Stone Bank, Wisconsin

Stone Bank (formerly Newberg) is a small, unincorporated community located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, contained within the Towns of Oconomowoc and Merton. It is home to approximately 3,000 people. It once was incorporated and had its own post office. It does, however, maintain its own volunteer fire services and has its own kindergarten through 8th grade school which is a part of the Arrowhead Union School District.

Geography

Stone Bank is situated about 4.5 miles northeast of the Oconomowoc city center along Waukesha County Highways K and C. It is on the north shore of Okauchee Lake and also has extensive shorelines with Moose Lake.

The surface geology of the Oconomowoc region as a whole is glacial, part of the Kettle Moraine region of Southeastern Wisconsin. Okauchee and Moose lakes are both kettle lakes as are all nearby lakes. [ [http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/kmscenicdrive/forestgeology.html Wisconsin DNR page on the Kettle Moraine forest's geology] ]

The soil is, therefore, very rich with clays and organics, suitable for farming. Much of the farming done in Stone Bank is corn or alfalfa. Because of the urban encroachment from Milwaukee, much of this farmland is being subdivided for neighborhoods including much of what was once the Becker Farm and is now Stone Bank Estates.

One prominent feature in the area is the large ridge between Moose Lake and Okauchee Lake. County Highway C runs along this ridge between Nashotah and its termination at the Tyme Out center. Downtown is bordered on the East side by this formation and on the west side by another hill that stretches between the new development on Highway K and the Stone Bank Estates. This hill terminates at Breezy Point, a small point in Okauchee Lake. At the base of the east hill lies the Stone Bank River, a small stream that runs from North Lake and meets Okauchee Lake in a small marsh between the east hill and Lakeview Drive, Stone Bank Estates' lake front property.

Major streets

*County Hwy K — Main throughway; runs east to west through town.
*County Hwy C — Runs south, perpendicular to Hwy K between Moose and Okauchee Lakes; connects to Hwy 16.
*Stone Bank Road — Runs North, perpendicular to Hwy K. Their intersection constitutes the center of town.
*Breezy Point Road — Primary entry point to the Stone Bank Estates neighborhood.
*Peterson Road — Parallel to Hwy K in the northern farmland.

Prominent businesses

*Kuhtz's General Store
*Dottie's Bakery
*The Stone Bank Pub
*Tyme Out
*Armeli's Restaurant

Major sites

*Fireman's Park
*Stone Bank School
*Stone Bank Volunteer Fire Department

Neighborhoods

*Stone Bank Estates
*Stone Bank Highlands
*Central City (Stone Bank Road, Highway K, and Reynolds Drive)
*Hwy C Corridor
*Carl Schurz Park (Private)
*Stone Bank Trailer Park
*Moose Hills (Forest Drive) (On Moose Lake)

Major annual events

The annual Fireman's Festival takes place on the evenings of the second Friday and Saturday of June. Local bands play live, many types of food and drink are sold, and there are activities for children. This event often attracts large crowds and the money raised is given to help fund the town's volunteer fire department.

Stone Bank's holds an annual 4th of July parade beginning at Stone Bank Elementary and ending at the Stone Bank Lion's Park. The parade has grown from about 20 minutes during the 1970s to almost an hour and a half as of July 2005.

The Stone Bank Lions' festival takes place the evening of July 3 and then starts right after the parade on July 4th, typically around 11:00 a.m.

External links

* [http://www.stonebankfd.com Stone Bank Volunteer Fire Department]
* [http://www.stonebank.k12.wi.us Stone Bank School]

References