Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

May 16, 2018 Page 9  

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

 May 1908

 

Two hundred men are at present employed at the Hatfield power plant, and this force will be doubled within the next week or ten days.  Three excavating machines on the canal are now in service, and the work is being pushed rapidly.  Power will likely be received in La Crosse late in July or early in August.  Some idea of the immense volume of water now going over the dam can be gained from the following: The spillway of the dam is 494 feet long and over this 14 inches of water are flowing all the time giving about 18,000 horsepower.

•••••••••

Frank Ruddock is working in the horseshoeing department of the blacksmith shop at Hatfield.  He has a pretty tough proposition on some of the company’s mules, but if there is any man who can handle the job it is Frank.

 

(Several teams of mules were used to pull earth-moving equipment on the dam project. DZ)  

•••••••••

Tragsdorf & Zimmerman Company have a full line of wire screen in black or green from 20- to 36-inch widths and they sell it from 12’ to 17’ a yard, also screen door from 90’ to $1.45, adjustable window screens from 25’ to 35’.

 

(At that time, screen doors were made up of a 3-inch width wooden framing, full-length with a brace through the middle, and metal hinges to be attached on one side of the doorframe.  After being used for a time, the screen would rust, get small holes in it and then it was time to replace the screening.  The hardware departments had rolls of screening in supply, usually in two widths and would cut off whatever length was needed.

 

As a kid on the farm, we had a German wire-haired pointer who we thought was fearless, until one Sunday afternoon when we were saw a big hole in the back porch screendoor where our “fearless” dog had gone through, seeking shelter from the thunder and lightning.  The next day, my dad made a trip to town to buy some new screening. DZ)                                                                                     

•••••••••

Grover Huntley and Chauncey Owens took the train from Neillsville to Merrillan Sunday morning.  They walked from there to Hatfield, vising the site of the powerhouse then walked back to Merrillan and came home on the midnight train, a little foot sore but ready for business Monday morning.

•••••••••

Mr. Renter now is the time to buy a lot in Neillsville.  We can put you on one of a number of choice fine lots, centrally located, on good streets, that can be bought on the installment plan, with the most reasonable terms, only $75 for a fine residential lot.  Call the clerk’s office for further information.

•••••••••

If you want real value in the line of Buggies, Spring Wagons, Milk Wagons or Farm Wagons, don’t fail to see those made by Wolff and Korman.  They carry the largest and most complete stock, and every part of each job is fully warranted. The welfare of our country consists in patronizing home industry.

 

(Wolff & Korman’s wagon factory was located on the east side of Hewett Street, and the north bank of O’Neill Creek. DZ)

 

Starting in the late 1800s and through the early 1900s, there was a wagon and buggy factory business located on the east side of Hewett Street, north side of the O’Neill Creek bridge and along the bank of the creek.  At that time, there were changes of owners, such as Wolff & Korman, Korman & Sommerfeld and Ghent & Korman.  Various styles of buggies and wagons, some being custom-made were in production.

•••••••••

Thursday night, during the thunderstorm, lightning struck the small barn of Martin Hoppe on the North Side, burning it to the ground.  The building was covered by a small insurance.

 

The same night, Bud Lazotte’s fine farm in the Town of Grant was fired by lightning and burned.  He saved his farm machinery.  The insurance of $600 partly covers his loss.  

•••••••••

Last Sunday, a class of 315 children were confirmed in St. John’s Catholic Church in Marshfield; the largest class in the history of the church.  This speaks well for Father Folz, who has been the pastor for the past year.

•••••••••

Heathville News

 

John Madler has rented out his farm for two years to the Schmidtke boys.  Last week, John and his wife went to Wausau where he has employment.

 

All those who attended the dance at Veefkind Saturday night reported a good time.  Only one thing that was lacking and that was a dance floor.

 

Willie Davis took a load of calves to Veefkind Tuesday morning to be shipped by Bertz and Garvin.

 

Miss Winifred Bundy is teaching in the Garbisch School District.

 

Clark County Ghost Towns

 

Wilcox, also known as York Center, was a crossroads center in York Township, with a store, a Woodman Hall, a town hall and a church.

