Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

February 4, 1998, Page 24

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

IN THE Good Old Days

 Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

 

February 1868

 

Neillsville is no longer without a school.  On Monday, a school was organized in our village at a meeting in the new school house building.  There were fifty students present the first day of classes with G. I. Follett as the teacher.  The second day, there were about sixty students enrolled.  We think an assistant teacher is needed for that amount of students.

 

Last Wednesday evening, a fun-loving group of people in this village concluded they should revive sociable feelings.  They climbed into wagon boxes on sleighs, covered themselves with comfortable robes and proceeded to the Lumbermen’s Hotel.  A happy party of reinforcements from the Town of Weston arrived soon after, which increased the number to thirty guests.  The landlady was very surprised and greeted her visitors in a very agreeable manner.  After a few hours spent dancing and participating in cheerful amusement, the guests were served an excellent oyster supper.  As everyone departed, they thanked the good-natured hostess for her generous hospitalities.

 

The large amount of rich prairie land lying west of us must be supplied with lumber for building and other purposes.  The most available market for the people in that direction lies in the pine woods of this county, judging from the teams with sleighs arriving daily.  King’s mill has had customers from as far west as the Mississippi River.  As one gentleman stated, “Why, sir, I saw men with teams at King’s mill buying lumber that I know are from Rochester, Minn.”

 

By a document received from General C. C. Washburn, our able representative in Congress, we are informed that an act to establish a post road from Neillsville, via Huntzicker’s to John Grave’s, has passed the House in Madison. The Senate has read it twice and referred to the Committee on Post Roads and Post Offices.  The people in the northern part of the county have felt the need of this for some time.  They will be pleased to learn there is a probability of the road’s establishment.  As of now, mail is received at the Neillsville Post Office for persons residing twenty to thirty miles away.

 

G. Schutte and B. Kunze, two enterprising young men from Dodge County; have made arrangements to locate in Neillsville.  Schutte has purchased the lot of ground on the corner south of Hewett, Woods & Co.’s store (northwest corner of Fifth and Hewett Streets).  In the spring, Schutte plans to build a two-story building 30’ x 60’ on the lot.  He will occupy the store’s front portion, with a clothing and tailoring shop.  Kunze plans to open a boot and shoe shop in the back half of the building, with an entrance on the south side.

 

There will be preparation for new buildings in our village next summer.  R. Dewhurst will build a large dwelling house; C. Blakeslee makes plans for a fine residence; Daniel Gates will build a fine house and large barn; Geo. Frantz has decided to have a new dwelling house; L. Sontag will have a new store building.

 

The County Board of Supervisors made a new town of twenty-four range one west, with the exception of a piece of land across the north side a half of a mile wide.  It is to be called Grant and will hold its first election of town officers next spring.

 

Next Thursday evening there will be preaching at the school house.  Everyone’s invited

 

February 1913

 

The Neillsville Milling Co. with W. L. Hemphill as manager sold the grist mill to J. L. Kleckner who has been in the flour and feed business for some time.  Kleckner and his two sons will devote their time to the combined businesses.  In addition to feed grinding, they will make a specialty of grinding rye flour, graham and kindred flour lines as well as wheat grinding.

 

Mrs. Edward Schultz of Veefkind was in Marshfield Tuesday to visit her two daughters, Edna and Mary, who are attending school there.  Mrs. Schultz has continued in the mercantile business and also looks after a large farming interest.  In addition to the estate left by her husband, Mrs. Schultz purchased 160 acres of adjoining wild land, from which she marketed several hundred dollars worth of bolts and logs this winter.

 

L. H. Howard, agent for “Krit” automobile, demonstrated beyond a doubt that automobiles can be run in the winter.  He brought over J. E. Ketel, a traveling agent, from Neillsville Monday by way of Veefkind, Spokeville and York Center to Loyal in three hours.

 

Work has begun on the finishing rooms on the third floor in the Armory.  There will be a gymnasium, reading rooms, smoking room, etc.

 

There will be convenient and comfortable rooms for members of the company to use for their leisure hours.

 

The York Center Cheese Factory has changed hands again.  Otto Gruenke sold the factory to Emil Schoenfeld of Plymouth who takes possession March 1st.

 

The switch board of the farmers’ telephone line was removed from the York Center Store one day last week.  Some of the few remaining patrons are rather dissatisfied, for now they have to call up central at Loyal if they wish to use the line.

 

A company for the purpose of making cheese boxes at the Neillsville Planning (Planing) Mill was organized last week.  The stockholders are all cheese makers except Chas. Stevens, proprietor of the mill.  Directors are Harry Eide, O. W. Becker, J. B. Daughhetee, C. E. Voight and E. H. Knickle.  The officers are J. B. Daughhetee, Pres.; Harry Eide, Vice Pres.; F. L. Reinhard, Treas.; and Chas Stevens, Sec. and Mgr. 

