Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

August 19, 2015 Page 14

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

August 1920

 

Jack Verkuilen met a terrible death Monday, about 9:30 o’clock when he was carried down by the collapse of the Grand Avenue Bridge over the Black River.  Verkuilen was engaged in driving one of the large county trucks and was about at the center of the bridge when it collapsed without warning.

 

The bridge is a total wreck and traffic will be closed until another one can be built.  It was a long structure, about 200 feet in length, and had lately been repaired and put into shape by the city of Neillsville and the town of Pine Valley.  There were no supports in the center of the bridge and it is supposed that the heavy traffic of the large trucks gradually weakened it until it collapsed without any warning.

 

 

In early August 1920 the Grand Avenue over-head trestle bridge, spanning the Black River, collapsed as a Clark County Highway Department gravel truck crossed the structure.  Lack of supports at the center of the bridge caused it to go down with too much weight.  Two cars were also on the ends of the span. 

 

 

On Tuesday, the County road and bridge committee met with the street committee of Neillsville and the town board of Pine Valley relative to the bridge over Black River, which collapsed.  Yesterday, District Engineer Vroman was here from Eau Claire to meet with the city council and town board.  The result of the meetings is that the new bridge will be built immediately and contracts let at once.  It is not probable, however, that the new bridge will be ready for use for at least three months.                                                                                               

••••••••

For Sale: a few Fords and Chevrolets at a right price; one with slightly used 8 h.p. kerosene engine.  F. L. Reinhard

••••••••

Last Friday evening the Greenwood train depot burned to the ground.  There was a small amount of dynamite in the depot, which made it impossible for the fire department to go near it.                   

•••••••••

Unity, located on the Yellowstone Trail, about seven miles north of Spencer, has engaged the services of a motorcycle cop, whose duty it is to pinch all those who disturb the tranquility of that peaceful little village by driving their cars through town at a greater speed than fifteen miles per hour.  Among those pinched last week was Sheriff Weaver of Clark County, who was rambling along at about thirty-five miles an hour.                           

•••••••••

There are a lot of Pop bottles scattered around Neillsville and if persons who have them will call Phone 230, I will gladly call and pick them up.  James Paulus                                                         

•••••••••

The reunion of the Wm. Beyer family was made possible by the arrival of Elmer, Carl and Albert Beyer from Portland, Ore., on July 29th.  The boys had been away from here for 12 years and when their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Beyer, and daughter, Hilda, came from Portland last fall, the boys arranged to come this summer.  The reunion was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ted Linster on Aug. 2nd and attended by the Beyer family and their grandchildren and nearby relatives, there being 42 attending.  The event was celebrated in the afternoon and evening and was a most enjoyable affair throughout.  Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Beyer are the parents of eleven children: Mrs. Wm. Wagner, Mrs. Ben Wagner, Mrs. Theodore Linster, Miss Hilda Beyer, Elmer, Carl, Herman, August, Albert and William.

•••••••••

Mrs. Rush Beyer and son, Harold, of New Lisbon spent Thursday and Friday with her sister, Mrs. Henry Anderegg, of the Town of York.

 

Anderegg’s and their daughter, Lucille, spent Sunday at the Wm. Evans home.

•••••••••

Bruley Elevator has received another carload of watermelons.  They are fine, juicy and sweet.  Get one from your grocer or call us on the phone.  We expect to have a carload of peaches and pears in by county fair week.  Put in your order at once so as to be sure of delivery.                                                                   

•••••••••

Shirlee Geeslin has just added another barber chair to his equipment under the Neillsville Bank.  This gives the opportunity of three barbers at all times and assures the patrons of this shop’s quick service.  Give us a call.  Shirlee Geeslin

•••••••••

We will open a creamery in Neillsville opposite the Drying plant on Sept. 1.  Will pay you the highest price for your butterfat and can save you the expense of shipping your cream.  The Neillsville Milk Products Co

•••••••••

One of the attractions at the Clark County Fair next week will be the boxing show to be put on by Albert Beyer on Wednesday afternoon.  Mr. Beyer is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Beyer and during his residence at Portland, Ore., gained the reputation of being one of the best known feather-weight boxers on the western coast.

