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Granite Heights, Village of

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Author:
Mary Moltzan

Location:
T. 30 N. - R. - 7 E., Corner of Sec. 23, 24, 25 & 26, Township of Texas

Founded:
Early 1880s

Background:

In the early 1870s, the territory from Wausau to Merrill was explored by a geologist , Earnest  Robertson Buckley, employed by the State of Wisconsin to survey the natural resources of stone for buildings and ornamental products. In the 1880s, simultaneous to the railroads coming through the area, a good grade of granite rock was discovered. 

Some of the first people to arrive in this region were Swedish and Norwegian with a sprinkling of English and Scotch who settled near the river where the granite works began.  More people came from overseas as the business grew and, with other people settling there, the village came into being. 

Heights, at that time, was spoken of as "Lower Heights" and "Upper Heights".  Lower Heights had most of the homes, the depot, store-post office, and hall.  Upper Heights, farther north, had the granite finishing plant and a couple houses.  The granite works was located south of Lower Heightsand east of the railroad tracks in 1901.

The first granite quarry operation, started by Adam Growth and Hugo Peters,  floundered and went out of business in 1886.  Its product, granite paving stones, went out of style. The business was acquired by L. S. Cohn and Alexander Robinson in about 1888. They sold granite for decorative purposes such as statues and grave markers. Though the business flourished, Cohn and Robertson sold it in 1897 to Fred J. Devoe who persuaded four other pioneer Wausau businessmen to invest capital.  These partners formed the Marathon County Granite Company.  When this business was moved to Wausau in 1901, the quarry operation at Granite Heights was abandoned. The rail station was torn down, the town languished, and today nothing remains but a row of houses along the riverbank.

Post Office Established:
October 21, 1889

First Postmaster:
Thomas H. Thornton

About The Post Office:

Originally called Heights, the name was changed to Granite Heights on December 14, 1889. The P.O., located in NE 1/4 Sec. 26, was discontinued on August 15, 1953.

Railroad:

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul RR ran north from Wausau with spurs and loading tracks at Granite Heights to load quarried granite.

The C. M. & St. Paul  RR was extended through Granite Heights to Merrill and beyond in the 1880s.  Before this, most transportation needs were met with the use of horses.  It was possible to cross the Wisconsin River  with a horse drawn wagon on a ferry boat at Upper Heights.  The ferry was built to bring granite from a quarry on the west side of the river to the finishing plant  - after  the best stone ran out in the east side quarry.

Churches:

Many Evangelical ministers stopped at Heights to hold services at the International Organization of Good Templars (IOGT) Hall.

Schools:

At one time, there was a private school which was housed in the building originally built for use by the International Organization of Good Templars.

Children of Granite Heights also attended Trappe School.

Business:

The operation of the quarry and saw and planing mills on Whiskey Road (Granite Road)  promoted the building of the Boarding House and Marathon Store.

Since horses were used to transport the stones to Wausau, a large, hip roofed barn was built about two blocks west of the store.  A house for the teamsters was built there also.

A blacksmith shop was built across the road from the barn.

 

Industry:

Granite Quarrying. (See background)