Kaukauna Time Machine Trip to March 1903

 

Kaukauna Times – March 1903

By Lyle Hansen

 

March 6, 1903

 

A dozen or more cars were derailed Sunday morning at Appleton. A broken flange on a car near the head of the train caused all this trouble. The entire train with the exception of the caboose and one freight car was derailed. This proved a fortunate occurrence, too, for the car was loaded with a quantity of dynamite.

 

 

March 13, 1903

Miss Sadie Voecks, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Voecks of the north side, was run down by a fast-moving train below the Thilmany paper mill Saturday evening. Miss Voecks had stopped to talk to some friends who were coming from work when she stepped into the path of the train. She is expected to live but has lost her right arm.

An adjourned meeting of the Kaukauna common council was held Tuesday evening; the principal business transacted being the consideration of the franchise of the Knox Construction Company. The special committee appointed several weeks ago to revise the franchise as presented by the Knox Company offered a substitute franchise in which the city's south side was more carefully looked to than in the original. Among the other changes was the insertion of a new section changing the route so as to include the south side. The franchise proposes that the company build its tracks across the lower draw and river bridges and along the Island to Main Avenue and Third Street. Representatives of the Knox Company at the meeting said that it would be entirely out of the question for them to consider the city's franchise, as far as crossing the river is concerned, so the matter will rest as it sits now, as the council decided to grant no franchise that does not cross the river.

 

March 20, 1903

The conductors, motormen, and extra men in the employ of the Interurban road have asked for an increase in wages. They are now getting 17 cents per hour.

 

March 27, 1903

The condition of the upper end of Wisconsin Avenue has been almost impassable for the past two weeks from the mud which seems without a bottom. Sunday, the fire department got stuck in the clay between F. M. Charlesworth's and Frank Loope's residence and had to carry their ladders to the location of the blaze. The fire was out when they got there.