Spring Time in Allouez

The last couple of weeks have tested my resolve to accept whatever Mother Nature tosses in my direction in an uncomplaining fashion. But the promise of those first few warm days and the early signals from the earth that spring has arrived are what make this such a great place to live. The change of seasons is something that appeals to many Wisconsin residents and my favorite change is the one from winter to spring.

Although this spring entered the month of April kicking and screaming, there are signs other than the date on the calendar that it has arrived. There are tiny buds on the trees and bushes, fewer houses have Christmas decorations on them, residents have had a chance to visit with neighbors without competing with the roar of a snowblower, and road construction has begun.

The snow on portions of the Resch Family East River and Fox River Trails that stubbornly clung to the asphalt in areas sheltered from the wind and shaded from the pale spring sun is now gone. Regular bicycle traffic, commuters and riders on bikes with regular size tires, has returned to the trails. The relatively new fat tired bikes are made to travel over snow and there have been some of those on local trails all winter.

Early spring riders find that they do not have to contend with many other trail users. There are runners training for the Bellin Run or the Cellcom Marathon and the occasional roller blader. But the trails will remain quiet until the weather warms up enough for more fair weather exercise warriors and families out for walks.

On the Fox River Trail, the Brown County Parks Department has been busy. A brisk walk or ride through Allouez will reveal the stumps of trees cut down and piles of wood chips that are the remains of those trees. The county cut down fifty trees that were leaning over the corridor and were considered hazards. They also cut down or removed up to thirty trees that were damaged by high winds. Some of the trees were deemed too hazardous for the county to remove, so the work was contracted out.

County and village workers have been out cleaning off the trails. They use blowers to remove leaves, sticks and gravel from the trail to provide as safe a surface as possible. If there are cracks or holes that have developed over the winter, they will repair those.

People using the Fox River Trail near Heritage Hill in mid-April heard the sounds of creaking boards and nails being noisily pulled. Workers are removing the old cedar shingle roof from the sugar shack and replacing it with resawn red cedar shake.

The wildlife is returning to the area as the weather warms. The geese are making their presence known in their own unmistakable way. The waterfowl and deer have returned to the retention pond area south of Heritage Hill. The egret that has been there the past few summers has not shown up, but could be here soon. Turkeys are abundant and drivers on Riverside Drive are forced to yield as flocks of up to a dozen bob and weave across the state highway. The graceful American white pelicans can again be seen soaring over the Fox River and songbirds have returned to backyard feeders.

When strolling or riding around the village daffodils can be seen beginning to sprout in the flower beds that face the low April sun. Siberian Squill, the delicate blue flowers that grace some lawns in spring, are delighting some residents and annoying others. Early yardbirds have been out raking up what the winter snow and wind deposited on the lawn and hardy automobile lovers can be seen giving their car or truck a much needed spring cleaning.

All of these are harbingers of the warm and welcome weather to come in Allouez. Those of us who live here anticipate that first beautiful day in the spring when we can joyfully exclaim, “We deserve this!”

The Green Bay Diocese's History in Allouez

Allouez does not have what one would consider a downtown area, but the corner of St. Joseph Street and South Webster Avenue is a busy one. An interesting aspect of this piece of the village is that all of the land between just south of Beaupre Street and St. Joseph was once known as the Saint Joseph Orphanage Asylum.

The original lots in Allouez were plotted out by the French. Relatively narrow, they extended from the Fox River all the way east to the Devil’s, or East River, as it is now known. The lots were laid out in this fashion so that each property owner had access to transportation. They were called Private Claims and numbered in ascending order from north to south. The land that became known as the St. Joseph Orphanage Asylum property was Private Claim 14 and consisted of about 130 acres.

The acreage was purchased in 1887 and the orphanage was completed in 1896. It was built on the high ground overlooking Riverside Drive and the Fox River. The site of the orphanage is now a parking lot for diocesan employees and visitors. The School Sisters of Notre Dame staffed the facility and looked after the children. By 1897, 170 children were living there and in 1902 a south wing was added to the main building to accommodate the arrival of more orphans.

