From Our Early Files July 7, 2022
25 YEARS AGO
July 10, 1997
A new swimming pool for the city of Whitehall moved a step closer to reality last week when a special committee approved plans for the new facility and authorized the advertising of bids. The city council, meeting last week as a special pool committee, unanimously approved plans for a so-called “family aquatic center” that would replace the existing pool. The council last year committed itself to replacing or renovating the 25-year-old pool in 1997 or 98.
A potential confrontation between the village of Pigeon Falls and the state Department of Natural Resources may come to a head at the next village board meeting. Board members were informed at their July meeting that DNR representatives were being invited to the Aug. 4 meeting to discuss the Pigeon Creek mill dam. The department has given the village notice to either repair or abandon the dam within two years. The disagreement developed after village officials contacted the regional DNR water regulation office earlier this year about their plans to fix the 67-year-old dam. Department personnel, at the request of the village, inspected the dam in April. Instead of getting credit for thinking ahead, the board was informed that an earlier order to make repairs had not been obeyed. Those requirements were attached to a permit to transfer ownership of the dam from the now-defunct H&D Farm Supply to the village.
The Whitehall and Blair fire departments were called to the Fred Nehring farm, located between Whitehall and Blair on Highway 53, when a fire was reported in the hayloft of the dairy barn. The firemen were able to save the barn, although a quantity of hay was destroyed.
A couple from Arcadia was killed in a crash between an automobile and a motorcycle near Mondovi on July 5. Terry Wik, 25, and Stacey Matchey, 23, were pronounced dead at the scene. The couple was riding a motorcycle heading northbound on Highway H when Wik’s motorcycle collided with a vehicle operated by Charles Bilderback, 72, of Gilmanton. Bilderback and his wife, Virginia, were not injured in the accident.
Citizen volunteers are again invited to assist in the completion of the brick and mortar portion of the press box and storage building at Cashen Field. Seven professional bricklayers will need support for a full day on July 12.
By noon on July 3 two-way traffic was back on most of Main Street in Galesville’s business district. Work on other streets is expected to continue next week, though actual paving likely won’t be competed until after Aug. 1. Chippewa Concrete is to finish pouring the last concrete for some sidewalks and intersection approaches to the newly reopened Main St. and the north and south approaches to the new bridge. That would open Main Street from the north bridge to Gale completely, and allow access from the side streets that were still blocked earlier this week.
Two construction projects with the promise of improving the village met mostly criticism from the Trempealeau village board. A third project, it was revealed, resulted in a village sewer line being dredged up from the river bottom, with three 20-foot sections ending up the shore. In an open forum that started the meeting three residents along Sixth Street protested that their road widening and resurfacing project had ended with clumpy black dirt replacing sod torn up for the project. “We want our yards back the way they were,” said Linda Hartwich.
Seven new members joined the Trempealeau Fire Department. The new firefighters are: Kim Ganz, Todd Lakey, Scott Halvorson, Jason Hilton, David Bratberg, Tim Scherr and Bob Jenkins.
50 YEARS AGO
July 13, 1972
Mrs. Flora Diffie of Whitehall pleaded not guilty Thursday in Eau Claire County Court to being a party to the crime of kidnapping. The attorney for the Whitehall school district teacher has filed a motion for a change of venue, citing community prejudice in the Eau Claire area.
Nels Hegge of Whitehall has announced his candidacy for Trempealeau County register of deeds on the Democratic ticket.
The 32-mile stretch of the Trempealeau River between Blair and Hixton, which held only carp, suckers and northern pike before it was treated with a chemical fish toxicant less than two years ago, is now producing brown trout up to 16 inches in length, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.
Margaret O’Brien, Arcadia, has announced her candidacy for Trempealeau County Clerk of Court on the Democratic ticket. Mrs. O’Brien is a native of Eau Claire and a 1946 graduate of St. Patrick’s High School in Eau Claire.
When a problem forced her to give up her favorite pastime, Mrs. Mary Giemza carried on an occupation which was an age-old tradition in the vicinity. She stripped feathers and made feather pillows by hand. She did the work as a hobby after she retired from the Arcadia Meat Market.
Margaret (Squib) Olson of Galesville won her second consecutive Western Wisconsin Women’s Amateur Golf Championship at the La Crosse Country Club Sunday. She shot a record-tying 79.
Kathy Butman, Ettrick, was named the 1973 Beef Queen. July is Beef Month and Butman attended a kick-off event on the WKOW grounds in Madison during the farm TV broadcast.
75 YEARS AGO
July 10, 1947
An increase in rates has been granted to the Pigeon Valley Farmers Telephone Co., the Pleasant Valley Telephone Co. and the Elk Creek Telephone Co., according to Burr Tarrant, who served as attorney for the three companies at public hearings held here this spring. The rates have been raised to $1.50 per month for multi-party lines, from $1 per month for the Pleasant Valley company, $1.25 for Elk Creek, and $13 per year for the Pigeon Falls line.
The grand opening of the athletic field at Melby Park under the lights will be held Thursday, July 17. The Millers will engage a strong team to oppose them. The public is invited to see the new field and witness the game.
