Time Machine Trip to June 1926

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

 

June 3, 1926

The Kaukauna Fire Department 1926. Members are, from left to right, (front row) Assistant Chief Henry Esler, Owen E. Roberts, James McMorrow, Walter Specht, Edward Ward, Walter Martzahl, and Carl Engerson; (back row) driver Charles Miller and Chief Albert Luckow.

 

A raise for city firemen from $100 to $110 per month, and for the two fire captains from $100 to $115 per month, recommended by the fire and police commission and brought before the council.

 

  

          Violet Redman                        Homer Metz

The musical comedy, “Pinafore” was presented before a large crowd in the Kaukauna auditorium last Tuesday evening by the Glee club of the local high school. The settings were very fine, and the play was well acted. The action centered around “Josephine”, played by Violet Redman, she is in love with a common sailor, this part being enacted by Homer Metz.

 

 

Dorothy Van Lieshout, Kaukauna high school representative in the annual Wisconsin state forensic contest, which was held at Madsion last Friday, won fifth place in the meet, in the extemporaneous reading, according to word received here.

 

A massive debate was brewing over the state of the Fox River, which was heavily polluted with raw sewage and paper mill waste. The community was grappling with a massive identity question: What is of greater importance—industry or fish? The mills, arguing that forcing them to build filtration systems would cost millions, bankrupt the factories, and destroy the local economy.

 

In broad daylight, while the workers were busy in the back processing milk, a thief slipped into the front office of the Kaukauna Creamery. The bandit managed to crack the small desk safe and make off with the entire weekend's cash receipts. What baffled local police was the timing—the office was left unattended for less than fifteen minutes.

 

June 10

The Rev. Father Buytaert of Wrightstown was declared the new "King" at the 76th annual St. Francis Society "Schut" in Hollandtown. Competing against 18 expert marksmen from the Fox River Valley, Father Buytaert won a $25 cash prize and the right to wear the silver-medal-bedecked "King's" coat by shooting down the last remnants of a wooden bird.

 

 

          Robert Radsch

Keeping the large audience which packed the Kaukauna auditorium last Tuesday evening for the 1926 class play “Adam and Eva”, in continual good humor, the cast presenting the production gave to local theatergoers the best comedy ever staged by Kaukauna high school pupils. Robert Radsch, playing the part of James King. wealthy businessman.

 

June 15, 1926

A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McCarty

 

June 17, 1926

Zwick trimmed Steve Nugent of Cleveland in a ten-round bout in that city Wednesday evening, according to a telegram received here. This was Zwick's twelfth win and he has shown constant improvement in each fight.

 

June 22, 1925

Federal Judge F.A. Geiger in Milwaukee has denied a U.S. government motion to dismiss a petition filed by the village of Little Chute. The village is seeking to block a federal criminal prosecution threatened after local officials refused to comply with an order to raise the level of a local drawbridge. Little Chute’s attorney argues the village is not responsible for the structure, claiming it is federal property and that the roadway serves as an Outagamie County trunk highway.

 

June 25, 1926

Phil Zwick, Kaukauna's fistic star, kept on his winning ways when he won his thirteenth straight victory in the ring by administering knock out drops to Mickey Dugan in the second round of a scheduled eight rounder at Cleveland Tuesday night.

 

Richard “Red” Smith, of Combined Locks a graduate of the Kaukauna high school, has been elected captain of the 1927 Notre Dame baseball team.

 

June 29, 1926

 

      Mayor W. C. Sullivan

In response to a proclamation issued by Mayor W. C. Sullivan, in accordance with a request made by the Sesqui-Centennial of American Independence, bells in all the schools, churches, and public buildings of Kaukauna rang out over a period of five minutes beginning at 11:11 a. m. Monday.

 

“Fat” Robedeaux would probably do better if he wouldn’t always come down to play in his “Sunday Go-to-Meeting Clothes,” say the critics. We’ve a tent up at the house, “Fat,” if you want to get a baseball suit made.

