Time Machine Trip to July 1960

Kaukauna Times - July 1960

July 1, 1960

A total of 1084 Kaukauna area youngsters are currently enrolled in formally swimming, diving, and lifesaving classes at memorial pool, according to Michael McGoey, pool supervisor. The program is presented six days a week by eight young people from the city.

Pat Coffey, 11, Lawe Street was described in good condition at the Kaukauna Community Hospital following an accident. He was riding his bike and was struck by a car driven by Janet Brem. He sustained an injured right leg according the hospital. Police said he had driven his bike out of a driveway into the path of the auto driven by Brem.

Thilmany Pulp & Paper Company will be shut down three days during the fourth of July weekend, according to L. C. Smith, the firm’s industrial relations director.

July 6, 1960

Bob Derus scored the first hole in one of his career Sunday on No. 6 at Fox Valley Golf Club. He hit the ball about one foot from the hole then it took one hop and rolled in.

Under the co-sponsoring of the Kaukauna Recreation Department and the Milwaukee Braves knothole program, 161 Kaukauna girls, ages 9 through 15 will attend the Brewers–St. Louis Cardinal game in Milwaukee July 21.

The third annual VFW parade, scheduled Sunday afternoon at Kaukauna in connection with the organization's annual picnic will be the largest in the history of the affair, according to Clarence Sullivan, Electric City Post 3319 commander. According to the latest count there will be at least 130 units, including marching groups and floats in the procession, which will be started near the intersection of Crooks Avenue and 10th St. shortly after noon on Sunday.  

Dwight Bastion, 18, a debate and forensic star at Kaukauna High School, recently competed in the National Forensics league nation-wide tournament at San Diego, Calif. The trip climaxed an outstanding high school speaking career for the 18-year-old Bastion, who had won acclaim in 10 to 12 tournaments each year. 

Seven Kaukauna young people sustained minor injuries Monday in a rear end collision between cars driven by Miss Dorothy Kastell, 23, W. 8th St. and Robert Lace, 18, Route 4, Kaukauna. The accident occurred near the south approach of the Lawe Street bridge about 6:30 PM Monday. All seven of the young people were taken to the Kaukauna Community Hospital where three were treated for abrasions, examined for possible other injuries and released. The group included Miss Kastell, Lace, Keith Roberts, 17, Judy Jacobson, 17, Pearl Meulemans, 16, Marilyn Hilgenberg, 16, and Beverly Coffey, 16. According to the police report, Miss Kastell’s car was stopped on the bridge and Lace collided with her car from behind.

July 8, 1960

Plans by the American Legion to establish a new club house at the end of 7^th Street was voted down by the city council after a group of residents from the area objected to the idea.

 

“Heart of the Valley” a new concept in retail trade promotion will unite Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks and Kaukauna to attract business to their communities. A new banner has been designed showing the closely knit communities enclosed in a heart. The idea of the heart of the Valley was the idea of James Lang of the Kaukauna Times.

A Silver Bowman's citation for proficiency in archery was won recently by Boy Scout Jim Kiffee, while attending Gardner Dam Boy Scout camp with fellow members of Troop 31. Shown holding the citation is Scoutmaster Dave Ludke and Kidde.

James R. Gustman was elected president of Kaukauna Rotary club last week exceeding Stephen Baisch.

An overall increase in construction during the first half of 1960 in Kaukauna is evidence from figures released this week by assistant city engineer and building inspector Luther Kemp. 32 permits for new homes were issued this year as compared to 31 for the same period for 1959. The total cost of new homes this year was set at $448,200 as compared to $374,900 in 1959.

Seventeen business places have installed new fronts or made major outward appearance changes in the last year according to Dave Hartjes executive secretary of the Kaukauna Chamber of Commerce. Reviewing the sound and steady business growth, Kaukauna is a greater than ever shopping center.  

