Time Machine Trip to March 1949

By Lyle Hansen

March 2, 1949

The purchase of a new police squad car marked the agenda of the common council Tuesday evening.  The council recommended the purchase of a 1949 Tudor Ford from Coffey Motor Sales for the trade-in price of $491.

The Greenland Airport located on the Leonard Van Zeeland farm will open classes in night flying in about two weeks. At present there are 15 students taking instruction in flying at the field. Of the group is the first woman who is about to make her first solo flight. She is Mrs. Evelyn Nelson of Wisconsin Ave.

March 4, 1949

Recruits, David Kilgas and Edward Belongea, who have been stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky, are spending a short furlough with their parents.

Indications of advance ticket sales point to a sell-out house for the Appleton’s South Side Athletic club’s first attempt in promoting a boxing card. The feature event will be Kaukauna’s Phil Zwick against Stan Hartman of Dayton, Ohio. Boxing fans will get their first look at another Kaukauna pugilist when Gene Munes enter the professional ring for the first time.

March 9, 1949

Donald Wenzel was elected commander of Electric City post No. 3319, Veterans of Foreign Wars Tuesday evening. He succeeds George Giesbers to the position.

March 11, 1949

The new 3-cent Minnesota Territorial Centennial stamp may now be secured at the Kaukauna post office, Robert Grogan, postmaster has announced.

Phil Zwick, Kaukauna’s veteran featherweight champion of hundreds of boxing wars throughout the world, once more lived up to his greatness in a 10-round decision over Stan Hartman of Dayton, Ohio before a jam-packed crowd in Appleton.

March 16, 1949

Principal Paul Little, Athletic Director Guy Krumm, Asher Shorey, head basketball coach, Walter Rennebohm, track mentor and Walter Schmidt, forensic coach, will leave for Green Bay today where they will attend the annual NE Wisconsin conference sessions.

Dale Andrews, of the Andrews Oil company Kaukauna, was recently elected president of the Wisconsin Petroleum association at its meeting in Milwaukee.

March 18, 1949

Elwood J. Kobussen, Route 3, yesterday was granted permission from the public service commission to operate a bus service in Kaukauna and to the village of Combined Locks.

The rapidly growing percentage of old folks in our population indicates people are healthy to live so long. In 1900 only 4.1 percent of people were over 65 years of age, in 1940 the percentage had climbed to 6.8 percent and by 1980 it is estimated that 13.1 percent of Americans will be over 65.

Cliff Hinkens, top scorer in the NE Wisconsin conference 1948-49, was chosen to the berth on the All-Conference mythical five for the second year in a row at the coaches met in Green Bay. Hinkens, a senior and co-captain of the Galloping Ghosts, registered 122 points this year. 

March 23, 1949

The Kaukauna High Galloping Ghost cagers recently concluded the 1948-49 season winning 8 and losing 11 tilts. Front row; Coach Shorey, Duane Gast, Neil Kalupa, Dick Myrhum, John Kobussen, Tom Gustman and Jerry Lizon, manager. Top row; Cliff Hinkens, Russ Hacker, Bob Roloff, Roy Vandenberg, Pat Lehman and Jerry Klarer.

Northland Engineering and Manufacturing Company has completed moving its office and plant equipment from Appleton to its new location in Kaukauna. Announcement of the final transactions came from Earl Ritchie, Northland chief executive and general manager, early this week.

March 25, 1949

The future plans for Kaukauna’s recreation area which will be located near the old pageant hill site are currently progressing with the beautification of twelve acres of land behind the city ball park. The program calls for the building of a swimming pool on pageant hill and putting up a cyclone fence around the ball park. Known as the “Thousand Islands,” the recreational area is being cleared of dead underbrush and rustic bridges are currently being built. 

Casey Jansen, president of the village of Little Chute tried to steal the show and perhaps did at the hearing on anti-pollution bills held in Madison. He strode up to the microphone wearing a streamer on his lapel “Fish or Factories”. He said to “get tough” legislation passed on the anti-pollution. If fishing would not attract the million-dollar tourist crowd “then put in slot machines and they all will come”. H. F. Weckwerth, Kaukauna utility manager and C. J. Hansen of the local newspaper appeared against the bills as they would likely close some of the state’s industries if passed in its present form.

Headquarter for motorists for the past 25 years. That’s Mayer’s Service Station at 229 E. 2nd. street. By adding the most modern machinery, Mayer’s are now offering a far-reaching service. You’ll find happy motoring.