Friday, January 20, 2017

Time Machine Trip to January 1939

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

It’s that time again to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and make a trip back to January 1939.  

The big wheel is spinning Bob Patschke 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.     

   
The hit parade song of the month.

Over the Rainbow – Judy Garland  



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

January 4, 1939
The Moloch Foundry and Machine Company has been sold to a new concern to be known as the Kaukauna Machine Corporation, of which Ralph J. Kraut of Fond du Lac is president. The corporation has taken over the assets of the Moloch Company and will open the plant on a sound basis. Monday, January 9, has been set as the tentative opening date for this plant.

Fire losses in Kaukauna amounted to $9219.16 in 1938, according to a report submitted by Henry Esler, fire chief. The largest loss of the year occurred February 13 when lightning struck the power plant and caused damage to the extent of $5030.45.

January 6, 1939
A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Janssen, 1213 Crooks Ave. at 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, January 3rd at their home, it was the first baby born in Kaukauna in 1939. Miss Janssen was declared winner of the second annual First Baby of the Year Derby, sponsored by the Kaukauna Times and cooperating merchants.

A project for the replacement of street signs under the NYA program will be conducted in Kaukauna, work to begin soon. In a preliminary survey made it was found that there are 225 street signs needed, and there are 183 now up. 

Mayor L. F. Nelson at the January meeting of the common Council Tuesday evening opened a discussion regarding the cost of poor relief in the city. He said that the cost in Kaukauna seems to be high compared to the cost of relief in other cities in this vicinity. Mayor Nelson said that he was not attempting to criticize the work of the poor commissioner or the poor committee but that he feels that an attempt should be made to see if something cannot be done to cut down on poor relief costs.                 

Florian Spang, crack 18-year-old Menasha bowler, has challenged Robert Martzahl, 19, Kaukauna's best bowler to a total pin match. Martzahl has an average of 190.7 league average, while Spain has turned in a game of 289 and a series of 727.         

January 11, 1939
The WPA recreational activities at 212 E. 2nd St. are now underway according to the directors, Eva Hoffman and Reinert Wenzel the attendance is rapidly increasing and the activities are becoming popular. The harmonica band is first in attendance with the boys, closely followed by the tumbling and wrestling classes. The girls are interested more in dancing and have also registered for harmonica band and tumbling.

Martin S. Verhagen, 57, former Outagamie County Sheriff and resident of the Fox River Valley all his life passed away at his home, Tuesday evening, following a lingering illness. He served as Sheriff from 1912 to 1914 and again from 1932 to 1936. From 1905 to 1910 he operated a Tavern in Kaukauna. In 1920 he went in the hardware business in Kimberly with a son. The store is still in existence and operated as the Verhagen Hardware Store.                          

Miss Angela Van Dyke, 20, and Miss Katherine Nelson, 20, were injured in a traffic crash on old Highway 41 mile north of the city limits at 12:30 a.m. Sunday. Miss Penn Dyke received cuts about the head and legs and Miss Nelson received an injured ankle.

In one of the most interesting and wildest games seen here in years the Kaukauna high school cage team eked out and 18 to 16 win over New London Friday night. The win over New London puts the Littlemen in third place in the league standings only one game behind the 2nd place Neenah Red Rockets and two behind the league leading Shawano Indians. It was Carl Giordana, who sparked the Kaws on to Friday night's victory over New London. The husky Kaukauna guard came through with timely baskets in the final 10 minutes. Giordana also made good a final charity shot in the closing seconds to cinch things for the Kaws.                                              

Intramural sports at the high school includes a bowling league made up of five teams which play every week. Team members include: Schell Alleys, Joseph Regenfuss, Capt., Jack Flanagan, Jack Hahn, Robert Nettekoven; Scheer’s Jewelers, John Jacobs Capt., Bill Eiting, Robert Befort, Bob Steinhoff; Berens Clothiers, R. Hansen, Capt. Bob Doherty, Jack Winn, Leo Rohan; Mayer's Drugs, Tom McCarty Capt., Robert Leick, Harry Vandenberg, Don Liethen; Kaukauna Hardware, Floyd D Goodman, Capt., Norbert Kuba, Gerald Reichelt,  John Wandell.

