Time Machine Trip to August 1915

 

Kaukauna Times

Sponored by: Look Back in Time 

 Antiques and Collectables - Second Street Kaukauna

August 6, 1915

Jos. Tietz of the Kaukauna Auto Company is now in readiness to supply the people of Kaukauna or visitors to the city with regular taxi-cab service, having brought a machine to the city last week. Prompt and rapid service is assured all who call phone no. Y32. Rates reasonable.

 

After January 1, 1916, druggists will either have to take out a retail liquor dealer’s license or stop whiskey and brandy sales at their stores. Whiskey and brandy are no longer listed as pharmacopoeia.

 

August 13, 1915

Kons Brothers, of Kaukauna, are the fortunate possessors of an International Harvester Mogul tractor recently purchased from the Kaukauna Farm Implement Company. 

 

Miss Mary Grignon died quite suddenly at the historic old home of the Grignon family, Monday evening. Miss Grignon was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Grignon and the granddaughter of Augustine Grignon, an early settler in Kaukauna.

 

An exciting runaway occurred Tuesday at about noon at the corner of Lawe and Taylor Streets, injuring one of the occupants of the rig quite seriously. The accident was the result of a boy riding a motorcycle crossing the front of the horse. 

 

William Van Lieshout of West Holland, who has been selling Ford autos for the past two years has decided to come to Kaukauna and build a large Ford garage. Van Lieshout has secured two lots on Lawe Street north of the Hotel Kaukauna.

 

August 20, 1915

It is universally conceded that Frank Kern developed a power boat in his "Bod the Second" which is a racer having no equal among Kaukauna launches. It is one of the flat bottom crafts which goes over the water like a bird skimming through the air.

 

August 27, 1915

At the adjourned meeting of the common council Tuesday evening a resolution was passed empowering the Park Commissioners to buy for the north side park purposes a parcel of 14.31 acres of Black's woods be lying between the inter-urban line and the river and west of the Block resident on the riverbank.

 

An amendment to the fish games laws prohibits the killing of does and fawns in this state. A fine of $25 to $50 or imprisonment in the penalty for the violation.

 

O. A. Look has just received a letter from the Welch Grape Juice Co. announcing that the Kaukauna Drug Co. was one of the prize winners in the Welch Week window trimming contest recently. The Kaukauna Drug Co. has been awarded a cash prize of $5.00 – the fourth prize in the contest. The contest in the northwest section covered 19 states.  

 

August 1915 Deaths:

Peter Miller

Peter Promer, eight years old

Johnnie Verbockel age four

Mrs. Anna Manning

Mrs. Richard Harvey

Henry Haas 

Jacob Reith

Time Machine to August 1905

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

August 4, 1905

 

St. Mary’s Grade School graduation class of 1905.

Agnes J, Bell, Edward A. Burns, Archibald F. Creviere, Genevieve C. Dogot, Rose G. Farrell, James E. Garvey, Laura E. Hiting, Lilly B. Kinney, Iva M. Krebs, Mary I. Kronforst, Anna C. Kraemer, Mathew J. Kline, Santford C. Kittell, Madaline L. Libert, Robert A. Landreman, Margaret M. Melchior, Eugene J. Nagan, Katharine G. Sadlier, Agnes E. Taugher, Aloysius P. Verfurth and Francis J. Weiler.

 

Among the laws passed by the recent legislature is one providing that when a child who has the right to be at school is compelled to work for his or her living wages shall be the child’s sole property.

 

The biggest pile of logs in the Fox River Valley can be seen at the Kaukauna Fiber Company's plant. It is several hundred feet in length, and the logs are piled to a height of nearly fifty feet. They are taken up with a cable driven by the engine in the mill, from one to four logs at a time.

 

Work on the new telephone exchange, to be installed in Kaukauna by the Fox River Valley Telephone Company, will be commenced within the next two weeks.

 

Most of the wires for the exchange will be laid underground and will follow alleys wherever convenient. The system will accommodate 1,000 subscribers at the start and will be added to as the business expands.

 

August 11, 1905

 

J. S. Fechter has the honor of being one of the pioneer merchants of the north side. He came here in 1885 and opened a general store in a building on Wisconsin Avenue, located almost opposite Desnoyer Street. Fifteen months after he opened his store, he was burned out by a fire that swept that part of the city. Having the utmost faith in the city's growth, he immediately set to work to reestablish himself. Today Mr. Fechter owns one of the handsomest homes in the city on Wisconsin Avenue as well as one of the most complete furnishings stores to be found in the Fox River Valley.

