Time Machine Trip to December 1973

 

Kaukauna Times – December 1973

By Lyle Hansen

December 7, 1973

 The Outagamie County Forty et Eight, an organization of veterans, formed during World War I and now embracing veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam has eliminated “White only” from its membership qualifications. The action was taken during an organizational conference held in Cincinnati. Like other segregated organizations, the Forty et Eight has been threatened with the loss of its tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service if the membership qualifications were not changed.

Sunday, December 9th, St. Paul. Church, Combined Locks will celebrate 50 years as a parish family. The celebration will be with a mass of thanksgiving with Bishop John Grellinger giving the homily.

 

Several short weeks ago, many people wondered if the suspension of several ballplayers that participated in a marathon basketball game to raise money for charity would have any adverse effects on the Kimberly Papermakers in their quest for a third straight Fox Valley Association championship. It turned out it didn't make much difference. Even without a few key regulars, the Papermakers won their first two games of the year and have been getting stronger each week. They are currently carrying a 4-0 mark.

 

The final resolution for the purchase of the assets of the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company was passed by members of the Kaukauna council Tuesday evening, clearing the way for the municipal takeover of an estimated. $1.9 million worth of the firms’ properties.

 

December 12, 1973

After five games, coach Bill Flynn's, Holy Cross Green Ghost are still looking for that magical number one win. Last week, it was undefeated St. Mary's Appleton that pulled the rug out from under the Holy Cross team 63 to 26. The Green Ghost top scorer Dan Giordana was limited to just seven points in the game.

 

December 14, 1973

Lisa Grissman told Santa Claus her Christmas wishes during a visit to Royal Clothiers. Santa’s visit to Kaukauna is sponsored by the Kaukauna Jaycees.

William Stephens was presented with the Saint George Award, an honor given to the Catholic Civic and religious leader by the Boys Scouts of America. The award was presented at St. Aloysius church where he has been active in scouting for 25 years.

December 18, 1973

Jeff Van Dyn Hoven posted three decisions in a row to become the champion in the 1973 Neenah Invitational last Saturday.  Jeff competed for Kaukauna as a 138-pound wrestler.

Spreading Christmas cheer is the Elf of the Victor Haen school, Jill Pottner, along with the newspaper boy Steven Diedrick in the annual Christmas program last Monday.

 

Behind the strong rebounding. Work of Pat Brooks and Chuck McDaniels and the good ball handling of Jim Wiegman and Don Jensen, St. Mary's, Kaukauna defeated St. Mary's Menasha. 38 to 32.

 

All those crocks, rolls., wheels and cubes of cheese shoppers purchased early for Christmas shopping helped contribute to the overall increase in sales for International Multifoods, the parent company of Kaukauna Dairy, manufacturer of Kaukauna Club products. Multifoods reported record sales and earnings for the period ending November 30th.

 

December 24, 1973

William Lewis, of Boy Scout Troop 110, was presented the Eagle Scout Award by his mother and father Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lewis. Looking on is scout master Wally Mooney.

Harmony in the Hospital halls came from a group of students from St. Mary’s School. The students sang to the patients and staff this past Wednesday.

 

100 years ago today, December 24th, 1873, parishioners of the newly formed Holy Cross. congregation attended a Mass for the first time in their new church on the corner of Denoyer and Doughty streets. At 5:00 this evening, parishioners of Holy Cross will attend mass for the first time in their newly redecorated and remodeled church. This day marks the end of six months of liturgy and services in the school cafeteria. Where the people had to come to like the closeness of it all.

Very, very busy. That's how, Louis Tenore describe the business at the XYZ Corporation plant on Island St. in Kaukauna. The phenomenal supply shortage. What's the reason for the jump in the sales of plastics? Reprocessing for one reason, he said, that people used to throw away materials but now plastics are recycled. XYZ company is hiring and trying to get all the machinery operable. The company is running three plastic intruders and adding a fourth one. For a company that was nearly out of business two years ago, we certainly had some good luck handed to us.

