Good Old Days--Transcribed by Sharon Schulte

Clark County Press, Neillsville

October 3, 2001, Page 23

John Thayer has gotten a new gun and found that it can out kick an army mule

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The past week has been one of profanity. The best way to put up a stove without swearing is to get someone else to do it.

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The nights are rather cool in our village, but it’s just the rent season to make a man covet his neighbor’s wood pile.

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Several hunting parties from our village have gone out to the woods. Deer are the objects of their hunting search. Dearly do they pay for all the venison that they bring home.

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A lined buffalo robe was lost somewhere between Cawley Creek Bridge and Neillsville last Wednesday. The finder of this robe will be suitably rewarded by leaving it at the Neillsville Mills.

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Jesse Lowe, one of our meat men, purchased four grown lambs, some time ago. His intentions were of making mutton out of them. Not wishing to hurry them out of the world, he placed them in Bacon’s pasture, by this village until they should be needed. But when Lowe went for them, they had departed. Now he mourns for these lost sheep and is advertising for their return.

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Somebody has said, "Our Government lands cost $1 per acre and good whisky is $2 per bottle". How many men die never owning land, who, during their lives, have swallowed whole townships, trees and all.

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If you want a full-blooded, short-nosed, crooked-tailed bull dog, call Ed Markey. He has more than one, take your pick.

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Work is soon to be commenced on a road from Merrillan. It is to join the Neillsville and Black River Falls road, at, or near the Wedges Creek House. It is claimed that a good road can be made at no great expense and the work on it can be completed in three weeks.

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During the past week, the O’Neill Creek dam in our village has been thoroughly repaired and a new bulk-head was put in. The work was done under the supervision of S.A. Wilcox, familiarly known as "Sile". The moving spirit in this improvement is the Hon. W.T. Price, of Black River Falls. Price intends to fill the creek with logs again this winter. It has been his want for some time. The dam which is one of a series of dams on the Black River is for the purpose of helping to float logs downstream to market in the spring.

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We have learned that the Methodist Church being built in Loyal is about completed. Also, J.C. Gwin and Geo H. Smith are building dwellings for their own habitation.

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A new flouring mill is one of the latest improvements at Loyal. It is being installed by John Graves. The people of that town will be greatly indebted. The mill is new throughout and is furnished with all the latest improved machinery being able to do good milling work.

Potts & Myers, of this village, have been manufacturing fanning mills and milksafes. They have done a good business during the past year.

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Who wants to buy a good farm in Clark County? For $1,000 you can 160 acres of land in the Town of York, five miles from Neillsville. The land has 35 acres that are well cleared and improved. If interested, contact J. L. Gates.

October 1936

An opportunity for at least 150, and possibly more, Clark County young men to enter CCC camps has been announced by Harold Trewartha. Trewartha is in charge of the Clark County Relief Administration and he urges all those who have signed applications, and others who are eligible, to present themselves at the relief office at 8 a.m., October 7 for examination.

Sons of farmers who have applied for drought relief and who previously have been in CCC camps, but have been out less than one year, can reapply. If accepted, they can be returned to CCC camps. These men must have their original discharge papers with them when they come to the office on October 7. The old regulation requiring CCC boys to be out one year has been lifted due to Clark County being in the drought area.

It is advised that all applications or anyone available for CCC camps, be at the Neillsville Relief Office on October 7, or get in touch with Trewartha before that time. It is expected that this will be the last enrollment this winter. Trewartha is anxious to fill the quota.

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A Wild Life Refuge has been set up in Clark County. The State Conservation Commission just sent John M. Peterson an official order from the Commission, which establishes a wildlife refuge on certain lands in the town of Worden, Clark County. The refuge consists of 720 acres of land. This particular sanctuary for wild life was established under Section 29.57 of the Wisconsin Statutes which authorizes owners of contiguous land to set aside certain lands for such refuge. The lands are inspected and extensive investigation is made by the Department before acceptance of the lands is made for a refuge. When the lands are accepted, the Commission makes an order having force of the law and all hunting is prohibited.

This particular refuge is known as the Schmidt Memorial Wild Life Refuge. The refuge is named in honor of Frank Schmidt, who lost his life when the home of Professor G.W. Schmidt burned on August 7, 1935. Frank Schmidt took a great interest in wild life and had started a private project on the Schmidt estate in the town of Worden. His untimely death prevented him from carrying out his plans.

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Governor Alfred M. Landon, of Kansas, Republican candidate for president of the United States, greeted a large crowd at the Neillsville railroad depot on Friday afternoon. His special campaigning train pulled through Neillsville on its way East. The governor stood on the rear platform of the train, waving to the throng of people as the train moved past at a speed of less than 10 miles an hour.

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The C.C. Sniteman store was closed for half an hour during the day, on Friday. That was the first time the store has been closed in the middle of business hours since it was opened 52 years ago. Sniteman, a life-long Republican, "locked up" so that he and his clerks could visit the depot and see Gov. Alfred M. Landon, the Republican candidate for president, pass through Neillsville.

