It’s time once again for #FlashbackFriday with the Whitewater Historical Society. This week’s image is one donated by the Leffingwell family. This donation was of photos from Halverson’s and Leffingwell’s men’s store. It shows a mid-20th century holiday float. Clearly it celebrates Santa and his reindeer, perhaps pulling a special hut where kids could visit Santa, but also wishes people a happy new year.

Join us next week for more from the Whitewater Historical Society.

(4332P, Whitewater Historical Society)

Whitewater Arts Alliance and FACT Reader’s Theatre Present

A Hometown Christmas

Two classic radio plays:

Christmas on Pine Mountain

Meet Me in St. Louis

One performance only at Whitewater’s Cultural Arts Center

Saturday, December 14 at 2 pm

Presented by Fort Atkinson Community Theater

Directed by Benjamin Whitcomb

Suggested donation of $10 per person at the door would be greatly appreciated.

Light refreshments will be served.

The Landmarks Commission of Whitewater is taking a significant step
toward determining the future of the iconic Starin Park Water Tower. Following a non-binding referendum presented to voters, the results revealed 44% support for saving the tower and 56% opposing the use of taxpayer funds for restoration.

The question posed to voters on the November 5th ballot was: “The City of Whitewater Water Utility has decommissioned the Starin Park Water Tower, meaning it is no longer part of the water system. The Water Utility can spend up to $600,000 (the cost of demolition) to maintain it as a City-owned Historical Landmark. The remaining costs, approximately $1,000,000 for repairs and $250,000 every 10 years for maintenance, would need to come from City tax dollars or donations. Should the City of Whitewater use tax dollars to repair and maintain the Starin Park Water Tower?”

The City Manager recommended that the matter be referred to the Landmarks Commission. Recognizing the water tower’s historical, cultural, and economic significance, the Common Council chose to follow the
recommendation of the City Manager and refer the matter to the Landmarks Commission. The Common Council instructed the Landmarks Commission to report back to the Council with a plan on how best to proceed regarding the Water Tower by May of 2025.

The Landmarks Commission met on December 4th to discuss the non-binding referendum results and how best to proceed via the Common Council’s direction. The Commission has decided to establish a community
committee to gather feedback and explore the best course of action for the structure.

This landmark has significant historical, cultural and economic significance. Due to there being such a large impact on our community, the commission felt that it was best to have community feedback as they proceed. Katy Wimer, the director of content and communications for Discover Whitewater notes its significance: “Over the years, the Starin Park Water Tower has become one of a few central figures in Whitewater’s story,
drawing visitors and history enthusiasts looking to explore Wisconsin’s historical sites and intrigued by its spiritualism lore. The tower’s popularity has grown significantly in recent years due to Whitewater Chamber of
Commerce’s Annual Spirit Tour, making Whitewater a must-visit destination, especially for travelers who want a taste of history mixed with a bit of the supernatural. These visitors don’t just come for the day—they book overnight stays in our hotels and patronize our local restaurants, shops, and other businesses. The tower is a true economic asset to Whitewater and can be an even greater asset in supporting local tourism if maintained well and appreciated for what it represents beyond its original use.”

The Landmarks Commission will be developing a range of options, including preservation, fundraising, or alternative uses for the tower, while actively seeking community input through the newly formed committee.

The Commission is committed to reporting its recommendations to the Common Council by May 2025.

Community members interested in participating or sharing ideas are encouraged to contact the Landmarks Commission at 262-473-0149.

Together, we can ensure that the Starin Park Water Tower continues to inspire and contribute to the story of Whitewater for generations to come.

Editor’s note: The above press release was provided by the City of Whitewater.

TDS Telecommunications LLC (TDS®) is proud to support the Bethel House as part of the company’s third annual Week of Giving campaign.

One of the company’s core values is giving back to the communities it serves. Last week, themed TDS Cares giving events were held throughout the company’s service areas, including in Whitewater. Events included Cyber/STEM Monday, Giving Tuesday, Wellness Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, and Food Bank Friday.

On Wednesday, a dozen TDS associates presented a $2,500 donation and contributed a total of 36 volunteer hours to help the Bethel House continue its mission of preventing homelessness for local children and families.

“The TDS Week of Giving campaign is centered around supporting organizations that make our communities strong. We’re proud to donate more than $100,000 to local charities and organizations across the country, and we hope to inspire others to join us in giving back this holiday season,” said Drew Petersen, TDS Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs.

TDS Cares initiatives occur throughout the year and through the Be Good Citizens program, TDS provides associates with 16 hours of paid time off every year to volunteer at the 501c3 organization of their choice. 

The National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan Weather Forecast Office has issued a Cold Weather Advisory from 10 p.m. on Wednesday to 10 a.m. on Thursday. They indicate that “The combination of air temperatures in the low single digits to negative single digits and wind gusts between 35 to 40 mph will lead to wind chills as low as -25 degrees. Wind chills will be the worst between Midnight and 8AM Thursday.”

The former Wind Chill Advisories are now being called “Cold Weather Advisories.” Such an advisory is issued when the wind chill is anticipated to be at least -20 degrees F. It appears that much of Rock and Walworth Counties will barely miss falling to that level, and consequently the advisory is not being extended to them – but it will still be very cold.

In an announcement dated December 6, Kim McDarison, the editor and sole employee of WhitewaterWise indicated that the online publication, together with Fort Atkinson Online, will be placed on “indefinite pause with the close of 2024.” McDarison stated that, “The pause is a result of life-related changes which require a reallocation of time…” by herself. She thanked the many individuals who have contributed to the site, including freelancers as well as the readers and advertisers. It was indicated that archived articles will remain available for an undetermined period, although advertisements will be removed at the end of the year.

Raised in New England and a 1986 graduate of Western Connecticut State University, Kim McDarison indicated in an earlier release that she wanted to be a journalist from the time she was nine. While in college, she earned a bachelor of business administration (BBS) degree, with a concentration in MIS (management information systems), and a minor in journalism. In the early 2000’s she served as the editor of the Whitewater Register, and since that time her work has been published in many area newspapers, including the Daily Jefferson County Union.

McDarison founded Fort Atkinson Online four years ago, and having also had a longtime interest in Whitewater, that publication increasingly provided news from our city. She launched WhitewaterWise in the summer of 2023 and has devoted a great deal of time providing extensive coverage of Common Council and School Board meetings, together with other news and events.

We are certain that we join many in the community in thanking Kim for her contributions to keeping Whitewater informed. Her publications will be missed, and we wish her well on her future endeavors.

Written by Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com