Time Machine trip to June 1916

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

June 2, 1916

Kaukauna held a perfect Memorial Day service on May 30, featuring city automobiles carrying Civil War veterans, the Woman’s Relief Corps, Boy Scouts, and Sons of Veterans.

Services were held at Kelso cemetery and Trinity Ev. Lutheran cemetery.

 

Louis Mannebach has finally accepted the position of active manager for the Little Chute baseball club after repeatedly refusing the time-consuming role.

June 9, 1916

The Schermitzler Bros. bungalow and boathouse, a popular lower-river fishing hostel, was completely destroyed by fire on Wednesday afternoon. The total loss is around $500, which includes a talking machine and $100 worth of records. The property was uninsured as the policy had recently expired.

 

Frank Peterson, an employe at the acid plant of the Kaukauna Fibre Co. was quite seriously injured one day this week by the explosion of an acid tank some contents of which flew into his face and which has injured his eyes. Two other workmen narrowly escaped injury at the same time. It is hoped that Mr. Peterson's eyes will not be permanently injured.

 

June 16, 1916

Chief of Police Richard McCarty of Kaukauna requested a ruling from the state attorney general regarding whether liquor or beer could be sold to Oneida Indians.

The attorney general cited the statutes, which strictly prohibits selling, bartering, or giving intoxicating liquor to any Indian or mixed-blood Indian (excluding civilized persons of Indian descent who are not tribe members).Violators face a fine of up to $100, imprisonment in the county jail for up to three months, or both.

 

Van & Nicholson, owners of a South Side pool and billiard room on Second Street, were arrested by Officer James McFadden for selling cigarettes to minors. They were fined $25.00 plus costs in court, totaling $30.10.

 

Elof Ringlund (22), son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ringlund, unexpectedly enlisted last week in Co. G, Third Regiment, N.Y. Infantry of the National Guard in Rochester, New York. His family in Kaukauna learned of the surprise enlistment via a letter to his brother,

 

The National Guard organizations of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona (over 4,500 men) are the first called into active service due to the Mexican situation.

Governor Philipp ordered the mobilization of the entire Wisconsin State Militia (3,295 men) to gather at Camp Douglas. They are expected to be among the first sent to the border due to their readiness.

Orders were issued by Maj-Gen. Thomas H. Barry for the immediate movement of ready National Guard units to the Mexican border. Wisconsin troops are scheduled to go to San Antonio, Texas.

 

 

June 23, 1916

Not since the days of the Spanish-American war of 1898 has such an interest been manifested in National matters as is now stirring every town, village and hamlet all over the United States. This deep interest is caused by the President's calling out the States Militia looking toward trouble with Mexico.

 

At Appleton Co. G, which has been called out and departed Thursday, took with it several members from Kaukauna, as follows:

Harry Wheaton

Edward Wyro  

Alfred Wyro

George Wunrow  

Adolph Blair

William Warnecke  

John Brooks  

Harry Wheaton

John Vanden Broek

Walton Cooper

Albert Niessing

George Egan

Bernard Hurst

Frank Schaefer

John Delcorps

Francis A. Jeska

 

Luther Lindauer has purchased the old livery barn and other property of the Parton estate on the corner of Crooks Avenue and Fourth Street. He will raze the old structure and erect a modern up-to-date residence of bungalow style, filling in the lot and making other improvements which will greatly add to the appearance of this part of the street.

 

June 30, 1916

According to the University of Wisconsin's Municipal Reference Bureau, Wisconsin cities spend over $1,000,000 annually on police protection.

Milwaukee spends the most at $676,374 (about half the statewide total), followed by Superior ($55,000), Racine ($36,615), and Madison (~$35,000).

Milwaukee's chief receives the highest salary at $4,000. Other notable salaries include Superior ($2,400), Racine/West Allis ($1,800), La Crosse ($1,650), Green Bay ($1,440), and Madison ($1,380). Some cities pay $500 or less.

