Time Machine Trip to November 1916

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

 

November 2, 1916

Members of labor unions were asked to check their invitations for a Republican rally happening on Saturday night for a union label. One union member remarked that while speakers would likely appeal to working men and comment on the Adamson law, the organizers used a non-shop without a union label. Nevertheless, he noted this wouldn't stop politicians from making standard promises to support labor interests.

 

A fruit and jelly shower hosted by the ladies of the Social Union on Thursday afternoon at the home of Mrs. G. W. Fargo for the Deaconess Hospital in Green Bay received a generous response from the women of Kaukauna, who donated a large quantity of canned fruits, jellies, and preserves. The box containing these collected delicacies was shipped out today.

 

November 9, 1916

The north-side river road between Kimberly and Appleton, which remained closed all summer during the construction of the new concrete county highway, reopened to traffic last Saturday. However, motorists were advised to continue using the old south-side route via Kimberly until the road past Ballard Road leading into Appleton is repaired. While the new concrete roadway from the Kimberly bridge to the Ballard Road intersection is a splendid highway comparable to the "speedway" between Appleton and Menasha, the unpaved old road beyond its western end was in poor condition. At least a dozen automobiles got stuck in the mud there last Sunday, providing local farmers with a profitable business pulling stranded motorists out.

 

Rising living costs impacted funeral expenses, prompting liverymen and undertakers across Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, and Kaukauna to raise their rates. Following a recent meeting of eight area liverymen, prices for funeral carriages increased: hearses rose from $6.00 to $7.00, hacks from $3.50 to $4.50, and single carriages from $1.50 to $2.00. Business owners attributed these increases to higher wages and expensive horse feed, joking that individuals might prefer facing the high cost of living rather than the cost of dying.

 

U.S. Naturalization Examiner Martin J. Kilsdonk visited Kaukauna to discuss establishing a local night school for foreign-born residents who lacked educational opportunities in their home countries. Supported by the U.S. Naturalization Bureau, Kilsdonk met with Superintendent of Schools L. G. Schussmann and local school board members. The proposed evening classes would run two to three nights per week during the winter, taught by certified local instructors, with tuition offered free of charge and funded by the city.

 

Amid intense competition within the automobile manufacturing industry, the Willys-Overland Company of Toledo, Ohio, secured top honors for the fourth consecutive year at the upcoming New York and Chicago auto shows.

 

November 16, 1916

Last Sunday night, four chickens occupied a cell in the Kaukauna police station right next to the cells holding the men who stole them from L. E. Vandenberg’s building on Wisconsin Avenue. Officer McFadden arrested the culprits, Joseph Rausch and Anton Kroll, after discovering each man carrying two chickens under his overcoat. On Monday, Rausch paid a fine and costs totaling $10.25 while Kroll was expected to appear in court and pay a similar amount.

 

On Tuesday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed the previous decision favoring the defendants in the case of Samuel Connell versus the Kaukauna Gas, Electric Light and Power Company, the City of Kaukauna, and the Citizens Trust and Savings Company. In September 1915, Judge Fowler of the Fond du Lac Circuit Court had ruled in favor of the city, upholding its argument that the $45,000 paid for the electric light plant went to the proper parties—the Citizens Trust and Savings Company. While a motion for a rehearing before the supreme court remained possible, little hope was placed in it.

 

Twenty-four individuals joined the population of United States citizens in circuit court when twenty-four aliens were admitted to citizenship.

 

William Van Lieshout hosted his brother John Van Lieshout and brother-in-law John Schartz of Chicago for a rabbit hunt. With William acting as guide, the trio bagged sixty-nine rabbits over three days in the town of Maine among the brush-covered bottoms and fields along the Shiocton and Wolf rivers.

 

A team of horses working for the Wilson Lumber Co. and driven by Raymond Juneau bolted and ran away on Wednesday, colliding with a telephone pole in front of the Grand View Hotel on the corner of 2nd street and Main. The animals and wagon were stopped just short of crashing through the hotel's large plate glass window when a bystander easily caught them. The wagon, horses, and harness sustained only minor damage.

 

November 23, 1916

Arnold C. Otto, a former Kaukauna High School student and K. H. S. football player, was admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of the United States, making him likely the youngest attorney to receive the honor. The 29-year-old practices in Milwaukee, where he was elected to the assembly representing the eighteenth district.

