Time Machine Trip to February 1898

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to February of 1898.

For today’s trip Christine Gray, will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine.  The big wheel is spinning; the years are clicking back and in no time, we are back on Third Street on Kaukauna’s Southside.

Charles Raught, Times owner, has left the newspapers on the chair out front.

  

Your old newsman – Lyle

PS: It is with a heavy heart that I dedicate this trip to a very special friend who is now part of the past.

Thurston “Turtle” Lambie was an inspiration to all who knew him.   

February 4, 1898

Going home Monday evening Sus. Hilgenberg noticed a light flickering in John Clespill's store on Lawe Street. Breaking down the door, a lamp was spotted over turned and burning on the floor. The lamp must have upset when the door was closed at the end of the day.

A bloody fight occurred on the night train on the Northwestern road near Oshkosh Monday night, between three drunken Indians who got on at DePere, with the train crew and passengers. The Indians attacked a traveling man, who had come from Green Bay, and chewed his ear off. The traveling man was left at Oshkosh to receive surgical attention, while the Indians were bound and taken to Milwaukee and turned over to authorities there.

GREEN ONE CENT STAMP – The new one cent stamp is now on the market but the color is green instead of blue. The one cent United States stamps have always been blue since the first one was issued in 1851, except in 1869 when the color was buff.

KINDERGARTEN ENTERTAINMENT

Entertainment will be under the auspices of the children's Study class, Tuesday evening at Heindel's hall, the proceeds derived therefrom to be used to purchase proper decorations and materials for work in the Kindergarten at Park school. The oldest kindergarten in United States will be in the closing feature, the following children being enrolled: Little Willie Mulford, Lessie Chamberlain, Flossie Charlesworth, Ruth Nohl, Johnny Mitchell, Petie Becker, Dodo Vilas, Allie Lovelace, Birdie Locklin, Frankie Charlesworth, Bertha Jones, Jakey Matthews, Lena Wright, Tommy Stoakes, Ethie Titus, Lewis Locklin, Teddy Allen, Henry Hilfert, Abbie Hilfert, Jimmy Toner, Mary Toner, Dollie Ormsbee. Prices of admission, adults $.25, children $.15.

The Kaukauna party who anticipate going to the Klondike should spend a couple of hours daily on the river bridge during the kind of weather that has prevailed this week. A rendezvous there each day would temper them up nicely for the Alaskan breezes.

February 11, 1898

An order was issued yesterday by the Neenah and Menasha Water Power Company directing that the amount of water being drawn by the mills for power be reduced by 10 percent.

Julius Martens’ horse ran away Sunday night, starting just the other side of Little Chute where Julius was tipped out and coming up on into Appleton at a lively pace. The cutter being badly wrecked.

EDISON’S PROJECTOSCOPE – Prof. Young’s Projectoscope and vaudeville company will appear at the Kaukauna Opera house two nights next week, Monday and Tuesday. From all parts of the country where this company has appeared this season, reports of a very flattering nature. Among the many features that will be seen is Edison's latest invention. Presented will be high-class magic, mind reader, a descriptive singer, a troop of performing monkeys and Prof. Young's performing birds. Seats on sale at the usual places. 

February 18, 1898

The United States cruiser Maine, which was recently sent to Cuba, was destroyed by an explosion Tuesday night in the harbor of Havana. It is expected that 258 lives are lost. The government expects it is the work of Spanish treachery.

The Mill and Nugent orchestra is enjoying a rushing business these days. They played at a dance in Wrightstown last Friday.

February 25, 1898

The Finnegan block, corner of Crooks avenue and Second Street together with the Giles house adjoining were totally destroyed by fire Saturday night. For a time, it looked as if the entire block was going but a shift in the wind and a very heavy snow fall caused the fire to be extinguished.

The storm that prevailed Saturday night and all day Sunday was the most severe one that has visited this area in several winters. The wind blew a steady gale for twenty hours during a steady snow fall. Snow was whirled into heavy drifts and traffic on the railroads was stopped in all directions.

An Italian astronomer has discovered that the earth actually has two moons. That's nothing. There are men in Kaukauna who declare that, under certain circumstances, the earth has four moons, two for each eye.

Time Machine Trip to February 1907

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to February of 1907.

For today’s trip Carol Hofensperger will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine. The big wheel is spinning, the years are clicking back and in no time, we are back on East Second Street on Kaukauna’s Southside.

Charlie has left the papers on the chair out front of the Times building. Let’s see what’s in the news this month.

