February 1915

Mrs. Fred Kicherer, wife of a settler living in western Pine Valley, died last week, leaving an eight-day-old baby girl.  Nurse Zindel brought the baby to town, traveling through the snow.  Boarding the train here at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Miss Zindel took the baby to the Sparta Children’s Home.  Her skill in handling the baby attracted much attention, here.  Two other children, a six-year-old boy and a girl, age five, are left in the father’s care.  Some of Kicherer’s neighbors have offered to take care of the girl.

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To the people of Neillsville and vicinity:

Fifty years ago, the great rebellion came to an end, this being the jubilee year.  It is but right that we should celebrate the occasion in a patriotic way.  Hence, arrangements have been made to hold a public meting on the evening of the 22^nd of this month, Washington’s Birthday, to celebrate Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays together.

Mr. R. W. Rood, of Madison, patriotic Instructor of the Department of Wis. G.A.R., will be with us and deliver an address on the “Life of Lincoln.”  The Hon. S. A. Cook of Neenah, who is the Dept. Commander of Wis. G.A.R., will be here if possible.  An address of the “Life of Washington” will also be given.  Professor Rood has kindly consented to prepare the musical part for the occasion.  The entertainment will be held at the Assembly room of the Neillsville High School.  It will be free to all.  Everybody is invited, particularly the young people are requested to come and learn more about the life and character of America’s greatest Presidents.

Respectfully, Fred Reitz

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Last Thursday night, a Lodge of the Order of the Moose was organized here. A team of the Wausau Moose Lodge came over to do the work of installation, accompanied by a large number of the Marshfield Moose members. The two groups traveled by train, arriving at 5:17 p.m.  Meeting at the depot, the Neillsville Band and a long procession of new candidates for membership, the visitors were escorted up town and to the Merchants Hotel.  Of the 154 charter members, 124 were present at the ceremony.  The following men were elected and installed as officers: C. R. Sturdevant, Ed Kutchera, M. L. Seide, M. E. Wilding, G. C. Huntley, A. E. Dudley, C. Zschernitz, Matt Sherer, H. Steele, R. Kurth, R. A. Brauer and J. L. Neverman.

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The C. E. Blodgett Cheese Company, of Marshfield, has made another big cheese shipment to Europe.  The shipment was forwarded last week, consisting of eight carloads, seven going to England and one being sent to Belgian war sufferers.  The latter is a gift of the Wisconsin Advancement Association, of which E. P. Arpin is the president.  Mr. Blodgett said that England purchases no other style of cheese than that known as “twins.”

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The schoolhouse on Pleasant Ridge, formerly known as the Reed School, burned last week Wednesday evening just after the close of school.  All of the school furniture and books were lost.  It is supposed that the fire originated from the furnace, in some way.

The loss is partially covered by $1,250 insurance in the Lynn Company.

Monday evening, a school meeting was held at H. O. Huckstead’s home.  Clark County Supt. Kennedy and Mr. Schatz were at the meeting.  A plan was discussed to build a modern up-to-date building, arranged for school and community purposes.  It is hopeful that this plan will be carried out next summer.

Monday morning, the five 8^th grade scholars; May and Elsie Huckstead, Marie Carter, Nina Selves and Irene Root, started classes in the Neillsville School.

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J. A. Randall’s Shop has milking machines, the kind that has the squeeze to them, set up so anyone interested can see how they work.

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Mr. Edward Phipps of the Town of Eaton and Miss Ella Vogel of the village of Loyal were united in marriage by Judge O. W. Schoengarth at the Clark County courthouse, Feb. 10, 1915.

Mr. Edward Pagelsdorf of Eaton and Miss Sylvia Basset of the Town of York were married at the Clark County court-house Feb. 10, Judge O. W. Schoengarth officiating.

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Sixteen 60-foot poles, belonging to the electric company, were hauled from Fairchild to Neillsville, this week by James Wilson.  The poles were loaded on four sleighs.  It sounds like a simple operation, but the old loggers know better.  A day and a-half were consumed in getting from Fairchild to Neillsville, using the four sleighs and the tip-overs were too numerous to keep tab on.

