Index of "Good Old Days" Articles

Clark County Press, Neillsville

Dec. 30, 1998, Page 24

Transcribed by Sharon Schulte

Good Old Days

By Dee Zimmerman

December 1868

The "doings" in these parts during the Holidays were principally upon the "light, fantastic toe." Many participated to their heart’s content. Everyone seemed satisfied in being able to forget daily business for the temporary lively season of gayety in the ballroom and indulgence in the "poetry in motion." The sleighing was certainly "nothing to brag on," yet some sleighs were brought out. If the runners didn’t slip as good as desired, at this particular season, there was some satisfaction in hearing the merry sleigh bells jingle.

New Year’s night at Stafford’s Hall was the scene of a large assemblage of those who delight in the mazy dance. Between eighty and ninety reservations were made and at least seventy-five couples were present. The "Old Excellency’s band" must certainly have been something extra.

W.S. Covill, Sheriff of Clark County, offers to look after lands for non-residents, examine titles, etc. We cheer and fully recommend Covill as a reliable and trustworthy gentleman. He will attend any business entrusted to his care in an efficient and honorable manner.

The time for hunting and killing deer expires on January 15.

C.E. Adams store has an endless variety of breakfast shawls. All are at greatly reduced prices.

The Pickrun Harness Shop was located in Greenwood, circa 1900. The neatly organized shop displayed a variety of harnesses with bridles and many horse collars. Horses are of different sizes which required an assortment of collars to be able to choose the proper fit for each animal. At the far right, a roll of tanned leather was kept to be used in harness making and repairs. (Photo courtesy of the Clark County Historical Society's Jail Museum).

December 1933

The grocers of Clark County agree on a uniform poor relief price. Grocers from all parts of Clark County have met at the courthouse with Will Wood, County Poor Relief Commissioner, to lay plans to setting a standard price for groceries sold to the relief department.

Merchants of the county will handle, free of charge, the foodstuffs to be allotted poor relief offices by the federal government. That will include flour, butter, cheese, salt pork, canned beans and peas.

A committee of grocers will meet every two weeks to fix grocery prices. Wood’s office will know exactly what price grocery items will be, no matter where purchased in the county.

Did anyone see S.G. Patey drive into town a week ago Wednesday with Art Wilding seated in the rear seat, when Wilding had his arms clasped in a death-like grip around a 150 pound pig? To those who saw this mysterious scene, this story will explain everything.

It appears that Patey bought two pigs from Edwin Timmler, which he intended to ship to his brother at Sparta. As an assistant in the project, Patey took his good friend, Wilding along. Not having a crate, they drove the pigs into bags which they placed in the rear of the car. No sooner had they started for Neillsville, when one of the pigs got out of his sack. It jumped up on the seat beside Wilding. Patey heard the commotion in back of him. When he saw one of the porkers loose, he issued a sharp command: "Don’t open the doors." At the same time, he stepped on the gas to shorten the traveling time to Neillsville.

Meanwhile, Wilding and the pig wrestled valiantly.

By the time the traveling wrestling match reached Neillsville, Wilding called "time." He declared he was in no shape to continue his "hog wrestle" as far as Sparta. Patey drove to Markwardt’s farm and left his pigs there, temporarily. Whether Wilding will be recuperated enough to book the trip to Sparta next week remains to be seen. If not, Patey will have to sign someone else for the next bout.

Last week the Board of Trustees of the Neillsville Presbyterian Church, authorized by a meeting of the congregation, sold the church manse (parsonage) to Mrs. George Cramer. After making some necessary repairs and improvements, it will be occupied by the Cramer family.

The manse has been leased since Presbyterian services were discontinued here. It was last occupied by Rev. and Mrs. Findley.

Notice! The checks issued by the Neillsville Shipping Association when the banks closed last March 1933, and remaining unpaid, may be cashed at the Neillsville Bank.

Farmers of Wisconsin have a right to know why butter is not served at all meals in CCC camps instead of only once a week as some of the boys report. They are expected to eat dry bread six days a week, according to well-founded statements.

At the present prices, butter is no luxury and it can be served at every meal at small expense. Incidentally, this added consumption would assist in reducing the dairy surplus now depressing the market.

Word from Washington was received this week that plans for reopening the First National Bank had been worked out. The action has been approved by the Comptroller of the Currency.

A considerable part of the preliminary work has already been done locally. The completion of the details will take some additional time, owing to the numerous official requirements.

December 1938

Neillsville taxpayers are getting a real Christmas present this year in the form of a reduction of $2.30 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation on their 1938 taxes.

The total rate to be assessed city taxpayers – including state, county, city and school taxes – will be $37.09 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.

Nineteen tickets charging violation of the city’s newest ordinance were passed out last night by Patrolman George Cramer. The ordinance prohibits parking on city streets from 1 a.m. to 5:30 a.m., November through April. The reason for this action is to enable snow removal work during those hours.

City aldermen, in passing the ordinance, expressed the desire that it be enforced only when snow removal operations were necessary. Police Chief Fred A. Rossman said the 19 tickets were given out as a warning and that prosecution would not be pressed.