Your old newsman – Lyle Hansen 

February 1, 1907

An exchange states that a cow was struck by a Chicago and Northwestern express engine at Little Chute and hurled high in the air, but that the "cow landed on her feet and went on nibbling grass as though nothing had happened."

George Berghaus of the town of Buchanan appeared before Justice Mulholland on a charge of cruelty to animals, pled guilty and paid a fine of one dollar and cost. Berghaus left his team standing unblanketed on third Street for several hours on one of the coldest days this week, where they remained until taken in charge by an officer who had them placed in a warm stable and fed.

The biggest cocking mania ever held in this part of the state was to have taken place at Duck Creek Monday night but was postponed, on account of the presence of Sheriff Killmann and three deputies. Birds from Appleton, Oshkosh and Chicago about 30 in all, were entered. Over 300 people were on hand to witness the event, among whom were several Kaukauna people.

February 8, 1907

Counterfeit silver dollars have been in circulation in various parts of the state for several weeks and federal officers are warning people to be on the watch for them.

Golden & Stone, dealers in hides, junk, etc., who have been located on the south side, have transferred to Wisconsin Avenue and opened the place of business. They will continue in the old business in addition thereto open up a second-hand store.

Kaukauna played in a fast game Friday evening when they engaged with the swift Manitowoc team of girl basketball players and were beaten by a score of 9-5.  A splendid crowd was on hand to witness the game, many times larger than any other audience ever before turning out for a game of basketball. It was certainly encouraging to the team has such a large number of friends present and so much appreciated by each and every one of them.

Because they disobeyed the orders of the basketball coach, Miss Weber, and went to Appleton to attend a high school dance function, two members of the girls’ basketball team of the North Side high school have been suspended from all further participation in school athletics as a result of their little escapade.

A dog that has been making a practice of taking after the interurban cars ran out once too often Friday and got under the wheels of the Appleton-Kaukauna car. Several other dogs will meet a similar fate unless their owners keep them chained.

February 15, 1907

A few days ago, C.A. Lawton noticed something out of the ordinary in the heap of scrap iron that goes to feed the furnace of a local machine shop. He picked it up and on examination found it to be a loaded shell about eight inches in diameter, such as used in the Civil War. The shell was disposed of by dropping it into the river through a hole in the Ice.—DePere Democrat.

License revoked - As the result of an altercation at the Clark saloon on 2nd St., Sunday night, the license for the place which had been granted at a council about a month ago, has been revoked by the Mayor at the saloon closed Monday. In consequence of the trouble Mrs. Clark has started proceedings for divorce from her husband.

A Kentucky minister preached for three hours on the topic of “Hell is here and Now.” He doubtlessly thoroughly convinced his congregation.

February 22, 1907

Mart Danielson of Neenah was in Kaukauna Tuesday endeavoring to engage men for the Kimberly & Clark pulp mill at Niagara which has been shorthanded for some time. He needed thirty-five to forty, but succeeded in securing only three or four in this city and he was not sure but that they would back out when it came to taking their departure. Mr. Danielson said he could have engaged several men for Fox River valley mills but very few care to go north to work.

The Regenfuss Brewing company on the north side has been enlarged, remodeled and improved to such an extent since it came into the possession of the present owners and now is practically a new plant. The bottling department has been enlarged, double its former capacity. The plant is in charge of John Regenfuss one of the most experienced brewers in the state.

What was supposed to have been a Neenah high school team played our hometown team here to a 10-10 tie at Heindel's Hall. The local team thought they were to play a Neenah high school team after the game it was learned that Neenah’s star player, who had 6 points for the visitors, graduated from high school last year. The game was played under girl’s rules which the locals were not familiar with. This accounts for the large number of calls on the Kaukauna team.

Time Machine Trip to February 1889

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to February 1889.

For today’s trip Carol Hagens will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine.  The big wheel is spinning; the years are clicking back and in no time, we are back on East Second Street on Kaukauna’s Southside.

Charlie has left the papers on the chair out front of the Times building. Let’s see what’s in the news this month.

Your old newsman – Lyle Hansen 

February 1, 1889

W. Benz, the south side cigar manufacturer has turned out 135,050 cigars during the past year. Wm. stands as the fourth largest cigar manufacturer in the country.

The board of supervisors voted to purchase 310-acre farm one mile west of Appleton as the site for the Outagamie county asylum. The asylum will accommodate 100 inmates and will cost about $50,000.

Scarlet fever is prevalent in this vicinity but not in Kaukauna as of yet.