 

Basswood, elm, ash or soft maple bolts are wanted in 30 and 36 inch length.  We pay cash for every load as brought in or will pay at the end of the week for that week’s delivered loads of bolts.  Contact Neillsville Planning (Planing) Mill.

 

When you want to buy cream or milk, call up the Cozy Corner Dairy.  All milk and cream is clean and sanitary.  We deliver every morning.  Orders called in by 6 p.m. will be delivered the next morning.  Phone 1916, C. B. Dresden (Charles Burton Dresden).

 

E. Lindquist has completed one of the new cheese factories for the Thorp Dairy Co. and will start building another factory.  The business will have four cheese factories in running order as well as their large butter factory, when spring is here.

 

No sleighing this year in the Christie area and all of Clark County.  It’s hard to get teaming done this winter unless you are fortunate enough to live by the river and can sleigh over the ice.

 

The teacher and children of Kurth Corner School will present entertainment at the Grant town Hall, Feb. 22, beginning at 7:30 p.m.  An admission of ten cents will be asked of all persons over 12 years of age.

 

The proceeds will be used to purchase pictures for the school house walls.  All are cordially invited to attend.

 

February 1948

 

Thorp becomes a city in 1948.  Final steps will be taken this spring to secure a charter from the state.

 

The city council will consist of eight aldermen.  Of those eight, four will be aldermen – supervisors to represent the city on the Clark County Board.

 

It’s back to wood or coal for heating purposes in Clark County.  Not a single community in the county has enough oil for heating.  The shortage varies in present intensity, with Abbotsford hardest hit.  The report from Abbotsford was that by Thursday of this week every oil user will be completely out of oil.  Kerosene is the only oil available, and that has been selling in five-gallon lots, cash and carry.  Loyal and Granton have also reported bring (being) out of fuel oil.

 

Reports from all over the county area is that there had been almost an epidemic of conversion in furnaces and heaters.  Users of wood and coal abandoned those fuels to use oil.  The result had a demand for oil burning equipment and now the demand will reverse back to the wood and coal.

 

The first meeting of the newly-formed Clark County Park Commission will be held in the courthouse Friday at 10 a.m.  Members of the commission are: Joe Plautz, Willard; Otto Hiller, Thorp; Elroy Broeske, Dorchester; H. R. Baird, Greenwood; Otto Lewerenz, Neillsville; Paul Stasek, Owen; and Lowell Schultz, Spencer. 

 

Mrs. and Mrs. Louie Meinholdt’s house was damaged by fire and smoke Sunday afternoon.  The blaze started in the basement of their home on East Fourth Street.  It burned t he floor joists and flooring so badly that a new floor will have to be laid. 

 

The fire started while members of the family were absent.  David Parry found the house full of smoke when he entered about 3 p.m.  The volunteer fire department extinguished the flames with use of chemicals.  The damage has been estimated at $1,500.

 

A series of 17 hearings on reorganizing school districts in Clark County has been announced by Russell R. Drake, Clark County School Superintendent, appointed secretary of the newly-formed county school committee.  There will be 51 school districts affected at the hearings, with more than 120 rural schools in the districts.

 

The hearings will be pointed at the consolidation of school districts in which some schools will be closed and districts that are jeopardized by small enrollments.  The purpose of the committee is to band smaller, weaker school districts together into stronger units.

 

Loyal’s Ice Carnival, suspended during the last four years, will be held this Saturday afternoon under sponsorship of the Loyal Rotary Club.

 

Eleven girls are vying for title of Queen of the Ice Carnival: Eunice Bassett, Carole Bertz, Jean Christenson, Gail Colby, Darlene Degenhardt, Wilma Deuermeyer, Grace Fenner, Darlene Hales, Mary Ann Hecker, Joan Meyer and Evelyn Shefchik. 

 

Events will include races for age groups: 9 to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 18, and free-for-all.  Entries may be sent to: Leo Meyer, Rev. Lee H. Holmes, Henry F. Ott, Ray Schultz and E. Lavern Dahlby.

 

The city of Neillsville will get a new water treatment plant in the near future.  Philip Davy of Davy Engineering Co. of La Crosse presented the engineer’s design for the proposed plant at the Feb. 10 city council meeting.  The cost of the plant, at prevailing prices, is set at about $153,000.  The engineering fees for designing the building will be approximately $5,300.

 

Gilbert Johnson Clothing Store

Located on Hewett Street, Neillsville, in the late 1800s.  Johnson sold his store and merchandise to August Snyder in 1903: Light fixtures were kerosene lamps held in ceiling brackets.  Two traveling trunks held up the large table serving as a service counter.  (Photo courtesy of Clark County Historical Society Jail Museum)

 

 


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