Time Machine Trip to January 1940

Kaukauna Times - By Lyle Hansen

January 3, 1940

R. H. McCarty, Kaukauna postmaster is again flashing his favorite auto license plates with the number 1875. “Dick” secures that number on his plates every year. The number represents the year of his birth. 

A boy born to Mr. and Mrs. Claude Smith at their home on the corner of Reaume Avenue and West Third Street on Monday evening, was the first baby born in Kaukauna in 1940. The boy was declared the winner of the third annual first baby of the year derby, sponsored by the Times and merchants.  

January 5, 1940

Fire losses in Kaukauna during 1939 amounted to $10,587.66 according to a report submitted by Henry Esler, fire chief. This is a slight increase over 1938 when the loss was $9,299.16.

January 10, 1940

John P. Kline was re-elected president of the Bank of Kaukauna at the annual meeting of the directors held Monday evening at the bank rooms.

John Felch, 94, Menasha’s last surviving veteran of the Civil war, died Friday at his home.

January 12, 1940

Salt Lake City, Utah – Kaukauna’s own Phil Zwick knocked out Dick Diamond in the second round of the main event Monday evening at a boxing show in that city. Zwick, slight of build, looking hardly like a fighter who boast victories over seven foreign champions, can fight whomever he pleases with the knowledge he’ll have local fans behind.

Lewis F. Nelson was re-elected president of the Farmer and Merchants bank at the annual meeting of the directors Tuesday evening.

Gustman Chevrolets slipped into top position in the Businessmen’s Bowling league Tuesday evening when they won three games from the High School Teachers. Ed McMorrow paced the winners with a 586 the high series of the evening. J. V. Krahn was high for the Teachers with a 449 series.

January 17, 1940

The first blizzard of the season visited the vicinity over the weekend with snow falling all Saturday night, all day Sunday and most of Sunday night. A strong north wind accompanied the snow to form large drifts throughout the city. 

Fire at the Tasty Bakery, located at 130 West Third street, caused $2,000 in damage Friday morning. Firemen carried Mrs. Clarence Vogt and her young son to safety from the second floor, where they lived, when flames blocked the exit.

January 19, 1940

Kaukauna Girl Scout troop held their meeting at Legion hall Wednesday evening. Merit badges were presented in needlewomen, Housekeeping and Child nurse. Cooking, Sewing, Bedmaking, Table setting, and knots tests were passed.

January 24, 1940

Lucile Faust, a senior at Kaukauna High School, name will be sent to Madison to be entered in the drawing for senior to represent Wisconsin in Washington D. C. by the Daughters of the American Revolution. Lucile was chosen by popular vote of her classmates and of the facility, for her qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. 

Wisconsin suffered 692 motorist and pedestrians killed in the roads in 1939. 6,424 persons were injured in 8,241 accidents. Outagamie county had 15 traffic deaths in 1939 compared with 18 in 1938.

January 26, 1940

The usual crop of rumors about the Green Bay Packers moving to Milwaukee is still in circulation but President L. H. Joannes of the football corporation dropped a bombshell to the reports saying that the Packer management have no thoughts of moving elsewhere.

January 31, 1940

Kaukauna High School cagers put the first dent in Neenah's previously undefeated record Friday night, when they scored an impressive 33-27 victory before the largest crowd in years at the High School gymnasium. Carl Giordana led the winners with 13 points.

The management of the Rialto theater has been receiving hundreds of queries daily regarding the movie, “Gone with the Wind”. Everyone wants to know whether this movie will come to Kaukauna stated Reuben Rosenblatt, manager.  Mr. Rosenblatt informed the Times that “Gone with the Wind” will definitely be shown at the Rialto shortly after the Lenten season.