   

July 13, 1960

“Rookie of the Year” Boyd Dowler has signed his contract for the 1960 season according to Vince Lombardi Head Coach and General Manager of the Green Bay Packers. Three of Green Bay’s four outstanding line backing corps have returned their signed contracts to the Packer office. All-pro Bill Forester and Tom Bettis and Ray Nitschke.

Kaukauna’s Leigh Wachel helped the Southern Division win the annual Fox River Valley Junior Legion all-star game Sunday at Oshkosh. Wachel took the mound with one out and a run across in the eight innings. He proceeded to fan four of next seven batters to secure the win 6-4.

Army Pvt. Donald C. Johnson of Kaukauna has recently completed an electrician course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The 20-year-old soldier entered the Army last February.

Aviation Officer Candidate Jack V. Roome of Kaukauna is undergoing a 16-week pre-flight training at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.

Army Specialist Four John J. Ashauer of Kaukauna is participating in a field training exercise with the 4^th Armored Division in Grafenwehr, Germany. Specialist Ashauer, a mechanic in the division entered the Army in 1958 and is a 1954 graduate of Kaukauna High School.  

Thousands of people turned out Sunday afternoon to view what was the largest parade in the three-year history of the annual VFW program.  A total of 12 awards were presented to various floats and marching units by the Kaukauna VFW.

July 15, 1960

This week the metal siding and roof of the new shelter to be constructed in LaFollette Park this summer was delivered.  The $7,500 structure is expected to be completed by the end of this month according to James Gertz, recreation director.

Two 1960 graduates of Kaukauna High School have enlisted in the U.S. Navy. They are Ronald Busse and Myron Zachowski. The boys enlisted under the Navy’s Buddy system and will go through recruit training together at Great Lakes, Ill.

John F. Kennedy Massachusetts Senator, who visited Kaukauna this past March, was nominated at the Democratic National Convention to be their candidate in the Presidential election this fall.

July 20, 1960

Army Pfc. David J. Linskens of Kaukauna recently participated with the 4^th Armored Division in a six-week exercise in Grafenwehr, Germany. Linskens, a rifleman entered the Army in 1958 after graduating from Kaukauna High School. 

Marshall Bayorgeon was elected to his 11th term as president of the Board of Education at a board meeting July 12. The board also approved the recommendation of Superintendent of Schools Julian Bichler to extend the school day 17 minutes.

Tom Frank struck out 19 batters and won his own game with a three-run triple as Kaukauna's Legionnaires rang up their third straight victory, tipping Neenah in the first round of the regional tournament Thursday at Appleton, 6-4.

July 22, 1960

The common Council voted Tuesday night to grant the American Legion a liquor license on Seventh Street, after an hour-long debate by citizens and their attorneys on whether the action would violate zoning ordinance. Ald. George Simon and Ald. Ed Oliva opposed the license. They stated the property was designated residential by the County in 1950.  

July 27, 1960

Capt. Edward L. Jirikowic of Kaukauna recently arrived in Korea and has been assigned as a staff officer in the 7^th Logistics Command Headquarters. 

July 29, 1960

Visitors to the Kaukauna Public Library over the summers have noticed a new change in the air. The library has installed a $4276 liquid gas air conditioner. The temperature in the library will hold at 77 degrees.

A 50-gun salute Sunday afternoon will signal the start of the weeklong Golden Jubilee celebration at Kimberly which will be observed with parades, fireworks pageant, old-fashioned games, contests, and activities along with a visit from Wisconsin Gov. Gaylord Nelson Saturday evening.

 

Vice Pres. Richard M. Nixon Wednesday night was nominated by the Republican Party on the first ballot as a presidential candidate in the forthcoming election in November.

 

Time Machine Trip to July 1950

Kaukauna Times - July 1950

July 6, 1950

Driving privileges of 6,112 persons were suspended in Wisconsin during the first five months of 1950 according to the commissioner of the motor vehicle department.

A week of battle action in a tiny country 6,000 miles from Wisconsin (Korea) had administered a terrific jolt here to retail sales in almost all commodities in scarce supply as during the last war. One retailer termed the run saying that people were going “completely crazy” in their efforts to hoard goods.