An Indianapolis brute received a timely visit from the Whitecaps. Patrick O’Neil has a wife and five children, and a habit of getting drunk and beating his wife. About 10 pm on the 27^th a crowd of men congregated in front of his house. O’Neil was dragged from the house and given twenty-five lashes with a whip. He was then warned that if he abuses his family again he would receive a double dose.  

February 8, 1889

A tramp who was determined to have a change of underwear waltzed off with a half dozen undershirts that hung in front of Watson Bros. store last Tuesday. When he got as far as the Northwestern depot he hid them in a snow bank so they would keep. He was observed in the act of covering them, as he had a rather suspicious appearance. Marshal McCarty was sent for and he was then waltzed off to the cooler, Jail; 21 days.

February 15, 1889

While oiling a gearing, at the Badger mill, Joseph Chopin had his right hand caught in the cogs and mangled to such an extent that amputation was found necessary. While in the act of oiling, he dropped the oil can and in grabbing for it ran his hand into the cogs. He is a young man about 17 years of age, and had until that morning been employed at the Kaukauna paper mill, leaving there to work with his brother on a new machine that was started at the Badger.  It was a very unfortunate change for he had not been in his new position half an hour before the accident occurred.

The latest invention to hang in the family dining room is the gum board. It is a neat, little circular board, plain or decorated, fastened to the wall. The name of each family member is then painted on the circumference, and marks the spot where the gum is left until wanted.

A skunk farm is one of the curiosities of the state of Michigan. The owner of the skunkery finds profit in the pelts and oil. Thieves never molest his stock.

Quite a bloody fracas is reported as having taken place at Killian’s saloon on the south side Saturday evening. It was reported that knives and revolvers were drawn and one person was slashed in several places.

February 22, 1889

Mr. Oscar Thilmany has bought out the American Pulp Co., which has been doing business here for several years, and has reorganized under the name of Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company.

A Grand Army of the Republic Post was organized in this city Friday evening with about twenty members. The new post was named the Paul H. Beaulieu Post. Paul Beaulieu was from Kaukauna and died in the Civil War in 1863.

Hugging socials are becoming popular for paying off church debts. The scale of prices are as follows: Girls under sixteen 35 cents from 16 to 20 75 cents; school madams 49 ½ cents, widows 10 cents to $3. Old maids are 3c each or 2 for 5 cents, Married ladies whose husbands are not present free for all.

A Bill was introduced in the Michigan Senate Tuesday “prohibiting the transportation of dead Chinamen or their bones over Michigan territory.”

In 1888 some of our subscribers, who are behind in paying their subscription, promised us solemnly to pay if not dead. We presume they are dead, for they have not paid. Sometimes we see them moving about just as if they were alive; but of course, they are dead and merely walking around to save burial expenses.

Time Machine Trip to February 1967

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to February of 1967.

For today’s trip, Carla Giordana will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine. Now the big wheel is spinning, the years are clicking back and in no time, we are back on the corner of Third Street and Main Avenue.  

For the music lovers, the top song on the Hit Parade this month is:

Kind of a Drag – The Buckinghams

https://youtu.be/AUyyfC7rsQY

Fred Kailhofer of the Times, left the newspapers for us by the front door. 

Well let’s get the copies and see what is in the paper this month. 

Your old news man – Lyle

PS: Don’t cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.

February 1, 1967

The Kaukauna high school varsity wrestling team topped a rough Two Rivers unit by a 26-18 margin in a match held at Kaukauna on Thursday night. The win upped the Ghost record to 12 wins and four losses for the year.

Anton “Casey” Jansen, former Little Chute Village President and man about the Valley, was honored with a diamond studded 50-year membership pin by the International Machinists Association at a dinner attended by more than 400 at Van Abel’s. “I joined the machinist in 1917 when I was working at Fred Hoehne’s machine shop in Kaukauna,” he reminisced. Younger men present did not remember the shop which stood along the canal bank on land which is now Thilwerth park.

For the first time in history Kaukauna High School has taken both ends of the season series in basketball from Kimberly by virtue of their 76-55 victory over the Papermakers Friday night at the KHS gymnasium. Earlier this season the Ghosts won a 73-51 decision at Kimberly.

February 3, 1967

George E. Greenwood, Sec. of the Kaukauna Chamber of Commerce, use the words “good news” when he described a recent court ruling that encouraged Outagamie County to proceed with the taxpayer’s suit which attempts to block action on a proposed northeastern Wisconsin University at the site selected in Green Bay. The suit seeks to prevent expenditures of state money for the development of the UW-GB. The litigants contend that the criteria were violated in that the choice was made by illegal secret proceedings. 