 

Globe was an inland town, in Weston Township, located ten miles north of Neillsville in the center of a prosperous farming community.  It had a creamery, a German Lutheran Church, school and a store.

 

Butler was a neighborhood center in Butler Township, which had a cheese factory and a schoolhouse.

 

Snow was one-fourth mile west of the Wood County line, located on the north side of U. S. Highway 10.  It had a post office and a store.

 

May 1948

 

The inspection tour of Moraine tower-park, on Highway 10 at County trunk G intersection, resulted in the appointment of a number of Rotary Club subcommittees to maintain the park this summer.  The inspector was Arthur Epding, who made these appointments: Dr. M.V. Overman and Dave Parry, cooks; Arnold Gustman and Epding, food; E.E. Hart and William Hanley fire-makers; Frank Meier and Elliott Warlum, maintenance; Carl Hoffman and Sam Ray, carpentry detail; Fred Daft tree-planting detail; and Ted Smith, park policing.

 

Open season on outdoor steaks was declared Tuesday night by the Neillsville Rotary club.

 

They made the assault on some tender cuts at the Rotary Park, by the Moraine Tower.  They whetted their appetites by planting a number of evergreens and a policing of the park grounds so that it will be in good shape to receive any picnickers looking for a good spot to roast wieners.

 

Guests of the club included: C.E. Nelson, head of the Nelson Muffler Co.; Chester Wagner of Tomah; Dist. Atty. Clarence E. Gorsegner; and William Tragsdorf of Eugene, Ore.

•••••••••

The fishing season was over before it really began for two Hendren men this week.

 

Apparently they were over-anxious to try their fishing skills.  Everything was going well until Carl Frick, the game warden, poked his nose into that region.

 

Then the fishing suddenly took a sour turn.

 

Mr. Frick took the men into custody on a charge of fishing in a trout stream during a closed season.  They pleaded guilty to the charge when arraigned before Justice F.W. Nehs Monday morning.

 

Justice Nehs ordered them to pay fine and costs of $29.40 each, and this is what hurts, revoked their fishing license for year.                                                                                  

•••••••••

A “big fish contest” will be staged this year by the Hatfield Sportsmen’s Club.  The club directors, meeting last week, decided to pay $5 for the largest catch of the season in local waters, for each of the following: Walleyed pike, small mouth bass, catfish, crappie, German Brown trout, northern pike, large mouth bass, muskellunge, rainbow trout and brook trout.

 

Only club members are eligible for prizes.  Entries must be weighed in and registered at Vieau’s, Prusa’s or Cardinal’s.  Awards will be made in December.

 

The directors also selected several plots for the planting of deer food, and arrangements were made to have the work done.                                                                                               

•••••••••

Prizes amounting to upwards of $1,500 will be awarded to the men bowlers of Neillsville at the annual meeting and banquet to be held May 19.  The affair begins at 7 p.m. and will be held at the Masonic Temple.  Officers will be elected.  The Neillsville Bowling Association has nearly 200 members.

•••••••••

Dance to be held at the Lakeshore Pavilion at Hixton, Wis. – Saturday Night, May 15, Music by Roger Johnson & His Spot Light Band.                                                                      

•••••••••

Marriage Licenses:

Lila Roehl, Chili, and Gerald Nelson, Spencer; Leona D. Hegenbarth, Greenwood, and Ronald C. Tieman, Thorp; Agnes M. Hlavac, Spencer, and Donald J. Holterman, Spencer;  Helen Rosandich, Granton, and Lawrence Schultz, Spencer.                                                               

•••••••••

A practice game between the Neillsville Athletics and the Grand View Baseball Nine will be played, on the Grand View Diamond starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Gene Christie, manager of the A’s announces.  The Grand View field is located at the intersection of Highway 10 and County Trunk G, three miles west of the city.

 

The Grand View club has played some baseball this year; but the A’s, it will be their initial appearance, and the initial practice for many of the candidates.

