Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

April 4, 2018 Page 12  

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

 

April 1868

 

Forty acres of hardwood timberland, located nine miles from this village, was recently sold for $150 by W.T. Hutchinson.                                                                                        

•••••••••

Farmers are hard at work in this county.  Some wheat has already been sown, and we understand that Mr. Anson Green commenced sowing wheat on the 30th of March.  This is something very unusual in this county and as but few precedents.                                                         

•••••••••

Neillsville House – This excellent hotel, which has few equals in this country, is to be closed this week by its whole-souled and generous proprietor, Mr. James O’Neill.  It is almost needless to add that it will not remain so long, on account of its excellent location and adaptability.

 

(Due to James O’Neill being out of town for a while, he planned to close the hotel, but someone offered to rent it, so it did remain open for business.  DZ)                                

•••••••••

The Jackson County Banner is no more, but the paper still lives and flourishes under a new and appropriate name, the Badger State Journal.  It is fast increasing circulation outside of its own county with the suggested change; its energetic proprietors and popular editor have made the paper deserving of a more significant title.

•••••••••

The Republican town caucus, which met at the courthouse in this village last Saturday afternoon pursuant to call nominated men for our town offices, of whom but few objections could be made.  Consequently, there was no opposition and they were elected, as follows:

 

Town Supervisors: James O’Neill, O.P. Wells and James Hewett.  Town Treasurer: Harvey Palmer, Assessors: J. F. King, S.C. Boardman and E. R. Hatch.  Justice of Peace: W. T. Hutchinson and E.H.. Bacon.  Constables: R. B. Meacham and James W. Ferguson.  Sealer of Weights and Measures: Daniel Gates.  Pound Master: John S. Dore.                                                                                    

•••••••••

The Liquor License Question: the vote at the polls in this town on the question of liquor license, or no liquor license, decided the no license party victorious.  The vote was first taken vica voce, and those who favored license shouted in such loud tones that a division of the house was called for.  Those opposed to giving license were requested to rise, which brought up a large majority of those present.  They sat down, and those in favor of license were asked to make it manifest in the same manner, but not one came to the scratch, though some person cried out in vain, “Get up boys, don’t be ashamed!”                      

•••••••••

All who wish to participate in a lively game of baseball, or those who would like to witness the sport, are invited to be present on the ground west of the residence of Mr. Orson Bacon, next Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, if fair weather.

 

(The Orson Bacon house, which still stands, is located on the southwest corner of Grand Avenue and 4th Street. DZ)                                                                                            

•••••••••

By the close of this year, it is estimated, fully 1,200 out of 1,700 miles between Omaha and Sacramento will be traversed by the railroad locomotive.  The time between New York and San Francisco will be reduced to ten days.  Both ends of  the Great National Line are making gratifying progress, under their respective powerful companies.                                                                                         

•••••••••

Last year the loggers on the Black River were favored with the largest and best raise of water in the different steams that has been known before for years; but this spring it is quite the contrary.  The logs put into the smaller streams have scarcely moved. On the Black River and below the falls on Popple River, however, driving crews have given the logs a good start; in fact, Popple River is clear below the falls.  The weather still remains very dry, and the water is not too low on the main river for log driving.

 

April 1938

 

Another contingent of 22 boys will leave for the CCC Camp at Perkinstown April 12, located in Taylor County, H. L. Trewartha of the relief office reports.

 

(Perkinstown is located on County Highway M in the Chequamegon National Forest, 10 miles-east-northeast of Gilman.

 

Logging began there in and around the 1860s.  In 1892, Shaws started a tannery at Perkinstown.  Many hemlock trees grew in the area’s forest, which was convenient, as hemlock bark was needed  in the tanning process.  Waste sludge from the tannery was dumped into nearby Kathryn Lake.  By 1893, the town had six saloons.  In 1906, the tannery shut down. 

In 1933 Perkinstown CCC Camp opened nearby and helped build the Winter Sports area, among other projects.

