Good Old Days 

By Dee Zimmerman

July 11, 1873

The well-known birthday of the American eagle was ushered in, in these parts, by the ring of the anvil, which was quickly responded to by a heavy rain storm which lasted until nine o’clock, completely upsetting the program of the celebrations by leaving the grove too wet to be resorted to.  A large crowd came in from the country but nothing was done until about three o’clock when the demoralized patriots gathered on Main Street and listened to an excellent address delivered by Hon. James Darrow, of Black River Falls, and some choice music by the band and glee club.  A procession of maskers appeared in due time and made lots of fun for the boys and old folks.  The assemblage then broke up, but the street remained very lively all the afternoon.

A very large party assembled at the O’Neill Housed in the evening and joined in one of the pleasantest dances on record which lasted until morning.  The supper was just such a one as suited every one and added much to the hospitable character of the worthy proprietors of the O’Neill House.

The Germans held their celebration at the Beer Gardens, starting from the Hubbard House at ten o’clock and following their programme.  They marched to the gardens where the celebration was held, then to the Grove for dinner at one p.m., six p.m. supper and dance at La Mouch’s Hall in the evening.  Tickets for supper and dance were $1.50 each.

The celebration in the Town of Grant was a success in every particular, the storm in the morning not interfering with the programme in the least.  R. J. McBride, Esq. delivered a nicely written oration.  Owing to the programme in town being postponed until afternoon, the Brass Band could not fulfill their engagement.  There being about $25 left in the hands of the committee after all expenses paid, it was decided to invest it in a flag to be owned by the town.

At the Annual Neillsville School Meeting held in the principal school building last Monday evening, the following exhibit was made by the Treasurer, Jas. Lynch.

Receipts:  on hand at beginning of year -- $1,929.21; received of Town Treasurer $1,755; received of County Treasurer $146.98; Total being $3,831.19.

Expenditures:  For teachers wage and incidentals $1,034.35.  Balance on hand $2,796.84.

It was decided to have nine months school the ensuing year, to commence in September and close about the 1^st July, with vacation of three weeks during winter holidays and in the spring, dividing the time in three terms of three months each.

We understand that several young men from this place were let into the mysteries of three-card-monte, at the circus at Humbird the other day.  It takes time to get wisdom, and so these young men learned.  They came home minus their watches, in fact, without either money or tick.  Dr. French is respectfully requested to show them that table in his back office.

James Delaine has just completed a new wagon and blacksmith shop on the north side of the creek, and is ready for all the work that may be brought to him.

July 1881

Doe and Austin’s cheese factory, in the Town of Grant, is now at work, the first cheese having been made last Wednesday.

There will be a picnic and bowery dance at the residence of Wm. Hanes’ in the Town of Levis, on July 4^th, to which all citizens of Levis are cordially invited.

The first regular train on the Neillsville Branch of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha railway line passed over the road last Tuesday morning, since which times regular trips have been made.

A new building is being put up on Second Street, west of Bruley’s residence, and is to be used as a bakery by Lou Sontag.

Mrs. C. B. Bradshaw, of this place, has taken the contract to build the schoolhouse at Greenwood.  The building is to be completed in ninety days.

English, German and Scandinavian job printing can be done at the Republican and Press Steam Printing House.

A party of frog - hunters from here who were to have gone to Merrillan last Tuesday morning to ply their vocation in that locality, failed to get there.

S. Z. Smith, of Humbird, has bought and shipped over two thousand bushels of blueberries at that station during the present season.

Jesse Lowe has commenced work on the foundation of a residence, opposite the “Blue range.”  This will make three residences that have been put up in that locality since that building season opened.  (This is believed to have been on Grand Ave.)

July 1936

The foursome golf tournament at the Pinecrest was won by W. L. Smith, Jr., Ernest Snyder, V. W. Nehs and L. W. Churchill after playing a tie with Dr. M. L. Claffin, Fred Balch, H. Fladstol, Leo Jackson and … Geo Zimmerman.  The two foursomes tied with 371 strokes for 18 holes and an extra hole was played to decide the game, winning team taking the tournament by one stroke.

Clerical mistake opens county to Deer Hunters – Senator Rush’s Amendment closing Clark and Marathon counties was adopted by legislature, and then left off the Bill through an error.

Cigarette stubs dropped by spooners in a barn belonging to Mike Rizner east of town is believed to have been responsible for a fire which destroyed the building Saturday night.  The structure stood close to the road and was far from other buildings on the farm.

Rollin Lombard, age 13, who was visiting at Henry Frantz’s, got homesick and Monday morning packed up and started afoot for his home in Milwaukee, hitchhiking along the way and arrived there that evening.

July 3, 1941

150 Clark County young men register here; Men over 28, deferred.

While 150 Clark County youths who had attained the age of 21 during the last 12 months were registering under the Selective Service Act Tuesday, the local board headquarters received instructions to defer for 30 days all registrants over 28 who had not yet been inducted.

Glenn Roberts, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Roberts, was badly burned about the left foot and ankle Saturday while working at the Neillsville Dairy.

Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Patey, who are spending a few weeks at a cottage at Amery, where Mr. Patey is working, spent the weekend at St. Croix Falls and Taylor Falls, in observance of their 25^th wedding anniversary.

Low bid for Highway 73 relocation is $84,750.  Bids on relocation of 4.448 miles of highway 73, south and east of Neillsville, were received Tuesday by the state highway department in Madison.

The bid includes grading, draining and resurfacing.

The tennis courts at Schuster Park are open.  A long petition containing 63 signatures thanking the members of city council was a pleasant surprise.  They were given the expression of appreciation for the present excellent playing conditions of the tennis courts.

Built in 1915, by Chris Feutz, the Cannonville Cheese Factory was in the Town of Washburn.  The Cannonville community was centered at the Hwy. 73 and Cty Trunk “K” intersection.  Feutz was a Swiss immigrant who had learned the cheese making trade in his homeland.  The second floor of the factory building provided living quarters for the Feutz family.  Mrs. Feutz was the Cannonville news correspondent many years, for the Clark County Press.  The former cheese factory building is now used for a blacksmith shop, owned by a Spiegel.  (Photo courtesy of Lynn Feutz)

Mauel’s is a familiar label to be found in any local super market’s frozen foods department as you search to purchase ice cream.  Since 1919, Mauel’s ice cream has been made by the Mauel family in Owen.  The above photo was taken circa 1940.

The Greenwood Milk Products Co-op started business in about 1932.  Located along Hwy 73 on the city’s south side, it was by the F. & N. E. Railway Line (Foster & North Eastern).  The business was purchased by Land O’Lakes Co. in Jan. 1991.

Zelm’s Cheese Factory operated for a number of years and was on the west side of Hwy 73 in Longwood.