Time Machine Trip to August 1946

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

August 2, 1946

Red Cross Reports 810 cases over the last two years by the Kaukauna home service department.

 

Second annual midsummer festival is on August 11 at Holy Cross parish school grounds.

Crowning of the king and queen by Mayor Joseph Bayorgeon. King Richard Myrhum and Queen Yvonne Emperor, 7th/8th-grade essay contest winners who each received a fountain pen at graduation in May.

 

No lost-time accidents at Thilmany Pulp and Paper company mill during June and July.

 

August 7, 1946

The Times is seeking a Kaukauna resident fluent in Norwegian to translate a letter received by a local subscriber from an unknown sender in Norway.

Outagamie County Voiture 1140 "40 et 8" box car and engine took first place in the parade at the state Legion convention in Racine.

 

August 9, 1946

Norwegian letter mystery solved. The Letter was sent to Thomas Gerend, Grignon St. by 14-year-old Lars Bjorndal from Norway. Lars thanked Gerend for a donated jacket that fit perfectly, shared details about his family's financial hardships, and asked to have his name published in the town paper so Americans might send relief packages.

Translated by Richard Mischler with help from his Norwegian bride, Gerd Olsen, whom he married in Norway while serving with the 474th Infantry Regiment before returning to the U.S. in July 1946.

 

August 14, 1946

 

Frank M. Charlesworth, who has served the city of Kaukauna as engineer for the last 26 years, has resigned his position to become associated with the firm of Foth and Porath, Green Bay, consulting municipal engineers and airport engineers. His resignation, which becomes effective September 16, was announced by City Clerk Karl E. Marzahl Tuesday.

 

Main Avenue Neighborhood Talent Show. Neighborhood kids (ages 2½ to 13) staged their 3rd annual talent show, drawing 60 spectators, in the Art Look backyard using blankets and curtains as a stage. The children donated $2.50 of their proceeds to the local hospital fund drive.

 

Ellis H. Dana of the Wisconsin Council of Churches stated that alcoholism is the fourth ranking public health problem in the U.S. and urged treating victims as sick persons.

 

August 16, 1946

 

Sgt. Warren G. Alger USMC was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for heroic leadership during combat on Iwo Jima on March 8, 1945. Wounded on March 20, 1945, and died on April 1, 1945; buried at sea. The medal was presented to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Alger, by Lt. William E. Barber at their Kaukauna home on August 4.

 

Holy Cross Midsummer Festival Air Show. An estimated 8,000 people attended the Holy Cross midsummer festival benefiting the parish school fund. Featured a 30-minute aerial demonstration by a dozen private planes led by flier George Greenwood. Leonard Van Zeeland provided PA commentary, and Stub Liethen closed the show with stunt maneuvers, including a 13-turn corkscrew descent from 5,000 feet.

 

Walter Rennebohm will come to Kaukauna High school in a double role, as teacher and coach, it was announced at a recent meeting of the board of education. Rennebohm will succeed Harry Stumpf as chemistry instructor and will work with Karl Schuelke in the job of developing a topnotch football team.

 

August 21, 1946

A new ruling by the Wisconsin Industrial Board prohibits issuing work permits to boys under 18 for employment in bowling alleys, as announced by Superintendent of Schools T. H. Boebel. An October 1942 special order that permitted boys ages 15 to 18 to work in bowling alleys was rescinded after the board decided the wartime conditions prompting it had passed.

 

Youth Center Ping-Pong Tournament Results. Senior Champion: Dave Kilgas won the senior division by defeating Gene Walker (21–17, 21–18). Junior Champion: Cliff Hinkens claimed the junior title by defeating Tom Gustman (21–14, 21–14).

 

Local figure "Stormy" Kromer shared stories illustrating how baseball rules in the late 1880s were frequently shaped by circumstance and "expediency". Darboy Game Incident: Darboy Game Incident: Rookie Bolivar Glaff hit a long drive so far, he could have rounded the bases twice but opposing players blocked his path home with threatened fists, forcing him to stay at third.

 

August 23, 1946

Kaukauna Swimming Pool Proposal. Pool engineer Wesley Bintz presented a proposal to the city council for a  foot swimming pool costing approximately $55,000.

