Chapman Park is a Stanley jewel that is often taken for granted,

as it has been there forever, or so it seems. A lake was formed

by damming the Wolf River in 1890. The lake, or pond, was needed to hold the logs dumped from railroad flatbed cars that

crossed on a trestle that ran basically northeast to southwest. The

logs, that came from the woods north and northeast of Stanley, were fed into the Northwestern Lumber Company Mill, that was built in 1890 in today's Fandry Park, and ended its run September 14, 1920. After the demise of the mill, the land on the west side of the lake, owned by the lumber company, was donated to the

city of Stanley and presented to the city by the Northwestern Lumber Company's representative George Chapman. It was Mr. Chapman that the lake was named after. Soon after the donation was received, the community came together and created a recreational lake. The lake was drained and a new dam built. Brush was cut and sand was hauled in for a beach. Over the years, some of the major additions to the park have been the lighted ball field, Maves Pavilion, tennis courts, a children's playgrou nd, deer park, campgrounds, Rod and Gun Building, Elk Park and in more recent years the bandstand and rodeo arena. And opening

next month will be the Stanley Community Building, which is reported to be a beauty. So when I drive through the park and see people utilizing all the amenities, I wonder how surprised our forefathers would be to come back today and see what this property has been transformed into compared to the day they cut brush to start the development. *** Since we started with a little history, I will continue on with the following history I ran across looking for something in the 1912 Stanley papers. Stanley's second high school, a modern brick structure that faced 5th Avenue was built in 1905 at a cost of $40,000. Thorp's second high school was dedicated in February 1912 and I found the following in the February 7, 1912 issue of The Stanley Republican that was written by a Thorp correspondent who wrote Thorp news for the Stanley paper: “The dedication of the new school house took place on Friday evening of last week. An overwhelming crowd was present. Many could not get into the large room in which the exercises were held. A good portion of the afternoon was spent in a social or rather in a love fest style. It was pleasant to all as individuals and we believe profitable to the village as a whole. The evening exercises were the attraction of the whole. The music was by

the pupils of the high school. Some months ago they formed an orchestra with Frank Rivers and Hixon Mead as teachers.

Considering the short time in which they have been taught, made their success the more beautiful and inspiring. There were three addresses, two of which were supposed to last but ten minutes each and the last unlimited in time by Mr. Rounds of Milwaukee. His subject was the introduction of politics into our schools in the form of lectures and discussions. He dealt with it on quite general principles. He seemed to hint at partisan politics as a necessary study for the coming voters of our nation. To this we would seriously object. There is quite a difference between the questions, what to do, and how to do it. Every pupil should

be lead into the philosophy of genuine (small-d) democratic government, how to sustain it and how to prolong it. When we

reach this we will know how to accomplish it. Attorney Geo.

B. Parkhill delivered one of the ten minute speeches and we can say he is good at concentrating, for he said a good deal, worth saying, and hearing too, in that time. But the dedication closed and everybody went home pleased and proud of the new school house.” *** If your a reader of "Our Wisconsin" magazine, you are likely aware that each edition has a contest that requires finding three “W’s” in ads. Then, if you submit the correct pages they are located on, you become eligible for one of a mother load of prizes that the magazine awards with each edition. On the day of arrival of an issue, I scan the winners to see if I know anyone. Finally, in the June/July 2021 issue, I found a winner I know. She is Judy Talbot of Cornell. Judy is the immediate past Mayor of Cornell and has served on the Chippewa County Tourism Committee. Congratulation to Judy. Hope springs eternal for the rest of us!

***

Quote of the week from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "The most

important things are hardly ever urgent. That is why it is so important for us to identify what the most important things are and place them at the center of our lives.” *** Are you looking to start or expand a small business? West Central Regional Planning Commission is administrating a $510,000 Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus

award from the Wisconsin Department of Administration, to

establish a Microenterprise Grant Program in West Central Wisconsin. The program can provide up to $5,000 in grant

funding to eligible small businesses located in Barron, Chippewa,

Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire (excluding the City of Eau Claire), Polk and St. Croix counties to cover working capital needs resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligibility requirements include being located in one of the mentioned counties, employing five or fewer employees, having been established prior to February 5, 2020, be current on income and property taxes and be owned by

a person(s) of qualifying income. Ineligible businesses are those

engaged in crop and animal production, lessors of real estate, and

nonprofit organizations. Applications will only be accepted by email during the Application Acceptance Period beginning at 12 p. m. on Tuesday, June 1, and ending at 12 p. m. on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. It is important to note that applications will be accepted on a first-come, flirt-served basis depending on the demand. For more information contact Tobi LeMahieu at 715-836-2918 ext. 19 or [email protected]

***

Smile time. You can't change one moment of your past, but you can change your whole future. +++ A 24-year-old man

looking out the train’s window shouted. “Dad, look the trees are

going behind!" His dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby looked at the 24 year old's childish behavior with pity, when he

suddenly again exclaimed., “Dad, look the clouds are running

with us!" The couple couldn't resist and said to the old man,

“Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?” The old man

smiled and said, "I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was born blind, he just got his eyes today." Every single

person on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them. The truth might surprise you.+++ Life is not

fair, but we must endeavor to make it so. +++ If you do nothing

else today, smile at someone who needs a smile.