Paddock Lake, WI

Who remembers Brass Ball Corners?

To some, Paddock Lake in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, is just another mud hole in the middle of nowhere. To me, it is now a great memory as one of the steppingstones in my life and times.

More about my memories of Paddock Lake is mentioned in a book I wrote about my life and times named, “Q&A about the Life and Times of Richard Erschik.” But here on my Substack, I want to expand on its memorable significance as a single subject.

Memories are a beautiful thing. Especially when you can recall and share them with others. It terrifies me to think of the devastating effects of dementia and Alzheimer’s on a person when they are robbed of their ability to remember.

Paddock Lake was a place where from 1939 to 1963 my grandparents Alex and Cecilia Erschik owned what was then referred to as a cottage. Today, it would more likely be called a summer home in a town with a population of 2919 (2020 census.) In fact, back in the early to mid-1950’s I remember the houses to look more like the wooden framed cottages they were, and not the modern summer homes they look like today.

Alex and Cecelia Erschik - Wedding 1908

I have not been back to visit the Paddock Lake area for more than a decade. However, in my mind’s eye I can vividly recall some of the impactful details of why it is such a significant part of my memory.

Back then, our cottage (as I can call it because it was in ‘our’ family) didn’t even have indoor plumbing. It had an outhouse that could probably be a subject all of its own. It also had well water that I can still smell as I type this and see the orange-colored stains on the white porcelain toilets and sinks. I remember flipping the switch when my grandpa told me to which started the electric water pump that replaced the old hand pump I recall in the back yard.

I also remember that the cottage had wooden floors throughout that “creaked” with every step. So, sneaking around in the middle of the night was impossible. When we were nestled in the bunk beds, and adults were walking around, we could always tell when they went to bed, because the creaking stopped.

When you first see the word “Paddock,” it can easily be mistaken for the word Padlock. Then, to me, the word Padlock makes me think of the word “Combination” as in combination lock. Where am I going with this? Well, it was my grandpa who introduced me to my first Master combination lock that secured the heavy wooden oars for the heavy wooden rowboat against the wall in the cottage. And it was my grandpa who taught me how to open my first combination lock by turning the dial a few turns to the right to mix everything up. Then, one more complete turn to the right to 27. Then two turns to the left (past 0) to 2. Then one more turn to the right to 32. Then pull to open.

I remember that combination 27-2-32 to this day.
But I have a hard time remembering what I did last Friday. Go figure.

Other words that instantly bring me back to Paddock Lake memories are cottage, outhouse, well water, water pump, cheese, bratwurst, IGA, cinnamon rolls, and boat oars.

On weekends when my Aunt Catherine would visit the cottage with her son (my cousin) Roger, he and I would fish in one of the Paddock Lake Channels. We’d catch small blue gills and bring them home for my dad and grandpa to clean and we’d eat them. I know they hated cleaning all those tiny fish, obvious by the little bones they missed, and we’d have to pick out, but they were so good. And we were so proud to have provided the meal.

Both ways to and from the lake, we’d carry the heavy wooden oars (mentioned above) for what seemed like miles and use them to paddle grandpa’s large green, heavy, wooden rowboat. We never heard of life vests back then, and obviously got along fine without them. Otherwise, someone else would be writing this right now 😊.

There were always a few label less soup cans in the boat with which to bail out any water. Those damn cans always seemed to get in the way of our fishing with their clanging and banging around on the floor of the boat.

When I looked at the above pic of Paddock Lake on Google Earth today, I noticed that the two small islands that Roger and I used to fish between are much smaller. Back in the day they were larger and scarier as I remember paddling around them and being on the backside where we would lose sight of the old wooden pier.

All of that all may sound a bit corny, but you probably have something as corny from back in your time that you can recall like it happened yesterday.

If you do, I’d love for you to mention it in the comments below.

When my dad would drive us to Paddock Lake from our (then) house at 1219 W. George St. in Chicago he’d take Lincoln Ave. to Rte. 41. Left on Rte. 41 he’d drive over the IL and WI border to Rte. 50. He’d turn left on Rte. 50 (Howard Johnsons on the corner) for about 8 miles to the corner on which an IGA grocery store stood at the bottom of a hill on the far right corner. He’d turn right at the IGA and drive on the gravel road until we’d come to the cottage about what seems now to have been about ¾ of a mile on the right.

