Wonders
of WALWORTH
COUNTY Published by Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC
Wint er 2017
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
WINTER 2017
Motorcycles - ATVs - Side- by-Sides - Watercraft - Scooters - Snowmobiles
“It’s All About the Ride”
W8896 County Hwy. A, Delavan (608) 883-2100
Check out our hours at www.stallerestate.com
Stop in to enjoy Complimentary Wine Tasting Relax with a glass of wine and a cheese platter in our sunroom and gazebo looking out at the vineyard. NEW Wines • NEW Food Options Wine Flights • Delicious Picnic Platters Wine & Chocolate Pairings Enjoy a Picnic Overlooking the Vineyard or Bring a Blanket to Savor Your Wine in the Vineyard
Rent ouR facility foR:
• Birthday Parties • Bridal Showers • Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties • Group Outings • Family Gatherings Groups and Buses Welcome TO GET ALL OF OUR UP TO DATE EVENT INFO
I-43 & Hwy. 14, Darien, WI • (262) 882-6299 249477 www.MaXxxMotorsports.com
231213
Page 2
Your Full Service Grocery Store
Family Owned and Operated Since 1974
• Full Deli Department, Party Trays Available • Fresh Salad and Hot Food Bar • Produce Delivered Fresh Daily • Full Service Meat Department, Will Cut To Order • In-House Bakery, Custom Cakes • Floral Arrangements and Plants for All Occasions • Complete Liquor, Wine & Beer Department
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
WOW
ly Delavan ient n e v n d 1414 E. Geneva St. Co cate Lo in the Shopko Shopping Center
262-728-2638
Stinebrink’s Liquor Store (Next Door) Largest Liquor Store in the Area
262-740-0541
Lake Geneva 100 East Geneva Square in the Geneva Square Shopping Center
262-248-8798 268557
WINTER 2017
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 3
Lake Geneva’s annual Winterfest celebration runs Jan. 28 through Feb. 12. The festival features the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition on the grounds of The Riviera in the city’s downtown district. New this year is the Abominable Snow Race at the Grand Geneva Resort.
Time to chill
DAVID BAKER Wonders of Walworth County
Winterfest 2017 to feature ‘Abominable Snow Race’ Lake Geneva’s Winterfest, known for its snow sculpting, human dog sled races, helicopter rides, shopping, music and more, will have a new attraction this year. This year’s event, which runs Jan. 28 through Feb. 12, includes the Abominable Snow Race, which features three to five miles of snowy course with more than 20 obstacles to challenge the most hearty of competitors. The Abominable Snow Race is at the Grand Geneva Resort on Jan. 28 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To register, visit abominablesnowrace. com.
Snow sculpting
For more than two decades, Winterfest has been the site of the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition. Teams consisting of 15 people compete for the national title. As it is an open event, visitors may watch sculpting teams from around the U.S. create pieces of art from snow throughout the day on Jan. 30 and 31. The competition begins on Wednesday, Feb. 1 and continues through Saturday, Feb. 4. The sculptors will officially end their work at 11 a.m., but the sculptures will remain in place for public viewing throughout the week. Each team will receive a cylinder shaped block of snow 8 feet in diameter and 9 feet high on the grounds of The Riviera. Each team’s snow block will be chosen via a lottery. If snow is not available and snowmaking is not possible,
an ice-carving competition will be held. Teams consist of three members 18 years and older from the same state. Both professionals and amateurs are eligible. Additional sculpting assistance is not permitted except that given by competition organizers and the grounds crew. The final sculpture must fit within a 12-foot circle. Height is determined by the teams. No media other than water, ice or snow may be used. Competitors are to use snow available on-site only. Colorants are prohibited. Armatures or molded shapes are not allowed. Sculptors may provide their own tools at their own risk and liability, but no power tools are allowed. Snow removal equipment, axes, machetes, buckets, longhandled ice scrapers, ladders and shovels will be available on site. Individual artists are judged. The sculptures and winners will be determined based on creativity and originality of expression (50 percent); technique including utilization of materials, excellence in execution and presentation (30 percent); and message, particularly the visual force of the message (20 percent). The first-place winning team receives the U.S. National Competition Champions Award and trophy and an invitation to compete in Association International de Sculpture sur Neige et Glace sanctioned International Snow Sculpting competition. The second-place winners receive the State of Wisconsin Award and trophy. The third-place winners receive the City of
Lake Geneva Award and trophy. The Gene Kempfer People’s Choice Award is determined by public vote held on the site of the competition between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 4. The award ceremony is at 3 p.m. at the Riviera. The Klaus Ebeling OMM Award is given to a team or person that promoted the spirit of the event. The award is named after Klaus Ebeling of Watertown, NY. Previous winners of the award decide the winning team for the award.
Human dog sled races
The human dog sled races will be held on Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. Teams of six compete against one another in a double-
The
elimination tournament at Lake Geneva Canopy Tours’ 100-acre wooded property minutes from downtown Lake Geneva. Each team will consist of six people: four sled pullers, a sled rider and a sled pusher. The sled racecourse is approximately 135 feet long. Team members are encouraged to dress in wacky costumes. A prize is in store for the most creative attire. Visit lakegenevaevents.com for entry information. “I think the communities and businesses – we couldn’t do this without their support and we’re so pleased they are so involved,” said Nan Elder, director of Winterfest.
