Clark County Press, Neillsville, WI

October 15, 2003, Page 14

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

 

Clark County News

 October 1873

 

The maple woods in this vicinity look grand in their autumn dress of red, yellow and orange.  It inspires one with poetic emotions mingled with sadness of summer’s closure and starts him to hunting partridge.

••••••••••

The Lumberman post office has been discontinued in the village of Greenwood, according to the Greenwood Gazette. The people of that village will continue their endeavors in getting daily mail, which they should have.

••••••••••

From all we can learn, the village of Humbird is still badly afflicted with smallpox. A dispatch from there this morning reports eight deaths and twenty cases, presently.  The cold, wet weather that we have had is probably the cause of this mortality.

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Mrs. James Tenant, who resides near here, is one of the heirs of the celebrated Chase estate in England.  Mrs. Tenant’s claim, which is as good as that of any of the American heirs, is being managed by W. T. Hutchinson.  The Chase estate is not so much of a myth as many suppose.  Over a hundred years ago, a large estate was forfeited to the Crown of England on account of the alleged treason of the owner.  Long subsequently Chase was proved innocent of treason.  Then after a tortuous suit in chancery, the value to the estate with accrued interest of over a hundred years amounting in all to $160,000,000, reverted to the heirs.  It is only left to satisfy the English courts of whom the heirs are which in Mrs. Tenant’s case; she expects to have but little trouble proving.

••••••••••

C. Blakeslee, of Sparta, is reconstructing the “Regulator” store building.  He is preparing to put in a large stock of goods.  This announcement will please many of his old patrons in Clark County, who have known him since the time when the man who brought a stock of goods to Clark County was a public benefactor.  Blakeslee opened the first store that was established in Clark County and has been engaged in the mercantile business, off and on, ever since.  He will be warmly welcomed back to his old business and his old home also should he conclude to locate here again permanently.

••••••••••

Mr. Eyerly’s workshop is now filled with the window frames and ornaments for Mr. Hewett’s new residence which already makes such an imposing appearance.  The work spoken of is some of the best we have ever seen and shows Mr. Eyerly knows what he is about.  The window frames for the mansard roof, which are circular, are especially artistic.

••••••••••

George Lloyd has an assortment of handsome club ice skates for both ladies and gentlemen in his hardware shop.  Soon it will be the season and these skates are just the thing for winter fun.

••••••••••

The annual ceremony of going into the woods has been observed by a few of the lumbermen, but the exodus for the timber is very far from being as general as usual. The unusual scarcity of money and the Depression in the lumber market are warning enough to most to let the pine stand and keep out of debt.  Considerable logging will be done by mill owners and a few others who may venture out on a small scale for want of something to do.  But, beyond this, there will be little harvesting in the woods this winter.

••••••••••

Last Saturday, October 25, a brisk snowstorm set in which lasted all day, though the snow melted nearly as fast as it fell.  Everybody enjoyed it as they do when the first warm snow storm arrives.  Then the next day, it turned colder and still continued to snow.  The people then began to be sick of it.  An innumerable amount of sleighs were out to take advantage of the situation and the sleighing was quite good. The snow continued to fall all day on Monday, though after reaching the depth of ten or twelve inches, it melted below, next to the ground, about as fast as it fell.  Since that time, the weather has been just cold enough to preserve the snow where it is not traveled upon and the indications are at this time that it will remain with us.

••••••••••

Clark County is now flooded with hunters from all parts of the state.  They are taking advantage of the early snowfall.  Fortunately for the deer but few of these men are expert hunters.  In most cases, the deer have more fun over this hunting than the hunters do.

••••••••••

Miss Katy Kirkland, an accomplished music teacher and sister of Mr. Frank Kirkland, has taken up her residence here with a view of practicing her profession.  She is boarding at Mrs. Stafford’s place, where she has some very elegant rooms fitted up for the reception of pupils.

 

Mrs. Frank Kirkland lived in Neillsville during the 1870’s and was known as a lady of the modern fashions for that era.