Kenneth L. Roloff of Kaukauna has recently been commissioned a Second Lieutenant officer and pilot in the United States Air Force. Roloff’s military service began in 1943 when he enlisted in the Army Air corps following his graduation from Kaukauna High School.

July 12, 1950

 

Arthur H. Mongin, Jr., long a Packer Booster in Kaukauna and director of ticket sales here, was elected to the board of directors of the Packer football corporation at the stockholders meeting in Green Bay Monday.

July 14, 1950

Jack Lindstrom, Kaukauna, had a visitor this week. The man who the men called Frank guided us out of Yugoslavia after my fighter plane was shot down near Belgrade during the war. Franjo Senicar saved us from the German prison camps, Jack says. “He led a group of us fliers through the mountains to safety. Now he has come to visit me after six years.”

The funeral of Billy Turk, 7-year-old victim of a shotgun accident here Wednesday, will be held tomorrow. Billy the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Turk, Arthur Street Kaukauna, was struck by a shotgun slug as he watched as two older playmates scuffle over the gun at his friend’s house.

Pfc. James Van Dyke, 19, formerly of Kaukauna became the first Kaukauna casualty of the Korean war. Van Dyke a member of the 24^th Infantry Division when he was injured. James graduated from Kaukauna High School in 1948.

1^st Lieutenant Wilbert Jansen of Kaukauna who has been stationed at Camp Carson, Colorado for the last two years arrived in Kaukauna for a brief stay with his parents. Enlisting in the Army Infantry July 22, 1943, Lt Jansen served in the European theatre during World War II.

July 19, 1950

According to an announcement of the LaFollette Park winners were announced in the sailboat race held Thursday. First place Sandy Kern: Jack Donnermayer, second and Jerome Kern, third. Winners in the sand box contest were Paul Sager, first; Peter Berens, second and Carol Donnermayer, third in the over 9 division. In the junior division 4-9 Marty Weigman, first; John Killian and Bill Coffey tied with Ann and John Voliteke for second. Third went to Jean Mullen and Janet Hansen.

July 21, 1950

Queens for a Day watch the pool dedication from their thrones. At the left is JoAnn Haen, winner of the “Future Miss Kaukauna” title and the right is Patsy Sheehy, Junior Miss Kaukauna” title and “Miss Kaukauna” is Darlene Weyers is seated center.

  

July 26, 1950

Miss Dolores Vander Loop, 17, of Kaukauna twirled her way to second place in the Northeastern Wisconsin Music Festival held Saturday at Green Bay. She graduated this spring from Kaukauna high school. 

Thousands of people from Kaukauna, and the entire surrounding area, gathered at the new swimming pool grounds Sunday afternoon for the gigantic dedication ceremonies, despite heavy rains in the morning and the threatening sky in late afternoon. Commenting   on   the tremendous crowd that filled the bleachers and lined the hillside Sunday afternoon, Police Chief Harold Engerson said that "We've never had so many people in Kaukauna at any one time in the history of the city."

Lifeguards at the new pool are left to right, Jim Heindel, Dave Zwick, Gene Schiedermayer, Bill Taylor, Bill McGinnis and Jack Hilgenberg. 

Time Machine Trip to July 1940

Kaukauna Times - July 1940

July 3, 1940

Miss Armella Boucher won first place in the sesquicentennial queen nomination contest which concluded Saturday. She polled a total of 371,500 votes. Miss Lorraine Martin was runner-up in the contest being only 1900 votes behind the winner.

 

PARIS – Chancellor Hitler shown making an inspection tour of Paris recently. In the background is the Eiffel Tower.

One person was killed and five injured, one of the injured being the Rev. Cornelius Raymakers, pastor of St. Francis Church, Hollandtown, in an automobile collision Friday night on Highway 57 about five miles south of DePere. Four of the victims, including the dead, were of one family. The dead person was Mrs. William Wierschke, Greenleaf.

