Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Time Machine Trip to April 1957

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 Gary Schmidt, 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 the corner of Third Street and Main.

We are now in April of 1957.    

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

 Don’t Forbid Me – Pat Boone

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

April 3, 1957
Indications from the city engineer's office seem more and more encouraging as far as the possibility of Kaukauna having another big home-building year in 1957. To date permits for nine residences have been issued from the engineer's office. The number is three more home permits than in 1956. April has always been a big month for issuing of home building permits.

April 5, 1957
Appropriate formal ceremonies of benediction will accompany the dedication of the new St. John's high school, Little Chute, Sunday, as his Excellency the most Rev. Stanislaus V. Bona, Bishop of the Green Bay diocese blesses the new school. The construction of the new structure was completed late this winter, with the cornerstone laying ceremonies place, February 12th.

During the month of March to Kaukauna fire Department at a total of 13 emergency calls. The first call of the month was to the Kersten residents on Saturday evening, March 2 and discovered on arrival at the scene the fire had ignited the clothing worn by Mrs. Ed. Kersten and that she had died the second and third degree burns.

April 10, 1957
Funeral services are scheduled this morning at St. Mary's church for Mrs. Edward Wolf, Third Street, well known Kaukauna Times feature writer and news reporter, who died at the Kaukauna community hospital Sunday morning following an illness.  Her natural gift for narration and her unrestrained liking for people brightened her words with a warm light. Soon the readers of the Times are looking for more stories from this writer. She became a much talked about person. “Who is this Mrs. Wolf from third Street? She always has a way about her. Mrs. Wolf edged into the eye and eventually the hearts of the public when she began writing stories for the Kaukauna Times after winning a writers contest in 1948.

Tobin Rote, star quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, who has announced his retirement last fall, has signed for the 1957 season, the Packers management announced Thursday. Rote is considered the greatest run-pass signal caller in the National Football League.

Those on the straight A list for the first nine weeks are:
Seniors – Jean Bauer, Richard Boyd, Janet Oettinger and Ann Teske.
Juniors - Bonnie Bayorgeon, Thalia Hodgins, Richard Horn, John Rodgers, Sandra Van Dyke and Thomas Whitman.
Sophomore - Sally Hertz.
Freshman - Jane Barribeau, Dwight Bastion, Melvin Kruse, Dawn Oettinger, Janet Spice and Milo Straus.

Six Kaukauna area youths recently began six months of active military training under Reserve Forces Act program at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Pvt. Ronald G. Ludtke, Pvt. Clifford W Nushart, Pvt. Robert K. Schermitzler, Pvt. James M. Yingling, Pvt. Ernest S. Meulemans and Pvt. Edward A. Borcherdt, Greenleaf. 

April 12, 1957
Mr. and Mrs. Ryan, Whitney Street, were singled out for special honors at the recent annual Adult Girl Scout meeting held at Appleton Elks club. The Ryan's received a Girl Scout statuette, which is roughly equivalent of a television “Emmy” or a motion picture “Oscar” and is presented for efforts above and beyond the call of duty. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan both served on the Winnecomac committee and Mrs. Ryan is also chairman of the Kaukauna district of the Girl Scouts.

April 17, 1957

The Kaukauna Board of Education at a special meeting held Monday evening appointed Fred Barribeau, a member of the Kaukauna high school faculty since 1943 and head basketball coach since 1952, as head football coach, beginning in the 1957 season. 



Three Kaukauna High School youths averted a possible tragedy Sunday afternoon by heroically plunging into the cold, icy Fox River to save three children. The youths jumped in to save from possible drowning John, 12, Marcia, 8, and Mike 3, children of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Wierzinski of DePere. Mr. Wierzinski stated the family dog had fallen out of the boat and that in attempting to crawl back in upset the craft throwing the children into the water. Two children heard the call for help and stopped the car in which the three Kaukauna youths were riding. The young men are Ves Grissman, 10th St., Jim Wolf, 9th. Street and Neil Huss, Brother Street.  Bill Schmitz, 10th street was the driver.  

A Kaukauna couple Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mueller survived a crash that caused extensive damage to their automobile. They were struck by the C&NW train as they crossed the Depot street railroad tracks. Both were thrown from the auto and were taken to the Kaukauna hospital for their injuries.

As a part of their studies in transportation the boys of the Nicolet Kindergarten class constructed their version of a houseboat in their classroom. Left to right front row, David Williamson, Michael Martin, David LaBorde, Tom Tait, Russell Mereness and James Jakl; second row, David Wittman, Mark Schneider, Dale Nagan, Tom Diedrich and Robert St. Arnold; third row, Tommy Verbeten, Mike Schommer, Steve Weigman, David Williams, Harlon Stevens and William Carnot and at the helm of the ship are Steve Sanders, James DeWitt, Daniel Betters and Lyle Geurts as Steve Schoen peers from the porthole.

April 19, 1957
The Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts team roared off to a successful start in the 1957 campaign as they zoom to a 12-3 decision over the Freedom Irish Wednesday afternoon. Four of the Galloping Ghosts came in with round trippers, the first by Bugs DeBruin in the first inning, the second by Jack Coenen in the fourth, the third by Karl Frank in the fourth. The final circuit swipe was by Rich Kempen in the seventh and final inning.

April 24, 1957
The Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts track team Saturday racked up its second win of the season, this time in nonconference competition as they edged to a 52-48 decision over West DePere at city Stadium in Green Bay. Top scorer for the Kaws was Bob Benz who placed first in 100-yard dash and 220-yard dash.

April 26, 1957
Daylight savings time will come into effect at 2 AM Sunday morning. Wisconsin voted daylight savings into law during the recent spring elections. This will be the first time that the state has had such a program on a statewide basis. 


The youngest group of dancers which will appear in Sunday’s recreation department dance review will be these young ladies who are four and five years old. Left to right on the floor are Sharon Vande Yacht, Nancy Van Dyn Hoven and Caroline Van Lanen, in the chairs are Jolene Romenesko, Paula Micholic, Jane Gustman and Diane Van Dyn Hoven and standing are Barbara Saykally, Nancy Simon, Ellen Wagner, Karen Van Elzen and Darlene Massey.


 1957 Ford Thunderbird

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