Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society

11/06/2025

The Chippewa Area History Center continues the tradition of the St. Joseph's Love Lights program. Celebrate Legacy Lights at the Chippewa Area History Center and Shine A Light to commemorate loved ones, living and departed.

www.chippewaareahistorycenter.org/legacy-lights

The Chippewa Area History Center continues the tradition of the St. Joseph's Love Lights program. Celebrate Legacy Lights at the Chippewa Area History Center and Shine A Light to commemorate loved ones, living and departed.

To Participate: Stop by the Chippewa Area History Center or go to: www.chippewaareahistorycenter.org/legacy-lights to download a brochure. Brochures can also be found at area Chippewa Falls businesses. Lights can be purchased through the end of December.

THE TRADITION OF LOVE LIGHTS:

The inaugural lighting ceremony (held December 7, 1988) featured a Christmas prayer and caroling by the Chi-Hi Madrigal Singers. Almost 500 lights were dedicated the first year, 329 in memory of departed friends and family, and 163 in honor of living individuals and families. The tradition would stretch 36 years in total, until the hospital’s last set was lighted in 2023 before the closing of St. Joseph’s in April 2024.

11/05/2025

Here’s an interesting article I came across detailing the original formation of the Chippewa Falls Historical Society in 1969.

11/05/2025

DB’s 2025 Bluelight Special #42
420 North Bridge Street

Today this is a non-existent building, but originally it was located where the south end of the Jimmy John’s sandwich shop is currently .

The 1874 aerial view of Chippewa Falls shows a two story building already on this lot, very likely a hotel / saloon. There was a tremendous call for hotels and boarding houses at that time for the 400+ lumberjacks employed in our area .

1889: The Henry F. LeMay hotel and saloon

1901: Frank N. Bischel saloon

1907: The building is again owned by Henry F. LeMay, but as a saloon only.

February 21, 1909: Jacob Leinenkugel purchased the building at a sheriff’s sale for $2,500.00. There is no mention of its use, but he may have used it for storage or continued to operate the business as a saloon and boarding house. Even in 1909, $2,500.00 for a prime Bridge Street location was a wise investment .

1914: John Manley and Thomas Meath saloon. It’s interesting how saloons were generally named after the owners at this time; they didn’t have actual names as is our habit currently.

1915: Henry Dubberke saloon

April, 1922: Chippewa Vulcanizing Store ( tires)

1923: Paul Onstad and Emil Sprint Vulcanizing ( Vulcanized rubber is a durable, elastic material created by heating rubber with sulfur, which significantly enhances the rubber’s strength, elasticity, and resistance to temperature changes.).

February 1930: The William Hanzlik Bakery ( Ironic that it was just north across the alley from the Naborhood Bakery many of us remember).

1940: The Greyhound Lines Bus Depot, attached to the Jasper Drugstore. They later moved together to 324 North Bridge Street.

1945: Frenchy’s Hamburger Place, C.D. Wilcox owner and manager

Beginning in 1955, there is no longer a record of 420 North Bridge Street. The building was razed and the lot became part of the Standard Oil Service Station operated by Lawrence Doucette.

Thank you for viewing and remember I always welcome additions or corrections that I can verify.

Respectfully, Dennis Brain
Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society and Old Chippewa Falls Facebook site.

11/05/2025

We approached the month of November....Thanksgiving is at the end of the month, and Christmas is just around the corner!

Be sure to gather those unidentified photos, family heirlooms that you are unable to save, and prepare questions! The holidays are a great time to take care of family history!

10/31/2025

Have a good weekend!

10/31/2025

10/29/2025

Genealogists version of Halloween fun. Find a person who lived in three different centuries and do some research. Can you imagine all the changes she seen over the years? Wendy found her in Old Hope in Chippewa, and with Cathy's help we found these records of her life. Julie Duplicie-the spelling has changed in the records, make sure you are checking for variations yourself. She has some well known family members.

10/29/2025

DB’s 2025 Bluelight Special #41
8 East Grand Avenue

This address is one of several that were incorporated into the J. C. Penney Company ( and currently Mason Shoe) building.

The 1874 aerial view of Chippewa Falls shows a 2 1/2 story building on this lot

1883: Cowles & McMartin, blacksmiths and wagon makers

1885: A. H. Cowles, blacksmith

1889: John McRae blacksmith and J. G. Gulden carriage and wagon maker

1895: John McRae blacksmith and Michael M. McGurk cigar maker

1901: John McRae horse shoer

1907: John McTae blacksmith and Michael McGough blacksmith

1917: McGilvray & Kurth Hardware
Neil McGilvray and William Kurth

11-10-1955: Grand Opening of the J. C. Penney Company at 301 North Bridge Street. At this time, 8 East Grand Avenue
would have been located where the side entrance door to Penney’s ( later Mason’s) is presently.

Thanks much for viewing and know that I always welcome additions or corrections that I can verify.

Respectfully, Dennis Brain
Chippewa County WI Genealogical Society and Old Chippewa Falls Facebook site.

10/29/2025

Be sure to go through all documents, newspapers articles, interview relatives, and anything else that you can think of.

You never know what you'll find out.

10/26/2025

Thanks to Rebecca Blanchette and Kim Gundlach for coming in and explaining how Forever.com works. It is a one time purchase for storing digital information that is yours for your lifetime, plus 100 years. You are able to add a person to take over your files after you are gone so the work you have done is saved. If you are tired of paying monthly or annual fees to store your images, this is another way to go. They are both Ambassadors for the company and will be happy to answer questions and help you set up an account, helping you get the best deal. The company will also take in just about any old form of storage and convert it to current forms, and will update your saved files as new technology evolves. They will also add photos to just about any item you would like. If you want more info, contact them or we can pass your request to them at ccgswi@gmail.com. Thanks again for coming out for the presentation, they did get quite a bit of interest after the meeting.
I have been using this for the last nine months and have been very happy to have gotten my files in one place, not on several thumb drives, external drives, CD's, etc.