Time Machine Trip to March 1956

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

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

Today Don Vander Velden 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 Main Avenue.

We are now in March of 1956.    

·         Police search for stolen dynamite caps

·         Kaukauna girl killed by her boyfriend

·         City nurse calls for polio questionnaires

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

          Memories are Made of This – Dean Martin

 https://youtu.be/mv9PSkNkUfs

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. 

Your old news man – Lyle

PS: Andy Rooney, I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

March 2, 1956

The total funds collected to date for the annual March of Dimes anti-polio campaign is $5,725.89 according to the campaign chairman Clarence Theis.

The Kaukauna Lions and Rotary Clubs are again girding themselves to do battle in athletic competition this time in bowling. The two teams are scheduled to hit head-on March 5 at the S&B. The Monday session will be the 12^th annual clash between the two teams.

March 7, 1956

Senior Charles Lieding has been named Uthrotar for the period of March 7 through the 28^th, according to the Supt. T. H. Boebel. Uthrotars are chosen by vote of the faculty from among senior boys.

The Kaukauna high school band will be among 11 schools attending the annual Fox River Valley music tournament at Green Bay West high school on April 28.  Director Elwood Bleick said the band will be entered in class A for the seventh consecutive year.

Daddy telephoned from the office and his three-year-old daughter answered the phone and in a feminine fashion rattled on and on. When she finally paused for breath, daddy asked her to call mama to the phone. “Wait”, said the little tyke, “I've got to say two more words”. “Okay” said daddy, “What are they?” “Goodbye” and she promptly cradled the receiver.

Continuing his drive to strengthen the front wall of the Green Bay Packers, head coach Lisle Blackborn, Thursday announced the signing of two linemen from Houston University-- Tackle, Lavill Isbell a 6-2, 225 pounds and Guard, William Schumacher at 5-11 and 215 pounds.

Kaukauna police late last week started an intense search for 25 dynamite caps reported stolen by the Lehrer brothers on March 2. Previously about 15 pounds of dynamite had been found by police in the vicinity of 15th and 16th St. on Kaukauna South side. An investigation revealed that Lehrer’s shed had apparently been broken into and the dynamite and caps were among the missing items. Sgt. Oscar Jahns of the police department reports that most of the dynamite, believed to have been stolen has been recovered.

March 9, 1956

Awards for Boy Scouts who achieved advancement were presented at a court of honor for Troop 31 at Holy Cross school activity room recently. Front row: Michael Nagan, Jim Jansen, Mark Rabideau, Ken Vande Hey, Peter Bachhuber, Roger Leick and Eugene DeGroot. Back row are Jack Verbeten, scout master, Lee Wachel, Gerald Rausch, Paul Nagan, assistant scoutmaster, Gerald Jakl, Harvey Huss, Pat Coleman, Dick Eslien assistant scoutmaster, and Robert Eslien.

The Kaukauna Galloping Ghost cagers Tuesday evening came within two points of accomplishing their mission of spoiling the dedication of the Neenah gym as they were defeated 74-72 in the season finale for the Kaws and the Rockets in the Mid-Eastern conference as a whole.

March 14, 1956

Arthur H. Mongin, Jr., Kaukauna, was elected to a third term on the board of directors of the Green Bay Packers Football Corporation at the annual meeting this week.

Funeral services for Miss Teresa Vander Hurst, 18, Lawe Street, were held Tuesday at Holy Cross Church. A saddening group of 168 high school seniors, her classmates, attended. Miss Vander Hurst’s body had been found in a basement on W. 9th St., Sunday morning and 17-year-old Michael McCormick a Kaukauna boy, admitted that he struck her over the head with a shell casing Friday night. McCormick has been charged with second-degree murder. Miss Vander Hurst had been reported missing Friday evening. Her body was discovered by Chief of Police Harold Engerson, who was investigating the missing person report. 

March 21, 1956

Captain Raymond R. Roth, Kaukauna, has been awarded the Commendation Ribbon. Captain Roth received the decoration for demonstrating “superior performance as an officer at the Institute of Technology, United States Air Force Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

At a recent meeting of the members of Kaukauna’s Junior Varsity basketball team, Neil Huss was elected honorary team captain for the 1955-56 campaign, according to an announcement by Harold Kobin, coach.

One Kaukauna youth, Gerald N. Green was included among the nine county men ordered to report for induction into the armed forces.

March 23, 1956

Featured on the Lions club boxing show scheduled for Saturday night at the KHS gym will be Dave Zwick, the Kaukauna heavyweight is scheduled to slug it out with the State Golden Gloves champion in the open division.

City nurse, Mrs. William Nagel this week reminded parents of grade school age youngsters who have not yet filled out and return the questionnaire regarding polio vaccinations to do so at their earliest convenience. 

Damage estimated at $12,000 resulted early evening from a fire in a warehouse at the Badger Tissue Mills. The blaze is thought to have originated from faulty wiring. The building is a one story frame warehouse located in the ruins of a former warehouse, which was destroyed in a fire in the 1890s. 

The second-degree murder trial of Michael McCormick, 17, in the death of Teresa Vander Horst opened at 9:30 AM Thursday, with Kaukauna police chief Harold Engerson called as the first witness. Defense attorney Allan Cain cross-examined the witnesses.

March 30, 1956

Don Lappen hit a 244 game and 634 series to top the members of the Monday Night South Side Businessmen’s bowling league at Verbeten’s Lanes.