Wonders of Walworth County A publication of Southern Lakes Newspapers LLC 1102 Ann St., Delavan, WI 53115 • (262) 728-3411
EDITOR: .....................................................Tracy Ouellette EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: ................................... Sharon Soch CREATIVE/PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: ..............Sue Z. Lange GRAPHIC DESIGNER: .....................................Jen DeGroot ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: ......................Vicki Vanderwerff SPECIAL SECTIONS ADVERTISING: ............ Karen Dubinsky
On the cover
FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES: Call (262) 725-7701, ext. 135
A snow sculptor gets face to face with his work during Lake Geneva’s Winterfest in 2016. The 2017 event runs Jan. 28 through Feb. 12. (Dave Baker photo)
Page 4
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
WINTER 2017
Changed lives The Time Is Now To Help brings renewed faith, sense of purpose By Heather Ruenz STAFF WRITER
al Dimiceli knows he will help many people each year. The founder of The Time Is Now to Help, though, knows the support of others makes that help possible. “People often wonder if I see 500 people a year, how do I accomplish that? The answer is with the help of many, thanks to the giving hearts of many,” said Dimiceli. In an effort to share the personal stories of a couple people who have been helped – in their own words – Dimiceli requested their permission to be interviewed. Their names have been changed at their request to protect their privacy. A man, whom we’ll refer to as Brian, was seriously injured on the job a few years ago, had several surgeries and then lost his wife to kidney failure. He found himself disabled and a single father to two children, living in a home in need of major repairs. “My wife was a diabetic and wasn’t even supposed to be able to have children. The pregnancies took a toll on her kidneys. The year after our second child was born, she had kidney and pancreas transplants but her body eventually rejected them so she had to go back on dialysis,” Brian said. He had one hip replaced, followed by the other several months later. One month after the second hip replacement, just before Christmas that year, his wife died. “I was a single dad to two children and because of a bone disease I had, I was now disabled. I pretty much thought my life was over and I was useless. I had been very active all my life but that came to a halt. I didn’t think I could be a good father, or a good man,” Brian said. Adding to his troubles, the family’s only vehicle had broken down and there was no money to spare. “There’s only so much I can do, being disabled, and a lot of it fell on the kids. We have caregivers that come in to help me out and one of them wrote Sal and told him I needed a vehicle,” Brian said. Dimiceli paid a visit, helped out with some bills and found Brian another vehicle but that was just the beginning. “He also saw the condition of the house when he was here. We really couldn’t afford to go anywhere else and places where we could afford the rent didn’t have anything available,” Brian said. Dimiceli discovered the landlord couldn’t afford to do all of the repairs to the roof. The two agreed to split the cost, so Brian and his kids could live in a home without a roof that was caving in, not to mention other concerns such as mold. Dimiceli also enlisted the help of Jean Kruzan, a contractor, to replace the roof. “I call Jean ‘Wonder Woman.’ She got people to tear the roof off, fix and replace the trusses and then put on a whole new roof,” Brian said. But Kruzan wasn’t done, he soon discovered. “She came inside to fix the ceiling from where the water damage was and it turned
into a major remodeling project. She really wanted to make it more accessible for me to get around, and to make it easier on my kids, too,” Brian said. Once distraught but now living in a safe home, Brian said he’s thankful every day for the blessings he’s received. “From the caregiver to ask for help for us, to Sal to do everything he did and to get Jean involved, and all of what she’s done,” Brian said. Since the home has been repaired and remodeled, Brian said his oldest child, a teenager, now has the entire upstairs, something Brian is happy about. He also said he now knows everything he’s been through happened for a reason. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to have kids because of experiences I went through in my life. But it was God’s blessing that led me to my wife. She brought the Lord back into my life and two wonderful children. I’ve gone through periods of thinking there weren’t very many good people out there but there are,” Brian said. Brian said he’s thankful every day. “My life isn’t over, it’s just changed. I get to wake up every day and see the sun and all the Lord has created, and see my two kids every day and see the young, compassionate, caring people they are, that’s what matters,” Brian said. Knowing his limitations – and accepting where he’s at – hasn’t come easy for Brian. “The frustration, the pain – that’s normal but you have to let it go and not let it manifest in yourself. We keep moving forward. My kids and I don’t have much but what we do have, we appreciate. We also know things can happen in an instant to change your life so surround yourself with good, loving people who would do anything for you, just as you would for them. That’s all there is to it, really,” Brian said. Brian said it’s difficult to find the words to express his gratitude, to Dimiceli, Kruzan, his caregivers and many others who have stepped in to help. “The gratitude that I have for them coming into our lives and what they’ve done for us is indescribable. I can’t even find the words. Having good people come into your life restores your faith and helps you move forward. And it makes you want to help others because you know what it’s like to have people care about you. My kids are two of the most caring, compassionate people I’ve ever known and I know part of that comes from what we’ve been through,” Brian said. Brian said he recently had a touching conversation with his oldest child that allowed him to share the lessons he himself has learned the past couple of years. “We talked about how hard life is and how throwing your hands up in the air and giving up is the easy way to respond. The harder thing to do is to hold your head high and keep doing your best, knowing you’ve given it 100 percent. God will make it happen or not, but that’s the only way to do it,” Brian said.
