Time Machine Trip to January 1929

By Lyle Hansen

January 4, 1929

 

Hugh O’Connell

Kaukauna movie fans will receive the opportunity of seeing a Kaukauna young man take part in a play on the silver screen as a result of an announcement made here by William Van Dyke manager of the Vaudette theatre. Hugh O’Connell, who has starred for the past several years on the stage and has taken several parts in motion picture productions, will appear in the movie, “The Avalanche” to be shown at the Vaudette theatre here Monday the Tuesday.

January 8, 1929

Thirteen sisters and 558 students are safely entrenched in the new St. Mary’s Catholic school here with the opening of classes taking place this Tuesday morning. This is one of the finest schools in this section of the state. The school cost approximately $95,000 to build. There are seventeen rooms in the school with fourteen classrooms.

January 11, 1929

William Van Dyke, manager of the Vaudette theatre has announced that he has secured the services of a “Synchrotron” which will bring the “talkies” to this city for the first time. This will make it possible for local movie fans to enjoy a program of singing and musical features from the screen.

January 18, 1929

Frank M. Charlesworth, Sr., 70 years of age, a prominent local resident for the past forty-eight years, one-time mayor of the City of Kaukauna and the first city clerk of Kaukauna, died Wednesday at St. Elizabeth's Hospital at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, following an attack of appendicitis. He had been actively engaged in his daily routine of work up to last Saturday, when he was removed to the hospital.

A narrow escape was had here Tuesday afternoon when a bus skidded while about to cross the Lawe street bridge. The rear wheels of the bus going through the planking of the sidewalk. 

The Hello Girls tell how to use the telephone “Pardon me the operator gave me the wrong number,” “Don’t tell me they didn’t answer, I know they are home.”  “The lines busy? Say operator do you allow them to use the line all day?” These are some of the things impatient and irate telephone users say according to V. P. Hansen, local exchange manager of the telephone company.

January 22, 1929

After forty years as a grocery vender, Jacob Lang retired last week. The entire stock of goods was sold to an Appleton concern. Jacob Lang and J. G. Fechter opened the store in partnership in 1886. Lang took over the business four years later.

January 25, 1929

Fire of unknown origin, which was discovered about 12 o'clock this noon, caused great damage to the Chicago and North Western Railway Company's Ashland division depot on the NW corner of Second Street and Main Avenue. The roof of the entire building was destroyed, as was much of the interior. The brick walls remained standing.  The loss is between $5,000 and $6,000.

January 29, 1929

Phil Zwick, Kaukauna boxer, re-entered a Milwaukee ring Monday night and gave the fans enough of a treat to take a ten-round decision from Sammy Shack of New York.

Mayor W. C. Sullivan 

An order was issued last Friday by the Chicago and Northwestern railway of removal of the company’s shops in Kaukauna. Mayor W. C. Sullivan is awaiting word from the railways President Sargent as to the time to meet with him to discuss alternative options.