Crystal Lake (Racine, Wisconsin): Difference between revisions

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{{coord|42.74859|-87.78602|display=title}}
{{coord|42.74859|-87.78602|display=title}}
'''Crystal Lake''', also known as '''Baumann's Pond''', was an artificial body of water in [[Racine, Wisconsin]] that existed as late as the mid-1920s. Located between [[Main Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|North Main Street]], [[Goold Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|Goold Street]], [[Erie Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|Erie Street]], and what is now [[Walton Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|Walton Avenue]], the pond was created when a clay pit operated by the Baumann brickmaking company was abandoned and filled with rainwater. The resulting body of water had a surface area of roughly {{convert|10|acres|ha}} and was approximately {{convert|15|ft|m}} deep.<ref name=1924-history/> Crystal Lake became a popular location for ice skating during the winter, and its {{w|ice cutting|ice was harvested and sold}} by the [[Fox Ice Company (Racine, Wisconsin)|Fox Ice Company]], in an era before mechanized refrigeration was common. Originally located on Racine's northern outskirts, development eventually surrounded the area. The city of Racine considered making the land a park, but the Fox Ice Company chose to allow the pond to be used as a garbage dump in the 1920s, gradually filling the basin over the course of several years so the land could be developed.<ref name=1924-history>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60459295/the-journal-times/ "Filling Old Pit to Create Lots: Crystal Lake Will Be Platted When Filled And Sold As Building Property; Has Long History"], [[Racine Journal-News]], April 30, 1924, page 6.</ref> In addition to a number of houses, the former site of Crystal Lake is now home to [[2113 North Wisconsin Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|2113 North Wisconsin Street]], [[2100 North Main Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|2100 North Main Street]], and a parking area for the [[Racine Zoo]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59870136/the-journal-times/ "Excavators Dig Up Reminders of City History"], [[Racine Journal Times]], May 3, 1959, section 3, page 6.</ref>
'''Crystal Lake''', also known as '''Baumann's Pond''', was an artificial body of water in [[Racine, Wisconsin]] that existed between the late 19th century and the mid-1920s. Located between [[Main Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|North Main Street]], [[Goold Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|Goold Street]], [[Erie Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|Erie Street]], and what is now [[Walton Avenue (Racine, Wisconsin)|Walton Avenue]], the pond was created when a clay pit operated by the [[Baumann brickyard (Racine, Wisconsin)|Baumann brickmaking company]] was abandoned and filled with rainwater. The resulting body of water had a surface area of roughly {{convert|10|acres|ha}} and was approximately {{convert|15|ft|m}} deep.<ref name=1924-history/> Crystal Lake became a popular location for ice skating during the winter, and its {{w|ice cutting|ice was harvested and sold}}.

[[Horlicks|Horlick Bros.]] harvested ice from the pond as early as 1886.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60722405/the-journal-times/ "Horlick Bros. commenced gathering their crop of ice to-day at Crystal Lake..."], [[Racine Daily Journal]], January 13, 1886, page 3.</ref> The Racine city council first ordered the pond drained in 1913, over concerns that it could cause flooding on nearby properties and in the sewer system.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60722084/the-journal-times/ "Baumann Pond Is Ordered Drained By City Council"], [[Racine Journal-News]], March 15, 1913, page 16.</ref> The local health board investigated the pond later that year and found no evidence of pollution.<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60722203/the-journal-times/ "Water in Pond is Not Polluted: Board of Health Investigates Conditions at Baumann Pond Following Many Complaints"], [[Racine Journal-News]], August 23, 1913, front page and [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60722229/the-journal-times/ page seven].</ref>

Originally located on Racine's northern outskirts, development eventually surrounded the area. The city of Racine considered making the land a park, but the [[Fox Ice Company (Racine, Wisconsin)|Fox Ice Company]] chose to allow the pond to be used as a garbage dump in the 1920s, gradually filling the basin over the course of several years so the land could be developed.<ref name=1924-history>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60459295/the-journal-times/ "Filling Old Pit to Create Lots: Crystal Lake Will Be Platted When Filled And Sold As Building Property; Has Long History"], [[Racine Journal-News]], April 30, 1924, page 6.</ref> In addition to a number of houses, the former site of Crystal Lake is now home to [[2113 North Wisconsin Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|2113 North Wisconsin Street]], [[2100 North Main Street (Racine, Wisconsin)|2100 North Main Street]], and a parking area for the [[Racine Zoo]].<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59870136/the-journal-times/ "Excavators Dig Up Reminders of City History"], [[Racine Journal Times]], May 3, 1959, section 3, page 6.</ref>


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 06:16, 8 October 2020

Coordinates: 42°44′55″N 87°47′10″W / 42.74859°N 87.78602°W / 42.74859; -87.78602 Crystal Lake, also known as Baumann's Pond, was an artificial body of water in Racine, Wisconsin that existed between the late 19th century and the mid-1920s. Located between North Main Street, Goold Street, Erie Street, and what is now Walton Avenue, the pond was created when a clay pit operated by the Baumann brickmaking company was abandoned and filled with rainwater. The resulting body of water had a surface area of roughly 10 acres (4.0 ha) and was approximately 15 feet (4.6 m) deep.[1] Crystal Lake became a popular location for ice skating during the winter, and its ice was harvested and sold This is a link to a Wikipedia article.

Horlick Bros. harvested ice from the pond as early as 1886.[2] The Racine city council first ordered the pond drained in 1913, over concerns that it could cause flooding on nearby properties and in the sewer system.[3] The local health board investigated the pond later that year and found no evidence of pollution.[4]

Originally located on Racine's northern outskirts, development eventually surrounded the area. The city of Racine considered making the land a park, but the Fox Ice Company chose to allow the pond to be used as a garbage dump in the 1920s, gradually filling the basin over the course of several years so the land could be developed.[1] In addition to a number of houses, the former site of Crystal Lake is now home to 2113 North Wisconsin Street, 2100 North Main Street, and a parking area for the Racine Zoo.[5]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Filling Old Pit to Create Lots: Crystal Lake Will Be Platted When Filled And Sold As Building Property; Has Long History", Racine Journal-News, April 30, 1924, page 6.
  2. ↑ "Horlick Bros. commenced gathering their crop of ice to-day at Crystal Lake...", Racine Daily Journal, January 13, 1886, page 3.
  3. ↑ "Baumann Pond Is Ordered Drained By City Council", Racine Journal-News, March 15, 1913, page 16.
  4. ↑ "Water in Pond is Not Polluted: Board of Health Investigates Conditions at Baumann Pond Following Many Complaints", Racine Journal-News, August 23, 1913, front page and page seven.
  5. ↑ "Excavators Dig Up Reminders of City History", Racine Journal Times, May 3, 1959, section 3, page 6.
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