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An airplane, which appeared to be lost, passed over Neillsville on Wednesday, about 6 p.m. As the pilot flew over, he read the sign, "Neillsville" on top of the American Stores Dairy Co., condensery building. After reading that and seeing the large arrow, pointing north, he proceeded in the direction of St. Paul, Minnesota. The sign, painted on top of the condensery roof this summer, was a PWA project.

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Five black raccoons were turned loose in the woods of Clark County on Saturday by Allan Covell, Clark County Forester. These animals, which were obtained from the state game farm at Poynette, are splendid specimens and are expected to cross with the common species in this locality. Crossing with the local species will provide a breed whose fur will be of greater value. These animals, three males and two females, are tame, according to Covell. So, he said they are likely to show up at farm homes. Covet asks any farmer seeing these animals about his place to get a switch and hit them just hard enough to drive them away. This should discourage them from being friendly with people. There is a closed season on all raccoon in Clark County and should anyone kill one of these animals, they will be severely punished, it has been stated.

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Clarence Peacock, manager of the Inderrieden Canning Co., borrowed a $22.50 rifle from William O’Brien. He then went squirrel hunting Sunday in the Town of Butler. After scouring the woods all afternoon without seeing any game, he started for home shortly before dark. As he came down the road, a man in plain clothes stuck out his hand and ordered Peacock to stop. The man said he was a game warden and wanted to search Peacock’s car for deer. Peacock, who has never shot at a deer in his life said, "Go ahead and search". The game warden failed to find any deer but he did see the rifle and looked into it. A look of happiness came into his eyes as he discovered a cartridge in the gun. Peacock had not heard of the law against carrying a loaded gun in any automobile. However, he did hear about it from the warden who confiscated the weapon. Peacock is now in the market for a $22.50 rifle which he will present to O’Brien with his best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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A war on rats has been declared by the Neillsville City Council. The council met in special session on Tuesday afternoon to make plans for purchasing poison which will be distributed to residents without cost. Complaints that the city is overrun with rats have come to the attention of the city officials. Rats are also said to be numerous in the surrounding farming country. Marshfield reports a similar situation and free poison is being distributed to residents of that city also. The rat poison for Neillsville may be obtained from the Van Gorden & Sons Elevator. The poison is non-injurious to human beings or animals, other than rats and mice.

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The village of Granton is full of baseball fans and each year the citizens divide into two groups. Each group favors one or the other of the leading teams in the World Series. The losing team’s fans give a supper to the backers of the winning team. The "Giants" treated the "Yankees" this year. The supper was served Tuesday night at the Union Church. According to those from Neillsville, who went over there that evening, it was one of the finest meals ever served in the community.

The following Neillsville men who were there as guests were: Dr. Roskrans, D.A. Peterson, Frank Brown, Wallace Landry, Hubert Quicker, Lewis Bradbury, Herman Braatz, James Fradette, John Peterson, Dr. Thomas and Jess Scott.

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Loyal held a big three-day celebration in honor of the completion of the concrete surface on Highway 98 from Spencer to Loyal. On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, events were attended by citizens from all over the county. Visitors came for one or more days of the celebration.

J.H. Fradette, Clark County Treasurer, acted as master of ceremonies at the dedication Saturday. Other speakers were Fred Lakosky, Loyal village president; Hugh Gwin, president of the Loyal Business Men’s Club; Mr. Baumgartner, Division Highway Engineer of Eau Claire; O. J. Weyhmiller, County Highway Commissioner and Elmer Anderson, Chairman of the Clark County Board.

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The McKinley Senior High School of Marshfield, housing 575 students and 20 teachers, was destroyed by fire early Tuesday night. The building, an old two and a half story structure, was a total loss. The fire is believed to have started in the attic shortly after the supper hour. J. F. Christie, janitor, stated he had left a few lights on when he went to supper and when he returned at 7:20 the lights were out and he smelled smoke. School records were saved. George S. Wood, secretary of the school board, said the loss is about $100,000.

Tuesday, October 27, 1936, has been designated as NAVY DAY, the date set apart to acquaint our people with the history and traditions of the American Navy. It also to inform the people as to what the Navy is now doing, not only in its sphere, but as an asset to our nation other than defense.

On the 27^th of October, 1775, 161 years ago, a special committee presented to the Continental Congress, a bill which provided for the construction of the first fighting ship of our Navy.

October 27^th is also the anniversary of the birth of the late Theodore Roosevelt, who was responsible for the building up of an adequate Navy. It was under his command as President of the United States that our Navy became rated amongst the nations of the world as a first class power.

Therefore, on Tuesday, October 27, 1936, our people are requested to display the Flag and to give thought to our Navy in honor of the day.

Give under my hand this fifteenth day of October, 1936.

Fred Stelloh, Mayor.

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The annual plum pudding and chicken pie supper at the Pleasant Ridge Church was held last Wednesday night. There was a record-breaking crowd with over $70 being taken in. These suppers, which are put on by the Ladies Aid of the church, are becoming very much appreciated by the public, people coming from far and wide.

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                                        R. E. Phillips