Mid-day temp

February 1955

The home for old people in Greenwood, newly constructed by Clark County, was opened to guests February 1.  The number first received will be small, the purpose being to build gradually, up to the capacity of 24.  This plan will give opportunity to iron out the wrinkles, inevitable to a new building and a new enterprise.  It will also give opportunity for those in charge to accustom themselves to their new duties.

In charge are Mr. and Mrs. Ervin O. Geisler who hold a lease on the building for one year.  The arrangement is that they pay a nominal rent for the building and receive an agreed rate per month for each guest.  The county has provided the building, which is completely furnished and equipped.  The Geislers supply the service and meet all the operating costs, including the food and fuel.

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Sunday, January 30, marked the second annual ice fishing contest held at Rock Dam and sponsored by the Rock Dam Rod and Gun club.  The temperature was well above zero, hardly any wind, an ideal day.  Approximately 1,600 people participated.

There were 1,605 holes, dug in 21-inches of ice, by Mike Klapatauskas, Eddie Trunkel, Tony Petkovsek and other members of the club.  The ice drill was made at the F&M Garage in Willard by Mike Klapatauskas, Frank Debevek and Eddie Trunkel and was operated by the aid of a tractor, like a post-hole digger.

The contest started at the sound of a gunshot at 1:30 p.m.

Soon after, Harry Liebzeit of Greenwood came up with the first fish.  This really encouraged the fishermen.  After that not a fisherman lifted his eyes from his line, each uttering the fisherman’s prayer, hoping he would be the next to have a catch.

Then came the second prize winner; Larry Werner of Chippewa Falls.  The third winner was also from out of town.  He was Louis Chaplinski of Gilman.  At 3:30 p.m., came the most crucial moments of all.  Who could be the winner of the largest fish caught?  There could be no fish story so often told by fishermen; it had to be a real live fish.  So it was, being caught by Charles Wnukowski of Cadott.

After all entries were measured, Harry Liebzeit, winner of the first fish caught, was somewhat surprised to learn that he was also winner of the smallest fish caught.

Then came the mid-day temperature guessing, which was 12 degrees at 12 noon.  No doubt many people in this community have pretty accurate thermometers, because there were 30 correct guessers, each receiving two pounds of delicious Grassland butter.  The last prize, given to the oldest fisherman, proved to be none other than our friend and neighbor, George Gemmeke of Greenwood, who is 79 years young.  We were told he is a very good fisherman.

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Valentine’s Day was a Red Letter Day at the Loyal Public School for on that day the long waited hot lunch program was launched.

In the large basement dining room with tables arranged for 128, serving started at 11:35 a.m. with the arrival of the primary grades.  By 12:25 p.m. the last of the diners were seated.  Two hundred four were served.  Monday’s menu consisted of a hot dish, bread and butter sandwiches, cookies, peach sauce and milk.  Many second servings were given.

The diners proved that they were true to their state’s principal product, consuming 200 pints of milk.

Serving was cafeteria style.  The cost per diner is $1.25 per week.  Each diner returned his soiled dishes to the kitchen.

The cooks, Mrs. Ann Catlin and Mrs. Laura Stayton, are very pleased with the modern, convenient kitchen, which is well equipped with a large sized refrigerator, dishwasher, potato-peeler, mix-master, garbage disposal unit, gas stove, cupboards, work-tables, heavy, colored plastic dining dishes, large sinks and cooking utensils.

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Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Bieneck celebrated their 43^rd wedding anniversary Monday evening, February 14, at their home.  Their son, Paul Bieneck and family, spent the evening with them.  The honored couple danced to accordion music played by their granddaughter, Lila Bieneck.  They also played cards and took pictures, followed by a lunch brought by Mrs. Paul Bieneck.

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Clark County Treasurer Donald A. Braatz has purchased the Herman North home at 311 East Fourth Street.  Consideration is understood to be about $14,000.  The North’s plan to move into the W. J. Marsh home adjoining their present property to the east.

