Clark County Press, Neillsville,

February 25, 2004, Page 14

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

 

Clark County News

February 1874

 

The school building committee opened and considered proposals for building the schoolhouse here in Neillsville.

 

The bids received were as follows:

 

Bacon & Bradshaw, all work…. $6,425;

 

Hendrickson, Mason work and excavating $3,150;

 

Pilschie & Groth, Mason & Brick work $2,433; J. E. Rawlinson, Mason Work & Plastering $3,438; John Looby, Stone work, per cord $7,50, Brick work per M, $3.50, Plastering, per yard 15c.

 

L. Drake, all carpenter work, iron, tin, with tin furnished, weights, sash cords, bolts and anchors, nails and hardware, screws, wardrobe hooks and 16 registers, $3,340.

 

C. Blakeslee, all work, $5,000.

 

The contract was awarded to Mr. Drake in connection with Mr. Rawlinson for all work and the material embraced in is proposal.

 

The plan of the building is furnished by C. J. Ross, of La Crosse and is designed after that of the Second Ward School of that city, with the exception of the main walls being of brick where those of the La Crosse building are of stone.  The building will be composed of an upright two stories, basement and attic in height, surmounted by a basement in height.  The front elevation of the building will be 118 feet in length, the main part 58 feet and the wings 38 feet, deep.  The exterior of the building is very plain, with entrances, front and rear in each wing, next to the main part.  There will be eight gables surmounted by heavy wood cornice, those of main part being covered with very neat porches that lead into spacious halls from which the two stairways ascend.  It will cost, when completed next fall, $15,000.

••••••••••

R. Dewhurst and Daniel Gates have determined to pay a visit to the Pacific Coast in the coming spring.  It is their intention to leave here about the first of May.  They plan to be absent for about four months, making the principal part of their visit in Washington Territory.  There, a number of people have already emigrated to from Clark County.  They go simply to see the sights, with no intention of deserting Neillsville. They may buy a little pine land, if it comes in their way, just from force of habit, but they will not stop to do any logging.

••••••••••

A very pleasant party took place at Harry Mead’s home, north of Neillsville, last Friday evening.  It was composed of his old friends throughout the county who assembled upon his invitation to partake of a good supper and enjoyment.  Those who went from here, of whom there was quite a party, think they were well paid for the forty-mile ride, there and back.

••••••••••

This has been one of the best known logging seasons ever known on the Black River, as is generally agreed to by all lumbermen.  They are finding good compensation for the general depression in business, which compelled them to go into the woods this winter with light forces.

 

W. J. Armstrong has a camp of eight men on Rock Creek, who had put in on January 31st.  They have 800,000 feet of logs by actual scale, or 100,000 feet to the man, which is generally counted as a good winter’s work.  He has now placed his figures for the winter, for this camp, at a million and a half.

 

Al Brown and several other lumbermen have already filled contracts that were supposed would occupy all the winter and are now putting in logs for any good customer that may come along.

 

This winter is nothing like the usual amount of logs put in for the season.  The indications are that those who are engaged in logging will make as much money, even allowing for a dull market, as they have done in any other season.

••••••••••

Mr. J. F. King has purchased the milk business of Mr. Dutton, which he has been carrying on.  Mr. King proposes to devote his whole time to the business by keeping a stock of cows. That will enable him to supply all demands for good, fresh milk.

••••••••••

Begley’s new saloon, at Greenwood, was totally destroyed by a fire, last Monday.  The fire originated in the building’s chimney and when discovered, was past subduing by the means at hand.  The windows, doors, furniture and stock were saved, which leaves Mr. Begley’s loss at about $1,000.

••••••••••

The Clark County Bank opened its doors for business last Friday, with Mr. Kirkland’s familiar face behind the glass.  The building, between Dudley’s harness shop and Rice & Sawyer’s drug store, has been thoroughly remodeled.  The office is a model of neatness, showing the skill of Messrs. Bacon & Bradshaw, combined with the excellent taste of Mr. Kirkland. An item of special interest to those who have more money than they care to carry around in their pockets, is a magnificent burglar-proof safe, one of the Hall Company’s largest and best.

