Time Machine Trip to March 1899

March 3, 1899 

All night service was instituted at the Kaukauna station of the Wisconsin Telephone company March 1, and patrons can now "ring up" at all hours of the day or night. On Sunday the station will be closed during church hours, from 10 o'clock in the morning to 1 p.m. and from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the evening.

The ice on Lake Winnebago is thirty-eight inches thick and as clear as crystal. This is a new record on the lake.

John Gerrit’s saloon at Lilac Hill, Little Chute, was completely destroyed by fire Monday evening. Not a thing was saved, but the bar and mirror. Mr. Gerrits lost all of his household goods. The building was valued at $900.00 and insured for $600.00.

Little Chute-The incorporation of Little Chute as a village was carried Tuesday at the special election which was called for that purpose by a majority 33.  Everyone was tickled to death to think of the victory won, and they took all sorts of means to show it. Guns were shot off, fireworks burned, and colored lights brightened the new village as day. Business was rushing at the saloons, the owners being the happiest of all.  

March 10, 1899

A track and Field team has been organized at the High School with a membership of twenty. The organization is for the purpose of proper exercise, and development of manly arts.

There is a scarcity of eggs, probably owing to the recent severely cold weather, and this staple of Lenten diet has advanced in price to the neighborhood of 30 cents a dozen in the cities, with comparatively few eggs to be had at any price.

Besides the regular business at the regular monthly meeting of the common council, a resolution was presented and passed establishing a free public library in Kaukauna. $500 was appropriated as a nucleus, and the mayor instructed to appoint a board of directors of nine members to look after the library.

March 17, 1899

Peter Martin who built the first tavern in Cakalin, now Kaukauna, fifty years ago, celebrated his ninetieth birthday Saturday at the home of his daughter.

Thos. Longworth is using all his leisure time in the construction of a gasoline engine different from any heretofore in use. It will be of about 2 ½ to 3 horse power.

Conductor Crowley, who ran the 1:10 am train Sunday night through here, called officer Tony Mankoskey’s attention to a fellow who was lying on the rods under the sleeper car. He had been riding in this position from Menominee and looked more like a snow man than anything else. He gave is name as Albert Hansen and was lodged in the city cooler until morning.

Albert Gates has sold his two lots on Second street to John Deno, consideration $800. Mr. Deno will erect a hotel on the property this summer.

March 24, 1899

Calumet, Michigan --The snow lays seven feet deep on a level. No attempt has been made to shovel it off from sidewalks and streets, but instead it is tramped and rolled down solid. The municipal authorities employ a heavy steam roller for that purpose, and it is left hard enough to travel on. Steps cut in the snow which lays on the sidewalk lead down into each store from the level of two or three feet of the packed snow in front.

During last week’s storm three Indians, Skenadore, Smith and Metoxen, from the Oneida reservation came to town and spent the day among their white brethren who filled them up as usual with fire water.  On their way home, they had to drive their team through Duck Creek which was swollen full. The wagon over flowed resulting in the drowning of Smith.

Palmetto, Ga. - Early Thursday morning a mob of masked men stormed a little house used as a jail and shot nine negroes. Four were killed and five were badly wounded. Two fires have lately occurred and the nine were arrested on suspicion and being held for trial. Gov. Chandler was called on for troops and the militia from Atlanta arrived that evening.

March 31, 1899

A barn on Beaulieu hill belonging to Peter Killian was destroyed by fire Sunday night. The fire department laid a line of hose 1,500 feet long over the hill and played a strong stream on the blaze at that distance, something never before accomplished here.