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January 19, 2022, Page 9 Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"
Extracted by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.
Index of "Oldies" Articles |
Clark County News
January 17, 1952
Bruce Mound ski hill rated top in the area
Project “Snowbird” was begun only 4 years ago by the group
Most citizens view a snowfall with an eagerness akin to the emotion they feel when paying their taxes. The white stuff means only shoveling, pushing cars out of ruts, subzero temperatures and “why did we ever come to Wisconsin?”
But not all people feel the same. A small, but vociferous, group leaps with joy at the first sign of snow. Whistling and singing they greet their fellow men with: “Isn’t it a beautiful snowfall”?
No, these are not Owen inmates. They are honest, trusted citizens, whose sanity is above question. They have merely been bitten by a bug.
Haul out woolens
At first sign of winter, they haul out winter outfits, polish boots, shake mothballs out of woolens, and try on trousers. “Wonder if that added 10 pounds will show?”
The bug? Yep, it is the ski bug.
Skies are brought down from the attic; poles are inspected for cracks and the days of waiting begin.
All eyes, all thoughts are turned to Bruce Mound.
“Wonder if there’s enough snow on the slopes yet?”
Thawing days are looked upon with dismay. Any day that snow doesn’t fall is considered a day wasted. The ski-enthusiasts were dismayed by the comparatively light snowfall so far this winter.
The members of the Half Moon Ski Club began trips out to the slopes to test equipment and get the trails in shape. A roller, reminiscent of a rolling pin but on a larger scale, was hauled to the top of the slopes and rolled down, packing down the first fine snow.
Snowbirds come
Finally enough snow was reported, and the snowbirds began flocking out to the mound. The electric tow, or lift, on the beginner’s slope was put in operation. This lifts the skiers about 100 feet from the bottom. The second tow, powered by a gasoline engine, lifts the skiers about 300 feet for the intermediate and expert trails.
The trails on Bruce Mound are patrolled. The beginner’s hill is merely 120 feet high; but the intermediate and expert trails feature a vertical drop of 360 feet. The longest trail, the intermediate is 2,600 feet long. The expert trail is 1,600 feet long. An idea of the speed of both the tow and the skier is the fact that a round-trip on the intermediate slope takes three minutes. The plummeting, twisting expert trail, which winds through the trees, takes less time.
Located two miles from Merrillan, the hill was leased to the club by Joe Pasek of Merrillan. It is in the town of Dewhurst, in Clark County. Built up in only four short years by members of the Half Moon Ski Club, the area boasts two warming houses.
Clark County snowbirds didn’t always have such a wonderful setup. The idea for a ski hill began after the war when a group of veterans, headed by Dick Van Gorden, who had been trained as a ski-trooper out west by a Swiss-born instructor, got the idea.
“Remember to keep zee knees bent.”
Started in 1947
In 1947 the group started a ski hill on the Neillsville Mound, using land provided by Mrs. Marion Calway. A ski tow was installed on the north side of the mound, but the vast amount of clearing due to the amount of boulders and stones forced the crew to abandon the job.
A second try was made, using part of the Neillsville County Club’s golf course. This proved educational, as the men learned considerably about the operation of a ski tow. Lights were installed for skiing in the evenings. It became so popular that plans for enlargement were made. At this time the Half Moon Club was incorporated.
Bruce Mound idea
Dick Van Gorden and Atty. John M. Peterson arranged for the use of land on Bruce Mound.
The runs had to be cleared of underbrush, and a power saw supplied by Tommy Svetlik helped considerably. Other members came out, donating their time and work to get the slopes in shape.
Mr. Peterson explained the reasons for having the ski runs on the north side of the hill. It seems on thawing days the snow on the north side doesn’t thaw as fast, so the snow lasts longer on the north side. One of the banes of skiing is wet snow, as it has a habit of caking on the skis and impeding the skier.
Crowd watches
As many as 135 people have used the slopes on one day, coming from as far away as St. Paul and Oconomowoc. On nice days it is not unusual to see the parking area filled with cars, all watching the snowbirds perform on the beginner’s slope. Since the intermediate and expert slopes are located a distance from the parking lot, a great many people don’t know the existence of the other slopes. A small charge is made for autos, to cover the costs of plowing out the road.
John M. Peterson at Bruce Mound.
(Press Photo Jan. 17, 1952)
*****
Warriors to play Cadott team here
“Luckless” Cagers drop two tilts to Owen and to Stanley Neillsville luckless high school Cagers, resting on the bottom of the Cloverbelt conference heap by virtue of a 74-42 shellacking at Owen Tuesday night, will get a breather from league competition tonight (Thursday).
