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Here is our Hope Village October 2025 Newsletter. We hope you enjoy it!

DSPS Secretary Tours Hope Village in Chippewa Falls

Dan Hereth, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services, toured Hope Village in Chippewa Falls on 9/30/25, seeing the portable homeless shelters and new low-income housing, but also hear some of the concerns and challenges of zoning and state code in getting the project launched and finished. See the Leader-Telegram story here. See the WQOW video here.

CCF Bank Donation

A Landmark at the Gateway of Chippewa Falls:
The Story of the Indianhead Motel and Its Iconic Sign

At the southern gateway to Chippewa Falls stands one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks — the Indianhead Motel, long distinguished by its neon Indianhead sign. For decades, this site has served as a marker for travelers and a point of pride for the community. Today, as Hope Village prepares to transform the property into affordable housing, the story of its origins reflects both local history and a lasting legacy.

The motel was the vision of Ernest “Ernie” Cote, a self-taught builder whose projects shaped parts of Lafayette Township and Chippewa Falls. Following the Great Depression, Cote and his wife Isabelle created the Wissota Beach Resort on the shores of newly formed Lake Wissota. The lake itself came into existence only a few decades earlier, when the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Company built the Wissota Dam in 1917. The dam not only produced electricity for the growing region but also dramatically reshaped the local landscape. Thousands of acres of farmland and forest were flooded to form Lake Wissota, which quickly became a hub for recreation, tourism, and development. Recognizing the opportunity, Cote built a resort complete with cabins, cottages, a sandy swimming beach, docks, diving boards, and a waterslide — a place that would become a gathering spot for families and visitors for decades.

Later, as the Town of Lafayette expanded, Cote coordinated the construction of the Town Hall, volunteering his skills while serving as a town board supervisor. His work reflected a pattern of service and community-minded building that would carry into his next major project: the Indianhead Motel.

By the mid-1950s, increasing highway traffic inspired Cote to establish a motel in Chippewa Falls. He chose a location along U.S. Highway 53, the main north–south route through the city at the time, just as summer “up north” travel was booming. Long before the Chippewa Mall, the viaduct, or the rerouting of Highway 29, this stretch of road funneled steady streams of travelers through town every weekend.

The site itself also carried deeper historic resonance. Decades earlier, in 1912, the Yellowstone Trail Association had marked this very corridor as part of America’s first transcontinental automobile route. Stretching from Plymouth Rock on the Atlantic to Puget Sound on the Pacific, the Yellowstone Trail was a grassroots, citizen-led effort to create a reliable coast-to-coast roadway. Painted yellow stones guided early motorists across dirt tracks and muddy paths, and the route ran directly beneath where the motel now stands. By placing his motel at this location, Cote was continuing a tradition of welcoming travelers that had traveled through Chippewa Falls for generations.

The construction of the motel reflected the community spirit of the era. Among those who provided steady, dependable weekend labor were residents of the Northern Wisconsin Colony and Training School, whose contributions helped lay the foundation for one of Chippewa Falls’ most enduring landmarks.

The motel’s defining feature arrived in 1958 with the installation of its neon Indianhead sign. Brightly illuminated and visible to motorists from both directions, it quickly became a beacon for weary travelers and a proud symbol for locals. For Cote, whose mother was of Ojibwa heritage, the sign carried an even deeper meaning: a tribute to ancestry, identity, and the history of the land itself.

Fabricated by Harry Anderson Signs of Ladysmith, the same company behind the equally famous Indianhead Café sign, the Chippewa Falls version became part of a larger regional story of mid-20th-century neon artistry. Today, the sign’s fame extends far beyond Wisconsin — a full-size replica glows at Neon Alley in Pueblo, Colorado, and artists as far away as Oregon have reproduced it in studio works.

For nearly 70 years, the Indianhead Motel has stood at the city’s southern entryway — a reminder of a time when new lakes reshaped the landscape, highways carried families northward, and Chippewa Falls was growing into a hub of tourism and community life. Now, as Hope Village transforms the property into affordable housing, Ernie Cote’s legacy takes on new meaning. His work, rooted in family, community, and heritage, will once again serve others — not only travelers on the road, but neighbors in need of safe, stable homes. And through it all, the neon Indianhead sign will continue to shine, a landmark and a legacy for generations to come.

We thank Chuck Nagel – Ernie Cote’s grandson for his input on this story.

Contact us for Chuck’s original piece.

Chippewa Chats Spotlight on Hope Village

We shine a spotlight on the Hope Village - Tiny Homes Housing Alternative project that has been going on in Chippewa Falls since 2016. Mike Cohoon updates us on the growth of the project, who it serves and how many have benefited from the project.

He shares anecdotes from some of the people they have helped and what new and continued challenges the project faces.

He also explains the pathway the program is trying to establish to assist individuals to permanent stable housing solutions, with the construction of affordable housing and the recent renovation of the Indianhead Motel.

Click here to listen.

Hope Village Siding Sale

This is top-quality PlyGem siding (learn more: PlyGem) and it’s brand new, still in the box. Colors available include White, Granite, Iron, Mountain Suede, and Sandlewood.

Whether you’re finishing a full-size garage, a garden shed, or even a house, this is a great chance to save!

💰 Regular price: $160 per box (one square)
💵 Hope Village price: $80 per box

Don’t miss out — you’ll save a bundle on siding and help support Hope Village.

