Time Machine Trip to August 1941

 

Kaukauna Times August 1941

By Lyle Hansen

August 1, 1941

Outagamie county contributed 7150 pounds of aluminum to Uncle Sam for the defense needs in the drive last week. No profit will be derived from the drive in any way. Kaukauna contributed 725 pounds toward the county drive.

 

The number of youths employed on the NYA (National Youth Association) program in Outagamie county reached a new high of 187 Thursday according to Elmer Grebe county NYA supervisor. Of the number 172 are employed in Kaukauna.

 

August 6, 1941

Charles W. Stribley, 73, a director of the Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company and treasurer for 32 years, died Friday noon at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton. Funeral services were held Monday morning at the Fargo Funeral Home. Mr. Stribley was one of a few remaining paper industry pioneers. He came to Kaukauna in 1897 and became associated with Oscar Thilmany.

 

It was formally announced today that the Thilmany Pulp and Paper company has concluded contracts more than $500,000 for the erection of a building to house a new paper machine. The new machine will be of Yankee type to trim 120 inches.

Mike Gerharz, Jr., John street, one of the selectees stationed at Camp Polk, La., spent an entire months’ wages recently to talk to his fiancée, Miss Ruth Streich. Mike receives $21 a month and is going to be short of money this month but he doesn’t care, because he enjoyed his visit with Miss Streich over the telephone.

 

The regular weekly meeting of the Kaukauna Rotary club will be held at Hotel Kaukauna this noon.

 

August 8, 1941

Circuit Judge Joseph R. McCarthy has ruled in favor of R. H. McCarty, former Kaukauna chief of police in the suit against the city of Kaukauna to collect pension money which he claims as due him. McCarty served more than 24 years when he retired on May 15, 1936. In 1928 the city adopted an ordinance granting a pension to the members of the police force after 22 years of continuous service.

 

That the NYA program in Kaukauna is ever expanding came to light again this week when the Outagamie county board granted the use of five acres of land on the historical Grignon property for the construction of a $60,000 resident center to house youths who work on the program here but do not live here.

 

August 13, 1941

A crowd of approximately 400 attended the flag raising ceremony at the NYA workshop while a firing squad from post 41 American Legion fired a salute to the flag. Mayor William J. Gantter spoke saying that “it was through the efforts and hard work of the city officials that Kaukauna became the first city in the United States to open an NYA workshop.” 

 

August 22, 1941

The common council at the Tuesday evening meeting approved the purchase of a new police automobile from Gustman Chevrolet Sales for a cash outlay of $325. The car sells for $857 and $532 will be allowed for the present police car. The only other bid was from Coffey Motors for $339 with trade in. There being a $14 difference in the bids.

The cost of work and direct relief during July amounted to $2,000.74, according to the monthly report of the relief director.

 

Paul E. Little, Kaukauna High school athletic director and head football coach, announced yesterday that his 1941 gridders are to report for their equipment on Saturday afternoon Aug. 30 at the high school gymnasium. 

August 29, 1941

Patrolman Oscar Jahns of the Kaukauna police force was elected president of the Policemen’s Benevolent association of Wisconsin here last Wednesday afternoon at the American Legion hall.