They will meet Cadott High’s quintet on the Armory floor. A preliminary will be played between the “B” teams of the two schools starting at 7:15 p.m.
Until their meeting Tuesday night, Owen shared the cellar position with Neillsville. But the north-county boys climbed out of the hole in convincing style with their 74-42 victory. Owen controlled the ball throughout and maintained a steady scoring pace in all four periods.
Owen’s Larson, forward, set the scoring pace for the evening with 18 points. Hot on his heels were his teammates, Ross and Roberson, guards, with 17 and 15, respectively.
Jim Horswill led the Neillsville scoring with a respectable 14 points; while Bob Kunze scored 10, Roland Tresemer, 8, Dale Meihak, 6, and George Albrecht and Forest Larsen, two each.
*****
Carl Zschernitz fractures leg in dog pound fall
Board clips dump caretaker on head while repairing pen
Now on crutches following a harrowing experience in the Neillsville dog pound is Carl Zschernitz. He was repairing the pound when a 2x6 board blipped him above the right ear, knocking him unconscious for a few minutes. He fell into the pen, fracturing his right leg above the ankle.
George Campbell and George Frei, who were dumping a load of snow, heard his shouts and rescued him. He was taken home and then to the hospital, where a cast was put on.
The pen was empty because neighborhood children had been releasing the stray dogs. They climbed over the fence in order to do so.
Mr. Zschernitz was putting a fence on top of the pen to discourage the children’s humanity when the board clipped him.
*****
January 20, 1972
“Biggest month” is Foundry word
In December, the Neillsville Foundry, Inc., “enjoyed the best month” from a production standpoint since locating in Neillsville, Val Payleitner, president, revealed this week.
“We are especially pleased in view of the fact that there were two holidays, and only 19 working days during the month,” Payleitner told the Clark County Press.
At the same time, he said that the foundry payroll was “the highest for a single month in our history here.”
How does the future look?
That, of course, is tied with the national economy; but the foundry president observed that the current month “looks even better than December.”
The Neillsville Foundry, Inc., started operations here in July of 1970, moving from Milwaukee into a new, modern foundry building constructed with the assistance of area people who invested in O’Neill Industries, Inc. O’Neill is one of the city’s two industrial development organizations. Area people raised $165,000 to assist in building the foundry building. The balance of the $300,000 facility was secured through the Small Business Administration.
*****
Local Moose Lodge plans gathering
The Neillsville Moose Lodge held its monthly meeting Monday evening at the American Legion Hall. Thomas Hassemer was received as a new member.
Plans were made for a “smoker” to be held February 21. Moose members are to invite guests. A lunch will be served, and door prizes will be awarded.
Anyone wishing to attend should contact Forest Larsen, lodge secretary, or any other local member.
*****
Granton looks for home close tilt Friday
Nekoosa next for Bulldogs
The Bulldogs of Granton High School will battle for fifth place in the 11-team Marawood conference when they take on Nekoosa Friday night.
The Bulldogs went over 500 percent in conference games last Friday by stunning Marathon, 66-37.
After last weekend’s games, Nekoosa stood just a half-game above Granton (6-4) and in fifth place in the conference standings.
Granton apparently has the edge on Nekoosa in defense, with a record 22 points better than Nekoosa, 501-523. But, on the other hand, Nekoosa’s offense has rolled up 555 points to 513 for the Bulldogs.
These statistics, however, may be misleading, for at the time they were gathered, Nekoosa had played 10 conference tilts as compared with nine for Granton.
*****
January 16, 1992
Chamber elects Grap President
Kevin Grap, of WCCN Radio in Neillsville, was elected president of the Neillsville Area Chamber of Commerce at the board of directors meeting Wednesday afternoon.
*****
Military news
Pvt. Douglas J. Hogen has completed an armor crewman course at Fort Knox, KY. The course is designed to teach crewman to serve as a member of the armor unit in defensive and offensive combat operations.
Hagen is the son of Quentin I. and Kathryn A. Hogan, Neillsville.
*****
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Mrs. Bert (Jennie) Hayden of Granton will mark the observance of her first 90 years of life on Sunday, January 23. Mrs. Hayden has lived in Clark County throughout her lifetime. (Press photo, Jan. 2, 1972) |
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Neillsville Special Olympics skiers and coaches gathered for a picture at Friday’s Invitational event at the Neillsville Country Club. (Front, left) Gina Thoma, Becky Egstad and Travis Huth. (Back, left) Keith Sladek, Kim Newman, Peg Gaede, Brandon Kuhn (coach), Julie Kuhn, Dean Glaze (coach), Tim O’Brien and Kerri McLean (coach). (Press photo Jan. 6, 1992) |
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