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Appeared in Washburn Homecoming, '91, July 18, 1991 -
page 11.
Washburn was platted and surveyed in 1882 and founded in 1883 by
the Bay Land and Improvement Company as a lake shipping terminus for the
Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway. There is no romance of Indian
Lore in the history of its foundation - no poetical inspirations can be derived
from its early history. When platted it was strictly a business consideration
and has remained so ever since.
No doubt the Indian Tribes of the
Chippewa, Huron, Ottawa, and Sioux traversed the area camping on the banks of
the shoreline but it wasn't until 1662 that the first white men set eyes on the
site which was to become Washburn. Two Frenchmen, Radisson and Groseillers, who
were in search of fortune and adventure paddled across Chequamegon Bay toward a
rocky point near the mouth of Fish Creek. They established the first permanent
habitation of white men in what was to become the State of Wisconsin.
Radisson and Groseillers came and went. They were in search of furs with no
thought to founding a city. In their footsteps came Alouez and Marquette and
after them many voyageurs and itinerant fur traders, all interested in the fur
business.
Washburn was named for Cadwallader C. Washburn, Governor of
Wisconsin 1873-1874 and founder of the Washburn, Crosby Milling Firm. It was
organized as a town in 1884 and incorporated as a city in 1904. The Bayfield
County seat was moved from Bayfield to Washburn in 1892 and the Court House was
erected in 1894.
Washburn grew steadily with three immense saw mills
which cut nearly one million feet of lumber each year. The lusty lumberjacks who
gave Washburn its start infused it with their hardy spirit.
Then there
was the mammoth C., St. P., M., and O., elevator, the commercial dock and the
Northwestern Fuel Company's dock. All these offered employment and the main
support of the town.
There were 37 saloons and scores of bachelor
boarding houses along the main street. Some madams, who were no ladies, also
were a part of the scenery. Politicking was a favorite pastime. Some old-timers
like to relate that in those days "you could get a fellow to vote two or three
times a day for a bottle."
There were nine churches in Washburn in the
early days. Several Ladies's societies were connected with the churches. Five
lodges, a baseball club, two bands - the Washburn Cornet Band and the
Scandinavian Cornet Band - and several businessmen's associations existed. The
Bank of Washburn was established in July 1887, with Capital of $25,000.00 A.C.
Probert was Proprietor. There were two newspapers - The Washburn Itemizer and
the Washburn News. Washburn established a Water Company in 1888.
For
entertainment there was the Opera House located on the southwest corner of East
Bayfield Street and First Avenue East where all social events were enjoyed.
Washburn also had a hospital in those early days. It was located on W. Bayfield
Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenue West with John E, Heslop as physician and
surgeon. It could accommodate 50 patients and also offered bath accommodations
for lumberjacks and others.
No account of Washburn would be complete
without the story of the first settler - Daniel Webster Corning. He was born at
Manchester, New Hampshire, November 27, 1862. He came to Wisconsin with his
parents and settled at Portage City. When the Omaha Railroad was built north
from Spooner into Ashland, Mr. Corning worked for the Company having charge of
store supplies. During the year 1883, he decided to locate in Washburn. He
opened up the first general store called the Pioneer Grocery. Later with Mr.
McQuads he opened up the City Drug Store in the Wing building on the corner of
Bayfield Street and First Avenue.
When the business street of Washburn
was swept by fire, Mr. Corning's first store was burned. He opened up again for
business in the Aune and Overby block which he later purchased.
He was
the Collector of Customers for the Port of Washburn for 23 years. He held many
prominent positions in other businesses in Washburn. He was dedicated to the
betterment of the community.
Mr. Corning was a descendant of the great
statesman, Daniel Webster. Still living in Washburn are grandson Daniel Webster
Corning II, and great grandson Daniel Webster Corning III.
In the 1800's,
1890's and early 1900's, sandstone quarrying at Houghton near Washburn was an
important industry employing several hundred. Sandstone was shipped all over the
Midwest. Many important buildings in the surrounding area as well as other
cities have been built out of stone.
In 1904, DuPont erected a plant at
Barksdale which was a boon for Washburn, since the sawmills and quarrying
businesses were fading out. It produced explosives used by Michigan and
Minnesota iron mines and for land clearing. Then came World War I and DuPont
included military explosives, employment was as high as 6,000. Washburn's
population soared to 9,000 in 1918. DuPont stayed in business between wars, but
business continued to dwindle and the plant finally closed in 1975.
Washburn has survived the loss of the sawmills, the DuPont plant and the
shipping facilities. Washburn was born with pride and this trademark has
remained through all of its hard times. New businesses and many new homes have
been constructed.
The motto of the Washburn News adopted in 1887 was:
"Washburn, first, last, and all the time." It summarizes the spirit that has
dominated Washburn since its founding in 1883.
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