In 1911, a portion of this land was granted to the diocese to build a chancery, or diocesan office, for Bishop Joseph John Fox. Bishop Fox had been in Marinette prior to being named Bishop and became friends with the lumberman Isaac Stephenson. Though Stephenson was not a Catholic, he funded the building of the chancery. When the building was dedicated, Stephenson sailed to Green Bay in his yacht. He left the yacht in Green Bay for the use of the Bishop and took the train back to Marinette. This building was located at 1910 South Webster Avenue between US Bank and Wells Fargo Bank. An architectural review, conducted in 2005, found that the 94 year old building needed extensive renovations if it were to remain a safe working environment. It was determined that it was not worthy of being renovated and it was razed in 2010. The property is currently on the market.

Additional construction around the orphanage took place in the 1920’s. Melania Hall was built in 1923 and provided a boiler system, laundry, and manual training shops. It was named after Sister Melania, the first Sister Superior of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Melania Hall is now used as office space for the diocese. In 1929, Nazareth Hall was built to provide a special place to care for infants and young children. Nazareth Hall is now known as Bosco Hall and this building became the chancery when the building on Webster Avenue was deemed unsafe.

The year 1953 brought the construction of two new buildings. There were concerns about the children’s health and safety in the main orphanage building and a new dormitory was built in 1953. The dormitory, now known as Bona Hall, underwent extensive renovations after the orphanage closed in 1977 and is now home to the Diocesan Education Department. St Joseph Chapel was also built that year.

By 1967 the orphanage had become St. Joseph Home for Children and was only accepting boys who suffered from various types of adjustment problems. In 1977 the home merged with the Sisters of Christian Charity and moved to a site in west Green Bay. The orphanage was torn down in 1981.

Other than the four diocesan buildings, the orphanage property on the west side of Webster Avenue looks much the same as it did when the land was purchased over 120 years ago. The area that was the orphanage’s front yard holds the remains of an apple orchard and usually a few geese. The property east of Webster Avenue that was part of the St. Joseph Orphanage Asylum tract was sold off over the years. It now houses a strip mall, Bellin Psychiatric Clinic and the Bishop’s Court Assisted Living Communities by Hillcrest.

The story of this prominent part of the community is an example of why Allouez is such an interesting place to live. Our society has changed much since the foundation for the orphanage was laid, but this piece of property reminds us of how precious our children are to us.

Allouez's Historic Cemeteries

People who enjoy learning the history of an area have some reliable sources they can depend upon. Libraries are excellent resources and staff members are often eager to talk about their community’s history. Historical societies exist to provide information to history buffs and they welcome inquiries. Local historians have found that some of the best repositories of local history are cemeteries. Allouez is fortunate to have two cemeteries rich in history within the village limits.

The oldest one is Allouez Catholic Cemetery.  It is the final resting place for some of the most well known names in local history. Some of them, such as Dousman and Desnoyers, are familiar street names to west Green Bay residents. Others, like Lambeau and Canadeo, are instantly recognizable to long time Green Bay Packers fans. The names on other headstones may not be so recognizable even though their accomplishments are quite noteworthy.

One example is Denis John Francis Murphy. Born in Cork, Ireland, in 1830, Murphy emigrated to northeast Wisconsin and worked a farm in Glenmore. He enlisted in Company F, 14th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and was awarded the Civil War Medal of Honor in 1892 for his bravery during the Battle of Corinth, Mississippi. Murphy returned to the area after the war, but was no longer able to work his farm. He and his wife moved into Green Bay where he died in 1901.

An aspect of the cemetery’s history that makes it especially interesting is that some of the deceased are not in their original burial location. Up to the early 1800’s, Catholics from the area were buried in a cemetery at the intersection of Washington and Adams Streets in Green Bay. Known as La Baye Cemetery, it was located where Green Bay Fire Station Number One is now. The city grew in population and by 1835 it needed to close the cemetery and relocate the graves. Allouez Catholic Cemetery had opened in 1822 and accepted a number of these displaced graves.

