Time Machine Trip to April 1911

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to April of 1911.

For today’s trip Donna Marinello will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine.  The big wheel is spinning, the years are clicking back and in no time we are back on East Second Street on Kaukauna’s Southside.

• Appleton high school wins’ state basketball championship
• John A. Kilsdonk the father of Little Chute dies.
• Marshal Dick Conlon dies

Charlie has left the papers for us on the chair out front of the Times office.

Charles E. Raught – Owner, Editor & Publisher

Let’s see what’s in the news this month.

Your old newsman - Lyle Hansen

PS: My old friend and classmate from 1963 Charley Schuh has passed into history. 

"Goodbye Chuck"

April 7, 1911

Otto Ringling, one of the Ringling Bros. of circus fame, died Friday last at the home of his brother John in New York. He was 51 years of age. The funeral was held at Baraboo Sunday, this being the home of the Ringling’s, who have always maintained their winter quarters there.

Appleton - Appleton high school basketball team won undisputed title to the championship of Wisconsin when they defeated the La Crosse team in the final game of the seventh annual tournament held under the auspices of the Lawrence college athletic Association. The champions were presented with a sheepskin championship banner of blue and white, the Lawrence colors, while the individual members were given watch fobs of solid gold basketballs. Silver medals were awarded to the members of the La Crosse team for 2nd place while bronze medals were given to Janesville third place. 

Carl Morris 

Sapulpa, Okla. – Before one of the largest crowds, probably 10,000 people, ever gathered to see a boxing contest. Carl Morris of Sapulpa, Okla., knocked out Mike Schreck of Cincinnati, Ohio in the sixth round after giving Schreck one of the hardest beatings he ever received in the sixth round battle.

P. A. Gloudeman was elected President of the Village of Little Chute in Tuesday’s Election.

April 14, 1911

Littleton, Ala., - 128 miners were believed to have met death in an explosion at the Banner coal mines. Due to the massive destruction of the ventilating system all hope for the men remaining in the mine was given up.  It is believed the explosion was caused by powder ignited by a lamp.  There were 170 man in all only five were free laborers. The others were convicts, mostly Negros, sent up from the surrounding counties to serve sentences.  

The Kaukauna Gun Club members made the highest average score Sunday at their shoot of any time in their existence. Not one of them was below 18 out of 25. Walter Cooper, Gus Hilgenberg and Frank Hilgenberg were high with 23 each. Frank Hilgenberg was also high gun for the day with 44 out of 50. Others who took part were Peter Eimmerman, Joseph Jansen, J. Simon, John Essler and H. Lee.

Telephone managers say they lose more operators during May and June than any other months of the year. This loss is due to the young ladies leaving to get married. District manager French, of Milwaukee, also says that telephone girls make the best wives.

John Kinney of the south side was severely injured Tuesday afternoon while at work in the railroad shops. Mr. Kinney was standing 20 feet away from a trip hammer, which was being used to cut a piece of steel when the accident occurred. The hammer was let down rapidly and it cut a piece of steel which flew and embedded in his thigh. Mr. Kinney was taken at once to his home. The injury is a serious one and will disable Mr. Kenny for a considerable time.    

Three ten-year old Kaukauna boys found a small cartridge in an alley Tuesday on Dixon St. While one boy drove a nail into it with a stone, the other two stood back. When the cartridge exploded one boy received a piece of cartridge in the eye, another received a cut on his arm, and the third received cuts on his hands.

April 21, 1911

John A. Kilsdonk, often referred to as the “Father of Little Chute”, died at his home Saturday, April 15 from heart trouble. John A. Kilsdonk was born on a farm two miles north of the Little Chute on April 30, 1864, his parents being early settlers in the Holland community founded by Father Vandenbroek. John’s parents died when he was very young. He then made his home with his sister, Mrs. Mary Vanden Wallenberg, until able to provide for himself. He worked on a farm availing himself of every opportunity to attend school or study privately until his 16th year when he became a teacher and which profession he spent three years. When Little Chute was incorporated as a village he was chosen village president.

The circuit court in Sheboygan is swamped with the biggest grist of naturalizations in its history. Over sixty applications are being heard. No naturalization term has been held since a year ago.

The population of cities and villages Outagamie County were announced by the census: Appleton 16773, Kaukauna 4717, Seymour 1109, Little Chute 1354, Hortonville 863, Black Creek 516 and Shiocton 536.

