August 1927

The Secretary of State’s office has issued the following information in regard to the new auto driver’s license law.

It is the plan of the Secretary of State to begin the issue of operator’s license about Sept. 1.  After January 1, 1928, every person who drives a motor vehicle, whether he owns a car or not, is required to have a driver’s license.  It is estimated that within two years there will be two million such licenses issued in this state, two or three to each car.

The purpose of the operator’s license law appears to be to eliminate the dangerous drivers.  By this moral influence it may tone down the reckless individuals who are now a menace to our streets and highways.

The operator’s license law is not a revenue producing scheme, since licenses are granted free to owners of motor vehicles and a fee of 25 cents is charged to non-owners.

The questions answered by each person in his application, will reveal whether he is a suitable person to be trusted with such a potentially dangerous thing as an automobile.  In cases of doubt, the Secretary of State may require examination as to fitness.  These rests will be made by inspectors, chiefs or police and sheriffs.  Physical and mental tests, when found necessary, will be made by licensed physicians.  Applicants will pay the physician a fee of $2.

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The Sherwood Community Club announces their annual Chicken Pie Dinner to be held at the Sherwood town hall.  The dinner will be served on Thursday night, Aug. 25, beginning at six o’clock and until all are served, adults, 50 cents and children, 25 cents.  Proceeds are for the benefit of the church fund.

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The Marshfield Daily News changed hands on August 1, the new owners taking over the entire News property – The Marshfield Daily News, The Marshfield Weekly News and Wisconsin Hub, also the job printing plant.  The new owners are F. E. Noyes and son, I. H. Noyes of Marinette, Howard A. Quirt and Siegel Mayer of Ironwood, Mich.  Quirt will be the editor.

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Monday, shortly after noon, the large barn on the Henry Markwardt farm, known formerly as the Irv Lowe place, opposite the fair grounds, north side of the highway, was discovered on fire. The fire siren in Neillsville gave the alarm and the fire truck with a number of men, went there.  The fire had gone beyond control of the chemicals and there was not a sufficient supply of water to extinguish the fire.  Even then, no amount of water could have saved the barn, its contents and the stave silo. About 52 tons of hay also burned in the blaze.

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The grounds and buildings of the Clark County fairgrounds are ready for our fair that starts next week, on August 30^th.

Clark County has the reputation of building the largest dairy calf club in the State of Wisconsin.  It is the only county in the state to have a club-building dormitory on its fairground.  The club building will hold 200 club calves on its ground floor, with a dormitory above, 20’ by 120’, providing space for the boys and girls to be fed and cared for during the fair.

The large livestock building, holding 144 cattle, will be crowded to the door.  The swine building with 80 pens has been remodeled and will be filled with the best swing Clark County can produce.  The poultry building holding 500 birds has been re-whitewashed and many entries are coming in.

The fair management team has secured Grear’s Western Rodeo and Society Circus, Day and Night performance for Free Attractions. This brings a class of acts that will make up a program with 100 percent high-class offerings. There will be acts such as: “Over the Top” World’s champion jumping horse that will be leaping over an automobile full of passengers.  Grear and his outfit will keep the grandstand audience on their feet continuously with their exploits.  There will be Roman-standing races, Roman chariot races by two and four horse teams, in the regular old Roman fashion.  There will be a real rodeo with the “Riding Fools,” featuring daring rodeo artists.

The Lakeside Fireworks Co. of Roscoe, Ill., a company that manufactures their own goods will put on a fireworks demonstration Wednesday and Thursday evening.

The racetrack has been re-graded and is in A-1 shape.  The racing stables will be more than filled with the largest field of racing horses to be entered for many years.  The races will be held on the track and not in the barn.

On Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and evenings, the fair patrons will hve the privilege of being entertained by the Hammel Band of Abbotsford, Dorchester and Colby.  On Friday evening, the Granton Band and the Unity Orchestra will play for the dance in the dormitory.

The Fair Management extends an invitation to the people of Clark County and adjoining counties to be present at the fair.  They will enjoy themselves by seeing the many exhibits and a fine program of entertainment.

The Fair Management staff is represented by; Herman Braatz, Pres., Wm. Creed, Vice Pres.; H. O. Huckstead and M. E. Wilding, Sec.

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August 1957

“Moving Day” is expected to extend over a three-week period for the Nelson Muffler Corporation, which starts this week.