 

 

Time Machine Trip to December 1963

 

Kaukauna Times – December 1963

By Lyle Hansen

December 4, 1963

Santa Claus received an enthusiastic welcome from the youngsters of Kaukauna Saturday. Several children surrounded Santa and settled themselves on his lap.

 

December 6, 1963

On Sunday at 1:30 p.m., the doors of Kaukauna High School swing open to admit the residents of the city and surrounding areas, as an open house will be conducted to show off the school's new addition and the improvements which have been brought about in the older sections. According to Superintendent Julian Bichler, the entire project cost to date is $1,813,984.99, $180,000 of which has been used in renovating, altering, and improving the original building.

The Christmas shopping season in Kaukauna was heralded last Friday by city workmen as toured the downtown putting up the traditional light pole ornaments.

Fred Gerhard, proprietor of Hill Top Bakery and his son-in-law Connie Boelhower, decorate 25 of the holiday Hansel and Gretel Honey Houses for the grade school classrooms.  In 1960 there were 600 sold, in 1961 and 1962 10,000. This year the number is over 60,000.

December 11, 1963

Mary Verhagen, youngest of the Mr. and Mrs. Lawence Verhagen family, cut the ribbon for the opening of the new Larry’s Piggly Wiggly Super Market on Hy. 96 Little Chute.

          

 

December 20, 1963

Two former Kaukauna High School football stars have also been "making it big" on the gridirons of small college campuses since their graduation. Bruce "Bucky" Bay of Route 3, Kaukauna is a junior at Stevens Point State College and Dennis Burns of 513 West Sixth Street is now a senior at Michigan Tech of Houghton, Michigan.

 

December 24, 1963

H. O. Peters, vice-president for Sales of Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company of Kaukauna announced that effective January 1, 1964, L. R. Graef will assume the position of General Sales Manager located at Thilmany’s general offices in Kaukauna. Graef has been with the company for 28 years and has served as Eastern Division sales manager since 1945.

Kaukauna Community hospital received a surprise visit from Santa who went room to room with goodies. Here he is calling on Keith Ver Voort of Kimberly.

 First Kaukauna High School 1889

In its 74 years of existence, high school has dispensed learning in five different locations. Beginning in a modest one room in Nicolet School on the Southside opened its doors to 25 young scholars in the fall of 1889. The room was soon overcrowded requiring a move to a different location at the northwest corner of Crooks Avenue and Second Street in 1890. There they competed against the noisy presses of the Kaukauna Times located next door.  In 1891 a lot to the rear of the Opera house on the island was chosen for its central location in the Little Red schoolhouse boasting three rooms was constructed and classes began in September of that year. The teaching staff consisted of three, the superintendent, the principal, and a teacher. In June 1893 the first graduating class of eight students received their diplomas. In 1894 nine were to graduate. The 1895 class used the Opera house for its commencement exercises. The Opera house became dear to the hearts of many classes as through the years it served as the location of plays, operettas, dances, and proms. It also served as the high school gym for many years. The fourth high school move came in 1897 following a fire at the North Side grade school. Park School was constructed for both grade and high school students at a cost of $28,000. During the 26 years stay at Park many of the school activities that we see today were established.  As time went by the student body grew to 261 and Park school began to burst at the seams. In 1924 a new school was constructed on the island with 18 classrooms, science labs, home economics, a manual arts department, offices, library and two study halls. On the third Monday of September 293 students assembled for the opening of the new school. In the fall of 1935 through financial aid through P.W.A. the gymnasium and auditorium were added and formally dedicated. Immediately a great expanded program activities began that year, physical education classes for all. Intramurals, more sports, and boxing were introduced. Proms and all school dances were restored. The class of 1936 was the first to hold commencement exercises at the new school. Construction began again in 1954 when once more students and teachers had to endure more noise and confusion as 16 additional classrooms were added. In the early 1960s construction began again at the high school. Included in the new structure were 18 classrooms and a new gymnasium, two music rooms, new offices, lecture room, cafeteria, kitchen, and multipurpose commons. 

Kaukauna High School