Time Machine Trip to April 1940

Kaukauna Times by Lyle Hansen

April 3, 1940

William J. Gantter will be Kaukauna's Mayor for the next two years as the result of Tuesday's election when he defeated incumbent L. F. Nelson and George Egan. Gantter won the election by a margin of 63 votes.

Coach Cliff Kemp’s junior varsity mitt men scored a 9 1/2 to 1 1/2 victory over Wrightstown here Thursday. Kaukauna winners include William Mitchler - 96 lbs. James Nagel - 108 lbs. Don Reichelt - 108 lbs. Robert Lizon - 116 lbs. Nic Steffens - 116 lbs. Robert Burns - 124 lb. George Reichelt - 148 lbs. Paul Feldt - 148 lbs. Calvin Spice, John Velte and Michael Niesen.

A group of 1,500 people, the largest number to attend a social function under one roof in Kaukauna were present at the open house party given by the Thilmany Pulp and Paper company for the employees of the company, their families and guests Saturday evening.

Margaret O’Connor was awarded the championship in the G.A.A. Ping-Pong tournament Friday evening. She played eight games before defeating Jean Derus winning three out of five games.

April 10, 1940

Mrs. Catherine Petermichel, 91, who was Kaukauna’s oldest resident, died Saturday morning after a lingering illness.

April 12, 1940

Leo J. Merlo, cashier of the Bank of Kaukauna, was elected president of the Kaukauna Rotary Club at the meeting held Wednesday noon. He succeeds C. J. Hansen as head of the club. 

The total 1939 expenditures for aid to the needy in Wisconsin amounted to $109,000,000, About 62c out of each welfare dollar came from the federal funds with 7c from the state of Wisconsin and 31c from local sources.

Edward Bush was elected commander of Electric City post 3319, Veterans of Foreign Wars at the Tuesday evening meeting.

Adele Wurdinger set the pace in the Ladies’ bowling league Thursday evening when she cracked the maples for a 555 series.

April 17, 1940

Candidates for the city positions in the April 2 election spend a total of $90.95 in their election campaigns according to Lester Brenzel, city clerk. 

April 17, 1940

One little pig went to market – he was so angry because he was being sold that he squealed and ran away. He ran from the Dodge Street market toward the power canal with a crowd of people chasing him. He was removed from the canal and returned to the fair were the deal to sell him was completed.

April 19, 1940

    Lee Gifford                     Lucile Faust

The highest scholastic achievement that can be attained by a high school student has been earned this year by Lee Gifford the valedictorian of the class of 1940 according to Olin G. Dryer, principle. Lee had an average of 93.24 for his four years. Lucile Faust was named salutatorian of the class of 1940 with a grade point of 92.79.

April 26, 1940

Kaukauna High School boxers defeated St. John’s Little Chute 7 ½ to 3 ½ in the final home match of the season before a large crowd of boxing fans. Kaukauna’s Jack Roberts defeated Paul Strick in the 92 lb. class. Billy Mitchler beat John Biersteker of St. John in the 108 lb. class. Biersteker connected with his hardest blows in the final seconds of the last round. 

Time Machine Trip to April 1930

Kaukauna Times - By Lyle Hansen

April 1, 1930

Bert W. Fargo was elected mayor of Kaukauna at today's election, defeating the incumbent, Dr. W. C. Sullivan, by a count of 1,236 to 896. Mr. Fargo is a well-known businessman, having conducted a furniture store here for a number of years.

Phil Zwick, Kaukauna’s rattling good featherweight, who has been making his headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, stopped off at Buffalo, N. Y., one-night last week and handed Johnny Helstein a tasty whipping in ten rounds. The Buffalo youth had been coming along fast up to the time he met Zwick.

April 8, 1930

A gigantic still, described by federal prohibition officers who made the raid as the largest and elaborate outfit ever found in this section of the state, was raided Sunday morning near the Fern Dell farms at Oneida. It was stated that the still represented a total outlay of equipment and mash of approximately $100,000. No one was found around leading to officers to believe that the operators had been “tipped off” to the raid.

April 11, 1930

The lock tenders on the Fox River between Menasha and De Pere have been kept busy since the opening of navigation on March 20^th. The locks were opened 409 times, according to figures released by the government.

