August 30, 2006

Prairie du Chien residents may soon see some activity at the Lawler Park Wall and at various boat launches in the city. Steve Hendrix, the chairman of the Harbor Commission said that the commission has recommended that the city take advantage of the very low water level in order to conduct repairs to the wall and to construct improvements to landings.

The Lawler Park Wall, which was built around 1860, has pockets and holes in it that need to be repaired in order to stop further erosion for the time being. The majority of these holes are normally below the waterline. Due to the low water conditions, however, the wall is much more accessible for repairs now.

Hendrix said that the patching could begin within the next week. He also said that these patching repairs will not be the end of projects on the Lawler Park Wall, which will be one of the components of the 20-year plan that will be established for commercial harbors, boat landings and the Marina in Prairie du Chien.

Hendrix said that the objective would be to keep the historic appearance of the wall, while also coming up with a plan for its long-range maintenance. Hendrix estimated that it could cost approximately $500,000 over the long-term to complete the wall properly. Hendrix stressed that none of the money used for the immediate repair of the wall and its future maintenance, as well as improvements to the city's boat landings, will come from taxes. All of the funds will be raised from grants and from the city's boat launch fees.

Hendrix noted that there are two commercial harbors in Wisconsin that are on the Mississippi River, one at La Crosse and one in Prairie du Chien. The Harbor Commission is looking into obtaining historical and commercial grants for the maintenance of the wall and improvements to landings.

"We're very optimistic," he said. "You've got to start somewhere."

Hendrix noted that use of the river has increased tremendously and that has contributed to the erosion of the Lawler Park Wall. "River traffic has increased 100 fold in the last 10 years including fishermen, barges, jetskis, pleasure craft and powerboats," he said.

In addition to grants, Hendrix noted that the city raises about $23,000 per year in boat launch fees, which in turn are used for the maintenance and improvements at the city's five boat landings.

The two most improved landings in recent years have been the Campion Boat Landing (next to the wastewater treatment plant) and the St. Feriole Slough Boat Landing (commonly referred to as the Marina Landing). Hendrix said that the City Council has approved of improvements at the St. Feriole Slough Landing. There will soon be eight more pieces of concrete added, each piece will be eight feet long and approximately 12 feet wide. The hump that has been formed at the end of two ramps due to powerloading will be dug out and each ramp will be made longer so that the scouring out of a hump will cease to be a problem. The cost of this project is $25,000, which comes entirely from boat launch fees.

With the water so low, it is a good time to conduct the improvements. "It gives us the opportune time to get in and work on them," said Hendrix, who noted that it is hoped that the lengthening of the two ramps at the St. Feriole Slough Landing will be completed by the end of September.

As a side note, Hendrix said that the Mississippi River Stage at Prairie du Chien was the lowest it has been in the last 30 years when it was at 6.3 feet earlier this summer. He said that in 1976 the river stage hit 5.8 feet. "We were almost to the point of closing the landings," he said in explaining that state law would have governed such a decision.

Hendrix said that a minor drainage problem at the Campion Landing will be addressed by laying down a special type of cloth material and putting small rocks on top of it to stop erosion.

The Harbor Commission is also looking into the possibility of increasing the parking space at the Campion Landing and the St. Feriole Slough Landing. Hendrix said that the field in front of the St. Feriole Slough Landing will be raised up so that it is not wet all of the time and gravel will be spread on top of it. He said that parking should be increased by about 30 more rigs. He estimated the cost at $20,000 to be paid for by boat launch fees. It is hoped that the parking project will be done by this fall.

"The community has been very supportive and patient," said Hendrix about all of the improvements. Hendrix noted that the Harbor Commission and the city are always looking for citizen input, especially concerning the establishment of the 20-year plan. He said that there is a blue questionnaire that people get when they pay their boat launch fees and constructive suggestions are always welcome.

Hendrix also said that the Harbor Commission will recommend that the mayor appoint an ad-hoc committee in order to help form the 20-year plan. The committee will consist of two members of the public, one person from the Harbor Commission, the City Planner and one City Council member. This ad-hoc committee will explore all aspects of the Marina, the boat landings and the commercial harbor.

The establishment of a 20-year plan will give the Harbor Commission direction, said Hendrix, who also noted that having such a plan will make it much easier to get state and federal grants.

Hendrix noted that the Harbor Commission is made up of volunteers who strive to protect the community's interests. "We are there to make sure they get their money's worth," he said.

The Prairie du Chien Eagles Club celebrates its 100th anniversary this month. The organization was instituted Aug. 25, 1906, and received its official charter and title as Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 1502 Oct. 12, 1906.

The first recorded officers were: John Tesar, president; Charles Honzel, vice president; F. R. Honzel, past president; Dr. H.C. Clark, chaplain; V.M. Smercina, secretary; H. Kuchenbecker, treasurer; Albert Honzel, inner guard; M. Maha, outer guard, Dr. F.J. Antoine, physician; and Charles Liner, A.C Steinberg and W.M. Evans, trustees.

It is not known where the 60-member group met for the first year of their existence, but minutes dating from Sept. 4, 1907 show that the group voted to meet in the Metropolitan Theater Annex commencing the next month. In 1925, they purchased the building at 200 S. Beaumont Rd. for the sum of $5,000, and have met there ever since.

At present, a comfortable bar and lounge area for members is located on the first floor. The meeting room on the second floor houses a framed copy of the club's original charter and other memorabilia.

The club's history, compiled from old secretary's and treasurer's books, shows that times, customs and prices have changed a great deal in the last 100 years.

In 1907, Pinky Gerhardt of Platteville presented the Aerie with an eagle. Records indicate that it was to be chloroformed and stuffed.

