Sir Thomas Browne Volume III, Christian Morals 44. Ibid. JCharles Sayle ed., 1907), 459. 45. Wood v. Boynton, 25 N.W. 42, 43 (Wise. 1885). 2. Wood v. Boynton, 25 N.W. 42 (Wise. 1885). 46. Ibid. 3. Restatement (second) of Contracts § 154 (1981); Restatement (Third) of Restitution and 47. Ibid. Unjust Enrichment §1 (T.D. No. 7, 2010); E. Allan Farnsworth, Contracts § 9.3 (4th ed. 2004); 48. Ibid. John Edward Murray,Jr., Murray on Contracts § 91 (4th ed. 2001);Joseph M. Perillo, Cala- 49. Baker, "Thieves Must Have Cut Missing Eagle Diamond." mari, and Perillo on Contracts § 9.26 (5th ed. 2003), 27; Williston on Contracts, § 70.108 (4th 50. Restatement (second) of Contracts; Restatement (Third) of Restitution and Unjust En­ ed. 2009). richment; Farnsworth, Contracts; Murray on Contracts; Perillo, Calamari, and Perillo on 4. Walter Monfried, "Treasures on Our Doorstep," Mlwaukeejournal,July 1, 1961. Contracts; Williston on Contracts. 51. Perillo, Calamari, and Perillo on Contracts, 364; Farnsworth, Contracts, 610—611; Murray on Contracts, 510. 52. Baker, "An Added Chapter." ABOUT THE AUTHOR 53. "The AMNH Gem and Mineral Collection," accessed April 5, 2011, http://Research amnh.org/eps/collections/mineralsandgems. Mara Kent is a professor of law at Thomas M. 54. Barry Rohan, "The Case of the Wandering Diamond," Detroit Free Press, 1982. Cooley Law School, where she teaches Con­ 55. DouglasJ. Preston, "Dinosaurs in the Attic: An Excursion into the American Museum of Natural History (New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1993), 210. The description of the great jewel tracts and Sales. She is a 1993 graduate of the robbery of 1964 comes largely from Preston's account. University of Michigan and a 1996 summacum 56. Ibid., 211. 57. "$410,000 Gem Theft at Museum Was One of Boldest in History," New York Times, laude graduate of the University of Detroit September 3, 1965. Mercy School of Law. Following law school, 58. Dinosaurs in the Attic, 211. 59. Jay Maeder, "Star Bright: The DeLong Ruby Comes Home; July-September 1965, she served as a judicial law clerk for Michigan Chapter 338," New York Daily News Archives, accessed September 2, 2013, http://www Supreme Court Justice Michael F. Cavanagh. nydailynews.com/archives/news/star-bright-delong-ruby-home-july-september-1965-chap- After completing her clerkship, she was in private practice as an ter-338-article-1.906435. 60. Tom Well, "Florida is a Jewel of Gems for Thieves," Associated Press. appellate attorney, specializing primarily in civil rights and employ­ 61. Baker, "Thieves Must Have Cut Missing Eagle Diamond." ment law. She has been teaching contract law, sales and negotiable 62. Friedman, "The Story of the Eagle Diamond." instruments, and legal writing since 2000.

WINTER 2013-2014 53 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL Announcing the Winner of S O C i E T Y the Hesseltine Award

Wisconsin Historical Society Michael P. Schmudlach, Brooklyn Board of Curators Samuel J. Scinta, Onalaska Thomas L. Shriner Jr., Milwaukee Officers John W.Thompson, Madison President: Conrad G. Goodkind, Aharon Zorea, Richland Center Milwaukee President Elect: Brian D. Rude, Governor's Appointees Coon Valley Elizabeth L Adelman, Mukwonago Treasurer: William P. O'Connor, Madison David G. Anderson, Wausau Secretary: Ellsworth H. Brown, R. William Van Sant, Bayfield The Ruth and Hartley Barker Director, Fitchburg Legislative Appointees Rep. Frederick P. Kessler, Milwaukee Term Members Rep. Steve G. Kestell, Elkhart Lake Jon D. Angeli, Lancaster Sen. Fred A. Risser, Madison Angela B. Bartell, Middleton Sen. DaleW. Schultz, Richland Center Sidney H. Bremer, Green Bay Laurene D. Davidson, Marinette Curators Ex-Officio Norbert S. Hill Jr., Oneida Christopher S. Berry, President, John 0. Holzhueter, Mazotnanie Wisconsin Historical Foundation Gregory B. Huber, Wausau Laura J. Cramer, President, FRIENDS of Carol J. McChesney Johnson, the Society Black Earth Lane R. Earns, Provost &Vice Chancellor William P. Jones, Madison for Academic Affairs, UW-Oshkosh Ellen D. Langill, Waukesha Terry E.Thiessen, President, Wisconsin Cora Anderson as Ralph Kerwinieo. Cora Anderson in Real Life. Chloris A. Lowe Jr., New Lisbon Council for Local History Lowell F. Peterson, Appleton Chicago Day Book composite of Anderson as she appeared when she Jerald J. Phillips, Bayfield Honorary Curators identified as Ralph and as Cora Walter S. Rugland,/\pp/etof) Thomas H. Barland, Eau Claire

