Time Machine Trip to February 1918

February 1, 1918

“Talk will not win the war. We must do all we can to support the government, it is not time to be a Republican or Democrat.”  Declared Rev. F.X. Van Nistelroy in an excellent talk before the Kaukauna Knights of Columbus Tuesday evening. “Every American must do his best if the war is to be won. The German Bismarck is to blame for the war as he deliberately waged war on Denmark and France to obtain land. The German people are not to blame for the war as they are a peace-loving people.”

The portion of the city, formerly called “Over the Marsh,” is lining up with the rest of the community in the matter of modernism with the Electric Department having made its first connections in the that section.

Fred S. Kriger, teacher at the Kaukauna High school, has passed the necessary examination and has been enlisted in the aviation section of the Army.

Germans and Austrians can’t get Naturalization papers during the war. Eleven applications have been approved by Judge Werner in circuit court.

Nels P. V. Sorenson – Denmark

Cornelius Socters – Netherlands

John Vander Wielen – Netherlands

Martin Wyngaard – Netherlands

Emil Giordana – Italy

Marinus Van Padus – Netherlands

Frank Emil Ailio – Russia

Johannus Venwymeier – Netherlands

Albert E. Herman – Canada

Peter J. VandenBrand – Netherlands

Ferdinand Ziesman - Russia

February 8, 1918

Anger over the sinking of the ship on which their pals were going to France and grim determination to avenge them made the Kaukauna soldiers not cheer at stops as they traveled east by train to join the war.

The Fox River will be made the most dependable power-producing waterway in the United States. The power produced each year will amount to a savings of 29,000 tons of coal, costing $100,000 if the plan worked out by Major Tompkins of the United States Engineer’s office is approved by congress. 

The Kaukauna council approved an increase in salary to utilities Supt. W. B. Montgomery’s salary from $125 to $150 per month. The Mayor - $500 per year

City Clerk - $1,500 per year

City Treasurer - $500 per year

Assessor - $500 per year

City Attorney - $450 per year

City physician - $180 per year

Fire Chief - $150 per year

Chief of Police - $1320 per year

Patrolmen - $1020 per year

Thus far about twenty-five German alien enemies have registered at the two Kaukauna post offices and it is expected that about twice this number will have registered by Saturday.

February 15, 1918

The Gantter-Bedat-Knauf-Tesch company of Kaukauna shipped a carload of clover seed to Chicago last week which was valued at $10,000. This is the first car of seed ever ship out of Kaukauna but not the last as this firm is bent on taking advantage of the present high price of clover.

The plan to increase the water power production of the Fox River and make it dependable in all seasons of the year was heartily approved of by the Fox River Valley Water Power Users association at Appleton Thursday.

Frank and John Hermsen, brothers from Little Chute, left Wednesday for Vancouver, Washington, having enlisted in the engineer corps. They received a sweater and comfort kit each from the Kaukauna and Little Chute Red Cross for all of these  boys we are  grateful.

February 22, 1918

A fire broke out at the Lindauer garage on the south side at 8 o’clock this morning. About $10,000 worth of automobiles and motor trucks were saved from destruction. Edward Lucht, employed at the garage noticed the fire near the coal fire. The fire department had the flames under control in a short time.