 

February 1934

 

Eddie Gustafson, Jack Tibbett and Paul Ehlers are planning a trip to northern Wisconsin to hunt snowshoe rabbits.  In the regions that are being reforested, these rabbits are so numerous as to be a menace to the young trees that are being planted, so rabbit hunters are welcomed. As the animals are considered to be a nuisance, there is a no bag-limit in hunting them.

 

The local men made one trip to the rabbit region some time ago and had such success, that they are anxious to go again.  Their plan is to leave here early Saturday morning and drive to up near Kennedy, 12 miles west of Park Falls. That entire region is a wilderness and is said to swarm with the snowshoe rabbits.

 

The men will take Jack Tibbett’s trailer, which has been fitted up as a bunkhouse and living quarters.  Being snug and comfortable, they will be able to withstand this ordinary winter weather.

 

The snowshoe rabbit is occasionally seen in the unsettled regions around Neillsville.  This winter hundreds of the ordinary cottontail rabbits have been shot by local hunters.  Many of these have been canned for future eating and have added not a little to the food supply, besides furnishing considerable sport for the hunters.

••••••••••

Last week Wednesday, Leonard Schultz, of Globe, was falling trees in the woods.  His two sons were working with him.  In cutting down a tall birch tree, a brittle section from the top of the tree broke off, falling about 30 feet, striking Mr. Schultz on the top of his head.  He was knocked to the ground, but was not unconscious, although he was unable to help himself for some time.  Although his cap was not cut through, he received a severe scalp wound. Schultz was taken to Dr. M. C. Rosekrans office, where his head wound was dressed.

 

Only a few weeks ago, Mr. Schultz and family had a narrow escape from death, when the acetelyn (acetylene) gas plant, in the Schultz home, exploded, badly wrecking the house. 

••••••••••

Keller Bros. announced this week that they will establish a picnic park near their tavern, which will be ready for use by the public about the middle of May. A band will play every other Sunday, in connection with their baseball games.  Dutch ovens will be built for free use by the public, which will be inviting to those who bring lunches and hold picnics on the grounds.

 

 

An aerial view, circa 1940, of the Keller Brothers’ entertainment complex, which consisted of the Silver Dome Ballroom, the Fireplace restaurant, picnic and park facilities with a bandstand and baseball field.  Highway 10 is on the right side of the photo.  (Photo courtesy of the Keller Family Collection)

••••••••••

The Tibbett Ice and Fuel Co. Tuesday started cutting a second crop of ice on the O’Neill Creek pond. The ice is of excellent quality.

••••••••••

The Loyal Order of Moose, of Neillsville, will present a home talent play on Thursday and Friday nights, Feb. 22 and 23, at the Armory with a cast of approximately 150.  The play, entitled “The World’s All Right,” is a musical comedy and promises to be something different.

••••••••••

Prompt and efficient work on the part of the Neillsville Fire Department, with its chemical fire truck, saved the Reed School, located in the Town of Grant, from destruction by fire on last Thursday.  The damage was confined to the attic and roof.  Chimney sparks are believed to have started the blaze.

••••••••••

In order to bring rural credits nearer home, a form of association known as “Production Credit Associations” has been provided for by an act of Congress.  These associations are planned to cover two or three counties with a central office accessible from all parts of the territory covered.  They are sufficiently capitalized to furnish small short-term loans to farmers on personal property security on quick notice.

 

The Federal Farm and Home loans were designed to take care of large demands covering long terms with real estate security.  The so-called “barn-yard” or “farm-yard” loans answered the same purpose with personal property security, but both of these involved dealing with officials at long distance and required much red tape.

 

Several weeks ago, steps were taken to set up a production association for this region, the territory to include Jackson and Clark counties and the west half of Taylor County, with a central office at Neillsville.