Congratulations to Matthew Prigge, winner of the 46th annual William Best Hesseltine Award for volume 96 of Wisconsin Historical Wisconsin Magazine of History. His article, "The 'Girl- FOUNDATION Man' of Milwaukee," appeared in the Spring 2013 issue and received the most votes from readers for the best article of the volume year.

Wisconsin Historical Foundation Sarah E. Traas, Neenah The compelling story of Cora Anderson/Ralph Kerwineo Board of Directors Rhona E. Vogel, Brookfield captured the interest of readers, who appreciated a rare G. Lane Ware, Wausau Officers David A. Zweifel, Monona opportunity to see into the completely different experiences of President:Christopher S. Berry, men and women at the beginning of the twentieth century. An Middleton Directors Ex-Officio educated woman of African American and Native American Vice President: Michael L. Youngman, Conrad G. Goodkind, Whitefish Bay, Milwaukee President, Wisconsin Historical descent, Cora Anderson attempted to make her way in the Treasurer: Stephen F. Brenton, Verona Society Board of Curators world and found the odds insurmountable. Her solution, for Secretary: Loren J. Anderson, Elkhorn Brian D. Rude, Coon Valley, President- Elect, Wisconsin Historical Society herself and her roommate, was to assume the role of husband Board of Directors Board of Curators and man of the house. Transforming herself into the dashing Diane K. Ballweg, Madison Renee S. Boldt, Appleton Wisconsin Historical Real Estate "Bolivian gentleman" Ralph Kerwineo, he found a goodjob in Robert C. Dohmen, Mequon Foundation Milwaukee and was accepted wholeheartedly into a different Dennis R. Dorn, Portage John R. Evans, Verona Board of Directors world—one that brought the opportunities and advantages of C. FrederickGeilfuss, II, Milwaukee President: Bruce T. Block, Milwaukee a man's life into sharp focus. Ultimately, after living as a man Michael R. Gotzler, Madison Vice President and Treasurer: David G. for many years, a shocking scandal revealed his dual identities, Scott T. Kowalski, Madison Stoeffel, Whitefish Bay James R. Lang, Lake Mills Secretary: Gary J. Gorman, Fitchburg and Kerwineo was forced to return to living as Cora Anderson Thomas J. Mohs, Madison by court order. Catherine C. Orton, Mauston Wisconsin Historical Foundation Peter A. Ostlind, Madison Executive Director The story was recorded in newspapers of the day in Gregory W. Poplett, McFarland Diane L. Nixa Kerwineo's own words. Kerwineo's articulate interviews Linda E. Prehn, Wausau Jeffrey D. Riester, Appleton revealed astute observations and insight into a historical expe­ David G. Stoeffel, Whitefish Bay rience of gender as privilege.

54 wisconsinhistory.org Matthew J. Prigge lives in Milwaukee, where he is a free­ THANK YOU! lance historian and writer. He received his master's degree in history from UW-Milwaukee in 2012 and is currently pursuing his PhD.