 

In the late 1930s through 1940s , tobogganing at Perkinstown was an exciting sport. DZ)   

 

As a preliminary stop toward the development of a second flowage, the Taylor County recreational committee last week authorized a survey of the Miller Dam area on the Yellow River, north of Perkinstown.  The first water ran over the new dam on the Mondeaux River in north central Taylor County Tuesday, March 22.  The dam built by WPA, creates a flowage having 25 miles of shoreline, grass grown to the water’s edge.

•••••••••

The All-Stars, independent Neillsville basketball team, has won nine games this season.

 

The names of the team members are: Bob O’Brien, Rexford, Carl Wagner, Ole Olson, Ken Olson, Bill Wagner, Adelbert Eberhardt, Chet Wagner, Dave Krutsch and Harold Feirn.

 

During the past season the team won 9 games and lost 11.  They made 215 field goals and 83 free throws in 20 games for an average of 35-1/2 points per game.                              

•••••••••

James White, Andrew Lewis, Fred Lakosky and Atty High F. Gwinn of Loyal, on behalf of businessmen of Loyal and farmers, went to Oshkosh to consult with officials of the Lakeshire Cheese Co., which closed up its large plant at Loyal last week.

 

Several days later, the Lakeshire officials wrote that another deal pending has not materialized, and that they would be willing to sell the land on a land contract for $60,000, payable at the rate of $12,000 per year with five percent interest on the unpaid balance.  This includes the machinery except cans and a drier.  A meeting was held at the Theatre at Loyal Tuesday evening to discuss the matter.

•••••••••

Ardith Counsell of Willard came down for a weekend visit as the home of her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. O. W. Counsell, and to try out her new roller skates on the Clay Street sidewalks.  Sunday her parents came to get her and also had dinner with the Counsell’s.                                            

•••••••••

It’s the second week in April and golf play is in full swing at the Neillsville Country Club course, which is one of the sportiest to be found in a city this size in the state.  There  was a good turnout at the opening last Sunday, and when a reporter asked R. E. Schmedel for the scores, he said the players were sworn to secrecy for the first day.

 

Myron Larson, formerly in charge of the Hillcrest course at Eau Claire and also for a time at the Ojibway course at Chippewa Falls, has been hired as greens-keeper here, and everything is set for one of the best years in history of the club.  The new clubhouse will be open every day instead of just on Saturday and Sunday.

•••••••••

In one of the earliest baseball games ever played here, the Neillsville Flyers will open their 1938 season against the Future Farmers team of the high school in a seven-inning practice game at the fairground Monday afternoon, April 18, at 2:30 p.m.

 

Several who will play with the Flyers during the season are expected home for the Easter holidays to play with the team.  This is the first year that a baseball team has been organized at the high school in many years.  There will be no admission charge.

 

The Neillsville Flyers will hold practice at the fairground Friday evening at 6 o’clock.

•••••••••           

While Irving Carl of Greenwood was cleaning a room over his shop he found an old tin can with rags stuck in it and underneath were silver dollars and 50’ pieces.  It was a pleasant surprise for Carl.                     

•••••••••

Ominous forest fires in the vicinity of Pray and Merrillan Junction Sunday caused a pall of smoke to hang over quite a territory in this section.  Bad fires also raged in northern Clark County and southern Taylor County.  The woods are extremely dry here as everywhere else and forest rangers are issuing special warnings for smokers and everybody else to be careful about starting forest fires. Which may prove very costly.

 

Rains are badly needed to mitigate the danger of further fires, and, in the meantime, the utmost care should be exercised.                                                                                                         

•••••••••

J. Leland McGinnis, a trainman for the Omaha railroad, who is on a run through Neillsville, looks so much like the late Will Rogers that he served as a model for a statue of Rogers made by Jack Gardner of California, for the Rogers Memorial at Glendale, Calif.  McGinnis is planning soon to return to Hollywood to appear in a picture of the “old west.”  At present he is on a run from Altoona to Marshfield.  

•••••••••

Cy Buker, son of Art Buker of Greenwood, has been listed as one of the first-string pitchers of the University of Wisconsin baseball team, according to the team roster, announced this week.  Cy pitched for Greenwood in the Cloverbelt league last year and is being sought out by Medford’s city team for its pitching staff this year.

