Time Machine Trip to March 1926

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

Kaukauna Area Historical Society 

March 4, 1926

 

What’ll “Babe” Ruth do this season?  Reports from training camp say the “Babe” is rapidly fine tuning his “home run eye” and getting ready for the start of season next month.

 

Wage earners in this country earn more, live better, have more recreation and yet save more money than workers of any other country. Including skilled and unskilled labor, the daily pay of the American workman is approximately that of the weekly pay of the English workman. England is regarded as the most tightly unionized country in the world but with 1.5 million not working. Unions in the United States have done much to raise the standards of pay and living conditions with unemployment now under 2 percent. 

 

The Little Chute High School basketball team was defeated at Hortonville on Friday evening by the score of 21 to 11. A large delegation from Little Chute accompanied the team.

 

Lots of snow is having a strenuous effect on mail carriers getting the mail to you. Autos of course are out of the question. If you are in a rural area you could help by breaking in the road in your area and to your neighbors.

 

The storm of last Thursday interfered with the high school attendance. Some of the students were able to get through on the railroad. Some remained in the city over the weekend.

 

Pounding the maples for a new team record for Kaukauna alleys the Hilgenberg Alley five walloped the Hoppy Weiner squad of Appleton in the Fox River Valley league match.

 

Hilgenberg Alley

Brandt…… 636

Maul………695

Graf ………557

Evens …….573

Hilgenberg .551

                 -------

 Total         3011

 

Hoppy’s Weiners

Total          2758

 

March 11, 1926

Troop 1 of Kaukauna, Boy Scouts of America, who recently reorganized under the scout leader Elmer Ott, held their first meeting this year in the high school building.

Eleven candidates from Kaukauna for the summer Citizens Military Training Camp work have signed up thus far according to report from Olin G. Dryer, county committeeman. This is a very good showing for the entire Outagamie County has a quota of but 28. Of the eleven boys signed up one is Gilbert St. Mitchell, who has seen two years in the camps and will be enrolled in an advanced course. The other members enrolled are Fay Possem, Norbert Noie, Herbert Haas, Joseph Bayorgeon, Leonard Macrorie, Raymond Smith, Leon Stein and Sylvester Lehrer.

 

One of the most disastrous fires in years, with a total loss exceeding $12,000 destroyed the Yellow Front shoe store on 2nd Street in early Sunday morning blaze. Sam Swerdlow, owner of the store, and his family who live in the apartment on the second floor of the building were roused Sunday evening by a passerby who noticed smoke pouring from the burning structure. The loss will exceed $1.000.

Phil Zwick, well-known local boxer, is continuing his winning ways in Florida rings and is making hosts of friends among the southern ring followers by his ability to please the customers of the rope arena. In his third bout in the southern clime, Zwick won the decision over Gary Allen, a Jacksonville boy.

March 18, 1926

School Notes - Reynold Hopfensperger won the spelling contest last Friday morning. The 7th and 8th grade girls finished their poem called “We Girls”. Dorothy Zulegar is back in school after being sick for some time.

  

       Robert Radsch               Dorothy Haass 

Senior grades of the Kaukauna High School were announced Thursday and gave Robert Radsch with an average of 95.03, the high mark. Mr. Radsch will be valedictorian of the class. Dorothy Haass with an average of 94.28 took second honors and will be salutatorian.

 

March 25, 1926

 

One of Kaukauna's older hotels, most recently named Hotel Kaukauna, will take a new name soon, since a change in ownership has taken place. The hotel will be known as the Congress Hotel in the future. A letter from H.B. Tanner. “I noticed you're about to celebrate the opening of the remodeled redecorated and renamed Hotel Congress. Perhaps that would be interesting if we turn back the pages of history 31 years, to the ceremony observed at the time the original hotel was open, which was to be exact on the evening of December 20th, 1894. The hotel had been christened “Hotel Brothers”.

 

The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad has announced its intention to support the Boys and Girls Club work which has for a number of years past been such prominent factors in improving farming and livestock raising throughout the country. The railroad will give as a prize 100 free trips to the annual livestock show at Chicago.

