Clark County Press, Neillsville,

September 5, 2007, Page 24

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

 

Compiled and contributed by Dee Zimmerman

 

 

Clark County News

September 1877

 

Mrs. Walker has received her first installment of fall millinery goods, embracing a fine selection of hats, also flowers and such related items.  She invites the ladies of Neillsville and vicinity to stop at her shop and examine the selection.

•••••••••

We have at least two good baseball clubs in this county, and they could add to the attraction at the coming county fair by playing a matched game, such as during the second day of the exhibition.  To make it interesting, a special premium could be offered as an award to the winning club.

•••••••••

A field of wheat, threshed out for Mr. James Hewett the latter part of last week, averaged thirty-six bushels to the acre.  It is a new variety and will be kept for seed.

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Phillip Rossman contracts to furnish buildings, ready made, in any part of the county.  Last Monday morning, he commenced work on a building in this village for Simon Reineking, to be used as an agricultural depot.  He has the employ of three hands, and by tomorrow night it will be completed.  The building is 24 x 34 feet, one story, neatly and substantially built and is evidence of the enterprise of its builders.

•••••••••

A genuine hop-dance was held to celebrate the finishing up of hop picking from the fields for the season, at George McAdams place, last Wednesday night.

•••••••••

The new Methodist Church is nearly completed.  It will be dedicated on the 23rd of this month, when Rev. Bert Wheeler, among others, is expected to be present to contribute to the entertainment.  The salary for the coming year has been subscribed, provided Rev. Phillips returns.

•••••••••

The second game of baseball to be played by the Clumsies of Windfall and the Centennials of our village was played last Saturday.  The victory went to the Centennials, the score standing fifty-eight to thirty-four.

 

Last Wednesday, at the fair grounds, our boys led the way against the Humbird nine by a score of twenty-eight to ten.

•••••••••

Mrs. James O’Neill, Sr., has made arrangements for giving a dance at Floral Hall, on the Fair Grounds, on the evening of the last day of the Fair, Sept. 20th.  A general invitation is extended.  Good music will be in attendance, and a good time may be depended upon.  Tickets, including supper, will be $1.50.

•••••••••

Crandall’s store has plenty of schoolbooks and slates, enough to supply every child of school age who lives here.

•••••••••

Under the management of Prof. Doolittle, assisted by a most efficient corps of teachers, the Neillsville Graded School is taking a higher standard.  It is an institution of which our citizens may justly feel proud.

•••••••••

Mr. and Mrs. James Hewett left for New York, last Monday, to purchase goods for the fall and winter trade at Hewett & Woods.  So a mammoth stock of goods may be expected within a few weeks, to appear in their store.

••••••••••

The exhibition of trained oxen, made by Mr. George W. Grousbeck of the Town of Levis, on the Fair grounds last Wednesday, was one of the most interesting features of the day.  Mr. Grousbeck is an accomplished ox tamer, and parties having cattle to train could not trust them in better hands.

••••••••••

The editor of the Prairie du Chien Union has been afraid to go home since he wrote this deliberate opinion: “The life of Brigham Young contains an example which the rising youth of this country would do well to imitate.”  He was a poor young man and started with only one wife.  But as the result of frugal, industrious habits, he leaves no less than nineteen wives.”

••••••••••

The loudest thunderstorm, of the age, passed over here last Monday evening.  It was a terror to nervous people, and too many who could not really be classed as such.  But the rain did a vast amount of good, and everything is a lovely green again.

••••••••••

F. Bellenger, better known as Johnny Bellenger, bought the corner lot opposite the O’Neill House, the latter part of the week previously owned by James O’Neill.  On Monday, he began removing the old buildings, which are to be replaced by a saloon building, which was occupied by Mr. Bellenger.

•••••••••

Mr. M. C. Ring was married to Miss Ida M. Austin, on September 13 at the residence of George A. Austin, of Neillsville.  The Rev. George F. Hunting, of Sparta, Wisconsin, was the officiating minister of the ceremony.