On that day, special moving equipment will come to Neillsville to start the tremendous job or moving the plant into its new $92,500 building.  The building, erected by the Neillsville Industrial Corporation, is located across from the Clark County fairgrounds, along Highway 10.

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Clark County has put another peg in its title as “Cheese Capitol of the World” last year.

It produced more than 41 million pounds of American cheese, or just over two-thirds of the total American cheese produced in the entire Ninth Congressional District, according to Cong. Lester R. Johnson.  The total district production was 61 million pounds.

“Clark County produced more than the whole state of New York or the next five of the top 10 states manufacturing American cheese,” he stated.

Also in this district-wide analysis, Congressman Johnson declared: “The same statistics show that the Ninth district shipped out of state a total of 186,568,000 pounds of milk.  This is more than all the milk produced during 1956 in either Rhode Island or Nevada.  Likewise in butter production, the Ninth district turned out 83,089,000 pounds of butter, or more than was produced in Nebraska, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan or Kansas in 1956.

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The second phase of grain harvesting, producing the best grain crop year in its history, was in full swing within Clark County this week.

Yields ranging up above 100 bushels per acre, with the average probably striking somewhere between 75 and 80 bushels, were reported by early harvesters.  By the end of this week most of the oat harvest is expected to be in the bins and when the final tally has been drawn, it will show a bumper crop.

A 100-plus yield was reported on the Fred Appleyard farm on Rt. 3, Neillsville.

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The Clark County 4-H club will be represented at the Wisconsin State Fair by nine animals – five Guernsey cattle, three Holsteins and a Jersey cow.  Each county is entitled to a 4-H herd of five animals. Also a Guernsey herd will be shown by: Adeline Johnson, Bernard Enkro, Evelyn Garbisch, Fred Garbisch, Jr. and Mary Ann Garbisch, all of Granton.

Peggy Imig with two animals and Larry Appleyard with one will show the Holsteins, and Larry Meyer of Loyal will exhibit a Jersey.

The eight boys and girls will be under the supervision of John Oncken, Clark County 4-H club leader.  Guernsey judging at the state fair will be August 23.  Holstein and Jersey Judging will be held August 24.  The Clark County animals will be taken to West Allis on August 22 and returned August 25.

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At a meeting held Tuesday night at the Forman School, located two miles east of Christie, just off Highway H, it was decided to dissolve the Forman School.  The school area will be split with the north section going to the Loyal School District and the south section going to Christie School District.  Sixteen children were involved in the split, states County Supt. Leonard Morley.  Eight children will go to the Loyal district and the remaining eight to the Christie district.

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Like two rams in the fairy tale who tried to cross the narrow bridge over a mountain stream, two Neillsville boys butted their cars head-on and tired to shove one another around.

It happened on a peaceful Sunday morning on North Emery Street.  And it also happened as State Traffic Officer Leon Luick was mowing his lawn a block away.

The whining of tires as the cars slid over and bit into the blacktop roadway surface, attracted the officer.  No one was making much headway; but both were digging down in good shape.  In work clothes and without the summons book he carries while on duty, Officer Luick called for city police and Officer Lawrence Struble appeared.

After much head-scratching in the city police office, Chief Lawrence Drescher decided a charge of “failing to yield the right of way” was about the right one for ram-like activities.  The young men, Jimmy Quicker and Keith Marden, both of Neillsville, each paid a fine of $20 and costs in Justice Henry Wittke’s court.

(A fine of $20, back then, was a big sum to pay in an attempt to prove whose car had the most power. DZ)

Quote from the Clark County Press, August 1928:  “The new grandstand at the Clark County Fairgrounds now looms up in the distance like an edifice.  With traffic being shut off on Highway 10 past the fairground, travelers can only see the building at a distance.  Different groups of men came each day to help the carpenters with the building project.  A larger crew of workers helped put on the roof.  Wilding, of the Fair Board, gave the grandstand project his constant attention since the day the plans were completed.  He has kept the work moving on the scheduled time.  John Moen of Neillsville and J. M. Philpot of Loyal were employed as the main carpenters who are entitled to much credit for the rapid progress and excellence in completing the project.”  The above photo was taken of the grandstand upon its completion and included some of the men who worked on it.  The two men at the far left are believed to be Moen and Philpott, head carpenters.  The three men at the far right were members of the Clark County Fair Board.  Hilbert Naedler, assumed to the be fifth man from the left, would have been 20 years old at that time when he helped in building the grandstand.  (Photo courtesy of the Hilbert Naedler Family Photo Collection)