Time Machine Trip to December 1934

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

December 4, 1934

Coach Paul E. Little has twenty-seven boys are drilling daily under his direction in preparation for their opener tilt with St. Mary’s of Menasha Friday night.

The large black bear, owned by Peter Vande Hey, Sr., which has been Wrightstown pride in parades and was intended for the zoo became vicious recently and it was necessary to kill the animal. Mr. Vande Hey says that “I’d rather see the old feller mounted anyway.

December 7, 1934

A large owl crashed through one of the windows of the E. R. Landreman Wednesday afternoon. Hearing the sound Mrs. Landreman rushed to the scene and found the owl lying on the floor apparently dead. After a few minutes the bird revived and flew wildly around the room. After messing up the room the bird noticed the open door and flew away.

Brillion – It was Thanksgiving day for Mrs. John Geiger; in more ways than one a diamond ring she lost last January was found in the stomach of a chicken. Mrs. Geiger believes the ring fell into fish scraps that were fed to the chickens on the farm.

December 11, 1934

The Kaukauna basketball team trekked over to Menasha Friday night to engage the strong St. Mary's team in what was scheduled as a basketball game, but the Kaws failed to uphold their end of the contract. The result was an appalling 27 to 4 score with the Kaws on the very short end.

December 14, 1934

Clifford H. Kemp, coach of the Electric City Brewers football team, received a beautiful   football   trophy presented by members of the Brewers squad. The trophy was presented as a token of appreciation from the 1934 team.

Fourteen hundred pounds of meat was distributed by the Kaukauna relief unit this week according to the report from Mrs. Elizabeth Grogan.

Today, with all this progress, there are still 11,000 cases of tuberculosis in Wisconsin. The infection rate for the age group between 15 and 39, especially girls, remains very high.

December 21, 1934

Wenzel E. Kabat, of Kaukauna, who is serving a life term for murder, was denied a pardon by the governor. This is the fifth time his application for pardon has been denied. Kabat was convicted in June of 1906 of the murder in September of 1905 of Michael McCarty. 

One of the new streetlights was taken from its base early Sunday morning by local motorist George Kailhofer, Jr. Kailhofer, who was returning from work, crashed into the light on the corner of Main Avenue and Fifth Street because of the icy condition of the road. 

December 24, 1934

Mayor J. H. Niesen was awarded the honor of throwing the switch which lit the 194 newly installed lights. Hundreds of people crowded the street corners to get the first glimpse of the new system at 7 p.m. Saturday evening. Immediately after the mayor threw the switch, a parade through the main business district was conducted. The parade was led by the high school band, followed by the Sons of the American Legion Drum & Bugle Corps, city officials and members of commissions.

December 28, 1934

Councilmen set the tax rate for the City of Kaukauna at $20 per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation at a special meeting held last night in the council chambers at the municipal building.

By the quick action of several persons nearby, St. Mary’s church was saved from a fire when one of the candles set fire to the evergreen and tinsel trimming on the alter Thursday evening. 

1934 Kaukauna Electric City football team. Left to right, Back row: Wilber Derus, mgr., George Bloch, Les Seggelink, Ray Danner, Elmer Brown, Harvey Coenen, Richard Coenen, Jule Pennings, Jack Van Lieshout, Ambrose Mauel, Wally Mooney, Roy Derus, “Soupy” Williamsen, Jerome Hilgenberg, Jerry Vils, Herb Niesen, Ray O’Barski, Ed Jirikowic, Front row: Cliff Kemp, coach, John Noie, Judson Judae, Leo Wiegman, mgr., William Kuchelmeister, Wes Kemp. Jack Verbeten, Fred Ludke, and Norb Berg, The team recorded 8 wins and one loss and one tie. They were champions of the Fox Valley League.