Tales of the Northwoods Echoes From Rhinelander's Past Volume 2 By Mark J. Miazga Hodag PressR Copyright ©2004 by Mark Miazga All rights reserved. Cover and book design by Jeremy Weizel, Wink Design Co. www.winkwerks.com Publication Data: Miazga, Mark J. 1968 - Tales of the Northwoods: Echoes From Rhinelander's Past Vol. 2 Includes bibliographical references. 1. Rhinelander, Wisconsin-History 2. Hockey, Wisconsin, Rhinelander-History 3. Oneida Co. Courthouse, Wisconsin, Rhinelander- History 4. Fires, Wisconsin, Rhinelander-History 5. Ojibway, Wisconsin, Rhinelander- History 6. P1isoners of War, Wisconsin, Rhinelander-History 7. Roads, Wisconsin, Rhinelander- History I. Title ISBN 0-9653745-3-X Hodag Press· 14704 Yosemite Ave So. Savage, MN 55378 In Memo;y Of Vi.dd Marie Miazga 1956-2003 Acknowledgments This book would not have been possible without the encourage­ ment and support of my family. I am also grateful for the editorial assis­ tance of Kristin Larsen and Barbara Starr. Kevin Norton assisted with research at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison. Clarence "Buck" Puza, Assistant Fire Chief of the Rhinelander Fire Department, allowed access to the historical collections and photo­ graphs at the Rhinelander Fire Department. His assistance helped me to develop a better understanding of the major fires in Rhinelander's histo­ ry. Delore "Pat" Deau and Kenneth "Pooch" Cheslock provided me with historical recollections, insight, and photographs for the chapter on Rhinelander city hockey. Hal Berndt, former supervisor of the Hugo Sauer Nursery, provided information for the chapter on Rhinelander's World War II prisoner of war camp. The staff at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin in Madison and at the regional archives in Ashland, were also helpful. Books, microfilmed newspaper, and historical collec­ tions at the Madison site were especially helpful for my chapters on his­ toric roads and the Ojibway-Sioux battle along the Pelican River. Lastly, a special thanks to my former boss, U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, who was the most admired and principled public servant I ever worked for. He, along with my parents Henry and Laura Miazga, taught me to never sep­ arate the life you live from the words you speak.-MJM- Saint Paul, Minnesota May, 2004 Table of Contents Chapter 1 Rhinelander Hornets and the Heyday of City Hockey 11 Chapter 2 History of the Oneida County Courthouse 35 Chapter 3 Major fires in Rhinelander History 47 Chapter 4 Rhinelander as Ancient Site of Ojibway-Sioux Battle 75 Chapter 5 Rhinelander and the Green Bay Packers 85 Chapter 6 World War II Enemy Prisoners of War in Rhinelander 99 Chapter 7 Historic Northwoods Roads 111 Rhinelander Hornets and the Heyday of City Hockey 11 Chapter 1 Rhinelander Hornets and the Heyday of City Hockey One of the most successful, but little known, athletic teams in Rhinelander history was the Rhinelander Hornet city hockey team of the 1940s and 1950s. Originally known as the "West Side Shamrocks," they first played games on a small pond near the \Vest Side School, then later moved to Pioneer Park. \Vhen players got together again after World War II, the name was changed to "Hornets" because of the colors of their new uniforms, purple and gold. I Early History During the 1930s each section of town had its own hockey team. The teams combined to make up a league. The west side of the city had a particularly enthusiastic group of players that played on a little lake behind the West Side School. This lake served as both the practice and game rink for the players who would later play on a perennial city state championship team. By 1940 the city league had dispersed. It was in 1940 that John "Happy" Stafford, a one-time strong hockey player him­ self, began recruiting players for a city hockey team.2 Stafford found a strong nucleus for a city team in the west side players and a city team was developed out of this west side team. Stafford's fast city team played with no unifonns and little equipment. Its record was mediocre. The United States' entry into World War JI came along in December, 1941. Many of the city team players went on to serve their country during World War 11 and the city hockey team was disbanded during this period. After the war ended, the majority of the pre-World War II team came back to continue where they had left off. Some members of the pre-World War II 12 Tales of the Northwoods Vol. 2 team that did not play after the war included Bob Kuelrn who was killed during the war, Toot Sweo, and Ed Poskie.3 Once again, "Happy" Stafford