THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

August 25, 1994

 

WHEN THEN WAS NOW

By Wayne A. Guyant

 

            Thousands of years before the first white man set foot in the lakes and forests of the beautiful Chain o’ Lakes there existed a civilization of man about which very little is actually known.

            It is most likely that these people and the later Indian tribes that lived here had their main crossing int eh narrows that existed between Limekiln and Columbia lakes.  “Indian Crossing” is the trademark that has been adopted for this area, and is widely known near and far.

            The first crossings were made by fording the shallows on foot, or over a crude log bridge.

            John V. Sattlers stated it was the former custom of his people, the Menominee, before crossing a ford like this to make a tobacco offering to the water spirits.  “Then anyone could pass through the water without fear of harm or disaster.”

            When the first white settlers came to this area, there was still evidence of a crude log bridge at this location.  During the years that followed, several different bridges have been built, each time being built larger, taller and more sturdy to accommodate the white man’s needs and to provide an access for pleasure boats to pass under, as they became more numerous and larger.

            On September 15, 1924, William Arnold and his wife, Harriet, of Chicago, purchased Lots 1, 2 and 3 in the Columbian Park from Mrs. Jim (Abigail) Christensen, who lived on a neighboring farm less than a mile away.  Lots 1, 2 and 3 of Columbian Park started at the present day County Trunk Q on the east and extended to Whispering Park Road on the south.

            In the early months of 1925, plans were made to erect one of the largest summer pleasure resorts in the area.  Jensen and Rasmus of Waupaca were awarded the contract for the sum of $30,000.  This big, open air pavilion was built on the north bank of the channel between Limekiln and Columbia lakes.  The plans specified a building 80 by 75 feet, or a floor space of 6,000 square feet.

            Since its completion in July of 1925 to the present day (1994), this impressive white and tangerine-orange open air pavilion still attracts many dancers and tourists, some who come just to reminisce about the days of old they had enjoyed at the Indian Crossing Casino ad the Chain o’ Lakes area.

            It was on July 1, 1925, that William R. Arnold, the owner of the newly erected Indian Crossing Casino Dance Pavilion, held its preview opening party to celebrate its official opening, July 4, 1925.

            Arnold’s house-warming party was attended by the Waupaca Area Chamber of Commerce, many Waupaca County and Waupaca City officials, and other invited guests.

            Arnold and Francis Steele, the Casino manager, welcomed between 350 and 400 guests at the all-day event.  Arnold and Steele had created the casino with the possibilities of establishing a dance pavilion that would attract both local and nationally renowned bands. The Indian Crossing Casino was advertised as “Central Wisconsin’s most modern amusement pavilion.”

            Foreseeing other possibilities than just dancing, Arnold took advantage of the prime location on the Indian Crossing channel and built a boat landing, installed two 10-foot diving platforms, a springboard and a water toboggan slide in Columbia Lake.  He also had secured 2 rowboats.

            July 4, 1925 was the end of the street car service between Waupaca and the Chain o’ Lakes area, and this prompted Arnold to purchase additional land for parking space for 400 cars.  He also provided bus service from the City of Waupaca.

            The big day came at last, when on July 4, 1925, Wm. R. Arnold officially opened the Indian Crossing Casino to the public.  Festivities began at 1:30 p.m., starting out with various sporting events. George A. Murry was the general chairman for the sports events, and J.G. Cornwell was the announcer.

            Following are the various winners in each sport event.  The Junior Boys’ Swimming Race, run by Willy Holmes, was won by Wilson Sanders, second place went to Kenneth Paris and third place went to Palmer Richardson.

            In the Senior Boys’ Swimming race run by Clyde Taylor, first place went to Wilson Sanders, second place went to Howard Wipf, and third place went to Palmer Richardson.

            In the Men’s Swimming Race, run by Robert H. Wright, first place went to Robert McLaughlin, second place went to Wilson Sanders, and third place went to Carl Throp.  In the Boys’ Tub Race run by Loren Gmeiner, first place went to Eugene Hanson, second place to David Shambeau and third place to Everett Johnson.

            Walter Nelson was in charge of the Ladies’ Canoe Races, in which first place went to Adeline Carpenter, second place to Frances Sill, third place to Beulah Olson and fourth place to Elizabeth Kwapil.

            Walter Fox was in charge of the Ladies’ Swimming Race, with first place going to Carmen Barnes and second place to Mona Block.

            Dayton C. Baldwin was in charge of the Ladies’ Fancy Diving Contest, in which first place went to Shirley Holmes, second place to Genevieve Ballard, third place to Goldie Cohen and fourth place to Mona Block.