 

An Italian laborer employed at the lime kilns on the east shore of Lake Winnebago had a close call from death. While using a pick he came in contact with a piece of dynamite that had been left on the ledge. The explosion resulted in the man being thrown several feet and was found unconscious, His hands and face were badly lacerated and the sight of one of his eyes narrowly escaped being destroyed.

 

 

Ridge Point

Messrs. Ristau Bros., proprietors of Columbia Park, conducted an excursion to Ridge Point last evening over the Green Bay line of interurban. Six open-excursion cars being used to carry the large number that turned out for the trip. Prof. Mill’s Cornet Band furnished music for the dancing in the pavilion at Ridge Point.

 

 

A schoolteacher asked a boy to make a sentence containing the words “bitter end.” Several minutes later he rose and said: The dog chased the cat around the porch and as she went under he bitter end.  

 

August 18, 1905

The enterprising little paper town of Kimberly is fast putting on a metropolitan air by the improvements which are under way there this season. Sixty-two new buildings have been built or are being built this summer. For the most part, these consist of the houses the Kimberly Clark Company is building for their workmen so as to provide homes for all of them close to their work.

 

August 25, 1905

A proposition is on foot to sell the labor of all men taken to the county workhouse. The C. F. Smith Company which operates a stone quarry a short distance from the workhouse had made an offer to the county to pay fifty cents per day for every man taken from the workhouse. The proposal will be made in definite form at the county meeting of the county board.

 

Peter Schommer, the thirteen-year-old son of Nick Schommer at Little Chute had a most remarkable escape from death Saturday afternoon when he fell thirty feet from the roof to the basement of the two-story hotel which Mr. Schommer is building. The boy and his friend were playing on the roof near the hole for the chimney when he fell through the opening. He was unconscious when found and is suffering back and head injuries.   

 

Herman Balk, aged 16 years, while employed at the Combined Locks Paper Mill on a paper machine, was caught in a paper winder early Saturday morning and quite badly injured. An employee said it is not often a person survives being caught in a winder. 

 

Oral Smith, a 16-year-old boy employed in the Combined Locks paper Mill, had a portion of two fingers and his thumb taken off Tuesday by getting them in the calendars.

Time Machine Trip to August 1895

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

August 2, 1895

The south side brewery, owned by Helf & Brill, was totally destroyed by fire Wednesday morning. The fire broke out in the boiler room about six o'clock while the employees were at breakfast. The building being an entire wooden structure, the fire spread rapidly and in a short time the building was in flames and was soon swept away in smoke.

 

The game at the ball grounds last Sunday afternoon decided the championship between the Kaukauna and De Pere teams. The Kaukauna nine won, taking two of three games and the pennant.

 

The new Kaukauna orchestra recently organized by Andrew Kemmeter has been named the “Aria Orchestra.”

 

August 9, 1895

Geo. Kromer, catcher for the Kaukaunans, caught two games for the New London team last week at Antigo. He covered himself with glory and was offered a permanent position at both towns.

The early history of the bicycle is one that is attracting the attention of lovers of the wheel all over the country. We take pleasure in giving the history of the first bicycle in Wisconsin. John Kavanaugh presently of Kaukauna lived in Oshkosh in 1867 and saw a cut in the Scientific American illustrating a vehicle having one wheel in front of another. This being the invention of a Frenchman. Collecting his Irish wits added to the fact of being a skilled mechanic, he turned his mind and hand toward making a machine to ride with one wheel behind the other. The first machine he turned out was for himself and the second for a friend. The propelling power was attached to the front axle and was a crank motivation being solid to the wheel. The wheels and frame were made of wood. Mr. Kavanaugh had no idea when he was making the wheel that any living person could ride it, this fact motivation's not coming to his mind at all. Thus, the old velocipede was introduced by way of one of our own citizens.

 

The common Council took the matter of creating a new fire Department under consideration at the regular meeting Tuesday evening. A resolution was passed ordering the disbandment of the old companies and an ordinance was introduced and passed providing for a new department under a different system. According to the ordinance the fire department in the future shall consist of an engineer, stoker, two teamsters, a chief and 12 firemen. Firemen shall receive an annual salary of $50. Any firemen not answering to roll call after a fire shall be fined $5, unless he can furnish a good excuse for his absence. No intoxicating liquor shall be allowed at a fire unless ordered by the proper authorities.

