Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

December 28, 2016, Page 9

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

December 1936

 

Fred Schroeder has in his shoe shop a box of ‘over-size” shoes ranging from number 12 to 15, the latter being so extremely large, it might seem that since Paul Bunyan has gone, no one will be found to wear them.

 

The above 1927 photo was taken inside the Schroeder Shoe Shop, which was located on West 6th Street.  Fred Schroeder resoled and mended many leather shoes and boots during that era, as his customers often tried to get by on their mere finances if possible by repairing what they had.  New men’s shoes and boots were also available for sale in his shop.  (Photo courtesy of Steve Roberts)

 

•••••••••

A memorable event was the 25th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Ratsch, celebrating Sunday afternoon, Nov. 22, at their home.

 

The Rev. Wm Baumann of St. John’s Lutheran Church conducted the service of Thanksgiving.  Friends and relatives joined in the singing of the hymns: “Now Thank We All Our God,” and “The Lord Hath Helped Me O Thou Great Jehovah,” which were rendered by Mrs. Baumann.

 

After celebrating, the couple joined their right hands and received the divine benediction, the children present them with a silver memorial wreath with the inscription, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.”

 

Herman Ratsch and Emma Nowek were married on Nov. 22, 1911 by the Rev. A. Gierke, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Niagara, North Dakota.

 

This union was blessed with the following children: Marie, Edna, Anita, Louella, Harold, Clarence, and Robert, all being present for the occasion.                                                                             

•••••••••

A Sunday morning fire was discovered at Hainz’s tavern east of Neillsville on Highway 10.

 

A phone call to Bert Dresden, fire warden of Neillsville, resulted in three firemen, Tubby Radke, Herb Smith, and Jud Lyons, being dispatched with fire extinguishers to the tavern, and they soon had the fire put out.  The fire was back of the chimney and had made quite a start.                                                         

•••••••••

F. O. Balch, who has been in the hardware business in Neillsville for the past 15 years, this week announced his retirement and is selling out his entire stock of goods, and all fixtures at a sale starting Saturday.

 

The name of Balch has been with the merchandising history of this community for the last half-century, beginning when F. A. Balch, father of Fred, who opened a store about 1885, in partnership with his son, Rella, in the old North Side Store, now occupied by Nick Gangler.  A short time later, they occupied the building where John Kubat’s house, on North Hewett Street now stands.  A few years later, they moved into the building now occupied by Balch Hardware store.

 

In the late 1890’s the elder Balch withdrew and Rella Balch and Bennie Tragsdorf went into partnership, opening a store where the Schultz Bros. Store is now located.  A short time later, they built the Big Store.

 

F. O. Balch, who was on the road as a shoe salesman for years, went to Milwaukee in 1910, where he and Mrs. Balch operated a very successful millinery business until 1920, when they returned to Neillsville.  A year later, Mr. Balch bought out the hardware business from Powers & Wing.                                                              

•••••••••

W. A. Campman, Atty., hunted in Jackson County last week, Saturday and Sunday.  As no deer with the allotted number of points presented itself, he came back to the Lake Arbutus region and soon brought down a 200-lb. buck not far from his cottage, again proving that the fairest fields do not always lie beyond.

•••••••••

It is reported that Ray Kutsche, of the Town of Levis, has been selected as Undersheriff, by Sheriff Mat Madsen.

•••••••••

Petitions requesting the Northwestern Railroad to stop the 400-passenger train at Merrillan, Humbird, and Fairchild for the convenience of residents of this area have been placed by Mayor Stelloh in Neillsville, Alma Center, Humbird, Fairchild, Granton, Greenwood, and Loyal.

 

If the public shows sufficient interest in signing these petitions the railroad is more than likely to comply with the wishes of the people, according to Mr. Stelloh.  Mr. Stelloh suggests that businessmen in this city prepare blanks and have them ready for those who desire to express themselves on the matter.  At present, only one petition is being circulated here, and it is hopeful that more will be started to speed up the work.

