From Our Early Files Dec. 2, 2021
25 YEARS AGO
December 26, 1996
It appears that Trempealeau County will be getting a zoning ordinance covering metallic mining that is much more stringent than the present codes. The county board of supervisors’ zoning and land records committee held its third meeting on revisions to the ordinance last week. Another meeting is to be held next month and final action on the revised ordinance is expected sometime early next year.
A Mukwonago hunter who angered area residents by shooting a rare white deer came away empty handed after all. Phillip Bowey will be a bit lighter in the pocket, too. Bowey was cited last week for failure to validate or attach the carcass tag hunters are required to put on deer they have killed. Bowey shot the deer on the opening weekend of the Nov. 23-30 gun deer season on land that he leases in the town of Arcadia. The animal had been a favorite among area residents and deer watchers. Because the deer was spotted, the DNR investigation determined it was fair game. The investigation also revealed that Bowey failed to properly tag the animal. In addition to a $476 fine, Bowey has lost the deer, an unusual and possibly valuable trophy. The carcass was seized by DNR wardens after the citation was issued.
Whitehall School District residents who sought to revive the agriculture program at Whitehall High School got a ray of hope Thursday. The district school board voted to hire Melinda Bohlinger as half-time agriculture instructor. The hire marks a step forward for area farmers, agribusinessmen and others who began pushing to rebuild the ag program about a year ago.
Officials at Ashley Furniture Industries recently donated 31 smoked turkeys to families in Trempealeau County who were victims of domestic abuse.
The students at Arcadia Catholic School were surprised and amazed at what they saw when they came to school on Monday morning. The students saw two large plastic tubs with red bows on them, the tubs were full of many different types of toys that were donated to the school.
50 YEARS AGO
December 30, 1971
Rev. Richard Kelling, new associate pastor at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, will be installed at both services Sunday morning. Rev. Kelling, a native of Menomonie, has served as a chaplain with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, working primarily with juveniles.
Local organizations spread Christmas cheer to the community recently. The Women’s Study Club sponsored their annual mitten tree, the Happy Homemakers and Music Study Club caroled at Dahl’s Rest Home and for shut-ins in private homes, and the ladies of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church provided gift boxes to residents of the county hospital.
Dr. William Burnap, Arcadia, was recently elected to a four-year term on the executive board of the Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association. Burnap will represent District VII composed of nine counties.
Gary Dorn, Milwaukee, escaped injury in an early Christmas morning accident near the old Penny School on Highway 95 was he was on his way to spend the holiday at the home of his parents in Glencoe. According to Arcadia Chief of Police Edward Kaiser, who investigated for the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, Dorn’s car hit an icy spot on the highway as it rounded a curve, made a half roll and half turn and flipped on its top.
The winners of the Galesville Lions Club’s Home Lighting Contest for Christmas were: Dale Updike, religion category; Ray Anderson, general. The home of Duane Hoff, not in the contest because it is outside the city, was cited by the judges because it was very attractively decorated. Hoff’s home is in Crystal Valley.
75 YEARS AGO
December 26, 1946
F.H. Bly of Spring Valley, Minn., was in Whitehall Tuesday and purchased five acres of land from Philip Thomte, situated southwest of the Coral City store. There he plans to erect a $25,00 rendering plant, construction of which is to be completed in the spring.
The Whitehall Lions Club is sponsoring a New Year’s eve dance Dec. 31 at the City Hall, featuring sound movies of the nation’s leading dance bands. Noisemakers and confetti will be available at the hall.
While working on a building on the former Jorgenson farm in Sjuggerud Coulee recently, A.R. Lowe found an implement which harks back to pioneer days, a handmade, and hand-operated, corn sheller made of hickory. He showed the device to Mr. Jorgenson, who said that it had been made by his father and was probably 80 years old.
Robert Forsythe, son-in-law of Dr. and Mrs. R.L. MacCornack and a senior at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., will be the guest speaker at the program to be held New Year’s at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.
Wayne Stahoski, son of Joseph Stahoski of Whitehall, had thought of re-enlisting in the Navy following his recent leave, even though he had already served five years, most of that time abroad. But he changed his mind and has purchased a winter and summer resort near Minong.
Ed Colliton and George Hegge were at Camp McCoy last week Wednesday to attend a sale of surplus water materials. Mr. Colliton bought a one-half-ton emergency repair truck, and Mr. Hegge purchased a 1942 Ford sedan.
The Town Club of Pigeon met at the Dresselhaus Cafe for the annual meeting and elected the following officers: Oscar Sletteland, president; Art Dahl, secretary; and Orville Eid, treasurer. The club voted to sponsor winter sports activities, and appointed the following to committees: Conrad and Iver Johnstad and Merton Hagen, to assist ski enthusiasts in rebuilding the scaffold on the Eid Hill; and Wilhelm Ringlien and Reynolds Tomter, to study the possibility of building a skating rink.
