Time Machine Trip to June 1968

By Lyle Hansen

June 5, 1968

The Kaukauna High School baseball team finished up the season with a six win and seven loss mark in conference action. Head coach Dave Hash announced that Captain Mike Grogan was named most valuable player by his teammates. Grogan was the team’s leading hitter for the season with a .333 batting average. Eleven players received letters for the past season.

Two holes-in-one were scored at Fox Valley Golf Club over the weekend both on No. 8, a water hole. Robert DeKoch, KHS sophomore and a member of the school team, got his ace Saturday. Val Kopitzke, Menasha, fired his ace Sunday afternoon.

The 1968 graduating class of 312 seniors at Kaukauna High School will hold its commencement exercises tonight at 8:15 p.m. in the new gymnasium where seats will be available for 1200 persons.  

June 7, 1968

Jerome Coonen began working for the Kaukauna school system as a custodian about six years ago he found he had a lot of time on his hands. Jerome decided to go back to college. Last week he was among the 1968 graduates at Wisconsin State University – Oshkosh. He did it the hard way – working around 50 hours a week and with a family that numbers eleven children.

June 12, 1968

Lance Corporal John Patrick Gray USMC, age 19, was killed by sniper fire near Quang Tri Viet Nam on May 31. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pittman, Kaukauna. He joined the Marine Corps May 12, 1967 and arrived in Viet Nam in November of that year. Gray served with the Third Battalion, Ninth Marine Regiment. 

  

June 19, 1968

Former Mayor Joseph “Doty” Bayorgeon's affection and dedication to the City of Kaukauna were recalled Saturday when dedication ceremonies were held at the Doty Bayorgeon Recreation Area for a monument erected in the late Mayor's memory. Mayor Gilbert Anderson served as master of ceremonies at the event. Lifetime friend, co-worker, and neighbor James McFadden gave the main speech at the dedication rites, praising Bayorgeon for his work and for the kind of person he was caring, loving and concerned.

1968 Kaukauna high school baseball team: Front row front left Mike Greenwood (manager), Neil Geiger, Mike Grogan, Dave LaBorde, Jim Blair, Jack Kempen, Dick Vandenberg, Jon Pendleton and Kurt Luedtke.  Second row Tom Keil, Gary Effa, Don Heindel. Leon Franzke, Scott Robach, Ken Kappell, Tom Nagan and Jim Luedtke.  Back row, Dave Hash (head coach), Rich Hilgenberg, Pat VanderVelden, Ron Martzahl, Al Borchardt, Tom Giordana, Keith Donnermeyer, Bruce Specht, Tom Heiting and Harry Wilson (asst. coach) 

Curtis Coenen, 19, Hollandtown became Kaukauna’s first traffic fatality of the year on Tuesday. Coenen was involved in an accident Monday evening on County Hwy Z just past Bayorgeon Recreation Area on Dodge St. The 1963 Ford Fairlane ran off the right side of the road then crossed to the left side before hitting a tree. Coenen was rushed to Kaukauna Community Hospital where he died.

 

The 1968 Varsity tennis team had a 10-3 mark for the year. The jayvees were undefeated with a 7-0 record. Left to right are Keith Steffens, head coach Harold Kobin, Will Grebe, Terry Kobin, Keith Coleman, Dave Egan, Mark Kobin, Pat Kehoe, Pat Brautigan, Gary Weyers, Steve Driessen, Dan Morgan and asst. coach James Zuelzke.

June 26, 1968

Kaukauna High School graduates, young and old alike, gathered Saturday evening for a salute to “times gone by” at Van Abel’s in Hollandtown, scene of the 32^nd Annual Alumni Rally. The Alumni Award was double presented to Miss Mary Landreman and Mrs. John Vande Loo. Both recipients are teachers in the Kaukauna school system at the present time.

Airman First Class Michael Weber has graduated with honors at Keesler AFB, Miss., from the U.S. Air Force electronic equipment repairmen course.

Seven area young men were among the Outagamie County inductees that entered the U.S. Army May 29. From Kaukauna are Harry Reichel, Leo Schuh, Richard Stoffel, Thomas DeCoster and Leon Blaire. Robert Sanderfoot of Little Chute and Gary Thiel of Kimberly.