•••••••••

Ice will be delivered on the fairgrounds every day between 7 and 8 in the morning only.

•••••••••

Wanted - a couple of good men to start work at husking corn, a week after the fair.  Wm. H. Jacques  

 

August 1955

 

With what appeared to be a bumper crop of oats, following up a bumper crop of hay, farmers of Clark County were having trouble this week finding a way to get the crop harvested.

 

With daily heat continuing in the high 80s, with an occasional boost into the 90s, brewing up rainfall, threshing and combining was going on between showers.

 

For people, the current heat wave extended into its fifth week, with but an occasional break.  And, as the shop-worn comment goes, “It ain’t the heat, it’s the humidity!”

 

At Memorial Hospital officials reported some few cases had been entered there as a result of the heat and exhaustion; but that these were “surprisingly few.”                                                            

•••••••••

An effort to revive the Neillsville Kiwanis Club, which has suspended after 34 years, is expected to be made in Mid-August.

 

At a meeting recently between Herbert Ainsworth, of Monroe, district governor of Kiwanis International, and several former officers, a suggestion was made by the governor that the club be revived, with noonday luncheon meetings limited to one hour.  The suggestion was well received by any who have expressed regret at the suspension of the club and like the idea of a noonday meeting.                                                                                                                                                     

•••••••••

Wendell Elmhorst of Neillsville suffered a severe laceration on his forehead last Saturday night when he was hit by a beer glass.  Information concerning the incident was on the short side, for anyone who knew much about it had conveniently disappeared by the time Sheriff Ray Kutsche was able to get to the Silver Dome, west of Neillsville, to investigate.

 

But, from what information could be gleaned, young Elmhorst was cast in the role of the innocent bystander who got hurt.

 

The information had it that one or more merrymakers attending the wedding dance in progress in the Dome made bold overtures of one sort and another to the wife of an unidentified man.  Those overtures resulted with the one or two bold baddies playfully pouring beer down said lady’s back, probably as a cooler-offer.

 

But, it didn’t cool off her husband.  He got hotter than ever, drew back his drinking arm and let ding with his partially-filled beer glass.  The two baddies ducked.  And the glass caught Elmhorst squarely in the forehead.

 

He lost a fair amount of blood; at least plenty of blood was spilled around things and people in the area, according to traffic officer Harry Frantz.  Young Elmhorst was taken to Memorial Hospital in Neillsville, where his wound was sewed shut and his forehead was swathed in a bandage.

 

Almost as a diversionary move, just prior to this incident, some excitement had been created outside the Dome when a couple of cars were involved in what might have been an accident.  This diversion drew many people outside, and they, of course, did not witness the interesting event, which took place within.

•••••••••

Talented and vivacious Dr. Sarah Rosekrans of Neillsville is the new chairman of the National Security and defense Committee for Wisconsin of the Business and Professional Women’s clubs.

 

She was appointed at the recent regional convention of the clubs held in Milwaukee.  Dr. Sarah said she has not mapped out a program for her committee, but included in it will be the helping of local club committees in their program work.

 

In addition to starring on a television program during the convention, Dr. Sarah also entertained with songs following the banquet at the state convention, which preceded the regional meeting.

 

Delegate to the regional convention was Dr. M. A. Foster, president of the Neillsville club.  Alternate was Miss Fern Robinson and Miss Hilda Kurth acted as hostesses. 

 

Those in the Neillsville club attending the conventions were, in addition to those named above: Mrs. Virginia Gassen and Mrs. Hazel Hubing.

 

The region comprises of clubs in the states of Wisconsin, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois and Iowa.

•••••••••

Duane Riedel, who served last year as principal and eighth-grade teacher at Pleasant Hill State Grade School between Abbotsford and Dorchester, will take over similar duties in Neillsville’s South Side School.

•••••••••

Friction of a blower pulley against a woven wire-contained straw stack was responsible for the fire last Friday afternoon, which destroyed the barn and feed shed on the Rudy Opelt farm, five miles west of Neillsville.

 

Feed destroyed included 750 bales of hay, 300 bales of straw, 350 bushels of oats, and $50 worth of ground feeds.  Insurance covered only $800 of the loss.