 

(Apparently, the petitions were sent and were influential in the decision to pick up passengers in Merrillan, as the 400-passenger train did start making stops shortly after and continuing for about 20 years.  That service provided traveling from Minneapolis to Chicago on what they estimated a 400-minute travel time. DZ)

•••••••••

Hey Kids! Here’s important news for you, so get set for a real Christmas surprise and treat.

 

The Neillsville Press has taken over Adler’s theater for Saturday, Dec. 19, and will give free shows all morning and afternoon, for all the children of this community.  What’s more, jolly old Santa Claus will be there himself to meet all you kids, and help you have a grand time.

 

And besides a cracker-jack of a show, Santa and his crew will give each child a swell bag of regular old-fashioned Santa Claus candy, the kind that makes you think of Christmas morning, and all the fun that goes with this big day of the year.

•••••••••

Chapman’s Grill - Regular Dinner, 40’; Plate Lunch, 25’; Wines and Liquors, 10’.                    

•••••••••

The following editorial, clipped from the Milwaukee Journal, was brought to the Press office by a Neillsville resident who believes it will be of interest to many of the local golfers as a means of financing the course here: 

 

“The federal government will cooperate with local governmental units, and with the Professional Golfers Association in building between 500 and 600 public courses within the next few years.

 

“Somebody is sure to attack that, to say that what this country needs are more golf courses.  The implication will be that all we are doing is softening people up to a life of leisure.  But golf, which used to be a symbol of leisure, has long since outgrown the symbolism.  It is recognized now as a healthful recreation that has an important impact in a democratic scheme of living.

 

Anyway, here is a project that has the merit of lasting value without seriously competing with private enterprise.  No course will be place near a private course that now exists.  State parks and other areas where people congregate in a public way will largely be chosen.

 

The projects will supply work for golf architects, professional instructors, and for less skilled workers.  And what is finally accomplished will be of service to great numbers of people.                           

•••••••••

The streets of Neillsville have been decorated in holiday garb, illuminated wreaths, and star, with colored lights that span streets for several blocks at night.  Store windows are beautifully dressed in attractive merchandise, and the shelves and tables are piled high with the finest stock of goods, this city has ever seen

 

People from far and near will find Neillsville a pleasant place to visit and a profitable place to trade during the holiday season and later.                                                                                                     

•••••••••

Edward Pierce, who came to Neillsville in 1865, but who has lived in Merrillan for the past 40 years, visited with William Klopf and A. E. Dudley Wednesday, recalling pioneer days.                        

•••••••••

Last week the final steps were taken in transferring the title of the fairgrounds to the county, and leasing the same back to the Clark County Agricultural Society.

 

There were some small flaws in the title that had to be cleared up to satisfy John M. Peterson, district attorney, which were properly taken care of.

 

The property consisting of 45 acres of fine land, the race course, baseball grounds, grandstand, and an excellent equipment of buildings valued at more than $20,000, graveled roadways, and two good wells, one of the finest county fairgrounds in the state; becomes the property of the county clear of debt with leasehold right passed on to the Society.

 

With the renewal of WPA projects it is hoped to get labor to put such repairs and improvements on the buildings, as they will need.

 

Projects for the fair look better than ever before.

 

Next month the officers will meet in conference with other fair officers throughout the state and lay plans for 1937.  Farmers and all others interested ought to begin early to lay plans to cooperate with the fair officials for the coming year.

 

December 1956

 

Pat Soderberg, Thorp, chairman of the Clark County American Red Cross, appealed today for support of a special disaster fund to assist the Hungarian people.

 

Clark County’s share of the five million dollars’ national fund has been set at $427, Soderberg announced.  The money will be used to aid those still in the Soviet suppressed nation as well as refugees who have fled west.

