Beloit still retains that wealth of scenery which made it attractive
in the eyes of Gen. Atkinson’s soldiers. Its rolling, wood-covered
hills, the picturesqueness of its river views and the beauties
of its flora throw around it a charm not soon to be forgotten
by those who have seen it once. The city itself stands on two
bluffs facing each other across the Rock river. The spot was
evidently selected by the early races as being of especial beauty…
Southeast of Beloit are the beautiful ledges of the Kinnekinnic
brook which form an attractive spot for the pleasure-seeker…
West of the city are the celebrated Iodo-Magnesia Springs. Issuing
from the lower portion of the Trenton limestone, the water boils
up in wonderful purity. The remarkable qualities of this water
have made for it a considerable reputation abroad.
… And to these gifts have been added the conveniences of
modern life. For a city of only six thousand population, Beloit
has more than are to be expected of these improvements. An efficient
system of water works, introduced a few years ago, has proved
a special success. Analyses of the water have repeatedly demonstrated
its remarkable purity. A telephone exchange, well patronized
in the city and connecting Beloit with the entire Northwestern
exchange, has been successfully operated for some time. Systems
of electric and gas lights are among the other enterprises of
the city, the streets of Beloit and a large number of the business
houses being lighted by electricity, while gas is also largely
utilized in the stores and private residences.
The railroad and mail accommodations are surpassed by few cities
in the West. Situated as Beloit is on the main lines of the Chicago
& Northwestern and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul roads,
its facilities for shipping and transportation are all that could
be desired, while the convenience of direct connection with either
Chicago or Milwaukee in three hours makes the location of the
city specially advantageous. The unusual facilities furnished
by twenty-four mail trains, daily, is also worthy of note. There
is probably not a city in Wisconsin of twice the size of Beloit
that has better accommodations in this respect.
But Beloit has more than material advantages. The founders of
the city planned for educational privileges as well. Public schools
of a high grade were started with the very beginning of the village
life and have continued through its entire history. The city
is at present divided into two districts. The present stone school
house in the Second District was erected in 1855. The Centennial
school building in the First District was erected in 1876 at
a cost of $24,000. The Union High School building which adorns
the west bluff was built in 1870 at a cost of $22,500. The reputation
attained by the work done in the High School is evident from
the fact that it is one of the few accredited schools for admission
to the State University.
The educational advantages, however, do not end with the High
School. It was in the plan of the early settlers of the region
that an institution for still higher training should be built
up in the center of the Northwest, and from this early desire
Beloit College came into being… The men who first came to
have charge of the young institution were graduates of Yale…
They gave to the new college many of the characteristics of their
alma-mater, so that Beloit College soon came to be known as the
“Yale of the West.”
…
Beloit is known far and wide not only as an educational center
but also as a manufacturing city. She has always had a special
advantage in the water-power furnished by Rock River. Gradually
a large number of manufacturing enterprises have been located
on the banks of the stream and with their growth have added to
the prosperity of the city.
… The first factory located on the water-power was the N.
B. Gaston Scale Works, established forty-two years ago. The factory
has been rebuilt and enlarged recently, and is now controlled
by N. B. Gaston & Son. There is a large demand for the scales
they manufacture. The Beloit Paper Mills have long been important
industries in the city. Immense amounts of building paper are
manufactured here and shipped all over the Northwest. The building
of the Beloit Straw Board Mill is at present being overhauled
and refitted, the manager, Mr. E. J. Adams, being anxious to
keep it in the front rank in the manufacture of paper.
H. Rosenblatt & Sons’ Overall Factory is also one of
the large institutions of the place turning out a large variety
of jackets, fancy shirts. and overalls… The Foster Shoe
Factory, established in 1870, has come to be one of Beloit’s
largest institutions, manufacturing, as it does, several hundred
styles of shoes… The Eclipse Wind Engine Company’s
Factory has grown from the very smallest beginnings to be the
largest institution of its kind in the world, sending its windmills
to almost every country on earth… The Dowd Knife Works,
although established as late as 1877, has already obtained for
itself a large trade. The firm manufacture all kinds of paper
engine roll bars, trimming and straw cutter knives, together
with jointing and pattern knives of every description.
This description of Beloit’s manufacturing industries might
be continued indefinitely, if space permitted. Prominent among
these industries rank the Beloit Iron Works, recently reorganized
and doing a large business; the John Thompson & Sons’
(limited) Norwegian Plow Works, founded in 1860… A recent
addition to Beloit’s industries is the Berlin Machine Company,
which has decided to locate its extensive works in this city.
… A “City of Churches” says the stranger as he
rides through the streets of Beloit. Ever since the first sermon
was preached
in the old Beloit House, September 10, 1837, the city has been
recognized as a center of religious influence… The First
Congregational Church was organized December 30, 1838… The
Pastor is Rev. Cyrus Hamlin… Early in 1841 the Episcopal
church was formed… Next November will complete twenty years
of service by the present Rector, Rev. Fayette Royce… The
[Baptist] church-building was erected in 1844, but having been
recently destroyed by fire, has been remodeled and rebuilt…
The organization of the Methodist Episcopal Society was effected
in 1842… The First Presbyterian Society … completed
their present edifice in 1850… Rev. T. H. Barr has acceptably
served the church… The Catholic Church, which erected its
building in 1851 … was destroyed by fire, and in the year
1885 the present handsome structure was raised. The church is
ministered to by Father M. J. Ward… In 1859 the Second Congregational
Church began its life, and in the same year the present house
was dedicated… Rev. H. P. Higley began … in 1866, and
is, therefore, the oldest Pastor in the city… The German
Presbyterian Church was organized in 1869 … The Norwegian
Church [was] organized in 1873… The German Lutheran Church
… [was] formed in 1872…
Fifty years have proved the stability of Beloit’s existence…
With a remarkably healthful and beautiful location; with manufacturing
and educational advantages, such as are equaled by few cities
in the land; with a religious character of the highest type,
there is surely every reason for “great expectations.”
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