Time Machine Trip to August 1897

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

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

For today’s trip Sue Coffey 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.

·         Manager Martens resigns Kaukauna Baseball ends.

·         Contract given for St. Mary’s church construction.

·         Bishop Messer issued restrictions to Catholics. 

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: A lifetime is short, live everyday as if it your last. Don’t put things off for tomorrow as tomorrow never comes.

August 6, 1897

The Main Avenue Shoe store on the NE corner of Third street and Main Ave., on the south side, has recently been remodeled. Attracted by the appearance of the store the other day a TIMES reporter strolled in for inspection and was courteously greeted by the proprietors who are always ready with a smile. Messrs. Salm and Verfurth, although they are the youngest boot and shoe firm of the city, theirs is being the last one established here, are by no means the last when it comes to business. Starting in July of 1895 they have recently celebrated their second anniversary and we find them among the strong and prosperous merchants of Kaukauna.

As a result of eight consecutive and crushing defeats, the Kaukauna Base Ball team is in the last throes of death, and it is a toss-up weather it survives the season, or dies now for want of proper care and sustenance.  Few seem to care, and such being the case, the club which has been wasting away for a month past, through a combined attack of laziness, shiftlessness, and big-headiness, will probably be left up on the sands to turn up its toes and pass into history as a group of "has-beens."

A pair of ordinances was passed by the council on Tuesday evening. The first matter discussed and taken care of was the water works, and an ordinance was passed granting the firm of Reese & Breier the franchise to put in the system. The second part of the evening granted the Kaukauna Electric Light Company the right to install arc lights on the city streets.

Luther Lindauer was quite seriously injured at the track last Tuesday. While working out a horse for the first time, the animal fell and Luther was thrown from the sulky striking headfirst. 

The body of William Neeling, a young man of 17 years of age who resided with his parents at Little Chute, was found in the Fox River at that place Sunday morning. He may have gone swimming late Saturday evening as this is a popular swimming hole. 

On Monday last manager Martens resigned his position as president and manager of the Kaukauna baseball Association and gave notice to other clubs of the league that the organization here was dissolved.

August 13, 1897

Livermore and Son, the south side bakers are now making Malt Extract Bread in round loaves-a new thing in bread.

Perspective view of the New St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The contract for the building of this handsome edifice was let last evening to contractor Huffman of Appleton. It will cost $25,000.

Luther Lindauer has secured the contract for furnishing the material, brick, stone, line and say and for the new St. Mary's church. Nearly 1,000,000 brick will be used in its construction.

August 20, 1897

Do not be deceived and pay a higher price than 6c a gallon for gasoline just because people say their grade is superior.

Reese and Breier have decided to locate the pumping station of the water works system upon the property known as Nettekoven quarry and have secured two lots for this purpose. The stand pipe will be located upon the highest point in the city.

Bishop Messmer of the diocese of Green Bay has issued a pastoral letter enjoining Catholic societies from conducting Sunday picnics and excursions.  The letter also disapproves of Saturday night and Sunday dances and announces that Catholics who persist in attending such festivities will be denied the sacraments.

August 27, 1897

Mills in Menasha have ceased drawing water from the Fox River, because the water is down to the crest of the Menasha dam, which is as low as they are allowed to use it. The Neenah mills are still using the water.

Gus Miller has sold his Avenue grocery to Julius J. Martens of the south side, who will run the same in connection with his present establishment.