From Our Early Files Dec. 7, 2022


 

 

 

25 YEARS AGO

December 11, 1997

Whitehall’s Family Aquatic Center Capital Campaign apparently has hit its goal – with room to spare.  A tally of donations and pledges received over the past few weeks showed the fundraiser for the new municipal swimming pool to be within a few dollars of its $400,000 target. And an anonymous donation that has been committed will more than wipe out any shortfall. In the meantime, the campaign received some of the money that had been pledged earlier. A commitment from Ashley Furniture Industries to give $50,000 had helped kick off the fundraiser three months ago and the Arcadia-based firm delivered last week.

The Whitehall city council last week approved a 1998 budget, the bottom line of which will show up in a 2.4 percent increase on tax bills that property owners will receive later this month. Approval of the $2.66 million budget last week followed a public hearing that attracted no citizen attendance, despite the fact that the 1998 spending includes several major capital expenditures.

A group of volunteers and generous donors have made it more likely that Pigeon Falls-area heart attack victims will survive. The volunteers are the Pigeon Falls First Responders, the 12-year-old emergency medical squad which shared quarters – and some members – with the Pigeon Falls Volunteer Fire Department. And what the donors made possible was the squad’s acquisition of a portable cardiac defibrillator unit. 

 Nelson Industries, Inc. announced last week that it will merge into Cummins Engine Co, Inc., a publicly held designer and producer of diesel engines. 

Guy and Nancy Hansen have always loved to spend time with people. That is one of the primary reasons they recently purchased the former Valley View Tavern located six miles west of Arcadia on Highway 95. Since taking over the business from Fred and Helen Pyka, the Hansens have made many changes, most notably changing the name of the establishment to Hansen’s Hold-Up.

Trempealeau County tourism received a boost in Arcadia on Monday. A meeting was conducted to give citizens an update about tourism in Trempealeau County and the impact it has had. During the meeting, the public was informed about the Discover Wisconsin television show and creation of bike tourism in Trempealeau County.  

It began as an ache and by the end of the week, Beth Sonsalla of Trempealeau was paralyzed from the waste down. Sonsalla has been diagnosed with a rare spinal cord bacterial infection, which there is no known cure. Sonsalla is being treated with antibiotics and will need months of intense therapy to regain back movement and strength. Two benefits have been planned to help the family pay medical bills. 

The Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau school board Monday night agreed to buy 140 acres of land from Sally Bender for a new school building. The land, about four miles south of Galesville along Co. Hwy. K, will cost the district $390,000. District residents will vote on the proposed purchase at a public meeting on March 2, 1998. 

50 YEARS AGO

December 14, 1972

Floral Farms, a Pigeon Falls company that produces arrangements of dried and preserved flowers, was destroyed by fire Monday morning. David Hauge, owner of the two-year-old firm, hopes to rebuild, and is looking for a temporary location in the area.

The Whitehall Chamber of Commerce voted Monday to give $2,000 to the Whitehall Industrial Development Corp. to help the group’s efforts to attract industry to the city.

John Peterson scored 15 points, and Dave Pientok shut out Osseo-Fairchild’s leading scorer, Mike Mulhern, as the Norsemen defeated the Chieftains 46-34 Friday.

The Arcadia Future Farmers of America won first place in the district parliamentary procedure contest held at Arcadia last week. Blair placed second. The Arcadia team has won the district contest for five consecutive years and advanced to the state contest the past three years. 

Gaylord Severson, a rocket launch and captive firing mechanic with the Boeing Company at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., watched the launch of Apollo 17 as a special guest of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) last week. He was invited to the launching by Dr. Kurt Debus, director of the NASA-Kennedy Space Center which is responsible for the flight, because of his noteworthy contributions to the Apollo program. Severson is a native of Arcadia who now lives in Florida. 

Two part-time officers have been hired for work in the Arcadia Police Department. They are Gary and David Galewski, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Galewski of Dodge. 

Richard Truax has been named the newly created position of executive vice president of Kenosha Auto Transport Corp. Truax, who was born on a farm near Ettrick and attended school at Galesville, is a widower and has three children.  

75 YEARS AGO

December 11, 1947

Former residents basking in the sunshine of Florida, Arizona, California and other delightful winter climes will be interested to know that western Wisconsin is blanketed by a heavy fall of snow. On Friday, Nov. 28, the grass on the courthouse square was as green as it is in mid-May, but a light fall of snow came the following day. On Dec. 4, about four inches fell, and Sunday brought more, with shovelers estimating the snow at eight inches on the level. Temperatures dropped to 20 to 24 below by Tuesday morning. We are suffering, though, and for Wisconsin, it is ideal winter weather.

The Whitehall city council is seeking bids for the sale of the ski scaffold and land north of the city, formerly part of what is known as the Herberg farm.

The Whitehall Fire Co. was called to the Fair Oaks Dairy about 10 a.m. Sunday, and succeeded in extinguishing the blaze, although some damage resulted. The firemen were called to the D.M. Warner home in the town of Hale early Monday, but before they could assemble, a second call was received advising them that the fire had been extinguished.

This fall, 12,050 feet of terraces have been built on four farms in Trempealeau County, according to Jack Dundas of the Soil Conservation Service at Whitehall. That amount includes 7,400 feet on the Bautch brothers farm in the town of Hale.

Louis Olson of Barron is at Whitehall supervising the installation of new fixtures in the dry goods department of the Erickson Bros. sore. Martin Oleson, resident manager, is taking an enforced vacation due to illness.