February 8, 1967

An unbelievable 34 straight points in the second half carried the Kaukauna High School basketball team to an 81-54 come-from-behind victory over Two Rivers in a game played at Two Rivers Friday night.  In the third quarter rally Spice through and three straight jumpers and a free throw, Pat Kavanaugh two drives and a jump shot from the corner, John Van De Hey a jumper and Quinn Vanden Heuvel a tip in and a pair of free throws.

Funeral services were held for Anton “Casey” Jansen, former village President who died Friday after a short illness he was 82. 

February 10, 1967

The winner of the DAR award for 1967 is KHS senior Alice Weber. Each year the DAR award is presented to the senior girl who, in the opinion of her classmates in the faculty, best characterizes the qualities of dependability, leadership, patriotism and service through school activities. The award consists of a certificate from the Daughters of the American Revolution and $25 savings bond from the Kaukauna chapter of the Professional Business Women.

The total fire loss experienced in Kaukauna for 1966 was $29,715.54, a total surpassed only three times in the past 10 years and $13,000 less than 1965.

The Kaukauna Ghost volleyball team will open competition tomorrow at Nathan Hale High School in West Allis. Originally 33 candidates showed up for initial practice but they had been paired to 17 members, 12 of which are allowed in uniform four games. According to coach Dave Hash only senior Jeff School is a returning letterman. Other returnees will also help are seniors Randy Andrews and Mike Kelly, Juniors Mel Biersteker, Mike Grogan and Ken Kappell. 

February 15, 1967

Flames still flicker and smoke still rises from an 80-year-old railroad building near the Fox River in the south side railroad yard, which was destroyed in a spectacular blaze Saturday night. The structure was being used by the Combined Locks Paper Mills of Combined Locks as a paper storage warehouse. Three boys turned in the alarm at 4:45 p.m. which sent the complete Kaukauna fire department to the scene. Firemen, when all hope was lost of extinguishing the fire, concentrated on preventing the flames from spreading to nearby buildings. Damage to the contents of the building has been estimated at up to $120,000 by Reinhold Vogt; president of the Combined Locks Mills. Vogt said that the building had not been entered in some time.

Old Dodge Street location

New - Larry's Piggly Wiggly supermarket is moving from its location at 215 Dodge St. this week to a new building constructed at 1900 Crooks Ave. on the south edge of the city. Opening will be Thursday. The new building, located on 3 1/2 acres of wooded land, which was known as Lehrer property, and also the site of the post-World War II Quonset hut dwellings for veterans.

Larry Verhagen - Owner

February 17, 1967

The Kaukauna Board of Education has announced base pay change for teachers with a bachelor’s degree to be increased from $5350 to $5550 per year in 1968.

Kaukauna wiped the snow from its windblown whiskers this morning and said “Whew!” February snarled back with the worst blow of the winter Wednesday. Wind up to 40 miles an hour blew snow as temperature dropped from 28° on Wednesday to -2 today.

Three wrestlers will carry the hopes of Kaukauna High School team in the Green Bay Preble sectional being held today and tomorrow. This tournament will be one of eight meets leading to the appearance and the State meet in Madison in February at the University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse. Mike Pomeroy at 95 pounds; Sam Beach at 138 pounds; and Dick Huss, at heavyweight will be the Ghosts entries in the tournament at Preble.

February 22, 1967

The Kaukauna High School jayvee basketball team clinched their third straight Mid-Eastern Conference jayvee crown Friday night as they ground out a 60-39 victory over the Shawano jayvees. Kaukauna also pushed their season record to 14-2 with the win.

Rita DeBruin rolling a high singles game of 244 and a national honor count of 613 paced the women league on Saturday at Ludwig Lanes. Hillary Arnoldussen topped the men scoring with a 252 single-game and a 621 series.

February 24, 1967

Throughout the year, the Times receives many notes from former residence, who tell us how much they enjoy keeping up on the hometown news through their subscriptions to The Times. This week that tune was different, an ex-Kaukauna man in California wrote, “I used to like The Times but now it's all bowling and ads.”

