The last issue of Then and Now started out as a double mystery; I received a pair of pictures - bound together - of unknown origin and of unknown homes. I was certain that if I could find one house, I’d find the other as it was obvious that they were located across the street from each other. The mystery was solved when Margaret Schmitt figured out that our lost house belonged to 207 E. Mill Street, which made it simply a matter of looking across the street to find this week’s Now home at 206 Mill Street.
If you look at the last issue of Then and Now, you’ll remember the fine wooden sidewalk and small tree that was directly in front of the home. You will notice the same wooden walk and small tree in our current Then photo but from 180 degrees rotated. This photo of the buggy and its occupants was taken as the photographer stood near the front porch of 207 E. Mill Street. Notice the large distance between the Then gravel road, which was Mill Street, and the wooden sidewalk. The road at that time doesn’t appear to be much more than a path of 12 feet wide. The buggy apparently pulled up onto the grass – off of the road – to visit the occupants of 207 E. Mill Street. The photo does have the names – May and Henry Baird – on it, but that does not relate to any occupants at the time. Maybe you know who the Bairds were.
Speaking of streets, it may have been obvious to some, but even the subtleness of a street named Lincoln can be very interesting. Since this area was plated in 1848 - well before Abraham Lincoln became president in 1860 - Lincoln Ave must have had a name change. Street names are changed so seldom so as to imply a great honor when done so. Prior to 1865, when Lincoln was assassinated, Lincoln Ave was better known as Division St - as in a division between east and west.
I first tried to date this photo by dating the buggy, which I was fascinated with. Did these folks live in Beaver Dam, or did they travel here by train and then rent a buggy at the livery so as to pay their respects on friends or family in style. They each are impeccably dressed - he in a bowler, tie and leather gloves. By most accounts, this two-seater was popular around the 1870 to the early 1900. I could not find a definitive answer as to the buggy’s date or manufacture – although a trip to the Carriage House in Mayville was nonetheless interesting. The horse appears to be of the thoroughbred breed (I only state that because I believe that certain breeds would have been more popular at different times).
We already covered the history of this area in the last issue, so I won’t go over the Ackerman story. I noticed one very interesting (maybe only to me) subtlety while reviewing the abstract for this home. Aside from the lawsuits and foreclosures, it dawned on me that every mortgage given on property at this time was not with banks but with private individuals. Even after the first banks started lending money, it was still very popular to seek the financing from the current owners.
There is something so beautiful – so simple - about the Then homes that that I love them so much more than any Now home I’ve ever seen. Those beautiful porches seemed to be the first thing to succumb to the harsh elements, which eventually lead to their replacement. The Then porch was so ornate with its sculpted accents and hip roof. You can see that the porch roof has now been extended over the left face of the home where a bow window has replaced the two symmetrically offset windows. The wood clapboard siding of the Then home is still there, but it is well hidden under the current siding. The outbuildings to the left are gone as are the little trees that got too large for the ever widening road. Maybe the buggy’s wheels provide an accent in some Beaver Dam garden, but not much else is left of this time.
Writing the Then and Now issues has connected me with many of the resources available. As you know, I rely on the Dodge Co Historical Society’s collection for much of my research. What I did not realize is that the Beaver Dam Community Library has a wonderful genealogy and local history collection including a wonderfully cataloged cemetery record. Margaret Schmitt helped me find Abraham Ackerman’s burial site, which is indeed in the City Cemetery on N. University. You might consider donating your rare resources to one of these two groups so that all can benefit.
As always, please let me know if you have knowledge relating to our Then home or residents. If you possess any old photos depicting a Beaver Dam property, please let me know. You may contact Brian French at 920-356-0825 or frenchco@charter.net
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