For the eighth consecutive time, W.J. Webb, Whitehall pioneer, has been reelected as president of the John O. Melby and Co. Bank, at the annual meeting held Tuesday. On the previous day, be observed his 88th birthday, with a dinner at the Walgert Hotel for his family and house guests.
Extensive damage was done by wind on the Helmer Swanson farm in Fly Creek, the former Jim Wright farm, on the night of June 27. The Swanson place, which is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Swanson, apparently was in the path of a small twister, which damaged most of the outbuildings. The Swansons had moved onto the place in spring and had done considerable work in repairing and improving the buildings.
Ignatz Maule Jr. recently returned from Madison where he had gone for further examinations regarding his condition as a result of an attack of polio which he suffered a couple years ago. In spite of his slightly crippled condition, Junior made the trip to Washington, D.C., with the FFA boys this spring, and is now running the tractor and hay loader on his father’s farm in Irvin Coulee.
The P. Ekern Co. mill at Pigeon Falls changed hands as of July 1, after having been owned and operated by the Ekern family for three generations. Olaf Larson of Northfield, his son Victor of Taylor, Arthur Erickson of Taylor and his brother John Erickson of Waumandee have purchased the mill.
Science has now made it possible for the deafened to hear faint sounds. It is a hearing device so small that it fits in the hand and enables thousands to enjoy sermons, music and friendly companionship.
The A-G Cooperative creamery once again has broken its own record in production totals. In June, the plant received 265,533 pounds of butterfat and produced 280,573 pounds of butter, and in addition 120,925 pounds of whole milk powder was shipped out.
100 YEARS AGO
July 13, 1922
The annual school meeting of Joint District No. 2, of the village of Whitehall and the towns of Lincoln and Preston, was held at the Village Hall last week Monday. Nine months school was voted for the coming year. A motion for free textbooks was voted down. The board was authorized to provide quarters in which school may be conducted until the new building is ready. Motions were passed to levy a $2,500 direct tax to finish the gymnasium, and to name the new school Whitehall Memorial School.
H.L. Ekern, candidate for attorney general, and Fred R. Zimmerman, candidate for secretary of state, opened the Republican Progressive campaign here yesterday, speaking from the bandstand to an enthusiastic audience. Mr. Ekern, a native of the town of Pigeon and a former partner in the Anderson and Ekern law firm here, was cordially received at his old home.
Sheriff Erickson, who has made such an enviable reputation during the years he has held the keys to the county Bastille, is undecided whether to enter the race under the ruling of the attorney general that sheriff can be candidates for re-election, subject to the pending referendum.
The Whitehall Municipal Band will give a concert Saturday at the opening of the Manley Oil Service Station, from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Big dance at the Rustic Pavilion in Coral City on July 22. Good music will be furnished. Everybody come and have a good time.
Albert T. Twesme has sold the Arctic Springs property at Galesville to a La Crosse syndicate, who will start a campaign for the improvement of the property and the carrying out of Mr. Twesme’s plans to bottle and ship the water. Mr. Twesme is confident that ultimately Arctic Springs will be famous throughout the Northwest, not only for the water but as a beauty spot.
York — Twenty-five calves will be judged at the York Boys and Girls Calf Club round-up at York on Aug. 3. These calves have been taken care of by the club members since entering the contest. The membership consists of 18 boys and seven girls.
Paul Marsolek, 35, drowned in the slough next to Spring Lake while on an outing with friends. All were from the Independence area.
Adolph Kube, 19, was badly burned while helping his father change a pump at the Glencoe Creamery.
125 YEARS AGO
July 8, 1897
William Lennon has the frame for the addition to his dwelling nearly up.
Forty couples attended the dance at the Whitehall Opera Hall Saturday night.
John Woicheck and Mike Mish of Burnside were brought before Justice Ecker Saturday and pleaded guilty to the charge of selling liquor without a license. They were fined $50 each and costs.
Strawberries were never so cheap before in Whitehall as they were this season, retailing at five cents per quart. The crop is the largest ever grown hereabouts.
A.G. Buchholz, being relieved of the post office, has turned his attention to the harness business, and he would be pleased to have all of his old customers, and many new ones, call on him when in need of any goods in his line.
Chairman Bautch of Burnside denies he was the complainant in the prosecution of John Woicheck for selling liquor at a picnic without a license, as stated by us last week. We were misinformed. District Attorney Ekern instituted the proceedings.
We are having some terribly hot weather. The thermometer indicating between 90 and 100 in the shade has been the rule rather than the exception for the past week. Everything in the vegetation line has been shooting rapidly forward, but such extreme heat is tough on man and beast.
With the exception of popping of firecrackers, and fireworks on a small scale in the evening, the Fourth was quietly observed in Whitehall. The only thing in the way of a celebration was a picnic by the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs on South Mountain Park, which was much enjoyed by all who attended.
Mrs. Jane Hegg’s dwelling took fire from a kerosene stove about seven o’clock this morning. The fire department was called out, and the fire was extinguished, but not before the house was greatly damaged by fire and water. Our waterworks system again demonstrated its desirability, usefulness and effectiveness, as it is highly probable that without it, the residences of Mrs. Hegg, Mrs. Wade and J.O. Melby would have gone up in smoke, as they are in close proximity to one another.
Blair — Blair sent but a small delegation to Arcadia for the Fourth, the distance being to great to drive in this hot weather.
