Time Machine Trip to May 1939

By Lyle Hansen

May 3, 1939

It appears that Old Dubbin, the farm family horse, continues to lose his struggle with the machine. For the second consecutive year, the horse popularity in the state has again decreased. More and more farm work is being done by motor driven machinery. The horse population has fallen to 515,000 head about 11,000 less than last year.

Committees for the junior prom were chosen last week by Leo Wolf, prom king, Mildred Feller, advisor and the class officers.

This week our Hall of Fame presents a well-known junior boy who is very active in affairs at high school. This person is Clarence De Bruin. Clarence is a member of the boys’ glee club, mixed chorus. Double mixed quartet and, also one of the soloists who represent the school in the tournaments. He is also active in forensics, debate and is a member of the Kau-Hi-News staff.

Carl Bartsch was high gun of the members of the Kaukauna Gun Club at the first shoot of the season. Carl broke 47 of 50 targets.

Beautification of the city, both to attract visitors and sell residents in the community was urged last week in a talk by Mayor L. F. Nelson before the Rotary club. The Mayor praised the American Legion for laying the cornerstone of the move to beautify the city by erecting the wall on the southside of the rapids some years ago.

Upon a suggestion received from the board of public works the common council voted to turn on the water at the drinking fountains located at the corner of Lawe street and Wisconsin Ave. and Second street and Main Ave. for the summer months.

May 5, 1939

The Holy Cross softball team defeated St. Mary’s 12–0 Thursday afternoon at St. Mary’s. The winning pitchers were Jim Lehman and Don Mangold with Mark Verhagen catching. Bill Knapp was on the mound for St. Mary’s with Dave Nagan catching.

May 10, 1939

              How the Grignon Home will look after it is restored

The Outagamie county board voted 32 to 21 to purchase the historic Grignon home and property in Kaukauna for $8,000. Restoration of the home to put it as near as possible to its original condition will be continued under the direction of the executive committee.  W. E. Smith chairman of the memorial committee of the pioneer society urged for the purchase of the property. The purchase includes more than 31 acres of land along with the home, furnishing and all records. Smith stated that the records were worth more than the home. Charles A. Grignon was born in 1808 and was the first treasurer of Outagamie county. He represented the Indians at the signing of the Treaty of the Cedars and for services was given $10,000 in silver dollars. The Grignon home was built 100 years ago in 1839.

Coach E. L. Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers never missed a chance to see a football contest while in Europe and the cheap admission prices startled him. At one contest in France, it only cost him a dime to get in and his box seat was only 92 cents more. The football season extends over none months and teams often play two or three games a week. The Packer coach also remarked that he liked the size of the guards around Hitler’s headquarters in Berlin.

The Milwaukee Brewers are getting quite a few Fox Valley fans to their games and of course Red Smith, assistant Packer coach gets his share of attention as he directs traffic around third base. In a recent game, Smith was arguing with an umpire over a call when a fan called from the stands “Look out Red, he may be a pro football official and you might get penalized 15 yards.”

The police department has been busy this last week inspecting bicycles and giving drivers test. Bicycles must pass inspection before a license can be obtained from the city clerk L. J. Brenzel.

May 12, 1939

The Electric City Brewing company, manufacturers of Mellow Brew Beer, have just completed a six-year building program in every department of the brewery. The new brew kettle is considerably larger being increased from 60 to 100 barrels per brew.  Last fall a combined modern office and garage were built. Through the sale of Mellow Brew in the surrounding territory and several large cities in the state, thousands of dollars have been brought to Kaukauna.

Conservation men planted 3,000,000 walleyed pike in Lake Winnebago over the weekend. The fish were secured from the Wisconsin conservation commission hatchery at Gills Landing.

Mike Klein was elected president of the Lions Club at a meeting Tuesday evening. He succeeds A. H. Mongin, Jr., and will begin his term July 1.

May 17, 1939

The appointment of John Kramer as senior leader was announced at the meeting of Holy Cross Troop 31 Boy Scouts of America held at Park this week. Scouts made plans to March in the Holy Name rally parade Sunday as part of the Kaukauna contingent.

May 24, 1939

Five persons were arrested and fined for speeding over the weekend by the Kaukauna Police Department. Donald Olson of Sawyer was fined $5 and costs for driving at a rate of 45 miles an hour on Lawe Street. Andrew Van Dera, Route 1, paid a fine of $5 and costs for driving a rate of 50 miles an hour on Crooks Ave. Frank Vils paid $5 and cost for driving 55 miles an hour on Taylor Street. William Bedat and Carl Kuchelmeister of this city each paid $5 and costs for driving 60 miles an hour on Taylor Street.

Arthur Kappell, 50, E. 7th St., drowned Sunday afternoon when he fell off the bridge connecting the Badger power plant and the Badger Tissue Mills here Sunday. Kappell and John Heiting were netting fish from the bridge when Kappell fell into the river.

A new front is being installed on the Haas hardware store on Third Street.  

May 26, 1939

Five members of the high school track team will go to Madison Saturday to compete in the state track meet that will have representatives entered from the entire state. The five Kaukauna boys qualified for the state meet at the district meet at Neenah two weeks ago. Andy Meitner will compete in the broad jump, Giordana and Alger in the discus, Derus in the pole vault and Doering in the low hurdles.

Work or Go Hungry - Green Bay’s able-bodied wards – men on relief with or without families now will be required to work for their food, it was decided by councilmen Tuesday night. Any “pin money” would be nil. The plan to solve a hefty slice of the community’s tax burdens was proposed by the public welfare commission. The plan provides for imprisonment on non-support charge for men with families refusing to work and withdrawal from relief for other “lazy birds”. It is said that eight days a month would be a minimum work time. About 400 may be employed.  

May 30, 1939

Little Chute hasn't found themselves yet, but nevertheless, fans are raving about the play of Strick, rookie catcher. Also notable are Boots, Bongers, Verstegen, Hammen, M. Schuler and Van Dykes.