No longer alone
A woman we’ll call Amy has been dealt a lot of losses in her life, beginning with her
SUBMITTED PHOTOS Wonders of Walworth County
Sal Dimiceli, Sr., (center), his wife, Corinne (from left) and daughters, Shannon and Shaelyn, grab a treat at Refuge Café in Milwaukee where a smoothie is named after Sal. Sal Dimiceli, Sr. (from the left), and his sons, Sal, Jr. and Sean, along with his wife, Corinne, and daughters, Shannon and Shaelyn (not pictured) are all involved in helping people through The Time Is Now.
mom – following a long struggle with cancer – when she was a teenager. “Ten years after my mom died, I lost my brother and his girlfriend in a tragic accident. Then I lost my husband to a massive stroke, and not long after that, I lost my daughter to a drunk driver,” Amy said. “After my husband died things started going downhill and they just got worse. I was trying to keep my head above water with our bills but it eventually caught up with me,” Amy said. She ended up in foreclosure and lost everything but her clothes and her car. “That’s when Sal came into the picture. I had written him a letter and told him the situation I was in. Sal paid for my living expenses so I could put money in the bank and get to where I am today,” Amy said. Dimiceli also helped Amy find a job, and his kindness has changed her, she said. “My whole life growing up was not easy and I grew up tough. He kind of helped turn the lion into the lamb, so to speak,” Amy said. Amy said Dimiceli seems to check in with her at just the right time. “I don’t have any family left. I can cry at the drop of a hat talking about this, but it’s hard when you don’t have anyone. Thankfully, I have Sal. His family has made me feel like family,” Amy said.
Amy said she’s found new purpose in helping Dimiceli help others. “I have come across people who need help, like a single mother who ... pays her bills but has no extra money. I told Sal about her and he asked what she needed. I said, ‘She just needs a Christmas for her kids,’ so he sent out gift cards. I told him about a couple that didn’t have any furniture and he sent them to Inspiration Ministries to pick some out,” Amy said. She said Dimiceli tells her what she’s doing is important, and he’s easy to believe. “He put my whole world right back on track and it was hard to know where to go. What do we do – do we give up? No, we’re going to fight through this. Once someone gives you that hope, you’ve got meaning and purpose in your life,” Amy said. “Giving other people hope, there’s nothing better than having that in your life,” Amy added. Dimiceli said those two stories are just a sample of situations he’s encountered and he takes comfort in knowing The Time Is Now is stronger than ever. “My definition of The Time Is Now is ‘community.’ We’re all in this together and it’s amazing how many lives we touch,” Dimiceli said. For more information, or to help out, visit timeisnowtohelp.org.
WINTER 2017
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 5
Locally grown, locally made Pasta sauce produced by area businesses raises funds for local organizations
By Tracy Ouellette EDITOR
hen Maria Elena Bisabarros attended a presentation earlier this year about raising money for a trip abroad to be taken by some local high school students and the idea of selling sweets was raised, she said she reached a breaking point. “I wasn’t going to do it,” she said. “I’m not going to sell any
more unhealthy, sweet products as a fundraiser.” But, as a mom, she still wanted to support the students and the trip, so she was presented with a problem – if she wasn’t going to sell what they were suggesting, how could they raise the needed funds. “You know, I thought, what could I do? And then it came to me,” she recalled. “I’m going to create our own local fundraiser using our community resources.” Bisabarros is a co-owner of Hometown
Sausage Kitchen in East Troy and she realized everything she needed to start this new type of fundraiser was right in her own backyard. “The next day I visited a few farmers and Contract Comestibles to see what we could produce and the East Troy Pasta Sauce was conceived,” she said. Bisabarros said the final idea for the pasta sauce came from Andy Gehl at Contract Comestibles because the company already had an USDA-approved recipe they could use. Contract Comestibles is a small-batch
canning and food packaging company in East Troy that processes custom orders for clients. The next step in the process was nailing down the logistics. “I talked to a few high school teachers and everybody was excited about the idea,” Bisabarros said. The agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at East Troy High School, Ryan Holle, helped assemble a group of 25 students to pick the tomatoes. The teens
See LOCALLY GROWN, Page 7
Paper Dolls& interior Home Furnishings design
JANUARY CLEARANCESALE SALE WINTERWINTER CLEARANCE 100’S OF ITEMS UP TO 75% OFF! 138 E. Geneva Square • Geneva Square Mall • Lake Geneva Wisconsin 262-248-6268 • www.paperdollsinteriors.com
269416
216930
Page 6
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
WINTER 2017
Bringing the Best
Family Owned and Operated Since 1975
in Care to Walworth County ...Time to make your move! r 10u% nt fo
o Disc eran’s Vet
est Voted BStore Liquor
Specializing in Memory Care
Lake Geneva’s Largest Liquor Store!
