By Chris Spangler
Two substantial contributions have been made toward construction of a new building at Fort Atkinson’s Haumerson’s Pond.
The family of the late Thomas and Janet Knoll and Modern Woodmen of America have donated a total of $12,500 to the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond, which is raising funds to build a $241,270 structure that will provide equipment and vehicle storage, as well as a kitchen, concession stand and pavilion at the Bark River Nature Park site.
Siblings Jackie (Knoll) Cloute and Kurt Knoll, both of Fort Atkinson, have donated $10,000 to the project in memory of their parents.
Thomas R. Knoll passed away at age 80 on July 18, 2012. A military veteran, he was part-owner of Better Knitting Mills and sold real estate.
His wife, Janet, passed away at 87 on Oct. 14, 2018. She was employed for more than three decades as secretary at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
In addition, Chapter 2638 of Modern Woodmen of America has given $2,500 to the Friends of Haumerson’s Pond as a matching grant to proceeds from the Haunted Halloween Hike on Oct. 20 and 21.
The event drew approximately 2,500 area residents and raised nearly $10,000.
Modern Woodmen is a fraternal financial company.
Building plans
Measuring 26-by-44 feet, the planned building will be used, in part, for storing vehicles and equipment for maintaining winter ice, ice skates and other items.
It also will feature a 10-by-20-foot kitchen with water and electricity that will be used not only for Friends events such as the autumn Haunted Hike and winter Ski, Skate and Hike, but also for public gatherings.
The new building will have a storage area for tables, chairs and other items used for shelter rentals, as well as a concession area with windows opening to a 24-by-24-foot timberframe pavilion.
Funding sought
The building’s $241,270 pricetag includes materials, as well as the value of in-kind donations and labor.
The Friends group is seeking to raise $65,000, which will be added to other grants and private donations already received.
The city already has received a $100,000 state Department of Natural Resources grant from the Stewardship Urban Rivers Program. Meanwhile, the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation has provided a $45,000 challenge grant.
Tax-deductible contributions for the building may be sent to the Fort Atkinson Community Foundation at 244 N. Main St., Fort Atkinson, 53538, or given via its website, fortfoundation.org. Indicate the gift is for the multipurpose shelter building. The Friends of Haumerson’s Pond’s website and Facebook pages also have donate buttons.
A donor recognition wall will be located inside on the gable end of the building.
Friends of Haumerson’s Pond member Rob Wiesmann, from left, Friends of Haumerson’s Pond board member Josie Kincaid, Friends of Haumerson’s Pond member Marie Wiesmann, Jackie (Knoll) Cloute, a child of the late Thomas and Janet Knoll, and Friends of Haumerson’s Pond board members Floyd Woods and Joanne Larson gather near the pond’s warming house during which time members of the Knoll family presented Haumerson’s Pond representatives with a check for $10,000. The donated funds will be used to build a storage and pavilion structure. The funds were donated in memory of Thomas and Janet Knoll by their children, siblings Jackie (Knoll) Cloute and Kurt Knoll, not pictured, both of Fort Atkinson. Chris Spangler photo.
Modern Woodmen of America Chapter 2638 member Chris Spangler, from left, Friends of Haumerson’s Pond board member Josie Kincaid, Friends of Haumerson’s Pond member Marie Wiesmann, and Friends of Haumerson’s Pond board members Floyd Woods and Joanne Larson gather near the pond’s warming house during which time Spangler, in her capacity as a member of the fraternal financial company, presented Haumerson’s pond representatives with a donation of $2,500. The gift was presented as a match with funds earned during the pond’s Haunted Halloween Hike, which took place last month. The money will be used to construct of a new building at the pond. Contributed/Rob Wiesmann.
A donor wall found within the Haumerson Pond’s warming shelter lists the names of donors who helped support the building’s construction. The late Thomas and Janet Knoll were among supporters of the building. Their children have donated funds of $10,000 in their name in support of another building which is planned to be built on the property. Chris Spangler photo.
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