From Our Early Files May 19, 2021
25 YEARS AGO
May 23, 1996
There is no record of a confirmed sighting of a tornado in the immediate Whitehall area — and lifelong residents can’t ever recall the city fire siren ever warning of one, either. The first of those records is apparently still intact, despite the sounding of an alarm that woke city residents early Sunday morning. The siren alert was prompted by a severe thunderstorm warning and the expected arrival of storms that did eventually do considerable damage to the Whitehall area and elsewhere in Trempealeau County.
Whitehall High School will hold its annual commencement exercises tomorrow at 8 p.m. in the school gymnasium. Heading the group of 57 graduates is the Class of 1996’s valedictorian Brent Hilgart and salutatorian Beth Martin.
The citizens of Arcadia are once again bracing for the annual Broiler-Dairy Days celebration. This will be the 43rd annual celebration as the Arcadia Lions Club and numerous volunteers commit countless hours to insuring that people around the area will have a great time.
Approximately 20 Arcadia residents were evacuated from their homes due to an anhydrous ammonia spill on Monday morning. The spill occurred on Green Bay Avenue. The Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department believes the tank, which is owned by Arcadia Cooperative, had been tampered with.
With the enthusiasm and anticipation of a group of explorers seeking treasure, approximately 20 parishioners and numerous students from the Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic School were present at the opening of the cornerstone at the parish church in Independence last Tuesday morning. The cornerstone, which is located on the west side of the church was white and had the year 1895 inscribed on it. A construction worker removed the face stone, which had kept a tin box secure for 100 years. The items included in the chest were a Polish newspaper; a letter in Latin from the Pope; an Independence News-Wave and approximately 10 to 15 coins in various denominations, dated back to the 19th century.
A 140-acre site west of Hwy. K between Galesville and Trempealeau was recommended Monday as the site for a new high school that administrators say will be needed in about 10 years. The vote to recommend the Bender farm was unanimous among the 10 members of the district’s long range planning committee.
The goal is to transfer Galesville’s Square into a “jewel” that will bring tourists. The means to the goal, the historical preservation committee of the Galesville Area Chamber of Commerce has decided, is a major fundraising campaign.
Biblical characters paraded around Zion Lutheran Church Sunday morning during the second annual Charade Parade, part of the Kid’s day at Zion. Old and New Testament characters of all kinds were in the parade.
The Blair-Taylor school board heard that space needs for the lower elementary will be a concern next year. Three rooms for each grade level, kindergarten-through-third, are needed as well as two fourth-grade rooms and another for special education. The building has 14 rooms to be utilized by the elementary, but will need 15.
50 YEARS AGO
May 27, 1971
A verdict of homicide by the negligent use of a weapon was returned Monday night by jurors in the David Franzwa murder-abortion trial held in Trempealeau County Circuit Court here. The jury deliberated nearly seven hours before finding the Eleva man, who had been charged with first-degree murder in the Dec. 15 fatal shooting of his wife, guilty of the lesser charge.
The 1971 Whitehall High yearbook, “The Echo,” has been dedicated to Mrs. Sylvia Rice, who is retiring from teaching this year.
A full weekend of family fun is in store for visitors to this year’s 18th annual Lions-sponsored Arcadia Broiler-Dairy Festival, which gets underway Saturday and continues through Sunday. One of the highlights is the return of the big parade on Sunday, an event that had been missing from the festival calendar the past two years.
Robert Gamoke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Gamoke, Arcadia, is the valedictorian of the 1971 graduating class of Holy Cross Seminary, La Crosse.
The city council approved Mark Backer as the Arcadia park director for the 10-week summer period.
The 1971 summer recreation program will begin June 14 in Galesville, according to Larry Gautsch, director.
The athletic department at Golden Valley Lutheran College has announced that Mike Baer, the highly recruited athlete from Gale-Ettrick High School has accepted an officer of admission and plans to enroll at the college next fall. Baer, an all-state halfback the past two years, led his team to 24 straight victories the past three seasons.
75 YEARS AGO
May 23, 1946
Everett Guse of Whitehall circulated nomination papers this week for the office of county clerk on the Republican ticket. Mr. Guse is a Navy veteran of World War II, and is employed at present at Fortun’s drug store.
With eight of the 10 government demountable houses erected on lots in the Briggs and Garaghan addition on the east side, families will soon be occupying the new homes. The housing committee has allocated dwellings to Alton Berg, Wilbur Briggs, Dr. R.M. Rogers, Ernest Steen, Dr. W.J. Reichenbach, Harold Pryse, Nels Hegge, Kenneth Nehring, Orin Hanson and Leonard Gruntzel. All are ex-servicemen, and will occupy the residences on a rental basis.