April 15, 1930

A desire to go on a camping trip caused three little boys, all about seven years of age, to leave their homes Saturday morning and head towards the lake, meanwhile causing a furor when their absence was noted. The boys, Robert Nettekoven, Mark Nickles and Joseph Regenfuss were found about 6 in the afternoon miles from their homes, after search parties had scoured the country. The boys were found by Edward Kaphingst near the cheese factory at Little Chicago tired and hungry but on their way home. 

  

April 22, 1930

The beginning of April means that about 5,000 persons have been killed by automobiles on the highways of the United States this year. At this rate before the end of the year a death list will equal the Americans killed in the World war.

April 25, 1930

 

Reports from Shawano tell of a meeting of Stockbridge, Brothertown, Munee and Oneida Indians at which time John E. Hamilton pleaded with members of the tribe to provide him with money for expenses of his investigation into claims of $2,000,000 against the United Stated government. Hamilton a Stockbridge Indian from Connecticut states that in addition to the tracks of land taken illegally by the government he has uncovered more lands illegally taken.

April 29, 1930

 

 1930 Graham-Paige                      1930 Buick

Reports received here by the local police from Manitowoc asks the police to watch for two cars, one a Buick closed car with Georgia license and other a Graham Paige sedan with Illinois license, each containing two men. The men are wanted for a $100,000 jewel robbery which occurred today in Manitowoc.

Time Machine Trip to April 1920

Kaukauna Times - By Lyle Hansen

April 1, 1920

Current Farmers and Merchants Bank on Main Avenue.

The Central Block, located on the corner of Second Street and Main Avenue, was purchased this week for $29,500 from John Stevens, of Appleton, by the Farmers and Merchants Bank of this city. The bank thus solves the problem of larger quarters which its rapidly growing business makes necessary and becomes the owner of the best location and best business block in the city.

Engineer Warneke of this city had a narrow escape when the switch engine on which he and another were working last Saturday was struck by a locomotive running from Appleton. The switch engine was backing down the yard when the two engines met with a crash that sent him through the cab window. 

April 8, 1920

Last Tuesday’s election resulted in the return of Mayor Charles E. Raught who defeated James E. McFadden, the Trades and Labor candidate by 246 votes.

The Gantter-Bedat bowling team of this city, 1920 state champions, returned home from Peoria, Ill., where the team participated in the national bowling tournament. Frank Hilgenberg in the singles won sixth place receiving the prize of $175.00. 

April 15, 1920

John Coppes of the Kaukauna Buick company accompanied by Ben Hurkman left last Friday for Milwaukee and returned home bringing the five passenger Buick car recently purchased by George Lemke.

Miss Katherine Gertz of The Times averted what might otherwise have resulted in a serious accident Wednesday afternoon. Royal Stegeman, an employee of The Times was replacing a belt in the basement and became caught by a revolving shaft. As soon as Mis Gertz felt the slackening of the machinery and heard Stegeman’s call for help she immediately threw off the power. The young man’s clothing was torn from the upper part of his body and skin torn from his chest and arms. Dr. Nolan was summoned and took the youth to his parent’s home to attend to his wounds. 

April 22, 1920

The cannon presented by the war department to the city arrived at the south side depot last Monday and will form an interesting addition to the city’s list of souvenirs. The cannon will be turned over the Kaukauna American Legion Post. Mayor Raught stated he favored that the cannon be placed at the top of Main Avenue hill overlooking the business section of the city at the site of the Soldiers’ Monument left exclusively for souvenirs of the Civil War.

The student body in our city high school contains a group of brainy young people in evident from THE ORANGE AND BLACK, the new monthly magazine published by the high school students, with Melvin Trams as editor in chief.

Joseph Gerend, ranking highest in the studies of the four years’ course with a grade of 94.5 will be valedictorian of the class of 1920 at the commencement in June. Miss Sybil Griffiths will be the salutatorian of the class having the second highest rank for the four years of 93.5.

When a call for five volunteers was made at the Thilmany Mill last Sunday to repair a house for an invalid fellow worker most of the entire mill force responded and placed their services art the sick man’s disposal. Carpenter, masons and other trade men forgot they already out in a good day’s work and cheerfully assumed this additional task on their day of rest. The result was that a dilapidated house on the outskirts of the city was put out in fine order in record time. Mike Pennek will now be able to wage his battle for health without worry of house problems.

April 29, 1920

Frank M. Charlesworth Jr. was recently elected city engineer and has opened an office in the public library building. Mr. Charlesworth was a Kaukauna High School graduate in 1908 and graduated from the state School of Civil Engineering in 1914.

