Clark County Press, Neillsville,

May 16, 2007, Page 19

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

 

Compiled and contributed by Dee Zimmerman

 

 

Clark County News

May 1877

 

Host Dillman, proprietor of the Merchants Hotel, is making marked changes and improvements in and round his hostelry.  He has lowered the floor of the porch, in front of the house, and thus made a more agreeable place for his guests to sit out of doors in the evenings.

•••••••••

The grocery store of J. A. Pettit, of Unity, burned Saturday afternoon.  A portion of the grocery goods was saved.  The residence of Mrs. G. Wood also burned.  There is no insurance on either building.

•••••••••

Forest fires are running wild through the valuable pine timber northwest of Humbird.  The amount of damage already done is unknown, but will reach a considerable amount.  The N. C. Foster Lumber Co. and I. J. Matchell are probably the heaviest losers.  The saw mill at Jump Creek was shut down, Friday, and the men detailed to fight the forest fire.

•••••••••

The dam on Douglas Creek, near Melrose and where Button’s feed mill is located, has gone out.  Two boys, who had been below the dam fishing, were lying on the creek bank sleeping at the time, when they were awakened by a great noise as the dam went out.  They rushed up the bank to find the cause of the noise, thus escaping the flood.

•••••••••

Several teams, pulling wagons loaded with lumber from M. W. Carlon’s saw mill at Longwood, passed through Neillsville, Monday.  Lumber amounting to 23,000 feet is to be used at the C. W. Dewet farm, two miles east of Neillsville.  Mr. Dewet intends building a fine residence there soon.

•••••••••

Hi Hart has moved the Clark County jail barn, from its foundation back of the old jail, down to a place in the northwest corner of the courthouse square.  This will give more room for building the new jail, which is in the course of action.

•••••••••

The John Paul Lumber Co. of La Crosse will sell their lands situated in the several towns in Clark County.  For descriptions and further particulars, call on or address W. L. Hemphill, agent, Neillsville.

 

The following are the towns in which the lands are situated: Beaver, Eaton, Green Grove, Hixon, Hoard, Levis, Mead, Warner and Withee, also land in the town of Rock, Wood County.

•••••••••

Mr. Carl Walk and Miss Emma Sontag were united in marriage at the bride’s home, Wednesday evening, May 12, by Rev. Thrun.

 

The bride and groom are very well known in this community, having been raised here from childhood.  The groom is one of our substantial young businessmen, a partner in the general mercantile firm of Walk Bros.  The bride is one of Neillsville’s popular young maidens.

 

About one hundred invited guests were present to witness the ceremony and partake of the bounteous repast.  The brass band, of which Mr. Walk is a member, serenaded the newly wedded couple.

•••••••••

Jesse Lowe went up to Shawano County, last week, to do some fishing.  He says he caught nearly a washtub full of trout.  He can tell the biggest trout lies of any fisherman on earth.

•••••••••

Tuesday night, about 12 midnight, the fire bells rang out warning the sleeping populace that a fire was raging. A great many got up, looked out of their windows and seeing no blaze, returned to their beds.  Those, who went in search of the fiery demon, had some difficulty in at first locating it.  By following the water hose carts, they found the fire to be located beneath the floors of the Wolff & Korman Manufacturing Company’s plant.  The buildings of this business are situated on the north bank of the O’Neill Creek, just across the bridge and owing to being located by the creek; the building is set on piles.

 

Fire from the furnace of the boiler had burned through the floor and was fast undermining the structure when Will Neff, engineer of the electric light plant across the street, discovered it and gave the alarm.  Had a few more minutes lapsed before the fire was discovered, the entire structure would have been afire and consumed, as there were a lot of shavings and saw dust around to feed the flames.  The timely discovery and prompt action of the fire company checked what might have proved a big conflagration.

•••••••••

Geo. La Fluer and Robert Hannah will give a Fourth of July bowery dance in the La Fluer grove, 1 ½ miles south of Christie, Monday afternoon and evening.

•••••••••

The committee for arrangements of Memorial Day, respectfully request that all persons who intend to furnish flowers for decorating soldier’s graves, to leave them at the Post Hall next Monday forenoon.

 

May 1947

 

John Swenson has purchased the grocery business of Bernard Pietenpol, located on Highway 10.  He will assume management of the business, Monday. The Swenson family will move into the living quarters connected with the store and the Pietenpol family will move into the Swenson home, which they will rent.  Mr. Pietenpol’s future plans are not definite.