Petty Officer 3^rd Class Kenneth Arps left Monday after spending 15 days leave with his parents. Kenneth is stationed aboard the USS Topeka, of the Sixth Fleet.

Airman First Class Robert Stadier, Little Chute is a member of a unit that has earned the U.S. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Airman Stadier is a navigation equipment repairman in the 21th Composite Wing at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.

S/Sgt. Kenneth Popp, Kaukauna, is a member of a unit that has earned the U.S. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. Sgt. Popp, an automotive maintenance technician at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, will wear the distinctive service ribbon to mark his affiliation with the unit.

Time Machine Trip to June 1928

By Lyle Hansen

June 1, 1928

A huge, modern dance hall, the Nitingale Ballroom, now completed, one of the largest in the state, is the result of the efforts of Sylvester Esler of this city to obtain a location where people might dance and enjoy themselves throughout an evening. A crew of carpenters has been putting the finishing touches on the structure to make it ready for its grand opening Sunday evening, June 3rd.

An invitation to visit the local telephone exchange, 207 Lawe Street, has been extended to the people of Kaukauna by R. P. Brooks, manager of the Wisconsin Telephone company. Tuesday, June 5^th, will be set aside for visitors. The average American takes his telephone service as a matter of course. An average of 5,516 local and toll calls are handled every day. There are now eleven telephone operators with the peak hours in the morning between 9 and 10 o’clock.

Lozelle Driessen was the winner of the Lang trophy for this year. This is the first time in the history of the trophy presentation that a girl has been the recipient.

Class day exercises of the Kaukauna High School were held here Thursday evening as seventy-two students received their diplomas. Superintendent of Schools J. F. Cavanaugh presented the class. 

June 5, 1928

In a well-played game, which ended in a near riot with Umpire Kliebhan the center of the crowd’s fury.  The small riot occurred in the ninth frame, when Vils got on base on an error with two outs and traveled to home on Cramer’s double. As he traveled to home plate he was tripped by the Green Bay catcher and missed the plate. The catcher then tagged him and Kliebhan called him out, that’s when the fun commenced. Several Kaukauna players ran out on the field to protest and in a jiffy a hundred or more fans were on the field all after the umpire. He was escorted off the field by the police to a waiting car.

Ever see a cart stuck in the mud and the team unable to move it? A crowd gathers round and watches the team straining in an effort to move it. Some just watch and others shout words of advice. Then two or more step out, get hold of the wheels and lend assistance. Others follow and soon the cart is out and on its way. This is an example of people around here who sit by and “let George” do the work towards making Kaukauna a better town in which to live. It’s never too late to put your shoulder to the wheel and lend a helping hand.

June 8, 1928

Nine Kaukauna young men have joined the Citizens Military Training Camps for the coming summer. They are: Kenneth Downer, Marvin Miller, Robert Main, John Mau, Sylvester Lehrer, Gilbert St. Mitchell, Francis Grogan, Jack Conlon and Richard Otte.

June 15, 1928

Captain Hendrick Aupaumut, a Revolutionary war hero buried in Kaukauna, is one of only three Revolutionary war veterans buried in the state of Wisconsin. He was honored here Thursday June 14^th by the Daughters of the American Revolution, with a program staged at the triangle at Reaume and Hendricks avenues. The tablet unveiled today is to the memory of Captain Hendrick Aupaumut, a member of that great tribe of Algonquin Indians, his particular clan being known as the Muh-he-con-nuk originally known as the grandfather of them all. When the tribe gathered near Stockbridge, Massachusetts, they became known as the Stockbridge tribe. Captain Aupaumut was written of, by those who knew him in high esteem and General Washington mentioned him with praise on several occasions. He was born about 1757, descending as he did from a long line of chiefs noted for their sagacity and wisdom. He obtained his education and spoke several languages being sought after by the government to negotiate treaties with Indian tribes. At the closing of the ceremony the “The Star-Spangled Banner” was song.

June 19, 1928

Little Chute – A large number of people witnessed the laying of the cornerstone for the new St. John’s parochial school here Saturday evening.