 

Included in the A’s lineup will be pitchers Seltrecht of Granton, Frankie Zank, Fritz Subke and Harvey Mott; and Lefty Zank, Bud Bremer, Art Schraufnagel, Gordon Vine, Art and Gene Christie, Harold Milbreit, Earl Magnuson and Bob and Joe Urban, Jr.

 

The Grand View lineup will include Mitte, Sewell, Herb and Wilbur Henchen, Mart and Herb Wagner, Hank Zugisch, Watenpuhl and Cornest.                                                    

•••••••••

You know the saying, “Never underestimate the power of a woman?”  This might be modified, or rather multiplied by three these days at the Neillsville Country Club.  For three women are rolling up their sleeves and turning to, with a will to perform, some minor miracles in the way of redecorating the clubhouse.

 

The three dauntless ladies ae Sadie Haight, Mary Lee and Belle Howard, and the wielding paintbrushes; they are whizzes.  The main lounge of the clubhouse is being transformed with tasteful applications of dusty rose, with blue and white trim, while the porches are growing brilliant with generous coats of fiesta red and white.  The basement recreation room has been cleaned and touched up with fresh paint and is due for some special murals before it’s considered a finished job.

 

Oh, yes, they have been receiving invaluable assistance in the carpentry line from Hugh Haight and Dr. Lee, and from Bill Whalley and Millard Cole.  By the time the club’s opening takes place on Satruday, May 22, members can look forward to seeing a fresh and attractive clubhouse.

•••••••••

A style show featuring clothing worn during the last 100 years is planned as a feature of the second annual Clark County Homemakers Achievement day, June 16, according to an announcement from Home Agent Helen Wurthmann Jackson.

 

The achievement day will be held in the Greenwood High School.  Each homemaker club of the county will have a booth, in which will be displayed articles of historical interest.

•••••••••

Crews of volunteers were dodging between the raindrops this week in an effort to clear the new baseball diamond of stones at the fairground.

 

The first crew out comprised of 12 men, who raked Sunday morning until the rainfall forced a halt to proceedings.  Volunteers in that first crew were: Gene Christie, Harry Frantz, Bob Harvey, Mike Hopkins, Kurt Listeman, P.C. Ludovic, John Moen, Frank Nauertz, Irvin N. Thoma, Jack Tibbett, John Weiting and Joe Zimmer.

 

The raking is urgent at this time, because the newly-planted grass has started to come up, and in a little while it will be next to impossible to remove all the stone necessary to make an ideal playing field.

 

Twenty-three volunteers worked Monday night, supplementing the work, which was done in the afternoon by a smaller crew; and 28 were at it again Tuesday night, including members of the Rotary Club, who adjourned their meeting early to help on the baseball diamond.

 

Kurt Listeman, who was raking rocks on the baseball diamond on Sunday morning, recalled that it was 50 years ago that he and five men from “the Brewery” went up to the fairground to work on that self-same athletic field.

 

“I wonder,” mused Mr. Listeman, “how many of you fellows here now will be back here 50 years from now?”

•••••••••

The Neillsville High School junior prom marked a highlight of the closing year Saturday night, May 15, at the Armory.  The Armory was decorated in a “sweetheart” theme, with heart-shaped cutouts in American beauty red.  Miss Mary Dickoff was in charge of prom arrangements.  The prom king and queen, Robert Scott and Patricia Van Gorden, led the grand march and were crowned with due ceremony, the king with a crown of silver and the queen with a coronet of white flowers.  There was a good turnout of both students and adults who all danced to the music of the “Varsity Boys.”  Faculty members were present and said the crowd was one of the largest in recent years.                                                                         

•••••••••

The logic of a child’s mind often times is something to behold.  An apt illustration is the conversation Luanne Hubing, age 7, had recently with her mother, Mrs. Charles Hubing.

 

“If Charlotte and Bob (Jacob) are newlyweds,” reasoned Luanne, “then you and daddy must be cobwebs!”

 

(There are those who remember Charles and Lila Hubing, who farmed in the Granton area, and later moved to South Hewett Street in Neillsville.  They had two daughters, Charlotte and Luanne.  DZ)

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