Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin, November 21, 2012, Page 11

Soon the song of the wild goose will be heard as he wends his way southward to a more congenial clime.

The outside work of the Catholic Church is about completed. It is a fine building and a credit to this place.

Dan Reidel has finished working on Free Lindsay’s office without killing one of the loafers that never ceased to annoy him while the work was being done.

An unusual number of deer have been converted into venison in this locality this fall. Hunting is pronounced uncommonly great, hereabouts, this season.

A hunting party, composed of prominent men from Sparta and other localities, whose names we have not been able to learn, are now occupying Doc French’s famous hunting camp on the East Fork.

What our county wants is a jail that the tramps can’t break into and steal their lodgings whenever they see fit to do so.

Episcopal services will be held in the Chapel Hall of the school house in this village, next Sabbath at 11 o’clock a.m. and 7 p.m., by the Rev. N. H. Ross, of Black River Falls.

The annual squirrel hunt for the Towns of Eaton and Warner came off last Wednesday. A. S. Eaton was captain of one side and John T. Vine of the other. We are forced to the conclusion that Vine’s side, to which I had the honor to be chosen and never worked so hard in my life, either did poor shooting or very bad lying. Eaton’s side killed two chipmunks, one hundred and sixty-four red squirrels, thirty-two gray squirrels, thirty-six partridges, four jaybirds, seventeen woodcocks, eight porcupines and eight rabbits, which amounted in a large count. Both sides make it manifest by the manner in which they pitched into and enjoyed the best supper ever gotten up by the princess of landladies, Mrs. Begley. The exercises of the day were closed by a splendid social hop at the Robinson and Company’s Hall.

A Clark County tax of $40,000 was voted by the county Board at its meeting last Friday afternoon. At the evening meeting the appropriation was reduced to $25,000, the amount first voted having been considered too large, though barely sufficient to pay outstanding orders and defray current expenses during the coming year.

This past week has been a very pleasant one for the farmers, but lumbermen would prefer to see the thermometer down among the forties, to such mildness in this late November.

Parents should bear in mind that their boys are not benefited by being allowed to assume the role of Street Arabs, however pleasant the evenings may be.

Attention is being called to an oyster supper to be given for the benefit of the Presbyterian and Methodist ministers. Through the generosity of the parties getting up the supper, the entire receipts will be devoted to the purpose stated above and the attendance should be general. Let the people of Neillsville, who are noted for generosity in everything else, for once manifest the same spirit in the support of those who minister to their spiritual wants, ever bearing in mind that the servant is worthy of his hire.

The oyster supper will be given at the residence of Mr. D. R. Brown, December 5^th, for the benefit of Rev. W. T. Hendren and Rev. W. H. Chynoweth. Tickets are 75 cents each.

Last Sunday a deer was seen making a tour of our village, passing through the most populous part of the town, quite leisurely. It was evidently a victim of misplaced confidence if it thought the holiness of the day would be its protection, as several hunters were soon on its track, but with what success we are unable to say.

The OPA announcement Monday, states that coffee will be rationed after November 28 and that has brought forth a number of Clark County residents who have never had sugar rationing books.

Leo W. Foster, executive secretary of the rationing board, said at least five persons had applied for sugar ration books on Monday. The reason is that stamps in the so-called sugar book will be used for coffee.

Coffee will be “frozen” November 23, according to the OPA announcement and rationing will start after midnight, November 28. Stamp number 27 in the sugar book will be used for the purchase of one pound of coffee for a five-week period.

Local grocers said the announcement of coffee rationing to come has not resulted in the “run” on coffee that might ordinarily be expected. The reason, in most instances, is that their coffee stocks have been small, due to rationing to wholesalers, roasters and retailers.

Whenever they have had coffee on hand, the grocers said, it has been quickly bought up. Some grocers said they have been practicing a self-rationing program during the last two or three weeks to make their coffee stock last longer.

The “Kaffee-Klatsch,” favorite indoor pastime for many Neillsville businessmen and others became a thing of the past this week; another casualty or the war.

The lineup at restaurant counters, which began at 7 o’clock each morning, dwindled to a mere trickle as restrictions on coffee were ushered in with the “freeze” on retail coffee sales at midnight Saturday.

Most of the regular devotees to the Kaffee-Klatsch found themselves in this predicament on their first try Sunday:

“And what will you have with it?” would be the polite inquiry; and then came the explanation that restaurants, under the coffee rationing regulations are permitted to serve coffee to those customers who took something to eat also.

To some, particularly the morning members of the coffee clutch, the restriction was no hardship, for a roll usually accompanied the cup of coffee, anyway. But the majority of those who made from three to 13 trips for coffee daily felt the pinch. Some turned to coke, others to Postum or tea, and a few to milk for a substitute.

How satisfactory the substitutes may be will soon be seen. But the betting is that politics and lunch counter war strategy will receive far less public airing than before.

You can save rubber and help win the war if you will do these things listed below:

Mr. A. E. Russell has leased and is now occupying the Eberhardt building on South Hewett Street. This is the location formerly occupied by the Schiller furniture store. Mr. Russell will occupy the main floor, balcony and basement for the Gamble store and will sublet the upper floor, which consists of living apartments. Mr. Russell purchased the Schiller furniture stock and will continue in the furniture business, which has long been conducted in this location.

Mr. Russell is thus the first and only business man of Neillsville who has chosen to expand as his answer to the problems of war. In his new location his business is occupying approximately double the floor space of the former location. The outlook is that the enlarged space will be a close fit.

