Paul's Falls

 It was a bit chilly for the kids and families attending the annual Christmas Parade on Sunday afternoon.  Nevertheless, everyone seemed to have a good time.  If you missed it check out Falls Cable Access this week for multiple reruns and watch it from the comfort of your own home.

One big question is on my mind, though  - something I just don't understand.  Why must one stake out a claim for territory and mark off their private space on the sidewalk the day before the parade?  It is not as if there isn't enough room for everyone.  There were lots of open areas where nobody was standing - just crying for occupancy.

For those of you compelled to do so, I'm asking why.  I'll publish all comments received.

Merry Christmas! And, oh, make sure you don't sit in my pew on Christmas eve.

 Black Friday has come and gone and I took no part in it.  I didn't set foot into any store.  My wife slept late and we just goofed off all day and started decorating our home for the season.

For so many years, 'the holidays'  were "the hurry days" for us.  Every minute of December was scheduled so that we could get it all done.  Planning, shopping, wrapping - just not enough time.  And I hate big crowds. Stresses built day after day until somewhere around the 29th of December. Then the big letdown would hit.

This year is going to be different for us.  We and our grown-up family decided a few days ago that the only gift exchange this year will be with the grandchildren.   No need to try and figure out who needs what, saving gift receipts, and all the other hassles. We will enjoy the true meaning of the season and relax a bit while listening to music we really never had time to fully appreciate.

So, Merry Christmas everyone, may the yuletide find you full of good cheer.  It will for me indeed. 

The blow was dealt on election day.  Voters in the town of Richfield exercised their franchise and chose to prevent any potential loss of area to annexation by neighboring communities. The planning has been going on for quite some time.  First, approval was needed from the State of Wisconsin.  That happened several months ago.  Then town leaders offered a referendum, and on November sixth the vote was cast. 

Richfield will hereafter be a village and not a town. Good for them.

So, what does this mean to us in Menomonee Falls?  Nothing, except we can no longer brag that we are the largest village in the whole state of Wisconsin.  The new title belongs to Richfield, and I hope they use it well.
 

 Now I can catch up with the piles and piles of DVDs and tapes that have been faithfully recorded which are waiting for someone (me) to view them.

All hail TIVO!

 Fortunately, I have  some vacation time coming next week and intend to catch up a bit.  I hope the strike will be over after that.  The striking writers have legitimate concerns - don't get me wrong.  Some writers are not as good as their colleagues.  But the producers of the good stuff deserve adequate compensation.

As for me, my compensation for this blog is at no cost to you or Journal Communications.  You get what you pay for, I guess.

I hope to see you again next week!   Aloha

 After marriage, Simon P. Schlafer and his bride moved from Germantown to Menomonee Falls, but they returned a year later to his father's farm and operated it for four more years.  Apparently farming was not uppermost on his mind, and he then purchased the Menomonee Falls Mill with one M. F. Lepper.  For the next nine years they operated the mill and upgraded it with a roller process.

In 1890, Simon sold his interest in the mill and in 1891 he and his brother J. L Schlafer and J. G. Huebner built a competing mill across the river.  The Enterprise Roller Mills, constructed from local lime stone,  had a full roller process and  newer technology than the Lepper mill.

Both of these mills were on Main Street at the river. The Lepper mill was operated by water power - hence the dam.   The Associated Bank now stands on it's former site. Portions of the foundation are still visible on the west side of the dam.  For you newcomers, Menomonee Falls is named for a rocky falls several yards down river.  It is worth a short walk into Lime Kiln park to see the "real falls".  It is a very junior partner of Niagra Falls - they share the same geology- the Niagra Escarpment.

The Enterprise mill still stands on the east side and is now the home of offices for several businesses. A steam engine at ground level powered this mill and it's sounds and smells permeate my memories which I will never forget.

 From time to time check here for some local history from my point of view.  If you can't wait, check out the historical society or visit our beautiful library.  You can't go wrong.
 

 Part 1      S. P. Schlafer   

My great-great-grandfather Simon Peter Schlafer was born of  immigrated Bavarian parents in 1850.  His father worked on the Erie Canal after arriving in this country. Later his dad, Jacob, bought a 160 acre farm in Germantown and with additional purchases the estate grew to 240 acres.  If that wasn't enough to use up the daylight hours, Jacob was also involved in a sawmill operation with several local partners.

 Simon was the ninth of ten children. You need a lot of people to run a farm of that size.  And, so, farming it was until he was 26 years old.  Then he met Sarah Leister, a 19-year old beauty from the Granville/Germantown area.

What happened after that?  Stay tuned and from time to time what happened will follow.  If you really can't sleep waiting, perhaps you might Google flour mills or the such.
 

 And the answer is at:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/anthem.asp

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