Questioning the Locals | Richard “Ditchweed” Schuldt

What’s the most obscure local job you’ve held?

WHO: Richard “Ditchweed” Schuldt, 61
WHAT: Line cook at Stella Blues
IN THE CITY SINCE: Moved here from Milwaukee in 1985

Richard has left an imprint on the local music scene, having been involved in four bands since 1998 – one of them called The Ditchweeds, spurring his nickname, which has stuck ever since. His current drumming project is Klezmazel, our local Jewish dance band. Almost everything he knows about rhythm he learned by watching Ringo Starr on The Ed Sullivan Show as a kid, and to this day he doesn’t use sheet music. He’s a proud Yankees fan and has an insatiable passion for Russian history.

What frustrates you about the Valley?
The covert racism. Keep your ears open. … Superficially, it’s improved, because people realize they have to be politically correct. But you’ll hear it in bars and social gatherings, when people drink and get loose tongues. It’s under the surface, bubbling along.

What is one of the best cultural experiences you’ve ever had in the Chippewa Valley? My years at the university. I double majored in history and journalism, graduated magna cum laude in 91. After growing up in Milwaukee, being a steelworker for 16 years, and as a person who barely made it through high school, the university experience was just amazing. I grew up in that factory/blue collar environment … after my motorcycle accident I was physically destroyed and couldn’t walk on my own for a year. I was so scared, it was like I was a first grader again. But when I found out I could handle it … to be surrounded by all those vibrant, intelligent people was great.

What’s your favorite local festival? International Fall Fest. (Klezmazel) played there this year and last year.

What is your favorite piece of local trivia? The Phoenix log hauler. It was the first tractor to have treads like a tank. It was powered by steam, but they never made the switch to gas-power, and eventually steam went obsolete. The Phoenix Corporation was the factory that built the machines. It was a rectangular/square brick building right where the phoenix is now on the pavement right after the bridge.

On your death bed, you get one meal from a local restaurant, what would it be? A Cortland apple from Connell’s Orchard in Chippewa.

Water Street or Downtown? Downtown, because Water Street is all tavern-oriented and I’m a recovering alcoholic. 26 years (knocks on the table).

TV 13 or TV 18? I watch baseball. It’s our national pastime all the time. I was a student at St. Stephen Catholic School the first time I ever saw baseball. The nuns brought in TVs to watch. Everybody was fans! But we had to watch in silence (laughs). I saw this (points to Yankee logo) and the pinstripes, and it just seemed magnificent to me, you know. But I had to be a closet Yankee fan. I didn’t come out of the Yankee closet ‘til I moved up here.

What book, TV show, or movie would you recommend to the members of our city council?
Dr. Seuss’s Butter Battle Book. It’s about two sides fighting over dumb (stuff) that they shouldn’t ever fight about. For instance, the new jail – it went on too long and it was cut and dry from the beginning – they knew where that was going to be. It divided certain segments of the community and there was a lot of acrimony there.

What store do you find yourself frequenting most often and why?
Mega Foods (laughs). To eat. And Speed of Sound on Birch and Starr for guitar strings and picks.

What sort of economic development would you like to see in our area? Maybe more manufacturing to spread the labor pool around – not everyone wants to cook food and change linens.

What’s the most obscure local job you’ve held?
I was editor of the Tri-County News in Osseo from 1991-94. I was great at writing headlines; I wrote them for the whole paper, and cutlines for all the photos. When I was 15 I was a gravedigger at my parish. In the winter we put a half-barrel full of coal on top and let that burn all night – to soften the ground. It’s hard as flint. My neighbor used a jackhammer, which I couldn’t even pick up. And a pick axe and a shovel. People think it’s scary – no, it’s hard. Hard work.

What book are you currently reading? Shelbyfoote’s The Civil War: A Narrative. It’s three big volumes. He’s such a joy – just the way he writes. He should be read by everyone.

Borders or the library? The library. I go there all the time, because it’s free. I put a pretty big dent in the history section, especially the Russian section. I don’t think there’s anything left. And music. Once in a while there’ll be a new biography, or I’ll look up lyrics.

Any exciting gigs coming up? The Klezmer band is starting the first roller derby season off, and I’m singing the star-spangled banner …

Are you familiar with roller derby?
Yes! In the 60s I entertained thoughts of running away and doing roller derby! I thought that’d be better than getting drafted.