The Journal Times from Racine, Wisconsin • 80

Neighborhood Treasures 20 Sunday, Augunt 29, 2004 The Journal Tlmea pageadtor Elzabeft Ytoung Skewes Parle Can't beat the bend for a scenic retreat From a grove of black walnuts BY PETE WICKLUND Journal Times I SkewM Memorial Park on Highway near 5 1 st Drive in Yorkville. The Skewes family has long history of farming in the area. GREGORY SHAVER Journal Times on not too far down the road in the villages of Waterford and Mukwonago. It's an area where the rural quaintness likely hasn't changed in generations. If you didn't know better, you could be somewhere in the Alleghenies or Tennessee perhaps.

i Park your car near where the county line signs are, find a secluded perch and wait for the sound of a train. Close your eyes and envision a steam engine passing along those railroad tracks 50 years ago. If I were to make a calendar of locations in our county, this would be one of my top picks. TOWN OF WATERFORO It's a stretch of road I never grow tired of the bending curve where Highway 20 leaves Racine County for Walworth County, Nestled between Honey Creek Road in Racine County and Bell School Road in the Town of East Troy, it's an area where hills and valleys converge, where railroad tracks rumble through trees, brush and farmland. And, with the exception of a huge, rather breathtaking hilltop, rural home that popped up in the last couple of years, it's an area that has escaped the rapid suburbanization that is rambling i The Gunderson farm BY ROB GOLUB Journal Times Samuel Skewes planted trees when others were clearing them BY MARCI LAEHR TENUTA Journal Times TOWN OF YORKVILLE More than 160 years ago, Samuel Skewes settled on 40 acres in the Town of Yorkville that he had bought from the government for $1.25 an acre.

Today, Skewes' great-great-grandson and his wife live in the farmhouse he built there, surrounded by more than 170 acres of trees and farmland that have been occupied by five generations of the Skewes family. The family history runs as deep as the roots of the grove of black walnuts Samuel once planted, and is just as historically significant. While most settlers in Racine County in the 1800s were clearing trees out to create farmland, Samuel Skewes planted a grove of black walnuts in a corner of his farm. "Everyone thought he was crazy," said Helen Skewes, the wife of Alfred Skewes, who is Samuel's great-grandson. "People told him, 'You'll never live to see those Alfred said.

"And he said, 'No, but others Tbday, that grove of black walnuts still stands in what is now Skewes Park. The park, according to Russell Skewes Alfred's son was a corner of the farmland his family has owned for five generations that was difficult to get to and difficult to farm. Samuel wanted it to be used and enjoyed by his children and grandchildren, so he planted the trees. Now the public parkland can be enjoyed by anyone. Arthur Skewes donated the land to the county in 1964.

Apparently, he wanted a picnic spot for travelers. He, Helen and two of their daughters had just returned from a trip to New York. Along the way they had "This was the edge of civilization," said Russell of the time his great-greatgrandfather settled in the area. "There weren't many people in the neighborhood." The family has worked hard to preserve the farm, although they haven't always lived on it and haven't farmed it themselves for three generations. Since 1944 the Skewes have rented their farmland to the Lauber family, who run a dairy operation.

Alfred, Helen and their five children lived in the home, but they moved to Kentucky in 1964 so Arthur could expand his veterinary practice. They later came back to Racine County and their family home. In 1980, Russell bought the farmhouse from his father. For a while, Alfred and Helen lived in an apartment built out of the original dairy barn on the property, but more recently moved to Tudor Oaks. As for the next generation of Skewes, what becomes of Grovean is in their hands.

Russell and Tedi say they remind their nieces and nephews of that often. They also make it known that they would like it to stay in the family. "That's our wish," Russell said. "The goal would be to never sell it. Farmland forever; that would be best." searched for a wayside area to picnic in, but they couldn't find one.

They decided travelers to this area shouldn't have to suffer the same fate. Samuel's grove of walnuts became Skewes Park. "It's been used quite a bit," Alfred said. The family farm was named Grovean, which.is Cornish for "a home in a grove of trees." Samuel; his wife, Catherine; the first of their four children; and Samuel's nephew George Skewes came to the Ives Groves area from Cornwall, England, in October 1842. The first home on the property was a sod house.

In 1866 the farmhouse that Russell and his wife, Tedi Winnett, now live in was constructed. A long-winding driveway through thick trees and brush leads to the home at 1116 51st Drive. Sitting at the kitchen table, looking out at the over 300-year-old burr oak tree in the yard, it is difficult to imagine that the intersection of highways and 20 is just three minutes away. However, it is not difficult to imagine the home as belonging to one of the first settlers of the area despite its interior updates. fast," David said.

The farm remains competitive in an age of fewer family farms by using a method called no-till farming, where seeds are planted without plowing, he explained. David Gunderson and his wife, Karen, live on a home on the farm. Their two daughters also live on farm property with their husbands. Brian Gunderson lives in another house. Some of the bricks used to build Brian's home were reportedly left over from the construction of an historic 1800s Norway church.

The family started with 120 acres and built the farm up to thousands of acres by switching from dairy farming to crop farming. New subdivisions are the news of the day in Norway. It's not a strictly rural area anymore and names like Gunderson remind us of our history. Will the Gundersons live on their farm for many years to come? "There's a lot of memories on the farm," David Gunderson said. "I can't guarantee." NORWAY The Gunderson family has been operating the same farm for more than 150 years, making it a treasured place in Racine County history.

The Gunderson land, at the intersection of Highway and Gunderson Road named for the family is a corn, soybean and wheat farm. It started out as a mere 120 acres, purchased by an ancestor of the Gundersons even before Wisconsin became a state. In 1842 Gunder Gouterson purchased land in the Town of Norway, started a dairy farm, and handed down the farm to his son. The name was changed into the family's current last name, Gunderson. David Gunderson, 62, and his son Brian Gunderson, 35, now operate the large farm themselves with the aid of modern technology.

"We've got relatively large machinery so we can get over the land pretty K1J Lutheran wmh 1st Annual Racine County Home Business Expo Saturday Sunday, September 11 ft 12 Union Grove Elementary School Sponsored by The Journal Times, RAMAC, and Greater Union Grove Area Chamber of Commerce Deadline for booth rental is August 81 Call Debi at 262-681-1830 Special rate for members of any Racine County Chamber HIGH SCHOOL. ASSOCIATION OF RACINE Come find out why Outstanding Educational Opportunities are just some of the reasons you should think of us first LysjU Li bp2rimcefosDtflmddkmte.A 251 Luedtke Racine, Wl 53405 262.637.6538 www.lhsar.org Pteii rshS Mifa tlllrMtelil! total fonts P.2ife!j The Moving Wall is coming to Racine September 9'i5 3qq5 at Prjtcharo Park ft VVA CHyrt7t7 If you, your business or organization would like to help by donating time or materials, please contact Pat Adams at 634859. I 4 StfTCMBM 2005 I UdntKwwhi if To donate funds, or for more information, write to: The moving wall 2005 P.O. Box 081036 Racine, WI 53408-1036 With your help we will make this a week to remember. This is a chance for everyone to honor those who paid the price for freedom.

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