Time Machine Trip to February 1907

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to February of 1907.

For today’s trip Carol Hofensperger 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.

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 

February 1, 1907

An exchange states that a cow was struck by a Chicago and Northwestern express engine at Little Chute and hurled high in the air, but that the "cow landed on her feet and went on nibbling grass as though nothing had happened."

George Berghaus of the town of Buchanan appeared before Justice Mulholland on a charge of cruelty to animals, pled guilty and paid a fine of one dollar and cost. Berghaus left his team standing unblanketed on third Street for several hours on one of the coldest days this week, where they remained until taken in charge by an officer who had them placed in a warm stable and fed.

The biggest cocking mania ever held in this part of the state was to have taken place at Duck Creek Monday night but was postponed, on account of the presence of Sheriff Killmann and three deputies. Birds from Appleton, Oshkosh and Chicago about 30 in all, were entered. Over 300 people were on hand to witness the event, among whom were several Kaukauna people.

February 8, 1907

Counterfeit silver dollars have been in circulation in various parts of the state for several weeks and federal officers are warning people to be on the watch for them.

Golden & Stone, dealers in hides, junk, etc., who have been located on the south side, have transferred to Wisconsin Avenue and opened the place of business. They will continue in the old business in addition thereto open up a second-hand store.

Kaukauna played in a fast game Friday evening when they engaged with the swift Manitowoc team of girl basketball players and were beaten by a score of 9-5.  A splendid crowd was on hand to witness the game, many times larger than any other audience ever before turning out for a game of basketball. It was certainly encouraging to the team has such a large number of friends present and so much appreciated by each and every one of them.

Because they disobeyed the orders of the basketball coach, Miss Weber, and went to Appleton to attend a high school dance function, two members of the girls’ basketball team of the North Side high school have been suspended from all further participation in school athletics as a result of their little escapade.

A dog that has been making a practice of taking after the interurban cars ran out once too often Friday and got under the wheels of the Appleton-Kaukauna car. Several other dogs will meet a similar fate unless their owners keep them chained.

February 15, 1907

A few days ago, C.A. Lawton noticed something out of the ordinary in the heap of scrap iron that goes to feed the furnace of a local machine shop. He picked it up and on examination found it to be a loaded shell about eight inches in diameter, such as used in the Civil War. The shell was disposed of by dropping it into the river through a hole in the Ice.—DePere Democrat.

License revoked - As the result of an altercation at the Clark saloon on 2nd St., Sunday night, the license for the place which had been granted at a council about a month ago, has been revoked by the Mayor at the saloon closed Monday. In consequence of the trouble Mrs. Clark has started proceedings for divorce from her husband.

A Kentucky minister preached for three hours on the topic of “Hell is here and Now.” He doubtlessly thoroughly convinced his congregation.

February 22, 1907

Mart Danielson of Neenah was in Kaukauna Tuesday endeavoring to engage men for the Kimberly & Clark pulp mill at Niagara which has been shorthanded for some time. He needed thirty-five to forty, but succeeded in securing only three or four in this city and he was not sure but that they would back out when it came to taking their departure. Mr. Danielson said he could have engaged several men for Fox River valley mills but very few care to go north to work.

The Regenfuss Brewing company on the north side has been enlarged, remodeled and improved to such an extent since it came into the possession of the present owners and now is practically a new plant. The bottling department has been enlarged, double its former capacity. The plant is in charge of John Regenfuss one of the most experienced brewers in the state.

What was supposed to have been a Neenah high school team played our hometown team here to a 10-10 tie at Heindel's Hall. The local team thought they were to play a Neenah high school team after the game it was learned that Neenah’s star player, who had 6 points for the visitors, graduated from high school last year. The game was played under girl’s rules which the locals were not familiar with. This accounts for the large number of calls on the Kaukauna team.