May 2006 Deerfield, Wisconsin Volume 12, Number 39
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
During 2006 the Village will be undertaking a number of major projects. The most important being the reorganizing of Deer-Grove EMS. This reorganization became necessary because of the withdrawal of the current service by the Village and Town of Cottage Grove. The reorganized service will only serve the Village and Town of Deerfield where by improving the response time to Deerfield residents. With the improved EMS service the Village & Town are working with the Fire Department to update and expand the fire station. This will not only make it more functional to EMS personnel but also be more functional for the fire department.
Other projects the Village is undertaking in 2006 are:
* The design stage of the down town TIF District.
* Developing a long term Financial Plan which will hopefully stabilize the tax rates and lower utility bills.
I would like to thank the residents of the village for their support over the last year.
Anrie Evensen, Village President
VILLAGE HALL
Over the last few months the Village Hall has been undergoing many updates to its interior whereby making it more functional. Over the next few weeks the exterior of the building will be painted, windows replaced and upgrades to concrete work will take place. In connection with this, the Village staff would like to thank Deb VandeWetering of Interior Solutions and Vince Cordano for their assistance.
DEERFIELD CABLE COMMISSION
The Deerfield Cable Commission / WDEE 4 has cleaned out the archives of various programs and events from the past 15 years. These programs are on VHS tapes and include Deerfield School sporting events, music concerts, graduations and other school activities. Other community events such as the firemen’s festival highlights are also available.
The Cable Commission has made arrangements with the Deerfield Public Library to display these tapes for a limited time. Drop in at the Library during regular hours to choose your memories. You may want to have your own copy of a 1990’s ball game, concert or other event. The Deerfield library is located at 12 W. Nelson Street. These tapes are free of charge and will be offered on a first come first served basis.
Due to the age of these tapes the Cable Commission or the Library can not guarantee they will play back properly or not damage the playback system used.
Contact the WDEE 4 Studio / Cable Commission office at 764-2514 to answer any questions.
The Deerfield Cable Commission wants to inform the community about the new WDEE 4 Web Site. WDEE 4 is the Deerfield Community’s Public Access Cable TV Station. It is found on Channel 4 on the Charter Communications Cable System in the Deerfield area. The Web address is deerfieldwicatv4.org On this site the current WDEE 4 program schedule is available along with other information concerning the Station and the Cable Commission. The Deerfield Cable Commission is the governing body for WDEE 4. The Office/Studio is located in the Deerfield High School. Phone number is 764-2514.
LIBRARY
June 12th, noon-3:00 pm. Kick off the Summer Library Program with face painting from 12-1 pm; the ZooMobile comes at 1pm with a variety of Henry Vilas Zoo critters; and a Yogo for Kids class from 2-3 pm. Get great free coupons for checking out library material. Registration includes signing up for: Reading Program, Craft Day, Knitting Club, Movie Day, Pet Show and Teen Advisory Board.
The following programs are recommended for ages 5 and up.
*June 12th, 1 pm – ZooMobile
*June 19th, 1 pm – Kay Weeden, bi-lingual storyteller
*June 22nd, 6:30 pm – Family Fun Night – Brad Wendt, Frisbee Demonstrator
*June 26th, 1 pm – Tim Glander, Magician/Balloon Sculptor
*July 10th, 1 pm – Linda Wendt and Early Wind Instruments
*July 17yh, 1 pm – Pet Show
There are additional activities and reading programs available. Please contact the Library at
764-8102 for more information.
DEERFIELD AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY (1900)
The following is taken from a handwritten account of life in Deerfield in 1900. The author is unknown.
Population was about 400 to 500. We knew every house in town and all the people that lived in them.
Dirt road and wooden sidewalks. Lumber was cheap in those days.
Three churches – Hauge Lutheran, Synod Lutheran and Presbyterian. Hauge Lutheran was located where Funeral Home now stands (corner of Bue and State). Presbyterian was up the hill from Main Street on the corner lot next to Ruth’s home (corner of Nelson and Washington). On the opposite corner was the Town Hall on the corner lot next to what was Salinda Nelson’s home. Village was incorporated in 1891, but the town hall must have been built in the middle 1880’s because Lutheran services were held there before the Synod Lutheran Church was built. It was also used as a high school. In 1912, it was moved to its present location – quite a arduous task – first hauling it up the hill to the water tower, then turning it and easing it down the hill to rest on the foundation that was built for it. (My brother remembers it – he saw it all happen – he was just a youngster then).
Deerfield was a lively town – there were four general stores besides one which handled only groceries, two hardware stores, one of which sold furniture, and undertaking establishment, one shoe store, two butcher shops, one tailor, one millinery and dressmaking shop, a hotel and livery stable, two barber shops, drug store, bank, post office, doctor, dentist, veterinarian.
We had good train service – seven trains a day – three going east, three west. In the evening one which did not stop unless flagged. We called it the 10 o’clock flyer.
In the winter there was plenty opportunity for sports. We had at least 3 good ponds for skating. And we had the hill! We could start at the water tower and coast either north or south. Some were foolhardy enough to coast down the west side of the hill and across Main Street. But that was dangerous. There were bobsleighs to be reckoned with!
Every year in the spring the school put on an “Entertainment” at the Opera House – Upstairs in the Klinefelter Building. That was the event of the year!
No saloons - they came later. Street lights – kerosene – we would watch old man Mr. Aas, with his little ladder and kerosene can fill up the lamps every day.
POLICE
National Police Week 2006 spans Sunday, May 14th through Saturday, May 20th. National Police Week is designed to show support to Police Officers and also remember those Fallen Officers that paid the ultimate price by “Serving and Protecting”. The Deerfield Police Department will be celebrating this week with a bike safety rodeo.
The Deerfield Police Department along with the Deerfield Community Center will be holding the 3rd annual Bike Safety Rodeo. The rodeo will be held on May 20th at the Deerfield Elementary School. The rodeo’s registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the rodeo starting at 9:00 a.m. The rodeo should be done about noon. The rodeo is for children Pre-K (4 yrs. Old) – 4th grade. Permission slips and helmets are required. Children will learn the importance of bike safety as well as personal safety. If you have any questions or would like to donate, please contact Officer. Falkowski at 764-5626 ext. 31.
COMMUNITY CENTER
It’s Here! Wednesday, May 3, is the beginning day of weekly grocery shopping trips for senior and the disabled who do not drive who live in the communities of Cottage Grove and Deerfield.
A van-type bus will pick up pre-registered participants at their home in the Town and Village of Deerfield starting at 9:00 a.m. The bus will then pick up those in the Town and Village of Cottage Grove. Final destination will be the Piggly Wiggly Store at the Cottage Grove Market Place, where staff and volunteers will be waiting to help with shopping.
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED and may be made by calling Transit Solutions, Inc (TSI) at 294-8747 (294-TRIP). There is a cost of $2.00 for each round trip for those who can afford it.
Trips for other events will be coming soon. Watch for further information on the Deerfield Community Center website, The Independent and Village newsletter.