Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

April 26, 2000, Page 13

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

The Good Old Days

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

 

April 1875

 

The breaking-up of lumbering camps has our village full of men for the past week, which has a tendency to make our businesses lively, particularly the hotel keepers.  Most of the men, whom we have seen, coming from having lived in the woods this past winter, are looking hale and hardy. They also appear to be enjoying their return to civilization, especially so, after they have heisted in a supply of benzene.

 

The ice in O’Neill Creek is going out and the bridges over it are still in place.  Every spring when the ice breaks up and goes out, the bridges are threatened with destruction.

 

One night last week, a man named Brown was shot while being at a brothel outside of this village. Brown received a bullet through his right arm, near the shoulder. The wound, though not severe, was quite painful and had to be treated by Dr. Crandall.  He was shot by Ike Fields, proprietor of the place.

 

Brown, who has been living at Grand Rapids, came to this area for the purpose of going on the log-drive for Tom LaFlesh.  Field’s story was that Brown had sent word ahead with some acquaintances that he would tear up Fields’ place when he got there.  Fields said Brown created a disturbance by kicking whoever came in his way while he was dancing.

 

Fields was arrested, but waived an examination and was put under bond in the sum of $400 to appear at the next term of court.

 

Black River and most of its tributaries have been freed from ice this past week and are providing a good log driving stage.  The amount of logs run out on this first rise of water will be greater than any one drive for many years.  Many streams will be almost cleared and it is reported that a full 90 percent of all logs in the Cunningham Creek have run into the Black River, estimated to reach the river’s mouth on the present water rise.

 

Last Tuesday, a Norwegian, Ed Larson, engaged in log-driving on the Popple River Falls, was drowned when he fell from a log.  In the employ of Bright & Withee, Larson was attempting to ride a log downstream from where he had been working to the lumber camp, a short distance below.  This is the first case of drowning we have heard reported on the Black River or its tributaries in the present log-driving season.

 

The new bridge over the Popple River floated off from its abutments during the spring water rise. Fortunately, someone who saw it in time securely anchored it near where it belongs in time to prevent it from being carried away down-stream.

 

Lewis G. Stowe, in the Town of Loyal, passed away on March 29, 1875, at the age of 58 years.  Stowe was born in Trumbull, Ohio and has been a resident of Clark County for the past ten years, after coming to Wisconsin in 1849.

 

The Press will take fresh eggs and the maple syrup sweetness in trade for extended subscriptions.

 

Last Tuesday night and soon after their destinies were united, Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Tolford were serenaded by the Neillsville Brass Band.  May their wedded lives be as free from discord and as full of harmony as the music discoursed in honor of the occasion.

 

Our village’s new post office has been finally put into place. Through the enterprise of Jas. Ferguson, we now have the most convenient post office in the State to be found outside of a city.  It is in the form of a triangle, contains 142 lock boxes and 336 call boxes.  The material throughout is of the very best, the boxes being made of basswood with exteriors in butternut wood. A neat money order delivery, corresponding with the general delivery, adds greatly to the appearance as well as the convenience of the office.

 

April 1935

 

The Clark County Canning Co., of East Sixth Street, has a field man out in the countryside of this vicinity getting sign-ups for growing peas.  Neillsville will have a lot of activity on its streets as it looks like a busy summer for the canning industry, with two large plants in operation within the city.  The J. B. Inderrieden Co. has finished contracting its pea acreage this week with 1138 acres having been secured. The time will now be devoted to contracting bean acreage; 186 acres have been signed so far this week.  Muddy roads are holding up seeing farmers for awhile.

 

Tuesday night, the Neillsville City Council accepted an offer of tree seeds from Dr. M. C. Rosekrans.  There area about 10,000 seeds of various kinds of trees in the assortment. The sexton at the cemetery will be asked to prepare a bed and take care of the tree project.