Respecting Mind, Body & Spirit
Full Beer, Wine & Liquor • Premium Cigars Catering for Weddings or Any Special Event 524 Broad Street, Lake Geneva, WI • 262-248-6407
Call Today 262-723-1344 or 715-551-9878
www.TenderReflectionsal.com Southern Lakes Ad_winter16.pdf 1 10/14/2016 1:48:20 PM
268568
www.brunosliquor.com
1550 North Country Club Parkway Elkhorn, Wis.
Open 7 Days 9am to 9pm 269029
Enjoy Chicago’s Original Gino’s East Pizza in Downtown Lake Geneva Choose between our famous Deep Dish or Thin Crust pizza Enjoy our variety of appetizers, salads, and pasta entrees Dine in with spectacular lake view, or delivery to your room Open for lunch at 11am
268940
WINTER 2017
Page 7
(Continued from page 5)
took a trip out to Bower’s Farm on Highway 20 in East Troy and picked half of the 2,500 pounds of tomatoes needed to produce the 3,000 jars of sauce. Bower’s Farm staff picked the rest of the tomatoes. Michael Fields Agriculture Institute in East Troy provided the oregano and thyme, and Hometown Sausage Kitchen provided 1,000 pounds of its Sweet Italian Sausage. The sauce was produced on Oct. 17, 2016, at Contract Comestibles. Bisabarros said the intent behind the 3,000-jar run was to provide several community organizations a different type of product to raise funds with, and that’s it’s been a very successful endeavor. Each jar costs $10 retail and $5 of that goes to the non-profit selling the sauce. “So far, 2,000 jars have been sold,” Bisabarros said. The organizations benefiting from the fundraiser to date include the trip to Belize, Lake Beulah 4-H Club, Science Olympiad, East Troy Food Pantry, East Troy Youth Orchestra, East Troy Friends of the Library, Natures Classroom, and East Troy High School Art Club, FFA, wrestling team and forensics program. Bisabarros said the success of the sauce has spurred her on to create similar fundraisers. In the works is a holiday package with sausage, cranberry sauce and other items. She’s working with Gehl on developing soup recipes for next year and has been in contact with other area businesses about providing components for the new products. She also plans on producing the pasta sauce again next fall.
Bisabarros said she’s excited about expanding on her original idea and is very grateful for all the people and businesses that have contributed to the cause. She said the more a community works together, the better off everyone will be. She added that it was a bit discouraging at times when she was out trying to give various organizations the opportunity to sell the sauce and she often heard, “Well, we’ve always sold X, Y or Z,” from people who weren’t willing to consider a new idea. She hopes the success of this fundraiser will change opinions. “I would like to challenge the ones who did not open their mind and understand that it is very powerful to produce and keep the whole amount of $30,000 in the community,” she said. “My hope is that more communities all over the country will start doing the same, using their local resources to make money and keeping it at home, not sending it back to a big company that gives you 12 to 18 percent back.” Hometown Sausage Kitchen is at W1184 Highway L, East Troy. For more information, call (262) 642-3264 or visit www.hometownsausagekitchen.com. Contract Comestibles is at 2004 Beulah Ave., East Troy. For more information, call (262) 642-9400 for visit contractcomestibles.com. Michael Fields Agriculture Institute is at W2493 Highway ES, East Troy. For more information, call (262) 642-3303 or visit michaelfields.org. Bower’s Produce is at W490 Highway 20, East Troy. For more information, call (262) 642-5244.
Above: Maria Elena Bisabarros (far right) and East Troy High School students pick Roma tomatoes at Bower’s Farm in East Troy for the base of the pasta sauce. The students picked about half of the needed tomatoes and Bower’s staff picked the rest. Inset: Bisabarros, coowner of East Troy’s Hometown Sausage Kitchen, came up with the idea of producing a pasta sauce made from locally grown ingredients to serve as a fundraiser for area organizations and school groups.
SUBMITTED PHOTOS Wonders of Walworth County
• Locally grown
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
SHOP • DINE • STAY • PLAY Visit Lake Geneva’s vibrant downtown this holiday season to find gifts for everyone on your list! Explore more than 70 specialty shops that offer everything from apparel to jewelry, fine art, home décor and more. Then choose from dozens of distinctive dining options -- all within walking distance of the shops. Starting November 15, downtown parking is free!
There’s something for everyone ... Lake Geneva Downtown
www.lakegenevadowntown.com
269415 263339
Page 8
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Harvest
WINTER 2017
WHEN ICE WA S T H E Geneva Lake was prized for its pure, crystal blocks
By Sandra Landen Machaj CORRESPONDENT
In wintertime Geneva Lake has a far different look than it does in the summer when the area is filled with summer residents and visitors. This was especially so in the early 1900s, when the majority of the elegant mansions along the lakefront, which were not equipped to handle the winters of Wisconsin, were vacated.