 

Mayor Gantter attacked the business ability of the Kaukauna council members. “I don’t believe any one of you men possess one ounce of business ability” he said at the council meeting. Alderman Oscar Alger, president of the council rose and demanded the mayor apologize to the council. The mayor ignored Alger and continued “Here we are supposed to look out for the taxpayers of the city of Kaukauna. I am trying to build up this city, cut down relief and save money while you continue to waste city funds.

July 5, 1940

Members of St. Mary’s Boy Scout troop 27 will hold their meeting this evening at High Cliff park. A group of five boys are spending a few days camping there.

July 10, 1940

 

James W. Lang, sophomore English instructor at Kaukauna High School for the past five years, is leaving this morning for New Orleans, La., where he has accepted a position as director of publicity for Loyola University.

Two men, one from Milwaukee and the other from Rockford, Illinois, who were driving a car with Illinois plates were picked up Friday by Kaukauna police. They had no registration card for the car, no drivers’ license and the car had no brakes or lights. They were turned over to the county sheriff’s department.

July 12, 1940

The Mellow Brew baseball team is hitting the apple at a .314 clip for the first eight games this season.

 

E. F. Rennicke, who is active in many organizations in Kaukauna is the general chairman of the sesquicentennial committee which is making plans for observation of the 150^th anniversary of the coming of the first permanent white settler to this community and the state of Wisconsin.

The old joke about "Don't take any wooden nickels" has lost its humor in Kaukauna. It is no longer a joke. Wooden nickels are worth real money; they are real money. Your merchant is cooperating to put the pageant here over by distributing wooden money to both customers and through his employees. The money is backed up in the local banks by legal funds so that everyone at any time can cash it there if desired. The money is one way of making the public pageant conscious. The money is just a small part of the big pageant, hopefully the biggest Kaukauna has ever seen, which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Dominique Ducharme, the first white settler in Wisconsin.

July 24, 1940

Restoration of the old Grignon home is now officially approved by WPA administrators. The actual work will begin in 90 days. Last week the government authorized $12,000 for the restoration of the Kaukauna homestead.

July 31, 1940

The township of Kaukauna was started in 1839 and not in 1842 as is commonly believed according to original records held by William Wolf, custodian of the Grignon Home. The town of Kaukauna, then known as Kakalin, was created March 8, 1839, by the territory legislature and signed by Henry Dodge, who was territorial governor. The township included all the land from De Pere south to Brothertown in Calumet county, and from Appleton east to the town of Morrison.

The Kaukauna Klub All Star softball team has been busy making a name for themselves winning their fifteenth game of the season. Front row: Jack Burton, Sherman Powers, Jay Balgie, John Niesz, and Bill Alger. Back row: Les Arndt, manager, Ralph Johnson, Don Van Abel, Art Koehne, Sonny Filz, W. Van Abel, Bill McCormick, Pebs Kappell, Don Steger and Earl Mollet, Manager. Not shown in photo are Ed Eiting, Bill Peterson, and Frank Dean.

 

Time Machine Trip to July 1930

Kaukauna Times - July 1930

July 3, 1930

The blacksmiths at the Lake Shore shops are compelled to stop work last week to await cooler weather.

Richard Dawson, in charge of the dynamo for the Kaukauna Electric company, is getting around with the assistance of crutches following the smashing of his toes last Saturday when a heavy pulley fell on them.

John D. Lawe last surviving Civil War veteran in Kaukauna.

Military honors were accorded the late James Hamilton, 86-year-old Civil War veteran, who died at his home Monday after a lingering illness. Kaukauna post No. 41 American Legion provided a color guard, firing squad and pallbearers for the deceased soldier. Included in the list of mourners was John D. Lawe, last surviving Civil War veteran now living in Kaukauna.

55 percent of the automobile deaths in 1929 were of pedestrians who are rundown by automobiles.

July 8, 1930

Even a fire Department couldn't get Les Smith out Sunday with the Kaukauna pilot leading the way with five safe blows out of five times at bat ably backed by his teammates. The 8-2 score is the second straight win over Marty Lamers’ befuddled Kimberly-Little Chute squad.

