Arcadia
Plat maps from 1914. The Town of Arcadia is the largest town in the county. it also has the largest city, Arcadia, in Trempealeau County. The Town of Arcadia was created in Novemeber of 1856 Arcadia consisted of all the present Town except the strip in T20 Sec 8 and everything north of the present Town to the south line of T 24. In April 1857 the first Town meeting was held at the home of David Bishop. The earliest settlers in what is today the city of Arcadia were David and Collins Bishop, George Dewey, George Shelley and James Broughton.. The name Arcadia, was suggested by Mrs David Bishop who in turn, had the name from Noah Comstock who claimed the area reminded him of the Arcadia region in Greece. The first school was founded in 1857 with Sarah McMasters as the first teacher. A store was opened by George Shelley and a blacksmith shop by Albro Mattison. David Massuere built a flour mill in 1860. At first Arcadia was located high and dry above the river bottom but when the train came through in 1873, the tracks were laid close to the river. The town moved down into the bottom land to be near the train tracks and has suffered from regular flooding ever since. Today Ashley Furniture and Golden Plump have large factories in Arcadia. The Town of Arcadia had 19 rural school districts- American Valley, Cortland, Holcomb Coulee, Kolstad, Korpal Valley, Latsch Valley, Lewis Valley, North Creek, Norway Valley, Meyers Valley, Oakdale, Oak Ridge, Penny, Rainey Valley, Ridge, St Michael Parochial, Sunnyslope, Williamsburg (Passow) and Woychik. The nationalties of the residents of the Town of Arcadia were primarily Polish, German and Norwegian. Other small trading centers in the Town were Williamsburg and New Tamarack.
1914 Plat Map
Plat Map of South Arcadia
Plat Map of Arcadia & Preston
Strand ski jump, 1936, in Norway Valley
mammoth hip bone found on Albert Sobotta Farm in Thompson Valley
Mammoth bone found in North Creek by Ron Kugel
Dr Krumholz dentist chair at Arcadia Area Museum
1948 Slaby’s Bar, Arcadia
1950 carrying lunch to the field for the men, Bill Valley
Immigrant trunk at Arcadia Area Museum
1960 Broiler Days parade
Ed Erickson for Sheriff 1916
1934
Wreaths Across America Dec. 2022
Arcadia Brewery 1949 on the west side of town. Replaced by chicken processing plant
1936 crooks in Newcomb Valley
Log Farm house in North Creek
Tombstone at St Michael’s church in North Creek
Civil War Camp out at Pietrek Park 2015
Upper Plum Creek–buildings were part of the Louis Weire farm and later the Albert Giemza Jr. property
St Michael’s church in North Creek
Gandyra barn at north end of North Creek
Coddie Klink Road–Bert Hodus farm barn
Mayor Rob Reichwein and City Clerk Angela Berg 2015
1977 Downtown Arcadia
1952 Tom Giemza Anniversary
Chauncey and Ethel Penny Heath and sons
Hwy 93 as it crossed the Arcadia Ridge prior to the road being changed
Paul Halvorson as a basketball star for Blair
Paul Halvorson 2018
Arcadia HS Prom Court April 2018
Perry Heath Family
Clover harvesting on Motsko Farm
Perry Sylvester Heath
Tony Valdez lays wreath at Soldiers’ Walk 2016
Town of Arcadia Caucus 2017
Massuere AD for washing machine 1921
Ad in 1921 Arcadia paper
Ashley Plant early 1980s. Nick Jensen, Howard Reedy, Art Schultz, Bud Vogel, Ollie Schroeder
Arcadia Library (CARNEGIE) 2009 (lower) library door (upper)
Arcadia Carnegie Library
Jim Ziegeweid speaks at Nov 2015 Vets Day
Arcadia Flood 1956 A C Schultz and A H Gauger in front of the Jensen Store 4.4.1956
2010 Arcadia Flood
Demolition of St Aloysius School 2016
Lewis Valley Boys on the school playground 1923
Old North Creek Publish Schoolhouse, North Creek Rd 1988