In October, 1907, the main topic of discussion was the need for cuspidors, and a dozen cuspidors were duly ordered from the Prairie City Grocery. The cuspidor issue was finally resolved in January, 1908 with the report that the cuspidors, at a total cost of six dollars, had been delivered.

A 1907 report also shows that a dinner dance, held at the Metropolitan, brought in $65, of which $31.75 was profit for the club.

An entry from 1935 shows it was suggested that wives of members be permitted to use the club rooms for the purpose of playing cards one afternoon a week during the winter season.

The first Eagles club was organized in February, 1898 in Seattle, Wash. and called the ïOrder of Good Things.' As membership grew, the bald eagle was chosen as their emblem and the name changed to The Fraternal Order of Eagles.

From the beginning, service has been a key mission of the Eagles, and the Prairie du Chien group has made major contributions. Last year, they raised $41,000 in their annual telethon, with the money going to heart and cancer research. They also give money to causes which include diabetes, kidney disease, spinal cord injury and children's abuse funds.

Current officers are: Steve Slaght, president; John Cejka, past worthy; Don Hand, Jr., vice president; John Swatek, chaplain; Ron Franklin, secretary; Chuck Kramer, treasurer; Bill Check, guard; Monty Ames, conductor; Bruce Long, auditor; Jeff Smethurst, Bud Gochenaur and Juba DuCharme, trustees.

Until 1947 the organization was strictly a men's club, but in 1947 a women's auxiliary was added. Those officers currently are: Ruth Ann Caldwell, junior past president; Charlene Maurer, president; Sherri Critchlow, vice president; Bonnie Nank, chaplain; Evelyn Dow, secretary; Becky Henry, treasurer; Jan Lortie, conductor; Anna Mae Steffensmeier, inside guard; Florence Kozelka, outside guard; Joan Gochenaur, Joan Paulson and Donna Mara, trustees; Vicki Hand, mother of the year.

Prairie du Chien Aerie 1502 numbers approximately 500 members, with about 200 women serving in the auxiliary.

European music tour delights area students

A trip to Europe as part of the Wisconsin Ambassadors of Music (WAM) left two area girls with lasting memories, good friends, and a new sense of maturity and independence.

Abbey Stark and Catrina Mayer from Prairie du Chien Senior High School were among some 400 Wisconsin students on the tour, which began June 26 and ended July 12.

The two were among several students nominated for the honor by their band director, Matt Lenz, but they were the only students able to go. Catrina plays the oboe, and Abbey plays percussion.

When they attended the WAM spring camp in Whitewater last March, where they received their music and participated in a day long rehearsal with the other students, they knew only each other. By the time the tour ended, they had approximately 400 new friends.

The group performed in London, England; Paris, France; Crans-Montana, Switzerland; Seefeld, Austria; Venice, Italy; Rothenburg, Germany and Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

The first concert was at a park in London, and they learned that many of the same people attend the concert year after year. The group performed the same music, which consisted mainly of American patriotic songs, at each concert, and found that the crowd responded enthusiastically to this music. Of all the pieces they performed, they felt audience response was greatest to ñStars and Stripes Forever" and ñBig Band Spectacular," a medley of big band music.

Each performance and each city had its own highlights. In London, they toured Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Picadilly Circus. and attended a theatre presentation of ñLes Miserables." They visited the Eiffel Tower, The Louvre and Notre Dame in Paris.

They remarked on the contrast of terrain and temperature in Switzerland: ñIn the morning, we were in the snowy Alps, and that afternoon we swam in Lake Geneva," said Catrina.

The timing of their trip was such that they were in Italy during the World Cup games, and when Italy won, ñeveryone was screaming in the streets," they said.

Austria meant a swim in the Olympic pool and a visit to the Olympic ski jump. In Germany, they visited a medieval crimes museum. ñIt was very interesting to see all the things you got poked and prodded with if you got into trouble," Abbey remarked.

Both young women were impressed with the age of Rothenburg, which dates back to the 1500s. The big wooden doors at the gate of the city have survived since that time. In medieval times the doors were closed at night, and anyone left outside was out of luck until morning. It was also in Germany that Abbey had the opportunity to use the language she has studied for the past six years. She was delighted to find that she was able to converse with street vendors and understand what people were saying.

Both remarked on the sense of maturity and responsibility they gained from the trip. ñI think we got a lot more responsible about things," said Abbey. ñWe weren't always accompanied by chaperones."

They also found they were eating healthy, hearty food rather than the fast food so popular with teenagers. Because of that and all the walking they did, many people lost weight. As a matter of fact, they said, one young man lost so much weight he had to buy a new belt to keep his pants up.

Despite all they saw and experienced, however, the trip was still about music, and the young women expressed their appreciation to Lenz for what they felt was the experience of a lifetime. ñI'm really grateful he selected us to go," said Catrina. Lenz's help did not end with their nomination, either. He helped them learn their pieces before they left. ñOther people were challenged by the pieces," they said, ñbut Mr. Lenz did an exemplary job of helping us prepare."

Alex Sabo, director of music at UW Whitewater, was music director for the trip and, they said, ñhe demanded perfection."

Catrina graduated from high school in June and is going to be a freshman at Viterbo University in La Crosse. She plans to major in English education. She credits her high school teachers with this decision: "I've just had amazing teachers in my English classes," she said. However, she admits to thinking about music theory as well because "Mr. Lenz seems to have so much fun."

Abbey, who will graduate this spring, wants to go into a pre-veterinary program and continue band in college. She hopes to attend UW Platteville.

Students have to pay their own expenses for the trip, and the two held part time jobs to augment the financial assistance received from their parents.