 

St. Mary's Eight Grade Graduates, Kaukauna, Wisconsin First Row Left to Right: Rose Blaha, Katherine Gertz, Elizabeth Verhoven, Mary Ditter, Marie Heintz, Anna Sprangers 2nd Row Aloysius Hartzheim, Edmund Simon, Edward Garvey, Lawrence Mangold, Rev. F.X. Steinbrecker, Joseph Gerend, John VanTreek, Edward Ryan, John Bast. 3rd Row Leo Spindler, Agnes Steidl, Regina Miller, Edward Hennes, Rev Reindl, John V. Corcoran, Marie Killlian, Mary Sprangers, Herbert Coppes, Nicholas Melchior. 4th Row Chester Davey, Sister Edith, Joseph Schaefer, Viola Rouen, Lois Powers, Sister Fabian, John Stoeger, Wilfred Emperor.

Time Machine Trip to June 1906

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen KAHS

 

June 1, 1906

Joe Hoffman of the north side has a hen that lays eggs with three yolks-triplets, as it were. He also has a brood of twelve chickens hatched from eleven eggs. Now if someone will only produce a rooster that lays, Kaukauna chickens will have the world beat.

 

The Kaukauna Public Library was systematically broken into through windows over a weekend. The thief ransacked locked desks and cupboards, causing $25 in total damages and stolen fine money, with only $8.00 taken in cash.

 

Despite a stormy night, Kaukauna successfully observed Memorial Day with grave decorations by the G.A.R. Paul H. Beaulieu Post and Woman's Relief Corps, followed by a popular soldiers' dinner and an opera house program. Local businesses and train lines closed down for the day.

 

Harold, the 3-year-old son of Conductor J. P. Powers, narrowly escaped being trampled when his new velocipede went out of control on a sidewalk, throwing him directly between the feet of E. C. Griswold’s horse. Miraculously, the horse stood completely still until the child was rescued.

 

June 8, 1906

Again, the Kaukauna High School sends forth to the world evidence of its good work in the form of a class of graduates. The class which this year bears testimony to the efficiency of our local educational institution is sixteen in number — seven young ladies and nine young men into the world's broad field of labor.

 

ENGLISH SCIENTIFIC COURSE.

FANNIE KNOLL      RALPH HARTLEY

WALTER GRAY      F. ITZLYL SOLAR

MARK WEBSTER HAYES

GERMAN COURSE.

ROSE M. GILLEN      MARY KELSO

MARGARET M. HAIGHT.

MODERN CLASSICAL COURSE

HAROLD FORD TANNER      RAYMOND J. DONAHUE.

HIRAM LOUIS KREBS       LEO CURTIN

OSCAR T. THOMPSON       E. CECELIA LINDSTROM

ANNA B. CORCORAN        MAY FAY ROOT

 

 

An older man who frequently appears in local justice courts swore out an assault warrant against his sister-in-law, who counter-sued him for abusive language. Both parties ultimately failed to show up for trial after agreeing to drop the charges and split the legal costs.

 

W. S. Mulford, a highly prosperous and prominent clothing merchant in Kaukauna for 18 years, surprised the community by putting his stock, business block, and home up for sale. He is moving to Peoria, Illinois, to take an interest in a larger manufacturing and retail clothing establishment.

 

Landlord H. C. Wishart officially changed the name of the Brothers Hotel to the "La Salle," honoring the 17th-century French explorer. The building has been completely redecorated with new paint, carpets, furniture, and updated kitchen equipment.

 

June 15, 1906

Wenzel Kabat was found guilty of having killed Michael McCarty, destroying the body by fire. The jury returned a verdict of guilty murder in the first degree at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, after being out exactly one hour and thirty-two minutes. A motion for a new trial was entered, and an adjournment was taken until Saturday, when the prisoner is expected to be sentenced.

 

A calf on the interurban track between Kaukauna and Wrightstown caused a great deal of amusement for the passengers on board. When the car overtook the animal, the motorman got off and put it off the track so the car could continue. Before progressing more than a block, however, the calf again took to the track and again the car was stopped. This ceremony was performed at least five times in a distance of two miles, delaying car about twenty-five minutes.

