Thursday, July 2, 2026

Time Machine Trip to July 1886

This Trip is sponsored by:

 Look Back in Time

Antiques and Collectables

112 E. 2nd St.

Kaukauna, Wi 54130

920-759-1985  

  

Time Machine Trip to July 1886

By Lyle Hansen


July 2, 1886

D.C. Kelley has just finished moving a house for Mr. Jacobs, from Third Avenue to Third Street up a grade of seventeen feet and placed it on a good foundation without cracking a wall in the house. This week he is engaged in moving a barn on the outskirts of town a half mile and placing it on a stone wall nine and one-half feet high. Dan is the boy that can do a job in good shape.

 

Jos. Schomish of Appleton was arrested by Marshal Mulloy on a Tuesday evening for "fast driving" on the swing bridge. He was brought in directly before the active common council session and paid the standard $5 fine.

 

A statewide prohibitionist temperance lecture was scheduled at the local rink on Thursday evening. Due to zero attendance, the speaker paid for the rink rental and left to find a more appreciative audience rather than present to empty chairs.

 

July 9, 1886

Happy Birthday to the Kaukauna Sun which is one-year-old this week. The Sun is a bright and shining luminary of this prosperous and thriving little city.

 

Thomas Brown, age 96, living in Adirondacks, N.Y., raises his feeble voice to claim that he is the only living person who has talked to George Washington.

 

Black Hills, Dakota – A shooting in a bar left a man dying on the floor. Moments later a man rushed in with his gun drawn and orders the crowd back. “That sheriff is prompt,” remarked the stranger to the barkeeper.” “He isn’t the sheriff, that’s the sheriff over there playing poker. You don’t expect him to stop to make an arrest till the game is finished do you?

 

Kaukauna celebrated the Fourth of July with unusually hot, disagreeable weather instead of the typical rainstorm. A morning parade led by Marshal D. J. Brothers and Captain J. C. Van Niel (who wore a notable Holland military uniform) marched from city hall through local streets to Lawe's Park, with a larger portion continuing to Sulphur Spring Park.

 

Kaukauna, along with villages and cities nationwide, observed the 110th anniversary of American independence on Monday, which was declared a legal holiday by lawmakers.

 

Dr. Tanner sold his newly completed house on the northside to John Knight for a consideration of $500. Following the sale, the doctor plans to build a new residence on the southside of Kaukauna.


July 16, 1886



A band of gypsies passed through our city the latter part of last week, but not being allowed to pitch their tent here, they continued their wanderings with Appleton as their objective point.

 

A young woman in Providence, RI., was struck speechless while giggling. There is a warning in this to the great army of “gigglets” among our young girls.

 

Capt. Balteres arrived in Tombstone on the 13th. He states Geronimo and his band evaded the army and is now doubling back toward Arizona. On the 11th the Apaches had killed six Mexicans.

 

A horse took fright near the Lake Shore depot tracks, causing a serious runaway accident near The Sun office on a Wednesday. One of the two ladies in the vehicle was thrown out onto the bridge, receiving severe cuts and bruises to her face and body. The second lady managed to stay inside the vehicle until the frightened animal was safely caught near the rink by Johnie Flanigan, the newspaper's office boy.

 

July 23, 1886

John Corcoran has purchased the balance of the Old Catholic parochial schoolhouse, paying the sum of $50. He is now moving it to a lot he purchased recently and will change it over into a dwelling house.

 

The prospect of lighting the city with gas appears to be very good at this time. The city council, at their last meeting, passed an ordinance granting certain rights and privileges to a gas company.

 

Bullock County Ga. - At noon, on the 15th, Jake Brasswell, a colored man, who had brutally assaulted a little girl, was caught by a mob and given the choice of being burned or hanging himself. He was given a rope, and climbing a tree, he fastened the rope to a limb and to his neck and then jumped.

 

July 30, 1886

On Monday last, Wm. Buschman, a car repairer, was badly yet not fatally injured while engaged in backing up an ore car. The car tipped over while Buschman was beneath it. Fortunately, he was insured against accidents and will draw $7.50 per week until he recovers.