 

Bob Opelt, one of Rudy’s brothers, who was helping, noted the danger just seconds before the fire broke out.  But, with only a couple forks full left in the load, he suggested:

 

“We’d better take that belt off after we finish this load.” 

 

The load was finished, and Bob and Kenneth Opelt, a third brother, drove away when Rudy started to “fix” the danger spot.  But, by that time “There was a handful of fire” in the straw stack.  In a flash it roared into action, and within three minutes the straw stack, which was up against the outside of the barn, and the barn were on fire.

 

Rudy jumped onto the tractor and pulled it out of danger, with no time or opportunity to release the belt from the blower pulley.  The belt came with the tractor; but the blower overturned and was consumed by flames.

 

The fire spread so rapidly that attention was centered on saving the milk house, nearby, and other nearby buildings.  These were saved.  But the condition of the cement silo, built only two years ago, was questionable.

 

The ruins of the old log barn were bulldozed to one side Sunday, and preparations were being made to replace the structure.  However, the shortage of cement, which has been felt by all in this area, was forming a stumbling block.

 

Cattle, which were in the pasture at the time of the blaze, are being milked in a neighboring empty barn.

•••••••••

Dr. and Mrs. Howard Brooks of Neillsville will observed their Golden wedding anniversary Monday, August 26, with an open house at their home at 206 South Clay Street.  Friends and relatives are invited to call between 3 and 5 p.m.

 

Neillsville has been the Brooks’ residence since their wedding in 1905.  Dr. Brooks, a graduate of the dental school at Northwestern University, established his office here in 1900 and retired nine years ago after 46 years of active practice. 

 

Mrs. Brooks is the former Miss Della Dvorak of Muscoda.  She attended the Chicago Business College, and following her graduation was engaged in secretarial work in Chicago.

 

The Brooks have two children and six grandchildren.  Their daughter, Jessie Priscilla, was married to Donald T. Ward of New Haven, Conn.  The Wards have two daughters and a son.

 

Dr. James Wellington Brooks, their son, married Ruth E. Gilbert of Green Bay, and the family now is living in Bayside, a suburb of Milwaukee.  Their family is comprised of a son and two daughters.

•••••••••

A new pavement on Hewett Street from the bridge to Fourth Street, the business center of Neillsville, was virtually promised Neillsville Tuesday evening by the state highway commission.  The city council received a communication from the state body, which the new pavement has declared to be earmarked for construction in 1957.

 

The original plan, according to this letter, was to lay blacktop over the present brick pavement.  But the spring break-up had so badly wrecked this pavement, the letter said, that the state considers it better to remove the old brick pavement, to put in a deep sand lift and to lay the blacktop upon this.                     

•••••••••

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Cook of Marion visited Sunday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Rottjer of Loyal.  They moved this week to Edgerton, where Mrs. Cook will teach in the high school.  Mr. Cook will attend Whitewater State College this coming school year.                                                                                     

•••••••••

Mr. and Mrs. Harry R. Flitter, former owners of a neighborhood grocery on the corner of South Hewett and Division Streets in Neillsville, have purchased a sweet shop in Blue Earth, Minn., and plan to move to that city next Tuesday.  The shop has been established 40 years, according to Mr. Flitter and is located a block and one-half from a $3 million high school.                                                                                                            

•••••••••

More than 65 out-of-town guests and a host of friends and neighbors from Neillsville attended the open house held by Mr. and Mrs. Otto Catlin of Neillsville, as they observed their Golden wedding anniversary in the V.F.W. Hall.  Total attendance was 160.

 

The Catlins were married August 17, 1905, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Tuttle in Spencer, and the Tuttles were their attendants.  Mr. Catlin has operated a Barbershop in Neillsville for many years, and the couple has made their home on Oak Street.                                                                                          

•••••••••

Look Who is Coming! Top Polka Band of the Nation!  In person with his famous accordions - Frank Yankovic and His Nationally Famous Orchestra which will be at the “Merry-Ol-Gardens” with dancing from 8 to 12:30; Admission 75’ before 9 p.m.  Big Wedding Dance, Aug. 16, Klabon & Boening, Music Free for Wedding parties; write 134, Owen.

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