To smoke or not to smoke? That was the question before the Kaukauna City Council at their meeting Tuesday night. The issue was brought to the floor in a board of public works report which voted 6-3 in favor of a ban on smoking in the chambers. There were two votes at 5-5 before Mayor Gilbert Anderson said he would consider the matter before attempting to break the tie vote. While the discussion was in progress both sides did a bit of lobbying for their cause. Alderman Blumreich passed out cigars which, a number of people enjoyed and those in favor of the ban distributed literature from the city health department pointing out the dangers of smoking.

EAGLE SCOUT awards were presented to two young men of Holy Cross Troops 31 by their mothers at a Court of Honor Saturday evening. Front row left to right Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Regenfuss and their son Richard. Mrs. Norbert Driessen and son Stephen and Norbert Driessen. Back row Clayton McCabe, assistant scout master, Marvin Hooyman scout master and Father Gerald Berken, troop chaplain. 

Time Machine Trip to February 1888.

Hello Fellow Time Travelers,

Well it’s time to fire up the old “Time Machine Chair” and travel back in time to February of 1888.

For today’s trip Bill Conrad, will be sitting in the front seat operating the Time Machine.  The big wheel is spinning; the years are clicking back and in no time, we are back on Wisconsin Avenue on Kaukauna’s Northside.

Charles Raught, Times owner and editor, has left the newspapers on the chair out front.

  

Your old newsman - Lyle Hansen

February 3, 1888

Henry C. Tanner, brother of Dr. H. B. Tanner, has this week bought an interest in H.D. Silverfriends' dry goods store, and will manage the business during the absence of H.D. who will soon depart for Chicago, to attend college. Mr. Tanner is a young man well known to a large number of citizens and we are pleased to say is an upright and thorough business man.

In an encounter between the McCoy and Hatfield gangs, one McCoy was wounded and a Hatfield follower named Dempsey was shot down after being taken prisoner. Six of the men are now in jail. Judge Waggoner, of Pike County, will lay the case before the governor and ask him for arms to protect the people and property.

February 10, 1888

Tuesday evening while we were deeply interested in the latest work on "the Scarcity of Collateral" or "How to Make Subscribers Pay up Their Arrears" the door of our sanctum was opened and we recognized Mr. John Salschrieder. After passing the time of day John laid several fine Havana’s on our desk, with the remark, "Celebrate my birthday." We certainly did John and hope you may pass many more mile stones along life's journey. John is getting old, but is still "on the list," and we would advise him to keep shy of the fairer sex, as this is 1888 (leap year).

Texas has a beautiful climate. One day a man was driving a yoke of ox, and one of them died from over-heat. While the owner was skinning it, a blizzard came along and the other ox froze to death. 

Leaving horses hitched outside in this bitter cold weather without being covered with blankets is downright cruelty that ought to be severely punished.

Mass. – A pastor was dismissed by the parish for smoking a pipe. Apparently, he did not get enough happiness out of his $850 a year job.

February 17, 1888

The leap year party given by the ladies at the Island opera house on Friday evening was a grand success, and more than filled all expectations. About fifty couples were present, and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves. We might add that the gentlemen conducted themselves in a very lady like manner, and gave the ladies "full away" for carrying out the program.  Supper was served in the hall at 12 o'clock.

The “Kermes” was observed at Little Chute on Monday and Tuesday of this week. The feature of the Kermes is the dancing which is continued with the utmost violence for two days.

February 24, 1888

Wisconsin at present is bordered on the north by snow banks, on the west by blizzards, on the south by tornadoes, and on the east by bank failures. People who are fortunate enough to be inside of this shall, "thank their stars" for the extraordinary good luck.

The engine house is now supplied with a steam heater. The heater was purchased last week at Green Bay at the cost of $80.

Texas – Brack Cornett the desperado leader of the notorious Texas train robbers was shot and killed on the 13^th, while resisting arrest by Sheriff Allee, of Trio County Tex.  Cornett was a noted outlaw and, horse thief.  In 1887 the gang robbed an express train and secured $65,000. Two weeks later they robbed $18,000 from another train.

Two women of disrepute arrived in this city from Antigo on Monday of this week. They engaged rooms on the south side and forthwith proceeded to arrange for a grand opening (?) in their new location. Marshal Mulloy however was on their track and notified them to immediately “pack their duds and vacate”.

St. Louis, Mo. – Feb. 14 at 2 o’clock, a mob of sixty men marched to the jail in Pinckneyville, Ill., and demanded the sheriff to deliver Alonzo Holly, a negro, who assaulted a white woman at St. Johns two months ago. The sheriff refused but the mob knocked down the door and seized him. He was dragged fifty yards from the jail and hanged from a tree.