Little Chute - Casey Jansen is good at catching balls and strikes while umpiring and now comes to the front as catcher extraordinaire of runaway teams. The village president, while walking down Grand Avenue, noticed a run -away team, drawing a big wagon tearing down the street. Mr. Jansen ran out in the street and caught the frightened animals before any damage could be done.

July 11, 1930

Wrightstown - Sunday, July 13th will be a gala event of great importance to every music lover in the section of the state. A band of 250 pieces will play a concert at the Eastern Wisconsin Band Festival which will be held at that village park commencing early in the afternoon.

Members of the common council passed a resolution at Tuesday night's meeting to borrow the sum of $50,000 on 10 notes of $5000 each to pay current expenses.

July 18, 1930

A drowning tragedy was narrowly averted Tuesday evening about 7:30 in the canal of the fourth block by the prompt attention of two girls. Miss Laura Knickerbocker who was enjoying a swim at the popular swimming place had dived into the canal but slipped and struck her head on the stonewall. Miss Ruth Ludtke, who was in the water went to the girl’s assistance. She was aided by Miss Emma Hildebrandt who had been at the scene and who had plunged into the water to assist in the rescue. After the girls had gotten Miss Knickerbocker ashore several other swimmers joined in and applied resuscitation methods.

Little Chute-A drunken man from Chicago was picked up by Marshall James Gerrits here Tuesday evening in the doorway of Gloudemans Department store. The man was taken to the village jail then taken to Appleton being placed into custody of Sheriff John Lappen. 

Pvt. Jacob Coppus

Little Chute-Mrs. Jacob Coppus of this village, returned Wednesday morning from France where she visited the grave of her son, Pvt. Jacob Coppus, at the Meuse Argonne Cemetery.

Green Bay-Joseph “Red” Dunn, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, will return to the fold of the 1929 National Professional League champions for the 1930 season although he had announced his retirement last fall. Dunn came to the Packers from the Chicago Cardinals in 1927 and has been a mainstay of their squad.

July 29, 1930

Dr. W. C. Sullivan, former mayor of Kaukauna, is a candidate for the office of ninth district congressman on the Republican ticket.

  

Work on the improvement of the relocation of state highway 55 north of Kaukauna is underway. The present takes the highway to 41 then north up Rose Hill Rd to Freedom. The relocation of the highway will run to Delanglade Street which requires improvements by building about three miles of new road.

Time Machine Trip to July 1920

Kaukauna Times - July 1920

July 1, 1920

Immanuel Reformed church formally opens its new $3000 pipe organ last Sunday evening. Professor Herman Nott, of Milwaukee, played to a full church for the dedication.

During the windstorm which preceded the thunderstorm on Monday night Herman Promer’s boathouse on the river at the foot of Kaukauna Street was unroofed and tipped over resulting in damage to the structure.

July 8, 1920

Wisconsin women will vote in the general election next November and women voters will be subject to only those regulations that apply to men voters. A woman must be 21 years of age a citizen of the United States had a resident for 10 days in the precinct in which she offers to vote.

The scene at Hollandtown last Thursday afternoon shows the Badger State Oil and Gas company-initiated Badger No. 1 well, the first oil well in the state of Wisconsin and which it is hoped will prove beyond all further doubt that oil exists in this vicinity in paying quantities. The derrick is erected on the property of H. J. Fassbender of the White Clover Creamery. 

July 15, 1920

Otto Look and his three sons, Walter, Arthur, and George, left last Friday morning by automobile for a log cabin 6 miles from Three Lakes. They are roughing it among the pines on a pretty lake in northern Wisconsin.

July 22, 1920

Dr. H. B. Tanner, formally of this city and now at Eastland, Texas, where  oil wells are more numerous than mosquitoes in the Fox River Valley, in reading The Times account, July 15th, of the Hollandtown oil well has prompted this response. “I hope to goodness they do strike a pool of liquid gold; it is the greatest speculation we have in this country now. If you hit the spot and get the flow you certainly pile up a real gold faster, then any other way. But there are a lot of dusters even down here in the real oil field.