 

October 1953

 

At an estimated cost of $500 and a good many hours of time donated by members, the Neillsville Sportsmen’s club has restored to use a dam in the Town of Hewett.  It is approximately 10.5 miles west of the city on Highway 10 and 2.2 miles south.

 

The dam backs up water in a swampland of the Clark County forest area and its principle purpose is the propagation and feeding of local ducks and the furnishing of a stop-over place for northern ducks. 

It is one of the many dams that were put in with drainage ditches in the county forest area during the old Civilian Conservation Corps days, in the 1930’s.  The dam had been washed out.  Working Sundays and hiring help in doing what couldn’t be done by hand; members of the club repaired the dam and the earth-filled wings, which had been washed out.  They lowered an overflow cut in one wing, replaced a gate iron and rip rapped the wings with rock.

 

The plan of the Sportsmen’s club is to return to use other such dams in the area for the betterment of wild game, particularly ducks and duck hunting.

••••••••••

We don’t have a leaning tower in our community, but we do have a leaning silo in the Riverside area.  The silage filled steel silo on the William Happe farm, occupied by the Glen Gower family, began to lean toward the barn on Saturday.  The silo has now pushed into one end of the barn, next to where it stands.  The silo chute is entirely pushed into the barn and the big question of the Gower’s is, “How do we get up into the silo to get the silage out?”  They are open to any suggestions.

••••••••••

Mr. and Mrs. Leo Roehl, of the Riverside community, invited their friends over on Thursday evening for a corn husking bee.  After the corn was husked, a nice lunch was to be served to those present.  Just at the time that they were going to eat, the fire alarm was sounded and it was learned that a fire had started in the Chili saw mill, owned by Glen Roehl and Ed Ploman.  All of the people, at the husking bee, delayed lunch, hurrying to go to the fire.  A pile of sawdust had started to burn and was soon put out without any damage to the mill.

••••••••••

Miss Janet Rottjer, Loyal and Gene Cook, Loyal were married October 10 in the Loyal Methodist Church with the Rev. Willard Mechlenberg performing the ceremony.

 

The bride was dressed in a white waltz length gown with a three-tiered net skirt over satin and a lace jacket. Her flowers were an irregular arrangement of stephanotis, white orchids and feathered mums.

 

Her matron of honor was Mrs. Jerry Jones of Marinette; Miss Margaret Ann Rottjer of Loyal was her bridesmaid. They wore gowns identical to that of the bride.

 

The groom was attended by Jerry Jones, best man and Roy Cook, groomsman.  Gerald Anderson of Neillsville and Warren Habick, of St. Paul, served as ushers.

 

A dinner was served in the church parlors for relatives and friends.  A reception was held later at the home of the bride’s aunt, Mrs. Emma Rottjer.

 

The bride is a graduate of the Loyal High School and Stout Institute at Menomonie:  The groom, a graduate of the Loyal High School, has just returned from 18 months of service in Korea.  Mrs. Cook is a home economics instructor in the Clintonville High School and the groom is employed as a parts man at the Ford garage in Marion, Wis.  They will make their home in Marion.

••••••••••

A marsh fire broke loose Tuesday afternoon on the Buddenhagen marsh, Section eleven, Town of Levis.  Conservation men responded from Pray and Fairchild.  The fire was out by Wednesday noon, except for the simmering peat, which is very thick in that particular marsh area.

••••••••••

The trustees of the Congregational Church have negotiated the purchase of the residential property at the southeast corner of Park and Fourth Streets.  Volunteers from the church, men and women, have been putting the house into condition for occupancy.  The house will be used as a parsonage.

 

Volunteers from the congregation have been reconditioning the house and completed the inside painting on Tuesday evening of this week.  A potluck dinner will be served at the church on Sunday.  Thereafter the men of the church will make a fund raising canvas to provide the financing of the house purchase.

 

Rev. Frank B. Harcey, who has accepted the pastorate, plans to arrive in Neillsville with his household effects on October 30.  He plans to preach his first sermon as pastor of the church on November 1.  This plan was made known last weekend to B. H. Crissinger, who saw Rev. Harcey recently.

