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Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI May 14, 1992, Page 16 Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon. Index of "Oldies" Articles
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Oldies
By Dee Zimmerman
Looking back, in 1889, a total of twelve pupils graduated from the high schools of Humbird, Colby and Neillsville.
The city schools of Neillsville had nine departments, employed eleven teachers, a high school principal and his assistants. The quote was made, “both fine buildings contain the best provisions for heating and ventilation. Also, both are well supplied with apparatus and libraries.”
The village schools of Humbird contained three departments and three outlying schoolhouses near the village, all included in that high school district.
Thorp had a graded school of four departments.
Dorchester had three departments occupying two neat frame buildings.
Greenwood had three departments with four rooms and were (was) planning a high school department in the near future.
Loyal and Maple Works each had two filled departments. (Maple Works was a village located in the northeastern portion of the Town of Grant. N. Marsh was the postmaster. Pleasant Ridge was in the central part of the Town of Grant and had a postmaster, F. J. Vine.”
At that time Abbotsford, Curtiss, Lynn and several county districts were preparing to form graded schools.
The status of teachers was shown as thirty-four held training school certificates, 117 state certificates, 17 first grade certificates and 16 third grade certificates.
The county gave each rural school an average of one acre of land for the building and playground. There were 35,756 volumes in the school libraries, exclusive of public documents and text books. Those books were purchased for a cost of $21,405.51.
May is the last month of each year’s school term throughout Clark County. The high school seniors graduate then which is a memorable time in their lives and their families as well. Whether it has been 10, 25, 40 or 50 plus years since we have graduated from high school, I’m sure most of us remember that day.
It has been 44 years since I graduated from a small high school class of 37 students. I can remember reading the baccalaureate prayer at the graduation ceremonies and being very nervous about it. After the ceremony was over, my parents, three brothers and I rode home to the farm in the 1939 Ford sedan. We had a lunch of braunschweiger sandwiches, a homemade spice cake with boiled brown sugar frosting and Kool Aide which was it for the evening. Now the custom is for a large party inviting family and many friends to share in fellowship and great feasts of food in honor of each graduate. (I almost get envious!)
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Neillsville’s first high school. It was constructed in 1874 and was used as the elementary school and high school together. The first high school graduates were 3 students in 1875. When the second high school was completed in 1906 this became the Southside Grade School. |
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Northside Grade School at 12th Street and Prospect. Built in 1885 at a cost of $7,000 and was made of brick. It was a four room structure with a capacity of 175 students and educated children kindergarten, through grades one and six. It was for all children living north of O’Neill Creek. It was razed (in) 1967 and a small children’s park is on that lot. |
Compiled by Terry Johnson
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Neillsville residents Donald W. Johnson, Wayne Grap, Joseph Urban, and Jerry Opelt visited the Wisconsin department of resource and development. In looking over a new booklet which presented the industrial resources of each county of the state they found Clark County had been omitted. The reason for the omission was that a questionnaire sent out by the department had not been filled out and returned.
“Applications for ambulance drivers were being sought this week by the new community ambulance service, Arthur Ackerman, secretary announced.”
“Robert Harvey, editor of the Clark County Press, was elected president of the northwestern group of the Wisconsin Press Association at the annual meeting in Stanley…”
“A Des Plaines, Ill., driver who was clocked traveling 110 miles per hour—45 miles per hour over the daytime speed limit—helped boost the total in forfeits and fines received in Judge Richard B. Gaffney’s court here last week. The total left in court amounted to $1,481.”
FIFTY YEARS AGO – 1942
“Boys’ and Girls’ Week will be celebrated in Neillsville beginning Saturday, April 25. This occasion, sponsored by the local Rotary club, will emphasize the value and opportunity of youth, and is intended to renew the enthusiasm of the young and the interest of adults.” Events were scheduled for every day of the week, beginning with a pet parade and a hobby show on Saturday.
“The week of April 27 to May 2 has been proclaimed as ‘MacArthur week’ by Gov. Julius P. Heil, in honor of one of Wisconsin’s greatest citizens.”
“Bear Tracks Found in Shale Pit at City’s Edge: Tracks of a bear were found at the north end of the city-owned shale pit, on the northwestern outskirts of the city last week by Street Commissioner Emil Mattson and members of the city crew.”
“County Without a Traffic Fatality in First Quarter: County traffic officials are figuratively knocking on wood, for Clark County has not had a single traffic fatality chalked against it in the first three months of this year.”
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
The community (a store) ran this notice: “Free Movie Tickets: Wednesday, April 15 to May 2 the Badger Theatre, in addition to its regular bill, will run a film showing the adventures of a Warner’s corset. It’s bubbling over with good humor, modest too. It gives proof that Warner’s corsets are rust-proof—also that they are fashionable and long wearing. With every Warner’s corset sold on above dates, we will give free a ticket good for one night while this film is being shown.”
Editor L. Williamson commented on spring in this area: If ever spring does get here to stay over night, Neillsville will get out her rakes and hoes and do her annual cleaning up stunt in dead earnest. There is no fun in cleaning up between snow and squalls and showers. But when Neillsville gets really started, watch our smoke.”
East Washburn: “Mr. and Mrs. Ross Galbreath have a new player piano since last week.”
Hewettville: “Mary Hart has a Singer Sewing machine which she would like to trade for a good cow.
Shortville: “Woman suffrage was debated in the Shortville School last Friday. The negatives won by a large number.”
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
“You Want The Best Paper, So You Take The TIMES.”
“Fine rain that yesterday morning and the grass growth magically.”
“Allen Hotel Burned: Yesterday morning at 4 o’clock the Allen Hotel was destroyed by fire. It was, we learn, partly owned by G. W. Allen and partly by a Mr. Parks. It was not insured in this city and the amount of loss is not reported.”
L.B. Ring was editor. A subscription cost $1.50 a year.
Election Notice for the City of Neillsville was carried on the front page with facsimile ballots. The municipal election was scheduled for Tuesday, the third day of May 1892. Polls were open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
“At the 1st ward caucus last week Carl Rabenstein, editor and proprietor of the Deutsch-Amerikaner, was nominated by a good-sized majority. His opponents were S. F. Reineking, Wm. Neverman and Jim Canon.”
“10,000 loads of clear sharp sand for sale at Ross Eddy. No gravel or clay in it.”
“The flood Sunday night came with such unexpectedness that it caught Ed. Bruley and his crew on the west side of the river. They built a big bonfire in the woods to keep warm, and waited till late in the evening before they could get back to camp for supper.”
“Tracheotomy: On Friday afternoon Drs. Esch & Lacy performed the delicate and dangerous operation of cutting into and inserting a breathing tube in the windpipe of the oldest daughter of Frank Goodnough. She was threatened with suffocation by diphtheritic croup. The operation, called tracheotomy, was successful, and the little patient is getting along nicely.”
“Bob Hemphill went to Florida last week to care for Richard Dewhurst and bring him home if he could endure the journey. He was very sick at last report, but it’s hoped careful nursing will bring him through all right.”