 

The chairman said he had been informed this was the largest relief project undertaken by the Red Cross in this county since World War II and would provide food and other assistance for 200,000 persons in Hungary, and tens of thousands in Austria, and the United States.                                                                

•••••••••

Federal inspectors are at work in the diary plants of Clark County.  It is understood that they are devoting considerable attention to cheese plants.

 

The talk in the industry is that this inspection is related to the support program, and to Uncle Sam’s purchases.  He has found himself in the position of a large purchaser, and in some cases a long holder.  He is out of luck unless he gets cheese, which holds quality and ages well.  This evidently means that he is becoming still more choosey about the source of the cheese, which he buys.

 

The inspection is another step in the troubles of the smaller operators, some of whom are in old buildings and using the older sort of equipment.  The less fortunate of these are gradually disappearing.

 

Eighteen years ago, when the Harvey’s first came to Clark County, there were 90 dairy plants in the county.  Today, according to the best count available, there are 58 dairy plants.  Two diary plants have dropped out in the past year.  These were Breezy Hill factory near Thorp, and the Eidsvold factory.  The Eidsvold plant was operated by George Thill, who is now deceased.  The Breezy Hill operation has been closed, and Ervin Schilling, who last operated, is now the manager of the Marathon-Clark Cooperative Dairy at Abbotsford.                                         

•••••••••

Over 100 Clark County 4-Her’s and parents gathered at Greenwood High School last Thursday to bid Lawrence Babka farewell.  Mr. Babka has served for 4½ years as 4-H leader.

•••••••••

A group of the Fairview Mothers Club gathered at the home of Mrs. Louis Hagedorn last Friday to make new curtains for the stage at the Fairview School.  Those present were Mesdames Tommy Pozega, Carl Eslinger, Stanley Kaczor, Pete Strangfeld, Frank Gennett, and Herb Henning.

 

(The Fairview School was located two miles south of Glove on CTH G, northeast corner of what is now Chili Road. DZ)

•••••••••

Twenty-seven thousand dollars is now being distributed to members of the local Farmers Union.  The checks are reaching members in the early holiday season, early enough to be of assistance to Santa Claus.

 

This payment has the effect of retiring stock issued through 1944.  It is like a dividend payment, and brings $71,000 the total paid to members since the cooperative was organized in 1931.

•••••••••

The Neillsville Rotary Club will have new meeting rooms beginning January 7. They will be over Becker’s Cafι, where the organization held its meeting immediately following organization in the early 1940’s.

 

The reason for the move is that the dining room of the hotel will not be available after the first of the year.  The public dining room has been closed since July 1, and the area now will be remodeled to provide additional space for the Neillsville Clinic.                                                                                                 

•••••••••

Musician members of Local 270, American Federation of Musicians, will play Christmas carols on the downtown streets in Neillsville Tuesday and Wednesday evening of next week from 7 to 9 p.m.  They will be paid through a grant from the organization’s transcription fund, according to word from Ertz Steiger.

•••••••••

Many Loyal High School students chose to give toward Care packages instead of exchanging Christmas gifts.  They thus provided for 21 such packages.

 

The children in the 7th-and 8th- grade rooms of the loyal School sent 20 spool dolls, which they had made, and gave to the Northern Colony at Chippewa Falls.                                                                 

•••••••••

Frosting on the cake of the current holiday season, will be the Holiday Ball Saturday night, sponsored by the auxiliary of Memorial Hospital.

 

Top social event of the year, the Holiday Ball will provide funds for the work of the auxiliary, which has been responsible for several pieces of equipment installed in the hospital to increase its services and add to the comfort of its patients.

•••••••••

Have Dolly Madison Grade ‘A’ Milk Delivered to Your Door daily, also other Dolly Madison Dairy Products – Cottage Cheese, Buttermilk, Skimmed Milk, Sour Cream & for the Holidays, Egg nog, only 49’ per qt.

 

Neillsville Dairy, Corner of W. 5th & Hwy 10 …  H. H. Quicker, Proprietor

 

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