January 13, 1939


John P Kline was re-elected Pres. of the Bank of Kaukauna at the annual meeting of directors held Monday evening immediately after the stockholders meeting. Dr. G. Kate. Flanigan was agreed elected VP and L. J. Merlot, cashier. Barbara Kraemer and C. H. Zastrow were named assistant cashiers. Directors elected were J. P. Klein, Dr. G. J. Flanagan, George A. Klein, Ben G. Prugh, L. A. Gerend, H. T. Runte, J. S. Wynboom and L. J. Merlo.  



The Mellow Brews came through with a 36 to 28 victory over the highly-favored D-X Oil five to take over undisputed first place in the city cage loop last weekend. Charles Bloch was the big gun in the Brewer attack that staged a second-half rally to step away from the D-X squad.  Alvin McCormick dropped in a field goal for the CYO team with only 20 seconds to go in and overtime period to defeat Gustmans 25 to 23 in the closest game of the week.    




Lewis F Nelson, Kaukauna Mayor, was re-elected Pres. of the Farmers and Merchants bank at the annual meeting of directors held Tuesday evening. Henry W. Olm was again named executive vice president and cashier and John Coppus and Peter Renn re-elected vice presidents.







The high school cage team will meet Clintonville tonight at Clintonville in a conference game. Coach Little is expected to start is usual five that has gotten the opening call all season except one forward Bloch and Koch, both tall and showing signs of developing, will get the call at the questionable position, with Biselx at the other front post, Alger at center and Giordana and Swedberg in the backcourt.

January 18, 1939
Henry W Bongers was elected Pres. of the Bank of Little Chute to succeed the late P. A. Gloudemans at the meeting of the stockholders held Tuesday evening. Other officers are Dr. J. H. Doyle, vice Pres., Herman Stark, cashier, Edward Mollen, assistant.


Harry Vander Wyst was injured Monday while working on a crane at the Combined Locks mill. He received injuries to the head and arms and suffered a fractured hip. He was taken to St. Elizabeth hospital.

January 20, 1939
Peter Gertz and Bernard Van Schyndel of Little Chute were each fined five dollars and costs in Justice of the Peace Abe Goldin's court Wednesday on a charge of disorderly conduct. Richard Derks, Martin De Bruin and Henry Siebers also of Little Chute, were found not guilty in court.

Machinery and equipment of the Klumb Wagon Shop which was destroyed by fire Tuesday evening, December 6, has been removed to the garage building adjacent to the Klumb building on Dodge Street and is again being used by the owner, William Klumb senior, who reached his 80th birthday Friday. Mr. Klumb has been in business in the building which was destroyed by fire for the last 60 years.                                      

According to a survey made recently in the home rooms, 148 students own bicycles for which they will have to procure licenses. Many of the students use their bikes for transportation to school, while others use them in our jobs which they hold outside of school hours.

January 25, 1939
Amay Bayorgeon is the leading bowler in the commercial league, according to a report received from Norbert Gerend, league secretary. Bayorgeon has maintained an average of 183 pins. Close behind is Charles Schell with an average of 182 pins. Other Keglers who have an average of 174 over follows: Les Smith, 178; Carl Ploetz, 178; Vic Gerhartz 178; Leo Nagan 178; William Haas 176; H Vandersteen 174; Norbert Gerend 173; Joe Scherer 173; and William Bedat 171.  

Ken Vils, Kaukauna heavyweight, making his ring debut Thursday evening at the Appleton Armory loss to Jack Foley of West Bend on a technical knockout. Vils was knocked down four times in the first round, three times he took the count the nine and the four-time the bell rang with Vils on the floor. The fight was stopped by the referee early in the second round. 

Previous records rolled at Kaukauna bowling alleys were cast to the wind. Monday night up-and-coming 21-year-old Kegler, Jack Burton, crack the maples for a new high series of 713 with games of 223, 245 and 245. 

January 27, 1939




A capacity crowd is expected to attend the annual President Roosevelt birthday ball at the Nitingale ballroom Saturday evening, January 28, under the sponsorship of the citizens’ committee to help raise funds to fight infantile paralysis. One half of the proceeds of the affair will be sent to the national committee to be used for infantile paralysis, while the other half remains in the community where the party is held.












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