Time Machine Trip to July 1916

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen KAHS

 

July 6, 1916

The strike at two Appleton pulp mills has escalated into conflicts between pickets and police. Laborers allege unnecessary police violence, including an assault on union leader, Burke and Alexander St. John—rumored to be a Pinkerton detective involved in the paper industry's eight-hour movement. St. John as filed a $10,000 lawsuit against Chief of Police Garvey, claiming the chief struck him.

 

At midnight on Monday, Otto Luedtke, Michael Kortz, Otto Kloehn, and Joseph Paulisch were injured at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Lawe Street. Immediately after purchasing two boxes containing 144 fireworks torpedoes each, one package was dropped. The resulting explosion detonated the second package carried under a man's arm, setting off 273 of the 288 torpedoes and embedding gravel filling into the men's bodies and faces.

 

Jacob Lang, a local grocer on Wisconsin Avenue, has been selected by Congressman Konop to become the new north side postmaster. He will succeed John C. Mitchell, whose term expires on July 23.

 

People living miles around Kaukauna have noticed a brilliant new light in the sky this week, with some mistaking it for a brand new star. The phenomenon is actually a large electric light installed by the electrical department on top of the high smoke stack of the old boiler house next to the power plant. The high-altitude light serves to mark the location of Kaukauna from a long distance away.

 

Madison—Over 2,500 state teachers will receive special state aid under a bonus law passed during the last legislative session. The amount of extra monthly pay depends on consecutive years taught in the same district: $2 a month for the second year, $4 a month for the third year, and $8 a month for four or more consecutive years. A small portion of each recipient's bonus will be allocated to the teachers' pension fund.

 

July 14, 1916

 

On the Island. View twelve good entertainments $1.50.

  

 

The Thilmany Pulp and Paper Co. paid every man in their employ a bonus of 10% on their total wages earned over the past six months, dating back to January 1, 1916. On July 10th, this advance was distributed to their 300 employees in addition to their regular wages. Based on an average wage scale of $60.00 per month, the total aggregate payout exceeded $1,100.00 for the half-year. This generous move has successfully kept their large crew of trained employees satisfied and, on the job, contrasting with other local employers currently suffering from disruptive labor strikes and production delays while trying to fill urgent orders.

 

July 21, 1916

 

SAN ANTONIO, Texas—Recent developments lead army officers to believe that the troops from Wisconsin will no doubt remain in the south for three or four months, even if there is no trouble. The Wisconsin troops have received their full equipment and none of the boys will have to sleep with the ants any longer, as all now have cots. The Badger soldiers held a celebration when they learned that regular bread was to be served in place of the usual army hardtack.

 

Nicholas Lom and John Van Dyke of Little Chute killed a sturgeon Sunday that weighed 118 pounds and measured seven feet in length. It was killed near the Little Chute dam.

 

Max Lemke is erecting a good-sized enclosure on his lot on Lawe street next to the Van Lieshout garage, opposite his place of business, wherein he will establish a fox kennel and endeavor to breed some black foxes. Mr. Lemke has half a dozen young foxes which were recently captured near here with which he will start his pen. He has also purchased a male black fox from John Micekalski of Pulaski which he will add to the kennel for breeding.

 

July 28, 1916

 

Aloysius Verfurth went to Milwaukee last week and returned on Saturday bringing back a new seven-passenger Mitchell auto, for which the Verfurth Co. have taken the local agency.

 

John Langendyk, about 30 years of age, a resident of Little Chute, was drowned last Friday evening in Lake Winnebago about two miles below Waverly. Mr. Langendyk had gone out to the lake with a party of others from Little Chute to spend the evening bathing and boating.