There were no street signs that I remember, but today the intersection on which the cottage stood is 247th and 65th streets as now pictured and defined on current Google Earth mapping. Note: In Google Earth you can enter 247th and 65th Street and select Paddock Lake.

I remember a few times we’d take grandpa’s 1953 Buick Roadmaster to the lake and I can still smell the interior. I also remember laying on the back seat and watching the electrical wires between the telephone poles and they zigged and zagged up and down as we drove and I dozed.

Back then I didn’t know anything about the history of Paddock Lake because I was too busy making my own history. However, recently I was surprised to discover the following history about the lake and surrounding area.

1838, three generations of the Paddock Family left New York and headed west by covered wagon. The family settled in a state that was named Wisconsin in 1836, between two lakes known now as Paddock and Hooker Lakes. The eldest Paddock, David, fought in the Revolutionary War and died shortly after the trip.

1842, a local farmer named Seth Huntoon built the Inn above on the corner of what is now Hwy. 50 and Rte. 83. He hung a wooden ball coated with copper over the intersection to bring attention to the resting stop. The ball was eventually replaced by a mine buoy; then a brass ball that became a significant historical reference named, “Brass Ball Corners.” In 2020, due to interference with road widening, the ball was relocated from its intersection spanning and hanging  prominence to a static location next to a sign at the intersection. (More about Brass Ball Corners below.)

Brass Ball from Brass Ball Corners

1843, Dr. Francis Paddock acquired 281 acres of land from the U.S. Land Patent Office. He was the first medical professional in the area and became well known and respected for his expertise in treating fevers and for his large herd of cattle. That year the first school was built in the area. The school building still stands as a house next to Brass Ball Fruit Stand.

Brass Ball Tavern

1850’s, Huntoon Family built and operated Brass Ball Tavern which became a favorite stopping place for farmers from Lake Geneva who were transporting goods to the harbor in Kenosha, WI.

1855, the Town of Brooklyn was renamed the Town of Salem upon the arrival of Mr. Cogswell.

1883, Old Settlers Club moved its 44-year-old club to the south side of Paddock Lake.

1884 – 1942, Old Settlers Club of Kenosha County celebrated the end of each summer by entertaining residents from Kenosha, Lake Geneva, Burlington, and Madison. Guests included Congressmen and Governor Robert LaFollette.

1900, Waukegan Ice company began to harvest ice from Paddock and Hooker Lakes.

1928, the Illges Family developed vacation land and established Lake Colony on the Southwest side of Paddock Lake.

1929, the channel on the southwest corner of the Lake was dredged to create Evergreen Isle where a 37-lot subdivision was planned.

1930’s, Brass Ball Roadhouse, on the southwest side of Hwy 50 and 83, becomes a popular attraction by travelers to and from Lake Geneva.

1960, the hamlet known as Paddock Lake in Salem Township is approved to detach from Salem and incorporate. The Village of Paddock Lake was created.

I added this part. 1963, both my mom and Grandpa died this year and JFK was assassinated. I was 18 years old, and everything changed. Grandpa willed the cottage to my dad who immediately sold it for the money. All I remember was that he sold it all including the silverware, and Paddock Lake to us was no more.

1987, State Hwy 50 is improved from two to four lanes. (This was a big deal as I vividly recall this improvement to what seemed like a super-highway. Occasionally I would visit Paddock Lake for the memory.)

1990’s, the Village welcomes McDonald’s, Burger King, and Walgreen’s as it continues to grow.

Lastly, and with fond and vivid memory, I still recall Brass Ball Corners mentioned in the year 1842 segment above.

Brass Ball Corners from the beginning…

You can read the sign in the pic about the history of Brass Ball Corners.

Here is a brief video about the relocation of the ball from Brass Ball Corners.

As an example of it being a small world = During my early teens there was a girl named Mary Sue who lived in the 1300 block of George St. When talking to her later in our lives, we learned that both of our families had a place on Paddock Lake that we visited frequently in the 50’s’ and 60’s at the same time. We just never knew it.

Back then, Paddock Lake was just a place to GO. Today, it looks more like a place to BE.

This ends another memory captured here in my Substack. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please subscribe to it FOR FREE and forward it on to your friends.

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Your comments are welcomed, below.