 

September 1937

 

Schultz Bros. completed the work of excavating the basement for the new post office building in less than three days, last week, completing the job on Saturday afternoon.  The big power shovel, with three dump trucks, scooped out the dirt in quick fashion, with a large gallery of spectators looking on.  Postmaster Kurth, through a long distance call, got permission for this subcontracting to be done at once.

 

The O’Neill House, a landmark of the town, stood on the site of the new post office, burning down in 1912.  No difficulty was experienced from masonry or debris, and the basement was dug to a depth of about 11 feet, near the street side.

 

The Ebbe Construction Co. built an office on the site, this week, which will be in use while construction work is going on.  Inspector Cook is expected here any day now to approve the further plans for the new building, which will cost more than the original quote of $42,000, as $72,000 has been allotted for the new building.

 

 

A fire in 1912 destroyed the O’Neill House, which was located on the northeast corner of the Hewett and Sixth Streets intersection, now the site of the Neillsville Post Office.  The O’Neill House with its dining room, ballroom, bar and barbershop, was known as “the elite hotel of Central Wisconsin,” patronized by visitors who came on the railroad to enjoy relaxing weekends in its refined atmosphere.  (Photo courtesy of Bill Roberts’ collection)

•••••••••

Preparatory operations for installing REA poles, in Clark County’s northern townships, were started by the Ulen Contracting Company of Lebanon, Ind., the successful bidders.  The Ulen Company brought 27 of their own trucks and a large quantity of equipment.  In addition they are employing private trucks from this area.  Temporary offices have been established in Owen.  All poles maybe set before freezing time, but wiring is not expected to start until late in October.

••••••••••

The O & N Lumber Company warehouse at Unity, was leased by the Government last week, to house the main office of the Resettlement Administration contract division for Central Wisconsin farm projects, which includes Clark, Marathon, Jackson, and Wood counties.  C. B. Wright of Duluth, an engineer, was placed in charge of the project.

•••••••••

A modern automatic shower bath has been installed at the Schwantes Barber Shop, located under the First National Bank.

•••••••••

The new Art Carl building on Sixth and South Grand Ave. will be occupied by Mr. Carl’s office and workshop for his carpentry and contracting, as well as Welsh Chevrolet and Oldsmobile showroom, the veterinary offices of M. E. Bennett, and the insurance and real estate office of Joe Krause.  Only a small amount of the interior decorating remains to be finished and that will be done by the end of the week.

•••••••••

So little rain has fallen along the waters of Black River the past few months that the riverbed is dry enough in many places that one can easily walk across on the rocks.  This condition isn’t new according to Everett Hart, who remembers that in the summer of 1886, the river was almost dry.

 

In that fall, a big fire swept across the county, burning Hewettville and the surrounding countryside.  The big fire in Marshfield also occurred that year, when the entire Northern Wisconsin was very dry.

•••••••••

A contract for a bridge in the Town of Mead, crossing the Eau Claire River and known as the Barth Bridge, was let this week by Clark County Highway Commissioner Weyhmiller for $5,160.40 to Chippewa Engineering Company.  The new structure will be of steel and concrete, with a 60-foot span.  Work will start within about 10 days, and the road will be closed to traffic.  Sand and gravel for the project will be furnished by the county, from a pit near the site.

•••••••••

The annual Mission Festival of the Green Grove Lutheran Church was held Sunday, at the church in Green Grove Town-ship, under the direction of the pastor, Rev. Goetsch.

 

Services were held during the day, and a big dinner was served at noon.

 

Two visiting pastors assisted in the services.

 

The attendance this year was almost equal to former sessions, although many people from surrounding cities and villages went on Labor Day vacation.  There was the usual attendance of the congregation and their many friends.

•••••••••

While City Clerk Wm. Hemp and son William, Jr., were sail-boating on Lake Arbutus Monday, they had an experience that gave them far more pleasure than the cruise.  For some time, they watched an object on the water, which appeared to be a floating pine root.  Finally, directing the boat toward it and much to their surprise, it proved to be a large grey squirrel.  The animal was swimming from Schuster’s Island to the west bank of the lake and was apparently glad of the opportunity to rest, for it hopped into the boat and selected a seat on the bow.  The squirrel was without fear, playfully tilting its head this way and that when the gentlemen spoke, and remained there until within 200 feet of the shore.  At this point, the squirrel leaped into the water, swam ashore and after a thorough shaking scampered up a tree.

