Leigh Larson and Reed Larson, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, October, 1942.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh Larson, Reed Larson, and Ruth (Bickett) Larson, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, Christmas, 1942.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Larson and Leigh Larson, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, Christmas, 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh Larson and Reed Larson, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Larson at Christmas, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, ca. 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh Larson, Ruth (Bickett) Larson, and Reed Larson, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

LeRoy Bickett, Leigh Larson, and Reed Larson, Christmas, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, December, 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh Larson and Reed Larson in Raggedy Andy hat costumes, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Minnie the Bickett dog, Reed Larson and Leigh Larson, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, WI, about 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh and Reed Larson on Bickett steps, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, WI, about 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Ruth (Bickett) Larson, Reed Larson, and Leigh Larson, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Allen Larson, and Leigh Rex Larson, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, August, 1943.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Larson, Ruth (Bickett) Larson, and Leigh Larson, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, 1943.

Leigh and Reed Larson, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about 1945.

Reed Larson and Leigh Larson, wearing dark outfits, and Sniffy, the Larson family dog, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh Rex Larson, Victor Kirt "Rip" Fiegel, and Reed Allen Larson, Bickett cottage, Pine Lake, Town of Springwater, Waushara Co., WI, about 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh Rex Larson and Reed Allen Larson, Le-Ki-Re Ranch, Town of Shields, Dodge Co., WI, about 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

The Tree House at Le-Ki-Re Ranch, Town of Shields, Dodge Co., WI, about 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh Rex Larson, Reed Allen Larson, and Ruth Gertrude (Bickett) Larson, at the Bickett cottage, Pine Lake, Town of Springwater, Waushara Co., WI, July, 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Ruth Gertrude (Bickett) Larson, Reed Allen Larson, and Leigh Rex Larson, at the Bickett cottage, Pine Lake, Town of Springwater, Waushara Co., WI, July, 1945. This was the day that Reed Allen Larson was stung by a wasp or hornet, and suffered a severe swelling to his face.

 The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Allen Larson, and Leigh Rex Larson, at the Bickett cottage, Pine Lake, Town of Springwater, Waushara Co., WI, July, 1945. This was the day that Reed Allen Larson was stung by a wasp or hornet, and suffered severe swelling to his face.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Larson on pier at Bickett cottage, Pine Lake, Town of Springwater, Waushara Co., WI, about 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct. The AI software couldn't recognize the fishing rod, fish line, and small fish due to the low quality of the original grayscale image.

Reed and Leigh Larson by tree, Bickett residence, 700 Clyman Street, Watertown, WI, about 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh and Reed Larson working in a yard, probably at the Chain O' Lakes, King, Waupaca Co., WI, about July, 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh and Reed Larson working in a yard, probably at the Chain O' Lakes, King, Waupaca Co., WI, about July, 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh Larson, Sherry Indestad, and Reed Larson, Larson farm, Town of Farmington, Waupaca Co., WI, 1946.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Allen Larson driving Almo Joshua Larson's tractor, Larson farm, Town of Farmington, Waupaca Co., WI, about 1947. Leigh Rex Larson is riding in the cart, and Harold Indestad is overseeing the process.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Leigh Larson and Reed Larson, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about 1947.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Allen Larson, Victor Kirt "Rip" Fiegel, and Leigh Rex Larson, possibly at the Victor George Edward "Vic" Fiegel residence, 707 S. 10th St., Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about 1948.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Wilbur and Ruth Larson and family, 111-1/2 West Main Street, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about January, 1950.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Abbey Picnic at the Anderson's Lake Cottage on Elk Creek Lake, Town of Spring Brook, Dunn Co., WI, about 1951.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Brothers, Leigh Rex Larson, Reed Allen Larson, and Bruce Dean Larson, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about 1951.

Neighbors, Gamroths and Larsons, with Gamroth family dog, in the back yard of the A. J. Gamroth residence, 312 S. Washington St., Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about 1951.

Back row, left to right: Tom Gamroth; and Reed Larson.

Front row, left to right: Neil Gamroth with the Gamroth family dog on his lap; and Leigh Larson.