Time Machine Trip to 1851

THE STOLEN INDIAN BOY

During the year 1851, a family by the name of Partridge, living near Poy-o-Gun, lost a boy, nine years of age. All efforts to find the child were futile. About a year after, the father on his way from Poy-o-Gun to Winneconne, while passing through an Indian village saw, among several Indian children playing near a camp, a boy resembling the lost child and about the same age.  Believing the child his and that he had been stolen by the Indians and they had dyed his skin, he in turn stole the boy and took him to his home.  The children immediately notified the mother that a white man had taken the boy away.  She gave the alarm, which caused great commotion in the camp.  Chief Oshkosh, knowing the child belonged to the Indian woman, appealed to 

George W. Lawe, their Indian agent, to have a search made and the boy returned, which Mr. Lawe did, and after a short time he was located.  He had a warrant issued and served by the sheriff of Winnebago County, who brought Mr. Partridge with the child before the court.  The case was tried in Oshkosh in February 1852, before Judge Butterick, terminating in favor of the Indian mother, and the child was ordered restored.  Partridge, however, understanding the order of the court would be against him, left for Kansas with his family and the Indian boy.  This was the last heard of the case until many years after, when the boy, grown to manhood, paid Mr. Lawe a visit.  He was well educated, having a fine law practice in his hometown. During his stay in this section he visited Keshena on the Menominee Reservation, and there saw the Indian woman who had claimed him as her child.  After spending several days with her he returned to Kaukauna, and told Mr. Lawe while he had every respect for his Indian mother, he preferred his present life and thought it the most fortunate thing that could have happened when Mr. Partridge kidnapped him and gave him the splendid education he had received.

Time Machine Trip to April 1910

Kaukauna Times - By Lyle Hansen

April 1, 1910

Arthur Bayorgeon, the well-known local musician, has recently composed a very pretty march which will soon be placed on sale. Plates are now at The Times office ready for printing and the sheet music will soon be ready for dealers. A special designed title page printed in purple gives the name of the new piece as the "Purple and White March," the same being dedicated to the B.P.O. Elks of America, purple and white being their colors.

Frank Wright’s Kaukauna livery stock including horses, carriages, sleighs and harness were sold to Mr. Martin of Spenser. Mr. Martin traded a farm located in Oconto County for the entire outfit.

The Fox River opened for navigation from Green Bay to Portage earlier this year than any that can be remembered.

April 8, 1910

Mayor John Coppes - Election Day in Kaukauna Tuesday passed off very quietly, many not even taking interest enough to go and vote. The day was very disagreeable wet overhead, wet under foot, and even "wet" in the ballot boxes when the outcome of several contests were made known, for there seems to be no doubt now but what the question of saloon regulations entered more or less into the result of the local election. It can be seen very plainly that the sentiment of the voters was guided to quite an extent by the platforms as outlined by the two candidates for mayor. John Coppes won an overwhelming majority of 444 votes over Julius J. Martens, out of a total of but 965 cast.

April 15, 1910

The Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company has commenced making an important improvement which for some time they have had in contemplation after plans drawn by O'Keefe & Orbison, Appleton, and which will shut down that part of their plant containing No. 2 paper machine and five beaters. They will build two new beaters to take the place of two which are worn out and will repair the paper machine which is now being dismantled, while the main work is in progress which consists of putting in a new flume two new water-wheels and laying a concrete steel reinforced floor under No. 2 machine and the five beater engines in the same room.

The river levels have dropped since the Neenah and Menasha Waterpower Company was organized for the purpose of careful storage of water in the lake. We now need a heavy and consistence rainfall.

The Chicago & Northwestern railroad has determined to make Sunday a day of rest as far as possible. Work in all departments other than those necessary to operate the system will be suspended.

Charles Towsley purchased an automobile at Oshkosh. It is a five passenger, four cylinders Studebaker car of thirty horsepower. This makes another valuable addition to the family of automobiles of Kaukauna.

A class of twenty-five will graduate from the Kaukauna High School in June. The seniors who will receive their diplomas are:

Latin Course – Flossie Armstrong, Arthur Anderson, Elizabeth Boettcher, Henry Cook, Charles Clune, Agnes Fell, Josephine Eiting, Myrtle Hays, Ted Scholl, Winifred Ryan, Ralph Wittmann.