 

The U.S. Mint released a new ten-cent coin design featuring "In God We Trust" and "E Pluribus Unum," along with a left-facing head of Liberty and a new reverse design.

 

Attorney Dennison Wheelock of Oneida attended the disbursement of a $120,000 settlement fund paid in Keshena to the Stockbridge Indians regarding their government claim. Wheelock received a 10 percent legal fee for representing the claimants.

 

FOX CLUB BASKETBALL Team Left to right: Ben Bell, Gold Lindauer, Ed. Haas, Gordon Mulholland, Leo Nagan, Gus Lindauer, Bill Hass, Mgr. Norb Rennicke.

The Fox Club opened its basketball season, preparing for upcoming competition following a successful previous year. Most home games are scheduled to take place at the Auditorium.

 

November 30, 1916

 

Following the re-election of Robert Marion LaFollette to the United States Senate on November 7, a unique election bet will be settled this evening at 7:30 o'clock. John Corcoran will wheel M. H. Niesen in a wheelbarrow from the Hotel LaSalle to the Corcoran place on Third Street, south side. Landlord Niesen's journey southward will be accompanied by a torch-light procession and music from a drum corp.

 

Dr. C. G. Maes narrowly escaped serious injury Saturday afternoon when his Ford coupe overturned along Kimberly Road. He was travelling at a slow rate of speed when the car skidded off the road and turned onto its side in a ditch. Dr. Maes was uninjured, and the vehicle sustained no damage other than a broken window.

 

Time Machine Trip to November 1906

 

Kaukauna Times - November 1906

By Lyle Hansen

 

November 2, 1906

The thief who had such an abnormal appetite for chicken, and who played havoc among H. A. Knitter's young chickens, Wednesday night of last week, has as last been caught red-handed. The thief, in shape of a large black mink, was discovered Friday morning by Mr. Knitter, living under the sidewalk watching the one remaining chicken. The owner of the chicken procured his shot gun and quickly dispatched the thief. It is a fine pelt and more than pays for the loss of the chickens.

 

The party of hunters from here, who spent ten days at Tustin, near Lake Poygan, returned home Sunday evening. They brought back a nice string of ducks—to verify their statement—some seventy.

 

With every ounce of power, they were able to exert, and with quite an advantage of weight, the Kaukauna High football team defeated Manitowoc 83-0. As play progressed, the boys adapted the slogan "everybody make a touchdown" and it almost seemed that this would come true, but the last half was cut down to fifteen minutes by request of the visitors to return on an early train, or the total score would have been run up over 100. No less than four of Kaukauna's touchdowns were made by the new play, the forward pass, in which the local boys have become quite proficient.

 

Joseph J. McCarthy of Kaukauna is candidate for county treasurer on Republican ticket.

John Coppes of Kaukauna is candidate for county treasure on Democrat ticket.

 

November 9, 1906

Those who went from here in the 'bus to the dance at Van Abel's hall at Hollandtown, Tuesday night, had quite an experience on the way out. About two miles this side of Hollandtown, there is quite a high culvert to cross. The culvert has no siding and the driver, misjudging the road, drove so near the edge that one wheel slipped down. The strain was so great that the tug broke but fortunately the vehicle did not go over. All were compelled to dismount in the mud while the 'bus was pulled up into the road, and outside of the tugs being broken and the driver losing his hat, no damage was done. They arrived a little late but safe and sound at the hall.

 

Dennison Wheelock of the Oneida reservation will go to Washington shortly for the purpose of securing, if possible, the passage of a law modifying the restrictions now making the sale and transfer of reservation lands both difficult and unprofitable and certainly most unsatisfactory.

 

The scarcity of help in nearly all lines of work is not confined alone to the Fox river valley but seems to be general throughout the country. Work in many lines is handicapped seriously by insufficient forces of employes.

 

A muskrat made things lively in the north side post office one day last week. He ascended the stairs leading from the basement and was making a circuit of the room when sight was caught of him. Attracted by the pandemonium, Postmaster Watson soon appeared on the scene and dispatched the rodent.