HOLIDAY DINING
See HARVEST, Page 9
THE MILL CREEK HOTEL
Begins at Sorg’s
123 CENTER STREET, LAKE GENEVA, WI 53147 www.MillCreekHotel.com 877-MCH-LGWI • (877-624-5494)
1 BEDROOM SUITES IN-ROOM JACUZZI, FULL KITCHENS MAPLE FIREPLACE, IN-ROOM SAFES LEAF INDOOR POOL W/WHIRLPOOL FOODS FREE HIGH SPEEDFudge INTERNET Sauce • Cookie Mixes UNDERGROUND PARKING • Honey Jams
LOCAL RAISED BEEF • PORK • LAMB or CHICKEN
COURTESY OF GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM Wonders of Walworth County Beef sold whole, half or quarter.
• Apple Sauce • Much More
Ask About Our Romance Package
Signs such as this one were hung in the window to let the iceman know how Lambthat sold half. up to three times a many pounds of icePork wereor needed day.whole Ice wasor delivered wrapped week and placed inAll thecut, icebox to keep and food freezer-ready. cold.
LUKE’S ZESTY JAMBALAYA 269169
Also Plan-B Sauces & Seasonings
CHOOSE FROM
Sold hanging weight, subject to cutting loss
AL CAPONE ROAST Boneless
Pork Rib Roast stuffed with Italian Seasoning, Italian Sausage, Mozzarella cheese and Summer Sausage, Topped with Paprika.
We Put Our Hearts Into AEverything We Do...Just For You! VARIETY OF On-Site Processing & Cutting Assures Top Quality Meats for Your Family OUR DELICIOUS
SRIRAL CUT HAM BY ORDER
Ready-To-Bake Pies FEBRUARY•• Frozen ANNUAL PORK SALE! Large Cinnamon Rolls
VARIETY OF BISON PRODUCTS FEBRUARY 1-15 ONLY! and and FROZEN FISH Rolls- CALL FOR DETAILS! WHOLE ORDinner HALF
Sweetheart SteakS
• Strudel All Cut, Wrapped and Freezer Ready... *Subject To Cutting Loss Sticks ORDER CHRISTMAS BOXES EARLY! • Honeyof Beef, Halves of Pork & lamB Halves & Quarters
REGISTER TO WIN A $25 MEAT PACKAGE
For Your Valentine! Order your
Heart-SHaped SteakS for Valentine’s Day Now!
Sorgs ShowcasesCHEESE a Full Retail Counter of: WISCONSIN • Fresh Meats • Homemade Sausage • FullFish Retail• Variety Counter of of Bison Fresh Meat Also . . . of Frozen • Wisconsin Cheeses • Wide Selection Curds & • On-site Processing To Ensure Quality & Freshness! Custom Butchering String by Appointment Cheese Beef&Box • $50 Variety Box of Beef & Pork $75 Beef Box • $50 variety Box$75 ofAll Beef Pork
Delicious Ready-to-Bake Pies • Large Cinnamon Rolls • Dinner Rolls • Frozen Vegetables • Cookies p.m.; Open Mon.-Fri. 8:00 a.m.-5:00
Enjoy Luke’s Zesty Jambalaya, Plan B Sauces Sat. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Seasonings, Papa Woody’s BBQ HIGHWAY 14 • 1/2 MILE SOUTH
Also Try Luke’s Chicken, Beef & Turkey Pot Pies! Plus...Our Al Capone Roast & Slack’s Jams & Jellies!
$25 Drawing
for Your Favorite Meat Cuts!
Open Monday - Friday 8-5 & Sat. 8-4 N4290 Hwy. 14, Darien WI 53114
OF HIGHWAY 11 DARIEN, WISCONSIN 262-724-5554
All sausage at Sorgs is made by Andy Sorg III, a third generation member
Highway 14 • 1/2 Mile South of Highway 11, Darien, Wisconsin of the family, using the original recipes and a little touch of his own magic
262-724-5554 • 262-724-3364
011257
269035
• Harvest
WINTER 2017
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 9
(Continued from page 8)
But the lake, even though it was empty of boats and swimmers, became a busy and active place once the temperatures dipped below freezing. By December the crystal blue waters of Geneva Lake were transformed into a solid sheet of ice often from 12 to 20 inches deep. The serene look of the lake would not remain so for long, for in the late 19th and early 20th century, the frozen lake was a field ready for harvest. In those days, before electricity was found in homes and businesses, ice was a necessary commodity to keep food fresh, not only in the area, but as far away as Chicago and Milwaukee. In the Lake Geneva, which abounds with lakes, ice-cutting companies became as prevalent as the lakes and ponds. The ice-harvesting season was a short one, from December until March – that is if the weather held out. The beginning and end of the harvesting season was weather dependent. Most of the ice was for industrial use and ordered in specific sizes. Dale Buetter is the Operations Director of the Geneva Lakes Museum and their resident ice-harvesting specialist. “The ice was usually not harvested until it was 12 inches thick,” Buetter said. “Then it was cut into 16 by 16 modules. This size was chosen because of the length of the wagons that were used to transport the ice from the lakeshore to the icehouses for storage or to the trains for transportation to the city. It was also important that the ice be no thicker than the 12 inches for stacking purposes.” An arduous task The cutting of the ice was an arduous process that began with the ice harvesters, having to scrape the snow off the ice at regular intervals long before the actual process of harvesting began. The snow acted as an insulator and would hamper the freezing process if not cleared. Measuring the ice frequently determined its readiness for harvest. When the ice reached its ideal depth, the true work would begin. The team of ice cutters and horses would make their way to the shore. Using a plow like tool, attached to a horse and guided by one of the ice cutters, the job of scoring the ice blocks would begin. Once the deep score was placed on the ice, marking the rectangular blocks that would be cut into individual blocks of ice, the workers would begin to saw them apart. A channel was then cleared which would allow the blocks to be floated toward the shore. The field of ice that the harvesters worked at a time was often as large as five acres. The ice harvesters were a combination of local residents and temporary workers who drifted into town. They worked for room
