From Our Early Files
25 YEARS AGO
Sept. 14, 1995
Upwards of a thousand people helped Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church celebrate its 125 anniversary Sunday. An estimated 500 worshippers crowded the church’s sanctuary in the morning for a special festival service. A couple hundred more attended an informal service in the afternoon and in between, the church served a catered meal to nearly 600 members, guests and the general public.
The city of Whitehall property owners will get free street numbers for their homes, apartments and businesses — whether they want them or not. The city council voted to adopt an ordinance that will require installation of house and business numbers being provided by Trempealeau County. The signs are part of the renumbering project instituted in conjunction with the county’s 911 emergency telephone system.
If you were to ask Jim Auer what meant the most to him he would undoubtedly say his wife and family and the youth of Arcadia. Auer and his wife, Clarina, are the owners and proprietors of Jimbo’s Pizza, Subs & Stuff located on Main St. in Arcadia. The Arcadia native maintains that he is very excited about owning and operating a new business in his hometown. He is trying to create a place where the youth in Arcadia can call their own.
A car operated by Theodosia Motszko, Arcadia, struck. Fire hydrant at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Friday. Clara Marx, Arcadia, was a passenger in Motzko’s car and was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital after the crash. She was treated and released.
The city of Galesville should drill its new well this fall without waiting for word on a grant that may not come until winter. That was the advice engineering consultants gave the Galesville city council’s utility committee Monday. The cost of the well, to be located on the north side of the city, is estimated at just over $106,000.
The citizen committee appointed by Mayor Terry Collins to consider possible uses for the old Gale College site has held its first meeting. The group quickly organized itself as the Gale College Historic Advisory Board, decided to hold its next meeting at the historic site on Sept. 20 and indicated its desire to preserve the cultural heritage of what it called the first public university in the state, while offering city residents every opportunity to express their views on what the city should do with the historic property it purchased this summer.
A spring survey showed that some Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau’s junior and senior high school students engage in what are considered at-risk behaviors at about the same rate as other students. The report prompted a high school guidance counselor to conclude that the G-E-T students aren’t a lot different than their counterparts. But it also prompted one school board member to comment “It’s scary, isn’t it?”
The 57th annual Blair Cheese Festival will begin this week when the coronation of Miss Blair and her court kick of festivities Thursday night.
Can you pull a rabbit out of your hat? Do you love to sing and know all of the actions of your favorite performer? Maybe you sound a lot like John Wayne, George Bush or Daffy Duck. Whatever your specialty, we want you to enter the talent/variety contest at Cheese Fest.
Blair and business owner David Stetzer has been chosen as parade marshal for the 1995 Blair Cheese Festival. He will lead Sunday afternoon’s grand parade beginning at 1:30 p.m. from Park Road through the streets of downtown Blair.
50 YEARS AGO
Sept. 17, 1970
On Tuesday’s primary ballot, a write-in campaign by Democrat Henry Gamroth failed to qualify him for the November general election, and only incumbent Republican Stanley Amundson will appear on the ballot for sheriff.
Lee Weeks is the new manager of the Shell Oil station at Main and Scranton streets. He succeeds Richard Foss, who is now employed at the Pontiac garage here.
Lorraine Blank, who has spent her summers in Whitehall the past 15 years while teaching in the Milwaukee schools, has retired and will reside here permanently.
Don Sokolosky scored a pair of touchdowns, and Mike Miller kicked a field goal, as the Indees beat the Norsemen 15-6 Friday. Whitehall’s score came on a pass from Mike Burkart to Jeff Dahl.
Kingo Andow, Arcadia photographer, won a blue ribbon at the regional meeting of the Indianhead Professional Photographers Association with a natural color portrait of Nancy Kube, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wilber Kube of Arcadia.
Syliva Jeldres of Santiago, Chile, will be studying in Arcadia for one year. He is the house guest of Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Byom.
Pehler Trucking of Arcadia won the Arcadia Trap League with a season total of 885 points. Team members are Bernard Wicka, Rich Kulas, Adrian Pehler, Fred Hoesley, Jim Wicka, Bill Jereszek and Francis Pehler. The season high average was won by Ray Walters with a score of 208 followed by Miles Hulberg, 206 and Jim Wicka, 204.
Bonnie Knutson, Welch Coulee, observed his birthday with relatives and friends and a cake with 80 candles.
There will be 19 girls seeking the crown in the Miss Blair contest.
Blair Festival began in 1938 when the Blair businessmen joined the high school vocational department in forming the school exhibit and community fair, which is now called the Blair Cheese Festival.