••••••••••

Be sure to attend the Ham and Chicken dinner to be held Oct. 29 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Greenwood.  Serving starts at 5 p.m.  The menu consists of ham, chicken, potatoes, baked beans, peas, salad, and apple or pumpkin pie.  The price is $1.25 per adult and 65c per child.

••••••••••

It’s a treat to discover an interesting place to dine away from home.  You’re in for an interesting discovery when you stop in at the Roadside Bar and Café, where highways 10, 73 and 95 join on Division Street in Neillsville.

 

It is not a pretentious place but it is spick and span.  Vi and Ed Burckhard see to that.  The Roadside Café has a “homey” atmosphere, which you’ll enjoy.

 

Ed, with his friendly grin, is the unofficial greeter and Vi, his wife, presides expertly and efficiently in the kitchen.  With her interest in things culinary, it is not surprising that Vi turns out a variety of dinners; enough to tempt every member of the family, no matter the individual taste.

 

They serve French fried shrimp, crisp and good; big, meaty African lobster tail; homemade pies and cakes that make your mouth water; sandwiches and short orders.  These foods are available at all times.

 

It is not unusual to find a place that has what is known as a “specialty of the house.”  The Roadside Bar and Café could claim at least three specialties.

 

First – both Vi and Ed consider it their topper, fried chicken, which is served only on Saturday and Sunday.  A generous, large dinner is served for $1.00.  It is a real delight in eating pleasure.  If you think you’ve had good chicken before, stop in this weekend and try the chicken specialty of the Roadside Bar and Café.

 

Another dish, which rates “specialty billing”, is the special fish fry, which is a feature of the Roadside every Friday.  People in this area enjoy fish fries and they will enjoy stopping in at the Roadside on a Friday evening for Vi’s good fish dinner at 50 cents per serving.

 

If you don’t feel up to a full dinner, Ed recommends short orders, or, perhaps sandwiches.  In the “specialty class” of sandwiches, is the Roadside’s “Western Special.”  Stop there sometime and try it.  You’ll be in for a pleasant surprise.

 

Other dining places in the vicinity are: Becker’s Café and Bar, located on Hewett Street.  Stop there for a good square meal, served from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.  Minette’s Sweet Shop is open from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.  They serve the finest of foods, day or night and can take reservations for private parties.  Quicker Dairy Bar is located on 5th Street.  They feature large ice cream sundaes for only 20c.  The sundaes are made with fresh ice cream that is manufactured in their own store.  They also serve other snack items, such as soups, sandwiches and other desserts.  The Prust Triangle, one mile south of Granton, on Highway 10, serves seafood, chicken, steaks and fish.  Club 10, east of Neillsville, on Highway 10, is open to serve you from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m.  Their dinners consist of frog legs, steaks, shrimp, scallops, lobster and fish.  You are sure to enjoy yourself at Steinie’s.

••••••••••

To those who note a decoration upon the right cheek of Carl Opelt, he owes an explanation.  This is it:

 

Carl once had a buck deer, which he had trained to play a game with him.  The game was that Carl would make a few passes at the buck and then would fall to the ground, with his head down to the ground.  The buck then came at Carl, as though to give him the full roughing treatment.  But that buck, Carl had trained, to stop just before they tangled.

 

That buck, however, finally went the way of all bucks and disappeared.  Carl took on another buck for training.  Carl used the same maneuvers with the new buck, but he forgot that the new buck wasn’t fully trained to the game.  He petted the new buck, made a few passes with him and fell to the ground in the usual manner.

 

The new buck, not having attended Carl’s school of deer training, reacted as nature told him to react.  He came at Carl and he didn’t stop.  He rammed his head right into Carl’s head and kept ramming.

 

All of this happened in the gravel pit, where there were nice little stones upon which to scrape Carl’s head and face.  The buck also scraped Carl’s head and face with his horns.  When the buck tired of this operation, he left Carl with a raw spot on his right cheek and with a skinned nose that is also a little out of plumb.

••••••••••

Last Wednesday evening, a program was given in the honor of Mrs. Adolph Meyer, who recently retired after 43 years as organist in the Zion Church of Greenwood.

 

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