Mrs. Florence Finstad of Osseo has been engaged as clerk in the county extension office, succeeding Mrs. Gaylord Stuve, who resigned to devote all her time to her home.

Fourteen new members were initiated into the Hutchins-Stendahl American Legion Auxiliary Dec. 1 at the newly-decorated Legion Rooms of City Hall. Miss Pearl Brennom was in charge of the ceremonies, which were conducted by candlelight.

Bert Kopp, formerly of Tamarack, was killed in an auto accident near Reno, Nevada on Tuesday afternoon. His wife suffered serious head and shoulder injuries and was in serious condition at a hospital in Reno. The two were visiting their son, Arnold, who resides in California. 

Ole Halvorson, 78, of Tamarack died at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Arcadia where he had been taken by ambulance after he fell from his porch. Halvorson received a fractured skull as a result of the fall from the porch. 

The Music Study Club will hold a cantata, “The Babe of Bethlehem” at the Presbyterian Church Sunday night. Mrs. Nina Hammer will direct. Mrs. Art Runnestrand is chairman of the committee.

Santa Claus will meet all the children on the public square in Galesville on Dec. 22. 

100 YEARS AGO

December 14, 1922

The ever-busy Women’s Civic Club has taken up and discussed the subject of skating rink, and appointed a committee to meet with the Whitehall Improvement Association at an early date to secure its cooperation. Let every man who wants one be at the meeting, and every woman who wants the rink be at the next meeting of the Civic Club, ready to boost and work, and the rink will be a surety.

The Guernsey Club boys made a splendid record last Friday night, when they entertained the village people and their farmer friends at whist and dancing at the Village Hall. A good crowd was present, and the evening passed all too swiftly. It was the event of the season.

Others may be having success with the radio, but it remains for Bert Thompson to give you a real successful demonstration of “listening in” to what is going on in the concert world outside of Whitehall. He gets them near and far with his Globe outfit, hearing all over the room with perfect enunciation.

In connection with the regular basketball training at the high school in Whitehall, Miss Johnson will instruct a class in calisthenics. Girls may participate in the exercises without taking part in the game.

George Warner, chief of the department of weights and measures, visiting his people in the town of Hale the past week. Mr. Warner has been associated with this department for the past 10 years.

Pigeon Falls—- The new Pigeon Falls Cooperative Creamery has just been completed with al machinery installed, so they started work there on Monday.

Pleasantville — Ed Schroeder is having a water system installed in his barn. Syver Williamson is doing the work.

North Branch of Hale — The North Branch Willing Workers held their annual bazaar in the Hale church Thursday. The proceeds were $68.50. Mrs. Fred Fisher had the lucky number on the quilt, and Nina Olson on the lunch set.

Anton Sorlie, 80, and Jens Sorlie, 76, of Arcadia were both employees at Myrman’s logging camp near Ladysmith as swampers. Despite their advanced years, they were both numbered among the hardest workers in camp. 

The annual meeting of the Ettrick Scandinavian Mutual Fire Insurance Co. was held. C.M. Scarseth, known as Charley, was secretary.

Meetings are being held by the Redmen Lodge, Frank Wood of G of F and the Marinuka Camp MWA. Officers of the camp will be elected at this time. 

Jackie Coogan, the child wonder, will give two Christmas programs at the Marinuka Theatre in “Trouble.” Queenie, his dog, also will star. Jackie is known as the kid every kid loves. 

J.A. Kellman, Galesville jeweler, said his jewelry stock equals all others in Trempealeau County combined. He isn’t boasting, but simply telling the truth.

Mrs. Esther Grover died on Dec. 16 at the home of her son, John. She was born April 25, 1837 in Ohio and came to Trempealeau County in 1873. Her husband, Archelaus Grover, was engaged in buying furs from the Indians. 

125 YEARS AGO

December 9, 1897

John O. Gilbertson is to succeed Albert Nelson as clerk in Scott Bros. store on Jan. 1.

Geo. K. Whitney is doing business in the Reitzel block, having opened his store Monday. Ole Iverson has taken a clerkship with Mr. Whitney.

Ad. Hanson returned last week from California. After an absence of five months on the coast, the most of which time being spent in testing the climate as to its desirability as a permanent abode, he comes back to Wisconsin satisfied that the Badger state is good enough for him.

The Wisconsin Valley Telephone Co. set poles through the village Monday, on their way to Blair, Hegg, Ettrick and Galesville. We are told that a force of men will strong wire through here in about 10 days.

The Woodmen camp gave a very pleasant party to the members of the order and their families, in their spacious hall last Friday evening, which was largely attended and highly enjoyed by all who participated in the festivities of the occasion. For generosity and hospitality, the Whitehall neighbors are unexcelled.

Blair — Andrew Nelson, who was sent to the reform school from Whitehall not long ago, has been seen in the village on and off for a week. Is it optional with the inmates of that institution, whether they remain confined there or not? It would seem so.

Elk Creek — Our jolly bachelor miller, Peder Pederson, failed to make his usual weekly trip to Pigeon Falls last Sunday, owing, as some think, to the severe snow storms of Saturday disturbing the powerful magnetic current that appears to attract him in that direction.

Elk Creek — Sumner Scott left for the pineries Wednesday. He expects to stay the winter waging battle against the tall pine giants of the forest. Many of them that have withstood the storms and tempests for years will, in all probability, bite the dust before next spring from the effect of heavy blows with a keen-edged ax, delivered by his sturdy arms.

Independence -- John T. Skroch has returned from Jamestown, N.D., where he was looking for a homestead.

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