            All day long lines of automobiles and throngs of people made an impressive sight, as more than 10,000 people visited the Indian Crossing Casino during the day and evening. Dancing was enjoyed both during the afternoon and evening by those who were able to gain entrance to the large pavilion.

            The Arabian Knights Broadcasting Orchestra, Chicago’s most popular eight-piece radio and dance band, provided the music for the gala opening of the Indian Crossing Casino.

            Members of the Arabian Knights Orchestra that played at the Casino on opening night were Al Reed at the piano, Billy DeHaven, Banjo and trumpet; Art Peterson, saxophone and clarinet; Paul Medalie, saxophone; Anthony J. Schaefer, violin; Harry Loose Jr., trumpet and saxophone; Cedric Read, trombone, and Art Sharkey on drums.  Dean Jones, the regular drummer, was confined to the hospital recovering from a serious automobile accident, and missed playing on opening night.

            A few weeks prior to the opening, there were people who found it hard to believe that a dance pavilion of this size could be conducted in such a way, as to eliminate those objectionable features that follow large crowds.

            Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and Mr. Steele had spent many hours in selecting weekly programs that would be of interest to most of the dancing public.

            They chose to have dancing every evening of the week, except Sundays, from 8 to 12.

            Monday nights were billed as “Waltz Nights.”  Every other dance would be a waltz, and a waltz contest would be held at 10:30, with prizes given.

            Tuesday nights were billed as “Feature Nights.”  Something new and exciting each and every week.  The first in the series of features dances was called a “Spot Dance.”  There was no increase in prices – 10¢ per dance, or 25¢ for three dances.  Prizes were given to the women.  The following Tuesday was followed by a “Bubble Party.”

            Wednesday and Friday evenings were “Get Acquainted Nights.”  The admission was 50¢ for gents and 35¢ for ladies.

            The Arabian Knights Orchestra provided the music at the Casino throughout the summer months.

            Carroll (Cal) Swenson, who lives at E1376 Grandview Road, gave me some interesting accounts about the grand opening night at the Indian Crossing Casino. He is perhaps the only person living today who was present and part of that grand opening; he was one of the two ticket takers at the gates that led onto the dance floor. The dance floor was completely enclosed by a wooden railing except for the two ticket gates, as it is today.

            There were highly reflective streamers from all corners of the building attached to a large ball hanging over the center of the ballroom.  High on the east end of the building was a crow’s nest where colored lights were operated, showing all of their color on the dancers below.

            There was a ladder nailed to the east wall that went up to the crow’s nest.  Mr. Swenson told me that he was afraid of heights, so he had a school friend of his take his turn up in the crow’s nest.

            Across the dance floor to the west end of the building was the large stage between the ladies’ and men’s restrooms.  Above the restrooms were built dressing quarters where members of the performing orchestra could change, rest and relax.

            Mr. Swenson spent most of his time living in the guest quarters one summer and subsisted mostly on hamburgers and pop that were served in one corner of the building.

            Part of Mr. Swenson’s assignments were driving Mrs. Arnold in her big car around the countryside on Mondays, taking down the old posters and replacing them with the new bills for the coming week.

            In the July 21, 1925, issue of the Waupaca County Post, Mr. Francis Steele had an article telling how well the Casino was doing in the first few weeks engagements.

            In mid-August of 1925, J.G. Cornwell took over the duties of Francis Steele as the manager of the Casino.

            Wednesday, Aug. 25, and Friday, Aug. 27, Tom Guyant and his seven-piece band, “The Night Hawks,” provided the music for the dancing pleasure at the Casino.  They stepped out and showed what a local orchestra could do.

            The last dance for the season was held Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 3, 1925. It started out at 1 p.m. and continued throughout the afternoon and evening.  All afternoon there were sports events galore, from rowboat and canoe races to swimming and diving contests.  Dancing took place throughout the afternoon and evening.

            Among the Waupaca business places that donated prizes for the contests’ winners were The Farmers State Bank, The Old National Bank, E.R. Haebig, Hannon Jewelry, A.J. Holly & Sons, The Fair Store, and Earl Fabricius.

            The most unusual feature of the Labor Day program at the Indian Crossing Casino was the appearance and singing of Mrs. Emily Stump Gibbons, who had been totally blind for a number of years.  Mrs. Gibbons was a singer of rare ability, coming from Gary, Ind.  She ha sung on radio stations KYW and WTAB in Chicago, as well as in two Milwaukee stations.

            This closed out the first season (1925) at the Indian Crossing Casino.

            Next week the Indian Crossing Casino story continues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

September 2, 1994

 

A LOOK BACK AT THE COLORFUL HISTORY OF THE INDIAN CROSSING CASINO

By Wayne A. Guyant.

 

This article is a combination of the articles on the Indian Crossing Casino that were run on August 25, 1994 and September 15, 1994.