Chris

Work in Allen Park

Crews have been removing trees and branches in Allen Park, manicuring the once wild place. The park was once the site of early trading in historic Chippewa Falls and has hosted many events since. I shared a little bit of the site’s history before and plan to visit it in more detail soon.

A Row of Trees in Allen Park. Most have been cut down.

It was reported by Business Leader recently that major changes were coming to Allen Park including a possible Farmer’s Market pavilion. This park has been relatively untouched since its dedication on October 7, 1978. The adjacent area along East River Street, which was previously occupied by businesses is now home to the Chippewa Main Street Farmers Market in the warm months. In 2020 a trail to connect Allen Park to Riverfront Park across South Bridge Street was proposed at a Park Board meeting.

References:

https://www.chippewafalls-wi.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=16664

Chippewa Falls Main Street Inc. Images of America: Main Street Chippewa Falls Wisconsin. Arcadia Publishing, 2005.

Business Leader. The Chippewa Valley Business Leader 2021. Leader-Telegram, 2021.

Pop-Up Cookie Shop

Around 5:30PM Tuesday, girl scouts were set up selling cookies at the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Woodward Ave in Chippewa Falls. They chose a warm yet windy March day.

Updated: Little Free Pantries in Chippewa

I have been alerted to a few more local little free pantries by readers. Littlefreelibrary.org lists pantries along with the libraries.

https://abide.news.blog/2021/01/15/little-free-pantries-in-chippewa/

Correction: Avalon No More

My attention was called to a name that I mistyped when writing the previous post. Instead of Country Inn by Carlton, the post should say Park Inn International. Also some info has been added about ownership by the Heyde family beginning in the 1990s. This correction is for email subscribers. The live post has this information updated already.

West Willow Street Vlog

I am testing out a video slideshow format of my blog. Take a look!

West Willow Street Fire

Around 12:43PM today, a call was relayed to the Chippewa Falls Fire Department that smoke was coming from a commercial building near 18 West Willow Street. “Caller did not believe that it was occupied.” By 12:48, Engine 1 was responding to the structure fire with the subsequent comment, “this could be the welding shop. We’ve had a call there before for the wood stove.” 4 officers were on scene with video as well. This was now a 3 alarm fire and would be upgraded to 4 alarm at 12:53. Flames were visible in the back of the building.

All firefighting resources were being called in and additional personnel needed time to organize. Also police needed to expand the restricted area from one block of West Willow to Bridge Street near Holiday as a second hydrant was deployed. Water demands were high.

Many spectators gathered across the street near Jimmy John’s and the former Pam’s Quick Wash and took videos with their mobile phones. The building was, in fact, attached to Krueger’s Welding Shop, though it appeared to be used for housing vehicles as shown on Google’s August 2019 street view. The fire’s origin was not reported as of this evening and no injuries were reported either.

Contrary to WEAU-TV’s reporting, the fire did not affect Main Street across town, but Bay Street along with West Willow Street and North Bridge Street. Also, contrary to WQOW-TV’s reporting, the fire was called in prior to 1PM. Flames were visible; however, when the above photos were taken at 1:06PM.

Around 8:30PM, only a single fire engine and one official with a vest remained, who appeared to be investigating the scene. The alley behind is blocked and the building is taped off. This is private property and should not be intruded upon by the public.

References:

https://www.weau.com/2021/02/27/ongoing-fire-in-chippewa-falls/

https://wqow.com/2021/02/27/chippewa-fire-department-stay-clear-of-area/

https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/31670

https://www.google.com/maps/place/18+W+Willow+St,+Chippewa+Falls,+WI+54729/@44.9380172,-91.3955791,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x87f8a65cd12f328f:0xa9485d4587ec7d7c!8m2!3d44.9381556!4d-91.3956083?hl=en

https://wordpress.com/post/chippewaphotos.wordpress.com/1179

Updated Calendar: Mon, Feb 22 – Sun, Mar 7

Feb 22 – Mar 7, 2021
M O N	22	1
T U E	23 🌔 1st Prebsbyterian Church \| 10-Noon \| Food Pantry Cook Chiropractic \| 10:30A \| Slow Flow Yoga 1st Prebsbyterian Church \| 5-7P \| Open Door Clinic Bye The Willow \| 6-9P \| Chunky Knit Blanket Workshop Sandbar & Grill \| 7:30P \| DJ Trivia	2 🌖 1st Prebsbyterian Church \| 10-Noon \| Food Pantry Cook Chiropractic \| 10:30A \| Slow Flow Yoga 1st Prebsbyterian Church \| 5-7P \| Open Door Clinic Sandbar & Grill \| 7:30P \| DJ Trivia
W E D	24 Rumor Mill \| 7P \| DJ Trivia Eagles Club \| 7-9P \| B-I-N-G-O	3 Rumor Mill \| 7P \| DJ Trivia
T H U	25 1st Prebsbyterian Church \| 10-Noon \| Food Pantry Anson Town Hall \| 4-8P \| Spaghetti Playground Fundraiser Chippewa River Distillery \| 7P \| Trivia Sandbar & Grill \| 7:30P \| DJ Trivia Rookie’s Pub \| 9P \| Karaoke Contest	4 1st Prebsbyterian Church \| 10-Noon \| Food Pantry Chippewa River Distillery \| 7P \| Trivia Sandbar & Grill \| 7:30P \| DJ Trivia Rookie’s Pub \| 9P \| Karaoke Contest
F R I	26 Bye The Willow \| 6P $50 \| Truffle Dinner Leinie Lodge \| 8-10P \| Summer Shandy Event w Music by Shirts & Skins	5 🌓
S A T	27 🌕 Eagle’s Club \| 10-5 $5 \| Metaphysical Fair The Edge Pub \| 12P \| Polar Plunge CVCA Heyde Center \| 7:30P $12 \| Sterling & The 85 Silver Band	6 Loopy’s Saloon \| 12-4P \| 6th Annual Beersbee Tournament
S U N	28 Bye The Willow \| 11-2 \| Kids Brunch Brass Lantern \| 3P \| DJ Trivia Sandbar & Grill \| 3-6P \| Music by Mark Healey & Jim Schuh Duo	7 Brass Lantern \| 3P \| DJ Trivia

Too Cold for Soda

Family Fare Downtown posted, after weeks of sub-zero lows and single digit highs, these “Out of Order” signs with icicle drawings on their pop machines. But seeing them turned on, this intrepid reported put in four bits, received a sticky Dr. Pepper can, rinsed it off and found it was perfect. While these machines cool beverages in the summer, they also contain heaters for winter. Apparently they couldn’t keep up, resulting in what I can only guess is a sticky mess within. Warmer weather is predicted for the near future – almost refrigerator temperature, in fact.

New Development on West Hill

As one drives West down Spruce Street, the vintage of houses become increasingly modern and more uniform until Bluff View Circle seemingly traps the traveler in a loop with no outlet. It is through a wooded area near Hwy 53 that new roads have been cut and houses are going up.

Excavation and construction has been ongoing since mid-2020. There was discussion of a continuation of Mansfield St westward but the location of new houses now make the logistics unlikely.

References:

http://www.chippewafalls-wi.gov/your-government/boards-commissions-committees/plan-commission/-folder-507

Primary Today

Voting is once again happening at polling places in Chippewa Falls. The library has moved their operation to the children’s room with the usual meeting room taken up by hold pickups. The only race in Chippewa is a primary for Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Instruction, though Cadott also has a School Board race.