75 YEARS AGO
Sept. 13, 1945
All teaching positions are now filled in Trempealeau County for the term which opened Sept. 3, according to Miss Dorris Sander, county superintendent. But of the 86 rural and state graded teachers, 44 are teaching on permits and do not come up to the qualifications specified by the state department of education, lacking at least two years of training. However, with the teacher shortage brought on by the war, Miss Sander feels fortunate even in securing enough instructors.
The Trempealeau County whooping cough vaccination program will be completed next week, with clinics scheduled in eight cities and villages.
Ten children have enrolled in the kindergarten of the Whitehall school this year, taught by Miss Belle Sutton. They are Gerald Foss, Donald Foth, Quinn Holtan, Delores Klebig, Judith Larson, John Lovelien, Astrid Thomte, Michael Warner, Paula Ann Wochos and Thomas Huitfeldt.
C.G. Vogt, Arcadia businessman and former Green Bay and Western Railroad station agent here, is on relief duty at the local station while A.B. Erickson is on vacation. The Ericksons are on an outing in northern Wisconsin and Minnesota, in the fully-equipped trailer house they recently purchased.
Mrs. June Ellis, Whitehall, has been engaged as a stenographer in the office of Lon Tubbs, Trempealeau County veteran’s officer.
By shooting a flashing 32 to set a tournament record of two under par on the local course, Hiram Hegge won the 1945 championship of the Whitehall Golf Club Sunday. Twenty men participated in the 27-hole tournament.
Edward Hulberg was back in Arcadia for a 30-day furlough with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hulberg, and his wife and son, Ronnie.
The fifth meeting of the Upper Eagle Valley Hustlers 4-H club was at the home of Henry Krackow. Entry blanks were filled out for those members who planned to show animals at the county fair this year.
Brig General Ralph M. Immell, a Blair native, adjutant general of Wisconsin nominated by President Truman for promotion to Major General.
Odell Nyens Model A Ford, which was parked caught fire as it backfired igniting gas from the sediment bulb that had sprung a leak. A store fire extinguisher put it out.
100 YEARS AGO
Sept. 16, 1920
Sunday morning about eight o’clock, when Jailer Haugh went in to carry breakfast to Pete Pawelke, he was struck on the head with a leg taken from a stool, and thrown off his guard just long enough for the criminal to make his escape, in spite of Mrs. Haugh’s attempts to hold him as she came to the assistance of her husband. During the day, men and boys scoured the hills and woods, but the culprit was either in hiding or taking “leg bail” at a rapid rate. E.P. Senogales of Mauston, who tracks criminals with the aid of a bloodhound, was brought in, but the dog lost the scent on the highway between here and Blair, where an automobile evidently picked up Pawelke, who had become notorious by his connection with the Blair robbery of July 23. Rumors are afloat that strangers, with a high-powered Hudson car, have been camping in Vosse Coulee for several days, and these are now connected with the escape.
Miss Beatrice Hager was presented with a purse of $8 by Rev. Clough at the Sunday service, a small contribution from members and others for services as organist.
The county clerk’s office resembles a freight house in one respect. The metal tags which must be attached to every deer shot have been received in sufficient supply to allow hunters to comply with the law. The tags resemble the railroad car door seal.
A.T. Senneff is suffering from an injury to his back, received in a fall from a straw stack.
Joel Haugh has received $36 from the Woodman Accident Co. for injuries received while playing ball this summer.
125 YEARS AGO
Sept. 12, 1895
Contractors Foley and Connelly finished the waterworks Monday, and spent Tuesday and yesterday trying to pump up water, but for some unknown reason the pumps refused to work. An examination of the system was made to ascertain and repair the defects, and pumping was begun this morning.
The village school opened Monday with 109 students enrolled, 39 in the highest department, 28 in the intermediate and 42 in the primary.
The building formerly occupied by I.H. Ecker is being prepared for occupancy by the post office. Mr. Ecker has removed to the old school house building.
West Daggett moved from his farm to the village last week, and will reside with W.G. Fuller.
Whitehall Day at the Arcadia fair last Thursday was a success, between 50 and 75 from here attending.
Mrs. P.P. Overby gave birth to a child Monday night, which died last evening, followed by her death this morning. Mr. Overby has the public sympathy in his great affliction.
The ice cream social by the ladies of the Baptist church at Mrs. R. Allen’s Friday evening was a success, despite the cold weather.
Pigeon Falls -- Another lot of young ladies started off for school lately, namely: Miss Anna Christopherson returned to the ladies’ seminary at Red Wing; Miss Hulda Ekern to the McAlister college at St. Paul; and Miss Julia Lewis to Gale College, Galesville.
Pigeon Falls -- The concert and dance at Skaarstad’s Hall last Saturday evening had a small attendance.
Elk Creek -- Services were held in the Presbyterian church in Pleasant Valley last Sunday for the first time.
