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.