Time Machine Trip to July 1946

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen KAHS

July 3, 1946

The law firm of John J. Ensley and John E. Esler opened on West Wisconsin Avenue. Esler previously maintained an office in the Hotel Kaukauna before serving in the Navy. Ensley, a native of Superior, previously practiced law in Chippewa Falls. The firm also operates an office on Main Avenue in Kimberly.

Memorial services for Private First-Class John A. Lemke, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Lemke of 220 Lawe Street, were held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church by Rev. Paul Oehlert. Pfc. Lemke left his role as an English instructor at the University of South Dakota on March 9, 1941, to join the Army. He was captured in the Philippines on September 9, 1941, and is presumed to have lost his life on October 24, 1944, when the Japanese prisoner-of-war ship he was aboard was torpedoed and sunk in the South China Sea by an American submarine.

 

An audience of roughly 300 gathered at LaFollette Park for the opening summer season concert by the high school band, directed by Clarence Kriesa. The 40-member band consisted of high school musicians, alumni, and returning war veterans who were former members of Kriesa’s band.

 

The city housing committee assigned 26 families to emergency housing Quonset huts located on Crooks Avenue. City engineer F. M. Charlesworth reported that outer covering and insulation are complete on 10 of the 13 mass-produced buildings. Each hut will contain two unfurnished dwelling units equipped with oil heaters, oil water heaters, kerosene stoves, and ice boxes.

 

Walter P. Hagman, principal of the Outagamie Rural Normal School, stated that prospective students may be unable to attend the upcoming school year due to a severe shortage of local housing. Principal Hagman requested that anyone with an extra room available for a student room or board contact him at the school during the day.

July 10, 1946

The newly formed Fox Valley Golf Club has purchased land and elected its permanent board of directors. Officers chosen to head the club include President Robert Grogan, Vice President Ray Schwanke (Kimberly), and Secretary-Treasurer Leroy Seifert. Membership has reached 100 with a target cap of 200; anyone from Kimberly, Little Chute, Combined Locks, Kaukauna, and the surrounding area.

 

Chief of Police James E. McFadden announced the addition of two World War II Army veterans to the local force, bringing total personnel to eight men. Dean Ball started last week as a temporary regular patrolman, with the potential for full-time permanent status after a six-month evaluation by the fire and police commission. Wilfred Licht has begun duties as a relief man. The rest of the force consists of Assistant Chief Harold Engerson and Patrolmen William Nagel, Robert Main, Oscar Jahns, and Leo Ludtke.

 

July 12, 1946

 

Dr. M. G. Teske took over the duties of President of the Kaukauna Rotary club last week.

 

Dolores Van der Loop, the 13-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Van der Loop of 225 Maria Street, won a $50 grand prize for her baton-twirling routine at the Appleton Junior Chamber of Commerce holiday picnic at Pierce Park. She initially began twirling lessons at age seven to help strengthen her arm after a fracture.

 

The 12-person Vanderaa family moved to Route 3, Town of Buchanan, after becoming the first family evicted in Outagamie County during the current housing shortage. Following a municipal writ of restitution served by Sheriff Lyman B. Clark, the family was evicted Wednesday afternoon. After sleeping on a mat at the police station on Wednesday night, they secured a home on Thursday. Mr. Vanderaa is employed at Goldin and Sons. Sheriff Clark noted that roughly 50 similar eviction proceedings are currently underway in the county.

 

 

July 19, 1946

The common council passed a city ordinance, changing the name of Lincoln Street to Grant Street following a property owner request. A previously unnamed road extending from County Trunk Q on Beaulieu Hill on the south city limits was named Peters Road.

 

T. F. Boebel, superintendent of schools, announced that the fourth grade at Holy Cross school will be eliminated this year, moving 60 to 70 children into the public school system at Park School to relieve campus congestion. Rev. Peter Grossnick, pastor at Holy Cross, noted that the parish's 800 families are currently conducting a school fund drive to build a new facility, at which point the fourth grade will return to the parochial school.

 

Following Mayor Joseph Bayorgeon's emergency closing of the mid-channel pool in the lower rapids of the Fox River due to contamination in the water. the common council voted to favor building a new municipal pool. A survey of estimated costs and designs will be prepared before the final issue is put to city residents via a public referendum.

July 24, 1946

 

The American farmer sustained the nation and its allies during the war and is now called upon to prevent global starvation. Despite losing labor and lacking new tools, farmers successfully increased production by 30% over five years. Farmers anticipated that peace would finally allow them to replace their worn-out, heavily repaired machinery. Labor strikes across key sector specifically steel, coal, and the farm implement industry itself have severely bottlenecked production.

James E. McFadden, Kaukauna Chief of Police, warned that unnecessary vehicle horn honking violates city ordinances and will result in arrests. The practice has escalated due to a record post-war wedding season, drawing numerous citizen complaints. While noting out-of-town wedding parties have plenty of space in the country to honk, McFadden emphasized the law will be strictly enforced in the city, where one arrest has already been made.

 

A building permit has been issued to Sherman Rogers of Route 2 to construct Kaukauna's first prefabricated home. The structure will be built at 165 Garfield Street at an approximate cost of $2,000. The request was processed through the office of F. M. Charlesworth; city engineer and building inspector.

 

Dundas Canning Company records peak pea season. Factory Manager Raymond Driessen reported a record pack of 108,000 cases of peas during a continuous 21-day production run that began June 27. Due to hot weather ripening the fields early and a tight domestic labor supply, the company employed a 217-person crew that included imported West Indian workers from the Bahamas and Barbados, alongside 16 Mexican laborers. A total of 1,100 acres were processed into No. 10 gallon cans, with 100 additional acres saved for seed. The heavy volume filled the warehouse, requiring extra storage space to be rented from Coonen's store.

 

July 31, 1946

 

Miss Marian Frances Charlesworth departed Monday to open her third performance engagement at the Chicago Theater on Friday, following a week-long visit with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Charlesworth of 611 W. Wisconsin Avenue. Her previous engagement was at the Bellerive Hotel in Kansas City. Her brother, Frank Charlesworth, Jr., traveled with her on Monday before flying to Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday to visit their sister, Pat Charlesworth, who will return with him for a one-week vacation.

 

Discharged

Byron Derricks – 113 Doty street

Eugene Kersten – Route 3

George J. Hatchell – 118 Doty street

Eugene A. Vandehey – 712 Lawe street

William Van Lieshout – 110 Doty street

William F. Siebers – 902 Roosevelt street

Glenn J. Aerts – 717 Lincoln Ave.

Jerald H. Wittman – 409 W. Eleventh street

Dolores Giesbers – 206 W. Sixth street

Clayton Weyers – Route 2

Robert Vandenberg – Kimberly

Dean Bayorgeon – 126 Sarah street

John D. Schommer – Route 1

Roland Jansen – 135 Willow street

Gertrude Renn – 209 Depot street

Charles E. Wussow – 927 Wilson street

Cletus A. Blair – Route 2

Clement F. Boucher – 314 Wisconsin avenue

James Egan– 263 W. Wisconsin avenue

William Landreman – 115 Sixth street

James Toonen – Brothers Street

 

Enlisted

Wilfred A. Van Handel – Route 1

Harold J. Klitzke – 401 Klein Street

Son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Schommer.

Daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Driessen.

Son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Skalmusky.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jirikowic.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schumann.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Vosters.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Wittman.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Dimperio.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Ben Verhagen.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Merlin Schuh.

Son was born Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Killian.

Son was born Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Yingling.

Daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Willard Daul.