Time Machine Trip to April 1907

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

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

For today’s trip my old friend Fay Armstrong 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 

April 5, 1907

Railroad men who visited the northern part of the state this week claim that there is still from one to two feet of snow in the woods, and that the lumbermen are making the most of it in finishing up their winter's work. The majority of camps are still running, but it is expected that they will all break up before the end of another week.

They had been married just seven months. “Tomorrow will be my birthday, she announced. What are you going to get me, George?” “I haven’t the least idea, my dear.” I read in last night’s paper about a man who got a second-hand overcoat for $2 for his wife, but I’ll probably not be so lucky.”

 “Billy” Davis was sentenced to the workhouse for ten days this morning by Justice H. J. Mulholland for being drunk.

As warm weather approaches it becomes necessary to again call the curfew ordinance in to action and from now on children under fifteen years of age must be off the streets and home by the 9 o’clock curfew bell rings. Parents of the children will be penalized if their children are not at home by the required time.

April 12, 1907

The severest snow storm of the year raged Saturday night, all day Sunday, continuing late Monday forenoon when it turned to rain which fell the rest of the day. The snow Saturday night melted as fast as it fell, but by Sunday night the ground was covered to a depth of four inches which was increased to nearly eight inches the following morning. The street commissioner found it necessary to call out the snow shovel brigade.

The work of putting in the new telephones is progressing at the rate of from fifty to seventy-five a day. The new switch board is now in use, the change having been made Saturday night.

The Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company are to commence operations in Kaukauna at once, rebuilding the canal they recently purchased, known as the Kaukauna Water Power canal. They have found the bank of the canal on the lower side so badly honeycombed behind the loose cobble stone lining as to be an actual menace to property owners, and will set a crew of men at the work of reconstruction as early as next week.

The Fox Club Minstrels

 Dr. Wm. Sullivan - William Hoyt – William Duggan – Roy Kuehn - Peter McMahon

The Fox club minstrels will play to a packed house tonight. There was the biggest scramble for seats Monday night ever recorded in the city. On the south side 210 of the 300 seats were marked off within 30 minutes after the window was opened.

W. B. Montgomery, superintendent of the Kaukauna gas, electric light and power company, narrowly escaped serious injury at the company's powerhouse Tuesday afternoon. The heavy belt that operate steel arc light machine came off and caught the sleeve of Mr. Montgomery shirt. The shirt was torn from his body but he escaped without a scratch admits it was a close call. In consequence of the accident there were no streetlights until Sunday.

NO DANCING IN LITTLE CHUTE?

A movement has been started in Little Chute that promises to develop into quite a sensational affair before it closes between the local priest and the young people and the dance hall owners. Some time ago Joseph VanCamp, who has a dance hall on Main Street, gave out notices that he was going to start up evening dancing parties at his place. This was his decision as the young people felt that Little Chute should be entitled to maintain social dances in the evening as well as other towns. It is claimed that Little Chute is the only place in the state where young people were thus restricted. Hearing of the proposal John Hammen, proprietor of the Hotel Hammen, also announced his intention to follow suit and both had engaged music for their opening parties. It came to the attention of Father Knegtel, pastor of St. John's church. St. John Church has never allowed dancing in the parish since it was organized by Father T. J. Vandenbroek in 1831. Father Knegtel has announced that he will resign before he will allow the rules of the church so long established to be broken and has served such notice on the owners of the two dance halls.

April 19, 1907

The fire department responded to a call from the Verhoven residence "across the marsh" and got stuck in the mud a short distance from the Wisconsin division depot. The hook and ladder truck sank into the soft earth to the hubs and had to be dug out. After the mud had been removed an extra team was attached and the vehicle pulled out.  The department continued on their journey but by the time they reached their destination the neighbors had extinguished the flames.

A Chicago woman sued for divorce because her husband told her she resembled one of her aunts. After a look at the aunt, the court awarded the divorce.

Six boys ranging from age 17 to 21 years were arrested by officer Hiting on charges of boisterous and disorderly conduct on the streets between the hours of 12 and 1 o'clock Sunday morning. They appeared before Justice Mulholland and paid a fine of $1 and costs in each case. Their names are withheld on account of their parents.

The Menominee Indians will receive another per capita payment of $30. There are now 1427 entitled to the money.

According to merchants in Kaukauna and elsewhere business has been at a standstill for two weeks owing to the several recent heavy snowstorms and cold weather.

April 26, 1907

The mayor started proceedings Tuesday which will abate the dumping of rubbish and filthy offal along the road that leads out to Hollandtown. Employees of a south side market were caught in the act of dumping several barrels of decaying bones and meat on the bank of the river near the lower bend and warrants were immediately sworn out for the prosecution of the guilty parties.

Otto Wentland caused the arrest of Maggie O’Basky Friday on the charge of abusive language. She appeared before Justice Schwin and paid a fine and cost amounting to $9. Maggie then had Otto arrested on the charge of assault and battery. Otto appeared before Justice Mulholland and paid a fine and costs amounting to $13.50.

One of our northside businessmen purchased a handsome saddle horse from a local dealer last week but refused to take him home after seeing how he conducted himself when mounted. The animal was high-spirited and while he showed no Mustang stunts his owner was satisfied that it would require a “cowboy” to ride him and he did not care about taking any chances.

Local railroad men were rejoicing over a sweeping Sunday order that has gone into effect over the entire Northwestern system. The order is to the effect that Sunday work hereafter will be generally suspended. Under the new regulation, it is possible for a railroad employee to have his Sunday to himself the same as other employees.