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