Woodlawn Cemetery, opened in 1856, is located north of the Allouez Catholic Cemetery near the village’s border with Green Bay. This cemetery is also noteworthy for people buried within its shady confines. The 1997 movie Titanic brought some attention to Woodlawn because one of the victims of the famous shipwreck is buried there. Dr. William Edward Minahan boarded the ill-fated ocean liner in Queenstown with his wife Lillian and sister Daisy. Lillian and Daisy heard Dr. Minahan’s last words, “be brave”, and lived to tell the story of the tragic event. Dr. Minahan’s crypt is on the far west side of the cemetery. There is a path leading to a few stairs that allow visitors to see the front of the crypt, which overlooks Riverside Drive.

Otto Kaap’s mausoleum is located just southeast of Dr. Minahan’s crypt. Otto was born in Manistee County, Michigan in 1887. He moved to Green Bay and in 1907 he was a bank teller by day and a drummer by night. In order to convince another musician to move from Oshkosh, he helped him open a candy store in downtown Green Bay. The gentleman’s business failed and Otto took it over in an attempt to save his investment. He made candy after his vaudeville performances so it would be fresh in the morning. As the business became more and more successful, he added an ice cream parlor, tea room and restaurant. Beloved by many, his establishments moved to various locations during the last century, the final location being razed when downtown Green Bay was renovated in the 1970’s. You can still taste chocolate made using Otto Kaap’s recipes at Kaap’s Old World Chocolates on South Webster Avenue.

The Brown County Historical Society has taken note of the history contained in these two cemeteries and has instituted Cemetery Walks to make their histories come alive. Society members select several people from each cemetery and research their stories. Local actors dress in period clothing and tell their stories while standing next to the headstone of their character. Last year’s walks featured John Dousman and Bishop Aloysius Wycislo at the Allouez Catholic Cemetery.  Woodlawn Cemetery walks have told the stories of  members of the Martin Morgan family and Daniel Whitney, known as the Father of Green Bay. A recent walk there featured the brewer August Hochgreve.  The events are titled, “If Tombstones Could Talk”, and will be held again late this summer.

History is all around us in the village of Allouez. It may seem a bit strange, but it comes alive in our cemeteries.

Allouez Parks

It is easy to travel around the village of Allouez without realizing the natural gems residents have available in the form of neighborhood parks. In fact, Allouez has twelve parks and a Community Center located on over 300 acres of village land. They range in size from the 51 acres at Green Isle Park to the .10 acre at Allouez Optimist Kayakers Point. Their uses depend on their terrain and location, and each serves a unique purpose.

The Allouez Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is tasked with the maintenance and improvement of the parks. The mission of the department is “to provide parks, recreation, outdoor opportunities, and greenspace stewardship, for the enjoyment and well-being of all, in a fiscally responsible manner”.  One of the department’s responsibilities in fulfilling this mission is planning and it has recently published the 2016-2020 Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Made public in December 2015 the plan describes the rationale for maintaining the parks and improvement goals for the next five years. There are specific projects planned for each park in the coming years, ranging from major developments like a new shelter to the installation of improved lighting. The entire plan is available on the village website.

There are several different types of parks, as defined by the National Recreation and Parks Association.  This group has written definitions for a variety of recreational spaces including neighborhood parks, community parks and special use areas. Neighborhood parks are described as serving as the recreational and social focus of the neighborhood. They can be used for active or passive recreation. Community parks serve a broader purpose than neighborhood parks. They focus on meeting community based needs or preserving unique landscapes or open spaces. Special use indicates a broad range of parks and facilities focused on a single use. Allouez has examples of each of these three types of parks. Allouez’s new plan uses this terminology and the village has examples of each.

A neighborhood park with many uses is Patrick Henry Martin Webster Park Sports Complex. Located behind Webster School, it consists of fifteen acres of gently sloping land. In the summer the park is active most evenings with baseball and softball on six diamonds. Football is played in the fall on the lighted field. The park features a family friendly sledding hill which makes the park a very popular destination during the winter.

The ten acre Allouez Optimist Park, on the corner of Libal Street and Kalb Street, is home to the Miracle League baseball diamond. The Allouez Optimist Miracle League of Green Bay is a non-profit organization that provides an opportunity for mentally and physically challenged children to play baseball. Through generous donations the field was modified to make it accessible for all of the players. The league hosts games here in June and July.

