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WAUPACA POST January 27, 1921
ABANDON IDEA OF PURCHASING BROWNE TRACT CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED BY CIVIC AND COMMERCE ASS’N RELATIVE TO PURCHASE OF BROWNE TRACT
The following is a portion of the report from the Board of Directors of the Waupaca Civic and Commerce Association read before the assembled members at the annual meeting Thursday evening. It is published that the people of this city may know why the extension of South Park was not an accomplished fact. The Report “The matter of securing public bathing facilities for the present as well as future generations has engaged the interest of the people of Waupaca for several years. “During the year of 1913 sufficient interest was taken to bring the matter before the voters at the spring election of 1914, when a good majority favored the purchase of the Browne property for this purpose. “Temporary arrangements were made and the city erected bath houses on the property and through the courtesy of the owner the public has enjoyed free use of the place for bathing accommodations. “Realizing the necessity of providing for the future this matter was brought to the attention of the Waupaca Civic and Commerce Association and on March 5, 1920, at their invitation, Mr. E.E. Browne met with the directors of the association to consider terms for the purchase of said property by the city. “At a full attendance of the nine directors and the general secretary, Mr. Browne named a price of three thousand dollars for their holdings on and adjoining Shadow Lake, providing the property was to be used for Park purposes and he further expressed his willingness to become one of six men to donate these grounds to the city for this purpose. “Mr. Browne also stated that their original investment, plus interest and taxes during the time they have owned the property would amount to that sum. “Acting on this interview the Civic and Commerce Association presented a resolution to the Common Council on July 6, 1920, asking for the purchase of the property at the price named and the resolution was adopted by the council at their next meeting, July 20, 1920. “Acting under the authority of this Resolution, Dr. Rudersdorf, chairman of the Finance Committee of the City Council called Mr. Browne on the phone and endeavored to arrange an interview with him for the purpose of financing he purchase of the property, but was not successful and so reported to the Civic and Commerce Association, who thereupon wrote Mr. Browne under date of August 23rd. Mr. Browne replied as follows under date of August 26th: “Your letter of August 23rd, received by me upon my return to Waupaca today. “Mrs. Rose C. Browne is the owner of the property you refer to in your letter, which borders Shadow Lake, and has been the owner for over ten years, purchasing the same with her own money for the purpose of building a future home. “In my statement to the Waupaca Civic and Commerce Association on March 5, 1920, when I was here to attend my mother’s funeral, I stated that my offer was subject to the approval of Mrs. Browne, the owner of the property. Upon my return to Washington I did not hear from the Waupaca Civic and Commerce Association or the City and never took up the matter with Mrs. Browne. “Mrs. Browne is taking an ocean trip and will not be in Waupaca before the first of October and there is no way of communicating with her. Upon Mrs. Browne’s return I will lay the matter before her and I am sure she will be glad to take the matter up with you. Yours very truly, Edward E. Browne.” Not hearing from Mr. Browne after his wife’s return, further correspondence brought the following from his secretary: “Your letter of recent date addressed to Mr. Browne, received during his absence from the city, “Mr. Browne is campaigning through the district and is ending up his campaign in Marathon and Portage counties. “I will submit your letter to Mr. Browne as soon as he has any leisure, which will probably be November 3. Yours very truly, V.E. Ludvig, Sec.” Failing to receive further reply we took the matter up with Mrs. Browne and the following is her reply: “Mr. Browne has submitted to me the proposition of the Civic and Commerce Association in relation to the purchase of my property bordering on Shadow Lake. “I have owned this land for many years, having bought it with my own separate estate which was willed to me, for the express purpose of purchasing a home. This property was purchased before the city owned the land adjoining and before a park was contemplated. “At the time I bought it, the land was unfenced. Gypsies and horse traders were using it as a general camping ground; their horses girdling the trees and their campfires starting several serious fires that injured young forest growth. People helped themselves to wood and many large trees had been cut. “We fenced the land, cut out dead timber, trimmed trees, set out many young trees and had a man working there for several seasons, protecting it from fires, etc. I fully believe that if we had not purchased this property when we did, one of Waupaca’s beauty spots would have been destroyed. “A number of years ago permission was granted the city of Waupaca the right to erect two bathhouses on the beach of this property, with the understanding that no fires were to be built, or young trees injured. The public has never been excluded from this property. “Soon after purchasing said land, I deeded to the city of Waupaca, two strips of land, aggregating considerably over an acre, with the express understanding, in writing, that a cement walk be constructed at the west side of the Park and that the water mains be extended to my property. Neither of these obligations have been fulfilled. “Personally, I have always felt that the present park is adequate to all the needs of the city and that there are many public improvements needed more urgently than extra park space that the public already has access to. “My attachment for this property and the sentiment of some time building a home upon it is as strong today as the day I purchased it. This, with the facts before mentioned in this letter affirms me in my decision not to sell and you will please consider the matter closed, Yours very truly, Rose C. Browne.” “Your officers regret that we cannot make a more favorable report at this time and recite these facts that the members of the Association and the public generally may be fully informed concerning this matter. “Without doubt the officers elected for the coming year will appreciate your suggestions concerning further action on this mater which is vital to the future interests of Waupaca.” An Exchange Not A Gift A gentleman who was on the Council at the time the city received two strips of land from Mrs. Browne, has explained that it was an exchange and not a gift. For the two strips of land, one of which consisted of a street, the Council granted the request of the owner of the tract of land between South Park and Shadow Lake that all laid out streets be forever closed. In this action the owner of the tract acquired more land than was ceded to the city. It was considered at the time to be an advantageous exchange for both the city and the owner of the property, which time has proved to be a fact. Regarding the laying of water mains, the rule has always been followed that when there is a petition with a promise to use city water so the city may receive a reasonable income on the expenditure, the petition is granted. The general rule applies in this case as with ordinary property owners. |