Time Machine Trip to December 1908

By Lyle Hansen

 December 4, 1908

The Kaukauna Fibre Company’s plant which has been closed down for nearly two years on account of the building of the new electric power plant will be in full operation by the first of next week. The acid department was started up this week as well as some of the other departments, but it will be two or three days before all the machinery is running. The plant was given a general overhauling and is now in better condition than ever.

Foreman Louis Servaes has a crew of men at work for the government building new gates for the locks at the dry dock yards. The gates at the third and fourth locks have become so badly worn over the years that they were beyond further repairs.

The local saloon keepers who were arrested last month with having gambling devices in the form of slot machines in their business have plead guilty in municipal court in Appleton and paid their fines. Judge Ryan immediately issued orders to the sheriff to destroy the four confiscated machines.

December 11, 1908

According to a Menasha dispatch, mill owners are using 100 percent of the normal water for the first time in the last six months. Recent heavy storms have added to the supply in Lake Winnebago and all the mills between Menasha and Green Bay have resumed operations for the first time since the supply was cut.

A freight train was derailed at Sheboygan Tuesday night damaging ten cars to such an extent that half of them had to burn to clear the track.

North bank Fox River Kaukauna

The desertions in the Army had dropped to 4.6 % of the enlisted men. In 1907 the rate was 5.6 % and in 1906 the rate was 7.4%.  The highest rate was Troop G of the 14^th Cavalry which was 21.18%.  The total strength of the Army not including the hospital corps numbers 78,166.  As result of the riding tests ordered by President Roosevelt nineteen officers were placed on the retirement list.

The Kaukauna Building and Loan Association has for the past twenty years been holding out the opportunity to those who have encumbrances on their homes to get out of debt. Their plan of paying off the debt by small regular monthly payments has helped hundreds of people by getting homes of their own and by wiping out all debts against them.

The Wisconsin Traction, Light, Heat and Power Company issued an order that the inside doors of the interurban cars must remain closed. The rule was made to do with the fact that ladies are annoyed by gentlemen smoking on the platforms and that the smoke fills the cars. It is doubtful the ladies that were offended were from Kaukauna.

December 18, 1908

The front of Mulford's clothing store has been illuminated with electric light bulbs and attracts considerable attention.

A paper with some value as well as age was laid upon my desk at the Kaukauna Times last Saturday. The newspaper was published in Kingston N.Y. and was dated January 4, 1800. The paper contained the obituary of George Washington. It also briefly reviewed the proceedings of congress under the administration of President John Adams.  The little paper was well preserved, and the owner stated it is for sale if a person is interested.  I will have it on my desk for review at this office for any interested person.

The city of Kenosha is financially embarrassed or to be more exact “broke”. The First National Bank has consented to carry the city to the end of the year. It is estimated the city will be forced to borrow $10,000 to meet demands to the end of the year.

December 25, 1908

Little Chute - Nic Schommer sold his hotel and saloon building this week to Peter Watery, a farmer of the town of Freedom, who will take possession January 1. The building is quite large and is located at the head of Depot Street near the Chicago and Northwestern station. The sale was for cash, $7,000. Nic will go back to his old skill of building wagons. John Verstegen, who owns one of the principal buildings on Main Street, in which he conducted a furniture and shoe store, sold out to John Gloudeman.  Mr. Gloudeman will continue the run the business at the same stand.

It was announced at Washington that President Roosevelt’s hunting trip to South Africa is not to be a private enterprise.  He will lead an expedition outfitted by the Smithsonian Institution.  The President will pay his own way on the trip along with his son Kermit.