Time Machine Trip to May 1954

Kaukauna Times – May 1954

By Lyle Hansen

 

May 7, 1954

Kaukauna’s new $7,425 Cadillac ambulance arrived in the city at 1:45 a.m. Thursday morning, according to William Haupt, Fire Chief, who drove the new vehicle from Bellefontaine, Ohio, where it was purchased.

Kaukauna is in the midst of a home building boom according to statics released this week by the officer of the City Engineer. During the past two weeks eight new home building permits amounting to an estimated cost of $66,900. In all 28 new home permits were issued in the past year.

Kaukauna Klubber Baseball team will go into action here on Sunday afternoon against the Harrison nine. Manager Earl “Jug” Girard expects the Klubbers will have a very successful season. 

May 12, 1954

The Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company of Kaukauna announced this week that starting this year a grant of $500 per year scholarship fund to one member of the Kaukauna High School class will be awarded.

May 19, 1954

Marching bands from around the area swing down the Lawe Street bridge as part of the American Legion spring district conference held in Kaukauna this year.

 

 

 

The Kaukauna High School band will present its 1954 Spring Concert tonight at the Civic Auditorium.  Band director Elwood Bleick looks on as band members Robert Krueger, Irma Vande Yacht and Joyce Jacobson practice.

This week the new Coonen's Shell Station was opened on the corner of Lawe Street and Wisconsin. It is truly the brightest corner in town and open 24 hours a day.

Bert W. Fargo, who left Kaukauna last week to make his home on the west coast, has had a great influence in the changing of this community.  He served as mayor here during the bleakest years of the depression in 1930 to 1934. He played on the first Kaukauna high school football team. He would for 42 years be the proprietor of Fargo’s furniture store in this city.

The Annual Poppy Day sales started this morning on the streets of Kaukauna. With the women of Poat 41 American Legion Auxiliary acting as salesmen. Karen Hostettler made the first sale of the campaign to Mayor Joseph Bayorgeon. Shown left to right standing are Mrs. Gerold Arnoldussen, Mrs. Stuart Black, and Mrs. Fred DePatie. 

May 21, 1954

The 1954 Prom King and Queen and their court. Shown left to right are Andy Whittaker, freshman, Tom Niesen and Celine Ryan seniors, Queen Lois Frank, King John Van Zeeland, Jean Sachs, Daniel Maes, sophomores, and Rita Van Der Loop freshman.

The City of Kaukauna was treated to a rare treat when a near total eclipse of the sun occurred last Tuesday morning At 5:08 a.m. 95 percent of the sun could not be seen because of the passing of the moon between it and the earth.

May 26, 1954

Paul E. Little, builder of championship football teams at Kaukauna High School for 16 years, and principal since 1945, died Friday at the age of 51. Funeral services were held Monday at the Kaukauna Civic Auditorium. The auditorium was filled with a great number of visitors who turned out to pay their last respects. Pallbearers were Mayor Joseph Bayorgeon, Superintendent of Schools, T.H. Boebel, Asher Shorey, a former Kaukauna teacher and coach, Glen Miller, Kaukauna sports figure now with the Chicago White Sox organization, Carl Giordana and Karl Kobussen, former athletes of Little's. The high school chorus attended as a group and sang "Praise be the Lord," under the direction of Adrian P. McGrath. Miss Sharon Goldin sang "The Lord's Prayer." Following the rites, Mr. Little's body was taken to Ripon for burial at the Hillside Cemetery there.

 

May 28, 1954

Dedication and blessing of the cornerstone of Holy Cross school and convent will be this Sunday afternoon. The Rev. Stanislaus V. Bona bishop of the Green Bay diocese will be celebrant at the ceremonies.

 

The new officers of the Park School PTA were introduced at the regular meeting held recently at the school. They are, from left to right, Mrs. Kenneth Nimmer, Wallace Mooney and Mrs. Guy Krumm.

The winners of the Wednesday night Ladies’ bowling league Left to right back row are Lauretta Carlson, Mary Kraft, and Joan Nytes. The front row are Jeanne Van Asten, Phil Skalmusky and Florence Beahm.

Winners of the Friday Night Ladies league at the S&B are standing left to right Rita DeBruin, Tillie Vissers, and Ella Van Wychen. Seated are Helen Dix, Larraine Heilman and Marion Lambie.

The winners of the Thursday Night Ladies league this year are back row Mrs. Ann Nieling, Mrs. Martha DeBruin, Mrs. Betty Hansen and Mrs. Betty Nimmer. Seated is Mrs. Gert DeBroux. 

Champions of the Knights of Columbus league are seated Henry Minkebige and Father Anthony Baier. Standing are Norman Wiegman, George Lehman, Allie Mayer, Walter Rutten, and Jerry Lamers.