 

Edward F. Rennicke (clerk of local board No. 2) clarified that men must still register for Selective Service upon turning 18, even though induction typically does not occur until age 19 unless they volunteer. Registration is mandatory under law, and failure to register is punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.

 

August 30, 1946

Thilwerth Park, stretching along Canal Street from the Wisconsin Avenue bridge to the First Lock, will soon be dedicated. A bronze plaque on a  3-foot diameter millstone placed near Catherine Street will hold a bronze marker designating the park. Named "Thilwerth" in honor of Oscar Thilmany and Monroe A. Wertheimer, founders and organizers of the Thilmany mill.

 

 

Daughter, Michelene Ann, to Mr. and Mrs. Al Michel

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Robach.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. William Lambie.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gerow.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester Brown.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Johns.

Son, Richard Stanley, to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Bauer.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Willard Keil.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Johnson.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Earl Brohm.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Urban Vander Velden.

Daughter, Kathleen, to Mr. and Mrs. Milford Roehrborn.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Huss

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Urban Gerrits.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Berken.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Verhagen.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Lennert.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. James O. Knott.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. John Hruska.

Daughter to Dr. and Mrs. Charles Koepp

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Elmer J. Brock

Daughter, Susan Ann, to Mr. and Mrs. Francis N. Brooks

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Vanevenhoven.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Lemers.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. John Vanden Broek.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. James J. Jansen.

Son to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Schmitz.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Main.

Daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Danner.

 

 

Discharged

Leroy Balza

W. A. Willey

F. Weyenberg

Jerald Wittman

Robert Kobs

Hugh Nelson

James Gustman

Adam Miller

F. D. Vanderheiden

James McMahon

Jerome Verhagen

Gerald Flynn

Ronald Ragen

Alfred Knorr

William Hoehne

Lawrence Gerend

Leo Van De Loo

Duane Heindel

Boniface Kempen

Gerald Hietpas

Vincent Hietpas

Junior Van Lanen

Donald Janssen

Victor Mueller

Anthony De Bruin

Marvin Kempen

Gerald Klister

Donald Krueger

 

1946 Newest Jeep makes debut – You may not get all the eggs in one basket but it’s a cinch they will all fit in the new Jeep Station Wagon. Seat seven removing the seats provides for simple carrier space. 

Time Machine Trip to August 1936

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

August 4, 1936

Roy Schuler (aged 30, Main Street, Combined Locks) was instantly killed in an accident at the Combined Locks Paper company at noon on Monday. Schuler was carrying paper over a reel when he became caught between a metal drum and a paper roll, pulling his head and shoulders between the rolls before nearby workmen could stop the machine.

 

165 boats passed through the canal during July. Bridges were opened 38 times in the final week of July, indicating an uptick in river traffic. Fox River Navigation company boats are moving to 24-hour operations due to cooler weather and higher demand for coal.

 

Kaukauna's three main swimming facilities (the quarry, the fourth lock, and the municipal building pool. served 28,380 swimmers in July, breaking city record during its hottest month on record.

 

August 7, 1936

Mildred Feller won the low score prize with a 64 during ladies' day activities at Kaukauna Golf course, which drew 20 participants for golf, bridge, and lunch.

 

An inquest was held regarding the deaths of Mrs. Nellie Straka (75) and her son George (29), who were found dead at their home on East Eighth Street on Wednesday morning, July 15. The jury determined the cause of death was food poisoning of unknown origin combined with possible heat prostration.

 

Relief Director Joseph V. Krahn reported July poor relief expenditures totaled $1,271.05—a decrease of $302.83 from June ($1,573.88).

 

Four 4x5 foot signs painted by Karl Minkebige were installed on Highways 55 and 41 to invite tourists to visit the historic 100-year-old Grignon Mansion.

 

The Gold Medal shows, hosted at the ballpark by Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge No. 1416, are drawing large afternoon and evening crowds to support the lodge's building fund. Features include rides, sideshows, concession stands, and nightly 10:30 PM performances by world champion high fire diver Captain Jack Perry into 6 feet of water.

