 Mountain "First Stopping Off Place" hotel/guest house (left) and general store (right) were built by A.C. Frost and his family directly across the road from the railroad station after moving there in 1887. He stands alone on the right side of the porch. This became the official post office of Mountain in 1889. Mountain Memories |
 This was Mountain in the early 1900's from the
top of School House
Hill. Originally the town was built at the summit of the granite
outcroppings
that Mountain was named after, but the logging firms pressured the
railroad
to place the tracks in the valley in 1897 to save them from hauling
wood
to the top. The business district gradually "slid" downhill toward the
busy railroad lines. The local joke was that Mountain had 4 seasons in
the year, summer, fall, winter, and mud.
|
 Harry Bartz - Mountain Wisconsin contributed by Dorothy Hagemann |
 The Bachmann log farmhouse with women and
children of the family,
circa 1890 was typical of the first homes to grace the Mountain area.
This
one boasted a wrap-around porch that gave comfort for outdoor work like
firewood chopping in winter and shade for preparing pickled and dried
foods
in the summer sun. The second floor was a "loft" gotten to on a simple
wooden ladder. Children, once past infancy, slept and stored their few
possessions up there. Many told of the frequent winter days when they
awoke
to shake the snow that had blown in under the roof shingles off their
blankets. |
 Mountain Main Street circa 1935 contributed by: Bill Fonferek
Mountain Main Street |
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"Residence section of Mountain". 1913
From the Minnie Guelker Holl Collection
|
 Mountain Cheese Factory. Von Hayden owned it before my grandfather Joe Foral when he bought it abt 1922. My grandfather was a cheese maker and also owned the cheese factory in Breed in 1930's located across from the Breed Elementary School. Joe Foral sold it to a man by the name of Umland ? and built a meat market in Mountain. Joe Foral also bought the Mountain Hotel. They called it the Foral Hotel. They sold that in abt 1930 beofore going to the cheesefactory in Breed. contributed by: |
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Al Bachmann shows off a nice string of fish as he stands in front of his logging operation near Mountain about 1900. Not sure why he has a rifle, unless he was low on bait?
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 By the 1920's many of the original buildings had been put to different uses. Notice old gas "pump" in front of Rasmussen General Store. The measured glass container at the top was hand pumped to the desired level of fuel, then gravity emptied the contents into the auto tank. The Model-T and A Fords seen here had a tough time of it, especially in Spring, when local roads became deep mud lanes. |
 An important and profitable business of saloon keeping was established early in Mountain's history. It was the main source of relaxation and recreation for the many lumberjacks working in the surrounding woods. Mat Savage owned one of the first appropriately named "The Pioneer". |
Chute Pond and main dam near Mountain was built by the CCC in the 1930's for recreation. Originally small Bonita and Anderson Creeks, the original Chute Pond was the result of a series of logging dams used to flood the creeks each winter. The resulting pond backup of water floated logs to the mills in spring. The dams were opened at the tops to let logs through as the water poured through. The opening were called "chutes" and "River Rats" were the men who herded the logs on this man-made flood, all the way to the mills, making sure things kept moving. They broke up log jams, ran and rode the floating logs and did anything else needed in the water as the logs races downstream. A dangerous job. contributed by: |
 Harry Baldwin was one of the first to start a supply business in Mountain. He built a fine brick store to replace his first when families began settling in the area and needed supplies that were different from the lumberjacks. It also meant that a post office was needed, and like many shopkeepers in Oconto County, it was good business for Harry to have folks come into his store to pick up their mail. This picture was taken in 1902. The barbershop of Tom Rasmussen is seen on the right. |
The Foral Hotel is located on the right that was owned by my Grandfather Joe Foral. Later in my childhood the Haase Twins had it as a tavern.
Photograph Contributed by Mike Urban |
 Remember the Annual Early-May tradition of fishing the Town Creek on opening day of Trout Season. The area from Church Road on the South end, North to County W going East was designated to be exclusive fishing for kids under the age of 14 years old which was sponsored and maintained by the Mountain Volunteer Fire Department along with the Mountain red Arrow Sportsman's Club. It was always a challenge among the locals to see who would catch the biggest trout and who could catch their limit first. This photo was taken near the creek between where Whitie's Gas Station was located and Wirth's Shop is now. It was known as the "town bridge" on State Highway 32. (May 1961). Contributed by Mike Urban |
 It claims that this photo is of the bridge on Highway 32 north of Moutain where it crossed the Oconto River. It was near the CCC Camp and where the gravel pit is now. Contributed by Mike Urban |
 Mountain Train Depot Contributed by Mike Urban |
 Blue Mountain House Contributed by Mike Urban |
 Piepenburgs Grocery Store Contributed by Mike Urban |
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 IDA ARTECH |
Mountain, Wis. |
 GEORGE KING |
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 JULIA RICHARD |
 OTTO SCHILKE |
 BILL SMITH |
