Time Machine Trip to March 1948

March 3, 1948

A feature writing contest which will open today is being conducted by the Kaukauna Times, it was announced by C. J. Hansen, editor. Cash awards and merchandise will be presented to the persons writing the stories judged best. Factual stories about incidents, events and places in Kaukauna’s past are sought in the contest.

Mrs. Ross Grignon, 87, the last immediate member of the Grignon family, died Sunday at St. Elizabeth hospital Appleton. Edith married Ross Grignon, the son of Charles and Mary Grignon on Nov. 24, 1884. Ross’s grandfather was Augustine Grignon. The Grignon home built in 1839 was known as “The Mansion in the Woods”.

Boxing coach Fred Barribeau’s hopefuls for the “48 campaign began their drills on ring fundamentals this week in the first step in preparing for the season opener here on March 9 at the high school gym. The returning lettermen from 1947 are Dave Kilgas, 124-pound, team captain Joe Birkenmeyer, 108 pounds, Harold Wirth, 116, Bob Berghuis, 148, and Gene Schiedermayer, 140 pounds.

March 10, 1948

Robert Knapp and Donald Mangold both of Kaukauna received discharges from the army and navy on March 2. Knapp entered the army in October of 1946 and after basic training was sent to Japan where he was assigned to a Military police position. Mangold entered the Navy on May 2, 1946.    

March 12, 1948

Dr. George Behnke and Mrs. Jamie James McFadden will head the Girl Scout financial drive which opens Monday in Kaukauna. To date there are 12 Girl Scout troops in Kaukauna with a membership of 250.

With a record entry of 209 teams competing, the 26^th annual Fox River Valley Catholic Order of Foresters Bowling Tournament will unfold tomorrow night at the S & B Bowling Bar.  

March 17, 1948

The St. Mary’s boxing season began at St. Vincent gym in Oshkosh Friday evening where the local team received a 5 ½ to 4 ½ setback. St. Mary’s Wayne Lennert, 78-pounder lost to Leonard Statmuller. St. Mary’s Marvin Zwick, 81 pounds, lost to Tom Miedle. St. Mary’s Earl Jacoby, 74-pounds, defeated James Lee. St. Mary’s Tom McGinnis, 82-pounds, fought to a draw with Cliff Newbrane. Jim Effa, 89 pounds of St. Mary’s got into a slug fest with Tom Miller that ended in a draw. Dan Schommer, 91-pounds of St. Mary’s won the referee’s nod over Dick Neitzel. 

Margaret Borree, fifth grade and Alice Lancour, sixth grade, both of St. Mary’s school were awarded first prizes in the poster contest held for boys and girls of the fifth and sixth grades of all Kaukauna schools in connection with the Girls Scout financial drive.

  

March 19, 1948

Wisconsin traffic accidents claimed 101 lives in the first two months of 1948, compared to 87 lives in the same period last year according to the safety division of the motor vehicle department. 39 of this year’s victims were pedestrians. 1947 claimed 76 children’s lives.    

Lothar Kemp captured individual honors in the Tuesday night Businessmen’s league at the S & B Bowling alleys with a 665 series.

March 24, 1948

Lieutenant Commander George J. Brill, a former Kaukauna resident, was one of three outstanding officers of the United States Coast Guard who were sworn into the regular Coast Guard on February 13^th. Lieut. Comdr. Brill is the officer in charge of marine inspection and captain of the Port of Savannah. He has sailed under four flags in the merchant marine. During the first World War he served in the Navy with a rank of Lieutenant JG. He left home at the age of 17 years of age and entered the United States Navy on January 12, 1906.

History of Kaukauna stories have been submitted to the Times contest. The Lightening Rod Salesman and the history of the Kaukauna Times by Mrs. Ed. Wolf.  Kaukauna’s first mayor H. A. Frambach by Mrs. Harold Engerson. The Hoehne Machine Works by William F. Hoehne. 

A Squad – Left to right: Joan McGoey, Elaine Keough, Carl “Popeye” Lindstrom, Diane Derus and Donna Luebke.