Berry Lake and Underhill Residents

I ask for anyone's help or expertise.
Is anyone able to lend some advice.

To all residents of the Town of Underhill Wi. and people on Berry Lake.

The word must go out to save a landmark in our township.

Save the Artisan Well

I would like to tell you of a place some of you know as the artisan well. It is located at School Road and Kelly Road here in Underhill Wisconsin. As most of you know , a lot of us have been getting water from there for years. What a part of history. I have been up here since 1985 and will always love seeing the water coming out of the pipe at School road. An empty lot of land with just a pipe coming out of the ground with a steady stream of pure good drinking water. I'm not sure how long it has been running, but is now a part of every one's history and heritage.

Its original name is Frank's School well. It must have to do with some of our residents in Underhill related to the Frank family (very fine people ,I will say). I 'm not sure but I guess we can assume there was a school there at one time.

Our Town chairmen was notified by the WDNR that there was a illegal well in our township. After much thought it turned out to be the artisan well. Someone made a complaint and the WDNR was trying to get it shut down.

This past week two of our town board members meet with the WDNR and a well drilling company. After much work they found two issues concerning the well.

One, the casing that brings the water up from the ground is rusted and has cracks and breaks.

Second, someone shoved a stone down into the pipe to try to plug up the well. If we ever find out who did such a despicable thing ,they should be arrested. How about water boarding the person by the well itself ( just kidding for you liberal people in the crowd ).

So now the town will have to see what options they have.
Try to fix the existing pipe,
re drill a new well some 150 to 200 feet .Think of the cost to drill a new well.
Third , seal off the well forever, what a waste of history that would be.

I am not sure what options we have but I think it would be worth that we all try to do something.

A question was brought up that if the land is a historical place, could we protect it, can we redo the well for future generations. Can some group donate for the cause? No I am not asking for a tax payer grant. We are not a rich township but to find thousands of dollors should not be a part of a tax increase.

The town board is also looking at what options they can do .

If anyone has any ideas, please contact me at psocha@centurytel.net or better yet, contact the Town board at the Underhill web site.