Time Machine: Time Machine Trip to January 1954

Kaukauna Times – January 1954

By Lyle Hansen

January 6, 1954

Barbara Ann Brautigan, 8-pound, 5-ounce, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Brautigan, Green Bay Road, Kaukauna, is the winner of the Kaukauna Merchants and Kaukauna Times First Baby of the Year Contest. She was born at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Sunday, at 12:35p.m.

The Kaukauna Community Hospital fund has passed the $340,000 mark. Funds were received recently from Gustman Chevrolet, Arthur C. Look, and Edward Rennicke.

January 13, 1954

Raymond Nagel, who for the past twenty years has served as alderman from the Fourth Ward in the Kaukauna Common Council, announced this week he will not seek re-election in the spring this year. His term will expire in April.

Stockholders of the Farmers and Merchants bank authorized construction of the new bank building on Dodge Street. The plans were submitted for the board to review.

January 20, 1954

The city’s new front-end loader has been getting a real workout during the recent heavy snowfall and seems to be worth its salt.

Dot Dotson is one of the gal grapplers who will be appearing on the wrestling show sponsored by the Kaukauna Lions Club on January 30. Miss Dotson, a former taxi driver in Florida, claims that troublesome customers were the cause of her going into the wrestling business.

China Mira, a Cuban girl wrestler will tangle with Dot Dotson on January 30^th at the Kaukauna Lions Club program.

Coach Lisle W. Blackbourn made his debut as head man of the Green Bay Packers Saturday night at a welcome dinner in Green Bay attended by five hundred fans.

January 27, 1954

One of Kaukauna's largest and oldest business firms, Fargo's furniture store and funeral home, was nearly destroyed by fire in the early hours of Friday morning. An estimate of $85,000 damage was done to the building and stock. The fire was discovered at about 11:50 by Mrs. Donald Wenzel as she was leaving the S & B Bowling Bar. When she spotted the flames, she immediately reentered S & B and called the firemen.

January 29, 1954

Members of the sixth-grade class at Nicolet school are adding color to the paintings of the Ancient Roman Empire they are studying. Left are Mark Asman and Paul Ozborn, while Merle Hammond, Sharon Pitt, Roland Wussow and John Carnot.

Stu Courchane, 6-foot 8-inch Kimberly high school sky-scraper center, was on hand at the annual Elks basketball banquet. Attending the event are representatives of other area teams left to right David Prust Wrightstown, Peter Fulcer Kimberly, Arlyn Meulemans Wrightstown, Bill Wood Kimberly, and Tom Noie Kaukauna.

Principals and coaches attended Elk’s basketball banquet. Left to right, Fred Barribeau Kaukauna coach, Bill Fitzpatrick St. John’s Little Chute, Bob Grogan program director. Gil Frank Kimberly coach, Cliff Fagin secretary of WIAA, Les Ansorge WIAA board. Leroy Seifert BROE Exulted Ruler, Harry McAndrews toastmaster, and Harold Plamiber coach of Freedom.