Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI May 28, 1992, Page 24

In the early 1890s a one room school was built in Columbia. Ann Wright of Neillsville was the first teacher. Then there was Inez Short, (she married a Columbia man, Fred Wright), Susie Korman, Grace Fergusen, Myrtle Beardsley and Mayme Breed.

In 1900 the school building became too small as there were about 85 pupils. A four room school was built (the building in the photo) with two rooms on the main floor being used for up to grade eight. It was thought that as Columbia grew in population the upstairs would be used for a high school. The upper floor was used as an auditorium as it had a stage. Many home talent plays were given there.

For two years Nell Ruddock of Neillsville was principal, Charles Brooks of Granton was then principal for two years, followed by Ted Barber, then Mabel Tylor. Teachers of primary were Alma Anderson, Mary Norton of Thorp and Edna Klopf of Neillsville.

Columbia was the first school in Wisconsin to have a bussing system for transporting students. There were five horse drawn busses and many educators came to see how the bussing was working out.

The Columbia school was closed in January 1945 and the building was sold at an auction in 1952. It had been built of very fine lumber and material. Art and Jane Ehlers bought the building. Ruby Poertner Yndogliato purchased the 500 pound bell for her son who wanted the souvenir.

The Columbia school was the site of many community events like the Fourth of July celebration in the picture. The roof also provided a place for ambitious Halloween pranksters to reassemble buggies. As the photo indicates some such boys decided to perch upon the roof for the photo. (Photo and information courtesy of Ruby Yndogliato)

The 500 block of Hewett Street, Neillsville during the horse and buggy days about 1900. The store on the far left corner was that of W. J. Marsh dry goods. Across the street on far right corner was the Bernhardt Tragsdorf and Rella Balch merchandise store.

Hewett Street of the 600 block in 1905: The far left corner was Denis Tourigny business. There was such a large turnover of merchandise that he had a large warehoused for storage located on the north side of O’Neill Creek on the site of the Ruth Dern and Jim Yule residences. The building next to Tourigny was a tin smithing shop, then the Gress Restaurant. In the background behind the railroad triangle sign is what was to be a wheat processing mill. The mill business couldn’t progress because the area farm land wasn’t suitable for wheat growing. At the far right corner, the front porch steps to the O’Neill house are visible. (Hewett Street photos courtesy of Lawrence Stanley, Marshfield.)

An art professor from UW-Eau Claire was scheduled to antique crafts and paintings done by members of the Beau Arts Club in the previous year.

“Plans were announced this week for a six-week summer class in landscape paintings here. In charge will be Prof. William Lee of the art staff of Wisconsin State University—Eau Claire. The classes are planned to start June 14, and will be held in the afternoons. Any interested in registering, or wishing further information, may contact Mrs. Pat Struble.”

“Kavanaugh Bill Would Reduce Milk Pay Time. A bill to reduce the time between delivery of milk to plants and payment for that milk by up to 15 days was introduced in the assembly last Thursday by William C. Kavanaugh, Clark County assemblyman.”

The lead story on page one announced that “ceiling prices” would go into effect in stores in Neillsville and Clark County on Monday. The ceiling price was the maximum possible price for which an item could be sold. It was determined by the price of the item at that store in March 1942. According to the press, this was “the first time in history of the United States that Uncle Sam has stood over them [store owners/business men] and told them what they must charge.”

Page one:—“W. B. Tufts has been promoted to the rank of major, according to word received here by Mrs. Tufts.”

Clark County produced 25 million pounds of American cheese in 1941, according to statistics compiled by the American Dairy Association.

“Approximately 450 eighth grade students of rural and village schools in Clark County wee graduated in a series of three commencement exercises held during the forepart of this week. The centers were at Neillsville, Greenwood and Withee.”

Cannonville News, by Mrs. Chris Feutz, Phone Y3721. “People of our community got quite a thrill Sunday afternoon when a B-17 four motored Flying Fortress came from the east and flew west.”

Front page—“GLOBE: Grandma Hagadorn, who two weeks ago had the misfortune to fall down and hurt her hip was called to the Great Beyond last Friday [April 19, 1917]. She had been in feeble health for sometime and longed to join beloved ones who had gone before. At the time of her death she was aged 95 years, 5 months and 22 days and was one of the oldest residents of the county. She was born in Germany and had been a resident of Clark County for many years. Six years ago on the same day she died, her husband passed away and since that time she had made her home with her son, J. Hagadorn. Deceased was a thoroughly good woman and lived a life replete with gentleness and kindness. She was the mother of a large family… None ever entered her home without a warm welcome, nor left without feeling the warmth of a genuine hospitality, so characteristic of the people of her ancestry. Her life was a long and peaceful one and replete with many varied experiences… The funeral of this most estimable lady was held Monday and she was laid to rest in the Globe Cemetery.”

In news from Neillsville High School, Professor Hart of the Wisconsin University says in his letter to Mr. Strong: “On my visit of last week I found the general organization, management, spirit and physical condition of the Neillsville High School entirely satisfactory.”

“Maxim, the inventor of the Maxim gun, one of the greatest of American inventors, explains in the June Cosmopolitan how it is possible to build without further discussion a flying machine which will travel through the air at the rate of 100 miles per hour; this without the aid of any gas.”

“Georgia sends word to Northern markets that she has 9,000 car loads of watermelons ready for shipment. Coroners and druggists should prepare for a vigorous opening of spring trade.”

“Dave Hill spoke at the Mecklenburg anniversary celebration, and made a plea for honesty and purity in politics. Dave is getting ‘sarcastiker’ every day.”

“Two Italians with Scotch bagpipes pumped the air hereabout yesterday, and the pockets of enamored bystanders.”

“A meeting of the assessors of the county has been called for Friday of this week at Co. Clerk H. M. Root’s office, 2 p.m., to secure a more uniform assessment. It is a good idea.”

“Greenwood now has a daily mail by train from Marshfield. This will perhaps knock out the stage traffic to this point.”

“A log jam eight miles long on the St. Croix River at Eagle Island was reported Tuesday. It contained over 200,000,000 ft., about two-thirds of the winter’s cut above that point.”

“Gilbert Gilbertson’s new pop works at the Tom Robinson spring north of the creek was completed last week. The use of the spring water insures a pure drink.”

“From La Crosse to a point a mile or two this side of Gale’s Ferry, the Black River is solid full of logs. That means a distance of 14 or 15 miles. The drive has been the best for many years; and logs still go pounding down stream in large numbers.