Grandad Bluff

History

Grandad Bluff, the tallest bluff in the area, has been a focal point of the La Crosse community. Limestone rock was quarried from the bluff and this served as a source of building material for many years. However, when the property was about to be sold for large scale quarrying, La Crosse citizens were outraged. A prominent family, Joseph & Irene Hixon, bought the property in 1909 holding it in trust until it was donated as park to the city of La Crosse in 1912.During this time, local citizens, lead by Mrs. G. C. Hixon, raised $15,000 to purchase the property and to help build public roads. Along with this purchase was some property below the bluff which became the nucleus of Hixon Forest.

Date

Page

Title of Article

Paper Size & Orientation
for Printing
17 June 1896 3 The Bliss road portrait 8½" x 11"
21 Aug 1909 1 & 6 Acquire all hills adjoining La Crosse dream of J.W. Losey portrait 8½" x 11"
21 Aug 1909  4 What is to happen to Grandad Bluff? portrait 8½" x 11"
9 Dec 1909 1 Granddad bought for the city by citizens portrait 8½" x 11"
11 Dec 1909 1 H.I. Bliss is savior of bluff portrait 8½" x 11" 
12 Dec 1909 1 Bluff public park Jos. Losey's dream portrait 8½" x 11" 
26 Dec 1909  7 Explains why he is for "Hixon Forest" portrait 8½" x 11"
17 April 1932  5 Many stone quarries operated on Grandad during early days landscape 8½" x 11" 
16 June 1935 1 Bluff property conveyed to La Crosse by Joseph M. Hixon in 1912 landscape 8½" x 11" 
24 Jan 1937 5 Rustic shelter for Grandad portrait 8½" x 11"
21 July 1938 18 How Bluff was saved for city (including Howard Mumford Jones poem) portrait 8½" x 11"
5 July 1953 3 Grandad Bluff nature trails cleared, marked for hikers portrait 8½" x 11"
18 Sept 1966 6 Grandfather's Bluff landscape 8½" x 11" 
2 Apr 1967 3 Untitled picture portrait 8½" x 11"
16 Mar 1969 2 Homebuilders heading for the hills landscape 8½" x 11" 
16 Mar 1969 6 Homebuilders heading for the hills . . .continued portrait 8½" x 11"
9 Aug 1969 6 Mrs. G.C. Hixon saved Grandad Bluff for city landscape 8½" x 11" 
4 July 1976 L6 Building materials came from the bluffs portrait 8½" x 11"
4 July 1976 L6 Building materials came from the bluffs . . .continued portrait 8½" x 11"
24 May 1981 39 Once it was saved park's name was debated landscape 8½" x 11"