North Creek School 1953 Teacher Olga Berg- Front Row- Judith Kokott, Paulette Sobotta, Ruth Andre, Kenny Gandera, Charles Hanson Middle-Diane Coelho, Betty Walek, Delaine Perzina, Charles Walski, Betty Giemza Back-Marie Gandera, Mary Ann Stanislawski, Theresa Knusella, Mary Jane Kokott, Louis Shepherd, Fred Tocken
Holcomb Coulee School 1910–Students were Laura Davis, Amy and Geneveve Brom, Mabel Serverson, Rose Brom, Mamie Pierzina, Mattie DAvis, Chauncey Tuschner, John Olson, Ed Tuschner, Edwin Severson, Melvin Severson, Matt Mahutga, Alfred Olson, Selmer Severson, Otto Olson, Paul Mahutga, Helmer Olson, Art Olson, John Pierzina, Clarence Olson, Emil Ruschner, Ignatz Pierzina,
Holcomb Coulee School grads Leonora Heram, and Leo Olson with teacher Amy Brom
Lewis Valley School 1953
Helen and Romelle Slaby, 1926 Lewis Valley
Slaby kids-Rudy, Clotilda, Romelle, 1926, Lewis Valley
Wickham Valley School–Esther Walski, teacher and Clarence Guza
New Wickham Valley Schoolhouse 1930s
Wickham Valley School late 1930’s
Woychik School 1926
Woychik School Student body 1926–occasion was the visit of County Nurse Miss Rice
Norway Valley School 1926 Back Row L-R- Lyle Solie, Gernard Nilsestuen, Teacher Clara Thompson Ringlien, Josie Halverson Nelson, Ida Gilbertson, Marie Lund Halvorson, 2nd Row- Alvin thompson, Harold Lund, Melvin Lund, Casper Raymond Bondlie, Cora Olson Hanson, Ruth Nilsestuen, McMahon, Helen Halverson Hoff, Sylvia Nilsestuen Bolton, Evelyn Bondlie Scheo, Little boy in front-Everett Bondlie
American Valley School 1951–note schoolbus on right
American Valley School on CR T east of Arcadia. Partial listing of teachers since 1913.
American Valley 1953-4 Elsie Dittrich, Teacher Front Row L-R- Dlepha Johnson, Betty Klonecki, John Lisowski, Mary Lisowski, Dan Johnson, Kaye Bautch Back- Theresa Klonecki, Paul Johnson, Roger Onsrud, Roger Klonecki, DAvid Pierzina, Beverly Bautch, Ruth Klonecki
American Valley School 1902–Teacher Mr, Brownlee is highlighted in the back row.
1933 New Sunnyslope (Upper Plum Creek) School
Sunnyslope 7 & 8th Graders 1936–R-L- Ernest Waldera, Esther Waldera, Ila Hanson, Genevieve Maule, Adolf Micek
Original Sunnyslope Schoolhouse being demolished 1923-24
Sunnyslope 1908 Teacher Louise Stevning
Sunnyslope School 1936 1rst & 2nd Graders Valentine Maule, Albin Woychik, Severin Waldera, Bernice Micek
1936 8th Graders Sunnyslope School (Upper Plum Creek)
1936 Spring Clean Up Day at Sunnyslope School
Sunnyslope children 1920s
1920 Williamsburg School-also called Passon School Bernice Bautch in back, Mrs Tom Woychick, Mrs John Marsolek, Mrs Andrew Passon, David Bautch
1913 Ridge School, Petronella Kokott 4th from right in back row
1924 Ridge School
Ridge School 1928
Ridge School 1928
Ridge School House 1920s
Oak Ridge School teacher Mary Smart with pupils Betty Onsrud and Betty Foss
1932 Oak Ridge 8th Graders-Everett Bondeli, Francis Solberg, Elmer Rhude, Florence Onsrud, Evelyn Bondeli, Arnold Solberg
Rainey Valley Students in front of the school 1930
The Rainey Valley School 1900-1955 Front porch is not typical of school designs in the county.
1928 Rainey Valley students
Oak Ridge School 1941,OAK RIDGE SCHOOL 1941 Back Row L-R- Dick Andriesen, Alice Everson (teacher), Ralph Stevens, Beverly Bautch, Ardys Bautch, Doris Onsrud, Lloyd Andriesen Front-L ?R- Elsie Onsrud, Roger Onsrud
Watkins Group 1941,Group on a Watkins tour, 1941-photo found behind photo of Oak Ridge School. Any IDs? Little boy in front row, 3rd from left appears to be an Onsrud–photo found behind another photo of Oak Ridge School
Cortland School memories. School was located in Trout Run Valley south of Arcadia.