German Course – Irene Gray, Mary Hoolihan, Eric Lindburg, Anna Mitchell, Ruth Bonnsville, William Schrader, Agnes Taugher, Bert Van Roy.  

English Course – Lois Lambie, James Kavanaugh, Mary Mankoskey, Irene Miller, Frank O’Brian, Edward Schreiner.

April 22, 1910

For some time, past there has been talk of a motion picture theatre on the south side and plans were rounded into shape last week when Messrs. Roy Kuehn, Albert Paschen and a couple of associates, contracted with Luther Lindauer for the store room in the second street block formerly occupied by the Savings Center. Carpenters are now busy transforming the interior and front into a theatre to be known as the Crystal, which the boys hope to have ready for business within three or four weeks.

April 29, 1910

It is almost incredible to believe that we should have passed through such extreme cold for this season of the year when with fruit buds just ready to burst into bloom that all kinds of tree fruits are not ruined. A most remarkable sight was witnessed by everyone who took pains to examine the apple and cherry buds, as each one was encrusted with a coat of ice which seemed more a protection than otherwise as the ice was not frozen to the buds but formed a hollow sphere all around them—each bud resting in its own little globe of crystal, with the ground beneath them covered six inches deep with snow.

Samuel Langhorne Clemens foremost humorist and known worldwide as “Mark Twain” has died at the age of 75. He was born on November 30, 1835 and grew up in the little town of Hannibal, Mo. “I enjoyed reading his books as a boy. My favorites were The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Prince and The Pauper.” – Charles Raught, Times editor.

Kaukauna’s north side has been under the fear of rabies. A dog has bitten several other dogs and all display signs of rabies. A cow belonging to Joseph Hoffman, Lawe Street was bitten by a dog and died a week later.

Time Machine Trip to April 1900

Kaukauna Times - By Lyle Hansen

April 6, 1900

The voters of Kaukauna no longer know a political party. They pick their man and vote regardless of what ticket he’s on.

Julius Kuehn was elected mayor of this city on Tuesday, defeating H. S. Cooke for the position. Kuehn won the race by 131 vote majorities, securing big wins in the third and fourth wards, giving him the advantage.

The career of Susan B. Anthony, who has retired from the presidency of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association and to who in honor of her eightieth birthday, a grand reception was tendered in Washington. She made her first speech in public in 1849 in New York.

April 13, 1900

Eden Park Hall together with adjoining buildings was destroyed by fire about 1 o’clock this morning.  Thus, passes into history what at one time was one of the handsomest summer resorts in Wisconsin. About fifteen years ago Louis Altendorf bought the land on the bluff overlooking the Fox and converted the spot into what seemed rightly named a garden of Eden, or Eden Park. It soon became Kaukauna’s nook of Paradise. A large entertainment hall, bowling alley and other amusement were erected. Docks welcomed excursion boats to the park. The Kaukauna Fire Department responded to the fire but was prevented from crossing the street to extinguishing the flames, as the park was outside of the city limits.  

April 20, 1900

The public library is about to place 400 new books on their shelves. An installment of 166 of the lot arrived Saturday, which Miss Bell, the librarian is now busy cataloguing and arranging.

Arthur Beck, the lineman who roosted on the telephone pole on the northside for several hours last Friday evening in defiance of police demands to come down, and in the meantime entertained a large audience below with yards of the most vulgar language ever heard outside the realms of Hades, was arraigned before Justice Koch the next day and paid $28.38 for his choice bit of amusement.

April 27, 1900

Last Friday was pay-day at the Combined Locks Paper Mill and one of the employees, a machine tender, drew $87.00 for his month’s work.  While changing his cloths he laid his coat containing the money in a small pocketbook on a sill of an open window over the river. A slight touch dislodged the coat, which fell into the swift current and soon sank out of sight. The employees of the mill turned out and searched for a long time but could not find any trace of the coat or pocketbook.

Republicans and Democrats alike are devising all kinds of schemes to reduce the surplus of revenue now piling up in the treasury. It is strange, but under Democratic administration it was not necessary to enact legislation to prevent an abnormal growth of the surplus.

 

Time Machine Trip to April 1890

Kaukauna Times - By Lyle Hansen

April 4, 1890

  Luther Lindauer                Michael Sullivan

Incumbent Mayor M. Sullivan was easily defeated in Tuesday's election by challenger Luther Lindauer. Lindauer's biggest margin of victory in individual wards came in the second ward, where he held a 162-62 vote advantage.