April 28, 1911

Richard "Dick" Conlon, well known Kaukauna marshal, died Tuesday evening at the Charles Ristau home, where he had been stricken about 9 o'clock while attending the wedding of Miss Annabelle Childs and William Graef. Mr. Conlon was 55 years of age. He had been connected with the local police department for twenty-nine years.

The Farmers Home, at the corner of Third Street and Crooks avenue, is receiving a general renovation this week, all the rooms being painted and papered as the case may be. George Kromer started to build the home twenty-eight years’ ago from logs from the Haupt farm south of town. Kromer has managed the Farmers Home since its construction for that reason all the old settlers for miles around know Landlord Kromer and never fail to stop by for a social stay when in town. 

Cranking automobiles is an exceedingly dangerous business to judge by the accidents in Kaukauna last Sunday. Charles Towsley while cranking his E. M. F. car sustained a fracture arm. Norbert Rennicke also sustained a fractured forearm while cranking an automobile.

Arthur Black, five-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Merritt Black, was killed Monday evening by the 5:15 interurban car which was on its way to Appleton, the accident happening in front of C. W. Stribley's residence. The boy was badly mangled being cut in two and the head being severed from his body.

  

70th Anniversary - 1946 Class of Kaukauna High School

Time Machine Trip to April 1901

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to April of 1901

For today’s trip Debbie Frederickson will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine. The big wheel is spinning, the years are clicking back and in no time we are back on East Second Street on Kaukauna’s Southside.

·         Dr. C. D. Boyd is the new Mayor.     

·         Papermakers’ union is instituted

·         St. Mary’s has placed two stained glass windows in place.

Charlie has left the papers on the chair out front of the Times building. Let’s see what’s in the news this month.

Your old newsman – Lyle Hansen 

PS: Lyle’s laughs: “Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators”. - - - “We haven’t met yet.”

April 5, 1901

In the election earlier this week, Dr. C. D. Boyd totally ran away with the race for the position of mayor, defeating W. N. Nolan by the largest majority this city has ever seen in the race for mayor. Boyd claimed the victory with a 295 majority, with his biggest advantage coming in the first and second wards, where he held a majority of 131 votes in each. The victory scored by Dr. Charles D. Boyd is unprecedented in this city his majority being nearly three times as large as the usual majorities given the mayor elect.

John Sprangers has turned loose his inventive ingenuity once more and this time has produced an automatic fishing apparatus. The line is attached to a spring somewhat the style of a mouse trap and so arranged that when the fish takes the bait the spring is released and the hope is jerked upward very quickly. John says one man can manage half a dozen lines at one time.

A branch of the paper makers’ union was instituted in this city Sunday afternoon by William Hamilton national organizer from Watertown, New York. The Kaukauna union, which is known as No. 26 of the National Paper Makers’ Union, numbers over 40 members and our employees of the Combined Locks Paper Company, Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company, Outagamie Paper Company and the Union Bag and Paper Company. The meeting was held at Heindel's hall in which nearly 100 paper makers were present. The objects of the Association for the betterment of trade conditions and to advance the interest of its members.

 The Southside post office will be moved and open for business next Monday morning in the room adjoining the present location which was recently vacated by the First National Bank. Postmaster Raught makes the change so as to secure the use of the safety vault formerly used by the bank. The room has been very nicely decorated and will make a model office.

Little Chute, Wisc., April 3 – The village is in a state of great excitement over the election. At the caucus E. F. Germanson was unanimously nominated for village president. It is known that Germanson was in favor of fire protection which many do not favor. Monday morning all the ballots were made out for Kilscink alone. The Germanson party is wild and serious trouble is feared. 

April 12, 1901

There is a quaint old Holland clock undergoing repairs at Anton Ver Keilen’s on Wisconsin Avenue. Its owner, Mr. Driessen, values it very highly as it is an heirloom, descending from his great-great-grandfather's family. On the back side of the curiously wrought case is found the date of its manufacture, which was 1696, being now 205 years old.

John Coppes, who will manage the Kaukauna aggregation of baseball players this season, says there is to be some good ball playing in Kaukauna during the coming summer. Rates to Milwaukee and return have been secured at a very low figure $2 dollars and back which is less than the boys paid to Sheboygan and return last year. 

Otto Kloehn, age 15 years, a helper at the paper machines at Thilmany's mill, got his hand caught between the calendars Wednesday night and badly crushed. Dr. Titus was called to set the broken bones and pull the skin back into place. Young Kloehn stood bravely without once winching or crying out with the pain of the operation and without the use of anesthetics. It is not known if the hand can be saved.

