Time Machine Trip to May 1902

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine and travel back in time to May of 1902.

For today’s trip Jean Giordana, will be sitting in the front seat and 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 for us on the chair out front of the Times office.

Charles E. Raught

Owner, Editor & Publisher

Let’s see what’s in the news this month.  

Your old newsman - Lyle Hansen

May 2, 1902

The beautiful new marble altar has been under construction at St. Mary's Church during the past month. The cost of the altar is $5,000.00 and is the best constructed this side of Chicago. The marble for the altar was imported from quarries in Carrara, Italy, and Algiers, Africa, and numbers 2,010 pieces.

Rose Hill Auction – Paul Juley will offer for sale to the highest bidder on Saturday his Rose Hill property. The property is situated between Kaukauna and Little Chute on Appleton Road. Good dwelling available for hotel, with bar-room, one acre of land with barn, cistern, well etc. A bargain for some one.

May 9, 1902

Another very extensive improvement was added to St. Mary's church this week—the installation of the fourteen stations of the cross, donated by Mr. H. L. Vandenberg. They were made by the Chicago Da Prato Statue Company and are copied from the best European models. Their cost was $810.

The Outagamie Paper company of Kaukauna received news Tuesday that a decision has been rendered in the United States circuit court at Milwaukee as to the title to the land the mill is built. Mrs. Corrina De Vivaldi Coaracy a resident of Brazil, commenced an action as to the ownership of the land. She is the niece of the late George Lawe of Kaukauna. The land was sold to Augustin Grignon in 1841. The judge placed the title to Augustin Grignon and then to the Outagamie Paper company.

May 16, 1902

There is some talk of building a theatre in Kaukauna on the same plan as the one recently erected in Appleton, although the Kaukauna plan would not be quite as elaborate a scale. Manager John Lawe of the opera house and Mr. John B. Arthurs, the gentlemen who had charge of soliciting for the Green Bay and Appleton houses, have talked the matter over and there is a possibility that Mr. Arthurs will take it up with the Kaukauna people and ascertain if the project would be a worthwhile one.

The question of raising the salaries of the members of the fire department has come before the council.  The department has asked for a raise from $600 to $900 per year. The mayor and fire and police committee have taken the matter under consideration and would be pleased to have an expression from property owners on the subject.

A record-breaking marriage was that of Mrs. Henry Swinkel of Little Chute to Martin Weyenberg of Freedom. The bride is 74 years of age and groom 83. Each has lost their spouses over the past several years.

May 23, 1902

Temperance drinks took a tumble Monday, Nir Theisen's delivery team having indulged in another one of their periodical spurts down the Avenue. The air was filled with bottles for a few minutes.

The league season will open in Kaukauna next Sunday with Kaukauna playing Appleton. The grounds are in good condition and a new grandstand of increased capacity is ready. The following will be the line-up for Kaukauna.

Kreining – Catcher

Heimerl – Pitcher

Kuhn – First base

Schatzke – Second base

Dietzler – Third base

Gehr – Short Stop

Schreiner – Right field

G. Phillips – Center field

Miller – Left field

May 30, 1902

The annual High School commencement   exercises opened last evening. The class this year numbers thirteen, eight young men and five young ladies, as follows: Misses Estella Breier, Maud Whittier, Clara Phillips, Ella F. Martens, Claribel Werneke, Will H. Flagg, John F. Kettenhofen, Frank Singstock, Will Hurtenbach, John E. Nelson, Joe Krahn, Siegfried Filen and James E. Grignon.

Landlord Mulholland let the construction to place of a new plate glass front window to Albert Lukow at the Grand View Hotel, on the corner of Second street and Main Avenue.