The following is an article found in an Eau Claire newspaper of what a person visiting Eau Claire in 1857 would see. This is from the book "Sawdust City" and is used by permission of the author's (Lois Barland) family. A Visitors View Eau Claire "Times", August 25, 1857 Mr. Editor: I have been in your embryo "city" now some two weeks, and having seen, as I think, some of its natural advantages, as well as its disadvantages, (for what place is without them?) I have thought that perhaps a stranger's view of the present and prospective of your young town might not be wholly without interest to you and your readers. I had heard, before business called me to the valley of the Chippewa that a fine town, with flattering prospects, was growing up with wonderful rapidity at the confluence of the Chippewa and Eau Claire Rivers; but I confess I was not prepared to see a town so young and yet so full of vigorous and active life -- a town as yet scarcely out of its swathing bands yet wearing the garments and having the fair proportions of fully developed manhood (i.e. cityhood). I came to Eau Claire expecting to see a new village with straggling buildings scattered here and there, over an imaginary 'city' plat, and everything wearing the air of newness and disorder. What was my surprise to find a village, less than two years old, with wide, well laid out streets and compact business blocks on the principal street, and rising like magic on every side. Neat white residences, with all the appliances of comfort and elegance about them -- mills, banks, mercantile establishments, schools, churches, mechanic shops, etc. and best of all a sober, industrious energetic and intelligent people; and with more wealth -- real bona fide capital -- invested in business, than can be found in many towns of more years and far greater pretentions. The sounds of the hammer and saw are to be heard from morning till night; a sure indication of a rapid growth. But a single fact has struck me unfavorably; I have strolled over the beautiful prairies adjacent to your charming town -- have stood upon the splendid bluffs that environs it like an ampitheater -- and gazed afar off upon the magnificent county surrounding; and have thought the town was progressing more rapidly than the country. I saw comparatively few cultivated farms within the range of vision, but those were looking finely, and promised a certainty, and proving beyond a contingency that the valleys of the Chippewa and Eau Claire are good region for farming purposes. I have seen here as good crops of wheat as ordinarily grow upon the prairie lands of Walworth and old Rock; better potatoes; equally as good oats, and very good crops of corn. These, then are some of the advantages of Eau Claire as they appear to a stranger. It is situated at the head of steamboat navigation on the Chippewa River and at the mouth of the Eau Claire; is in the midst of one of the loveliest valleys of all the West, abounding in wild, picturesque and beautiful scenery -- valley productive and remarkably healthy, offering rare inducements to the hardy sons of toil in our eastern states, who wish to make their future homes in the West, where they may enjoy the twin luxuries of an abundant return for their toil and good health, which the eastern emigrant rarely finds in a more southern latitude. Added to this is the fact that these two important rivers are the natural outlet for a vast lumbering region above, abounding in the choicest pine to be found in the West; and Eau Claire, from its position at the confluence of these two streams and its central position in the valley, seems to me to be the natural point of supply for this vast pine region above, as well as for the farming country around. In addition to these advantages, a good water power upon the Eau Claire and excellent facilities for booming logs, must I think, make this an important point for the manufacture of lumber. Your great want seems to be a lack of timber in your immediate vicinity. This is a serious want, but is more than atoned for by other advantages. If your business men do not run into the too common error of too many news towns in the West, and overdo in its business departments, and thereby produce a revulsion, a bright future, full of promise is before you. A. B. M. +++++++++++++ The next time, we'll be reading about the first church building in Eau Claire. -- Nance mailto:nsampson@spacestar.net