Hank Minkebige, one of Kaukauna’s premier keglers with a count of 629, copped first place in Wisconsin State Knights of Columbus bowling tournament held in Green Bay. Cliff Brandt, another local pin splitter, came through in second place with an individual event with a count of 625 which net him a sum of prize money.

 

 

Following a search that lasted from about 10:15 in the morning, David Edmund Haas, three-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Haas, East 10th St. was recovered from Hoebner’s creek about 7 o'clock Tuesday evening. His mother, missing him, sought aid from the neighbors in locating the child, and finally at about noon an organized search was instituted by the police department. Many townspeople join the search.

At last, the poor pedestrian is to come into his own. Seeing he can’t afford to buy a car; he may soon be able to buy a pair of power roller skates.

Time Machine Trip to March 1916

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

Kaukauna historical Society
 

March 3, 1916

Kaukauna hunters will no doubt be interested in the following special news item to the Times from Washington D.C. Under federal regulations as they now stand the season for all migratory wildflower is closed until next autumn throughout the United States. Federal wardens are required to protect wild fowl and requested to report to the Department of Agriculture all cases of violation of the regulation.

 

The Wenzel children have not been taken to Sparta is planned by the local authorities through the order of the court. Since their commitment by Judge Spencer last week three of the children have been given homes with two families near Appleton according to the Appleton Post. Thanks to kindhearted people living in the city, good homes have been found.

 

About twenty men employed as section hands by the Northwestern railroad here are sharing in the recent increase in wages granted. The increase in wages is from 15c to 16 1/2c an hour.

 

Mayor C. E. Raught, who was elected last April to fill out the unexpired term of John Coppes, who had resigned, on Monday declaring his intention of being a candidate for the full term of two years at the spring election.  

 

Edward Riley of Detroit walked into the home of his sister on East Fifth street the other day to put a stop to his own funeral. His weeping relatives at first stared. Then followed embraces, and the body and a man killed in an automobile accident in Detroit sent here as that of Riley was removed to an undertaker's parlor. Riley declares that the strangers whose burial as him came so near happening was Fred Ellis, a derelict, who he had gave his old coat not long ago.

 

March 9, 1916

 

General Poncho Villa ordered nearly 500 Mexican members of his revolutionary group to make cross-border attacks against, New Mexico. The raid was conducted because of the U.S.  Government’s official recognition of the Carranza regime and for the loss of lives in battle due to defective bullets purchased from the United States. They attacked a detachment of the 13^th Cavalry Regiment United States, seizing 100 horses and mules, and setting part of the town on fire. 18 Americans and about 80 Villa’s were killed.

 

 Last Saturday night the Kaukauna high school girls’ basketball team won a fast-interesting game from the London high school girls by the score of 10-4.

 Gertrude Gerharz

Ursula Mitchell

Margaret Lambie

Sophie McCroirie

Hulda Peterson

Catherine Kittel

Claribel Black

Dorothy Hiting

Gladys Schmidt

Roberta Corcoran

Clara Hoolohan

Blanch Williams

The Oneida Indians are going to make an attempt to recover a large sum of money from the government and if they are successful, will receive about $400,000. O. J. Kellogg of Washington, a white man, husband of Laura Cornelius of the well-known family name of the Oneida reservation was here last week and while here he secured a contract from the Indians to make a final statement with the government for a settlement. 

 

F. W. Woelz, the Wisconsin Ave. Baker, will inherit part of the $12 million estate of his great grandfather, Christian Combe de la Porte. If the effects are being made by the heirs are successful. Mr. Woelz will come into a portion of the big fortune by the fact that his mother is a de la Porte and a Granddaughter of man.

 

A large shipment of the spring hats will be in the display next Saturday at Mrs. Gerend’s spring millinery opening.

 

March 16, 1916

The Ketwatchee Campfire Girls from Kaukauna have been making up a Baby Kit of many useful things, which if not used in our own New York charities for Baby Welfare, will probably be sent abroad.

 

The prospects are that Kaukauna is again to have another prosperous season in the building industry, as there are already four or five houses almost assured on the north side on Margaret St. and Diedrich streets.

 

The Fox Club basketball team has added two more scalps to the collections dangling at its belt. Last Friday night they defeated Hortonville 23 to 12 and last night at the auditorium they defeated Saint Mary's team of Menasha by the score of 16 to 8.