It is with deepest thanks that the Wisconsin Historical Society A Memory of the Lauerman recognizes the following individuals and organizations who Brothers Department Store contributed $10,000 or more between September 1,2012, and (The Summer 2013 issue included an excerpt from Something September 30,2013. for Everyone: Memories of Lauerman Brothers Department Anonymous (2) Store, by Michael Leannah.) Ruth and Hartley Barker Advised Fund through Incourage My parents owned a dairy farm in Marinette County Our Community Foundation trips to Marinette had to be a day when my Dad had his farm Black Point Historic Preserve Operation and Maintenance Fund work pretty much caught up. It was usually a once-a-month through Greater Milwaukee Foundation all day trip. The trips were during the summer months in the Caxambas Foundation 1940s. My parents, two sisters, two brothers and I would travel Pleasant and Jerry Frautschi to Marinette. We left in the morning and returned home in the KohlerTrust for Preservation late afternoon. Ruth DeYoung Kohler This would mean we would have lunch away from home. We never went to the Lauerman's restaurant. My parents Ralph and Virginia Kurtzman would go to the Lauerman Brothers grocery store. It was Sally Mead Hands Foundation located at this time in the basement of the store. My Mom Navistar would buy a package of hamburger buns and a package of Old World Wisconsin Foundation sliced baloney. She would bring a fruit drink that was prepared State ofWisconsin at home. Mom would bring the purchased foods to the car, and we would eat our lunch. I remember the baloney and hamburger buns were the Anonymous (2) best. The baloney taste lingered in my taste buds for years and American Family Insurance years. I am sure the baloney was made with all meat and not John Arnold the filler we have in our baloney today. The buns were prob­ Bemis Manufacturing Company ably freshly baked the night before. Delicious! Tom and Renee Boldt Thank you Mr. Leannah, for bringing this good memory Edwin E. & Janet L Bryant Foundation back to me. CNH Case New Holland Betty (Ellie) Haden Culver's South Fulton, Tennessee DEMCO.Inc. Edward U. Demmer Foundation Dohmen Family Foundation Ray and Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust The Evjue Foundation, Inc. the charitable arm of The Capital Times WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT OUR READERS THINK! Mrs. Peter D.Humleker, Jr. Claire and Marjorie Johnson Email us at: [email protected] Robert and Dorothy Luening •1 Comment on our facebook page: Tom and Nancy Mohs www.facebook.com/Wisconsin.Magazine.of.History Gifts in memory of Marty C. Perkins r~ Follow us on Twitter: @WI_Mag_History Jane Bradley Pettit Foundation Write to us at: PleasantT. Rowland Foundation Wisconsin Magazine of History Patty Schmitt 816 State Street Dave and Maggie Stoeffel Madison, Wisconsin 53706 Konrad and MaryJoTestwuide TheVollrath Company, LLC

WINTER 2013-2014 55 **" Curio "*•

The Kalvestrands immigrated to Wisconsin from Norway during the 1860s and 1870s. According to family history, Ole Olsen Kalvestrand received this intricately carved maple trinket box from his father, who constructed it in 1794. The decoration of geometric shapes on the front, top, and sides stylistically suggests German or Danish influ­ ence. The box also has a secret pine drawer in its base hidden behind a movable side panel. It was passed down from the first Ole Olsen Kalvestrand for generations, from the oldest male child to the next, until another Ole Olsen Kalvestrand immi­ grated with his family and brought the box with them on their journey. Immigrant families faced many challenges and changes. Physical representations of the Old World, such as this trinket box, helped these families retain continuity between their European traditions and their new lives in the United States. Happy Holidays from Wisconsin

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The Wisconsin Historical Museum Shop is located on the Wisconsin Historical Society Capitol Square at 30 N. Carroll St., Madison, Wl 53703 PRESS Call 888-999-1669 to order or buy online at shop.wisconsinhistory.org TO ORDER Please call: (888) 999-1669 Members of the Wisconsin Historical Society (608) 264-6565 (in Madison) receive a 10% discount! Shop online: shop.wisconsinhistory.org In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, china painting presented a significant number of women the opportunity for a serious artistic career. Hazel Miller Hanneman followed in the footsteps of many young Wisconsin women who headed to Chicago for training and then returned to their hometowns to give lessons and sell their own artwork. Floral designs were by far the most popular choice of these artists, but other common motifs included fruits, birds, and landscape vignettes. Hanneman's customers would have easily recognized this matching creamer, sugar bowl, and cup and saucer as her work by her signa­ ture foreet-me-nots and eold bands. Read more about Hazel Miller Hanneman in Emily

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