From Our Early Files, March 23, 2022


 

 

 

25 YEARS AGO

March 27, 1997

If all goes as planned, a Whitehall High student will take college courses next fall, at school district expense, and get credit toward graduation. The district school board approved the first application filed under the new post-secondary enrollment option program required by state law. The program allows high school students to attend four-year college or technical school programs, receiving credit toward their high school diplomas and secondary school degrees. Filing the application was WHS junior Elizabeth Foltz. 

The suspense ended last week for two area cities waiting for word on a major state grant – with good news for one and a letdown for the other. The State Department of Commerce notified the city of Independence that it had been awarded the Community Development Block Grant that it had sought. Whitehall got notice last week that its application had been turned down. 

The city of Whitehall may hire a consultant to conduct a fundraising campaign for its proposed new municipal swimming pool. The special committee overseeing the pool project met Thursday with Al Saterbak of La Crosse whose firm ran the “Building for the Future” capital campaign for Tri-County Memorial Hospital several years ago. Saterbak also has done fundraising efforts for swimming pools in seven other communities in recent years. The council committed to rebuilding or replacing the existing 25-year-old pool by 1998. 

Laura Casteel, a member of the Arcadia High School band, directed by Dan Julson, has been selected for membership in the Sousa National High School Honors Band. This is one of the highest honors that can come to a high school musician. 

Magician Robert Ian performed during the Agriculture Day celebration, hosted by the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce.

South Second and South Eighth streets in Galesville have been put off limits to vehicles weighing more than 16,000 pounds, with some truck drivers receiving warnings for driving on them. The streets were posted because of spring thaw and because of their use by trucks who enter or leave the city on Hwy. K and either second or Eighth streets, instead of the official detour. 

Voters in the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District will select three school board members among six candidates in next Tuesday’s spring election. At large will be incumbent John Salsman against challenger Nancy Stellpflug. In Galesville will be incumbent Richard “Doc” Sacia against challenger Gerald Stalzer and in Trempealeau, incumbent Rick Nemitz is challenged by Gary Hokanson. 

50 YEARS AGO

March 30, 1972

Paul Matthews of rural Independence and his wife, Mary, were arraigned Friday in Eau Claire County court on charges of kidnapping the son of an Eau Claire dentist. Already facing trial in Eau Claire County in the case is Joseph Diffie Sr. of Whitehall; to be tried in Trempealeau County for aiding and abetting the kidnapping is Dennis Schendel of rural Independence.

Whitehall Memorial High School forensics team members Naomi Gunderson and Kim Otterson earned “A” ratings at the district speech contest held Saturday in La Crosse, and qualified for the state contest to be held later this month in Madison.

Wisconsin American Legion has selected Maurice Scow as one of three outstanding law enforcement officers in the state. Scow is an Arcadia native who served his country during World War II as a member of the famous 32nd Red Arrow Division in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. He was injured during action and began work as a traffic officer in Trempealeau County in 1947. 

Directors elected to the A-G Cooperative Creamery board were Robert Stevens over Robert Bork in District Three, Eugene Haines over Quintin Pronschinske in District Five, Wayne Litscher over Myles Auer in District Seven and Francis Solberg over Norman Thompson in District Nine. All terms are for three years. 

A message from the Easter Bunny in the Galesville Republican: “Hi, it’s me again. Wishing you a Happy Easter. To make it happier let’s have the best Easter Egg Hunt ever! Please put money in the containers at neighborhood merchants. Thanks again, Peter.”

The Music Parents Association of the G-E-T Schools will hold a meeting in Trempealeau. 

75 YEARS AGO

March 27, 1947

A special meeting of the city council was held Monday evening to engage Clifford Woychik, local carpenter, for the purpose of supervising the construction of the building that will house the new city water treatment equipment.

Sylvester Halama and his six-year-old daughter, Beverly, were injured, the latter fatally, when a failed steering gear caused Mr. Halama’s 1941 Willys coach to go off a bridge on Hwy. 12 two miles east of Independence.

Trempealeau County voters will have one state referendum on which to vote at Tuesday’s election, on whether to authorize daylight savings time from the last Sunday of April through the last Sunday of September.

A Cine Club is being organized at Whitehall by Colonel Larson and Alan Getts. All those who have eight- or 16-millimeter movie cameras, or intend to own one in the near future, are invited to join.

Members of the Trempealeau County Breeders Cooperative voted 284 to 37 in favor of merging with the Vernon County Breeders Cooperative to form what will be called the Tri-State Breeders Cooperative.

All 10 dwellings in the Whitehall Housing Authority have been sold to present veteran occupants. Prices range from $3,756 to $4,586.

Donald Fischer, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fischer of Hale, considers himself lucky. While assisting with wood sawing on the home farm March 11, his right hand came in contact with the saw. making a cut across the first finger and thumb. Fortunately, Donald did not lose part of his hand, and he is confident that the member will not be crippled.