Cortland School students 1911. Note the Funmaker children, Ho Chunks who camped in the valley.
Cortland Kids 1955- __Kindshy, Rosemary Andre, Willard Wettlaufer, Diane Kube, Gaylord Kube Jr., Bob Brommich, —Kindshy, Galen Mueller, Le Roy George, Pat Kokott, Pat Andre, Lucille Kokott, ___Kindshy, Sharon Passow
Holcomb Coulee 1947-48
Norway Valley School 1919
1925 photo of Norway Valley students
Kolstand School located on NW Cty F, Town of Arcadia.
Rainey Valley School 1946 (top) Bottom-White /Fox Coulee School 1945.
Bohri & Hensel Store 1877
Arcadia Public School
Nicholas Mueller home 1877-listed as Architect and Builder
1913 business ads.
American Valley School located on Cty T east of Arcadia.
Norway Valley School-1925 Back l-R Lyle Solberg, Gerhard Nilsestuen, Clara Thompson, Josie Halverson, Ida Gilbertson, Marie Lund Middle-Alvin Thompson, Harold Lund, Melvin Lund, Caspar Bondeli, Cora Olson Ruth Nilsestuen, Helen Halverson, Sylvia Nilsestuen, Evelyn Bondeli Front-Everett Bondeli
Newcomb Valley (Oakdale) School? Not identified
Korpal Valley School 1940 L-R Aloizy Woychik, Richard Korpal, Marcel Shepehrd, Eugene Guenther, Dan Sonsalla.
1949 Arcadia Flood
1956 Arcadia Flood
(1) Mrs. William Kokott (2) Phillip Klimek and Hedwig Wozney
Girl on right is Sophie Motsko
St Joseph Hospital Plan 1967
Arcadia School spring 1895 Girl on bottom right is Lily Kindschy Durisch
1891 Arcadia view west, brick house on left owned by John Durisch.
Upper- James Rohn Lower Francis Guza
(1) John Klimek (Son of Phillip Klimek ) (2) Rose Slaby with daughter, Blanche
(1) John and Minnie Motszko 25thWedding Anniversary (2) Joseph Gamoke
Electricity comes to rural Trempealeau County–the REA
Williamsburg School, Corner of Cty Rd XX and Hwy 95
Suchla ‘s on Hwy 95 east of Arcadia 1963
Peter and Mike Gandera ( Gandyra) Town of Arcadia.
North Creek , St Michael’s in background
1945 Flood
Dyste Ford fire 1931
John Muir was last Civil War Veteran living in the county.
1935 Ski jumping in Tamarack in Norway Valley.
Vaccinations at Mayo Clinic 2021
1963
1946 Arcadia Hotel
2021 Interior of old North Creek Public School photo Bryan Franson
Teacher Elsie Jensen and North Creek School students 1917
Arcadia Flood April 1956
Vogue Theater flooded April 1956 flood
Skiers at Tamarack Valley Ski Club
1931 Ski Club in Tamarack area
1935 Ski Club in Tamarack
East End Mill 2021 Photo Bryan Franson
North Creek 2012 Drone photo Bryan Franson
St Michael Church 2012 North Creek drone photo Bryan Franson
1952
Plum Creek Total Abstinence Temperance Hall Located on Square Bluff Road near Maule Hill moved into Independence in 1940’s. See Arcadia Documents for the story.
Albert Swietz, North Creek, Twn of Arcadia
Leo Olson was from the Tamarack Valley
North Creek Public School kids 1957
St Michael’s Parochial School around 1920
North Creek St Michael's Church
Schnug’s Store Ad from 1932
the demise of the Arcadia Opera House 1967
Tamarack Lutheran Church
Ashley For the Arts 2018
Rev Hauck and the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church–known as the German Catholic church
Lehrbach Island was purportedly haunted by giant cats. The river changed course and the island was no longer an island. See “Documents” for more info on the island.
Class of 1948 Class reunion , Arcadia High School.
Memorial to 32 Div, The Red Arrow Division, Soldier’s Walk Park
Voting at Town of Arcadia Town Hall November 2020.
Sons of Norway Fagernes Lodge sponsored the 2019 Kids ski contest , Arcadia
The Commercial Hotel located near the railroad tracks and the old Hatchery.
Gavney and Comstock–pioneers of Arcadia and leading citizens.