 

November 16, 1906

A dispatch from Kaukauna Friday morning effectually puts at rest all the stories in regard to the removal of the shops of the Ashland division of the Chicago & Northwestern to some other city. It was thought that Manitowoc, Sheboygan or Green Bay had bright prospects of securing the industry but the news in the dispatch sends all of our hopes glimmering. — Manitowoc Daily Tribune.

 

The value of the balloon for the exploration of the upper atmosphere has long been recognized, and in France at least, under the direction of M Hermite, a series of experiments were carried out which proved to be not only interesting but of the first importance. Of course, these exploring balloons carried no passengers, and one reached the unprecedented altitude of ten miles.

 

John Heintz, an employe of the Combined Locks paper mill, had his hand and arm badly lacerated in a roll at 1:30 o'clock this morning. The accident was due to his having missed his footing while carrying a piece of shafting.

 

Ed. Younger, a member of the famous Jesse James band, passed through Kaukauna this week on his way to Joplin, Mo. Younger's body is literally covered with scars. A large scar adorns his right cheek and on the back of his head is a mark of some sheriff's aim. Younger was sentenced to prison for life but after serving twenty-five years in the Minnesota penitentiary was released two years ago on parole.

 

November 23, 1906

 

The shipping of deer from the northern woods this week has interfered with the schedule of passenger trains. Nearly all the south bound trains that took on venison arrived here an hour or more late, due to loading and unloading. A fireman who runs into Monico Junction said that he saw 85 deer transferred from one train to another Tuesday. The largest shipment brought down on any one train arrived at Appleton Junction Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock, the baggage car containing 121 carcasses. All of them had to be transferred to No. 16 on the Wisconsin division and this operation delayed the train about one hour and fifteen minutes.

 

One of the High School girls had the misfortune to lose her hat in the canal while crossing Lawe Street Bridge. Fortunately, it landed close to the bank and was afterward returned to her by a schoolmate. A few moments later her brother's hat sailed over the railing and was lost in the main channel of the river.

 

                         Mother’s Love

 

     Laughing out front of the Post Office

 

November 30, 1906

Local switchmen of the North-Western Road received notice of a raise of four cents an hour, the change taking effect Thursday. The difference each month will mean considerable as the men work ten hours a day and frequently work overtime. Without extra time the raise means $12 per month. Operators all along the line have also received an increase.

 

It is with a feeling of pity that we chronicle the fact that a Kaukauna mother—having four small children purchased a bottle of carbolic acid at a local drug store and went to an Appleton hotel with the intention of ending her life. The prompt action of Marshal Conlon Monday night prevented the woman from carrying out her intention as she had already arranged for her room when her plans to take her life were forestalled. It is hoped that this estranged couple will become reconciled and that on the morrow they will have something to be thankful for.

 

The Marinette Eagle-Star tells of the remarkable shot of E. C. Eastman of that city, a former Kaukauna attorney. Mr. Eastman was a member of a party of hunters who had just left the hunting grounds at Walton and were aboard the train when Mr. Eastman saw a deer standing alongside the railroad track. Although the train was going at a good rate of speed, he fired his rifle through the window and wounded the deer so badly that it was only able to run a short distance. The train crew then backed up the train, and the deer was taken aboard.

 

W. Doxtator, an Oneida Indian who recently located at DePere, having come there from Canada, was arrested by Deputy Marshal Zimdars at the request of Sheriff A. G. Koch, who took the prisoner to Appleton. Doxtator is charged with practicing medicine without a license.

 

 

 

 

Time Machine Trip to November 1896

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

November 6, 1896

The great battle is over; the Republicans have swept the country, and on the 4th of next March William McKinley will take his seat in the presiding chair of this nation and the banner of protection, prosperity and sound money will once more float at the nations masthead. 

 

No sooner was the news of McKinley's election received here, than the mills started to blow their whistles to let the workingman know that the wheels of industry would commence to start again the next day.

 

The elections smoke of battle has cleared away, but the smoke of the victor’s cigars has taken its place.

Our silver dollar will buy two of Mexico's common everyday pieces of bullion.

 

 

A terrible accident occurred Monday afternoon at Combined Locks whereby a brakeman of the Ashland division of Northwestern Road lost his life. When the train reached Kaukauna John Clancy was missing. The train then ran back to the Locks on the sidetrack the mangled remains of the man where found. The decease resides in Antigo where he leaves a wife and four children.

