Fish Creek Park Company.
Records, 1892-1970.
Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 88
.4 cubic ft. (1 archives box and 1 oversize roll) |
ABSTRACT: Records of a small land development company in Ozaukee County
which oversaw development of Fairy Chasm, and area well known for its
environmental beauty, from its founding in 1892 to its dissolution in 1970. The papers
are for the most part
incomplete, leaving large gaps that are difficult to fill. The collection includes a history,
correspondence
minute books, financial
statements, land transfer records, maps, and proceedings.
Also included are
records of the annexation of part of the
development by the Village of Bayfield and the sale of some acreage to Nature
Conservancy.
ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the
collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However,
the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy,
and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes
19.21-19.39).
SCOPE AND CONTENT: The records reflect the land development company's
effort to preserve the unique beauty of the area as well as the financial autonomy of the
company. Although the papers contain material from early as well as later periods of
the company's history, the record is by no means complete. One folder consists simply
of two typescript pamphlets, both of them histories of Fairy Chasm prepared by former
residents. Two ledger books from the years 1899-1911 and 1925-1958 contain the
most complete series of minutes of Board of Directors'
meetings as well as
miscellaneous notations. The proceedings folder covers only the years
1931-1941
and contains copies of resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors as well as
minutes of Board meetings and the president's report for the years 1940 and 1941.The bulk of the folders in this collection contain information on land transfers
during the company's history. The folders include records of the adoption of a new plat, circa 1938-1940,
the annexation of South Fairy Chasm into the Village of Bayside,
circa 1954-1955, the dispute over the proposed sale of reserve lands, 1959-1960, and
the sale of the remaining reserve land to Nature Conservancy, 1970. The
correspondence folder deals only with the years 1950-1959, the years when the donor,
E. Eugene Kohls, was president of the company.
The collection also contains
financial statements and
maps
of the area from circa 1938.
ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: The Fish Creek Park Company was a small land
development company formed in 1892 in what is now the Village of Bayside, Town of
Mequon, Ozaukee County, Wisconsin. Fish Creek Park; or Fairy Chasm as it was later
called; came into being when a group of Milwaukee businessmen led by Jacob F.
Donges purchased two farms totaling 146 acres just beyond the north boundary of
Milwaukee County on Lake Michigan's western shore. The area was a uniquely
beautiful woodland, cut by a ravine and full of many species of flowers, plants and
wildlife. Formally incorporated on September 13, 1892, the company was empowered
to buy and sell real estate. Its charter authorized 146 shares of stock at $285 per
share. During the first ten years of the company's existence, the stockholders were
permitted to use the land in any way they chose, from Sunday picnics to construction of
summer homes. By 1900 seven summer residences had been or were being built.
At this point it was decided to implement a more systematic method of dividing the land
in order to avoid future conflicts. The land was surveyed, platted into lots, and
eventually sold to stockholders. Three tracts were held as "reserved land" for the use of all members. Because the company retained the right to
make rules and regulations governing company-owned property, it was able to maintain
control over the development of the area. Along with this control went the
obligation to maintain roads and paths to the beach. Raising money to meet this
obligation was a problem that plagued the company throughout much of its history.
Volunteer contributions by stockholders and proceeds from annual picnics met a portion
of this need.
By the early decades of the twentieth century the area was well settled, both with
summer homes and year around residences. A dam was built, activities were
organized, and a feeling of community spirit developed. In 1942 the fiftieth anniversary
of the founding of the company was celebrated. But by this time, problems in the
original survey and platting of the area also began to surface. Quarrels arose over
property lines, and eventually a resurvey and new plat were prepared. At this time,
also, the name was officially changed to Fairy Chasm.
Soon after this, the continuing need for financial self-sufficiency on the part of the
community led to a split between North and South Fairy Chasm. The eventual
annexation of the latter into the newly incorporated Village of Bayside raised a considerable amount of controversy and
had to be settled by the
Wisconsin Supreme Court. This move, however, did not mitigate the financial
problems. The final solution attempted was the formation of the South Fairy Chasm
Association in 1968 followed shortly thereafter by the North Fairy Chasm
Association;
both were autonomous and supposedly more manageable legal entities. At this point the
only asset retained by the original Fish Creek Park Company was twenty acres of
reserve land, which was deeded in 1970 to Nature Conservancy, a non-profit
corporation devoted to environmental conservation. In January of 1971 Articles of
Dissolution were filed, which officially ended the Fish Creek Park Company.
COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:
Fish Creek Park Company. Records, 1892-1970. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection
88. Wisconsin Historical
Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of
Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
RELATED COLLECTIONS:
Prince, John B. John B. and Martha Prince Fairy Chasm collection, 1892-1995. (UWM
Manuscript Collection 116)
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. Field
Station. Records, 1961-1983. (UWM
Archival Collection 32)
ACQUISITION: E. Eugene Kohls of Milwaukee, Wisconsin donated the
collection in 1980 (accession
number M80-535).
PROCESSING: Processed by Colleen Wickey and Joanne Hohler in February 1984.
MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in
the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:
- Bayside (Wis.)--History--Sources.
- Business records--Wisconsin--Ozaukee County.
- Fairy Chasm (Wis.)--History--Sources.
- Land companies--Wisconsin--Ozaukee County--Records and correspondence.
- Nature conservancy.
- Nature conservation--Wisconsin--Bayside.
- Ozaukee County (Wis.)--History--Sources.
- Real estate development--Wisconsin--Ozaukee County.
| MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 88 |
BOX |
FOLDER |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Correspondence,
1950-1959 |
1 |
1 |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Financial
Statements,
1944-1945, 1950, 1953, 1955 |
1 |
2 |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Histories, 1942,
1980 |
1 |
3 |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Land Transfer
Records, Adoption of New Plat, 1938-1941 |
1 |
4 |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Land Transfer Records,
Annexation of South Fairy Chasm, 1955-1956 |
1 |
5 |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Land Transfer Records,
Dispute on Sale of Reserve Lands, 1959-1962 |
1 |
6 |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Land Transfer Records,
Transfer of Reserve Land, 1969-1970 |
1 |
7 |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Maps, 1938 |
1 |
8 |
| Fish Creek Park, Company, Maps, "Maps of Fish
Creek Park," undated [oversize roll] |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Minutes, 1899-1911 |
1 |
9 |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Minutes, 1925-1958 |
1 |
10 |
| Fish Creek Park Company, Proceedings, 1938-1941 |
1 |
11 |
About
the Archives | General
Information | Subject
Listings | Finding
Aids
Genealogy | Upcoming
Events | Exhibits
| Teaching Resources
Records Management |
Other Web Sites | Archives
Home Page
©2004 University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee -- All
Rights Reserved.
URL: http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/arch/findaids/mss088.htm
Last edited on Friday February 6, 2004.
Ask an Archivist