The Gamble Store agency here has been conducted definitely as a family project, with Mrs. Russell in continuous service, along with her husband and with the daughter frequently taking a hand. The only additional help rendered is now by a high school student. A year or so ago the Russell’s had the help of a full-time man. In the new location they intend to try, at least at first, to manage as in the recent past. Thus, in a time of restricted manpower, they intend to reduce their own problems to its lowest dimensions. But with this better location on Neillsville’s main street, they lack complete confidence that they will be able to get on thus over any extended period.

The story of an “impossible” trek over the Owen Stanley mountain range in New Guinea by American troops, directed by Maj. Herbert M. Smith of Neillsville, is told by Robert J. Doyle, Milwaukee Journal war correspondent, in a radioed dispatch from New Guinea.

By making this move, American soldiers flanked the Japanese at Buna, principal Jap base on northeast New Guinea, which now is threatened by American forces under Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

“Experienced military men shook their heads at the plan to take the force over a pass, which they said no white man ever had crossed,” wrote Doyle. “But Maj. Smith, after sending a daring patrol of modern Daniel Boones over the rugged range, was able to take his entire force, several hundred tough soldiers, over the range in just two weeks.”

As the patrol pushed ahead marking supply bases on the route, a group of engineers and infantrymen, using hand tools, built a jeep trail to the first supply dump, Doyle wrote.

American Negro engineers helped build a bridge with nothing but logs tied with straps of bark. When the first truck of the force came over the road, one of the men looked up and said, “Boy! We are in the war now! Here comes our infantry.” The force built 35 miles of road in five days.

“After three supply dumps had been established, Major Smith received orders from Port Moresby to start over the mountain. The leading elements crossed the high pass and reached the farthest base in 10 days. After the rest of the force arrived, the troops moved down the north side of the mountain to a bush camp 30 miles from Buna to await the order to attack.”

While the commander at Port Moresby was writing a message to the men under Major Smith, he received this radioed message from Capt. William Boice, one of the officers under Major Smith: “Thanks for the rations. Please have faith in us.”

Nine young people of the Lutheran congregations of Greenwood and Christie will be confirmed at the 10:30 o’clock service at the Trinity Lutheran Church Sunday morning. Those to be confirmed of the Trinity congregation of Greenwood are Robert Mech, George Zuehlke, Lewis Durst, Bernard May, Hertha Heilman and Dorothy May. Those from St. John’s Church at Christie are Wilmer Lueck, Bernita Lueck and Angelyn Marg.

These confirmants will receive Holy Communion at their respective churches on Sunday, November 22.

Chippewa Hunting Coats, Red & Black Plaid with fame pockets, for everlasting wear! $8.95

McCain’s at Neillsville has a Women’s Special - New Wrap Around Jersey Turbans, a wide selection of colors, $1.00 to $1.25; also New This Week - Holiday Dresses, for the coming Holidays, All Sizes, $5.95 to $8.95

Thanksgiving Specials at the Neillsville Bakery - Mince, Pumpkin Pies 30¢; Hard Candies 20¢ - 35¢ lb. Ass’t Chocolates 40¢ lb

Game Warden Alva A. Clumpner revealed this week that his application for volunteer officer training in the army has been accepted and said he expects to be called within a few weeks.

Mr. Clumpner has been granted a leave of absence from the conservation department for the duration of the war. He has asked to be resigned to Clark County on his return to civilian life.

Volunteer officer training is open only to men with a 3-A draft classification. Candidates are required to take basic training before going to officer training school. Mr. Clumpner anticipates leaving with the next group of selectees from Clark County.

The Pleasant Ridge Creamery, old and well-known cheese factory of the Town of Grant, will close at the end of November. Vinton Lee, veteran cheesemaker, who has mead cheese there and lived in the building since 1919, is retiring. His household effects will remain in the building, but he plans to spend the winter away.

This old cheese factory business dated back to 1898, when it was incorporated. It was organized in the Pleasant Ridge neighborhood, one of the fine farming sections of Central Wisconsin. Its membership consisted mostly of neighbors. Its stocks are rather widely held, but its patrons number only 16 at the time of its closing.

The factory has a history of 44 years, with continuous operations except for 11 months in World War I. It closed in 1918 and re-opened in 1919.

When Mr. Lee announced his desire to retire, his old friends recognized the improbability of securing a successor on terms commensurate with the present volume of business. So the decision is to put everything into good order, to retain all the equipment and to lock the doors. The plant will be kept in readiness for operation if and when the conditions indicate.

The officers and directors are Alvin Eisentraut, president; Bert Swann, vice-president; Arno Drescher, director; William Duge, treasurer; Harold Huckstead, secretary.

Robert Gunder of Milwaukee, 17-year-old nephew of Henry Stiemke of Neillsville, borrowed everything but the buck. He got that himself.

Bob hitch hiked a ride to Neillsville from his home; borrowed a shotgun from Mr. Stiemke, borrowed ammunition from another, uncle, Willard Scheiderer of Milwaukee. He went hunting in the Columbia country and dropped a six-point buck with two shots, which wasn’t bad for a greenhorn.

But he did not have a knife. So he tried to borrow a knife from the first stranger that came along. The stranger went one better, he dressed the deer out for Bob.

Incidentally, he did put up the money himself for the hunting license and deer tag.

The Presbyterian Church of Neillsville went back to the early days of the community, when the Rev. Mr. Harris started preaching services here. Later, the Rev. James Mair, a Scot, served the congregation, holding services in the schoolhouse, then in the courthouse. The organization was perfected Aug. 2, 1869, and in 1875 the church building was erected on the southwest corner of Fifth and Court Streets. The third pastor was Rev. W. T. Hendren, who was instrumental in the building of the church and raising funds for that purpose. Feb. 13, 1930, a fire destroyed the church building, not to be rebuilt. The congregation merged with the Methodist Church Aug. 13, 1930. (Photo courtesy of Steve Roberts)

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