Time Machine Trip to May 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 Dennis Bloy 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 May of 1956.    

·         Permit granted to Red Owl for store here

·         Coffey Motors celebrates 15^th anniversary

·         Parking limits set in down town areas.

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

          All Shook Up – Elvis Presley

  https://youtu.be/3rQEbQJx5Bo

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

Lyle’s laughs:

George Burns:

Helen Brown, Oh Helen Brown

Prettiest girl there was in town

Knocked them dead when she wore red,

but she still looked like “Hell in Brown”.

May 2, 1956

Dorothy Schumann fired a 216 game and Janet Runge hit a 492 series pacing the members of the Friday night ladies bowling league at the S&B lanes.

Ramblings by Mrs. Ed Wolf - Little Patty, who played strenuously all day, crawled into bed without saying her night prayers. Reminded of them by her mother, she wearily got out of bed. “God bless mother, daddy and went through etc.” As she was climbing back into bed, the tired little girl mumbled resentfully, “I'm getting tired of praying for everybody.”

Kaukaunans, Sunday, with a resigned sigh took out their snow shovels and galoshes from winter storage or what they had hoped would be their last of the season. The city crews found themselves completely unprepared for 4 inches of white stuff that blanketed the city. All the regular snow cleaning equipment was put away for the year.

Winners of the Helen Myers art contest which is conducted annually by the Kaukauna women's club were announced by Mrs. Walter Rennebohm chairman. First place went to Judy Hurst and second place went to Sally Henry. Third-place winner was Marlene Verkuilen, Bonnie Vandenbroek placed fourth and fifth award went to Gary Mach.

The Kaukauna Times was presented an award for excellence in advertising typographic at the annual judging of the Wisconsin weekly and semiweekly newspapers last weekend.

May 4, 1956

A permit for the construction of a new Red Owl supermarket to be built on Third street was issued Thursday morning to Red Owl Incorporated of Minneapolis, Minn., according to a report from City Engineer John Strauss.

Art Kromer, Jr, was elected commander of Post 41 of the Kaukauna American Legion at the annual election of officers held May 1 at the Legion club rooms located on Oak Street. He succeeds Al Marzahl as post commander. The new vice commander is Dave Specht and the second vice commander is Sherman Rogers.

Kaukauna's Police Department is under manned according to the accepted standards of cities in the United States, police chief Harold Engerson told Rotarians Wednesday afternoon luncheon meeting held at the Elks club. However, the fact that Kaukauna is a peaceful city, it has made it easier for the department to carry out the duties with the present force of seven officers.

May 9, 1956

Coffey Motors, Kaukauna agency for Ford automobiles will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a big open house Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 10-12. Leo Coffey, proprietor announced Tuesday. “We are inviting everyone to stop in and visit us during the celebration.”  Leo said. We will have coffee and donuts and will be showing a display of famous fords that are setting the automobile world talking. Leo was referring of course to the famous Thunderbird which will be on display.

George J. Schwalbach, Darboy’s oldest resident, is celebrating his 90th birthday anniversary being born 1866. About 130 guests were present for the occasion including his wife, 10 children, most his 25 grandchildren and three of his sisters. For many years he was active in politics in the state and County. He was chairman of the town of Harrison and Calumet County from 1914 to 1929. He operated his farm until three years ago when he sold it to his son George

Mary K. Hartzheim, 19, Kaukauna was region 8 winner in the annual “Alice in Dairyland” contest sponsored by the Wis. Dept. of Agriculture. Miss Hartzheim is a 1954 graduate of Kaukauna high school.

“Fantasy in Dreams”, KHS Junior prom, was held in the gym Friday, May 4. Jimmy James and his orchestra supplied the music for the evening. Highlighting the evening was a coronation in which Joseph DeBruin last year's king crowned this year's king David Rausch, who in turn crowned Queen Martha West. Approximately 210 couples attended a dance and 148 spectators came to view the event.

May 16, 1956

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Mereness were named co-chairman of the Alumni Rally dinner and dance during a meeting of the board of directors. The class of 1906 and the class of 1931 will be especially honored this year as they celebrate their 50th and 25th anniversary respectively.

Cliff Kemp, safety director for the Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company will be one of the principal speakers at the Rock River Regional Safety conference at Beloit tomorrow.

John (Rube) Verstegen, 74, Little Chute, died Saturday afternoon. He was a lifelong resident of Little Chute. Mr. Verstegen was probably best known in Kaukauna, Little Chute and the entire Fox River Valley as one of the finest pitchers in the semi-professional leagues in the early 1900’s. According to Anton “Casey” Jansen, one of his teammates, “Verstegen struck out 18 to 20 men in a single baseball game when he was on and seldom had a off day”.

May 18, 1956

After absorbing a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Shawano Indians Monday afternoon, the Kaukauna Galloping Ghost came back with a vengeance, defeating Brillion by a 19-8 margin in the opening game of the district tournament at Kimberly. 

A total of 24 student teachers at the Outagamie County Teachers College will receive their diplomas Friday evening at the graduation exercises. The class includes four men and twenty young women which is the largest class to graduate in recent years.

May 29, 1956

Today we pause while in our busy schedules while we remember the people who fought, bled and died in the service of our country. Memorial Day was inaugurated by General John Logan, Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. It was first observed officially May 30, 1869 when the graves of deceased solders were decorated with flowers.

 

Leonard Van Zeeland, 44, partner in the Fox Valley Game farms and Van Zeeland Implement company died on a fishing trip in Northern Michigan. Van Zeeland was fishing with his neighbor William Van Eperen. Lennie had a lively interest in many civic and business affairs. His infectious good nature was good medicine for many ailing projects and he was widely known. About 14 years ago, Len took to flying with the same enthusiasm that he gave all activities. In company with George Greenwood of Kaukauna he started “Greenland” airport at his farm north of here. Survivors include his wife and eight children.

The Kaukauna Galloping Ghost baseball team during the 1956 season collected a total of 75 runs on 76 hits, according to statistics released by head coach Harry Wilson. The top batting average of the season was turned in by Cal Welch who hit .484. Jack Coenen, pitcher and short had second best at .345.  Third best average for the season was claimed by Charlie Zarter with a .333 average.

The new city parking limits provide for 60 minutes of parking limits on downtown streets on the north and south sides of Kaukauna.