 

Washington, March 15th - The house by a vote of 236 to 1 adopted a resolution authorizing the president to bring the regular army up to war strength at once. The war department decided that it must bring the army up to full strength at once because of the Mexican situation.

 

Without a minute's debate, the Outagamie County board Saturday morning voted 24 to 12 to appropriate $18,000 for the construction of a much-needed new building for the Teacher’s Training school in Kaukauna.

 

The purpose of the blue slip plan at Kaukauna high school is to secure good order and spirit of work necessary to accomplish the purposes of this school. Because of the overcrowded conditions it is further necessary to express a more rigid discipline than would be necessary under other conditions. Lack of elbow room has always been an increasing temptation for disorder. After considering the matter from all sides the faculty decided to put the slip plan into operation, and this is what was done. Whenever a student is out of order, breaks regulations of the school or conducts himself contrary to the good order and welfare of the school, the teacher writes out a slip stating the name of the student, the time, place, date and nature of the offense, signs it and files it in the office. Here the slips are catalog so that a student may know how many slips he has at any time and know the parameters concerning each slip when the student has five slips, he's immediately notified by the principal to an effect that this is a warning. Then you have three more are handed in the student is suspended from classes for a period of two days  

 

March 24, 1916

 

Notice is hereby given that the old Lutheran church, northside Kaukauna, is for sale and that bids for the same will be received up to March 30th, 1916. The successful bidder has required to move the building and all rubbish created by the removal.

 

March 31, 1916

William Van Dyke, close a deal this week for the sale of the Vaudette theater on the south side to Frank Ellsworth of Green Bay, who takes possession April 1st and will continue the business.

 

The union papermakers of the Fox River valley will ask the manufacturers to grant an 8-hour day, 3 shifts of eight hours each for the mill men, instead of the present shifts of eleven and thirteen hours.

 

Ludwig Dentzner of Kaukauna, who came to Wisconsin from Bavaria, just before the European war broke out and who last fall came here where he is employed as a laborer. He is the only one of his fifteen brothers who has not been compelled to go to the firing line for his fatherland. Two of his brothers have been killed fighting the Russians on the eastern border one of them is his twin brother.

Time Machine Trip to March 1906

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

Kaukauna Historical Society

March 2, 1906

The City Brewery of the north side has been sold by Peter Helf to John Regenfuss, consideration of $8,300. The property transferred   includes   the brewery, malt house, dry kiln, and two cottage residences, occupying the corner of Desnoyer and Tobacnoir Streets, four lots in all. The new proprietor has been connected with the Walters Brewing company at Menasha for a number of years and is quite well versed in the business. Extensive improvements will be made to the plant.

 

The regular spring Kermess at Little Chute was held Monday and Tuesday and was attended by the usual large crowd, all the neighboring cities being present.

 

The depth of a mother's love was shown at Appleton, Monday when Mrs. Joseph Kabat of Reedsville, visited her son Wenzel E Kabat, the alleged murderer of Michael M McCarthy at the county jail. The broken-hearted mother spent all day there with her son, the conversation was carried on and the Bohemian language the guards were unable to report the trend of the conversation. There is no dungeon too low or scaffold too high for mother’s love cannot reach.

 

 

According to a letter received at the office of the Chilton Times, the High Cliff property has been sold and will be improved. H. Caldwell, M. D., of Saint Louis, Missouri, states he negotiated the purchase of the High Cliff property for the sum of $12,000. The company which the doctor is connected will build a $20,000 hotel and sanitorium. They will also build a harbor and have docks and all the necessary boat landings.

 

March 9, 1906

M.A. Raught has leased the vacant room in the Central block building, formerly occupied by the Secker Bros. furniture store, and will run a first-class restaurant therein about the first of May. In addition to a choice line of confectionery, fruits, etc. a large ice cream parlor will be fitted up and a handsome soda fountain installed. Mr. Raught has not yet decided upon the full details of the new establishment but has assured the people of the city of an up-to-date restaurant in every respect.

