Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

March 19, 1992, Page 24

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Oldies 

By Dee Zimmerman

Last week’s bridge photo was identified as that which spanned Cunningham Creek on Junction Road (now Cardinal Avenue) southeast of Neillsville.

 

We received several calls.  Carol (West) Wallner, daughter of Jim and Irma West, saw the bridge collapse.  She had missed getting on the school bus that morning and as she watched, after bus went over the bridge, it collapsed.

 

Another caller told of walking along and holding the upper railing to cross the creek and meet the school bus until the bridge was replaced.

 

Some who called thought it was the bridge which was over the Hatfield Canea (Canal).  That bridge went down in September of 1963.

 

Thank you for your calls.

 

By Dee Zimmerman

 

This train depot was located on the side of 8th street between Clay and Oak streets, to the north and west of the old county garage building.

 

When the first railroad came to Neillsville form Merrillan Junction at about 1881, a depot was built on the west bank of Black River, near the shale pit road.  Anyone who wanted to board the train had to walk or ride out on what was called the Humbird Road (now Hwy 10) then to the north to get to the depot.  After the Chicago & North-Western extension was completed a new depot was built at the 8th Street site.  The local residents were very thrilled with the convenience and they held a big celebration with dignitaries invited as guests to share their enthusiasm over progress.

 

In the early 1900s, railroading played an important part in transportation throughout Clark County.  The freight trains and passenger trains passed thru each town or city, not only once a day each direction but two or three times a day.

 

All freight for local businesses was sent by rail and anyone wanting to travel a distance for business, vacations or such used the passenger trains.

 

The Chicago & North –Western system built an extension of 24 miles from Neillsville to Marshfield.  There was the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul line built across the county from southeast to northwest on its way to Lake Superior.  The third line, Wisconsin Central (a part of the Northern Pacific system) had a line from Marshfield across central Clark County, passing thru Greenwood, and connecting with the Central near Thorp.

 

A large crowd of friends and relatives gathered at the train depot to see their young men leaving for the military service at the beginning of World War I.

 

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

 

Three Neillsville wrestlers advanced to the state WIAA tournament in Madison.  They were Terry Holub, Mark Janicki and his brother, Craig Janicki.  Their coach was Joe Heckl.

 

Birth: Born to Dr. and Mrs. E. H. Brekke of Neillsville, a son, weighing six pounds, 12 ounces, February 21, in Memorial Hospital.  He has been named Timothy Eugene.”

 

Herd Reduction Action Planned: Farmers of Clark county and areas surrounding are being invited by the National Farmers Organization to ship milk cows Tuesday, March 7, in cooperation with a 25-state effort sponsored by the N.F.O. to ‘bring supply and demand into balance.’”

 

Production Credit Association of Neillsville was holding its annual meeting, with E. J. Steiger as general manager.  Special recognition was planned for retiring director Carl Opelt, who had served as a director since 1944.

 

FIFTY YEARS AGO-1942

 

On page four, in a column called “What You Folks Talked About,” items from twelve years previous (March 13, 1930) were recorded; “Frank Stelloh buys an airplane.  Neillsville’s first ship makes appearance over city.  (Two weeks later, Frank, 20, and his brother, Alfred H., 17, plunged 800 feet to their deaths when the machine went into a spin south of the fairgrounds.)”

 

“Richard Becker’s 1916 model Ford stolen from in front of his rooming place on South Clay Street.”

 

“Twin sons, Donald and Melvin, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Marg March 11th.”

 

An ad appeared in the March 12, 1942 Press for Neillsville Recreation, operated by Ted Schmidt.  The ad stated: “The Whole Town is BOWLING!  Everybody in Neillsville is getting a new thrill out of living.  They bowl regularly at Neillsville Recreation.”  The single high game score winners for the previous week were Florence Hansen, 212 (won a box of candy), and Ted Shaw, 257 (won a carton of cigarettes).

