Devil's Lake State Park Celebrates 100 Years
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- Andrew Nussbaum As of this summer, another chapter of Wisconsin history has been written. Having become a state park in 1911, the official centennial celebration was held on June 25th. Several speakers, including Governor Scott Walker, and Devil’s Lake State Park Superintendent Steve Schmelzer, offered birthday sentiments while speaking to the hundreds who attended the birthday celebration. Governor Walker told of his time as a child visiting the park. “I remember coming here as a young boy,” Walker said. “I camped here. I created many fond memo- ries here with my family. I knew this was one of the more popular parks in Wisconsin and even the nation.” Superintendent Steve Schmelzer said he first visited the park more than 40 years ago. “Little did I know that I would be standing here today celebrating the park’s centennial,” he said. “When I first started working here we were involved in a remod- eling project and a person who worked for the CCC came up to us to see how some of the buildings were doing. This park holds so much history and I am proud to be a small part of it.” The rich history of the park includes droughts, floods, railroads, hotels and resorts, and even steam powered sailing ships that carried such distinct visitors as Mary Lincoln and Ulysases S. Grant. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) is one of those fantastic stories that have come out of the 100 years of history at the park. The CCC was one of the work projects created by the Federal Govern- ment during the 1930’s Great Depression era. From 1933 to 1942, men were assigned to military style camps where they received room and board, and a small wage for the work they performed. At Devil’s Lake State Park, the men of the CCC built trails, buildings, and worked on several conservation projects. Bruce Budde, age 88 from Portage, WI, one of only two CCC men still with us today, were in atten- dance to celebrate the park’s birthday. For more information on the park, visit www.wiparks.net, or on facebook at Devil’s Lake State Park Centennial 2011. DEVIL’S LAKE STATE PARK CELEBRATES 100 YEARS The CCC Worker Statue and Bruce Budde, one of only two surviving CCC workers. Governor Scott Walker was one of several speakers at the Centennial Celebration. Photos courtesy of Marcia Budde Superintendent Steve Schmelzer and Governor Walker with the new centennial marker.
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On June 25th, 2011, Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin, celebrated 100 years of beauty and natural wonder.
Transcript of Devil's Lake State Park Celebrates 100 Years
- Andrew Nussbaum As of this summer, another chapter
of Wisconsin history has been written. Having become a state park in 1911, the official centennial celebration was held on June 25th. Several speakers, including Governor Scott Walker, and Devil’s Lake State Park Superintendent Steve Schmelzer, offered birthday sentiments while speaking to the hundreds who attended the birthday celebration.
Governor Walker told of his time as a child visiting the park. “I remember coming here as a young boy,” Walker said. “I camped here. I created many fond memo-ries here with my family. I knew this was one of the more popular parks in Wisconsin and even the nation.”
Superintendent Steve Schmelzer said he first visited the park more than 40 years ago. “Little did I know that I would be standing here today celebrating the park’s centennial,” he said. “When I first started working here we were involved in a remod-eling project and a person who worked for the CCC came up to us to see how some of the buildings were doing. This park holds so much history and I am proud to be a small part of it.” The rich history of the park includes droughts, floods, railroads, hotels and resorts, and even steam powered sailing ships that carried such distinct visitors as Mary Lincoln and Ulysases S. Grant.
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) is one of those fantastic stories that have come out of the 100 years of history at the park. The CCC was one of the work projects created by the Federal Govern-ment during the 1930’s Great Depression era. From 1933 to 1942, men were assigned to military style camps where they received room and board, and a small wage for the work they performed.
At Devil’s Lake State Park, the men of the CCC built trails, buildings, and worked on several conservation projects. Bruce Budde, age 88 from Portage, WI, one of only two CCC men still with us today, were in atten-dance to celebrate the park’s birthday.
For more information on the park, visit www.wiparks.net, or on facebook at Devil’s Lake State Park Centennial 2011.
DEVIL’S LAKE STATE PARK CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
The CCC Worker Statue and Bruce Budde, one of only two surviving CCC workers.
Governor Scott Walker was one of several speakers at the Centennial Celebration.
Photos courtesy of Marcia Budde
Superintendent Steve Schmelzer and Governor Walker with the new centennial marker.
