From Our Early Files 10.18.23
25 YEARS AGO
October 22, 1998
The city of Whitehall’s insurance company has refused to pay claims filed by city property owners whose basements were damaged when sanitary sewer lines backed up during heavy rains in late June. Wausau Insurance Co. had informed the city by letter that it would not voluntarily pay the claims, City Clerk Lynn Johnson informed the city council at its regular monthly meeting last week Tuesday. Johnson said the company refused the claims because it said the city was not negligent, and had not committed any errors, resulting in the damages.
Prodded by members concerned about the costs of a new facility, the Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors Monday night voted to expand a special committee studying the county jail. The board voted unanimously to include members of its finance and property committees in the meetings of the county jail study committee. The county hired a Colorado consulting firm to conduct a needs assessment of the jail. But one supervisor, Gerald Stalzer of Galesville, felt that the study was putting the cart ahead of the horse. He said the firm seemed to assume that the county would begin building a new jail in about two years, without detailing the financial and operational costs for the several facility options it presents.
Proud, but humble, Arcadia School District officials and community members dedicated their new $11 million high school Saturday afternoon. About750 individuals turned out for a tour of the facility and roughly 200 stayed for the official dedication ceremonies.
Jeff and Carol Bawek of rural Arcadia have been chosen at the 1998 recipients of the Trempealeau and Western Area Land Conservation Association’s conservation farmer award. The Baweks, along with other Trempealeau County conservation awards recipients, will receive their award at the Land Conservation’s 51st annual recognition banquet to be held at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church Hall next Tuesday. The Baweks were selected for their outstanding efforts in preserving the soil and water resources of the land they own and operate.
Besides electing state and local officials at the polls on Nov. 3, voters will also have two amendments to the state constitution to vote on. The issues being considered as amendments to the state constitution are whether or not citizens have the right to keep and bear arms and if changes should be made to the length of the county sheriff’s terms of office.
All schools in the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau School District will let students out three hours early Wednesday, Oct. 28, so teachers can use that time to look at student performance. According to Trempealeau Elementary principal and curriculum coordinator Gail Hackbarth, the teachers will be assessing student performance on last year’s Wisconsin Student Assessment System test.
50 YEARS AGO
October 25, 1973
A solution to a fuel-oil shortage in the Whitehall area was found this week when the state Department of Agriculture announced that the Union 76 Oil Co. will be allocated to another, unspecified dealer the oil that it formerly sold to the Roy Harnisch dealership in Whitehall. The approximately 210 customers formerly served by Harnisch, who sold his dealership earlier this year, will be notified of the name of their new supplier.
This Saturday, Whitehall will be the auction capital of the Midwest, and perhaps an even larger area. The occasion will be the sale of rural Whitehall resident Cliff Woychik’s collection of steam engines, antique cars and trucks, and other paraphernalia.
A disappointing Norse football season ended with a 3-6 record after Friday’s 20-2 loss to Blair. With a number of players missing because of injuries or disciplinary suspensions, Head Coach Ken Stellpflug had to use several inexperienced players, including freshman running back Joe Diffie, whose 37-yard run to the Blair 10 helped set up the only WHS score, a blocked punt for a safety.
The Arcadia Raiders returned home to Cashen Park Friday night after a successful two-game road trip to cap the 1973 season with an 18-0 win over a scrappy Hilltopper team from Onalaska. The victory, which gives the Raiders an unblemished 9-0 mark for the season, ends a 15-year drought dating back to 1958 when the last Arcadia team succeeded in sweeping through their season schedule unbeaten.
Would-be safecrackers went through a lot of trouble in an early attempt to open a safe at the A-G Creamery sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning, but were frightened away before they could be successful.
Mrs. LeRoy (Bernie) Jenson of Galesville has recently had a book, “Buck and the Cats of Evergreen Acres,” the biography of a beloved Spaniel, published by the Vantage Press, New York.
A representation of local citizens met Wednesday afternoon at the Bank of Galesville relative to organizing the local Community Chest drive for 1973. Mayor Ralph Myhre, who called the meeting, was elected as president of the drive with Wendell Sacia as chairman, Ray Anderson, treasurer; Mrs. Joan Smith, secretary and Rolf Hammer as manpower chair. A kickoff pancake supper will be served at the local curling club on Oct. 24.
Melrose-Mindoro outplayed G-E-T in virtually ever phase of the game last Friday and consequently spoiled coach Russ Lund’s last game as head coach by pasting the Redmen, 41-0. Lund said the decision to step down had been made before the start of this season, but wasn’t announced until just before the game last week The Galesville native expressed regret at vacating the post he has held since 1968, but cited the pressures of coaching three major sports as an important factor in his decision. He retires amassing a remarkable record of 34-6 with four losses coming this year.
75 YEARS AGO
October 21, 1948
The first shipment of federal government surplus foods have been received in Trempealeau County, according to Miss Dorris Sander, county school superintendent. The shipment of potatoes was picked up in La Crosse and brought to the Blair Canning Co., warehouse for storage until distributed among the various schools carrying hot lunch programs.