July 29, 1920

Ves Berens, who has been connected with the W. S. Mulford Clothing Co. in this city for the past fourteen years, has been made manager of the store. Mr. Konrad and Ed Rennicke will be the salesmen for the company.

Time Machine Trip to July 1910

Kaukauna Times - July 1910

July 1, 1910

The first electric lighting plant in the world was installed in Appleton in September 1882, by William D. Kurz of Kaukauna. He went on to Chicago and installed the first electric lighting system in that city. Attention has recently been called by a man from Seattle, Wash. who claims that he was the originator of the first electric lighting system. There is not a word of truth to this story. This man did work under the direction of Mr. Kurz as one of the line men but never had to do with the installation of the power plant.

July 8, 1910

Kaukauna has a genius at boat construction in the person of Dr. A. M. Foster whose feat in building a racing craft in a few hours would be hard to equal...it is another case of where Kaukauna has the laugh on the sporting fraternity of the up river city which has been walloped by Kaukauna in all athletics since the memory of man runneth not to the contrary, and now that a mud scow thrown together in thirty-six hours, consisting principally of a few two-by-fours with a canvass nailed on goes up to Appleton, captures the silver trophy cup and brings it back to Kaukauna, there is the usual wailing and silent gnashing of teeth about seven miles up the "glorious Fox which flows so majestically down der stream."

On July 1^st, the tax on tobacco took effect. The increase tax is on cigarettes and small cigars of the cheaper variety. The tax of 6c a pound has a result that smokers will be paying more for their smoking and chewing.

July 15, 1910

St. Mary's Church members to the number of 150 held an enthusiastic meeting Sunday at which it was fully resolved that the debt of $16,000 which ever since the church was built has been hampering them should be wiped out at once by subscription. The space of six months has been set in which to accomplish the work and the movement was given a strong impetus by John Brill pledging $1,000 to begin the subscription list. At least one-half dozen others have promised $500 each, and it is said that another prominent member has as good as promised a second $1,000.

Thomas Pryor Gore, the blind senator from Oklahoma, caused his fellow members of the Senate to sit up and take notice. He stated that an effort had been made to bribe him to the extent of $25,000 in connection with legislation affecting $3,000,000 in attorney’s fees for services to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indian Nations. He also named other senators involved. The senate chairman ordered an investigation but had since announced no funds were available to proceed with the investigation at this time.

Owing to the continued drought the berry crop in this vicinity is almost a complete failure. John Deno, the well-known berry man of the town of Buchanan says he has a loss of upwards of $200 on his strawberry crop alone this season.

J.G. Fechter was in town this week selling owners of automobiles tire saving jack stands. The weight of the automobile on tires over night is more destructive to rubber tires than the actual wear on the road. With a set of Moore Jacks sold by Fechter, the weight of the auto can be lifted off the tires.

July 22, 1910

An echo of the past when Kaukauna was in the limelight of baseball domination is brought to the attention of the old fans and rooters this week, when by reference to a notice published elsewhere in today's Times, it will be observed that the Kaukauna Baseball Association, duly incorporated organization, has failed to file an annual statement with the secretary of state as provided by law and therefore dies a natural death.

July 29, 1910

The first heavy rain that has fallen in this vicinity for a period of about seven weeks fell Saturday night and broke a continued drought of forty-five days, to be exact.  The rain was certainly most welcome and will help out corn and potatoes to quite an extent, although several days’ rain is needed badly.

Jack Johnson the world’s heavyweight boxing champion defeated James Jeffries in a 15-round decision in Reno, Nevada on the 4^th of July. Jeffries who had retired as the undefeated Heavyweight Champion in May of 1905 returned to the ring to fight Johnson. The ring was outdoors and viewed by 22000 people. The winner Jack Johnson earned $225,000 for the win and retained the title of the Heavyweight World Champion.

 His First Call