Steps have been taken by government authorities to stop the wholesale practice of bigamy by the Indians living on the Oneida reservation. In view of the fact that the steadily increasing privileges being granted the Oneidas may soon make them full-fledged citizens the authorities believe it is now time to act properly and vigorously in order that serious complications of various natures may be avoided. Swapping wives, the same as horses is a frequent occurrence at the present time among the Oneidas. 

April 19, 1901

The coffer-dam cribs, etc., put in at the Combined Locks last fall by Hackworthy Construction company for the purpose of commencing work on the construction of the proposed new pulp mill, and which work was suspended on account of high water, were all carried away last Friday by a heavy volume of water coming down river. The loss in work and material to the construction company was about $2,500.

The Marten's feed and sale stable which was removed from the old stand on third Street to allow for the erection of a new addition to the Julius Martens block will be rebuilt on a larger and more extensive plan on a vacant lot down the street.

April 26, 1901

Father Steinbecker of St. Mary's has succeeded in placing the last of the two big stained glass windows in position. This window is an immense one measuring nearly 12 X 23 feet and costing $1,000 and portrays the "Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Disciples."

Mrs. Margaret Beauleiu, 76 years old, is the daughter of a revolutionary soldier, Jacob Davids of this city. She has recently returned to her home at Gresham, Shawano County. She bears the distinction of being the oldest living native born resident of Wisconsin. She was born in Kaukauna in a log house at the foot of Beaulieu Hill, the ruins which are yet standing.  Her parents came here in 1825. Mrs. Beauleiu’s memory of the old times and events as remarkably good and delights in talking about them. She remembers well Indian chief Kon Ka Pot whose home was at the foot of the bluff that runs Konkapot creek, named after the chief. She can point out the spot opposite John Brills house where lies the once famous Indian chief and Revolutionary soldier, John Hendrik Aupaumut. She also remembers Paul Ducharm, a brother of the first settler at the Grand Kau kau lin, Dominic Ducharm.

Cpt. John Hendrik Aupaumut

Time Machine Trip to April 1938

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

It’s that time again to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and make trip back to April 1938.

The big wheel is spinning Dave King is taking his place in the driver’s seat. The years are clicking back and in no time we are back to Kaukauna’s south side.  We are out front of the Kaukauna Times on Main Street.     

• L. F. Nelson re-elected mayor of Kaukauna

• Andy Varipapa world’s greatest bowler in Kaukauna

• Navigation on the Fox River open

The hit parade song of the month.

Wabash Cannonball – Roy Acuff

 https://youtu.be/6yhvv234oaA

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 Hansen

April 1, 1938

James E McFadden, chief of police, warns dog owners that after April 1, all dogs in the city must be confined to the owner’s premises. Dog owners are warned not to allow their dogs to run at large after that date. All dog owners must have their dogs tags on the dog's collar, the police chief said.

At Kimberly Tonight

Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens, the world’s fastest human, will appear at the Kimberly club house this evening with his all colored basketball team against the Kimberly AA five. Owens will also conduct a special track clinic and put on an exhibition of sprints, hurdles and starts.

Improvements to cost about $32,000 will be made at the Kaukauna municipal power plant this summer, according to H. F. Weckwerth, superintendent. The work, which will be carried on during the low water period will be done by the Green Bay and Mississippi canal company. The plant, which is owned by Green Bay Mississippi canal company, is leased by the city of Kaukauna.

April 6, 1938

Howard Booze Bowers will again manage the Kaukauna Mellow Brew team in the Northern State league for the coming season and Fay G. Posson was appointed secretary and treasurer at a meeting held here Saturday evening. Practically all the players on last year's team attended the meeting.  Members of last year's state championship team who are again expected to be in the Kaukauna lineup when the season opens are: Bowers, manager and outfielder; Ben Peck, catcher; Norman Baldy Eggert, first base; Joey Vils, outfielder; Ves Kappell, outfielder; John Powell, shortstop; Eddie Zielinski, third base; Victor Van Drazek, second base and Walter Sunny Cavanaugh, Abe Brokup and Arnold Kelly, pitchers. 

Bill Peterson, senior track star, took first place in six events for 30 points in the first track meet of the year held for the high school students Thursday and Friday afternoons. Carl Giordana, freshman, scored 15 points in the novice division to top for the new man.

Mayor L. F. Nelson

L. F. Nelson was reelected Mayor in Tuesday’s election by defeating William Gantter, his newest opponent an Oscar W. Alger in a three-way race.  H. F. McAndrews was elected to the position of city attorney.