 

A young man entered Cohan’s clothing store and told the proprietor he wished to buy a coat and a vest. He was having the desired articles and then having them on suddenly rushed out the establishment. Cohan shouted, “Stop the thief!” A policeman taking in the situation at a glance drew his revolver to fire at the fleeing culprit. Seeing this the proprietor rushed up to the officer and explained shoot him in the pants, the coat and vest are mine.

 

Miss Ida Enter of Seymour, a domestic who claims to have been duped by a man she consented to marry and was fleeced out of $100 in Minneapolis. She was in Appleton Wednesday in search of the man who also duped other girls. It is said that the man had obtained some of $100 to $300 from no less than six servant girls this past year.

 

March 16, 1906

Druggist F.M. Charlesworth is now the owner of two drug stores in this city, one on each side of the river, having purchased Dr. H. B. Tanner's pharmacy on Wednesday. Mr. Charlesworth will continue his north side store and also the newly acquired one, conducting the latter under the name of the Kaukauna Drug Co. The purchase of the south side store by F.M. Charlesworth brings it back into the possession of the one who established the store in Kaukauna, he having started the first drug store in the village of Ledyard upwards of a quarter of a century ago.

Rochester, N.Y. March 13th. Miss Susan B. Anthony is dead. The long and eventful life of the noted suffrage came to an end on Tuesday morning.

 

The Sun has called attention to the fact that half-hour cars at certain times of the day are necessary between this city and Appleton, but it appears that the Wisconsin Traction, Light, Heat and Power company are in the business for all there is in it, regardless of the comforts of the patrons. The editor of the Sun made the trip from Appleton to Kaukauna, Tuesday afternoon on a car leaving the county seat at 4:15 and had the pleasure of standing up the entire trip.

 

The basketball game between Kaukauna high school girls’ team and Menasha which was played at Heindel’s hall Friday evening proved a decided victory for the home team. Very few fouls were called and the excitement was intense. Kaukauna scored 20 points to the visitors 5. 

 

March 23, 1906

At a meeting at the office of Drs. Tanner and Donaldson on Friday night, local physicians decided to increase their fees on the first of April. After that date a day visit will cost $1.50 instead of $1.00 as heretofore. An ordinary night visit between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. will be $2.00. For all country work a rate of one dollar per mile will be charged. Confinement cases will range from $10.00 to $15.00. The minimum for office consultations will be fifty cents.

 

Something never heard of in this city took place on Sunday at the Kaukauna Gun Club shoot at which over 200 people were present. Gus Hilgenberg brought two birds in one shot. Hilgenberg made a clear square breaking the full number of 26 blue rocks at 25 shots. At the seventh shot somehow and throwing up two birds as is the custom they made flights slightly different angles and happened across each other in the course just at that moment the shot struck, breaking both birds to make in a record never known among sportsmen here.

 

March 30, 1906

J. L. Anderson, the Wisconsin Avenue grocer, will start a dollar from his store, to which has been attached a ring and a number of tags. The tags announce that the object is to demonstrate that a dollar spent at home will return to the original spender eventually, to be paid out again and again, and thus be kept in circulation among resident people, while a dollar spent abroad seldom, if ever, returns to the local channels of trade. Those who come into possession of this particular dollar are requested to write their name on one of the attached tags and spend it again the first time they have occasion to spend a dollar. The mission of this dollar is a worthy one and everyone who gets possession of it should assist in proving the advantage of trading at home by carefully following the instructions.

 

Commencing January 1st, 1907, the salary of the Catholic priest in the Green Bay diocese which had been $600 at the lowest will be $700.00. Parishes having from 200 to 300 families will pay their pastors at least $800.

 

The floating bridge at Kimberly was damaged by the wind, ice and water Thursday breaking in the center. Workmen have been busy since the accident repairing the structure and it will be sometime before usage to the mill will be able to continue.

 

Reverend Fathers Kuhlmann and Otten of St. Louis, or conducting mission at St. Mary's church, Kaukauna, commencing Sunday April 1st and continue one week. The mission will be in the German language on Sunday April 8th.

Time Machine Trip to March 1896

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

Kaukauna Historical Society

 

March 6, 1896

Nine hours now constitute a day's work at the shops, an extra hour having been added Monday. The employees now work until 5:30 p.m.