and board and minimal wages of a couple of dollars each day. The work was not easy or enjoyable for they were out in the elements the entire day. One of the dangers was falling into the lake, which happened with some regularity, according to historical accounts. When a worker fell in, other workers would gather around with a tool called a pike, regularly used to slide the blocks of ice, and use it to pull him out of the freezing water. Peril for man and horse Horses were an important part of the iceharvesting team. In addition to being used to score the ice they were needed to pull the heavy blocks to the shore. Horses, too, suffered from being dumped in the icy water when the ice they were standing on cracked or they stepped off the ice. The horses would be guided along through the channel using a choke rope around their neck as they swam to shore. Occasionally a horse or sometimes a whole team of horses would drown. Depending on the size of the operation, the ice blocks would be moved onto a wagon pulled by horses and taken to the rail station or to the icehouse. There it would be moved up a conveyor belt to the icehouse for storage. “The blocks of ice were stacked on top of each other, with sawdust layered between each block,” said Buetter. “The purpose of the sawdust was not so much for insulation as many people think but to keep the blocks from freezing together.” When the blocks were loaded into the icehouse by the conveyor, the crew inside the icehouse would then stack it in the icehouse, which were constructed of wood and usually had heights of over 30 feet. The icehouses themselves were massive structures. The buildings were usually triple walled and were filled with sawdust, horsehair and hay to provide better insulation for the ice. Surprisingly the ice lasted even through the hot 80 and 90 degrees of summer. One of the major problems with the icehouses was that they were built of wood and filled with flammable materials and so were susceptible to fires. Lightning often seemed to strike them perhaps because they were the tallest buildings. The top blocks were often covered with swamp grasses to also keep them from melting too quickly. Industry booms The first ice cutting business in the Lake Geneva area was founded by Daniel Gross and Elyas Brooks in 1874. It was so successful that the 400-ton capacity storage house built that year had to be enlarged to 800-ton capacity by the next year. New ice harvest companies were quickly established to take advantage of the need for ice
COURTESY OF GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM Wonders of Walworth County
Ice harvesting was hard work and required not only the ice harvesters, but a team of horses to pull the ice blocks that weighed more than 100 pounds.
especially in Chicago. J.V. Seymour was one of the largest ice producers in the area and was known as the “Ice King.” He is reported to have cut as much as 35,000 tons of ice in one winter and had approximately 300 men on his payroll. His icehouse was near the rail depot, making transportation fast and easy. Seymour sold the depot icehouse in 1900 to the Knickerbocker Ice Company, but that did not mean he was out of the ice business. Instead he built another icehouse closer to the lake near the western edge of the property, which today is known as Library Park. He maintained this icehouse known as the Lake Geneva Ice Company until 1908 when again he sold out, this time to Martin Kelley and Peter Russell. The refrigerated railroad cars moved meats to Chicago in a safe manner. Prior to its transportation by train in ice-cooled cars, much of the meat being shipped would spoil before reaching the final destination. Another famous Wisconsin product, beer, also had to be kept on ice to keep from spoiling in the days before beer was pasteurized. Other ice was sent for use in homes and restaurants in the city. Ice was harvested from almost any water source that froze. Lake Geneva ice was considered to be of the highest quality. Because the spring fed lake was crystal clear, so was its ice and it was highly desired especially by the bars for use in their drinks. The body of water that was used to harvest ice affected the quality and the purity of the ice. Ice that came from polluted lakes and ponds spread disease and caused epidemics of illness such as typhoid if consumed. Iceboxes to refrigerators In the early 20th century, food at home
was kept cold by being placed in an icebox, as electric refrigerators were not common in the homes of average people. The iceman would come to the home two to three time a week and deliver the block of ice to be placed in the upper chamber of the icebox. Food would be placed in the bottom chamber to be kept cold. A sign would be placed in the home’s window alerting the iceman what quantity of ice was needed that day. Blocks of 25, 50, 75, and 100 pounds were available and sold for about 50 cents per 100 pounds. Many of the mansions along Geneva Lake had their own smaller icehouses to meet the estate’s needs. These would be filled by the ice companies during the winter harvest so the mansions would have plenty of ice when the families returned in spring. Ice companies flourished in the Geneva Lake area until the 1930s when electric refrigeration began to make its way into family homes. The conversion to electric refrigeration was slowed with the advent of World War II as factories turned to supporting the war needs and metals were used to manufacture trucks, tanks, and bullets rather than home appliances. So while the ice harvesting business had slowed it managed to hang on for another 10 years or so until the end of the war brought servicemen home and new households began to purchase the new electric refrigerators. For more than 50 years, ice harvesting was a major industry in the Geneva Lake area but today it has been replaced by refrigerators and commercially frozen ice. The Geneva Lake Museum, 255 Mill St., Lake Geneva, features a display of ice harvesting tools and photos. The museum is open Tuesday, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
COURTESY OF GENEVA LAKE MUSEUM Wonders of Walworth County
Ice was harvested not only in the Lake Geneva area but also in Fontana and at other areas around the lake. The harvesters often would harvest a field of ice up to 5 acres.
