Published on March 24, 1982 in the Banner Journal of Black River Falls, WI

The Hoffman Memorial Road Side Park on State Highway 54 south of Black River Falls will become the property of the Boy Scouts of America following a resolution by the Jackson County Board of Supervisors.

The State Department of Transporation had notified Jackson County of their conclusion to discontinue and abandon the park adjacent to Route 54 in the township of Irving for economic reasons and the department had confronted the Jackson County Highway Department to "take over" the liability, policing and maintenance of the site as a county park. The County Highway Committee in conjunction with the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Committee have gone on record to refuse the liability, policing, and maintenance site so the original donors of the five acre tract, Duane Hoffman of Black River Falls, and his now deceased sister, Thelma Hoffman Grogan and heirs, have expressed their desire to deed this parcel to the Boy Scouts of America for an eternal campground.

For many years this very scenic site along the Black River about six miles south of Black River Falls was known as "Nichols Park" in memory of the early Nichols family members who settled here. However, following the death of Peter J. Hoffman, who had the general contract for this road in July, 1927, it was decided to have a marker placed in his memory at the park site. That was done in the fall of 1929.

The marker at this site states "In Memory of P. J. Hoffman Who Lost His Life Building This Road, Erected by Jackson County."  

The spot was featured in a series of stories by the La Crosse Tribune in the summer of 1941 and a picture of the site included caption material pointing out "P. J. Hoffman was in charge of the construction of the road at the time of his death. He was shot in a fit of anger by a man who had come to work on the job."

P. J. Hoffman had been shot and killed July 25, 1927. Shortly after the shooting, the murderer was sentenced to serve a life term in the state prison at Waupun.

The Hoffman Construction Company, which had been founded by P. J. Hoffman, was continued by his only son, Duane Hoffman and is now in the hands of Duane and his two sons, Peter and David, each of Black River Falls.