Clark County Press, Neillsville, Wisconsin

March 5, 2014, Page 14

Contributed by "The Clark Co. Press"

Transcribed by Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon.

Index of "Oldies" Articles 

 

Compiled by Dee Zimmerman

 

Clark County News

February 1934

 

Another order to slash 20 percent in the quota of men for CWA work in Clark County was expected to be ordered this week, effective Friday.  It was announced at headquarters in the city hall. The present quota is 457 men, which means that only 366 jobs, including the forestry crews, will be available in the county under the revised schedule.

•••••••••

Some of the visitors at Lake Arbutus, when the water was low, may have been lying on an island near the mouth of East Fork, an old marble slab, which was once a headstone of the grave of James Spires. The site of the grave is usually covered by the waters of the lake.

 

Some sixty years ago, James Spires, a young man working as a log driver, was drowned near this spot and his companions buried him by the river. Later, on reaching La Crosse the crew joined in purchasing a headstone and had it erected at the grave.

 

Recently Tom Glendenning, perhaps the only survivor of that driving drew, passed away at his home near Boyd, age 82, and was buried at Alma Center.                                                                                                             

•••••••••

Rumors that butter substitutes are being used in CCC camps have resulted in much criticism aimed at the government, but from recent statements it appears that butter is being supplied in these camps. At the Lake Arbutus Camp, butter is being served, according to visitors and C. L. Davis, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Davis, Town of Levis, writes from Itasca County, Minnesota, that “we have butter every meal and milk for breakfast.”  Mr. Davis also states that the boys have pie for dinner every day.                                                                                          

•••••••••

P. M. Warlum returned Sunday morning from a business trip to Chicago where he conferred with government officials on CCC work. While there the government men; showed Mr. Warlum the warehouses where whiskey is stored.  Mr. Warlum states that the building is six stories high and about a mile long, filled completely with barrels of whiskey. After viewing this enormous stock, Mr. Warlum says he began to doubt the stories about a possible whiskey shortage in the country.

 

(The Prohibition Act, which started in 1920, was repealed Dec. 5, 1933 again allowing the sale of alcoholic beverages. DZ)                                                                                                                   

•••••••••

The shower given at the Washburn Town hall Thursday evening and also the one given at Levis Town hall Saturday evening for Mr. and Mrs. L. Matousek was well attended and they received many useful presents and a purse of money. We wish them many years of happy wedded life.                                                                       

•••••••••

In order to bring rural credits nearer home, a form of association known as “Production Credit Association” 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 western-half of Taylor County, with a central office in Neillsville.

 

The first meeting was held on January 30, 1934 and the following board of directors 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 Buettner brothers from the Cawley Creek area are engaged in tie and pulpwood cutting in Oneida County, along with a few other men from the Christie area who went up there to find employment for the winter.  The wages are good for the ones who care to work.                                                                           

•••••••••

CWA men were called to fight a fire in the big swamps near Abbot Ranch in the western part of the county.

•••••••••

Rose and Mary Rosandich, Kathy Matonich, Edward and John Barten, Louis, John and Tom Rosandich, Joe Marek, Andy Kapusta, and Johnny Hebert all got together to play basketball with Gilbert Yankee at his place Sunday afternoon.

 

February 1964

 

A formal request for widening West Fifth Street, highway 10, from Hewett Street to Sunset Place, has been authorized by the city council of Neillsville. The estimated cost of the project is $170,500, with state and federal taxpayers’ funds amounting to $119,000 and the city paying an estimated $51,500.  

•••••••••

A return to $10 annual dues was announced this week by the officers of the Neillsville Country Club following their organization meeting. 

 

Dues, raised a year ago to $15 per year, brought as much total in membership; but resulted in approximately $1,000 less in total revenue for the club, according to a report made to the officers. There were about 75 fewer memberships sold last year.  Junior memberships will be $5. The children whose parents both hold memberships may play free.

•••••••••

Ownership of the Arbutus Cafι in Neillsville changed hands here Sunday. The purchase was made by George Olishkewych, formerly of the Town of Grant, from Louis Streidl, who has operated the restaurant for the last three years.

•••••••••

Five young men of the Willard and Greenwood area are writing 600-word essays as the result of an unusual order handed down late last week by Judge Karl W. Paape.

 

They were instructed to divide the essay into to two parts, the first telling why they had broken into the West Side Hall in Willard a few days earlier; and the second dealing with who really suffered as a result of their activity.  Judge Paape said he expected that each portion would take about 300 words.

 

In explaining his order later, Judge Paape said the offense was the first insofar as was known by officials, for each of the youths.  He wanted them to examine their reasons, whether they were trying to be mature before their time; act the part of big shots; seek the limelight, or whatever may have prompted them.  He also wanted to impress upon them the consequences of their act and to realize that they reach beyond the individual to members of their family and friends.

•••••••••

The end of an era in telephone history in Clark County was marked last Saturday night in Colby, when the Colby South West Telephone Company wound up its affairs. The company has been purchased by General Telephone Company.

 

Emil Luchterhand, the treasurer, presented each of the 44 members with a check for $100 as partial distribution of the funds on hand. A final distribution of assets will be made when all obligations are paid, he said.

 

At one time, five such farmer-owned telephone associations operated out of Colby; three centered in Abbotsford, two at Unity, and similar groups also operated out of Loyal, Greenwood and Owen.  Most of these farmer-owned lines dropped out as the years passed and service was provided by the commercial companies.

 

General Telephone has purchased both the Colby South West and the unity Western lines. The old lines have been removed and underground conduit has been installed.

 

“The phone service is much improved,” Luchterhand said.

 

The last official act of the Colby South West Company was to vote to turn over its old records to a Clark County Historical Society, which county Agent John Oncken has expressed interest in organizing.