 

A pretty maiden fell overboard, and her lover leaned over the side of the boat as she rose to the surface and said: “Give me your hand.” “Please ask papa,” she said, as she sank for the second time.

 

After a long wait and much concern, some of Kaukauna's streets are finally being macadamized. Geo. Kelso was awarded the contracts for doing the work on the streets. Work has commenced on improving the condition of Wisconsin Avenue.

 

The Congregational church of North and South Kaukauna organized a picnic excursion to DePere and Green Bay. The excursion boat Evalyn was hired along with the South Kaukauna brass band. A picnic dinner was planned for DePere, with the fair buildings secured as a backup in case of rain.

                                 

The New Outagamie County Jail

 

Secretary Supervisor Thos. Reese shared the architectural plans and design cuts for the new Outagamie County jail to be built in Appleton. The core cell room, built by the Patent Rotary Jail Co. of Chicago, features a two-story circular iron structure containing 20 total cells. The entire mechanism rotates via a system of gears and cranks operated by the jailer, allowing prisoner management from a single stationary secure entrance with zero personal contact. The complete project is estimated to cost around $24,000.

 

 

Saturday, June 27, 2026

1976 Kaukauna Senior Class


 1976 Kaukauna Senior Class






























Time Machine Trip to June 1976






Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

June 1, 1976

Kristine "Tina" Klister a senior was awarded the top honor at class ceremonies with the Lang Trophy Eighteen students received awards and scholarships during last night's Class Night ceremonies.

 

Four members of the Kaukauna Ghosts baseball team were voted to the All-FVA team by conference coaches. Junior outfielder Perry Bovee (who led the team with a .382 batting average) and senior third baseman/pitcher Bryan Hacker earned first-team honors. Senior outfielder Mark Van Grinsven and junior infielder Klay Kress received honorable mentions.

 

Kaukauna Police Chief William Nagel issued a warning that officers will actively ticket drivers who fail to come to a complete stop at stop signs and red lights. Nagel noted that rolling stops have risen sharply.

ON A RECENT exploration through the 1,000 Islands area, two St. Mary School students Barry Sachs (left) and Tom Doering discovered the remains from an animal or animals thought to be cows or horses. The trip was undertaken as part of an environmental studies unit.

 

June 4, 1976

St. Mary's Parish Picnic: St. Mary's Parish will host a two-day picnic and auction this weekend, June 5 and 6, at La Follette Park on the city's south side.

 

The phone number "1776"—held by the Bernard Rolf family since 1948—was disconnected on Wednesday. The home, originally built in 1904 was sold to Ray Van Stiphout to settle the estate of Mrs. Bernard Rolfs, who passed away on April 14, 1976. The number was a fitting coincidence for the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial year.

 

St. Aloysius Parochial School will graduate 44 students during a 6:30 p.m. Mass on Friday, June 4, 1976. St. Mary’s will graduate 39 students.

 

June 8, 1976

John Brenzel of Milwaukee has been named the 1976 Rallymaster. The Kaukauna High School Alumni Association will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its reorganization at its annual Rally on June 19th at Van Abel's in Hollandtown. Brenzel is a member of the 30th anniversary class of 1946.

 

During recent fishing expedition on Poygan Lake near Fremont, Greg Hammen pulled out these two beauties within an hour of each other using a daredevil. The Northern he's holding measures 39½ inches and weighs 14¼ pounds. The other one is 32½ inches long and weighs nine pounds. A seventh grader at Electa Quinney School, Greg is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hammen. (Times Photo)

 

June 15, 1976

Federal funds requested in June 1974 have been approved for the design of a new lift span for Kaukauna's Wisconsin Ave. bridge. The federal grant covers 70% ($164,500) of the $208,243 total design cost, with the city of Kaukauna and Outagamie County splitting the remaining 30% by contributing $28,500 each.

 

The opening of the new million-dollar Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame has been postponed from July 1st to Monday, July 12th due to the late delivery of equipment. The year-round attraction will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., just in time to welcome the large crowds arriving for the Packers' opening practice on July 8th.