Things to do Page 10
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
WINTER 2017
big screen.
FEBRUARY 1 Paulaner/Hacker Pschorr Beer Tasting, 6 to 8 p.m., at Ivan’s Backstage, 2087 Division St., East Troy. Enjoy beers paired with delicious appetizers. Tickets available at Ivan’s on the Square for $25. Purchase early, tickets will not be sold at the door. For more information, call (262) 642-7107. 4, 5 All-Star LEGO Show, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Abbey Resort, 269 fontana Blvd., Fontana. A resort filled with LEGO bricks and a weekend filled with LEGO workshops. Admission, $2. For more information, call (262) 275-6811 or visit www.theabbeyresort.com.
JANUARY
27 Elkhorn Rotary 8th Annual Wine, Beer and Food Expo, 5 to 8 p.m., Monte Carlo Room, 720 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn. Admission, $30 at the door. Price includes admission, 10 taste samplings, silent auction and hors d’oeuvres. Additional taste samplings can be purchased for $1 each after admission. For more information, call (262) 723-4646. 28 Barnyard Bargain Bonanza Indoor Flea Market, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Walworth County Fair’s Activity Center, 411 E. Court St., Elkhorn. 28 Abominable Snowman Race at Grand Geneva Resort. Conquer The Mountain Top at Grand Geneva Ski Resort. Call (800) 558-3417 for information. To register, visit abominablesnowrace.com. 28 “Gulliver’s Travels” presented by Missoula Children’s Theatre at the Young Auditorium on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $9.75 to $14. A tour team arrives in a given town with a set, lights, costumes, props, and make-up, everything it takes to put on a play...except the cast. The team holds an open audition
•
Darien
•
and casts 50-60 local students to perform in the production. The show is rehearsed throughout the week and a public performance is presented on a Saturday. Auditions for children in grades K-12 will be held on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 at 4 p.m. Call (262) 472-1432 for information. 28 to Feb. 12 Lake Geneva’s annual Winterfest weekend See Page 3. (262) 248-4416 29 14th Annual Bridal Showcase with fashion show, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hawk’s View Golf Club, 7377 Krueger Road, Lake Geneva. For more information, call (262) 348-9900.
Allens Grove
•
Sharon
•
29 Roast Beef and Chicken Dinner – Elkhorn Lions Club, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Monte Carlo Room, 720 N. Wisconsin St., Elkhorn. Menu consists of roast beef, baked chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, cole slaw, vegatable, rolls and beverage. For more information, visit www. elkhornlionsclub.org. 29 Sing-A-Long “Grease” at the Young Auditorium, 3 p.m., on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Tickets are free for this event. The evening includes a free fun pack and lots of opportunities to participate, watching Danny, Sandy and the gang, while singing (and dancing) along with the lyrics on the
•
Come Make Yourself at Home!
•
Proudly serving the Delavan Lake and surrounding areas for over 60 years.
Silver Lake •
262-728-2731 • 877-984-1822
Mike Guiler
culligandelavan.com 269161
Sugar Creek • Elkhorn • Millard • Richmond • Turtle Lake
Whitewater Lake
Best salt prices in town. Authorized Dealer for Over 60 Years
Where an Active Lifestyle Is Affordable for Adults 55 or Better
•
Lake Lorraine
North Lake
Wandawega Lake
•
•
19 Elkhorn Bridal Fair, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Evergreen Country Club, Highway 12, Elkhorn. Admisstion, $10. For more information, call (262) 723-5722 or visit www.evergreengolf.com. Although we make every attempt to provide accurate information regarding area events, dates and times may change or events may be cancelled. We suggest you verify events before you finalize your travel plans.
Walworth
Williams Bay
17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 “Plaza Suite” by the Lakeland Players. Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday shows at 3 p.m., Walworth County Performing Arts Center, 15 W. Walworth St., Elkhorn. For more information, call (262) 728-5578 or visit www.lakeland-players.org.
Fontana
Lafayette
Delavan
PENNY GRUETZMACHER Wonders of Walworth County
Glen Biller, coach of the Badger High School swim team, carries a Detroit Lions flag as he heads into Geneva Lake in Williams Bay for the Polar Plunge on Jan. 1. About 100 people plunged into the cold waters, with hundreds more on shore cheering them on and holding blankets for the brave-hearted when they returned from their swim.
