Kaukauna Time Machine Trip

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen KAHS

July 1, 1926

The Kimberly bridge over the Fox River has officially reopened to traffic on Monday after its span was severely damaged by an April windstorm. A large crew worked through the weekend—briefly closing boat traffic—to finish the project.

 

Tiger Bill" Smith is lining up the city's youth for summer playground sports. Following a highly successful turnout last year, attendance is expected to be larger than ever under his supervision.

 

On Wednesday afternoon shortly after 3 o'clock, two unmasked men carrying revolvers executed a daylight robbery at a bank in Dale, escaping with approximately $3,800.  Bank President Henry Schultheis and a clerk, Miss Viola Bock, were ordered to give up the money. They were locked inside the vault while the thieves calmly left. The pair freed themselves using a screwdriver and flashlight kept in the vault for emergencies.

 

 

Hundreds of visitors from across the United States traveled to attend the massive three-day Homecoming celebration hosted by St. Mary's church. Guest registrations at the grounds' booth showed a wide representation of different states, beginning with listings from Wisconsin.

 

Vampire Car Strikes Girl - Five-year-old Marie Vander Heiden, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Vander Heiden north of Wrightstown about 10 am Saturday morning. She died roughly eight hours after being struck by a speeding hit-and-run driver.

 

On July 10th, the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Kaukauna celebrated 15 years of business. Founded by a progressive group of local farmers, laborers, and businessmen, the institution now boasts over 3,000 depositors and total deposits exceeding $660,000. The bank originally opened on Main Avenue in a small building with just two employees. It has since relocated to the Central block, one of the city's finest structures.

 

July 18, 1926

Motorist Sees Kaukauna as a Friendly City. "The Right of Way," an automotive column in the Sunday Milwaukee Journal, highly complimented Kaukauna for its welcoming approach to tourists.  Unlike most towns that post aggressive "hardboiled" 10- or 15-mile speed limit threats, Kaukauna's incoming placard reads: "Kaukauna—A Friendly City. We Rely on Motorists' Judgment."  The columnist argued that drivers are far more likely to naturally slow down when treated with good humor and respect, whereas threatening signs only breed resentment and drive tourist business to neighboring towns.

 

At a Wednesday Kaukauna Rotary Club luncheon, Frank Charlesworth, Jr. requested a committee be formed to help the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) acquire a proper grave marker for Captain Hendrick Aupaumut who was a Native American Revolutionary War hero and one of only twelve Revolutionary soldiers buried in Wisconsin.

 

Dr. H. B. Tanner, a well-known former resident and two-term mayor of Kaukauna who now resides in Eastland, Texas, returned to the city for a two-day visit. Dr. Tanner remains active in politics and has accepted the Republican nomination for Congress in the 17th congressional district of Texas.

 

July 22, 1926

 

San Diego, Calif., sets a parking time limit on horsed as well as on automobiles.

 

Zwick mauled and ripped Johnny Dunn of Pittsburgh to a clean-cut decision in an eight-round go at Cleveland Tuesday night before a large crowd of rabid fight fans. Perhaps the biggest news of the recent sports season was the success of Kaukauna's Phil Zwick in the boxing ring. Week after week, fight after fight, the Kaukauna ring artist added one victory after another in putting together an outstanding record.

 

The local police department received multiple complaints regarding local youths swimming completely "devoid of bathing suits." The skinny-dipping occurred at the third and fourth locks, as well as the old dock at Tourist Park.

 

Mrs. Augusta Feldt passed away at her home on a Friday morning at 6:00 AM. Her death comes just three weeks after the passing of her husband, August Feldt.

 

July 27, 1926

 

Thomas H. Ryan, attorney for the village of Little Chute, suggested that a referee be appointed in the suit of the village of Little Chute against the government, to restrain the United States government from bringing criminal action against them. The action of the village was taken when the government threatened to bring criminal proceedings against Little Chute because of the village's alleged neglect to comply with the order of the war department commanding it to raise the level of the drawbridge over the Fox river. The village in its answer states that the county and government are responsible, the former because of the highway which crosses the bridge, and the latter because it owns the canal over which the span is built.