 

August 16, 1895

Luther Lindauer finished his contract at the Little Chute mill today. Since April he has removed over 7000 cords of stone and given employment to 100 men. He has disposed of 3000 cords of stone, and 4000 chords remain on the banks of the river. He has loaded as high as 37 cars of stone in one day the machinery, and the coffer dam will be removed and the water turned into the tail race tomorrow.

 

The Times and Zietung presses are humming these days on an order for 4,000,000 orange wrappers that will be shipped when completed to a large orange and lemon plantation in Jamaica. The order comes through Thilmany Paper Company and will make a carload of their best grade tissue. The order will be completed in about 30 days.

 

The baseball game that was last Saturday between the north side Methodists and Congregationalists was a great surprise to all. Nearly 300 people witnessed the game and showed their appreciation with outbursts of applause.  The Methodists were defeated 20 to 15 with a game full of errors on both sides. 

 

August 23, 1895

A special from Menasha says: "The water in the Fox River at this point is so low that the waste matter from the mills remains on the dry spots and when the rays of the sun strike it, it causes a stench which is almost unbearable. Unless rain falls sufficiently to carry away the refuse the health of the community is in danger.

Another farmer’s team that had been left unhitched took a spin around the south side Tuesday. Hereafter the police officers of the city will strictly enforce the ordinance providing for the hitching of teams when left on the streets. Let this be a warning to everyone.

 

There is at least one man in the world who did not believe in the old adage, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.” He was a Chicago student of theology and committed suicide just to find out what there is to the hereafter. When he finds out he might return and deliver a few lectures to the millions who are anxious to know.

 

August 30, 1895

When the heavy rainstorm came up Tuesday afternoon the tanners who were at work on the roof of the new Lindauer block on Second Street went in out of the rain leaving a gasoline soldering furnace burning outside. The rain cooled the pipes of the gas generating apparatus to such an extent that the gasoline ran out, and this took to fire, causing quite a blaze. An alarm of fire was sounded and the fire company turned out in the down pouring rain, but did not have to set the engine.

Kaukauna lads carried off all the honors in the 1-mile bicycle race for boys under 16 at the Appleton fair Wednesday. Earl Nugent of the north side and crossed the tape first followed by Henry Kircher of the south side. Time 3:13.

 

Last week, Wisconsin Gov. Upham wrote a letter to the War Department at Washington asking that the manufacturers of this river be allowed to use a part of the flow of the water for power purposes. He said that he had been asked to do this by the people of the Fox River Valley in the interest of the great number of workmen who are out of employment as a result of the closing of so many of the mills. 

 

Yreka, Cal., Aug. 26 – The long continued public clamor for better local government bore bitter results when the infuriated people tired of the public officials and the continuation of lawlessness in the city took four murderers from the jail and hanged them. When asked if they had anything to say all the prisoners said they were innocent of the crimes they were arrested for.

 

Little Chute News

 

A son arrived at the home of G. Germansen Tuesday morning.

 

G. H. Peeters has started a music store in connection with his other business.

 

The Little Chute Cornet band has added four new members. Henry and Peter Stuyenberg, Jack Luke and John Hartjes.

 

The work of reshingling the church will be completed this week.

 

Johnnie Van Handel runs a dray from the depot to the city.

 

The Hammen block will be completed in a few weeks.

 

A son made his arrival at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Hietpas on Sunday.

 

A new band was organized on Sunday with Nick Langendyk as leader. Meetings are held at Hammen’s Hall.  

 

The large number of buildings erected here during the season adds considerably to the thriving village.

 

The low water has thrown quite a number of men out of work here.

  

 

August Mill & Sons is located on the 

NE corner of Main Ave. and Third Street.

Time Machine Trip to August 1885

 

Kaukauna Times and Kaukauna Sun

By Lyle Hansen

August 7, 1885

Several excursionists, on their return from Oshkosh, stopped in Appleton just long enough to get "boozed" and returned from there on the evening train. It was "pitch" dark after they left the depot at South Kaukauna, and they were consequently obliged to feel their way on the disconnected sidewalks. It was all right until they reached the low place between C. Reible's residence and Aug. Mill's block. It was then they stepped into air and their profanity, on coming suddenly down upon themselves, was enough to rise to the proper grade, the buildings on 4th Street.