June 29, 1928

Rev. C. Ripp described today as a day which will go down in the annals of St. Mary’s parish of this city as a red-letter day. The laying of the corner stone of the new St. Mary’s school will take place this Sunday afternoon.

 

The Ford Motor company was twenty-five years old last week. In 1903 it began operations and produced 1708 Fords that year. Today the company employees over 200,000 people, with assets that run in the hundreds of millions. Henry Ford sold more than 15,000,000 of them attests the worth of his product. At peak production 9,000 Fords were turned out each day.

The Presidential Nominees

           

Democratic Nominee Alfred Smith     Republican Nominee Herbert Hoover

Time Machine Trip to June 1908

By Lyle Hansen

June 5, 1908

The paper mill of the Wolf River Fibre and Paper Company at Shawano was totally destroyed by fire. The fire originated in the room where the blower is operated and spread with great rapidity throughout that section of the plant. The loss is estimated at $100,000. The entire fire department of Shawano and the employees of the mill turned out to fight the blaze, and when they found out that the paper mill could not be saved they devoted their energy in saving the sulphite mill and grinding mill. The sulphite mill was damaged somewhat. Eight carloads of paper valued at $12,000 were burned.

It has been said that within two or three years the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company, of which John S. Van Nortwick of this city is president, will generate more power than any other company in Wisconsin, and more electrical power will be manufactured in Outagamie County than any other county in the state.

  

Nicholas Faust

The Faust Agency has changed its name to The Fox River Health and Accident Company. Nicholas Faust remains as president of the new company which he had founded. Mr. Faust was born on 1841 in Germany and came to this country at the age of six. He lived in Harrison in Calumet county moving to Kaukauna 18 years ago.  He had gone into the insurance business after returning from the Civil war over 40 years ago. 

John Regenfuss, president of the Regenfuss Brewing company was thrown from his wagon near Holy Cross church Monday and was quite painfully injured, the vehicle passing over his chest. He was laid up for several days but is able to be about again.

The TIMES is not in the ordinary matrimonial bureau business, but we have agreed for the time being to undertake the finding of a wife for a good farmer not far from here who is a widower with four children. He is 45 years of age, hale, hearty, temperate, of Catholic faith and the owner of a good-sized farm, free of debt. Would be pleased to meet any matrimonial inclined lady, about 40 years of age, who desires to find a good farm home.

June 12, 1908

The indications are that Outagamie County will have one of the largest hay crops in its history this season. As a consequence, old hay is only worth from eight to nine dollars a ton, whereas last winter it sold for eighteen.

 Confirmation Class – 1908

Quite a number of Kaukauna people attended the circus in Appleton Saturday and had the opportunity of getting separated from their money. The circus was accompanied by grafter, gamblers, short change and confidence men who did a land office business.

  

Kaukauna High School Graduates - Class of 1908

GERMAN COURSE

Paul E. Buelow

Edmond G.Haas

Claire Loyal Fell

Elsbeth W. Foerster

Rena Natalie Landgraff

Mae Eulalie Nishon

Mayme Charlotte Philipps

Lorena Estelle Brewster

Margaret Eleanor McMahon

Winfred Walter Griffith

Ben C. Heilmann

Isabel M. Durochia

ENGLISH SCIENTIFIC COURSE

Margaret C. Finnegan

MODERN CLASSICAL COURSE

Faith Ellen Smith

Linda A. Lostin

Alice M. Daily

Julia M. MacNeill

Hugo A. Ringlund 

Robert M. Strathearn

Frank M. Charlesworth

Three weeks ago, Mrs. I. F. Larson, of Beloit, went into the Northwestern railroads wash room in Janesville and left two diamond rings, valued at $250 each on the wash stand. She took the train to Chicago and did not miss the rings until several stations later. The rings were gone when the station master checked the washroom. The other night Edna W. Wheelock appeared at the station with the missing rings. Since finding the rings she had spent several days in jail on a charge of attempting to kidnap her own child from her sister-in-law to whom she gave the child a year ago.

June 19, 1908

The employees of the Ashland yards are now in a position to furnish ice to the passenger trains without having to go to the ice house for it. A large ice box has been buried in the ground adjoining the platform on the west side of the depot, where a fresh supply is kept constantly on hand. Hereafter trains can be supplied without the slightest delay.