 

August 14, 1936

 

Investigating the cost of Grignon Home property brought sixty attendees—including members of the Outagamie County Board, representatives of the city of Kaukauna, the Advancement Association, and the Kaukauna Historical Society to the Grignon home lawn for a Tuesday noon luncheon. Attorney William L. Crow spoke on the history of the Grignon family, the home's significance as early water traffic stops, and the long-term value of preserving the property. Judge Fred V. Werner spoke on the advisability of purchasing the home and property. Mrs. Ross Grignon, current custodian of the home. The county board unanimously passed a resolution authorizing a committee to investigate purchase costs and options. This effort aims to evaluate converting the property into a county park and memorial in cooperation with the Kaukauna Common Council.

 

August 18, 1936

 

Chief of Police James E. McFadden will ask the city council to purchase safety signs to place in the center of the road near all Kaukauna grade schools. The 5-foot-tall sign depicts a Boy Scout holding two signs reading "10 miles per hour" and "Danger, school zone".

 

Norman Hennessey paid a $3 fine plus costs in Justice Abe Goldin's court on Monday following a Saturday arrest for disorderly conduct.

 

Arthur Kappell was fined $1 and costs in Justice Abe Goldin's court on Monday following his arrest on Saturday for disorderly conduct.

 

August 21, 1936

Among the hundreds of odd exhibits at the National Inventor's Congress to be held at Springfield, Mass., September 1 to 4 is this dimple-producing gadget. E. Isabella Gilbert, the inventor, demonstrates how the device is clamped around the face, with knobs pressing into the cheeks to imprint the dimples.

Conservation wardens stocked 60 cans of perch, crappies, and walleyed pike into the abandoned Niesen stone quarry. Between 8,000 and 10,000 fish were delivered, with another truckload expected Saturday. Fishing in the quarry is prohibited for two years while seaweed and wild rice are established; unauthorized fishing in the reserve carries a heavy fine.

 

A petition signed by 82 5th Ward voters and taxpayers requested the city halt construction of an 8-foot stone WPA wall around the high school athletic field, citing property devaluation and loss of scenery.

 

Two-armed men held up the Seymour State Bank on Wednesday afternoon, forcing four employees and three customers to lie on the floor. The robbers forced bank president Charles Prosser to open the vault, took approximately $6,000 in cash and securities, locked the victims in the vault, and fled in a getaway car driven by a third accomplice.

Mary Main, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph V. Krahn, was chosen as Miss Kaukauna during a contest at the Nitingale Ballroom, with Ruby Belling placing second. Main won an all-expense trip to the Wisconsin State Fair in Milwaukee to compete for Miss Wisconsin. She is a high-ranking high school student and pianist.

August 25, 1936

 

Julius Nemetz, a Kewaunee farmer, lost $6,249.50 to a fortune teller named Madame Marie. After gaining his trust by charging fees to "cure" his daughter's hand and "appease spirits" with candles, she convinced him to bring cash to Manitowoc on June 30 under the promise that spirits would double it. Nemetz mortgaged his farm for $6,000, cashed the check, and allowed Madame Marie to tie the wrapped cash around his waist with instructions not to open it for a week. When she failed to return, Nemetz opened the bundle to find only 100 one-dollar bills and old newspapers. Police across the Midwest and District Attorney John Cashman are searching for her.

  

According to county agent, Wisconsin farmers will need to import roughly 14,000 work horses and 250 mules from other states in 1937 due to a lack of local breeding in recent years.

Time Machine Trip to August 1926

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen 

August 3, 1926

 

The removal of the old iron bridge along the side of the new Wisconsin Avenue bridge is being done as fast as possible. The roadway has been torn up at this time, but it will probably be late in the summer before the work of demolishing the old structure is completed.

 

The village council of Combined Locks, at a meeting last week, rejected all bids for the construction of a 7,200-foot sewage project which the village had planned because the Wisconsin state board of health refused to sanction the construction. The sewer planned would have emptied into the Fox river. The village was ordered to build a sewage disposal plant by the board of health.

 

Four Appleton boys, none over 13 years of age, rescued two men from Lake Winnebago when a canoe they were sailing capsized a mile off Waverly Beach at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The boys were Robert Rule, 12, John Ehlke, Jr., aged 13, Clarence Jahnke, 13 and Gordon Holterman, 12. The four youngsters were riding in a rowboat close to shore when they saw the canoe capsize.

