September 15, 2022, Page 9

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

 

Extracted by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

 

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Clark County News

 

September 16, 1971

 

Church at Loyal will hold centennial program Sunday

 

Plans are being completed for the centennial celebration of the Loyal, United Methodist Church Sunday.

 

Guest speakers will be Bishop Ralph T. Alton and Dr. Perry Saito, district superintendent. All former pastors are also included.

 

The regular 11 a.m. morning worship will be held and in the afternoon a program is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. A potluck dinner will be served at noon. The WSCS will furnish a hot dish and beverage. Guests are asked to bring sandwiches for their family and a dish to pass. Birthday cake and coffee will be served after the program.

 

The congregation was organized in 1871 with approximately 50 members transferred from the Neillsville charge. The Rev. Samuel McLain had an estimated 250 to 400 square miles to serve. He was a circuit rider in the true sense of the word. Classes were held at the log schoolhouses in the scattered settlements in the tall timber. Some members may never have attended a regular service except when meetings were held.

 

The first services were held in the newly plotted village of Loyal, in a hall over a store. After about five years a modest building served their needs. Then a Rev. McKibbin drew up the plans for the present structure. The old building became an opera house at the other end of the hamlet 76 years ago.

 

Almost to the day of the centennial celebration the present building was dedicated. The leaded glass windows had failed to arrive. Neither had the “elegant oak pews,” but undaunted, they not only held the dedication, but sought pledges and donations and by the end of the evening had practically wiped out the debt.

 

The building had a few changes made when the electric organ was installed in the 1940s. Ten years ago a new, enclosed entry was built. Two years ago, to accommodate the growing membership, a new educational unit was constructed. The lower level has a fellowship hall with an adjoining kitchen.

 

The church has changed in name with the times. The Rev. Gene Carlson is the pastor. Among the organizations of the church is the Men’s Club, the Women’s Society of Christian Service, a Chancel Choir and a youth choir. There is also an evening Bible study group.

 

Former members and friends are invited to join in the centennial celebration.

 

 

Loyal Methodist Church

(Photo from The Clark County Press, Sept. 16, 1971)

 

*****

Granton preps for festival, parade

 

Sunday All roads lead to Granton this weekend for the annual fall festival, which begins Friday.

 

Activities will begin that afternoon with a tractor rodeo for high school boys. In the evening it will be “Fun Night,” with the crowning of a new queen, acts from the Granton school and a special performance by Ed Smith, theatrical singer from Stevens Point University.

 

Saturday will see a full afternoon and evening of events. A scramble for 2,500 pennies, and a football contest, will be featured. The annual frog jumping contest will find frogs trying to out-jump last year’s winner owned by Allen Mannigel, Granton, which jumped 10 feet.

 

The ladies’ program added last year is returning. It will feature a ceramics show. The annual mini-tractor pull will be staged on Main Street and will feature four classes. Judging of the largest fruits, vegetables, and flowers will be done at 3:30 p.m. This contest is open to anyone in central Wisconsin.

 

The day will end with a free dance at the fire station hall.

 

Sunday’s events will open at noon with a chicken barbecue and music from the main stage by Mike Briski. Ross Downer, long time blacksmith of Granton, will be honored during the parade, which is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. The parade will form at Goebel’s garage at 1:30 p.m. All worthy children will receive a crisp one-dollar bill again this year. The parade will feature queens, cars, floats, novelty items, and many entries of all descriptions. The parade mascot will be a huge St. Bernard dog, and the parade will be led by State Sen. Clifford Krueger.

 

Free street entertainment following the parade will feature the Kalson family, Nashville stars, and a band known as The Twins.

 

 A new carnival featuring five rides and five stands will offer play this year.

 

Food stands will be operated Saturday and Sunday. The festival is jointly sponsored by the Granton FFA, Granton Rotary, and the Granton firemen. General chairman is Francis Steiner, vocational agriculture instructor at the high school.

*****

Sleeping sickness vaccine ready

 

Horse owners who have been disturbed about the possible incursion of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness), which spread rapidly over southern states earlier, were advised this week that a vaccine will be available to Wisconsin veterinarians October 10. Dr. A.A. Erdman, state-federal veterinarian said, however, that horse owners will have to get the vaccination services from a licensed veterinarian. Wisconsin veterinarians have been advised that they can order vaccine now, with delivery to be made October 10 or later.

*****

Lions help to light up all of southern Clark County

 

If the Neillsville Lions Club has its way, the whole southern Clark County area will be lit up in good shape – for a while, at least.

 

The Lions extended their annual light bulb sale beyond Neillsville last Saturday, going into rural areas, and covering Greenwood, Willard and Granton in addition to this city. And, for the first time in the several years they have carried out the sale, they were assisted by their wives, who were largely responsible for canvassing the city of Neillsville.

 

It was the most successful sale conducted thus far. The club had ordered double the number of bulbs previously ordered – 50 cases – and have sold out completely.

 

That means they have distributed 7,200 light bulbs to homes and business establishments of southern Clark County, with a total gross of approximately $2,000.

 

At the close of the afternoon’s concentrated sales drive, Lion’s members and their wives met at the Neillsville Country Club to make an accounting of their success, and to enjoy a barbecued steak dinner. Approximately 60 people were present.

 

In charge of the event was a committee headed by Merlyn Kroll as general chairman. Women’s activities connected with the sale were directed by a committee headed by Mrs. James (Karen) Klein.

 

Proceeds from the sale will be used for Lion’s Club projects for the blind and the handicapped.

*****

Chili couple observes 50th wedding anniversary

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. John Barth

(Photo from The Clark County Press, Sept. 16, 1971)

 

Mr. and Mrs. John Barth of R. 1, Chili, were honored at the home of their son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Barth, Rt. 1, Granton, Saturday afternoon, on their 50th wedding anniversary.

 

Bud Schier provided music during the afternoon and a buffet supper was served to more than 250 guests. Table decorations in the recreation room included a huge wedding cake at the head table for the honored couple and their attendants of 50 years ago. Golden feather flowers decorated the tables.

 

Mrs. Barth, the former Hilda Quicker, was born in the town of Lynn, where she received her education. She had been a member of the Forestside Homemakers and is a member of the Ladies Aid. She enjoys crocheting in winter.

 

John Barth received his education in the town of Fremont, where he was born. He served on the Forestside school board for a number of years. He and his wife enjoy gardening and caring for a large yard, as well as fishing trips to northern Wisconsin. He also does some farming.

 

They are members of Zion Lutheran Church.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Barth were married November 9, 1921, at the Nasonville Lutheran Church parsonage by the Rev. Edward A. Koch. They lived in the town of Fremont until 1938, when they moved to the town of Lynn. In 1965 they moved into their present home.

 

The Barths have three sons: Robert, Homosassa, Fla., Raymond, Granton; and James, on the home place on Rt. 1, Chili. There are 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

 

Among the relatives and friends from Wisconsin and neighboring states, one nephew, Ralph Vanderwyst and his wife from Berlin, Germany, came for the celebration.

 

The guests enjoyed dancing with the honored couple at Chili Corners in the evening.

*****

Frightened

 

Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Kapfer had some excitement last week Wednesday night when something scared their young stock in the pasture and they ran right through an electric fence and up Highway 73 half a mile or more. Mr. Kapfer wasn’t home at the time, but neighbors got the stock back into the pasture, all but one, which they missed in the dark. A car came along and ran into the yearling, breaking all its legs and back so the animal had to be destroyed. They still don’t know what scared the animals.

 

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