William H. Taft was nominated on the first ballot at the Republican convention in Chicago Thursday.

June 26, 1908

Kaukauna was visited by the severest storm of the year shortly after noon Monday. It struck the city with great velocity and for a time threatened the destruction of considerable property. Buildings and trees were blown down both in the city and surrounding country and many wind mills suffered. Cupolas were torn from several buildings and signs were carried for a distance of a block. The air was filled with dust and paper and occasionally a dry goods box was seen sailing down an alley at a terrific gait. Shortly after the storm broke the rain descended in torrents. As severe as it was Kaukauna escaped with less damage than many neighboring cities.

The first triple wedding in Kaukauna in recent years took place Wednesday. The brides were the three daughters of ex-Assemblyman and Mrs. John Brill, namely, Minnie A., Amelia F. and Veronica C. Brill. The grooms were Peter H. Kauth of Appleton, Patrick E. Mullen of Antigo, and John J. Hyde of Kaukauna. The ceremony was performed at St. Mary's Church at 8 a.m. by the Rev. F. X. Steinbrecher. The couples were unattended.

Time Machine Trip to June 1988

June 1, 1988

Delaware North Corporation, based in Buffalo, New York, has announced that it has an option on 100 acres alongside Highway 41 and Highway 55 and is considering building a dog racing track on the site. That will mean an estimated 300 full and part-time jobs.

Rev. Msgr. Mark Schommer, a native of this city, is marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination today June 1. A celebration at a Jubilee mass will be at noon on Sunday, June 5, at St. Mary's church, Kaukauna.  

June 3, 1988

Kaukauna Advancement Association members have named Michael Utech as the new managing director of the KAA.

Athletes from Kaukauna High School will mix it up this weekend at the best of the best from Wisconsin in the 1988 WIAA track and field state championships. Participants from KHS are Barb Huss, Mike James, Carrie Dusenbery, Mike Zimmerman, Marc Lankey, Tony Wyngaard, Sara Zimmerman, Justine Schmidt and Judy Lenz.

June 7, 1988

Karla Miller, a native of Kaukauna, was formally offered a position as head varsity girls’ basketball coach at Kaukauna High School. Miller would become the fourth coach in the history of the sport at KHS. She replaces Ken Vander Velden, who resigned after the 1988 season – when the Ghosts won the Fox Valley Association championship. Miller is a 1982 graduate of Kaukauna High School and a graduate of the University Wisconsin Stevens Point.

Rachel Greiner, six-month old daughter of Jack and Debby Greiner, Kaukauna, won the 1988 Wisconsin Baby Pee Wee state pageant held in Madison on May 22. 

June 9, 1988

Scott Hansen shaded Jim Weber by less than a car length to win the Fox River racing club 25-lap feature last week Thursday at the Wisconsin International Raceway south of Kaukauna.

June 16, 1988

Jeff Gosz was selected the Most Valuable Golfer for Kaukauna High School from the 1988 season. Gosz had a 41.1 average during the recently completed season.

June 21, 1988

Alumni from ten states converged on Hollandtown this past Saturday for the 49th reunion of former Kaukauna High School classmates. Annual KHS alumni Association June get together was attended by 550 alumni. 

A rural Kaukauna man was found inside his destroyed pickup truck shortly after 1 PM Friday. Killed in the accident was Harold Zittlow, 24, of highway ZZ. He was alone in the vehicle, which was discovered in the woods off Highway ZZ.

Barb Huss was honored as the Most Valuable Athlete of the 1988 varsity girls track and field team at Kaukauna High School.

June 23, 1988

Mike James was chosen as the Most Valuable Athlete of the 1988 varsity boys track and field team at Kaukauna High School.

June 28, 1988

Army Corps of Engineers of set the lake levels and flows from mid-May through this week are worse than ever before. Due to the lack of rain and low lake levels, is considering several options following a meeting last week with River and Lake water users. Kaukauna utility manager Ernest Mullen said that the drought has resulted in lower river flows producing a record low and Hydroelectric generation.

