Bethel, Wisconsin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bethel, Wisconsin
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 Bethel, Wisconsin
Location in Wisconsin
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Wisconsin |
| County | Wood County |
| Settled | 1899 |
| Elevation | 376 m (1,234 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
54410
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| Area codes | 715 & 534 |
| FIPS code | 55141 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1561624 |
Bethel is a small, undeveloped community located in the town of Richfield, within Wood County, Wisconsin, United States. It's a place without its own local government, often called an "unincorporated community."
Contents
How Bethel Was Started
Bethel was founded in 1899. It began as a special place for education and religious life. The Seventh-day Adventist group created this community.
Buying the Land for Bethel
The land where Bethel now stands used to belong to the Lyman Lumber Company. This company offered 200 acres (about 0.8 square kilometers) of land to the Seventh-day Adventists' Wisconsin conference. In return, the conference agreed to buy an extra 800 acres from Lyman. Elder William Covert, who led the conference at the time, accepted this offer.
First Settlers Arrive
Elder T.B. Snow was the very first person to settle in Bethel. When he first arrived, he lived in a tent! He worked hard to clear trees from the land. He even wrote letters home to his wife, calling his new home "Camp Solitude."
Elder Snow's quiet time didn't last long. Soon, more settlers, students, and teachers joined him. Elder Covert and his family also moved to Bethel. They all worked together to build up the new community.
Early Buildings in Bethel
The first building they put up was a school. In 1899, a post office was also opened in Bethel. By 1900, another important building was finished. This building served many purposes:
- It was a dormitory for students.
- It was a church for the community.
- It was a schoolhouse for younger students.
- It had a store.
- It even housed the post office!
After these first buildings, more structures were added as the community grew.
Bethel's Special School
Bethel became well-known for its unique school, which focused on religious education. Many families moved to the area so their children could attend this school.
Learning by Doing at the Academy
The school in Bethel was famous for its "industrious education" and "manual arts." This meant students learned by doing practical work. They didn't just read books; they also worked with their hands.
The main goal of the school was to help young people get a well-rounded education. This training prepared them for useful lives and for more advanced studies if they chose. The school was built in the countryside, far from busy city life. This allowed teachers and students to spend time on farming and other hands-on activities.
What the Academy Included
At its busiest, the Bethel educational center had many buildings and features:
- Dormitories for both boys and girls.
- A post office.
- A large school farm, about 100 acres (0.4 square kilometers) in size.
- Two barns.
- A carpenter's shop.
- A bee house.
- Two staves (likely referring to storage buildings).
During the 1920s, the Bethel academy typically had around 130 students.