Mondovi scored with 10 seconds left to defeat Whitehall 58 to 56 in its second Western Wisconsin League game. La Verne Nelson of Whitehall led all scorers with 21 points, and George Schansberg and “Jug” Marsh tallied nine and eight points, respectively, for the Merchants.
Arcadia people observed Christmas in the traditional way and family gatherings were happy occasions. It wasn’t a white Christmas to please the youngsters, but instead the weather was fine and did nothing to prevent folks from a distance getting to grandma’s dinner table. Church attendance was first on the program for most people, followed by Santa’s visit and much merrymaking and squeals of joy when packages were opened.
The Department of Agriculture says that our country has been blessed this year by the most bountiful crop in all its history. The corn crop tops any previous crop. For the third successful year, more than a billion bushels of wheat have been harvested, breaking all previous records. Soybeans, rice and cherries have set new marks in the final harvest returns for the year ending. The outlook for the next year is considered to be more favorable than the previous year.
100 YEARS AGO
December 29, 1921
The nomination of Hartvig Elstad as postmaster at Whitehall was sent to the U.S. Senate for confirmation last Thursday.
Whitehall homes showed an abundance of Christmas spirit this year. Beautiful trees, many of them electric lighted, profuse decorations, and red candles burning in the windows, typical of a light to the way of the Christ child, produced effects in keeping with this great annual event.
There will be no movies Saturday night. The Trio Amusement Co. has given way to the Legion boys, who are showing “Man Without a Country,” a film of great historical importance. If you missed it last night, be sure to see it tonight.
The county court is still in session, disposing of the voluminous calendar of the December term.
There was a Christmas tree at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Sunday evening, and a program by the Sunday school. About 140 children were present to receive presents from the tree and participate in the festivities.
The state industrial commission has appealed to drivers of horse-drawn vehicles to carry a marker light at night for self-protection. The large number of accidents which have occurred through automobiles smashing into buggies has led to the appeal, the commission said.
The Whitehall high school girls were up against a fast team in the Osseo girls, who piled up a score of 41 to 11. A little experience and spirit will change this in the coming game with Osseo Jan. 13. The girls had never been in a match game or contest before this game. The girls of Hale defeated the high school team 27 to 7 Tuesday night.
York — A scare was given the neighbors Christmas morning when an alarm was sounded that Ole Hanson’s house was on fire. The neighbors rushed to the place to fight the fire and were successful. It started burning between the tile and the wall, but the only thing damaged was the chimney, which was entirely ruined.
Pleasantville — The Pleasantville store enjoyed a large Christmas trade. Clarence Swaim trapped another fox. Several from here attended the Christmas tree at the German church Saturday eve.
Galesville public schools and Gale College closed for Christmas vacation.
Galesville lumberyards are loading farmers with large quantities of building materials.
Carl Jensen, executive secretary of the Trempealeau County Chapter of Red Cross was presented a ring by the William F. Rowles American Legion Post. The ring bears Mr. Jensen’s initials and in the inside the name of the giver.
Galesville with its natural beauty and advantages will be listed in a number of automobile publications this coming season. George Sagen of the Galesville Commercial Club has received many inquiries from publishers for information, all of which has been forwarded.
The value of the completed Macadam on Decora Prairie Hunter bridge road is now appreciated. The rain and snow would have made the old road across the prairie almost impassible.
A heavy snowfall that dropped on Friday following an all-night rain caused damage to telephone and electric wires. Galesville and other towns were without lights for half an hour.
125 YEARS AGO
December 24, 1896
A special session of the La Crosse Presbytery was held at Old Whitehall Tuesday.
J.C. Lamberson reports a damage of two-thirds to his oat crop by army worms, reducing his average per acre to 12 bushels.
Will Towner has taken up the “stick” at this office, succeeding Roy Lowe, who quit the business due to illness.
The M.W. of A. mask ball at Opera Hall Friday night was one of the largest, most enjoyable and successful terpsichorean parties which has taken place in town for several years. Nearly all the dancers masked, and the characters represented showed a motley company present, but a spirit of fun took possession of the crowd, and they went in for a good time and had it. The Woodmen take a back seat for nobody in the matter of getting out crowds.
Pigeon Falls — C.B. Kaas, whose leg was amputated last year, has returned from St. Paul, where he went to secure an artificial limb. This will of course give him much relief, but considerable practice is needed to use the same with ease.
Pigeon Falls — A delegation from the Lutheran congregation in Curran Valley looked over the U.L. church at this place last week, contemplating erecting a one in their neighborhood in the spring of similar style and size.
Blair -- Arndt Diggerholte, the new postmaster at Voler, in Lakes Coulee, has built a store building and is stocking it with general merchandise, intending to open up Jan. 1. The mail for this new offspring of Uncle Sam is supplied from here twice a week.