Jennifer Schwalenberg, the reigning Miss Wisconsin Teen USA, will leave for San Bernardino, California, Tuesday, July 5, to participate in the Miss Team USA national pageant on July 25. Jennifer will be competing against some 51 other contestants for the national title. Jennifer, 17, is a senior at Kaukauna High School.

Members of the 1988 boys golf team at Kaukauna High School: Kneeling front row are Andy Wolf, Scott Kelly, Adam Althaus, Paul Kaufman, Jon Wenninger, Brian Soczka and Head Coach Pete Benson. In the back row are Andy Cronin, Brian Schneider, Jeff Gosz, Sean Jordan, Jeff Schmitt, Todd Biekkola and Kevin Dorn.

Time Machine Trip to June 1955

June 1, 1955

Jaycee tennis tournament finalists are shown. Left to right recreation director, Bob Vanevenhoven, Miss Nancy Mathis, Jack Ludke, Dan Maes, Mike Walsh, Carol Siebers and Miss Mary Jane Appleton recreation director.

The Kaukauna track team members captured places at the WIAA state track meet in Madison over the weekend. Ed Jaki copped second place in the mile run, while Jack Roome managed a fourth-place finish in the low hurdles.

Park Grade school has 30 eighth grade students advancing to high school this fall, according to an announcement made by principal Clifford Hodgins.

The Thilmany Pulp & Paper Company has announced the election of two new members of the board of directors. Elected were Joseph T. Thomas and Charles L. Dostal.

A record of 35 wins in 41 starts for three seasons of play was chalked up by the Kaukauna High School Baseball team last Thursday afternoon when the Kaus were eliminated from the sectional running by the Chilton Tigers by a 5-3 count.

June 3, 1955

St. Mary’s graduated 70 students from eighth grade that will attend high school in the fall.

The Kaukauna Police reported that they have no new developments in their investigation of a break-in at the Fargo Furniture store over the weekend in which $249.90 in cash belonging to the Catholic Order of Foresters was taken from the company safe.

Demonstrating the chin carry in life saving at the Kaukauna swimming pool is Miss Celine Ryan with Karen Frank acting as victim. Observing are left to right Morris Hella, Siebers, Carol Siebers, Rita Vanderloop, Blanche Siebers and Darlene Kramer.

Fifth Graders at Park School as a culmination of a unit on health recently had a dinner at the school with their teacher, Miss Lorraine Dudley. The children left to right, seated, Peggy Learned, Kay Welter, Dick Schmidt, Clayton Frank, Victor Van Grinsven, Mary Ristau and Kay Kuchelmeister. Standing are George Gerrits, John Lambie, Margaret Carr, Jane Jacobson, Fawn Pechman, Carol Urban, Jim Cotter, Billy Jirkowic, Donna Van Stiphout and Kathleen Mooney.

The Lang Trophy, the oldest and most coveted award at the Kaukauna High School Tuesday evening was awarded to Miss Mary Bachhuber of the class of 1955.

June 8, 1955

Russ Torgeson, Combined Locks, scored a hole in one on the 170-yard No. 9 at Fox Valley Golf club Sunday morning.

The Kaukauna Klubbers in their opening game of the season came back from a 3-0 deficit in the second inning by scoring in the fourth, fifth and sixth to take a 9-3 decision against the Appleton South Side Athletic Club-Brewers.

June 10, 1955

A special program has been arranged for Sunday at the Little Chute baseball park in conjunction with the game between the Dutchmen and Greenleaf according to George Vanderloop, chairman of the event. A program will be presented by the American Legion with the raising of the flag with the Little Chute band playing the “Star Spangled Banner”. Following the conclusion of the program, village president Ed Kostka will officially announce the renaming of the Little Chute ball park to “American Legion Park”.

June 17, 1955

Boy Scout troop 27 of Kaukauna, under the direction of Lewis Schultz, placed in eighth place with 122 points at the recent Camporee held at Brillion last weekend. Little Chute Boy Scouts troop 51, under the direction of scoutmaster Lewis McCormick won six places during the two-and-a-half-day encampment.

