This website was created to display images created from photos from the estate of Blanche Campbell who taught at the Soft Maple School south of Amacoy Lake, Bruce Wisconsin. This page shows a series of postcards showing the construction of the dam at Cornell, WI
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This website came about to display images created from photos from the estate of Blanche Campbell who taught at the Soft Maple School south of Amacoy Lake, Bruce Wisconsin. This page shows a series of postcards showing the construction of the dam at Cornell, WI
A strange series of connections have inspired my enthusiasm for this project beginning with a chance conversation I had at my lawyers' (Gordon Morris) while I was there to complete the paperwork on my Mom's estate. I had just turned in two CD's full of my own family photos for distribution to the heirs. Gordy pulled out a box of photos he was given from the estate of a friend. Turns out that friend got them from the estate of Blanche Campbell. There were interesting photos of the construction of the dam at Cornell, WI. He gave me a few to check out, and that's how this project started.
Now for the strange connections. At that time, I felt I had recognized the name, Blanche Campbell, but couldn't place where. A few days later, I found out when we parked at the Bruce cemetery to water flowers. Parking where I always park, there was her headstone, just in front of the van. (Connection one.)
Also, Brunet Island State Park is one of our favorite places to picnic and bike. Without the flowage created by the dam, the park wouldn't be there and we would have missed out on many enjoyable outings to a beautiful area. (Connection two)
Some of the photos showed the newly constructed "Cornell Log Stacker" which is a locally well known landmark. I have stood under it and marveled at it's massive construction. (Connection three, OK, almost everyone has THAT connection!)
One of the postcards mentions "Lake Amacoy", which is the lake we live on. The Soft Maple School where Blanche taught was just south of Amacoy. (Connection four.)
For reference, view this old Gates County Platbook Imageand find the Campbell property on the southwest corner of Amacoy Lake.
One postcard message talks about pipe fitters from the dam drinking a case of beer while listening to the tune "Rocky Road to Dublin". My grandfather and an uncle were both pipefitters and I love Irish/Celtic music. I still have 5 "record" albums of Tommy Makem and the Clancy Brothers in my music collection and I heard Tommy Makem had died (August 1, 2007) while I was doing the scans of these photos. (Connection five and six)
I'm still amazed at the quality and detail of these postcards. The camera and film process used were capable of capturing features that would be very hard to reproduce today, especially with digital cameras, which generally produce very low resolution images that can't be enlarged without showing severe pixelation.
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From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Note: Hwy 64 bridge in background upper left



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Note: bateaux river craft in lower left



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
November 6, 1912 Snow on roofs, ice on river.



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Note: Famous Log Stacker in left center background.



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Looking toward west bank.
Note: (See pencilled note with arrow in upper right.)



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Backside of preceding postcard.

Penned by Herbert Campbell - November 25, 1912


Dear Mother- Rec'd
your letter O.K.  Will
try and get time to write
to-morrow you will get them
both the same time. We are
going to work to-morrow
This is Sat evening.didn't it
turn cold quick. If it gets to
cold you will see me home
because I won't suffer with
the cold. I am well. H.W.C.
(added to side) the mark is where I work
Addressed to: 

Mrs. Martha Campbell
              Bruce
               Wisc
R.F.D.#1



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Two hard hat divers and their crew? And dog.



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Postmarked - March 6, 1913

Greetings from Cornell
to Lake Amacoy! How's
everything and everybody? You
ought to be here tonight, son.
Am writing this to the tune
of Rocky Road to Dublin!
Good musice. Pipefitters are
consuming  a case of beer.
 Have had your picture or-
dered for some time but have not
got it yet. Will send it when I do.
Expect to be with you soon
Stir up something.   Herbert

Addressed to: 

Mr. Herbert Campbell
        Bruce
          Wisc.
R.R.#1


(in the margin it says)
Have got that pair(?) of mittens(?) you left.
You will only owe me $.50 on the picture.



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Looking at west bank of river.
View of right wing of dam. And cofferdam.



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Reverse of postcard. Dated November 16, 1912

Got your card last
night. You don't call this a
city do you? This is the fron-
tier, the very edge of civil-
ization. This is a view of the
right wing of the dam, and the
cofferdam. Sorry I couldn't
have seen you before I left.
May be here for some time
Write me all the news   Herbert


Miss Blanche Cagley
       Bruce
         Wisc
RR#1



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Note activity on boardwalk. (Winches on skids?)



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
Two teams of horses in lower left. Town in background.



From the collection of Blanche Campbell
Cornell, WI dam construction.
There are at least 20 men working here.



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