TOURNEY WINNERS. The St. Mary's girls basketball team recently won the eight team St. Al's Tournament defeating Hollandtown in the finals. Team members are; first row, (from left), Kay Hopfensperger, Jackie Haen, Maria Meyerhofer, Doris Van De Loo, Lisa Bayorgeon, Brenda Coenen, and Amy Carnot. Second row, Lori Mullen, Donna Simon, Helen Garcia, Mary Schroeder, Lori Hietpas and Donna Van De Loo. Third row, Lisa Peebles, Ann Meulemans, Mary Bloy, Lisa Dieger, Joyce Birschbach and Sue Gerhartz. (Times Photo)

 

June 22, 1976

Plans to build a Highway 55 expressway on Kaukauna's west side a project on the books since 1962 was effectively halted. Following an hour-and-a-half public hearing filled with resident opposition, the Board of Public Works voted 5-3 on Monday night to remove the transit corridor from the official city map.

 

Dave Trittin, the new owner of the Kaukauna Super Valu store located at 401 Lawe Street. He recently moved to the area from Stevens Point and has 20 years of experience in the food business.

 

Kaukauna police officers recovered a stolen truck, as well as a cash register and a heavily rusted safe which was pulled from the Fox River in Appleton. The safe had been stolen two years ago from the Grill Restaurant in Kaukauna.

 

IT TOOK Jake Van Linn (left) and Al Van Wychen 37 minutes to land this 18½ pound carp which they caught on the Fox River behind the Thilmany Mill offices last Monday. The line broke when the boys had the fish within three feet of shore, so Van Linn jumped into about two feet of water and threw the fish up on the rocks. Van Wychen also caught a two-pound sheepshead. (Times Photo)

 

June 24, 1976

 

Three Kaukauna Boxing Club representatives are tentatively scheduled to fight tonight in the National Junior Olympic Championships. Fighters: Jim Effa (100 lbs), and Joe Berg (132 lbs) Rick Biesterveld (90 lbs), Matches start at 7:00 p.m. at the Van Dyke Gymnasium on the St. Norbert College campus in De Pere.

 

June 29, 1976

Pat Jeffery of Kaukauna became one of the first 157 women accepted as "doolies" (first-year cadets) at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. She is part of a total incoming class of 1,600 fourth classmen. Prior to her appointment, Sgt. Jeffery spent two and a half years on active duty with the Air Force.

 

VARSITY TENNIS. Members of the KHS varsity tennis team this year. front row from left, Pete Kobin, Tom Conis and Lance Driessen. Back row, Dan Jansen, John Koch, Rob Geenen and Jeff Rennicke.

 

 

Sons to:

Patrick and Lois Jones  

Gerald and Adele Romenesko

David and Patricia Vergruggen

Donald and Kathleen Peterson

Curtis and Monique Whitcomb

Daniel and Linda Blajeski

David and Kathleen Buchinger

Gary and Mary Gast

Thomas and Jenny Ver Voort

Michael and Carol Funk

Mike and Carol Farrell,

Charles and Karen Janssen,

Gordon and Mary Ellen Gremore

Jerome and Mary Derks

Charles and Jo Ann Hillman,

Michael and Belinda Kandler,

Carl and Sharon Theunis,

Michael and Shirley Mayer

Dennis and Linda Peterson,

Roger and Lynn Hooyman

Richard and Linda Schroeder

 

Daughters to:

Stephen and Jessica Hietpas

Steven and Linda Lamers

John and Betty Pogrant

Richard and Shirley Merkes,

Stephen and Lynn Weigman

John and Susan Legun

Terrance and Colleen Sebora

James and Lois Coenen

Michael and Kathleen Glasheen

Gerald and Joyce Diedrich

William and Suzanne Bassett

William and Donna Schiefelbein

Marvin and Louise Brockman

Elmer and Judith Van Dyke,

Randall and Carol Servin

Harvey and Carla Luebben

Ray and Susan Kortz

Douglas and Cindy Schultz,

William and Margaret Johnson

Roy and Sue Kortz

Ronald and Mary Vander Velden

James and Carol Stewart

Guy and Elizabeth Senso

 

Edward Goldens to Mark

           Golden Anniversary

 
           Mr. and Mrs. Edward Golden