The Silver Dome Ballroom has free dances every Saturday night.

The local cannery, operated by J.B. Inderreiden Co., will be operated next season. This decision has been reached, in spite of the excess of canned goods in the market. Also, a consequent decision on the part of many canners was to cut down the volume in the year 1939.

The Inderrieden organization is participating in a general program of canners to push the sale of canned goods now, thus to pave the way for a 1939 season as nearly as possible up to normal.

Mesdames Albert Resong, Henry Hauser, Joe Haas, Arnold Gustman, Robert Schiller and Francis Welsh and Miss Helen Hemmersbach were hostesses at a 20 table card party at St. Mary’s Church Hall Monday evening. Barney Haas and Mrs. Milo Chapman had high scores at bridge; Joe Resong and Mrs. Frank Kunce were high at 500 and Martin Reinart and Mrs. Carl Roder were winners at the sheepshead game.

December 1948

A Watch-night party will be held at the Methodist church on New Year’s Eve for all who wish to come. The young people will begin the evening with a skating party on the city rink. At about 9 p.m., they will go to the church, where they will be joined with less agile adults. There will be games for everyone and a lunch will be served. A devotional program beginning at about 11:15 p.m. will close the year of 1948. All are welcome to attend.

Harris Schoengarth, son of Mr. And Mrs. Albert Schoengarth, celebrated his 18th birthday on Christmas Eve. His parents arranged a family dinner in honor of the occasion. Those attending the party were Mr. And Mrs. Bill Davis and family, Mrs. John Davis and Mr. And Mrs. Fred Schoengarth.

A batch of over-roasted peanuts gave occupants of the George Hubing apartment house on South Clay Street a bad time for a few minutes Sunday night.

Most of the adult occupants had gathered in the Hubing apartment for a holiday party. This is everyone except C.M. Hunt, a retired implement salesman, who lives in a ground floor apartment.

The party was well on its way when Mrs. Hubing smelled smoke. They looked into the hallways and found them filled by an ominous black smoke which all but concealed the glow of the hallway lights in its density.

The party broke up in a hurry. The Hubings scurried about the big frame building, seeking the location of the blaze they feared would break out momentarily in a roaring inferno.

Mr. And Mrs. Lloyd Zimmer rushed to their upstairs apartment to get their child, who was slumbering peacefully there.

E.E.Hart, the Neillsville Bank cashier, and his wife knew their children were out, so they had only to save whatever valuables they could.

At the bottom of the stairway, Hart was stopped by Hunt, who appeared in the doorway of his apartment. Unconcerned as could be about the smoke that was causing so much commotion, Hunt casually asked where he might get a Christmas seal.

In spite of the urgency of the moment, Hart stopped to direct the elderly man to D.E. Peters, who heads the local Christmas seal drive.

Then, he paused in thought. The situation struck him as peculiar: an elderly man who certainly must see and smell the black smoke – for it filled his apartment as well as the hallway – standing there casually inquiring about Christmas seals.

So, he asked Hunt.

Oh certainly, Hunt rejoined. He knew all about the smoke. As a matter of fact, it originated in his apartment: some peanuts he had placed into the oven to roast, merely over roasted. In fact, they burned.

Loyal High School’s basketball team took the lead in the southern division of the 3-C Conference cage race last week at Granton. They had an impressive 46 to 33 victory over Granton High’s Bulldogs. It was Granton’s first conference setback this season.

Granton kept an even pace with the sharp shooting of Knack, Catlin and Vandehey in the last three periods. The halftime score was 23 to 17, Loyal.

High scoring honors went to Knack, Loyal forward, who tallied 15 points. Vandehey, Loyal center, who set an all-time scoring mark for the 3-C last year, vied with Garbisch of Granton for second place in the race with 12 points.

The Granton roster consisted of Garbisch, Helm, Schumacher, Trimberger, Jahnke, Smith and Nickel. Loyal players were Knack, Catlin, Vandehey, Bugar and Dagenhardt.

One recruit was received into the Service Company, 128th Infantry, at his drill in the Armory last Monday night. There are nine other applicants who are awaiting physical examinations for acceptance to the company.

There are the first applications considered by the local company since the bars on recruiting were lowered last summer. The selective service registration has since gone into effect.

The new recruit is Charles Scherer. Assuming the other nine recruits pass their physicals, the Service Company will then have vacancies for 48 more men under the new tables of organization.

To make the organization more interesting for its new members, the officers and other members are organizing a rabbit feed and Holiday party.

They are hoping a rabbit hunt will provide enough rabbit for a feed. The 60 members of the company will be divided into two groups, and the losing group will prepare and furnish the meal. Cooking of the food will be done in the Armory on Guard equipment. The cooks will be Harold (Suicide) Mohr and Eugene Diercks.

It could be an expensive feed if the losers of the hunt fails to produce enough rabbits to feed the Company.

The Service Company now has a basketball team with a squad of about 30. The coach is Bitzy Wasserburger.

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