Time Machine Trip to February 1960

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

It’s that time again to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and make a trip back in time.

My friend Cathy Dawson is sitting in the driver’s seat. The big wheel is spinning and the years are clicking back. In no time we are back to Kaukauna’s south side.  We are out front of the Kaukauna Times on the corner of Third Street and Main. We are now in February of 1960.  

• Badger Northlands is celebrating its tenth anniversary.
• Walter Schmidt will succeed Julian Bichler as Principal of Kaukauna High School.

For the music lovers the top song on the Hit Parade this month is:

           Teen Angel – Mark Dinning

https://youtu.be/KG_VIcoiCFA

Carl Hansen, the publisher, has left the newspapers for us by the front door of the Kaukauna Times. Let’s see what’s in the news this month.  There are great pictures in this month’s edition. 

Your old news man – Lyle

February 3, 1960

Badger Northland employees voted by 7-1 margin to settle contract negations for 1960. The employees had voted 4 to 1 to strike on February 24^th unless wage increases were granted.

Kaukauna beat Kimberly 59-56 and secured first place in the Mid-Eastern conference basketball league.

February 5, 1960

Tom Wendland has become Kau-Hi’s first homebound student. A victim of polio he is not able to attend school in person. By means of a telephone “intercom”, Tom has a direct connection with several High School classrooms. He carries a full academic program and has maintained a straight ‘A’ average. 

Badger Northlands tenth anniversary in Kaukauna will be observed today with an open house. Guides will greet the guests and escort them through the plant.

February 10, 1960

Thilmany recorded record sales and production figures for 1959. The sales of 33 million are 5 million over the previous years.

February 12, 1960

Walter Schmidt, a teacher and counselor at Kaukauna High School for the past 19 years, Tuesday evening was named Principal of the High School, effective July 1, 1960, by action of the Kaukauna Board of Education. He will succeed Principal Julian Bichler, who will be superintendent, replacing the retiring T. H. Boebel.

  

February 19, 1960

First Aid procedures in event of a disaster are practiced by students and teachers at the OCTC.

                           

February 24, 1960

Fire caused several thousands of dollars in damage to an apartment building on West Second Street. The three apartment structure is owned by Vern Despins.

  

February 26, 1960

Record sales and earnings were reported by the Kaukauna Electric and Water department. Net income was up $31,000 and net sales up $29,000.

J. Grant Whitman of Kaukauna died Sunday at the age of 95. He was born May 19, 1884 and his family moved here from Little Chute in 1868 when he was four. His recollections of times past were sharp and clear. As a young man he helped break out the stone for building Nicolet School from a quarry that is now the current site of the high school football field. The only bridge over the river was a floating draw bridge at the end of Wisconsin Avenue. He began working at Thilmany in the 1890’s. “There was a year of hardship when we had to wait two months for our pay, and I remember workers coming to their jobs with just one slice of bread and a boiled potato for lunch”. Grant recalled when his father accidentally struck his foot with an axe. “The infection resulted in the doctor removing his leg right on our kitchen table”. I carved a leg for him out of basswood, installed some straps and he got along pretty well with it.”