CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The former Welder property northeast of Wittenberg is evolving into a new state wildlife habitat area protected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently erected a sign on the former Welder property northeast of Wittenberg thanking the family for donating nearly 300 acres for the enjoyment of Wisconsin residents.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently erected a sign on a 292-acre property about 2 miles northeast of Wittenberg honoring the family who donated the land for a new state wildlife habitat area.
The four children of Otto and Anne Welder — Ruben, Helen, Carl and Hilda — donated their family’s farmstead to the people of Wisconsin in 2010.
After Ruben passed away in August 2010, attorney Arnold Greenhill contacted the DNR regarding the Welder estate. Ruben requested in his will that the land be given to the DNR to be open to the public for hunting, tree planting and timber management for at least 40 years.
The dedication sign gives thanks to all four Welder children, who jointly decided to donate the land to the DNR. The sign depicts sketches of the house, windmill and barn where they had homesteaded.
In 2010, when the Natural Resources Board accepted the generous gift, the majority of the property was in agricultural crops with wooded areas and an unnamed tributary that runs to the middle branch of the Embarrass River.
Much has happened since then: an auction of personal belongings and usable building materials, reclamation of the 18 buildings on three sites, construction of four parking areas, the installation of signage indicating uses, 30 acres of trees planted, with fencing in some cases to reduce deer damage, sharecropping of the agricultural lands and a timber sale soon to be completed.
The vision is for the property is to become a showcase of conservation practices for local landowners, one being effective tree planting in areas of high deer populations.
As funding becomes available, wetland and grassland restorations will be added.
Another focus is research to further understand changes in our natural resources. Vegetative surveys in the bogs have been completed, and the property will be included in a deer impact research project.
Featured public uses on the property include hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, fishing, cross-country skiing and other foot travel. The property is closed for horses, motor vehicles, camping, biking and collecting.