February1879

It seems the county dividers are greedier than was supposed. They propose, in their bill, to take ten instead of seven towns from this county and six from the county of Marathon. Even this would make a county of but sixteen towns, which would be next to the smallest and altogether the poorest in the state.         

•••••••••

Charley Gates, our worthy meat man, is out with a new delivery rig with a knobby appearance.

•••••••••

Neillsville has at last an excellent quadrille band, as good a one as they can turn out anywhere, which has come to be known as the Neillsville Quintette Band. The following is its make up: 1st Violin - Dave Payn, 2nd Violin - L. Head, Cornet - Fred Darling, Piccolo - Frank Trucks, and Bass - Harry Ferguson

The boys are all good musicians and take pride in keeping up with the times.

•••••••••

Mr. John Michel, of the popular brewing firm of C & J Michel, of La Crosse, spent several days in town last week. John is a merry guest and a welcome one wherever he visits, as well as the representative of the best brewing establishment this side of Germany if we are to judge from its productions.  A case of beer has been sent us by its whole-soul Proprietors, the C & J Michel Co. which is used here universally by those who use bottled beer, in preference to Milwaukee bottled beer, to which in our judgment, it is superior.                                                                      

•••••••••

Last week was set down as a very discouraging one for loggers, yet some of the hauling done was remarkable. The largest we have heard of was done by McKinley’s logging camp, which hauled 2,960 feet of actual scalement, weighing about 20,000 pounds. This, done on a day as warm as spring, when there was hardly a particle of snow to be seen on the road, may be set down as one of the curiosities of logging.  It was the iced road that did it. The sprinkler had been there the night before.

(This article appeared in the February 7, 1879 newspaper. D Z)      

•••••••••

A bill is now before Legislature to authorize “William T. Price, his associates and assigns,” to improve O’Neill Creek, in this county, for the purpose of facilitating log-driving in that stream.  In the case these parties expend the sum of $5,000 in said improvements; they are to be allowed a toll of twenty five cents per thousand feet, board measure, for all logs floated out of said stream.                                                                                     

•••••••••

Charlie Pond has just received a fresh supply of the most toothsome apples ever brought to town.

•••••••••

The attention of the ladies of Neillsville and vicinity is called to a notice to be found elsewhere of a meeting to be held at Society Hall for the purpose of organizing a Woman’s Temperance Union.

•••••••••

Good saw logs of any kind, delivered at Gallaher’s mill, will be taken, at fair rates, for any debts due this newspaper office.

•••••••••

Last Tuesday night, February 19, brought five inches of snow that reinforced three inches a couple of nights before, and as a consequence, there was never more beautiful sleighing or a finer chance for logging in this county.  There is no longer doubt of a big season’s work. Every available team of horses and man in the country has been set at work. There is a general determination on the part of loggers to make up for the losses of the past two seasons of lack of snow, and there are good indications that they will do it.                                                   

•••••••••

Tom Lowe came near making sausages of his fingers last week.  He got the ends of them slightly clipped by a sausage machine.                                                                                             

•••••••••

Hay has become a very scarce commodity in this county.  It meets with a quick sale here at $10 per ton and much better prices still delivered in the logging camps. There is but little real good hay to be obtained at any price, most of it having been damaged in making. Good oats straw is better than most of it and is being largely substituted.

•••••••••

The bill creating a new county from portions of the counties of Chippewa and Lincoln has passed both houses of the legislature.  The bill had nearly become a law creating the county of Flambeau, when Mr. Scott happened to think that it would please Mr Price to have the county named after him, and so voted.  No one, not even the inhabitants, cared what they called it, so Price it is.

February 1949

This past week a dancing club was organized by Mr. and Mrs. C. Frank Hepburn, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bruhn, Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Covell, Mr. and Mrs. Millard F. Cole, Mr. and Mrs. George Hubing and Mr. and Mrs. Soren Larsen. The officers are: president, Hazel Hubing; vice president, Earl Bruhn; secretary, Marie Covell; treasurer, Emma Larsen; directors, Mrs. Hepburn, Al Covell and Millard Cole.

The “40 Dance Club,” club was organized for the pleasure and entertainment of its members.  They plan to stress old-time dances, such as circle two-steps, square dances and schottische.  It is planned to hold one dance each month in the V.F.W. Hall.                                                                                                      

•••••••••

The sale of a farm and personal property for $25,600 led the 10 realty transactions recorded last week in the office of the county register of deeds.

The large sale was one in which Marvin W. Seeman sold his farm and personal property to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Haslow on January 20. The farm is located in section four, Town of Loyal, and section 28, Town of Beaver. The deed was recorded January 27.                                                                                              

•••••••••

The original courthouse building of Clark County, now more familiarly known as the Bradbury apartments, was damaged extensively by fire last Saturday.  Damage will run into several thousands of dollars.

Lewis Bradbury, the owner, said that the building was insured; but did not know whether the amount is adequate to cover the loss fully.  He said he hopes to be able to repair and recondition it; but that it will depend upon what kind of condition it is finally found to be in.

In addition to the loss suffered by the owners, the loss of the eight persons who lived there and by the stock of the adjoining Northern Auto Supply Company is considerable.  Most of it was from water damage, for a tremendous amount of water was used to fight the fire. 

One young couple, the William Wilsmann, juniors, had placed $1,000 insurance on their household effects the previous Wednesday morning, only three days before the fire.  Included in damage was a new bedroom suite.

The building is located on East Fifth Street, three doors north of the 1st National Bank Corner.  It is a brick-veneered building.  The brick walls were laid when the building was removed from the present courthouse site, probably in 1873-1874.