 

August 5, 1926

 

On July 21st, Ford Motor Company produced its 14,000,000th automobile at its Fordson plant.

 

Four Kaukauna boys left this week for the Citizens' Military Training Camp at Fort Sheridan, where they will be for a month's period of training. Those in the group were Jack Farwell, Gilbert St. Mitchel, William Glasheen and Roland Radder. Farwell and St. Mitchel have been at the camps for each year for the past two years, this being the third. They are in the cavalry.

 

August 12, 1926

After a three-month delay and multiple bidding rounds, the Little Chute village board accepted a $5,000 bid from the W. S. Nott Company of Minneapolis for a new fire truck.

 

A truck with Michigan license plates carrying real brewery beer and suspected whiskey cartons overturned west of Green Bay along the Brown County line. The driver fled the scene, leaving local onlookers to gather around the abandoned cargo during warm weather.

 

August 19, 1926

 

Billie O'Brine, known as the original Irish death-defying "Human Fly," with 14 years of experience climbing buildings and performing airplane acrobatics. He will attempt to climb the exterior of the Congress Hotel in Kaukauna on Saturday afternoon directly following an address by Governor Blaine at 1:00 PM as part of "Blaine and Bargain Day."

 

The final section of the historic Plank Road—originally part of the old military road connecting Green Bay and Oshkosh—has officially been renamed Lincoln Avenue.  Alderman Otto Hass presented a petition signed by local property owners to the common council on Tuesday evening, introducing an ordinance for the change that passed unanimously.

 

August 24, 1926

 

Canal traffic reached its highest volume of the year in July, according to the U.S. Engineer's office. 260 lockages in July (up from 128 in June). Little Chute: 194 lockages. Navigation companies are running day and night, expecting to maintain this schedule for another month.

 

August 26, 1926

Manawa has revived the old "posting law" by listing 12 to 15 men's names across local soft drink parlors following citizen requests. Local officials aim to curb illegal drinking, suspecting illicit alcohol is present despite the area being officially "bone dry".

 

The school term begins September 7th, requiring first-time students to hold a vaccination certificate. Children leave behind summer activities—like swimming and baseball—for new diversions like recess, football, and academic study.

 

Radio reports announced that silent film star Rudolph Valentino died Monday near noon at a New York hospital.

 

August 31, 1926

Miss Blanche Jirikowic won title of Kaukauna’s most popular young lady and a diamond ring with 21,020 votes during the local Moose festival week. Miss Ada Piepenberg won second prize (diamond ring, 12,000 votes), and Miss Olive Gerhartz took third (wrist watch, 10,940 votes).

 

 

William Van Dyke, owner of the south-side Vaudette theater, has taken over the lease of the north-side Bijou theater and will manage both venues. Following the final performance under previous manager Mr. Cleland, Van Dyke plans to redecorate the interior before announcing a formal grand reopening.

 

Time Machine Trip to August 1916

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen - KAHS

 

August 3, 1916

 

Friday evening a car with seven passengers in a Mitchell automobile owned by Dr. Frank Babcock of Kaukauna narrowly escaped death around 9:00 p.m. on Friday south of town. No one was badly injured but they were shaken up.  A tree stump caught the car as it dropped, preventing potential fatalities before it completed a somersault and landed back on its wheels 12 feet below road level. New wheels were installed, and the car was driven to Appleton under its own power.

 

Wisconsin reached 103,560 registered automobiles in the state. The state's residents will spend $58,000,000 on automobiles in 1916.

 

The United States Indian Commissioner in the Department of the Interior, issued an order strictly prohibiting the sale of liquor to Native Americans. The rule applies universally, regardless of whether individuals are U.S. citizens or classed as wards of the nation.

 

John VanRight, aged 24, was killed Monday morning when his arm contacted a live electric wire while working as a lineman for the Wisconsin Traction Company repairing a broken line. Funeral was held Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. at St. John’s Church, Little Chute, with fellow linemen acting as pallbearers. Burial in Little Chute cemetery.

 

Albert Demming bought five acres of land from the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Co. The land is situated just west of Boyd Avenue on the crest of Beaulieu Hill.

 

Governor Philipp was officially advised by Attorney General Owen that Wisconsin soldiers deployed at San Antonio cannot vote in the September primary or November elections without physically returning to Wisconsin.