 

Oscar Thilmany attended the skat tournament at Appleton Wednesday evening and pulled down another trophy.

 

Barcelona, Spain – Indignation and hate against the United States seems to have taken possession of the heart of all Spain over the action of the United States senate in recognizing the provisional government of Cuba. A public demonstration of 15,000 people is protesting against the United States in Spain.

 

 The Appleton council has cut the salaries from $100 to $1 per animal for the ensuing year. The Crescent thinks the move will keep many from seeking the office who regard the position as a snap, thinking only of the $100 salary, needless to their ability to fill the office with satisfaction. The TIMES can inform the Crescent, however, that such is not the case just look at Kaukauna council for the salary is not even $1.00 per year. It’s the honor, don’t you know.

 

Indianapolis, Ind., - Commander-in-Chief Walker of the Grand Army of the Republic has made public that the Grand Army of the Republic shall not take any part in the celebration of the Fourth of July if it is arranged for war veterans of the north and the south to march together.

 

March 13, 1896

A head end collision occurred on the Ashland division near Tigerton last Tuesday afternoon, as a result engines 47 and 88 are in badly demoralized condition, together with several cars. Dan Hennessy was engineer and seems to be responsible for the wreck, his watch having stopped, thus throwing him off the time schedule. Both engine crews saw the inevitable in time to jump from the locomotives and escape with a hard shaking up.

 

The Badger Paper company and the Thilmany Paper company, having refused to pay the taxes leveled against their property for the year 1895 on the grounds of excessive assessed valuation by the city. City treasurer Faust posted notices last week to the effect that pulp wood and other material at the mills had been levied on by the city to be sold at public vendue to pay off the taxes. 

 

March 20, 1896

Farmers in the Wrightstown area have been missing fowl and other property over a period of time. Last Wednesday night three well-known local citizens were caught with the goods. A big crowd gathered, and a rope was produced. But if not for the common sense of a few men, the fellows would have been hanged.

 

At the government Indian school at Carlisle, Pa., the graduation of four students from the Oneida reservation took place recently. The names of the graduates are Herman Hill, James Wheelock, Miss Cynthia Webster and Miss Selia Cornelius.

  

Fort Scott, Ark., “Cherokee Bill” was hanged here Tuesday. He but 20 years old and been a member of the Bill Cook gang. Cherokee broke away from the gang and went on his own. He committed many robberies and not a few murders were laid at his door. 

 

Many of the lumber camps in northern Wisconsin and Michigan are breaking up and men are returning home from them.

 

The days of the old-fashioned slate for writing purposes seems to be counted, says an English exchange, and nobody will be sorry for it except those who hitherto manufacture them. The new substitute is made of paper, or rather a thick kind of parchment, from which writing on ink as well as lead pencil can easily erase with a wet sponge.

 

March 27, 1896

One of the large 3.500-pound pulp grinders at the Western Paper Bag Company's plant burst last Monday night. One of the pieces of stone passed downward tearing a large hole in the floor. No one was injured by the flying pieces.

 

A child playing with matches is not more dangerous than a politician playing with religion.

 

The Republican ticket for the coming offices of Kaukauna for 1896 was placed in nomination last evening. For mayor – Thomas Reese; for clerk – Charles B. Kraebs; for treasurer – F. J. Solar and for assessor - C.C. Green.

 

William F. Montgomery, a druggist of Appleton, is one of 300 heirs to the property of Alexander Montgomery, who died nearly 100 years ago leaving real estate covering 59 acres in the vicinity of Wall Street, New York, leased to a syndicate for a long time. At the time of his death his deeds and papers were lost and the claims for the heirs could not be proven. These papers have recently been found; it is claimed and established the title of to the heiress to the property valued at $300 million.

Time Machine Trip to March 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 & Kaukauna Sun

By Lyle Hansen KAHS

March 5, 1886

The prospect that Kaukauna will undergo a "boom" this coming summer is, indeed, flattering. Already arrangements have been inaugurated for a number of store buildings and something over a hundred dwellings of modern design will be constructed. The advancement made by Kaukauna during the past two years has been somewhat remarkable and we can reasonably expect that the summer of 1886 will be no exception to those of '84 and '85.