The Milwaukee Journal, Milwaukee, Milwaukee Co., WI, Sunday, August 17, 1952

Egrets Flock to Wisconsin Wild Life Haven

By MARY DECKER

Watertown, Wis. - Submarginal farming lands, diked to hold the waters of 15 springs on the mile square holdings of LeRoy M. Bickett, have been converted into a wild life oasis which in a period of several years has come to be the evening camp of more than a thousand American egrets. They come when the night comes and stand silently tall like white unlighted candles in the treetops. Lying along the great marsh which stretches north to Beaver Dam and Fox lakes, Bickett's wild life oasis was a barren land for the most part when he took it over in 1945. A roile of dike was laid and tamped and the pools soon grew to reeds, sedges and all the rest of the blooming marsh plants. Then the birds came: Marsh wrens, black capped night herons, members of the rail family, ducks and geese and finally, three years ago, the egrets. Only 200 came that first year, but since then they have come in greater flocks until now, along with their lesser cousins, the snowy egret and the little blue heron, they fill the evenings with calls of contentment as they settle out of the sky to roost.

More than 60 years ago the government came this way. A pipe was driven many feet into the ground to test the subsoil, and it spurted a white plume water until an unthinking teamster hitched his horses to the pipe and broke it off. Even before that day the Indians used the marsh. Still standing is a tree bent away over to the ground to mark the trail's end and to signal that at this point the trail was no longer passable.

Bickett calls his farm the Le-Ki-Re ranch, a combination of the first initials of his three grandsons. "It is for them," Bickett says stretching a hand out toward the land, "for their enjoyment and for their education." The youngsters call him Pal. He built a tree house big enough for the three to sleep in. They idolize the Watertown industrialist and roam the farm with him.

The news pools harbor trout and Bickett says he will allow anglers to fish them. Trees have been left standing on the hummocks of land to break the skyline, and the handiwork of man is no longer discernable under the lush growth of greenery. That is the Le-Ki-Re ranch, a new monument to practical land use under a new order of reclamation which provides room for the wild as well as the domestic animals and birds of the earth.

Three grandsons for whom Le Roy Bickett, Watertown, Wis., named his square mile farm and wild life oasis are shown on the edge of the marsh with their grandfather. The boys (left to right) are Leigh and Reed Larson and Kirt Fiegel. The Bickett holdings, roosting grounds of hundreds of white egrets, are named from the first initials of the boys: Le-Ki-Re ranch. Ducks and geese also visit the marsh

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Brothers, Leigh Rex Larson, Reed Allen Larson, and Bruce Dean Larson, Larson residence, North Monroe St., Watertown, Dodge Co., WI, about December 25,  1952.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Wilbur Larson, Reed Larson, and Bruce Larson, with Susie, the Larson family dog, at the Bickett cottage, Pine Lake, Town of Springwater, Waushara Co., WI, Summer, 1953.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

The view of the cottage and boathouse at Pine Lake, Town of Springwater, Waushara Co., WI, about 1945.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

The side and end of the boathouse at Pine Lake, Town of Springwater, Waushara Co., WI, after Wilbur Almo "Bill" Larson painted it in 1953.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Allen Larson, Bruce Dean Larson, and Leigh Rex Larson, at the future Raleigh Henry Illgen farm field airport "Illgen's Air Patch" east of Johnson Creek, Jefferson Co., WI, summer of 1954. Raleigh bought his farm in 1968.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Reed Allan Larson was a member of the 1955 Confirmation Class of the First Congregational Church, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI. The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from a original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct. Original grayscale pictures courtesy of Jim Freres. The confirmation class members are:

Top row, left to right: Jim Freres; Reed Larson; Don Zimmermann; and Dave McMurry.

Middle row, left to right:

Patty Tremaine; Judy Schonath; and Ann Snyder, the Sunday School teacher shown only in the top picture grouping.

Bottom row, left to right:

Jinky Johannsen; Karla Johnsen; Barb Brom; and Penny Luedtke.

The enhanced and colorized photos were created using AI from original grayscale photos, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

The First Congregational Church Confirmation Class, Watertown, Jefferson Co., WI, about January 23, 1955.

Top row, left to right: Virginia Johannsen; Donald Zimmermann; David McMurray; Reed Larson; and Janet Hansen.

Bottom row, left to right: Barbara Brom; Kathleen Ferry; Reverend Herbert Bauck; Karla Johnsen; and Judith Schonath.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct. Original picture on the left courtesy of Reed Larson.

Reed Allen Larson and the painted mud turtle he dove for and caught using a fishing landing net, Bickett cottage, Pine Lake, Town of Springwater, Waushara Co., WI, about 1955.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

The Tree House at Le-Ki-Re Ranch, about 1955.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.

Almo Larson, Bruce Larson, and Reed Larson, Larson Farm, about 1960.

The enhanced and colorized photo was created using AI from an original grayscale photo, so the colors and appearances may not be correct.