 

Stop at your local Ford dealer’s garage to see, drive and buy a new 1935 Ford V-8 car, pick up or panel delivery vehicle.  A new sedan on a 112-inch chassis is $585; a new pick up is only $480; a panel delivery vehicle, $565 or a deluxe panel delivery vehicle, $580.

 

Thorp’s new auditorium which has been under construction will have its grand opening on April 30.  A banquet, entertainment and speeches by prominent persons are being arranged by members of the Thorp Lions’ Club.  The Thorp School Board has asked the Lions’ Club to take charge of the opening program.  Governor LaFollette has been asked to be present at the program.

 

Stop in at Chapman’s Grill on Saturday night for a drumstick lunch, only 10 cents.

 

Gus Deutsch, the City of Neillsville’s Poor People’s Commissioner, makes a request that those wanting to hire to help get in touch with him.  Deutsch states that he is prepared to furnish men from the poor relief list for odd jobs, farm work and other employment.  He also guarantees if the first man he supplies does not suit he will supply one that does.

 

Under the city relief policy, those receiving aid must work wherever work is available. Deutsch is appealing to the public to help solve the unemployment situation.  It has been said that some men on relief have refused to accept jobs, but under Deutsch’s plan they must take a job if offered or they will be taken off the relief roll with its aid.

 

Dale Schweinler, who has been a member of Company 1063 of the CCC Camp Mondeaux River, Westboro, has just finished his studies for a commission in the United States Army Reserve.  Schweinler, having an average of 94.6 score will receive his commission within a few weeks.  With the extension and enlargement of the CCC, it is believed Schweinler will receive an appointment as a CCC officer.  He also has considerable experience in the National Guard.

 

After several rounds of voting and arguments over the relative merits of a Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge truck, the Neillsville City Council voted to buy a new Dodge truck for $535.  The truck will be driven by the city’s street commissioner, Oluf Olson, who still had visions of the poor relief bills which the council had OK’d a few moments previous to their decision on the truck purchase, said, “If we have many meetings like this one we won’t have enough to buy a truck or anything else unless the city has some income I don’t know anything about.”

 

The Neillsville City Council, on Tuesday night, voted to re-hire Dave Taylor at $10 per week to care for Schuster Park and the tennis courts this summer.  The mayor said he favored charging tennis players a fee to help defray the cost of keeping up the courts but no action was taken.

 

Lowell Huckstead, a student of Neillsville High School, has won an oration contest held at Eau Claire.  This victory gives Huckstead a place in the state contest to be held in Madison on May 3.

 

Clark County marriage applicators this month are: Frederick Quast and Dorothy Meier, Town of Seif; Albert Matthews and Encie Cramer, Town of Washburn, Charles Matousek and Libbie Honzik, Town of Levis.

 

Excavating for the new home of Mr. and Mrs. August Janke, on East Ninth Street, was started last week.  The house will be a 7-room structure.  Otto Roessler is the contractor.

 

A new composition roof has been completed on the First National Bank building, including the portion occupied by the Prochazka Bros. store.

 

Remember the famous Pleasant Ridge Supper to be held at the Ridge church on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.  Tickets are 20c and 35c.

 

A very quiet and pretty wedding reception took place at the A. Meier home in the Town of Levis.  Frederick Quast and Dorothy Meier were united in the holy bonds of matrimony at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Neillsville with Rev. Bauman officiating.

 

The wedding march was played by E. Sievert and Mrs. Bauman sang, “Take My Hand and Lead Me.”

 

Miss Meier was attired in a gown of white taffeta and wore a veil of tulle lace with a cap effect and white accessories, carrying a bouquet of lilies.  Miss Marie Hagedorn, the bridesmaid, was attired in a gown of salmon colored crepe with a picturesque hat, white accessories and carried a big bouquet of carnations and roses.

 

The groom wore a suit of dark brown and Frank Meier, brother of the bride, wore a dark blue suit.