•••••••••

There have been some notable birthdays, which were celebrated among the older residents of Clark County, last week.  William Oldham of Southwest Pine Valley was honored on his 72nd birthday, Herman Gehrt of West Pine Valley on his 82nd, C. C. Sniteman, of Neillsville on his 88th, and Mrs. Wilson, of South York on her 91st.

•••••••••

The beautiful mid-September weather attracted a large number of players to the golf course, Sunday.  Some came from quite a distance.  Six local mixed foursomes made the rounds, with the honors going to a foursome consisting of Mrs. Listeman and Dr. Lee with a score of 95 and W. J. Campman and Mrs. Welsh with a score of 97.

•••••••••

Physically fit young men between 17 and 23, in need of jobs, are eligible at this time for enrollment in CCC, H. L. Trewartha in charge of certification for Clark County announced.  CCC is now being used as educational and employment activities for those unable to find a job, rather than for relief, Trewartha stated.

 

Clark County has 137 men in state CCC camps, but because of rulings limiting the individual to 2 years and a maximum of 23 years old, many will leave during the next period.  Enrollments are taken for 6 months, and may re-enroll if not over 23 or if the period will not exceed 2 years.  Detailed information for those interested can be secured from Mr. Trewartha at the relief office in Neillsville, registrations for which are being taken now.

•••••••••

The delicious cantaloupe, so plentiful on sandy soil, to the south and west of here, has in the past been considered valuable only as a fresh fruit, due to its perishable nature, and results in quantities of melons going to waste each year.  This condition may eventually be overcome since housewives have discovered that from this melon can be made a preserve equaled in flavor only by the Quince.  One of the recipes requires 4 coups of crushed fruit to 7 ½ cups of sugar, ½ cup water and 2 tablespoons lemon juice.  Boil 3-minutes, add 1 bottle of Certo, and at once put into jelly glasses.

 

(Quince is a fruit resembling a hard-fleshed yellow apple. D.Z. – I have a Quince bush in my yard. Dmk)

•••••••••

Work has been started at the site of the new village hall, at Loyal, with J.M. Philpot, Loyal, as contractor.  The foundation walls are being built, as the excavating was completed some time ago.

 

Fred Lakoskey, president of the village of Loyal, along with architect Johnson of the O & N Lumber Co., were at Madison last week, with the plans and specifications for the new building, which were approved by the Wis. Industrial Commission.

•••••••••

The infantile paralysis epidemic in different parts of the state is subsiding with the cool weather.  Schools have been closed in a number of places like Stanley.  The Riverview, South Gordon, Roger Creek and Peterson schools in the Town of Worden, Clark County, near Stanley also were closed.

 

No deaths have been reported and those afflicted with the disease are reported as recovering.

•••••••••

Has it ever occurred to you that a peculiar circumstance exists on West Fifth Street?  Four buildings in a consecutive-row play some part in caring for the departed: a church, the home of an undertaker, a greenhouse and the residence of a tombstone salesman.  Running from east to west their order is also a coincidence, and might be termed as follows: the bell tolls, the undertaker is called to prepare the body for its long last sleep, tribute is paid by friends and loved ones and a memorial is placed at the grave.

•••••••••

Virginia and Audrey Roehrborn, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Roehrborn of the Town of Pine Valley are quarantined with scarlet fever.  Mr. Roehrborn and two sons, being isolated from the home, are living in the granary.  The cases are reported to be very light.

•••••••••

A box of cranberries of the McFarlin variety appeared in the Prochazka display window Monday morning.  These berries were gown in the Calway Cranberry Marsh, in the Town of Hewett.  Being a late variety, their full color and growth have not been reached but the quality is excellent.  Mr. Calway has ten acres planted, but does not expect to harvest a crop until next year.  Thus far, all efforts have been devoted to the soil and clean, sturdy growth of plants.

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