 

(Cy later became a Greenwood High School sports coach. D Z) 

•••••••••

Dance – Easter Sunday, April 18 at Granton, Music by “Markee’s Old Time Band.”

•••••••••

Gardening plowing - See us or call, we are in the position to plow, drag, disc or spring tooth your garden.  Phone 77, A. Hauge & Son, Neillsville.

 

(During that time, every homeowner had a vegetable garden in the backyard.  Hauge, who operated a dray line in Neillsville, had horses that not only pulled the dray wagons, but they also pulled implements in tilling garden plots. DZ)                                                                                               

•••••••••

The 50th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford last week was a big event.  It came on Mrs. Ford’s birthday.  She’s 71 and Mr. Ford is 75.  Mr. Ford cut timber from his father’s farm near Detroit, with which to build their first home.  He later found employment with the Detroit Edison Company, as an electrician at $35 a month.  While on the job he invented the first motor driven vehicle, working nights and Sundays.

•••••••••

Navigation opened up Friday on the Black River when Bob Dwyer and Snowball Meyer struck out for Hatfield via rowboat, launching their craft just below the Grand Avenue Bridge.

 

A large crowd of spectators gathered at the harbor to bid them farewell and then hurried to the Black River Bridge to watch them pass under, thence south to the Cunningham Bridge for a last view of the daring Holt-LaRue wave gliders.

 

They coped with the situation gallantly until a rock down near the Herian farm got in their way and upset the vessel, landing the pair in the icy depths of the river.  Dame fortune or some such miracle chose for them one of the few spots where walking ashore was possible.

 

Thus, the urge to cruise down-stream to the lake was nipped in the bud, hats off to their bravery, and the desire  for adventure will be arrested for a spell.

 

(The Herian farmland bordered the east bank of Black River, starting near the present USH 10 bridge to Ross Eddy. DZ)                                                                                            

•••••••••           

Green Spruce trees, costing $2 apiece, will be planted between Owen and Withee along what will be known as Memorial Boulevard.  Businessmen of Owen and Withee are to contribute $5 each and citizens $2 each.  Each tree planted will be dedicated to the memory of some soldier.           

•••••••••             

The new Wagner restaurant is coming along in fine shape and will be one of the finest found in a city the size of Neillsville.  Mr. Wagner is planning to hold the opening on the same day next month that an important family anniversary takes place.

 

The new front is nearing completion, and as soon as the sidewalls are completed, they will be adorned with chromium beading and an artistic blending of colors from the ceiling down to the walnut panels.  The ceiling also has been in new weatherboarding.

 

The main dining room will seat 65 people at tables, in booths and at the long counter at one time in the tap room at the west end, which will also have booths finished in walnut wood, where 40 people can be served.  Air conditioning will also add to the pleasure of service. Later, the basement will be fitted into a large clubroom and the upstairs rooms will also be fitted with the air conditioning.

 

Beer in the taproom will be served by direct draught from the kegs, doing away with coils.

 

Wagner’s Cafι was located on the northwest corner of West 6th and Hewett from 1938 thru 1947.  Becker’s purchased the business, operating it as a cafι until 1967.  If you wanted to have a breakfast after dancing at the Silver Dome, the cafι was open to serve you until 3 a.m.  During Wagner’s early years in business, it was also the Neillsville stop for Sioux Bus Lines, where passengers were picked up or left off.

                                                                         

•••••••••

Gypsies who crossed Clark County last Friday left a tr ail of filching all the way from Greenwood to Black River Falls.  The only loss in the vicinity was reported by Sherm Lowery, who said he was robbed by gunpoint bor $55 by one of the gypsies while working at the Irving School.

 

(The 1930s was the era of traveling gypsies in the Midwest.  During summer months they traveled in touring cars, in small caravans along the countryside roads, alternating stops at farmhouses to beg for food or money.  They camped in the area for a few nights and then moved on. DZ)

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