 

A reception as given at the home of the bride’s parents; a five o’clock dinner was served.  The house was prettily decorated with a big white wedding bell and trimmed with salmon and white for the occasion.  Dorothy is the second oldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Meier.  Frederick Quast is the youngest son of Mrs. Louise Quast, a widow.  Thursday morning the newly wedded couple left on their honeymoon to visit with sisters at Fond du Lac, Milwaukee and other places. They will return Monday and will make their home on the farm which Mr. Quast has ready for his beautiful bride.  Congratulations!

 

The Village of Merrillan authorities received word recently that the improvements to the Merrillan Dam and new generator equipment has been approved by the Wisconsin Commission, which will no doubt be soon.  We hope the work will begin before the snow flies again for the coming winter.

 

Neillsville’s Deluxe Bakery is offering a sale on Butter Pan Cookies, one dozen for 4c.  Limit 4 dozen to a customer at 28c.  There is also an assortment of chocolate cream, spice nut, old fashioned sugared, oatmeal and butterscotch cookies.

 

Easter corsages can be purchased at Hauge Floral Co.  Choose violets, Sweet Heart roses, Sweet Peas or other varieties for your corsage. We also have Easter Lilies, blooming plants and cut flowers.

 

Attention farmers!  It’s time to purchase seeds for spring planting:  Medium red clover, $15 per bushel; Wisconsin No. 38 barley, $1.25 per bushel; Progress spring wheat, $1.35 per bushel.  We need sacks and will pay 5c each for No. 1 bags at S. H. Van Gorden & Son’s Elevator.

 

Shop Roehrborn’s Store this week.  Specials are: Home grown carrots, bushel 95c; New York Bens apples, bushel $1.49; Campbell’s Pork & Beans, 16 oz., 5 cans 24c; Blue Seal overalls, heavy weight, full cut, $1.23; Lee overalls, high or low back, $1.49.

 

Baseball players interested in playing with the Silver Dome baseball team this year are invited by Heine Keller to attend a meeting at the Silver Dome on Thursday night.  The Kellers have joined a baseball league comprised of Loyal, Riplinger, Granton, Chili and Merrillan.

 

“They cut down the old pine tree.”  Cutting down the pine tree in front of Mrs. Otto Neverman’s home on East Fifth Street, removes one of Neillsville’s ancient landmarks.  This was the one pine in a beautiful row of trees long admired by citizens of this city and visitors who have been here.  Several generations who have passed to and fro beneath the shade of these trees will grieve to know that another of the rank has fallen.  Only three trees remain, two of those are hard maple and the third is an elm.

 

The exact date on which these trees were planted seems not to be definitely known.  It is said that they were brought from the woods and set out by the late Sam Miner in front of the John S. Dore home, later the site of the old Reddan House which became a popular hotel.  The trees are estimated to be 70 to 75 years old.

 

The pine tree grew quite rapidly until the recent dry seasons set in, then it began to show signs of weakness and decay.  Then last summer’s drought finished it and realization that it could not safely stand any longer, determined that it should be cut down.

 

About 20 years ago it was utilized one Christmas Eve, as a community Christmas tree, being lighted and decorated for the occasion, a great throng gathering about it for a program.

 

Mrs. Ruth Wage, one of the oldest residents of Neillsville, states that she came here in May, 1867, and this row of trees stood there then. At that time there was no church building in Neillsville and church services were held in the old Clark County Courthouse.  Mrs. Wage recalls walking past the trees on her way to Sunday services.

 

(These trees would have been located in the 100 block of East Fifth Street, on the north side, where the Concern Apartments Rental office is at present.  Then, as now, the city residents like the beauty and shade that goes with having trees on their lots and within the city.  D. Z.)

 

A circa 1910 view of West Fifth Street, Neillsville; when trees lined both sides of the street.  The photo postcard was mailed by Lillian (Shromek) Krumpeck, then 10 years old, to her brother, Ladd Krumpeck, 98 years old, who lives in Boulder, Colorado.

 

 


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