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Dr. John L. Smith has taken over the practice of the late Dr. R. J. Weiher with offices in the Vinger building in Greenwood.  He is the son of Mrs. Ruth Smith, who operates a drug store in Pittsville.

After graduating from the Pittsville High School in 1943, he entered the Army and served for three years.  He received his dental degree at Marquette University in June 19533.  He was located in Tomahawk for over a year prior to coming to Greenwood.  He married the former Corinne Louise Ferk at Pittsville, in 1949.  The couple has two sons, Mark 3 and John, 2.  They are now residing in the Johnson residence on Division Street in Greenwood.

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Veterans Village, with wartime structures, has filled a nine-year gap in Neillsville housing needs.

The village introduced a portion of Neillsville, which has played an (a) unique part in its history.  This village, consisting of 12 rented units, has helped many families over a period of difficult housing in Neillsville.

The doom of the village has not been sounded. The city council has adopted a policy of discontinuing the units, one by one, as each unit is vacated.  Upon being vacated, each will be sold, but with the understanding that it must be removed to a location outside the city limits. Thus, the way is prepared for the ultimate disappearance of the Village.

As compared with the original plan and expectation, the Village has gone way beyond its expectancy.  When the little houses were brought in from Badger Village, near Baraboo, the accepted idea was that they would be used two or three years only and they would then be abandoned. But they were opened to occupancy on or about March 1946, having had a life of nine years of usefulness.

When the policy of closing the Village out was adopted in the city council, members expressed the judgment that living quarters may now be secured upon a normal commercial basis in Neillsville.  Doubt of this action was suggested by Mayor Carl, but he did not insistently oppose the policy of abandonment.  The Mayor’s doubts are more than echoed by some of the present residents of the village.

The Art Schroeder’s, for instance, have sought a house elsewhere, but have been unable to find anything, either for rent or for sale, which seemed to them available at anything like a reasonable price. They are planning to build in the spring.

The Robert Kunze’s have done some looking, but they have been unable to find anything comparable in cost and accommodations.

The units came from a wartime village and the first immediate purpose was to ensure housing to veterans returning from World War II.  Throughout the nine years, veterans have had a preference.  Only in case there was no veteran on the waiting list was a unit rented to a non-veteran.

Another name for the Village might have been “Honeymoon Home,” for it was inevitable under the circumstances, that the Honeymooners, short of accommodations and usually short also of money, should start life in Veterans Village.

Financially, Veterans Village has been a good deal for the city.  The units were at first a loan and then a present from the Federal Government.  So they cost nothing.  The city’s cost was in transporting them from Badger Village and in placing them on the site.  The units were placed on wooden posts and had no substantial foundations.

A few years ago, the units began to look a little decrepit, so the city had siding placed upon them.

The city’s records are not complete as to the original cost, in early years.  A recollection seems to be, that the cost of transportation and setting up the units, was near $5,000.  The city’s income is from $1,600 to $1,800 per year, net, according to the knowledge of City Clerk John C. Brandt, who is the custodian.  The city’s experience as a landlord has been good, with only three families leaving rent unpaid.  Two of these families scooted out without even saying good-bye.

The 12 units of Veterans Village have had 60 or more tenants through the years.  The rent charged has been from $18 per month for the smaller, one bedroom size and $22 per month for the larger, two-bedroom unit.

(Veterans Village was located on Hill St. D.Z.)

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The Gambles Store has Homegard wallpaper, many new patterns in stock, at only 9c per single roll.

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In promoting the Clark County Centennial, 1953, a group of Neillsville ladies dressed up in 1800s-era finery, walked along Hewett Street, to draw attention to the Centennial Celebration. Their stroll ended at the Merchants Hotel restaurant, operated by the Bradbury’s at that time, where they each enjoyed a tea.  The ladies, seated left to right: Ev. Schuster, Alice Wasserburger, Pearl Bradbury, Ted Wang, Katie Cole, Sally Noble, Marie Covell, Susie Whaley, Edna Russell, Ede Hepburn and Helen Smith.  (Photo courtesy of Charlotte Drescher’s family collection)