Phyllis E. Hagen and Joyce Dianne Gage were honored at class day exercises at Whitehall High School Tuesday, for having the highest scholastic standing of the 33 who will receive their diplomas at the commencement exercises to be held tonight. Vernon Eid and Beverly Schaefer were given the outstanding citizen awards presented by the Odd Fellows lodge, and Miss Schaefer was named outstanding girl in the senior class and also in music. Peter Speerstra was the outstanding boy in the class, and Bruce Wilberg was the outstanding boy in music and also athletics.
Seven group commencement exercises for eighth-grade graduates are being arranged throughout the county, according to Miss Dorris Sander, county superintendent of schools.
The building boom is still on in Whitehall, and excavations for basements have been made in the west part of the city for three new residences, those of Ralph Jacobson, W.C. Foth and J.B. Fitzpatrick. The Iverson-Larson Lumber Co. expects to receive a shipment of 17 partially pre-fabricated houses in the near future. These units are designed so that they eventually can be developed into very attractive residences. If one chooses, however, comfortable shelter can be provided for less than $2,000.
Rev. M.W. Giese has been reassigned to serve the Trinity Evangelical congregation at Arcadia for another year.
Anton Suchla, 60, died at home in North Creek after a brief illness with a heart ailment. He had been seriously ill one day.
100 YEARS AGO
May 26,1921
The Whitehall high school graduates a class of 18 this year. The baccalaureate sermon will be given by Rev. Clark at the Village Hall Sunday evening. The class day exercises will be held Wednesday, June 1, and the commencement exercises on Friday evening, June 3, at the hall. Donald Hanson will give the valedictory address, and Robert Anderson, the salutatory.
A hallowed mantle of the Grand Army of the Republic falls upon the young shoulders of the American Legion on Memorial Day this year. Blue uniformed, with medals upon his breast, the white-haired veteran of the Civil War made this memorial days in former years. This year it is the Legion members who will be telling of a different conflict but teaching the same lesson.
Improvements are being made at the Lutheran church grounds in Whitehall, grading and cutting trees. This is being done by the congregation.
About 75 Whitehall men went out to the baseball park last Tuesday evening and showed their interest in indoor baseball. The American Legion played the married men, the final score being 13 to 10 in favor of the latter, and the Paulson Goats then played the winners. The second game continued until it got so dark that the fielders were unable to see the ball. The men are planning on putting electric lights in the park, and a bell on the ball, so that darkness will not interfere with the game.
The new St. Michael’s Catholic Church at North Creek was to be solemnly dedicated on May 31.
The Honorable J.C. Gaveney was chairman of the Decoration Day program to be held at the Opera House in Arcadia. George H. Barry and H.F. Theurer were in charge of the parade. The Hon. J.F. Doherty was the speaker. ‘
Clarence Fugina received second place and a $100 prize in the Harris Political Science essay contest open to university and college students in six states. Topic of his winning essay was budgetary Reform in the Federal Government of the U.S.
Galesville is planning for the Chautauqua in mid-July.
William Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Allen, Trempealeau, was accidentally killed Monday at Madison in a garage where he was employed.
Commencement at Trempealeau High School will be held Thursday evening. Members of the class are Ruth Ford, Ruth Vanisky and Gladys Gibbs.
125 YEARS AGO
May 21, 1896
A meeting was held Tuesday evening at the Whitehall town hall to take the preliminary steps toward the organization of a cornet band, a generous subscription having been previously obtained, together with a guarantee of $60 from the members to compose the band, insuring the success of the enterprise.
Whitehall Street Commissioner Bensend is doing some good work on the streets, putting in new crossings, grading Main Street, and otherwise fixing things up in apple pie order.
Leslie J. Stratton has completed the planting of 50 acres of potatoes. Leslie does not believe in being discouraged by the existing prices.
No demonstration was made hereabouts commemorating the independence of Norway, May 17, excepting a dance at Scott’s Hall on Saturday night.
The usual memorial services will be observed at the cemetery by the members of the Winfield Scott Post, the Ladies of the Relief Corps and all friends on May 30. At the conclusion of the exercises, all will repair to the Post hall, where the Ladies of the Relief Corps will prepare a genuine old soldier’s picnic, to which all are invited to contribute and partake.
The Whitehall flouring mill started up again last Monday. Mr. Larson has had a long and tedious delay in getting his flume in readiness, more on account of the heavy rains during the progress of the work than the real damage to the property from the washout.
T.N. Nelson of Pigeon was in town Tuesday. He reports a light frost in his locality Monday night, but not sufficient to do any damage.
The pound is to be built west of town, near the stockyards.
Miss Mabel Congdon of Hale has opened a dressmaking shop in Miss Mary Allen’s millinery establishment.
Independence — Arthur Markham has received a diploma and bronze medal from Washington, which were awarded to him for displaying the best corn at the world’s Columbian exhibition. The corn was raised on his farm half a mile northeast of town.
