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Reid, Township of

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Author:
Mary Moltzan

Location:
T. 27 N. - R. 9 E.

Formallized:
1917

Background:

Population: 1930-749, 2000-1,191.

Reid Township was formed in 1917 by dividing Pike Lake Township in half. The northern half became Reid Township, and the southern half became Bevent Township. Reid Township was probably named after Alexander H. Reid who was Circuit Judge of the 16th Judicial District of Wisconsin, then located in Wausau.

Post Office Established:
April 27, 1891, Bevent and Pike Lake, July 21, 1887

First Postmaster:
August Marks, Pike Lake

About The Post Office:

Located in Section 34 of Reid Township, the P.O. named Bevent discontinued service on December 15, 1910 with service from Hatley.  Bevent's first postmaster was Martin Cychosz.

Pike Lake's P. O., in Section 13 of Reid Township, was discontinued on August 31,1909 with service from Hatley.

Railroad:

Chicago and Northwestern Railroad tracks ran through the townships from Eland Junction to Rosholt in Portage County.

Churches:

Our Saviors Parish - Polish National Catholic Church - Built in 1930, the church was located at the corner of Hwy. 153 and County Hwy. J. On December 13, 1952, a fire broke out in the basement, and the church burned to the ground. The new church, at the corner of Ninth and Jackson Streets in Mosinee, was dedicated on November 15, 1953.

See Township of Bevent and Village of Bevent

Schools:

1. District 4 - Section 35

2. District 3, Rosenberry School - Section 30. The Rosenberry School was presumably named after Marvin B. Rosenberry, the Chief Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1929 to 1950.

3. East Reid School - Section 2. The Reid School was probably renamed East Reid when the West Reid School was built in Ringle Township, circa 1928.

4. District 1, Pike Lake School - Section 13

Stories:

Folklore surrounding Mission Lake near Bevent includes references to Al Capone.  Originally, it was called Crooked Lake, and the Crooked Lake Dance Hall was rumored to be a hangout of Al Capone.  Eventually, the dance hall burned down, and a group of people from Stevens Point purchased the land, intending to develop a Bible camp.  Because of the lake's reputation, the group petitioned the federal Dept. of the Interior for a name change.  In 1954, the group's petition was granted, and the lake became Mission Lake.