It is now said on the highest official authority that Queen Victoria of England is seriously considering the step of abdicating the throne. The aged Queen is now convinced that her son, the Prince of Wales, ought to have a chance to play the leading role in England. One strong objection the queen has, to abdicating is the idea of being called ex-queen.  She will be called Queen the rest of her life.

April 11, 1890

Chicago, Ill., April 7 – The Carpenters’ strike took place this morning. It is estimated that between 5000 and 6000 men are out.  The carpenter work on all large jobs has been brought to a standstill. This same strike four years ago resulted in the growth of the Anarchist agitation that culminated into the Haymarket riots. The strikers are out for increased wages and for an eight-hour workday.

St. Louis, Mo., April 7 – Valentine Setting and his wife went out driving in Forest Park yesterday. Mr. Setting is a jeweler and through hard work succeeded in accumulating $4605 which was kept in the house. On starting for the drive being afraid to leave the money in the house during his absence, Mrs. Setting put the money at the bottom of a paper bag containing oranges. During the drive through the park the couple ate the oranges then threw the bag away. They did not discover their loss until late in the evening and all attempts to find the package proved unavailing.

A core-wheel at the American Pulp Mill was damaged last Saturday and the mill necessarily shut down. Times reporter is informed that the same will not be put in operation again, but steps will at once be taken towards constructing the new paper mill.

A horrible story comes from Morocco. A large box was recently brought from the interior to the port for shipment. When opened a ghastly sight was revealed. In the box packed closely together, the bodies of 17 young women, and one man. All of victims had been decapitated with their heads being missing. This latter had been to all appearances, the work of some Pasha, who thus visited vengeance on his harem for unfaithfulness.

April 18, 1890

The large pinion purchased by the city for the draw bridge for the purpose of increasing the speed in opening and closing the same has been tried and proves useless. While one man could handle the bridge with ease with the old gearing, it was difficult for two to perform the work with the new one, and consequently it has been discarded.

Kaukauna High School students at Nicolet School.

Most all residents of Kaukauna have at times read about strikes that were on in large cities. Last Saturday the switchmen in the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western yards here gave notice to the officials of the road that they wanted an increase in wages and also more help. If their demand was not conceded to by six o’clock that evening a strike would follow. No reply was received on the demand and gradually the tracks in the yard began to fill up with cars. Even a passenger train could not find a track to pass through.

Henry Landreman, of this city, a baggage man on the Milwaukee Lake Shore road met with a painful accident at Grim’s Station last Friday night. While swinging a switch he was struck by and engine and narrowly escaped losing a leg.

Anderson, a Lake Shore fireman from this place met with an accident at Manitowoc last Friday which resulted in the loss of a portion of a foot. He was attending the engine when another engine assisting the train began to move.

New York pickpockets have invented a new scheme for robbing people. It is to pour kerosene or alcohol over the back of a man’s coat and touch a match thereto. Then, while helping to extinguish the flames, they “lift” the victim’s watch and money. The moral is that whenever you find yourself on fire as you walk along the street you must slug everyone who comes near you.  As to the fire chasing up your back and singeing your back hair, Good Luck.

The men unloading wood for the pulp mill in Kimberly struck for more pay last Saturday. They were at once paid off and replaced with a new crew.

April 25, 1890

Simons & Tuttle have just completed the largest whistle in this part of the state. The bell thereof is thirty inches high and ten inches in diameter. It will be attached to the Kaukauna Fiber Company’s boiler.

Considerable speculation is heard in reference to the population of Kaukauna. Many are of the opinion that the list of residents will surpass 6,000 while others express doubts of it passing 5,000. The census will be taken in June and the matter settled. If you would venture a guess to the Times with the nearest to the correct number will receive THE TIMES two years free of charge.

The Czar’s palace at Oranienbaum, Russia, has been destroyed by fire. He has been burnt out of his home, with an anarchist lying in wait at every turn to toss a bomb for the purpose of blowing his Royal Highness from this mundane sphere. What a life to live? The life of a country editor is bad enough, but the Czar’s discounts it ten-fold.

Milwaukee needs a large number of new school buildings. Hundreds of children are being refused admission to the schools owing to lack of room. Why should we expend money for parks, city hall and others that are in no hurry and suffer children to grow up in ignorance?