 

Auto Show at the State Fair on September 11–16 at the State Fair. 59 factories will show over 200 model specimens of 1917 pleasure cars, totaling more than $1,000,000 in value.

 

August 10, 1916

Nearly 5,000 men of the Wisconsin brigade marched 10 miles to Ten-Mile Hill enroute to maneuver grounds at Leon Springs. Every man carried a 60-pound pack while singing "On Wisconsin".

 

Johanna Bowers, the 7-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Bowers on Wrightstown Road, fell off a load of sand, and a wheel crashed her side around 6:00 p.m. Saturday. She was taken to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Appleton but succumbed to her severe internal injuries.

 

Jacob Lang assumed duties as the new postmaster of the north side office on Monday morning, succeeding J. C. Mitchell. Post office employees presented Mr. Lang with a bouquet of roses, while retiring postmaster J. C. Mitchell received a smoking set with a box of cigars from the clerks and rural carriers.

 

August 18, 1916

 

A tractor plowing demonstration for the farmers of this vicinity was held this afternoon, and will be continued tomorrow all day, and probably Saturday, at the farm of the Hurkman brothers, across the "marsh", just north of the Kaukauna city limits. Everybody interested, whether a farmer or not, is invited, but farmers are especially invited, because the demonstration will show what a tractor will do for them, how it saves expense, labor and delays in all kinds of farm work. Besides its use for plowing, the tractor is invaluable to farmers in handling hay, filling silos, sawing wood, baling hay, grinding feed, and innumerable other things which every farmer must do.

 

The city electrical department has just completed the installation of a ten-horsepower motor at the Chicago and Northwestern Railway shops, this being the first electric power to be installed there in the recent electrifying of the shops. The motor operates in the car-wheel department now located in the west end of the carpenter shops, operating the wheel press and boring machine.

 

The Union Bag and Paper Company has commenced some important improvements at their plant on the water power canal, which means a lot of work for skilled mechanics and also for common hands. Work on all of these improvements scheduled to commence by September first.

 

Walter Langlois, a delivery boy for J. L. Anderson, suffered a fractured right shoulder on Tuesday. He was jerked from his wagon by the horse he was driving.

 

Lake Winnebago and the Fox River are heavily polluted with thick green scum, causing dirty green tap water with an offensive odor. Swimmers at local beaches are reporting skin infections from the water.

 

Frank Van Drasek (age 7), son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Van Drasek, Sr. Attempting to catch a ride on a loaded stone truck near the Island quarry, he fell beneath the rear wheels. He suffered severe internal injuries and died on the way to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Appleton.

 

Wrightstown has a new high school. A new two-story red brick high school with a full basement is near completion on the east side of the Fox River. Built by contractor Frank Egers for less than $20,000, it is set to open for the fall term in September.

 

Nearly 50 Oneida Indians have moved to Kaukauna for manual labor opportunities, with more families continuing to arrive. They are noted for being prompt and reliable workers.

Jacob Hill (age 89), revered Oneida chief who moved to the Oneida Reservation from New York 83 years ago has died. He often served as a minister at tribe funerals and spoke at public occasions.

 

August 25, 1916

 

The New 1917 Ford Model features a restyled 1917 model with a larger radiator in a black enamel casing, a sloped hood for a streamlined body, and crown-shaped front fenders. 200 units shipped to Wisconsin—one per dealer.

 

Kaukauna Fibre Company is sold to a Milwaukee man for $104,000. The sale price fully covers all creditor claims dollar-for-dollar, with several thousand dollars remaining to be distributed among stockholders.

 

Mrs. William Van Lieshout suffered severe burns to her hands and arm on Saturday while ironing clothes. Residual gasoline, used for cleaning, ignited when exposed to the heat of an electric flatiron.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Gus Ristau and family completed a 200-mile trip to Marinette County, camping near Brookside in a new silk balloon-cloth tent. Gus noted poor, sandy road conditions in the Coleman, Brookside, and Oconto regions.

 

August 31, 1916

M. A. Wertheimer received a postcard sent via Holland from Oscar Thilmany in Germany —his first update from him in several months. The card confirmed that Mr. and Mrs. Thilmany are both in good health.