4, 5 Night Hike and Cookout, 5 to 8 p.m., Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy, 251 Elkhorn Road, Williams Bay. One-hour hike followed by free cookout and bonfire. For more information, visit friendsofknc.org.
Office Hours: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. - 8:30 to 1:00 p.m.
Stop by or call today for an appointment! 317 S. Main Street, Delavan, WI 53115 • One or Two Bedroom Apartments • Heat, Water & Sewer Included • Laundry Room on Each Floor • Heated Underground Parking
• 3-Story with Elevator Service • Controlled Entrance • Newly Decorated Community Room with Kitchen • Many Activities • A Pet Friendly Community
(262) 728-9948 Located just 2 Blocks South of Historic Downtown Delavan Professionally Managed by Oakbrook Corporation 268555
WINTER 2017
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
Page 11
Celebrating Winterfest 22nd Anniversary US National Snow Sculpting Competition! Dancing Horses: Open Year Round! Animal Gardens & Petting Zoo: Open May-Oct.
Voted Walworth County’s Best Voted Remodeling Contractor Four Years in a Row!
393 N Edwards Blvd. Lake Geneva, Wis.
Walworth County’s Best Remodeling Contractor Four Years In a Row!
(262) 248-3637 Hours 11:30 a.m.3 p.m., 4:30-8 p.m.
Reservations required for family entertainment at it's Best!
Perfecting
the
LOTS OF FREE PARKING Open 363 days a year
$2.50 OFF
of
Wisconsin’s #1 Must See Live Attraction!
Adult Tickets Only
(Closed Christmas & New Year’s Day)
Regular Price
Check website for dates and times www.thedancinghorses.com
Adults $27.50 Children $15.00
5065 Highway 50, Lake Geneva, WI 53115
www.redgeraniumrestaurant.com
156469
800.410.8027 • StebnitzBuilders.com
166542 190754
Code: WOW
262-728-8200
231250
The Cheese Box Selling the finest Wisconsin cheeses for over 70 years ...the tradition continues
New Owners, Johnny B. & Cheri welcome you Daily Specials ~ Sandwiches ~ Gift Boxes Wisconsin’s Finest Cheeses ~ Sausage Novelty Items
Quality Full Service Pet Resort
(262) 248-8798 262-275-2264 www.InspirationMinistries.org
Hwys. 12 & 120 • Exit 328 on US 12 Lake Geneva, WI • 1 1/4 miles North of Downtown 100 E. Geneva Square
• Doggie Daycare • Boarding Under New • Grooming Ownership • Pick up & drop off service Hours: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. 7 Days
IN THE GENEVA SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER
N1538 N. Daisy Dr., Genoa City, WI 262-279-3900 • cedardalepetresort.com
$10 OFF ANY FULL SERVICE (Nail Trims Excluded.) New customers only.
269528
N2270 State Rd 67, Walworth (corner of Cty Rd F & WI-67)
231245
190763
All proceeds from both the resale shops and Hebrews Café go back into the ministry to support our residents.
262-248-3440 • www.cheesebox.com
225 Broad Street, Lake Geneva, WI 262-248-2827 www.ohmygauze.com Also in St. Armands Circle, Sarasota, & Naples, FL
Shop with us this Winter! Warm up with a hot gourmet coffee at our Hebrews Café! Open Monday-Saturday 8a - 4p
269432
Furniture Art Jewelry Housewares China Books Antiques Cars Boats RVs And Much More!
269420
269434
THE CHEESE BOX 801 Wells St., Lake Geneva, WI
Comfort Coupon
Save $20 on your next service
service@genoacityheating.com Lennox Home Comfort $ 200 OFF Furnace or Central Air website: Conditioning System genoacityheating.com
Ryan Simons 328 Kenosha St., Walworth, WI 262-275-2171 • www.toyntonfuneralhome.com
Lakefront Specialist
(608) 852-3156 www.DelavanLakeProperty.com
166295
262-279-6545
Aprilaire Humidifier $ 100 OFF Installation
269435
Contact us for your next HVAC project!
CALL RYAN TO FIND THE BEST LAKE VALUES!
250164
Voted #1 Heating & Cooling Contractor 7 Years Running! Voted #1 Plumbing & Electrical Contractor 4 Years Running!
www.peckandweis.com 2506 Crest Drive Lake Geneva, WI 53147 262.248.6836 • FAX: 262.248.1490
More people get comfortable with us!
269430
269417
FREE ESTIMATES • FAST RELIABLE SERVICE
Page 12
WONDERS OF WALWORTH COUNTY
WINTER 2017
44 Years flY bY when You’re having fun!
Any one of our thousands of happy clients will tell you, listening is the cornerstone to every remodeling project we complete. Whether you’re considering a design-build renovation or a simple home maintenance issue, we’re here, ready to listen.
stebnitzbuilders.com 800.410.8027
44 Years 1972-2016 259437