December 1867

A hunting party, from here, has met with very poor luck.

There have been only two loads of deer brought into town since their departure.  If we credit all these to their account, they surely have not come up to their expectations.  We learned that one of the hunting party was lost and was obliged to camp out one night by himself.  It seems that the party had formed a large circle and all were to walk towards the center, hoping by this strategic movement to drive all of the deer that might chance to be in the ring, into a huddle.  There, they could bring the deer to a peaceful submission.

The project proved fruitless, however, and the party came together minus one member, which was Jay Whipple.  When found, the individual was swinging around the circle, instead of going in a direction that would bring him to the friends he had deserted, contrary to the understanding they had all agreed upon as the best course of pursue.

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A number of Clark County farmers intend to commence in raising hops this coming spring.  Many are afraid to venture into this business, fearing the consequences of an early frost.  Farmers have been very successful in the culture of hops in Monroe County while Sauk County, it is estimated, yielded one-fourth of the entire hop product of the United States.  The seasons in that part of the state are favorable for hop growing as they are in counties in the southern part of the state.  We believe that if our farmers will make a trial the result will prove satisfactory.

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A new addition has been built on to the barbershop to make room for a billiard table, which has been recently out up.  The billiard table proves to be better than Harrison’s razor for shaving people.

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We have had very little snow as yet this season, though the storm that visited us the first of the week, gave every indication that it would last long enough to make good sleighing.  It stopped very suddenly however and wagons are still in vogue.

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The new Town of Mentor, situated in the western part of Clark County, is rapidly adding to its real worth with many substantial improvements.  We wish to refer to one part of the town in particular.  What was eight months ago a complete wilderness, without the least sign of habitation, in the midst of a thick, heavy forest, there now exists a brisk little settlement with several nice dwellings, a good sized hotel and a steam saw mill that is now running day and night.  The mill is turning out about 15, 000 feet of lumber every twenty-four hours, excepting Sundays, with the supply being inadequate to the demand.

Mr. G. W. King, of this village, is proprietor of the mill, hotel and some other buildings there, which is mainly owing to his energy and perseverance.

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The dance at the Mormon Ripple House, a new tavern built last fall half way between here and Black River Falls, will take place next Tuesday evening, December 24^th.  Many are going from here and it is expected that a party from Black River Falls will be present also.

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The Lumbermen’s Hotel narrowly escaped total destruction by fire early last Tuesday through the carelessness of one of the servants; it is supposed who had left a burning candle sticking on a pine box with other combustible material, which was stored in the cellar.  The house was filled, with people traveling on the road.  All had retired to comfortable quarters except one person, who was attending a sick horse in the stable.  He went into the house about three o’clock in the morning and seeing a great deal of smoke in the office; he searched further and gave the alarm.  In an instant the house was filled with confusion; some with one boot on, others with neither hat, boots nor coat, some trying to find a lost garment.  While other and more sensible individuals went vigorously at work with buckets of water to put the fire out, which they did to their own astonishment.

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Fruit in barrels should be kept as cool as possible without freezing.  Do not close up the cellar or the fruit room, unless there is danger of frost.  A detached cellar, or one under an out building, is preferable to one under a main dwelling.

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The inhabitants of Neillsville were serenaded on Monday evening, by a party of fellows who acted like that had their keg full.

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We record the fact with sorrow that several valuable teams of horses have been lost on the Twenty-six Road.  We suppose that future generations will find the lifeless carcass of many of a beloved horse in the quagmire now called and used as a road through Town Twenty-six.

December 1937

The Adler Thearte (Theatre), in Neillsville, is being redecorated throughout by a Minneapolis firm whose crew of workmen started on the job Tuesday morning.  The lobby and entrance as well as the theatre proper and the office, restrooms and balconies on the second floor also are being redecorated.

A new lighting system also will be installed in the theatre property, this week, for the convenience of the patrons.

The shows are being held at the Armory while the improvement work is on at the Adler Theatre.  The theatre will feature a grand opening hit next Sunday, “The Bride Wore Red,” which will be shown twice Sunday and also on Monday.

John P. Adler, this year, built the finest theatre in the Northwest at Marshfield, The Adler.  There he also owns the Relda, so the extensive improvements being made here are in line with his progressive policies of giving the patrons the best service possible.

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The following foreclosures were recorded in Clark County the past month:

Federal Farm Mortgage, Corp. vs. E. F. Heidemann, et al, $3,500; Earl Tompkins vs. Willis Enhelder, $600; Federal Land Bank vs. Jos. P. Schmitz, $2,500; Federal Land Bank vs. Leonard N. Bush, $2,800; Federal land Bank vs. Anna Johnson, $5,300; Federal Land Bank vs. Florence G. Fox, et al, $1,900; NW Mutual Life vs. Floyd L. Buchanan, $4,500; Neillsville Bank vs. Clark County Canning Company, $6,750.

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Clark County officials are determined to enforce the law banning slot machines.  Despite notice given some time ago, certain individuals kept the gambling devices going, resulting in three arrests by Undersheriff Ray Kutsche.  District Attorney John M. Peterson had the defendants arraigned before Judge A. E. Dedley (Dudley), where they pled guilty and were fined $50 an (and) costs each, which they paid.  The alternative was 30 days in jail.

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It is estimated that there were around 75,000 hunters in the woods this fall, and that they killed something like 10,000 deer, Chief Warden Barney Devine states.  A year ago, there were 97,000 hunters in the woods and they killed about 23,000 deer.  The number of does and fawns killed this year is said to have been very small.  Not many bear were killed either.

In Clark County 3,500 licenses were issued and 2,800 deer tags sold.  Hundreds of visiting hunters came into the country, but the large majority, like elsewhere, had only the enjoyment of the chase and outdoors vacation.