 

Grand View Hotel landlord George Mulholland and Conductor Peterson enjoyed a highly successful fishing outing on the north branch of the Oconto River. They brought back a string of over 200 brook trout for hotel guests, despite being nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes.

 

June 22, 1906

The Menasha baseball team came down for a rematch game loaded to the brim with confidence and hope and brought with them upwards of three or four hundred people determined to make Kaukauna look stale. The Kaukauna’s gave the pail factory lads a severe thumping, 6-0.

 

June 29, 1906

 

Kaukauna is fast becoming a city of cement walks. Nothing speaks so well for a city as good streets and sidewalks, and in this respect, Kaukauna is not surpassed by many cities of its size in the state.

 

Time Machine Trip to June 1896

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen HAHS

June 5, 1896

A fast freight on the Chicago & Northwestern broke in two Wednesday morning near Wrightstown. The front section stopped at the depot upon discovering the break and before it could again get underway the hind section came around the curve at a terrific speed and crashed into the forward section. Five cars were destroyed carrying away half the depot. No one was injured.

 

Chicago, June 3 – All the workmen employed at the Illinois Steel company here went on strike Tuesday afternoon. The troubles grew out of the employment of colored labor and demand an increase in pay for the white men at work.

 

The Times admonishes all Kaukaunaites to be on their guard against crooks, pickpockets, sneak thieves and fakers next week. On Thursday next the circus will be in town and it is certain the town will fill with strangers, so it behooves everyone to watch their wallets and put an extra bar on the door.

 

June 12, 1896

 

Herman Kiekhafer was seriously injured at the shops last Wednesday by the falling of a tackle block. He was struck in the head, cutting a large gash in his forehead.

 

At a meeting of the common council last week a curfew ordinance was introduced which prohibits children from loitering around the streets at night. It is made unlawful for any person less than fifteen years of age to be upon any street at night after 9 o’clock from March 1 to August 1 unless being accompanied by a parent or guardian.

 

The game at the ballpark last Saturday afternoon between the Chicago Maroons and Kaukauna was a mighty poor exhibition of ball playing. The Maroons won by a score of 15 to 4. The locals were lazy, careless; butter fingered and did not seem to have any ginger in them at all.  Kaukauna should have won easily.

 

A Kaukauna Irishman expresses the opinion that if this bicycle craze continues to grow as it has been growing, we shall all be smothered soon, for the reason that all the air will be pumped into the tires.

 

The inter-urban franchise was passed by the Kaukauna common council last night. The whole community appeared to be in favor of the measure, and the aldermen found it out.

 

June 19, 1896

 

A new cash register is being introduced by a western firm. The purchase price is $27.21.

 

The class of ’93, Kaukauna High school, has received a medal and diploma from the World’s Columbian Commissioners, for the exhibit sent by them to the World’s fair, which consisted of a number of crude articles for the study of physics made by members of the class. The document has been framed and will be hung on the walls of the high school.

 

Bicycle factories about the country are laying off hundreds of their employees, the demand no longer meets the supply. Prices have dropped from $100 to $80 this year and next season will undoubtedly bring forth another cut.

 

John Wolf, an employee of the railroad shops, lost his month's wages-$35.00 last Wednesday while on his way to the bank.  Finder will be presented with $5.00 and many thanks from Mr. Wolf.

 

June 26, 1896

It is quite amusing to see the children start for home evening when the curfew rings. At the tap of the bell, they scatter for the streets in all directions.

 

A Texas gentleman has denominated the bicycle “a dromedary for the dudes and the nurse of a crook-necked generation. The southern probably tried one of the unruly steeds and failed to keep his mount.

 

On Sunday next Rev. John Gibson will preach his farewell sermons at the south side Congregational church. He will be leaving for Washburn where he assumes the pastorate of the Congregational church. Coming here five years ago he found but a missionary chapel with a few scattered members at Sunday services. It took a short time for his work to prove effective and the congregation commenced to increase rapidly. Soon it became evident that a larger edifice would be needed. With the help of the congregation a new church was constructed in 1894 on the south side property.