 

Page seven:  “Mrs. Richard Albrecht entertained Mrs. Bernard Dodte and daughter, Lucille, Mrs. Allen Randall and daughter, Vivian, and Mrs. Albert Degener Tuesday afternoon in observance of the fourth birthday of her daughter, Sarah Lou.  The Albrecht family also entertained their relatives at dinner and for the afternoon Sunday, the occasion being in honor of little Sara Lou, Mrs. Albrecht and her eldest son, George, whose birthdays occur successively on the 10th, 11th and 12th days of March.”

 

In the classified, a section called, “Who’s Who in Neillsville listed the following professionals:  Dentists—Dr. E. L. Lee ad (and) Dr. Walter Weaver; Lawyers—John M. Peterson, C. R. Sturdevant, William A. Campman, V. W. Nehs the firm of Rush, Devos and Skroch, and the firm of Haight and Beilfuss.

 

With the war on, the Neillsville Bank ran an ad aimed at the farmers:  “The American Farmer fills the Nation’s Food Basket.  We Need All You Can Raise!”  The small text urged: “Cultivate every possible acre this year.”

 

On Tuesday, March 17 (ST. Patrick’s Day) the Adler Theatre was showing, “The Roaring Twenties,” starring James Cagney and Priscilla Lane.  Along with this were “Added Attractions: ‘King of the Texas Rangers’ and ‘Serial 11, Current News of the Day’.”

 

Clark County school children surveyed materials that could be salvaged from Clark County farms to be channeled into the war effort.  The total count: Paper, 83,449 pounds; Rags, 26,797 pounds; Scrap metal, 451,808 pounds; Old Rubber, 46,540 pounds.  According to the Press, the scrap metal would be enough “to build more than 22 30-ton medium tanks of the type recently used to reinforce British troops in Burma.”

 

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Page one recorded the obituary of Joseph Herrian, “aged 73 years, 4 months and 9 days.”  The character of the deceased was described as follows: “He was a man of generous impulses and never forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer.  He had born adversity bravely and enjoyed prosperity quietly.  He was a man who united sound sense with honest conviction and a candid outspoken temper, eminently fitted to mould the rude elements of the early days into form and consistency… During all the years of his residence here he bore a reputation for honest and upright business dealings, for faithfulness and integrity were his most notable characteristics.”

 

On page 7, the column “Here, There, and Everywhere” carried several promotional sentences interspersed with other copy: “Learn to laugh with Burgderfer at opera house Tuesday eve.”  “’A Keeley Cure for the blues’ is what one paper says of Burgderfer.”…  “Don’t fail to hear Burgderfer, the humorist.  A laugh from start to finish.  Opera house Tuesday, March 20.”… “Burgderfer, entertainer, a humorist of keen and original wit.  Hear him at the opera house Tuesday, March 20”  A more extensive descritption of his type of humor and performance was also given, along with the warning:  “Don’t blame the committee if  you don’t get a seat at the Burgderfer entertainment.  Seats on sale, Saturday morning, March 17th.”

 

ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO

 

Auction—A sale will be held at the old Kitch Homestead four miles west of Dells Dam Monday, March 12, commencing at 10 a.m.  The following will be sold: One span of horses, one span of mules, ten head of cattle, wagons, sleds, buggies, harness, fly-nets, farming tools, household goods, etc.  See large bills.  Farm to be sold at auction at same time.  W. J. Manning, Prop.  A. H. Holvorson, Auctioneer.

 

Musical Concert—Fisk’s Orchestra will appear at the opera House in this city Friday evening, Feb. 9, in one of their popular concerts, consisting of music etc., the entertainment ending with a cake-walk by the Wilson Sisters, artists without a peer in that line.  The program consists of twelve numbers and lasts one hour, after which a dance will be given.  This popular orchestra has appeared here before and each time has delighted every one with their fine music.  All should attend.  Tickets, concert and dance, $1.00; spectators to concert and dance, 25 cents

 

Tailoring – I wish to announce to the Public that I have opened a custom tailoring business in the French building over Stannard’s grocery store.

 

I shall always endeavor to give the people of Neillsville and vicinity the best quality of goods at lowest prices, fit and workmanship guaranteed.  Respectfully, E. Wiedenhoeft 

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE