Document text
Moran
Mr. E. E Beers
'Arj 16, 1936
Sun Prairie, Wiscons
)7.
'fro Beergis 74 years of age. As the ollOst member of the Lion's club of
Sun Prairie, he.bPoadcasted a talk over WIRT, the Portage station, on the 'Pro-
gress of Sun Prairie', Mr. Beers was born in 1862 on a farm three miles south-
east of Sun Prairiery—Bird's Corners, as it is called. He saw Sun Prairie
grow up since he was a boy st he was surely qualified to speak on the subject.
Mr. Beers lived on a farm for several years, but 46 years ago he decided
to sellY out and move to town. At that time, hogs sold for $2.50, chickens for
three and four cents a pound, butter eight and nine cents, and eggs six and
seven cents. that was quite different from the prices of today.
At that time the streets were almost impassable in rainy weather. Most,
if not practically all, of the sidewalks in the village were on Main Street.
The City Hill, a one story structure about 24x32 feet, was also the home of the
jail, or the "cooler", as it was balled then. In. 1895 a new City Hall was brought
into existence by bonding the village for $7,000 (the hall cost $9,000). This
was the first time Sun Priirie was ever bonded, and as a result there was much
argunient, but the bonding carried by a few votes. Next came the extension of
Market Street over the realioad,ground to the depot. After the street was built
the railroad company built a ten foot barbwire fence across the enttance-of the
street,as they had bitterly protested the extension. The same" night the fence
disappeared, and the street has been over ever since.
In 1893 the Sun Prairie Fire Department maiscrginisedft
In 1899 the village was bonded for about $25,000 for the water works. The
Electric Light plant. which had been privately owned was next bought by Sun Preirie
by whom it is still owned.
skin Prairie has one of the beet sewerage systems of any village in the state.
The village was bonded for this at a cost of about 03,500i
In 1924 there was more argument over the $10,000 bond to build the pub
REPRODUCED FROM THE COLLECTIONS OF THE MANUSCRIPT DIVISION, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
lie library, but the people
which stands on the site of
cost of about $13,000.
The high school,
in favor of it were successful, and the building
the historic old Bud homestead was erected at a
of which all
Sun Prairie is justly proud, was bdilt in
1928, at a cost of $124,000.
With all of,thesi improvements the village has only $15,000 bonds left,
but this fall they intend to pay off $10,000, leaving only $5,000 indebtedness.
(This does not inoludd the high school building as they still have $80,000 to
pay on St.)
'Other Improvements of Sun Prairie in the last forty-six years are liaised
asSoome...m...memmift
6 tobacco warehouses
1 new large grain warehouse, silo type
6 large cement coal silos
a splendid new large canning factory
4 new churches
priest's home
Sacred Hearts School
Parish Hall
'Creamery Building
Cheese factory building
The ppecelain Factory and Buildingi which cover nearly one acre of ground
employ about 125 people.
The "Fireman'. Pare, -one of the most beautiful in southern 4isconsin,
has thousands of dollars motth of buildings, -also a race track.
All buildings 1n five blocks of Manin Street comprising the business section,
with the, ex0eption of three, are two and three stories high. These are all built
of brick. No frame strueturee are allowed.
The residential is most attractive„ ---the homes and lawns unusually well oarefo
d/
The whole village has cement sidewalks. Part of the streets are concrete,
and have cement curb and gutter.
All these improvements have taken place in the last 46 years and to quote
Mr. Beers, "All we need now is an air -port and a swimming pool. All the dif-
ference between Sun Prairie and Madison is that we haven't a State Capital".
Sun Prairie, by virtue of all these improvements, is "on the map, never
to be rubbed off.*
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