Keep the past of Forest County, Wisconsin alive by joining and/or renewing your membership to the Historical Society.

Membership Application (in pdf format) 

Please send check or money order to:

Forest County Historical and Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 432
Crandon, WI  54520

Annual Dues as of 01.01.2007

Individual:  $10
Family:  $15
Business:  $25
Lifetime:  $100

Donor:  $250
Sponsor:   $500
Patron:  $1,000
Benefactor:  $5,000 or more

Biography Project
Short historical sketches of Forest County families written by Historical Society members.

Kentucky Century Families Project
The Century Families project celebrated those Kentucky families that lived in Forest County 100 years (1905-2005).

Research Room
Access to the Research Room files coming soon

Forest County Historical Museum 

The Forest County Historical Museum is located on what is known locally as the “Old Carter House.”  But it had a life of its own prior to being bought by Henry Carter. 

The building and property’s history begins with Samuel Shaw, the founder of the City of Crandon.  Shaw was the original developer and platted the city.  On July 8, 1902, Samuel Shaw and his wife Louise, sold the property where the museum now sits, to the Rt. Reverend R.H. Weller, John Boyd, and G.C. Hauser, trustees of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Crandon.  The property, Lot 5, Block 4, of Shaw’s First Addition sold for the sum of $175.00

By August of 1902, the building was under construction under the guidance of W. E. Laird.  Laird was also the contractor for the old high school and numerous other buildings in Crandon. 

The first services at the new St. Clements Mission, later named Guild Hall, were held in November of 1902 with Rev. G. Babcock presiding.  Anyone who was interested in renting the hall could do so as long as the entertainment presented was “respectable”.

In May of 1903, the hall was sold for taxes.  A reorganization of the church took place and it became St. Clements Mission.  Officers of the mission were:  Wardens H.C. Terry and James L. Walsh, M.D.; Treasurer, E.C. Paul and Clerk, G.C. Hauser.  There were about fifteen families who were supporters and members of the mission.

By February of 1912, the property had again changed hands.  A warranty deed was made between the trustees of the church and E.R. Murphy.  The deed was subject to a $600 mortgage.  In 1914, Murphy and his wife Marie gave a warranty deed to the trustees of the church, again subject to a mortgage.  Lack of support caused the failure of the mission by 1910. 

In 1919, the property was sold to the Forest County Military Association for $550.  The association held it until 1920 when it was sold to Henry Carter.  Henry turned the hall into a family home.  In 1932, Henry sold the property to Etta A. Carter.  In 1957, it again changed hands when it was bought by Erwin and Marie Poppy.  Marie was the daughter of Henry Carter.  A grandson of Henry’s, Glen Carter, obtained the home from his aunt, Marie.   The property remained in the Carter family until July of 1994 when it was purchased by the historical society.         

(Photos of the museum before the Historical Society purchased the home and began their restoration projects)

The Silver Lake Tavern was built in 1925 by Willard “Art” Lueders and Louie Larson.  It was operated by Art and Ella Lueders as the “Silver Lake Tavern and Dance Hall” during the 1930′s. From what I have heard from my Dad, Bill Lueders, people came from all over Forest County Wednesday through Saturday nights to visit the Dance Hall. Bands would come from as far away as Chicago to play.  Some of the bands that played at the pavilion were, Bill Carlson, Wayne King, Isom Jones, and Van Lare.

After Art Lueders died in Los Angeles, California from a stroke,  Ella and Bill continued to run the place for a period of time. It was sold to Ed Bolling in 1946 and then finally to the State of Wisconsin when the Dance Hall was torn down, due to the widening of Highway 8. After Ella finally sold the place, she lived out her days on Silver Lake Loop on the West side of Silver Lake.

Art and Ella also operated a logging camp in Florence for many years prior to moving to Laona. Willard (Bill) and Dorothy Lueders went to school in Florence and after the family moved to Laona they would board with a family in Florence during the school year. Bill worked for Connor Lumber Company during his younger years and was in the CC camp during the war.

Terry (Klescewski) Lueders, Bill’s wife, was born in Armstrong Creek where her father owned the tavern on the corner of Highway 8 and Highway 101 for many years.

Submitted by Duane Lueders, Grandson of Art and Ella Lueders.

  

Welcome to the History of the Town of Laona.  If you are intersted in submitting a historical article about the Town of Laona, please contact us.

History of the Silver Lake Tavern and Dance Hall
Submitted by Duane Lueders, Grandson of Art and Ella Lueders.

• History of the Crandon Rod and Gun Club