 

                       OLD                                                          NEW

 

    

 

                             

Time Machine Trip to June 1886

 This Trip is sponsored by:

 Look Back in Time

Antiques and Collectables

112 E. 2^nd St.

Kaukauna, Wi 54130

920-759-1985   

Kaukauna Times

By Lyke Hansen HAHS

 

June 4, 1886

Rain would be of incalculable value to farmers at the present time, and unless it falls in the near future, considerable damage will be done to the crops. This spring has been exceptionally drier than any in the past fifteen years. Many crops are beyond recovery.

 

A pretty good scheme for unloading pulp wood from a barge was instituted by the manufactories on the Meade & Edward's canal last week. The plan was to dump the wood into the river above the dam and the current would carry it directly to its destination. Several loads have been delivered this way without the loss of one stick.

 

What started as a joke nearly ended in a funeral. A group of local young men from Kaukauna were hanging out when one of them, as a prank, threw a large stone at a young man named Patrick J. Collins. The stone struck Collins square in the forehead, knocking him completely unconscious and fracturing his skull. The paper notes grimly that while the act was "done in sport," Collins' life hangs in the balance, and it serves as a warning against dangerous horseplay.

 

June 11, 1886.

Col. Frambach now holds the reins over the finest driving and best matched team in the county; Col. Frambach recently acquired Prince, a chestnut gelding, from Appleton, which he will mate with his brown gelding Ned. The pair will make one of the finest teams in the state.

The first official reception under the new regime was held at the White House on the 15^th. A brilliant gathering assembled to do honor President Grover Cleveland and his wife. 

 

June 18, 1886

 

The Evelyn passed through here about twelve o'clock last Sunday with an excursion party from Neenah to DePere. The boat was well loaded. Quite a number from this city took advantage of the low rates and made the trip.

 

In a classic 1886 neighborhood disruption, a cow belonging to local resident Henry Nooyen broke loose and decided to explore South Kaukauna. The cow ran rampant through the streets, tearing through private gardens and knocking down fences. A small crowd of citizens spent a significant portion of their afternoon chasing the animal down, providing quite a bit of free entertainment for neighbors watching from their porches before it was finally cornered.

 

A horse hitched to a delivery wagon took flight near the corner of Crooks Avenue and Second Street and bolted at full speed. The runaway horse dashed wildly through the business district, dragging the heavy wagon behind it. Spectators scrambled for safety as it narrowly missed several pedestrians and other carriages before the wagon finally collided with a hitching post, bringing the chaotic chase to a sudden, splintering halt.

 

June 25, 1886

On Wednesday morning the first load of stone for the new Methodist Church was placed in the ground by Geo. F. Kelso.  The preliminaries have been arranged, and the work will be pushed with vigor until the new house of worship is ready for occupancy.

 

Chas. Newman, the proud proprietor of the popular "O.K." Barber Shop, officially moved his business into a new, much larger room on Second Street. To celebrate the grand opening and accommodate his growing clientele, Newman installed a luxury feature for the era: a brand-new, first-class pool table in the back room for patrons to use while waiting their turn for a shave or a haircut.

 

Chicago is not yet a comfortable place for pedestrians. A copper bomb operated by clock work was found recently by the police under the sidewalk. A hole beneath a sidewalk seems to be a favorite place for the concealment of bombs. Most people in Chicago are beginning to take to the middle of the street.

The police of Boston were notified that an old woman named Kitty Murphy was dying of starvation.  A police wagon was sent and found her covered with filth and clothed in rags tied together with twine. She was taken to the stationhouse where she said she had not eaten in three days and begged for food. She was given some food and when she was searched, it was discovered she had $500 fastened to the inside of her rags. 

 

Now here is a nut for the workingmen to crack. Recent estimates indicate that the income of preachers is about $600 a year, and a lawyers is $650, while even newspaper men only make about $700. Many workingmen receive wages ranging from $12 to $20 a week and they are not expected to support half as much style as the preachers, the editors or the lawyers.