 

Indianapolis – A box car which had grain on the floor was invaded by a flock of goats. When some boys came by, they closed the door to the car.  The workers thought it to be empty, and it was shipped out. Upon arriving in Indianapolis, the door was opened and the goats scattered in the yard. The railroad workers gathered the goats only then discovered the joke.

 

Butler, Penn. – A man sent 25 cents to learn how to make $50 a week at home. He received the following printed slip; “Fish for fools as I do.”

 

Philadelphia Newspaper - Charles, I hear you are going to marry Miss Softly. Charming woman! Let me congratulate you on your good taste.

Ah, yes, but the fact is, I have broken off the match and am not going to marry anyone. Then let me congratulate you on your good sense.

 

Robinson Kemp was sentenced at Fort Smith, Ark., to be hanged on April 27^th for murder. On that same day seven others condemned for Indian Territory murders will be hanged.     

 

March 12, 1886

The political pot is not boiling as vigorously as might be expected, still there is enough being said to warn voters that election is approaching. The lack of candidates for the several city offices may be the result of the decrease in amount of salaries.

 

John J., of Little Chute, who advertised for a wife through the Times last week, is meeting with good success in the way of offers. A School Marm from Buchanan, who is 28 years of age and calls herself good looking, will try and make herself both useful and ornamental. She wishes to meet Johnny immediately.

 

The Kaukauna Sun, ever enduring to keep up with advanced processes, has just added to its already varied supply of material, several new and unique typefaces which will enable it to cope with the work turned out by any office in the state.

 

North Manchester, Ind. – A mob of 150 men went to the house of R.B. Swankin, who was accused of beating his wife and abusing his family. They ordered him to pack up and leave town. They then beat and horsewhipped him. He was escorted to the town limits given another whipping then told to skip and never return. 

 

The latest style hair dressing is called “sweet disorder.” It gives one the appearance of being blown through a tree top.

 

Texas – Two wretched looking tramps were brought up before the justice of peace. Addressing the worst looking one the justice asked: “Where do you live?” “Nowhere.” “And where do you live”, addressing the other. “I’ve got the room above him” he responded. 

 

New York City – Another case of a perfectly sane woman being shut up in a Lunatic asylum has been brought to light. The railroad, in an effort to procure the right of way through Staten Island, found that a certain track of land was the property of a young lady who was the inmate of an insane asylum. It became necessary to have her examined to see if she could make a contract. The results showed that she was not insane at all nor had she been. And yet she had been confined in this horrible prison for more than two years.

   

March 19, 1886

The Southside post office, which has heretofore been known as Ledyard, has been changed to South Kaukauna.

 

Batavia, N.Y. – A little newsboy started four years ago on a capital of five cents. He has supported himself in the meantime and now has $250 in a bank. He is an example to boys who infest bad places and complain they can find nothing to do but puff cigarettes and talk slang.

 

A large wolf which had been feeding on farmers’ sheep in the northwestern part of Racine County was killed by Anton Kruze north of the city. Between twenty and thirty sheep had been killed by the wolf.

 

March 26, 1886

 

Wisconsin Avenue is barely navigable for empty wagons.  The sidewalks, however, are a consolation to foot passengers.

 

Carrolton, Miss. – Fifty men rode into town and repaired to the courthouse where thirteen Negroes were waiting for a trial to begin. The white men walked into the court and shot ten of the Negroes dead and mortally wounded the other three. The Negroes were accused of the attempted assassination of a prominent citizen several weeks ago.

 

Montgomery – Al. – Jefferson Davis has promised to lay the cornerstone of a monument to Alabama soldiers about the last of April and to lecture for the monument fund on the capital grounds where he took the oath of office as president of the Southern confederacy. Thirty companies of Alabama militia will be present.

 

Philadelphia, Pa. – About twenty boys in a packinghouse gave the following written notice: “Boss, we’re de packing’ boys. We wants to work eight hours a day, an’ we wants four dollars a week, an’ if we don’t get it we won’t go to work, and dere’ll be trouble. Patsy Shea and others.”

 

Twin City News Rumor has it that Kaukauna is blessed with a genuine old-fashioned “Witch” capable of telling the past, present and future. Who says the age of prophecy is gone?