 

The first meeting was held on January 30, 1934, when the following board of directors was elected:

 

H. H. Richardson, Neillsville; Helge Rustad, Black River Falls; C. L. McDonald, Black River Falls; Edward Soper, Lublin; Teddy H. Durski, Lublin; John Wuethrich, Greenwood; Arthur H. Imig, Neillsville.

 

The following are officers: John Wuethrich, president, C. L. McDonald, first vice president, Teddy H. Durski, second vice president, R. M. Horswill, Neillsville, secretary-treasurer.

 

Executive committee: John Wuethrich, Arthur H. Imig, Helge Rustad; Alternates are H. H. Richardson and Teddy H. Durski.

 

Helge Rustad is connected with the Black River Falls creamery; Mr. Wuethrich has had extensive experience as a farmer, breeder of dairy cattle and creamery operator.  All the other directors are farmers with years of experience.

 

Mr. Horswill has also had much experience in farming and farmlands.  He has conducted many sales of personal property for years past, has handled property of estates and other work of a trust nature and for some months has been an appraiser for barn-yard loans.  He was brought up at Black River Falls and took a business course after graduating from high school.  He is entirely familiar with the territory covered in the three counties and knows conditions on the farms, thoroughly.

 

Offices have been established in the Thayer building, Neillsville, where all who are interested in the new form of loans may secure details from Mr. Horswill.  Applications for loans may also be filed with Carl Beilfuss at the Withee State Bank, or Helge Rustad at the Black River Falls creamery.

••••••••••

Described by those who know golf, one of the finest and sportiest courses in Wisconsin, the Hawthorne Hills Country Club, owned by F. J. Baer of this city, is rapidly taking on its finishing touches and will be ready for the first tee-off sometime in June.  The formal opening has been tentatively set for the Fourth of July as a special Independence Day feature.

 

During the past few weeks, the interior of the building recently moved to the grounds has been remodeled and put in shape for use as a clubhouse. A section of the building will serve as a pro-house where repairs to golf equipment will be made and refreshments served.

 

The course is beautifully laid out over a terrain admirably adapted to golf and is said to offer many opportunities for testing the skill of a player. The greens are large, with well-banked areas covered with Orchard bent, a grass said to be superior to any other for golf purposes.  A variety of sand traps has been provided, but despite these handicaps it is said that the duffer as well as the expert will get real enjoyment out of the nine holes.

 

Stretching over 3,400 yards, the course has two 5-par holes, two three-pars and five four-pars, laid out to use virtually every foot of the 60 acres. All that remains is the seeding of the fairways, which will be done during March, if the weather permits.  With this early start, they will be in playing condition by the latter part of June.

 

Nearly 300 Hawthorne, basswood and pine trees have been planted.  Nothing has been left undone in the way of beautifying the premises, the work being under the direction of C. E. Hyssen, former Marshfield greens-keeper and professional.

 

Three power mowers have been ordered, one a five-gang mower for cutting a swath 15 feet wide, a greens mower and a bunker mower.  Water mains connecting with the city water system will be laid as soon as the frost is out of the ground.

 

Being conveniently situated on Highway 10 and within walking distance of the city, the Hawthorne Hills Club is looked upon as a civic asset, which will draw many outsiders to the city for their recreation.

 

(A great amount of rain fell the following month, which washed out the greens and fairways of the new Hawthorne Hills golf course and it didn’t open that year as planned.  The course was later sold and opened as the Neillsville Country Club. D.Z.)

••••••••••

The West Side Tavern, 3 miles east of Neillsville, will have a free lunch and music Thursday, Feb. 8th.

••••••••••

The May & Ruchaber United Stores grocery, of Neillsville, is celebrating its anniversary with a 4-day sale.  Swift’s Premium ham, whole or half, 15c per lb; Swift’s Premium bacon, ½ lb. pkg. cellophane wrapped, 15c; Beef post (pot) roast, 12c per lb; Powdered or brown sugar, 3 lbs, 20c.

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