June 22, 1955

Huck Finn and Becky Thatcher are shown above with new bicycles which were awarded to them last Saturday. Young Huck at left is better known to his friends as Tom Wolf and Becky is Janet Reuter. 

Seventy-five Kaukauna youngsters turned out for the annual Huck Finn Day celebrated at Reichel’s pond Saturday afternoon. Best-costumed of Huck and Becky were awarded.

Arthur Godfrey could not pronounce “Kaukauna”, when Mrs. Louis Chizek, a Kaukauna housewife won a new electric clothes dryer. “Here’s one from Wisconsin”, he said. “Did you ever hear of this town? I did not know they had Hawaiian names out there “Ka-oo-ka-oo-na” as he announced the prize of Mrs. Chizek. Godfey’s singer came to his aid, “That’s Kaukauna,” he pronounced correctly, and it’s famous for some very wonderful cheese”.

June 29, 1955

The intensive program this year by the Wisconsin Department of Resources has resulted with a removal of 1,300,000 pounds of sheepshead from Lake Winnebago. The fish were sold to mink farmers in the state.

Three Kaukauna young men were listed among the group ordered for induction into the armed services on June 15 according to a release received from the Selective Service county board. The men include Joseph A. Fischer, Clyde Romenesko and Thomas R. Niesen.

Pvt. Clarence F. Bowers is a member of the 24^th Infantry Division in Korea. He is a rifleman in Company E of the division’s 21^st Regiment.

Pfc. Gilbert Wettstein is currently serving with a motor transport division of the U.S. Marine Corps in Korea.

A/B James Robedeaux and A/B Paul Nettekoven are stationed with the 4189th flight at Sampson Air Force Base, New York.

Time Machine Trip to June 1902

June 6, 1902

A valuable horse and colt owned by Tommy Green of the Town of Kaukauna were struck by lightning and killed during a heavy storm Sunday night.

For the past three years prizes have been offered by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Brokaw to the High school pupils who should attain the highest average in scholarship, deportment and attendance. The winners of the prize in 1900 were: First, Grace Potter; second, Ben Dawson and Geo. Schwachtgen; in 1901, first, Rose Corcoran: second, Rose Phillips; this year, due to a tie for first place, the money will be equally divided between Jennie Parette and Margaret Kerr.   

June 13, 1902

Two mad dogs were discovered last Thursday in the town of Freedom and in view of the fact several children and dogs have been bitten there is grave danger of hydrophobia and the residents of the town are taking every precaution to prevent an epidemic. The dogs which have been bitten refuse to eat and are developing evidence of rabies. Many farmers in surrounding towns have killed their dogs. The schools at Freedom are almost deserted as farmers are keeping their children home for fear they will be bitten.

H. G. H. Reed, whose death was chronicled last week, the man who built the old Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western railroad, now the Ashland division of the Chicago & Northwestern, together with Mr. Jos. Vilas, Sr. of Manitowoc.

The Mayors of quite a number of the cities of Wisconsin have issued proclamations forbidding the firing of dynamite or cannon crackers on the Fourth of July, as the usual list of casualties resulting therefrom is large.  

June 20, 1902

Wisconsin mosquitoes are gaining considerable notoriety since they drove out that gang of Italian railroad laborers at Marinette a few days ago. Now if the pests would only drive the dagos out of the state entirely, they might be looked upon as, being of some use on earth.

The south side merchants have made up a liberal purse and engaged the Kaukauna Band for a series of five free open-air concerts to be given on the south side business streets once a week.  The first will be rendered this evening on the corner of Main Avenue and Second street. The boys have worked hard for several years to get into shape for playing. (Corner of Main Ave. and Second street looking south) 

June 27, 1902

An old building on the shore of the canal burned yesterday. The building was the last remaining structure of the Reuter Hub & Spoke Company, which was at one time Kaukauna's leading manufacturing institution.

 A house of questionable reputation is at present running in Kaukauna which should be stopped. It is in too conspicuous a location to be tolerated by the city officials and should be ordered to remove for complaints are numerous. It is located that ladies and children who pass along one of our main thoroughfares cannot help but look upon some of the vulgarity which is attached thereto. Such moral degradation so conspicuously displayed is a disgrace and it is hoped the city officials will act at once for its removal.