April 9 1938

Poor relief cost the city of Kaukauna $3126.91 during the month of March according to the city relief director. There were 114 relief cases on record on February 28. 26 new cases were open during the month of March and 10 were closed. There were 101 men and nine women employed by WPA projects during March and nine girls and one boy on NYA projects.

Andy Varipapa, the world's greatest bowler today, will stage an exhibition on bowling at Schell alleys here tonight at 8:30. Along with his exhibition he will bowl two games against Henry Minkebige, individual league champion, Charles Schell and John Eimmerman. The New Yorker is a showman bubbling over with personality, who puts on trick shots that outshine even the most colorful players.

April 13, 1938

John P. Strebe, 65, chief of the Sherwood fire Department, died Friday afternoon at his home in the village of Sherwood. He and his wife had lived in Sherwood for the past 22 years.

April 15, 1938

Navigation on the Fox River will open Monday, April 25, the war department in Milwaukee announced Wednesday. United States Army engineer in Appleton said the work had been completed on the new Little Kaukauna lock, but it will not be used for two or three months until a channel can be dredged. Boats will be required to use the old lock when navigation opens.

April 20, 1938

Lillian Oliva was named valedictorian of the senior class of 1938, according to announcement made by J. F. Cavanaugh, superintendent of schools.  Miss Oliva on the honor the highest scholastic record which can be obtained by a student for having obtained an average of 94.1564 her four years in high school. Doris Landreman was named salutation of the class for having obtained an average of 93.67 during her high school career. 

April 26, 1938

Joseph C. McCarthy of Kaukauna was named a member of the executive committee of the Fox Valley Boy Scout Council. E. F. Rennicke of the city was named a member of the organization and extension committee.

Kaukauna high school track squad scored its first win of the season in a meet against Chilton and Kimberly high school here Saturday afternoon. Bill Peterson of Kaukauna took individual honors winning three events. Lee Lambie of the Kaws won 2 events Vandenberg copped the mile run and Mayer came in first in the 220 low hurdles. 

April 29, 1938

Clifford Kalista has been named King of the 1938 annual high school Junior prom which will be held Friday evening May 30th. Kalista was the choice of the Junior class in an election held last week. 

The high School band will take part in the annual spring musical festival to be held here Thursday evening. May 5, at the civic auditorium. The band which is directed by C.J. Kriesa has appeared at all school and civic programs this year.

Time Machine Trip to April 1897

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to April of 1897.

For today’s trip Dale Van Dyke will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine.  The big wheel is spinning, the years are clicking back and in no time we are back on East Second Street on Kaukauna’s Southside.

·         High school alumni plan reunion.

·         McCarty elected Mayor of Kaukauna    

·         Heif brothers incorporate new brewery.

Charlie has left the papers on the chair out front of the Times building. Let’s see what’s in the news this month.

Your old newsman – Lyle Hansen 

April 2, 1897

The Kaukauna League Club has been organized, and it is a club that bids fair to close the season with pennants flying from our ball ground.

The High school alumni held a meeting and agreed to have a banquet at the Hotel Brothers on the occasion of their annual commencement exercises.  A committee consisting of Misses Ellis Walker and Celeste Chamberlain was appointed.

The Kaukauna fiber company has been provided with a Dynamo this week which will hereafter produce all the electric light needed in the plant. The Dynamo is of sufficient power to furnish 125 lights.

The job of cutting the stone for the new school building to be constructed on the Lawe's Park site was let out. Thursday morning teams commence the delivery of large stones to be cut into sizes for the basement walls which up to the water table will be a rock face dimension stone. There will be, in the whole building, 189 Windows to trim, which necessitates a large amount of work in stone cutting. Luther Lindauer is furnishing all the stone for the new school building except the Portage entry red sandstone.  The sandstone will come from either Chicago or Milwaukee as it can be found there in stock.

The name of C. E. Raught was presented as a candidate for the office of Mayor, the nomination being confirmed by unanimous vote at the Republican convention.

Springfield, Ohio is where Father Danforth lives. Father Danforth is quite a character and he is always given a hearty welcome wherever he goes. His horse died some time ago and he thought he would try hitching up a cow. The animal took to the harness good-naturedly and after a few short lessons became manageable with the bridal. It can now be driven anywhere as easy as a horse.

April 9, 1897

The Sentinel of today has George Kromer signing to catch for the Ragalls, a Milwaukee city league club, for the 1897 season. Kromer says the report is a fake.