Five hunters from Two Rivers, Wis., had an unusual experience.  All five shot at the same time at one deer and all claimed it.  The argument was settled by dividing the deer into five parts in a meat market.

A deer belonging to Sheriff John Everson and Dist. Attorney V. L. Tronsal of Eau Claire was stolen from their car while parked in Medford.

Howard Pearson of Almena shot a buck near McKinley in Polk County, which had 44 prongs on its horns, which had a spread of 34 ½ inches.  Hundreds viewed the deer and many offered big money for the horns.

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The Rural Electrification Administration Thursday allotted an additional $55,000 to the Wisconsin Power Cooperative, Chippewa Falls, Wis., to complete an REA financed power plant, transmission lines and substation to serve ten projects.

The Dunn County Electric Cooperative, Elk Mound, Wis., was granted an additional $105,000 out of $620,000 requested to build 573 miles of line for 1,858 customers in Dunn, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Pepin and Pierce counties.

The latter allotment was contingent upon selection of four additional members of the board of directors and upon retention of Wisconsin State-wide as engineers.

Some 2,000 meters for the Clark Electric Cooperative were received by freight in Neillsville, Monday.  The shipment weighed 16,000 pounds and was the largest single shipment ever made to a cooperative at one time.

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Christmas decorations for the business section of Neillsville were put up by city workmen, the past week.

A number of women worked at the city hall making wreaths and festooning.

Mayor Fred Stelloh wishes us to express his appreciation and thanks to the businessmen and citizens who donated toward the street decoration fund.

Club 10 is being decorated for two holiday parties.  The Christmas party will be held December 25, and the New Year’s Eve party December 31^st.

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Card Parties every Monday evening at St. Mary’s Church Hall, Neillsville, Schafskopf, Bridge, and 500 games are played.  The public is cordially invited.

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Come to the New Year’s Eve Celebration Friday, December 31^st at the Silver Dome Ballroom.  Dancing all night; to Benny Graham & His Recording Orchestra who will provide the music.  There will be Free Novelties, Hats, Horns, and Confetti.  Admission will be 40c per person.

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Ice fishing will be permitted in the following counties of the state until January 15: Barron, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, and Eau Claire.  The rule, which formerly permitted an angler to use three fishing lines, has been changed, placing the limit at two lines, according to Game Warden Al Klumpner.

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Clark County did not get in on the “gravy” allotted to various northern counties out of the special state fund at Madison, but a visit by Clark County officials to Madison, this week, was productive of results in getting more men on the WPA job list.

County Clerk Calvin Mills, Chairman Elmer Anderson and Relief Director H. L. Trewartha, after consulting with officials at Madison, were able to increase the WPA work list by 65 men which brings the county total up to 140, of whom 75 are now at work on wood lots and brushing jobs.

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A three-county meeting to protest against the discontinuance of Camp Globe to be in this county was held at the court house Tuesday, following receipt of orders from the War Department at Washington to vacate this well known camp.  Present at the meeting were officials of Eau Claire County and the cities of Augusta, Altoona and Fairchild and officials of the Chamber of Commerce at Eau Claire, all of whom were strongly in favor of the continuation of Camp Globe, which serves the forestry interests of Clark, Eau Claire and Chippewa counties.

Telegrams of protest asking that the camp matter be held open at least until a hearing can be held were sent to U. S. Senator F. Ryan Duffy and Congressman Merlin Hull.  Officials of the Wisconsin Conservation Commission and others consulted have acted very quietly, without a hint to anyone up this way of what was going on. The telegrams sent were as follows:

“The citizens of Eau Claire, Chippewa and Clark counties urge you to use every effort to stop the removal of Camp Globe CCC Camp, pending a hearing.”

“Camp Globe is located on the boundary line between Eau Claire and Clark Counties.  We have reliable information that Camp Petenwell, in Adams County, was selected to be abandoned and Camp Globe was to stay.  At the last minute this setup was reversed.  We understand that Camp Petenwell had some of its equipment entirely packed prior to the reversal of the order.  We wish to know why the reversal of the order and why Camp Globe is to be abandoned when located approximately 25 miles from Camp City Point.  Camp Globe is located in the heart of a County Forest Reserve of 180,000 acres, belonging to the taxpayers of Clark and Eau Claire counties, as follows:

Eau Clarie County, 55,000 acres & Clark County 130,000 acres.  We are in the favor of a reduction of taxes, but the location of a Forestry Camp should be on a geographic basis for area served.

The telegrams were signed by officers of the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce, the Eau Claire County Board, public officials of Augusta, Fairchild, Altoona; also County Clerk Calvin Mills, County Charmain Elmer Anderson, President J. Hoesly of the Neillsville Junior Chamber of Commerce, Pres. W. E. Crow of the Kiwanis Club, County Forester A. C. Covell, Chairman Wm. Schlinsog of the Forestry Committee and others.

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Let us as citizens spread the spirit of good will and carry it in our dealings with others, especially in the Advent season.  Also, let us remember it throughout the rest of the year.  We need this goodwill because we feel our frailty and burdens, and we should not only receive but also give to others.  Now that the Light of the World has come again, let not our hearts be troubled.

I hope that all may attend some of the splendid observances that have been prepared in Neillsville.  To the end that all may enjoy Christmas Eve at home, it would be well for customers to do their Christmas shopping early, as our merchants wish to close their places of business by 6 p.m. on Dec. 24.  The cooperation of everyone is cordially invited.

Mayor Fred Stelloh

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Fred Stelloh owned and operated an implement and auto sales business, which was located on the northwest corner of Fifth Street and Grand Avenue in Neillsville.  During that time he also served the city as its mayor from 1934 to 1938.

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