Land O' Lakes Wisconsin History

The Town of Land O’Lakes was originally part of Lincoln County in 1882. In 1885, it became part of Oneida County, which had been set off from Lincoln County. In 1893, it was included in Vilas County, which had been set off from Oneida County. Initially, it was part of the Town of Eagle River in Vilas County. The Town of Stateline was officially set off from the Town of Eagle River on January 3, 1907. On April 1, 1907, the first town meeting was held in the office of the Mason-Donaldson lumber mill, two miles East of the railroad.
In 1895 Peter LaChance came to Stateline and built a store located at the current Rusty Nail site. This building included a saloon, pool hall, telegraph office, the first gas pumps and a beauty parlor. Peter also served as town superintendent.
In 1902-1903 the Dickman family established a farm between Donaldson and Stateline. They later moved the farmhouse to Stateline converting it to a boarding house and hotel.
The first area post office was at Stateline located near Dickman Motors, now known as the Land O’Lakes Service center. The Post Office moved to Donaldson with the extablishment of the Mason-Donaldson lumber mill.

History of Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin
State Line Depot (for more historic pictures, visit www.landolakeshistory.org)
The Town of Land O’Lakes was originally part of Lincoln County in 1882. In 1885, it became part of Oneida County, which had been set off from Lincoln County. In 1893, it was included in Vilas County, which had been set off from Oneida County. Initially, it was part of the Town of Eagle River in Vilas County. The Town of Stateline was officially set off from the Town of Eagle River on January 3, 1907. On April 1, 1907, the first town meeting was held in the office of the Mason-Donaldson lumber mill, two miles East of the railroad. In 1895 Peter LaChance came to Stateline and built a store located at the current Rusty Nail site. This building included a saloon, pool hall, telegraph office, the first gas pumps and a beauty parlor. Peter also served as town superintendent. In 1902-1903 the Dickman family established a farm between Donaldson and Stateline. They later moved the farmhouse to Stateline converting it to a boarding house and hotel. The first area post office was at Stateline located near Dickman Motors, now known as the Land O’Lakes Service center. The Post Office moved to Donaldson with the extablishment of the Mason-Donaldson lumber mill.	The post office returned to Stateline when two brothers named Maas started a little store across from the railroad depot on what is now Duck Lake Road, across from the Land O’Lakes Library. Both brothers were called into service in WWI and Washburn Bates became postmaster. Rumor says that the Stateline railroad depot, which was the receiving station for all mail, had been built half in Michigan and half in Wisconsin. In reality, the depot was built on the Wisconsin side and moved to the Michigan side whan a law known as the Wisconsin 8-hour labor law came into effect. In 1928 the depot burned to the ground and was rebuilt on the Wisconsin site. In 1906 George St. Clair bought 92 acres on the East shore of Black Oak Lake and started a prize winning potato farm — later building a resort. He was clerk of the Town of Land O’Lakes for 14 years. He also served as town chairman and was instrumental in extending the railroad across the Wisconsin line. In 1919 Peter LaChance’s son, Oliver, and his wife Lulu took over the Peter LaChance establishment and added an ice cream parlor to the complex. In 1922 Peter built the first modern home in Land O’Lakes with electricity and plumbing, together with a dance hall and rooming house.
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