The Bradbury apartment building is one of the old landmarks of Neillsville.  Although the original building was built about the time Clark County became a county, in 1952, it had been remodeled extensively in the 75 or more years that it has been at its present location.

For many years it was owned by George Hart and housed the American Railway Express Office here, first under Mr. Hart and then under Martin Zilisch, who is still the express agent here.

The building was bought by Dr. Bradbury, who used it as an office and apartment building for several years.  Dr. Bradbury maintained his office in the downstairs front until his death.  Since that time it has been used exclusively as an apartment building, containing six apartments.

Stop in at Ray Millis Garage in Black River Falls.  New Cars & Trucks in stock, ready for immediate delivery!  We have 3 International Trucks & 1 new Dodge Panel, ¾ Ton.  On hand 2 new Hudson 4-dr. Sedans with Radio, Heater, & Overdrive!  Also there are 4 used card & 2 used trucks.  See Duane or Buster for Car & Truck Deals.

•••••••••

There will be a Benefit Dance at the American Legion Hall, Neillsville on Sat. Feb. 12, with music by Art Lucht & His Orchestra.  Admission 60¢!  Proceeds will go to the Veterans Hospital in Tomah.

•••••••••

Saturday afternoon’s feature on Main Street was the moving of the Lynn Mutual Insurance Company’s large vault, which weighs “a little over three tons,” according to the estimate of Delbert C. Struble.  The moving of this vault was a major operation and of concern to all connected with it. The vault was moved on plank runners and was lowered down the stairs from the second floor of the Marsh building with the help of two large block and tackles.  The insurance company was moved into its new quarters in the old Episcopal Church building, on the corner of Fourth and Court Streets. The old church building has been completely remodeled by its new owner, W. B. Tufts.

•••••••••

The Grand View school house, situated just west of the railroad trestle on Highway 10, will become the new town hall for the Town of Pine Valley.  The town purchased the property from the joint Neillsville-Pine Valley district with its bid of $3,000. This was the only bid received for this property, according to Don Dundas, clerk of the school district.

The Grand View School property came under the control of the school board July 1, as the result of a school district consolidation, which brought the Grand View district into the Neillsville-Pine Valley district. Children from that area now are being transported to the Neillsville schools.  The district also has possession of the Hiawatha School property, about three miles south of the city as the result of the consolidation of this district with the Neillsville-Pine Valley district.

•••••••••

Believe it or not, one day last week Joe (Fuzz) Zallar, Willard, went out hunting accompanied by two friends and their dogs chasing the rabbits.

Somehow the rabbit, at least one of them, reversed its direction and headed for Mr. Zallar, who in the meantime had gotten on one knee to get a better shot.

The rabbit jumped into his arms and in all the excitement, he dropped the gun and caught the rabbit.

To be sure his friends wouldn’t doubt his story; Joe took the live rabbit back home to Willard to display to any doubters.  But Mr. Zallar later released his catch, as he was a very good sportsman.

•••••••••

The Shortville Church, an old landmark in the community, has been sold to Arthur Drescher, Jr.  He will start tearing it down in the near future and will move it into Neillsville, where he plans to build a home for his family.  The church was built by parents of many of this generation, probably over 50 years ago.  It hasn’t been used much for many years, so the stockholders decided to put it up for sale.                                              

•••••••••

The former Greenwood Baptist Church has been purchased from their local Legion post by Wisconsin Rural Missions and non-denominational home missionary organization that endeavors to re-open closed churches establish new work and provide Sunday school and summer school for children.  It is bible-centered in all its activities, stresses evangelism and it similar to the Baptists in doctrine.

Plans are underway to paint the exterior and do some remodeling on the interior of the building. These improvements together with the recently constructed basement will make the church building an attractive addition to the community.

•••••••••

Long the social event of the year in Neillsville, the annual Military Ball made its return Tuesday night after an absence of several years.

And it was a colorful success. Several hundred couples packed the armory and the consensus was that the event was one of the most pleasant functions of its type held in Neillsville in a long, long time.

Ladies dressed in colorful formal gowns set the style pace for the affair.  National guardsmen, both from Neillsville and from other guard units, appeared in uniform.

The armory was nicely decorated.  Red, white and blue crepe paper streamers flowed out from a center net cone, and at the far end of the large armory floor were the orchestra and a large American flag thrown into bold relief by a bright spotlight.

The event was sponsored by Neillsville’s active Service Company, 128th Infantry, which hopes to return the Military Ball as one of the bright social lights of the winter season.  Proceeds go into the company’s mess fund and will be used to provide members of the company with “extras” during the summer encampment.

•••••••••

Cash donations totaling about $280 have been turned over to the Forrest Klueckmann family, who lost their home by fire February 13 and they barely escaped with their lives.  The collection was taken among friends and neighbors of the area by Art Wegner, chairman of the Town of Seif.

A collection of clothing and other articles for the Klueckmann’s was being taken in Neillsville by Mrs. Richard Hagedorn and was to be turned over to the family.                                                      

•••••••••

1949 Gas Stove Special, Standard 4-Burner Cabinet Style, Only $98.50 Delivered, Less Liberal Old Stove Allowance, at the Farmer’s Store, Granton                                                                         

•••••••••

Reed and Kurth Schools, along Pleasant Ridge, had meetings in their respective districts Monday evening to discuss consolidation.  It was decided at both meetings that each district would continue to run its school under the present set-up for a least one more year.  The proposition of combining the two districts had been proposed by residents of the district.

•••••••••

Parkin’s Ice Cream is Tops! Take home a generous-sized Parkin Ice Cream Pie and Treat the family to its smooth, tasty goodness, only 35¢, at your dealers of the Parkin Ice Cream Co., 104 W. Ninth St. Marshfield.

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