The building of a new edifice by the St. Mary's Church congregation has been under discussion for some time, and it is about to be decided that a new building will be erected to cost about $25,000, meaning that the new structure will be a magnificent one.

A million a month is now the average output of the gold mines of Cripple Creek, Colorado.

April 16, 1897

Wanted – Young lady clerk of some experience. German preferred. Inquire at Savings Bank. 

Articles of incorporation were filed by the Heif Bros. Brewing company of this city. Incorporators being Jacob Heif, John Heif and Alexander Stoeger, the capital stock is placed at $25,000.

As a result of the elections of the beginning of this month Mayor Joseph McCarty stated his intentions while in office. Mayor McCarty informed the audience gathered at last night's council meeting that he anticipated giving the people a clean administration, and that city business would be managed in the interest of Democrats and Republicans alike, and that taxpayers' interest would be carefully guarded. He then settled down making his appointments selecting 20 Democrats for 20 positions, thus administrating affairs in a nonpartisan way. Nine of the Democrats are not even taxpayers of this city. 

   Mayor Joseph McCarty

April 23, 1897

New fish and game laws were announced by the State of Wisconsin. Fishing seasons have been set for bass and trout. The use of nets is prohibited for game fish. Only one hook is allowed per line during ice fishing. The deer season will run from November 1 to November 20. Hunting deer with dogs or at night is prohibited.

The dumping of fish offal, sand, sawdust, lime, ashes, slabs, decayed wood, cinders etc., in the inland waters is prohibited.

District attorney Bottensek was in the city Wednesday and accompanied by a draughtsman drove out to the Beaulieu resort to survey the premises. The data will be used as evidence in the coming trial of Porter Ross, the murderer. They found the notorious place closed and deserted, Mrs. Beaulieu having become superstitious. 

April 30, 1897

The old fire alarm bell, although cracked, has not yet outlived its term of usefulness. It can be found at all hours at the corner of Faust's Music Store, doing duty as a fountain basin filled with water from the artesian well in the rear of Faust's store.

 

Some time ago it was reported that electric carriages were introduced in London England. The company has established regular omnibus and special service routes. The electric carriages are now in use in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago and other large cities in the union, where paved streets are the rule. The cost of the electric carriage is no more than the price of a horse and a carriage.

The Times reporter strolled out to Eden Park one day this week and found that a great change has been wrought in this place since the new man Dan Stock, of Milwaukee, has assumed management. The hall and other rooms have been newly painted and decorated and present a neat and tidy appearance. Mr. Stock says he intends to once more make this a popular resort for family picnics, parties, etc.  Mr. Stock has had the bowling alley improved and other things will be pleased to accommodate clubs on selected evenings each week.

Time Machine Trip to April 1960

April 1, 1960

Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy made an appearance at Kaukauna High School on Tuesday morning. Kennedy’s plane from Milwaukee to Appleton had been grounded due to the fog and he was forced to come by station wagon. The spectators outside of the school were expecting a bus so his arrival was not noticed. Kennedy and two associates walked up the sidewalk until they reached the door. There was a flurry of activity by the reporters gathered near by. The over flow crowd cheered to see the young senator from Massachusetts enter the auditorium. Kennedy’s address was brief and dealt upon the importance of voting. He stated “The work of senators often passes in oblivion, but the actions of the president are always remembered.” He pointed out that many of the youths in the audience will be serving in the armed forces at sometime in the future and their fate rests in the hands of the decisions made by the president. When Kennedy left the school he was met by a group of Kaukauna policemen who escorted him to a waiting bus. He was asked for his autograph and shook hands.

   

April 6, 1960

Joseph F. “Doty” Bayorgeon was elected to an unprecedented eight term as mayor of Kaukauna. Only Charles Raught had served eight terms as mayor but they were not consecutive from 1898 to 1926.

Mayor Bayorgeon Still Is

City’s Vote-Getting Champ

  

MAYOR JOSEPH BAYORGEON

April 8, 1960

The Kaukauna High School forensic team scored 41 points at the Mid-Eastern Conference meet, taking first place for the third straight year. In A Division competition, Lynn Gerend with a serious declamation and Thomas Verhagen with an original oration won first places.

   

April 29, 1960

Quarterback Bart Starr has agreed to terms for the 1960 football year, according to Vince Lombardi the Packers head coach. Also agreeing to new terms were offensive end Gary Knafele and linebacker Ray Nitschke.