•••••••••

The Congregational Church’s people bade farewell, last Sunday, to E. E. Guthrie of Eau Clarie, who for the past 18 months has filled the pulpit of the Owen’s First Congregational Church.  Mr. Guthrie is general secretary of the Y.M.C.A. at Eau Claire and was pinch-hitting in Owen until a regular pastor could be called.  The new pastor, Reverend Glick of South Amherst, Ohio, will take up as resident pastor on May 1.

•••••••••

Six area men, along with several thousand other sportsmen, opened the trout season on Northern Wisconsin’s flowing waters, last Saturday and Sunday.  They returned with 11 trout and a story of seeing one 8 ½ pound rainbow beauty, which had been taken in the Brule River.  Those who made the junket in two cars were: Matt Gassen, Louie Meinholdt, Eugene Wegner, Elmer Georgas and Bill Hill of Neillsville and Louie Scholtz of Granton.

•••••••••

A tract of 1,300 acres, on Bear Lake, has been presented to the Chippewa Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America, by Lewis E. Phillips, an Eau Claire industrialist.  Mr. Phillips has also promised $100,000 to be used for the development of the site as a camp for the Scouts.  The site is about three miles from Rice Lake, and is convenient for transportation.  Also it has the natural advantages of an ideal campsite.

 

The Chippewa Council has announced the appointment of Robert E. Will of Menomonie as field executive for the Old Abe and Black River districts.

•••••••••

On Friday evening, May 9, the Granton High School will present its annual Junior Prom in the village hall.  Prom music will be furnished by the Ted Wirth Band.  The theme chosen was “Blue Champagne” and the decorations will consist of balloons, streamers and champagne glasses.

 

At l0 o’clock, the grand march will begin, led by King John Kops and his queen, Virginia Nickel.  The court of honor in order is: Mildred Erickson and Wendell Storm, Amber Marg and Ray Gluch, Jane Crothers and Merle Bartsch and Shirley Nowack and Robert Paun.

 

The prom is open to the public.

•••••••••

William Gehrt has sold his 60-acre farm in the Town of Levis to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest H. John of Bowler, Wis.  The farm is located on the River Road, near the Lynch Bridge.

•••••••••

The Volkmann tourist cabins, the small house and the building housing a tavern, located on Division Street, will transfer possession to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Scheuermann on or before the 15th of this month.  The Scheuermanns, until recently, operated the Soo Café in Owen.

 

(The Volkmann property was located on the site of the present M & I Bank. D.Z.)

•••••••••

On Sunday, May 11, a class of 17 will receive first solemn communion at St. Mary’s Church during a Holy Mass at eight o’clock.  The class includes Mary Aumann, Susan Frank, Marilyn Hubing, Marlene Liebe, Maxine Liebe, Marilyn Schuld, James Gall, Robert Hainzlsperger, Thomas Hart, Philip Lato, John Mazola, Dexter McCann, James Nauertz, Ronald Resong, Gerald Schmidt, Lee Steinhilber and John Trogner.

•••••••••

The St. John’s Lutheran congregation has decided to enter upon a building project.  The decision was reached at a meeting of the voting members, held at St. John’s Church, Sunday afternoon.  The structure will be a combination of church and school.  The preliminary discussion points to a building constructed upon institutional lines, to care for school and recreational and social activities, as well as public worship.

 

The decision carries with it the purpose to enter promptly upon the financial campaign and to undertake the actual construction not later than 1950.  The dates involved are of historic significance to the people of St. John’s.  It was just 60 years ago, May 8, 1877, when St. John’s Church became a member of the Wisconsin Synod.  At that time, the congregation was engaged in the construction of its present building, which was dedicated October 9, 1887.  In 1950, the Wisconsin Synod will celebrate its centennial.

•••••••••

The Neillsville City baseball team will point for its opening game in the Cloverbelt league, May 18, at the final pre-season workout Sunday afternoon at the fairground diamond.  The season’s opener will be against Curtiss, on the local diamond.

 

Pointing to their defense of the eastern division championship, which they won last year, the locals will be bolstered by several new comers to Neillsville and vicinity.  Among them are the two Urban boys, Bob and Joe, Jr., who left reputations as “pretty fair” ball players in their old home of Sturgeon Bay.  Bob, a portsider, is a candidate for the first base position.  Joe is an outfielder.