👉 Connect with us through our Contact Page.

United Way Day of Caring

It sure was a gorgeous day to be outside! Here are a couple photos from the recent United Way Day of Caring: Volunteers were from the Chippewa Falls Rotary Club.

They worked to replace Tiny House porches, railings, and steps.

Thank you so much for helping us out and spending the day with us!

United Way “Small Acts” Grant Award

We're incredibly excited to announce and with so much gratitude:
Hope Village received a United Way “Small Acts” Grant award for $2000.00. These funds will be used to support our Tiny House guests who are transitioning to permanent housing who are in need of security deposit financial support.

Quarter Auction Sponsors Needed

Whoa, it's Quarter Auction planning time. The team is excited to host this fun event in 2026!
If you want to be a sponsor we'd love to partner with you.

We want to thank our financial contributors for this past month

Bortnem, Jane
Brenner, Katherine
Christopherson, Lisa
Cooke, Mathew
Drehmel, Thomas & Janice
Gaier, Judith
Jacob's Well
Lind, Jana
New Auburn UMC
Olson, Ruth
PayPal Giving Fund
Plourde, Suzanne
Podolak, Ricky
Rutledge Charities
State of Wisconsin
Theisen Realty
United Way Chippewa Valley

In Memory Of

Boschen, Henry & Barbara IHO Steve Cyr
Dukerschein, Don & Barbara IMO Tom Roycraft

Hope Village Quarter Auction

THE HOPE VILLAGE QUARTER AUCTION TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE. YOU CAN ORDER THEM ONLINE HERE OR STOP INTO A TO Z EMBROIDERY AND GET THEM. IF YOU PICK THEM UP YOU CAN ONLY PAY WITH CASH OR CHECK. THE TICKET ORDER FORM IS HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAIL IN YOUR FORM.

One Automotive Group Donation

Pampered Chef Donation Opportunity

Exciting news! We're partnering with Debbie Miller from Pampered Chef to boost awareness and raise funds to support Hope Village Chippewa Falls. If you haven't heard of Pampered Chef before, they're a popular kitchenware company that's been around since 1980. They're all about giving back to our communities. When you place an order using our link, Pampered Chef will donate 20-30% to Hope Village Chippewa Falls!! Check it out click here.

Mentors Needed

Menard’s Rebates

Looking for an easy way to support Hope Village?

Do you have Menards receipts? We collect them and apply for the rebates. Feel free to mail us your receipts, or your unused rebates. We have friends that send in their rebate forms and have the rebates sent directly to us!! We have installed a mail box near our front door to deposit these items into.

Various churches in the area also collect rebates for us too. This was the brain child of Diane Bergquist. Those rebates come in handy when we purchase construction materials but they also come in handy for purchasing cleaning supplies.

Interested in volunteering?

1. Building and Maintenance Team

Responsibilities: Maintaining and repairing our property, tiny houses, and community center.

Tasks: Weekly “To-Do” lists include various jobs, from minor repairs to more substantial projects.

Time Commitment: Flexible, ranging from 20 minutes to a few hours.

2. Cleaning, Stocking, and Inventory Team

Responsibilities: Ensuring cleanliness and restocking of tiny houses for new guests.

Collaboration: Works closely with the Stocking and Inventory teams.

Training: New members receive guidance from experienced volunteers.

3. Community Center Staffing Team

Responsibilities: Opening and overseeing the community center from 6 am to 10 pm.

Perks: You can read, craft, or use our Wi-Fi during your two-hour shifts.

4. Fundraising Team

Responsibilities: Planning fundraising activities and supporting events.

Opportunities: Joining our annual Quarter Auction and partnering with local organizations for fundraising.

5. Grant Writing Team

Responsibilities: Seeking and writing grants for general expenses and affordable housing development.

Requirement: Grant writing experience needed.

6. Guest Support Team

Responsibilities: Providing assistance to guests, including childcare, transportation, and mentoring.

Involvement: Support events, classes, and weekly goal setting.

7. Housing Search Team

Responsibilities: Helping guests find safe and affordable housing.

Activities: Assisting with applications, rental resumes, and maintaining a rental list.

8. Donation Collection and Resale Team

Responsibilities: Collecting donations and selling items online.

Acquisitions: Collect items from estate sales on Monday mornings.

Contribution: Preparing items for sale and donating unsalable items.

9. Promotional and Outreach Team

Responsibilities: Educating the public about Hope Village through website maintenance, newsletters, and storytelling.

Collaborations: Works closely with other teams to promote events.

Meetings: Monthly virtual meetings, with tasks assigned and worked on independently.

10. Resale Store Staffing Team

The Hope Village Resale Store team is seeking volunteers to help us expand our hours of operation. Currently, the store is open one day per week, and with your support, we hope to increase that to three or more days. Volunteers will staff the store during open hours, assist customers with questions about merchandise, and handle purchases. By joining this team, you’ll play a key role in supporting Hope Village while helping community members discover quality, affordable items.

11. Volunteer Organization Team

Responsibilities: Managing and coordinating volunteers, communicating team needs, and conducting background checks.

Additional Roles: Organizing small teams, like the grass mowing team.

Maintenance: Maintains a master list of volunteers.

Click Here to Volunteer!

Join Us On Facebook

If you want to stay in the loop about what is happening at Hope Village and meet some of our amazing volunteers join our Facebook Page! https://www.facebook.com/hopev...