   

Kaukauna High School at 100%. That is still the percentage of our football team. Tuesday, they won their fourth match game at Neenah by a score of 28 to 6. Our 11 went to Neenah on the 11:52 passenger train and returned on the 8:05 with colors flying and great enthusiasm.

 

November 13, 1896

The Supreme Court recently ruled that Kaukauna cannot have a water works system under the franchise granted a couple years ago to Wells, Reichert & Co. What new steps will be taken in this matter is not yet known.

 

Appleton is advertising for bids on the large new schoolhouse. This will undoubtedly be the case here soon, the Supreme Court having settled the ownership of the piece of property known as Lawe’s Park, which was purchased several years ago by the North side district as a school site.

 

Humane agent Wilkie's annual report for the year ending November 27 shows a total of 864 cases attended to, 342 of which were cruelty to persons and 522 cruelty to animals.

 

The heavy snowstorm that set in the next day after election put a damper on all the Republican joyful blowouts and in consequence the cities around here have not had an opportunity to celebrate.

 

The County workhouse is pronounced finished, having cost $1850 and $150 for the land total $2000. A high fence must be built and a 500-foot sewer constructed along with a barn and out houses.

       

November 20, 1896

It was pay day in Kaukauna this week for the employees of the Chicago and Northwestern railways, and for the first time in many months the men received gold for their checks at the First National Bank. Gold coins have been quite a scarcity in the tills for some time but now that the money question has been decided in the recent election the yellow money has come out of hiding.

 

The north side school board will hold a meeting within a few days to take some action relative to the building of the proposed new schoolhouse on the property known as Lawe's Park.

 

The senior girls came down to schools Saturday afternoon with their kitchen aprons and scrubbing brushes and as a result our new laboratory looks considerably better. 

 

For the first time in many months every paper and pulp mill in Kaukauna is running at full capacity by water power. Even the pulp Mills on the Meade and Edwards canal have plenty of water now

 

 Columbus Miss., - Mins Collier, a Negro, attempted an assault upon Miss Tilly Vaughan, a respectable white woman, living about 12 miles east of this city. Collier had a preliminary trial and was held at a store in charge of the constables. Monday night a mob of over 100 men overpowered these officers and Tuesday morning Collier’s body was found dangling from a limb of a nearby tree

 

 Marshall Jule Kuehn 

The first business taken up Tuesday morning at the County board was the election of an overseer to the new county tramp house. 14 applications were filed for the position, Marshall Kuehn being one of several from Kaukauna. Marshall Jule Kuehn was chosen for the position.  The salary for the position was fixed at $2400 per year, out of that amount Mr. Kuehn will have to furnish all the supplies for the workhouse including lighting, heating, bedding, necessary clothing and board for the prisoners.

 

November 27, 1896

The schools at Menasha have closed until after the holidays to prevent the spreading of diphtheria, a large number of cases being reported in that city.

 

The apportionment of high school funds by the state has been completed for this year. Kaukauna will receive $265.95.

 

Thousands of Americans, reading of the brilliant success of Helen Keller on passing the entrance examination of Harvard University, had made an effort to realize the achievements of this most wonderful girl of 16.   They have recalled that she is deaf and dumb and blind and that she has been so since her childhood. She had lived for many years in an abyss of darkness and silence and loneliness.

 

                                          Fifty legs – One Bicycle

 

Tim O'Brien had his nose bitten off in a fight at Green Bay but doctors are making him a new one out of flesh from his arms.

 

The fifth trophy has been added to our football player’s belt. It was last Saturday they succeeded in defeating DePere 18 to 0.

 

The new 300-horsepower Corliss engine, just added to Kaukauna Fiber Company’s plant, was started up for the first time Tuesday. With this new engine and a second digester which has just been added the output of the plant is raised to about 11 tons of Sulphite fiber per day.

 

All rights and titles of the central Wisconsin electric Railway Company of Oshkosh were sold by the Sheriff for $3076 last Saturday. The company was organized three years ago to build a line in Oshkosh and an inter-urban line from there to Kaukauna.

 

 

Pretty Salvation Army Maids

Time Machine Trip to November 1886

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

 

November 5, 1886

The question of druggist’s license has been brought to a practical issue during the past week, by the arrest of two Kaukauna druggists, charged with selling intoxicating liquors contrary to law. Druggist Mertes was brought up and pleading guilty was fined the usual amount and costs. Druggist Kellogg was arrested last Monday but was discharged for want of sufficient evidence. Justice Simons deciding “no cause of action,” and charged the costs to the city.

