Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

Clark County Press, Neillsville

February 6, 1992 Page 16

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles

By Dee Zimmerman

 

"OLDIES"

Reprinted From The Republican and Press

(Originally Compiled by Terry Johnson)

 

By Darla Kaczor

 

Last week this calendar was brought into our office by Lester Zasoba.  (Photo showed January 1936) He remembers it hanging in his grandmother’s home in Curtiss where he grew up.  Later he moved to the Neillsville area.

 

When asked what memories the calendar brought back, Lester replied, “Some of the events that happened in this era that I remember are: the ending of World War I, the John Dillinger and gang manhunt, the Great Dust Bowl, and the raids on saloons by federal men for selling illegal moonshine.”  He also recalls, “three big fires in the village of Curtiss and the big cyclone that went through the northern part of Curtiss which caused a lot of damage to farms and rearranged many homes, the paving of Highway 29 from Owen to Abbotsford, and the great drought when farmers took their cattle up north for pasturing.”  Lester reminisced of the time he helped George P. Hoff, owner of the Curtiss Hardware store, unload the first square tub Maytag washing machines that were gas driven and started by a foot lever you stepped on.

 

The following excerpts are from The Clark County Journal of 1936:

 

The sharp rise in the farm price of Wisconsin hay reflects the severe drought damage to the state’s feed supplies this year…. Wild hay prices this year are almost double those of a year ago.”

 

“The loss is extensive and widespread because of three factors, the severe winter, the decided lack of moisture and the excessive ground heat which was in excess of 145 degrees during the hot spell in July.”  

 

“Here is a moving little story of a drought victim.  He is a large-scale rancher of Alberta, near Pekisko.  He has 160 registered Scotch Shorthorn cattle. They are prize cattle, raised in an effort to improve the breed in Canada.  But the drought came.  Feed was short.  It is an old story, well known to farmers and ranchers throughout the northwest.  No feed, no cattle. They must be sold. So the ranch owner’s manager was directed to take the prize cattle to Ontario and sell them.  And who was the rancher, who found himself so short of feed that he had to sell his cattle; just King Edward VIII of England.”            

 

“Wisconsin will rush its $16,000,000 highway program to completion in the calendar year of 1936.”

 

“The gigantic 1936 highway program, which will include building of concrete and other types of pavement, grading and surfacing and the construction of bridges and railroad crossing overheads, is equal in size to the total programs of 1934 and 1935.”

 

“Just as the railroad hauling of livestock gave rise to the central livestock markets, so has the development of truck transportation given increased importance to the local or interior livestock markets.”

 

“During the World War, four persons were killed every minute, 6,400 every day for 1,550 days, according to Peace News, a British anti-war weekly.”

••••••••••••

 

Compiled by Terry Johnson 

 

SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

1917

 

“United States Now on Verge of War with Germany; President breaks diplomatic Relations over Under-Sea Edict.”

 

“Storm set new records…Last week’s blizzard set new record….”

 

Two other front page stories told of the deaths of Charles Wells, of Humbird, and William Schultz, of Kurth Corners, who both froze to death in the blizzard.

 

In “West Pine Valley” news: “Geo. Useding lost a valuable horse last week.” “Free Burge had a telephone installed last week.” “Tony Karnitz helped Davie Wood whitewash Naedler’s barn Tuesday.” “Our mail carrier, Mr. Neverman, had the misfortune to tip over with his cutter Wednesday.” “There was no school Friday, as the teacher, Miss Riley, attended a wedding at Minneapolis. She acted as bridesmaid.”

 

This further note in “Hewett” news: “This community was greatly shocked to hear of Bill Schultz freezing to death. The family has the heartfelt sympathy of the write, for forty-four years ago last month the writer’s father perished in a Dakota blizzard and was never found.

 

ONE-HUNDRED YEARS AGO

1892

 

AD: “The new roller mills; thoroughly equipped, with new machinery, and every modern appliance, has started up and is ready for business.  Orders solicited, and promptly filled.  Flour and feed at the lowest prices.  Highest market price paid for all kinds of grain. NEILLSVILLE MILLING CO. PROPS”

 

Dr. Viola M. French, physician and surgeon, had an office in Neillsville ‘over Cornelius’ Music Store.’

 

“Frank W. Archer, accountant and collector” offered “Hand in your accounts - I make collections.”

 

“The log cut on Black River is estimated to have reached the 50,000,000 figure up to February 1st.”

 

“The Century Magazine for February was received Monday and exceeds anything ever issued as yet in a magazine form by any publisher in elegance and completeness.  It is a magnificent magazine.”

 

“A dispatch from Merrillan dated January 30 says: Two children, a son of Nels Erickson and a daughter of C. D. Pearlstrow, aged nine years were killed by the passenger train on the Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul railroad near Tremont, east of here yesterday.  They were playing with a sled behind a house, and ran out upon the track in front of the train. Both were instantly killed and their little bodies terribly mutilated. No blame attaches to the trainmen. Postmaster Reitz of this city was aboard the above train, and brought the news of the tragedy to the city.”

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤

 

 


© Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

 

Show your appreciation of this freely provided information by not copying it to any other site without our permission.

 

Become a Clark County History Buff

 

Report Broken Links

A site created and maintained by the Clark County History Buffs
and supported by your generous donations.

 

Webmasters: Leon Konieczny, Tanya Paschke,

Janet & Stan Schwarze, James W. Sternitzky,

Crystal Wendt & Al Wessel

 

CLARK CO. WI HISTORY HOME PAGE