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Stuve, who purchased the former Theodore Johnson farm in Hale recently, moved there last week. They had planned to stay on the George Stuve farm in West Lincoln, but changed their minds, and Gaylord Stuve will work their father’s farm.

Pigeon Falls — Plans for the opening of the baseball season were discussed at the regular dinner meeting of the Town Club held Thursday evening at the Dresselhaus cafe. Former players and new prospects are urged to attend the organizational meeting to be held at the cafe tomorrow evening.

York — The canopy over the intake at the creamery collapsed Saturday morning. Henry Hanson, hauler, had just unloaded and had driven his truck away when the accident happened, and luckily no one was injured.

Roger Bremer, seven-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bremer of Glencoe died at a La Crosse Hospital. He had been ill for about a week. He was a first grader at St. Aloysius School. 

100 YEARS AGO

March 30, 1922

The famous Lincoln Jubilee Singers will appear in Whitehall for the last number of the Lyceum course being promoted by the senior class at Whitehall High, through the Wisconsin University Extension. The troupe consists of five professional Negro entertainers, who during the present season have filled more than 100 engagements throughout Wisconsin without an adverse criticism.

Paul Daringer of Ohio is the new official tester for the Whitehall Cow Testing Association, succeeding C.L. Ouwenell. He is at present making his headquarters at the American house.

The women’s auxiliary to the Whitehall Improvement Association held a doughnut and coffee sale at the farmer’s telephone office Saturday afternoon, and had a net proceeds of $15.50.

Theo. Kouf has sold his residence property on Scranton Street to Mrs. Clara Ecker, retaining the east half of the property, on which he will build a bungalow this season.

York — Mr. Green visited at Theo. Larson’s Monday. He has been working in the woods this winter, and we all welcome him back.

An inch of snow fell last night, and prospects for more do not presage the early making of gardens. Old Man Winter evidently enjoys sitting in the lap of spring.

Mason and Olson are pitting in a Delco-Light plant in the home of Ole Holmen in Pigeon, for a complete lighting system in the residence and outbuildings, and for power for pumping and operating a cream separator. Mr. Holmen now has all the modern conveniences, the home already being equipped with bath and furnace heat.

All persons interested in buying buttermilk from the Elk Creek Creamery, and also those interested in doing the draying for said company, should be present to be held at Elk Creek on April 5 at 1 p.m. Thomas Sylla, Secretary.

Northfield — An open air concert was given by the band from the bandstand last Sunday, which was much enjoyed by the town folks.

Pigeon Falls — The stockholders of the Pigeon Falls Cooperative Creamery had an adjourned session of their annual meeting on March 13, and by almost unanimous vote in favor of building a new creamery. The building will be a modern type of tile and brick, and will be built in front of the present creamery.

125 YEARS AGO

March 25, 1897

Robert Engen is building an addition to his house for a kitchen.

John Nyberg of Hixton is at work cutting the face stone for W.J. Webb’s residence foundation.

Trempealeau village will vote on the question of license or no license at the coming spring election.

There will be a dance at the Grange Hall in Pleasant Valley tomorrow night. Everybody is cordially invited to attend.

The Whitehall and Pigeon Trading Association have removed the old shingle roof of their building, and recovered it with sheet steel roofing.

Lee Jones, formerly of Whitehall, but now of Rapidan Mills, Minn., recently lost his arm by being caught in the machinery of his brother’s feed mill at that place.

A break in the waterworks pipe system precipitated all the water from the reservoir Tuesday morning, but prompt action by Superintendent Quackenbush in remedying the defect enabled the pump to start yesterday afternoon.

The class in Ancient History will meet with Mrs. H.M. Wade Wednesday, March 31. Response to roll call by quotations.

The high water has not particularly inconvenienced the citizens of this place the past week. Some alarm was felt for the welfare of the mill, when the flood was at its height and great masses of ice were pressing against the dam, but Miller Larson had taken precautions and serious damage was avoided. Grant Winner, who resides on the low lands north of town, was forced to take shelter with his family on higher ground. No trains arrived from Winona Monday or Tuesday.

Adams and Taylor have purchased of Solsrud, Kidder and Co. 50 feet of frontage, south of the latter store building, and will commence the erection of a two-story, solid-brick building on these grounds as soon as the weather will admit. It will be a fine addition to the business blocks of town, and will be occupied by themselves for their large and increasing business.

W.S. Scott is in receipt of very encouraging news from his wife, who is sojourning in California for her health.

Blair — The mask ball held at the town hall Wednesday evening of last week was well attended. The lucky ticket, No. 65, which drew the horse, was held by Ed Erickson, but he have it to Mrs. Thomas Olson on condition that she attend the dance, and is the possessor of the horse.

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