•••••••••

Neillsville IGA Lenten Specials! Halibut Steak… lb. 39’; Ocean Perch fillet 3 lbs $1; Pink Salmon 16 oz. 59’; mild Colby Cheese lb. 49’; Velveeta Cheese 2 lbs. 89’; Armour’s Bacon… lb. 39’; Delicious Apples 10 lbs. $1.

•••••••••

Transfer of two business properties in downtown Neillsville was revealed this week by Atty. Wayne W. Trimberger.

 

Mr. Trimberger said that he has purchased the former Warlum-Robinson building, on the southeast corner of Hewett and East Seventh Streets; and that he has arranged for the sale of the property adjacent to this building, to the south, to Production Credit Association of Neillsville. Both businesses require more space, he said.

 

The work of remodeling the former Warlum-Robinson building to house law offices was started Wednesday morning.

•••••••••

Among the mutual problems discussed by the county postmasters recently, was ways of securing better patron participation in the ZIP code program.  Postmaster, Krultz explained to The Clark County Press that this area has been poor to use the ZIP codes and that the local postmasters fear a tightening of regulations regarding their use.

•••••••••

Mrs. Buster (Maxine) Lea of Alma Center has her “birthday cane” back.

 

One couldn’t exactly say it arrived by air mile, although it did come by airplane and parachute.

 

The cane was delivered by Harold Johnson of Merrillan, who for several years has been exchanging the same cane with Mrs. Lea in token of their birthdays.  Johnson piloted the plane of George Gansel of Alma Center to make the delivery.  Gansel served as “bombardier.”

 

The cane was let down gently by Johnson. Bombardier Gansel’s accuracy was attested by the fact that it landed on the Lea’s back property line.

 

A group, hastily called together by Mr. Lea to witness the arrival cheered lustily.

 

Johnson was a little late in returning the birthday cane. Mrs. Lea’s birthday occurred several months ago but Johnson had to get it back to her somehow, and quickly.  You see, Mrs. Johnson now has to find a novel way to return it to Johnson for his birthday and that comes in March.                                                 

•••••••••

Mr. and Mrs. George Shaw of Neillsville will observe their Golden Wedding Anniversary with an open house Saturday evening in the American Legion Memorial Hall in Neillsville. The open house will be preceded by a dinner there at 6:30 p.m. for a few friends and relatives.

 

The Shaws were married in Neillsville on February 25, 1914 in the parsonage of the Reformed Church, which was then located on the present site of the James A. Musil home on State Street. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. H. G. Schmid.  They have made their home in Neillsville throughout their married life.

 

Mr. Shaw was born in Oconomowoc 68 years ago and came to Neillsville with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Shaw, when he was a boy of four.  His father is still living.  He attended grade school and then started working with his father.  One of his early jobs was that of operating a steam engine owned by his father. For most of his life, Mr. Shaw has worked in dairy plants in the area.  He continues to be active, by assisting his son, Robert Shaw, as the need arises, doing maintenance work for the united Church of Christ, of which he is a member, and assisting with other work as he is called.

 

Mrs. Shaw is a native of Clark County.  She was born Clara Wedekind in the Town of Grant and attended school there. She is widely known as a good cook and for several years worked on the lunch staff at Neillsville High School. At present she assists with the weekly preparation of the meal for the Kiwanis Club.

 

After the inevitable question, “What advice do you have for young people getting married today?” the Shaws agreed that attitude is the most single factor in making a marriage work.

 

They have to be determined to make it work,” they asserted. Both expressed the opinion that “easy divorces of today” are not helpful.

 

The Shaws have four living children and 12 grandchildren. The children are: Louis, manager of the Nelson Muffler plant at Black River Falls; Clarence of Milwaukee; Robert of Neillsville; and Mrs. Richard (Edna) Lowe of Kansas City, Mo.

 

A son, George Edward, died 25 years ago at the age of 11.            

•••••••••

The hot lunch program in Granton School observed a “Potato Day,” February 12, by serving potatoes as scalloped, in salad and sweet potatoes.

 

Table decorations consisted of potatoes, carved as cars, men, animals, islands and flowers.

 

Mrs. Carl Bladl is chief cook and is assisted by Mrs. William Lehmann and Mrs. Elmer Martens. They estimate that 458 potatoes were used that day.  Potatoes are plentiful for the hot lunch program.

•••••••••

An organizational meeting was held last week at the Herman Carl home in the Town of Pine Valley, at which time the Mound View 4-H Club was formed. The next meeting will be held March 3, at the Ernest Bird home.  Ruth Bird will talk on safety and health. A demonstration will be given by Eugene and Roger Carl.

•••••••••

An agreement to sell the old Neillsville Nursing Home, at the corner of State and East Fourth streets, to Dr. T. N. Thompson was made by the board of directors of Memorial Hospital, Inc., late last week.

 

Dr. Thompson will purchase the property on a land contract at a price of $15,000.  He expects to remodel the building and use it as a medical office.                                                                  

•••••••••

Palm’s Pine Grove Tavern is Opening for Another Season, Saturday, Feb. 29th. Kitchen will be open daily at 5 p.m. & at 12 noon on Sundays & Holidays.  Harry & Ethel Palm, proprietors; location is 2 miles south of Hatfield, on Cty. Road K.  (This business place has burned in the past few years. Dmk)

 

 

Judge James O’Neill built his home just prior to 1889, on the southeast corner of State and East Fourth Street intersection, living there most of his life. The mansion was later remodeled and housed the Neillsville Hospital for several years, then a nursing home.  Dr. Thompson purchased the building in 1964 and remodeled it into being used as a clinic for his practice for a few years.  In the 1970s, it was divided into an apartment building.  In the early 1990s, its new owners returned the mansion into a private residence with two remaining apartments.

 

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