 

Also from Sturgeon Bay is the new assistant county agent, Paul Wolska, who has had experience on third base. Wolska played with the two Urban boys in Sturgeon Bay.  

 

Other new prospects on the squad include: Jerry Smith, a catcher; Harvey Mott, who pitched last year for Greenwood; Clarence Becker, an outfielder who doubles on the mound; Henry J. Becker, Jr., a lanky Wisconsin Rapids pitcher and first baseman.

 

The problem of finding a battery, which caused some concern here during the early period of organizing a team, appeared on its way to a solution this week, as the roster of players increased.  With virtually no prospects for a pitcher or catcher a few weeks ago, the team now has five prospective throwers and two catcher candidates.  All those listed as pitcher possibilities also are experienced at other spots on the diamond, and one of the catcher possibilities, Harold Milbreit, held down the keystone sack in an impressive manner on last year’s team.

 

The pitching staff appears to shape up in the following manner; Frankie Zank, a left, who is also at home in the garden; Harvey Mott, whose strength is in control; Clarence Becker, who also doubles in the outfield, and Henry J. Becker, Jr., whose six-foot-four stretch would almost lay the ball in the catcher’s mitt, and who also has had some experience on the first base.

 

The team is following a policy, this year, of not going outside to get a battery.  It is understood that this policy is also being followed by several other teams in the league.

 

Among the returning members of last year’s eastern division titlists are: Norman (Dutch) Drescher, an outfielder; Gordon Vine, outfielder; Frankie and Albert (Lefty) Zank; Fritz Subke, shortstop; Earl Magnuson, outfielder; Ernest Christie, utility; and Eugene Christie, shortstop.

•••••••••

The change in ownership of two Neillsville businesses was announced this week.

 

Walter Beyer, former deputy county clerk, has purchased the grocery business conducted by John C. Brandt; and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Epding have purchased the Neillsville Taxi Company from Clarence Burchell.

 

The transfer of the Brandt property had been in the making for some time, and Mr. Beyer worked with Mr. Brandt for several weeks before the purchase of the store was completed.  Mr. Beyer is being assisted by Mrs. Beyer, the former Edna Tews.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Beyer have had experience in retailing locally.

 

The building in which the grocery business is being conducted has been purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Beyer.

 

Mr. Brandt says he plans to do some serious vacationing before getting back into the harness.

 

The purchase of the taxi company brought with it a change in the location of the business.  Mr. and Mrs. Epding are operating the business from the Merchants Hotel, which they also operate.  Mr. Burchell, who operated the business for several months, is now employed by the Svetlik Tractor and Equipment Company.

•••••••••

The Loyal Theatre will be showing “The Jolson Story,” in Technicolor, May 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29.  There will be two showings each evening, at 7:15 and 9:30 p.m.

•••••••••

A pretty wedding took place Saturday, May 10, at the Lutheran Church in Nekoosa, when Miss Elizabeth Larson of Nekoosa, became the bride of Ardo Fluegel of the Town of Sherwood.  Rev. Goetz of Nekoosa performed the ceremony.

 

Miss Lois Schwanebeck, cousin of the groom, was maid of honor.  The bridesmaids were Dorothy Larson, sister of the bride and Mrs. Joe Kaczor, sister of the groom.

 

The bride wore a white satin sweetheart neckline gown and a double strand of pearls, a gift of the groom.

 

The groom was attended by Irving and Donald Larson and Jim Kaczor.  Henry Goetz was ring bearer.

 

A reception and dinner were served to about 100 guests in the church parlors.

•••••••••

 

 

The above sign was posted along Highway 13, near Spencer and in Clark County, in the late 1920s.  Calvin Coolidge, was the 30th President of the United States from 1923 – 1929.  An avid trout fisherman, Pres. Coolidge often traveled to the Brule River in Northern Wisconsin, as it provided some of his most exciting fishing experiences.  Due to Coolidge’s many trips of driving along Highway 13 during that time, someone made the above sign, which was posted on the side of the highway.  “Tubby” Lowe, of Neillsville, retrieved the sign after it was discarded in later years.  (Photo courtesy of Bill Lowe’s family collection)

 

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