YESTERYEAR IN CHETEK
In the mid 1800s the many local Indian tribes called the area their name for Pelican or Swan. Some of the spellings were Sheetak, Shetak, Shetuk, Chetack and Shedack. When the first post office was established Chetek became the preferred spelling.
History Dates:
Omaha railroad came 1872
Dam built in 1863, rebuilt in 1872
Knapp-Stout Logging Camp built in 1872. Knapp-Stout was the largest timber corp. in the world owning 115,000 acres
First post office 1872
Eight students attended the first school class located in a private home. A log school house was built in 1872. First high school had two students graduate in 1889
The area was platted out in 1875
All religious denominations established between 1881 and 1890
First medical practice established in 1881
The only newspaper ever to serve Chetek, The Chetek Alert was established in 1882
A library was established in 1888 but later disband, reopening in 1926
Became a city in 1891 (through political maneuvering Chetek was the only municipality in the United States to go direct to City status without first being and incorporated village (population 531)
First telephone exchange in 1903
Fire Department organized in 1904
Hydro electric plant built and supplied power to street lights from 1906 to 1963
Some of the early Indians were mound builders and 250 mounds can be seen in Barron County. Many are in the Chetek Area
Pipestone Quarry attracted many Indians to the area. Pipestone formation called Catlinite is a dark red clay found just below the earth surface and is easily worked with a knife. It hardens upon being exposed to the air and takes on a hard red polish . Catlinite was fashioned into beads, ornaments and building blocks. The pipestone ridge just north of Chetek, and the ones running through Minnesota and Ohio are the only ones known in the United States.
