Community invited to Gillett Diamond Jubilee

GILLETT — The year was 1944. FDR was president, and World War II was raging.

A loaf of bread cost 10 cents, and a gallon of gas was 15. Locally, 1944 marked a turning point for the village of Gillett; this was the year Gillett incorporated as a city.

The city adopted a mayor/aldermanic form of government with three wards – a governmental structure still in effect today, 75 years later.

The city of Gillett will celebrate its incorporation with a Diamond Jubilee celebration on Saturday at Zippel Park. It’s Homecoming week for Gillett High School, and the Diamond Jubilee is just one more way for Gillett residents to show pride in their community.

The celebration begins at 10:30 a.m. with wagon rides through Gillett, kids’ activities and a brat and burger fry at the food stand. A cornhole tournament starts at 1 p.m., with registration for two-person teams at noon.

A pig roast with all the fixings will be served 5-7 p.m. in the Expo Building. Advance tickets are $12 and $5 for ages 4-12. Tickets are available at Gillett Handiworks, Gillett Shell, The Cracked Cup, and Dr. Drake’s office. Tickets at the door are $15 for adults and $7 for kids.

David Dirks of Texwishigan will perform live at 7 p.m. in the Expo Building. Contact the city of Gillett at 920-855-2255 for more information or to donate to the event.

According to “The History of Gillett,” written by Marie Darrow, Native Americans were the first inhabitants in the Gillett area. The first U.S. government deed dates back to 1856 when present-day Gillett was part of a vast area called the Town of Stiles. As more settlers arrived, the town was divided into separate municipalities.

The city is named after Rodney Gillett, one of the earliest white settlers in the community. Gillett held its first election in 1868, and Rodney was elected town chairman. He was also the town’s first postmaster and used his home as the first post office.

With a population of 400 residents, Gillett incorporated as a village in 1900. Forty-four years later, Gillett incorporated as a city. In those four decades, Gillett’s population skyrocketed, growing over 300 percent, to 1,253 residents.

Louis Zahn, who previously served as village president, became Gillett’s first mayor. The city initially rented office space at physician Dr. L.H. Baldwin’s office, and the City Council met at the Village Hall. The city built a municipal building in 1953 on land that was part of City Park.

The historic buildings on Gillett’s Main Street today provide a glimpse of Gillett’s rich history. The city has changed over time yet remains true to long-standing values of friendliness, prosperity, and community. With a population of 1,303, the city of Gillett offers amenities often found only in larger cities, including garbage and recycling pickup, police and fire departments, community organizations, beautiful parks, a sports complex, churches, a medical clinic, and a K-12 public school.