 

Geronimo and his murderous gang started from San Antonio, Tex., on October 22nd by railroad for Fort Pickens, Fla. They were guarded by an escort of forty infantrymen, The Women will be sent to Fort Marion, Florida.

 

Out of over 800 voters registered in this city there were only 625 votes polled. This light vote - considering the fine weather which prevailed throughout the day - was a surprise to all.

New York, Oct. 28 – The rainstorm which prevailed all day yesterday but the weather this morning is very unpromising for the festivities which are to take place in connection with the inauguration of the Barholdi’s Statue of Liberty. A slight fog hangs over the city and obscures in measure the elaborate decorations of buildings. French and American flags are flying from house tops and windows in every direction, and a general holiday appearance is presented by moving bodies of soldiers. Visitors from all sections of the country have been coming into the city for two days past, and this morning thousands were added to the great throng. 

  

Returns received from about the state up to an early hour on the morning of the 3rd indicate that Gov. Rusk has been re-elected by a probable majority of 20,000.

 

Constable Keef, of Little Chute arrested one man on Election Day for using abusive language and managed to quiet the fellow’s tongue by keeping him locked up until the polls were closed. 

 

November 12, 1886

A group of about 20 young people from South Kaukauna took a 10:00 PM train to attend a dance party in Brillion. They had a lively time, danced all night, and returned home at 6:00 AM the following morning.

 

The Island Opera House has undergone improvements, including plastering, interior finishing, an enlarged stage, and complete sets of scenery and curtains. Manager Hayes is preparing for a first-class troupe to officially open the renovated venue

 

A new stone lock will be built at the "cedars" just above Little Chute this winter. This will give employment to a large number of workmen and will probably make it unusually lively at the "Chute" during the lone winter evenings.

 

The snowstorm on Saturday was the beginning of winter. It created a great demand for stoves and the hardware men are happy.

 

One man living in the city has recently ordered the discontinuance of The TIMES to his address, giving as the reason that this paper did not give sufficient support to his favorite candidates, that one paper in Kaukauna was enough, that the people here were democrats and all they wanted was a democratic paper. Words cannot express our admiration for this man, his broad and liberal views in political matters. He has been a resident of Kaukauna little more than a year, and the place he left to come here must still be suffering from his conspicuous absence and mammoth intellect.

 

November 19, 1886

Winnipeg, Man.,– A plasterer named Shules, who contemplated leaving this city for the old country, recently sold his wife and five children to a man for $70. A regular legal agreement was drawn up between the two men, and the property was formally transferred. The police are investigating the matter.

 

A commentary on a labor strike at the Chicago stockyards notes that 15,000 workers earning an average of $2.00 per day have voluntarily stopped working. The piece argues that the strike causes $30,000 in daily lost wages and criticizes union leaders for encouraging strikes.

 

The discovery of bituminous coal near Dundas has created excitement, with locals hoping for a major boost to Kaukauna’s economy. A group—including John Hoberg, D. J. Brothers, Dan Crowe, and Dan Curtin—has leased the Ballard farm to explore the vein, which was struck at a depth of 20 feet. Rumors of natural gas and petroleum are also circulating, driving up interest and land speculation in the area.

 

November 26, 1886

The Rev. Father Hens of Grandlec, Kewaunee Co., has been appointed to take charge of the South Kaukauna Catholic Church, and entered upon his duties this week.

 

The Misses Grignon hosted friends for an evening of progressive euchre at their home. Mr. Geo. F. Butler and Miss Maggie Grignon won the first prize, while Mr. John Watson and Miss Emma Grignon received the "booby" prizes.

 

The question of making the salary of police officers large enough to abolish the payment of fees for the arrest of tramps, vagrants etc, has been discussed considerably during the past two weeks by the authorities of Kaukauna and Appleton.

 

New York, Nov. 22 – The last night of the loving watch beside the home of Gen. Chester Alan Arthur, ex-President of the United States has passed.  The morning dawned brightly on the closed shutters of the house and the black crape at the door were the only sign that deaths sickle has been busy within.