 

Shamokin, Pa., - Five hundred boys have been discharged from work as result of the laws passed by the Legislature forbidding child labor in mines and as coal breakers.

 

Sixty Russian prisoners sentenced to exile in Siberia, while on the way, rose up against their guards. Twenty were shot dead and thirty escaped. Two soldiers were killed.   

 

August 14, 1885

 A Fourth ward lady from Kaukauna sees a dead cat and recognizes it as her own. Taking it in her arms she goes home crying. Her husband finds her and the children crying when he comes home. He makes a coffin and the is cat wrapped in cloth and placed inside. With plenty of tears the procession walks to the back yard grave site. Hearing a meow the family turns to see their cat following them. “Don’t say a word, this does not go in the newspaper.”

 

The work of building the flume for the new Badger Paper Mill is progressing as rapidly as possible. In the meantime, Kline Bros.' Flour Mill, the Bradner Smith Pulp Mill, and the Delaney Machine Shop are shut down for want of water. However, they are all improving the time by making necessary repairs and will be ready to run with full force when the water is again let into the canal. The railroad shops have the advantage of other manufactories on an occasion like this, their flume being above the head gates of the canal, and receive their water direct from the river.

 

The first of the new sidewalks on Wisconsin Avenue was laid last Saturday. Since then, the sounds of hammers and saws fill the air and soon many places will have new plank walks.

 

The state department at Washington is advised from Honolulu that the terrible disease of leprosy is increasing in the Hawaiian Islands so rapidly that there is no hope of ridding the kingdom of it. The leprosy was introduced there about forty years ago.

 

August 21, 1885

The Union Pulp Co. soon will take out some of the Taylor water wheels and replace them with "Elmores." This improvement is expected to give them better waterpower advantage.

 

Druggists say that the price of patent medicines has gone down so much that there is little money in them now. The day of large fortunes from them is over.

 

Elmore Creel living near Greeve’s Run, W. Va., having established for himself a bad reputation for cruelty to his family was called upon by a mob of masked men and punished. They took him from his bed, tied him to a tree, and gave him 100 lashes with a rawhide.

 

August 28, 1885

 

A caravan party, made up of "kids" from ten to fourteen years of age started fourth on Sunday evening last, and proceeded to make the night hideous with tin pans, horns and bells. When, in the midst of their music, Officer Mulloy was espied by one of the sentinels and the whole gang scattered. The policeman started in pursuit but failed to overtake any of them. One of the boys, in his sudden flight, stumbled over a stump, at the same time receiving the full force of the policeman's club in a very tender spot, which drew from the lad a most unearthly yell. The boys will probably be more careful of their serenades in the future.

 

Green Bay Advacate: The new city of Kaukauna is prospering and being rapidly built up. The frequent fires that have occurred there have only resulted in replacing the buildings. The south side of the city has more growth than the north side. 

Rev. Fr. F. Rohde, pastor of the Catholic church in Kaukauna informs us that six lots have been purchased in South Kaukauna and a congregation incorporated there. He has now the oversight of about 400 families.

 

Fifteen years ago, a stagecoach coming out of Blackfoot Idaho was robbed of five hundred pounds of gold dust.  The robbers were arrested and sent to the penitentiary, but they had succeeded in burying the gold. They will be released in a few weeks, and the inhabitants of the town are said to be watching the prison door to follow them when they get out. 

 

A long open trestle spanned bridge about sixty feet high is located at Marlborough, Md. The engineer of the train approaching the bridge was horrified to see a woman crossing the bridge carrying an infant and leading a small child. The engineer at once applied the brakes and blew the danger signal, but he saw it was impossible to stop in time. To jump to the water was certain death and to remain was sure death for them. People seeing the situation began screaming for the train to stop but this was impossible. The engineer went to front of the train in hopes of catching them before impact. As the train came upon them the woman grabbed both children in one arm and swung over the side as the train passed. When the train stopped the crew ran back to see if they could see them in the water. They found her hanging over the side by one arm with both children in the other. She and the children were pulled up to safety.

  

This is a view of the 4^th Street bridge looking south up what is today’s Reaume Ave.

 

Time Machine Trip to July 1975

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

 July 1, 1975

Bicentennial winners of the Rotary Club History of Kaukauna contest at St. Mary’s School received their awards from President Leo Driessen and Dick Berkers. Robert Mereness was the first-place winner, with Joe Kobussen in second place and Diane Vanevenhoven in third. With them is teacher Sister Carlyn.