took over the coaching duties of tbe team to help them along. The post­ war teams of 1946-47 and 1947-48 were just beginning to play together and fonni.ng the roots of what would become a very successful and well­ respected hockey team across the state of Wisconsin. The 1947-48 team played in the Vacationland Hockey League which included teams from Stevens Point, Marshfield, Eau Claire, and Chippewa Falls and may have included teams from other cities as well. 4 The ski II of this young Hornet team was evident in victories over Chippewa Falls and Marshfield. The young and aggressive Hornet team was also frequently hurt by many penalties. During the second game against Chippewa Falls that year, the Hornets eked out a 4 to 3 victory despite amassing nine penalties during the tilt and playing much of the final period of the game with only two men on the ice because ofpenalties.5 Other highlights of that season included a 4-2 victory over Marshfield which gave the young Hornet team a three game winning streak and a third victory over Chippewa Falls by a score of 5-2 at Pioneer Park before roughly 400 fans.6 Members of the 1947-48 team according to newspaper accounts of the season included goalie Bob Netling, Woody Ek, Joe Jaroski, Walt Jaroski, Ed Jaroski, Ed Pecore, Ralph Mischnick, Fredrich, Bodwin, Ed Danilko, Pete Predith, Bob Kennedy Jr., and Yem Baudhuin. Incidentally, the Rhinelander High School hockey program also received its start during the season of 1947- 48 when then principal Cedric Vig organized a team and set up games against Eagle River, Wausau, Shorewood and Count:Jy Day from the Milwaukee area.7 The 1947-48 Hornet team still lacked the proper equi p­ ment to be more competitive and needed a manager who had the time to give to the various details of the organization. This problem was solved when the team met for the 1948-49 season. Oran Rude took over the man­ aging duties. He and the players solicited local businesses and obtained enough money to buy equipment and unifonns. Ed Jaroski and Frank Lemmons came up with the name "Hornets" and the team became official­ ly known as the Rhinelander Hornets. 8 The 1948-49 Hornet team did not play in an official league, but rather played teams from throughout Wisconsin and Upper Michigan including Tomahawk, Wausau, Mosinee, Bruce Crossing, Michigan, and Stambaugh, Michigan.9 Fans remember these trips to Upper Michigan as Rhinelander Hornets and the Heyday of City Hockey 13 being some of the coldest games played by the city team with air temper­ atures reaching as low as 20 to 25 degrees below zero.IO The 1948-49 team had a rough reputation among teams they played. One newspaper account of the period illustrated this. Under the heading of "City Team Plays Rough, 'Jacks Quit" was the following aiticle: "Players of the Rhinelander city hockey team are much too rough. That's what members of the Wausau sextet said here Saturday night after walking out in the second period of their match at Pioneer Park. Wausau was in front 2-0 in the second period when it decided to call it quits after accusing the Rhinelander squad of illegal checking and high-sticking. As forecast, the match was rough, but the visitors claim that Manager Oran Rude's squad was not playing the game that the men who write the rules say it should be played. "Three or four Wausau players were sent limping from the rink during the heated rough-and-tumble brawl which some fans said bore little resemblance to hockey. Some criticism was also directed by Wausau at the officials for not cracking down on the illegal playing of the Rhinelander team, which was seeking its third straight win. Joe Jaroski, Rhinelander wing, said today that the game was rough but no rougher than other games played by the city team and its foes this season. He said that Wausau play­ ers declared that a player couldn't take two steps and then check another player, but Jaroski said a rule book was produced to show that such a maneuver was legal. However, the Wausau players disagreed and walked off the ice, despite pleas by their manager that they continue the game. "Kermit Ek, team follower, said it was the first time he ever saw such a thing (quitting in the middle of a game). 'The game was rougher in the first period than it was in the second', Ek said. 'Why didn't they protest then? But they waited until the second period when they took a 2-0 lead before quitting. It looks funny to me,' Ek stated."11 This Hornet team continued to show promise of better things to come throughout the 48-49 season. Rhinelander lost its first game of that 14 Tales of the Northwoods Vol.