Kolstad School–upper Tamarack Valley about 1930. Back Teacher Myrtle Amundson Bernadine Konkel, Elmer Chestleson, Leo L Swenson, Bennie Kolstad, Harriet Anderson, Emil Lisowski, 3rd Row-Stanely Anderson, Jerome Konkel, Marian Pavalak, Frank Lisowski , Joyce Severson, Ruth Halverson, Beatrice Moldenhauer, Don Olson, Allan Severson First Row- Lillian Johnson, Evelyn Severson, Delores Severson, Elaine Strand, Lloyd Lund, Harold Kolstad, Leonard Konkel, Bobbie Pavalak. Photo from Mrs. Fred Hoff. A later teacher was Mrs Palmer Severson.
Korpal Valley School, 1937. Photo was submitted by Evelyn Anderson but unfortunately no one is identified. I love the guy on the roof–was he the teacher chased there by the students on the wood pile?
Old Korpal Valley School on left, 2021. After the school closed it was moved into Arcadia to be used as the office for the East Side Mill.
Oak Ridge School Town of Arcadia, 1934. Front L-R- Pyrl Storsven, Alice Nelestuen, Geraldine Solberg, Leona Solberg, Betty Onsrud, Marion Berzinski, Geneva Solberg, Betty Foss, Marva Berzinski, Orlen Herberg, Florence Thompson, Ruth Gilbertson, Back- Genevieve Rhude, Mildred Onsrud, Eleanor Foss, Blanch Berzinski, Lillie Solberg, Vivian Solberg, Evelyn Nelestuen, N. Storsven, Bobby Onsrud, Corine Herberg, Harriet Thompson Photo was from Mrs David Kube
Second Oak Ridge School about 1934–schoolhouse was torn down after the school was closed.
1985 Flood
Arcadia HS Commencement 1888
1978 Jake Angst
1955 Broiler Dairy Days Court
1984 Arcadia Fryers Hatchery
Dr Elizabeth Comstock
Dr George Hiderschide
1919 Flood— looking south towards OLPH church
High Water 1919
1987 Deer hunters, Luan Woychik, Bruce Pehler, Al Woychik
1970s
1967 NFO MEETING
March 2020 Arcadia Girls’ Basketball team goes to the tournament but loses its first game. The next day the remainder of the tournament was canceled due to Corona Virus fears.
March 2020 Wanek Center contributors
Downtown Arcadia 1970
Room 3, Arcadia Public School, around 1910
Mrs. Bill Suchla
Old cellar in Arcadia
First St Michael’s Catholic Church, North Creek.
Gandyra Threshing outfit, 1940’s
1896
First St Michael’s Church in North Creek built 1878 and second church built after the first one burned.
Dorothy Zylla Sobotta donated land for St Michael’s church. Her husband was killed in an accident transporting building materials for the church.
Peter and Anna Pierzina donated land for the St Michael’s church cemetery in North Creek.
Class of 1885
Barbara Gandyra (Tock)
Leaning Harvestore silo on Cty J
OLPH celebration ( currently the Arcadia Hist, Museum)
Arcadia veterans
Arcadia John Deere Day 1939
2018
Bridge by Feedmill, Arcadia 2015
Mill bridge over Turton Creek Removal 2018
St Michael’s Church , North Creek fire 1942
1917
1967 school bus accident
Arcadia Massuere Store 1890
Arcadia Ice Carnival at St Aloysius rink 1941
Jimmy Garaghan 1940
Darrell Schultz’s broiler coop, 1966
1914 Civil War Veteran/Knecht
1905 list of Civil War Soldiers for Village of Arcadia
May 1914
Arcadia 1914 November
Ad from 1930 plat book
Ad from 1930. Tamarack Store was located mid-way between Arcadia and Centerville, on Hwy 93 and Holcomb Coulee Rd.
KWNO radio
Kolstad pg 1
Kolstad pg 2
Kolstad pg 3 - For pictures see above
1923 Lewis Valley School
Norway Valley Pg 1
Norway Valley Pg 2
Albert Swietz–bachelor farmer who raised his two nephews.
Kiekhoefer sisters recall old days
Haunted Island near Arcadia
Roy’s Store on Hwy 93 in Tamarack.
Double Wedding at St Michael’s in North Creek.
Temperance Hall on Square Bluff part 1
Temperance Hall part 2
1926 Flood
J I Dewey Arcadia Pioneer
Thomas Brom