  

Some people claim they are softball fans, but Bill Schuler and his wife Pauline prove they are. Since Wednesday the Schuler’s have been camping out at the Combined Locks softball diamond the site of the Combined Locks Advancement 16” softball tournament.

Kaukauna police switched their radar from the squad car to the patrolman recently, resulting in many speed arrets on Kaukauna streets. Patrolman Mike Janssen operated the dual-purpose unit. 

First graders at Holy Cross School went into gardening in a big way when they grew this giant tomato plant in their room. Looking over the plant are Kenny Coonen, Tim Flynn and Mark Ashauer.

The department of Natural Resources will hold a hearing on the extension of completion deadlines of the Thilmany Mill’s air pollution projects.

 

July 3, 1975

In these days of financial hardships. Tim Doering and Jake Van Linn can be complimented. The two boys recently discovered a bank bag on Third Street. They brought the bag to the Kaukauna Police Department. Officers returned the bag to the owners. The bag contained $380 cash.

Kaukauna’s venerable old Wisconsin Avenue bridge saw 29 boats; a record number of boats pass underneath Sunday.

July 9, 1975

Electric City 3319 Post and Auxiliary participated in the Parade at the VFW State convention held at Madison. Pictured are Darwin Werner, Eugene Schaefer, Jane Schaefer, Elmer Keberlein, Sandra Van Stiphour, Wilfred Johnson and Sylvia Keberlein.

 

Leland P. Golden, Tenth Street, graduated from the University of West Florida this June. He received a degree in accounting and is presently working toward his master’s degree. The 1939 Kaukauna High School graduate entered college in 1972 following his retirement from the Air Force after serving 30 years. He entered service in June 1942 and served overseas.

 

July 11, 1975

 

Five generations – Baby, Benj Daul is seated in the lap of his great-great-grandmother, Mrs. Mary Reinke. Seated to the left of her is great grandfather, Willian Reinke, with Grandmother, Mrs. Marvin Van Den Eng, and Mother Mrs. Larry Daul standing.

 

Dwight Bastian, a 1960 graduate of Kaukauna High School, was awarded the Doctor of Sacred Theology degree by Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Ill., in ceremonies held May 30 at the seminary.

New owners of the Ford Automobile agency at Hy 55 and KK south of the city opened for business this week. Left to right are Rick Lavin, General manager, Harry Lavin, president, and George Hall also general manager. The new agency will be called Town and Country Ford.

 

July 11, 1975

Some sewer contractors working on projects are back on the job this week as the result of recommendations from the union. Whether they will still be there Monday depends on a Saturday vote by the union membership.

July 16, 1975

Ed Spierings, Little Chute, was selected president of the Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce for 1975-76.

Marine Pvt. Kenneth J. Steffens, Kaukauna, has graduated from recruit training at the Marine Corps Depot, San Diego. Calif.

July 18, 1975

 

Sick of watching softball tournaments? The Mideastern Wisconsin Open Horseshoe Tournament started Thursday at Kamps Kovered Kourts next to Jerry Kamps Bar Combined Locks.

 

July 25, 1975

The Heart of the Valley Metropolitan Sewerage Commission passed a resolution accepting the terms set forth for the $525,000 purchase to buy the metro commission. User fees will be instituted for Kaukauna and Combined Locks, the two municipalities currently using the plant.

 

July 30, 1975

Debbie Kamps, 17, Combined Locks, won the Grand prize of a $1000 scholarship in Seventeen Magazine’s Competition. More than 500 girls from throughout the country submitted entries.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Willard Schuh of Kaukauna have been named the winners of the 1975 Outstanding Young Dairy Couples sponsored by the Association Milk Producers. They competed with 18 other young couples from the Mid-States Region which consisted of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and parts of Ohio, Michigan and Iowa. The winners will be awarded an all-expense paid trip to the annual meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation in November this year in New Orleans, La.

 

Births

Son to Mr. and Mrs. James Hoffman

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Van Camp

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Breier

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Van Dyke

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Svhneider

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Victor DeGroot

Son to Mr. and Mrs. John Larson

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wachter

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Austin

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Michael DeGroot

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. William S. Johnson

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Bobber

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Mark D. Vandehey

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Meinert

Son to Mr. and Mrs. James Gonnering Sr.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Diedrick

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Verstegen

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Sanderfoot