River Island Golf Course

River Island Golf Course in Oconto Falls owes its existence to four local golfers — Charles Raymond, Emil Behling, John Meyer and Dr. Robert Goggins — who grew weary of traveling to Oconto for a round and decided their own town should have a course. From the start the idea was framed as something for the whole community rather than just the founders.

The land was acquired from the Wisconsin Michigan Power Company for one dollar. Once the site was settled, residents donated their labor and machinery: mill workers, engineers, lawyers, golfers and even children pitched in to shape the course and raise the clubhouse, with Eugene Behling serving as volunteer project manager. Each Saturday a different local family took a turn preparing the midday meal for the work crews. As course historian Barb Nickel, daughter of founder Charles Raymond, recalled, it was a large undertaking for a small town, but one the community knowingly took on.