A variation on the neighborhood park theme is peaceful Sunset Park. At just three acres, this quiet green space is located between Sunset Circle and the Fox River. It features benches, picnic tables and a view of the Fox River. A recent addition is a sculpture of three waterfowl taking wing. There may not be a better spot to enjoy the majesty of a sunset over the Fox.

Green Isle Park is the only park in the village considered a community park. There is a large shelter and concession stand on the grounds that make this park a popular setting for large group events. The Historic Allouez Society holds events there and it may be rented out for private parties. The Allouez Optimist Club hosts Allouezfest and the Precious Metals Car Show in June of each year. The two gazebos set among the trees make a picturesque setting for wedding party photos. Green Isle also has neighborhood park features such as baseball diamonds and tennis courts for summer use and an ice skating rink in the winter. The Resch Family East River Trail goes through the park and is available for bicycling, running, and cross country skiing.

An example of a special use park in Allouez is Allouez Optimist Kayakers Point at the foot of Lazarre Street. It provides at grade access to the Fox River for kayakers and canoeists. There is easy access off of the Fox River Trail and Riverside Drive.

There are many reasons that people choose to live and work in Allouez and the availability of accessible and well-maintained park facilities is one of them. Based on the plan developed by the Allouez Parks Department it appears that parks of all types will continue to add value to the village.

Brown County should keep Austin Straubel Name at Airport

Austin Straubel International Airport was originally known as the Brown County Airport. The area had outgrown Blesch Field, located on the corner of Ashland and Lombardi Avenues, and in 1944 the county purchased land for the new airport. In March of 1946 the Brown County Board of Supervisors signed a resolution renaming the airport Austin Straubel Field to honor the courage, self sacrifice and devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenant Colonel Austin Straubel. Straubel grew up in Green Bay and in 1942 became the first aviator from Brown County to lose his life in World War II. His remains were brought home and he is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Allouez.

Recently it has been suggested that it would be good for business in Green Bay to change the name of the airport. The thought is that the area would be better served to have Green Bay in the official title of the facility. Even though Austin Straubel will still be referenced in the name, it is not apparent to me that this change is necessary. There are cities around the country that do not fear that their economic growth will be impaired if the name of their city is not emblazoned on the airport.

One example is McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, NV. This airport is named after a United States Senator who served from 1932 until his death in 1954. One of his accomplishments was authoring the Civil Aeronautics Act in 1938. Unfortunately, he also became an ally of Senator Joseph McCarthy and participated in some misguided anti-communist activities after the Second World War. None of this hampers the economic activity that Las Vegas is known for. Millions of starry-eyed tourists check their boarding passes for the three letters, LAS, and happily land at McCarran International.

Logan International Airport welcomes history buffs and Red Sox fans coming to enjoy all that Boston, MA has to offer. Officially titled General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport, it is named after a Massachusetts judge and political statesman. Even though he was not a pilot, he was recognized for the work that he did to help veterans after World War I. This was one of the reasons the airport was named for him in 1956.

Another example is the airport serving Milwaukee, WI. The Harley Davidson Museum and Santiago Calatrava’s brise soleil at the Milwaukee Art Museum entice many visitors to land at General Mitchell International Airport. Raised in Milwaukee, Billy Mitchell is often referred to as the father of the United States Air Force. One of the first to understand the importance of air power in fighting our country’s wars, he campaigned tirelessly on its behalf in the years between the First and Second World Wars. On March 17, 1941, Milwaukee County Airport was renamed in honor of General Mitchell.

There have been unsuccessful efforts in both Las Vegas and Boston to have the airport names changed to better reflect the cities they support, but there have been no recent initiatives to change the name of General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee.

Maybe it is true that some people don’t think of Green Bay when they hear the name Austin Straubel, but if Green Bay and Brown County continue to offer products, services, entertainment and an atmosphere experience, they will come. The name Straubel deserves the same level of respect as McCarran, Logan, and Mitchell.