Colonel Larson of Whitehall took newsreels for Paramount Pictures of President Harry Truman’s visit to Winona Thursday. He not only filmed the president’s 10-minute, railroad car speech, but also of Mrs. Truman and their daughter Margaret, and of the approximately 7,000 people who assembled to see the president. Mr. Larson was assisted by Allan Getts and accompanied by his son Gary and daughter Judy.
Officers for the new year were elected at the annual meeting of the La Crosse unit of the National Hairdressers Association, held at the Modern Beauty Shop in Whitehall Monday evening. Irene Megrath of Whitehall was elected to the board of directors, and Marion DeBow, local, as sergeant-at-arms.
The Rev. C.K. Malmin Tuesday evening met seven of his cousins, relations whom he had not seen since he left Norway 40 years ago to come to the United States. The cousins were members of the Ranneberg male chorus which performed at First Lutheran Church in Eau Claire that night.
Miss Alice Larson has completed a course of training, and is now fully qualified to represent Spencer, Inc., of New Haven, Conn., as a corsetier, taking measurement for the individually-designed supports for which Spencer is noted. Miss Larson, who recently resigned her position with the Trempealeau County Abstract Co. to take this new work, will have an unlimited territory in the Whitehall area.
Albert Hess is the only candidate from Arcadia whose name will appear on the ballot at the Nov. 2 election. A lifelong Democrat, he is a candidate on that ticket for the office of member of assembly from Trempealeau County.
Someone has suggested that members of the younger generation are alike in many disrespects.
100 YEARS AGO
October 25, 1923
One of the many things the high school is doing to make Whitehall High School one of the most modern in organization is the recent organization of a Faculty-Student Council, which is the governing body of all school activities. The purpose of this organization is to democratize the school functions and fix responsibility equally upon the students of the respective classes, the members of the faculty and the board of education, and the alumni of the school.
Dewey Bensend severely burned his left hand and the wrist of his right arm Tuesday while working with a blowtorch at the schoolhouse. The torch was leaking, which caused an explosion. His clothing caught fire, but was extinguished by rolling on the ground.
The demand for trapping tags has exceeded County Clerk Risberg’s supply for far this season. About 3,000 tags have been issued.
Mason and Scott completed moving H.A. Anderson’s law office from the rear of the Auto Sales garage to a recently-acquired lot south of the town hall on Main Street in Whitehall.
A retest for tuberculosis of the cattle at the Trempealeau County Asylum farm claimed all but six of the milch cows.
The Whitehall rod and gun club is planning a free movie to be given in the near future. It will be interesting and instructive to disciples of the rod and gun. Date later.
Elk Creek — The Elk Creek creamery is gaining in favor, and we hear rumors that a new building is liable to be built soon. There can be no doubt that this would be an excellent advantage, for with as large a volume of business as is being done here up to this time, surely new equipment and a nice, convenient and modern working place would give added benefit.
A.E. Nehring of Preston had purchased a Delco-Light plant and washing machine of our local dealer, Theo. B. Olson.
All arrangements have been completed for the largest livestock sales day ever to be held in Arcadia. A total of 46 purebred hogs and several Holstein and Guernsey bulls and heifers were on the list of animals to be sold. Merchants were planning a dollar day sale.
The big “Stock Sale and Dollar Day Sale” at the Big Store, the W.P. Massuere Co. in Arcadia, listed overalls, plain blue with apron, $1; dress ginghams, five yards for $1; canvas gloves, eight pair for $1 (limit $1); Peaberry coffee, four pounds for $1; white Naptha P&G soap, 22 bars for $1; and raisins, 15 cents per package.
125 YEARS AGO
October 29, 1898
W.H. Cummings is making arrangements to embark in livery business in town.
A private phone of the Wisconsin Valley company was placed in the John O. Melby and Co. Bank last week.
C.F. Peterson of Independence has filed a paper with the county clerk declining the Democratic nomination for superintendent of schools. This makes two important nominations the Democrats have lost since their convention.
At the Whitehall village board meeting Monday night, the petition for the extension of the water main on Scranton street to Abrams, and on Abrams to Dodge, was granted. The clerk was also authorized to advertise for bids for the employment of an electrician to operate the dynamo.
W.H. Stallings has let the contract for the steam-heating plant for the American House. Besides steam heat, the house is to be supplied with hot and cold water. Anderson and Ringstad are now plastering the large office. The rebuilding throughout of the house has been done in first-class shape, and when completed, it is to afford commodious and comfortable quarters for the wayfarer.
P.O. Stromme of Madison, candidate for secretary of state on the Democratic ticket, was in town Tuesday. The gentleman dropped into town to get his bearings, supposing that he was billed to speak here, but ascertained that the Democratic county committee knew nothing of any such appointment.
The dance at Opera Hall last evening was not very well attended, but those present report a good time.
