From Our Early Files June 19, 2024
25 YEARS AGO
June 24, 1999
The Trempealeau County Board of Supervisors accepted a contract for architectural services for a proposed new county jail. The board voted 18 to three to pay Ayres Associates of Eau Claire $46,750 to develop concept plans and schematic drawings for the jail project.
The Pigeon Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church will mark the 50th anniversary of the dedication of its church building.
Everything costs more than it used to, but Robert Leuty is banking on area shoppers remembering when you could really get something for 10 cents. That notion is summed up by the personalized plates on the car driven by Leuty, who opened his Dime Store in the building on Dodge Street formerly occupied by the Ben Franklin earlier this year. “5NDime” harks back to the era when American shopped at Main St. stores rather than malls.
Arcadia resident Raymond Seiler participated in the 1999 Wisconsin Senior Statesmanship Program in Madison. The program helps senior citizens learn about government and what they can do to help with their own communities.
It’s always important to encourage kids to read. Reading can open doors of a child’s imagination and enrich their lives in a way that few other things can. The Arcadia Public Library wants to foster that desire to read, providing a challenge and some fun for area youth this summer in a program they call “Go Global: Read!”
A group of Arcadia-area four-year-olds spent a little time this summer in a program designed to introduce the future kindergarteners to what school will be like when they return for real in the fall.
With his bible in one hand and an apple in the other Rev. D.O Van Slyke, Galesville’s most controversial personage, returned June 16 to guard over his Garden of Eden. Sculptor Elmer Peterson created the likeness of the itinerant preacher who believed Galesville was indeed the biblical garden.
Put a visit to Old Main on your list of things to do on July 4. From 1 to 4 p.m. that afternoon, the Galesville Area Chamber of Commerce Museum subcommittee will host an ice cream social at Old Main. Those attending will be asked to contribute their ideas for the future of Old Main.
Trempealeau Police Chief Gary Galewski said that providing adequate security for the village’s summer celebrations is a problem. And he wishes the Trempealeau Lions Club, which sponsors Catfish Days would make good on their promise to move the beer tent off Main St. to help limit Juvenile drinking. Galewski said the Catfish Days security force, made up of his officers plus off-duty police from surrounding communities, falls short of what is needed to handle crowds, which number about 10,000.
50 YEARS AGO
June 27, 1974
Independence attorney Edward Kulig has added two new partners to the law firm his late father founded in 1898. Robert Luethi and Laverne Michalak were both admitted to the Wisconsin bar last year.
The Whitehall district school board Monday approved the hiring of Orwell Soper and David Thompson to teach mathematics at Whitehall High and serve as coaches.
The Norse baseball team had to forfeit a league game to Eleva-Strum Central Friday when the umpires did not show up for the contest, which was to be played on Whitehall’s field, because they hadn’t been notified.
Mrs. Paul (Janet) Dettloff, 31, Arcadia, was killed in a one-car accident about 13 miles east of Arcadia Thursday night. She was pronounced dead at the scene after her westbound car, driven by her husband, hit a bridge abutment on Highway 95, between Arcadia and Blair during a spectacular electrical storm.
A 32- by 80-foot 100-year-old barn on the former Florian Flury farm, about seven miles north of Waumandee, was destroyed by fire late Sunday afternoon. The farm is owned by LaVerne Baecker. The blaze is believed to have started from an electrical cord being used to run the elevator the Baeckers were using to put hay into the barn.
The 50th anniversary of the Arcadia Country Club will be celebrated with an 18-hole men’s golf tournament.
Four parishes in the La Crosse diocese will hear the Glenmary story of the Glenmary Home Missioners during July. On Saturday and Sunday, July 6 and 7, the Reverend Frank Ruff will speak at St. Mary Church in Galesville. The Glenmary Home Missioners have taken a stand in No Priest Land, USA, determined to build the Catholic Church in the hundreds of small towns and rural areas where it does not now exist.
The Decorah Homemakers will hold their annual family picnic at noon Sunday at the Dick Abel farm. Bring a dish to pass and your own dishes.
75 YEARS AGO
June 23, 1949
Judgment for $16,794.65 was filed in Trempealeau County Circuit Court Tuesday against former County Treasurer August Knudtson and the National Surety Corporation, for the former’s failure to account for account for county funds. The action grew out of the arrest last October of Roy Matson, former county clerk, for embezzling county funds.
R.A. Holtan of Holtan Frozen Foods is premiering Cry-O-Vac, a process for vacuum-packing foods, at his locker plant this coming Tuesday.
The Rev. John Wilcox was recently reappointed as pastor of the Methodist churches in Whitehall and Independence. The Whitehall church recently has been improved, the basement being redecorated and lavatory and kitchen equipment added.
Tommy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Brennom, was awarded first prize in the recent photo contest sponsored by the Coast to Coast store.
Thirty-three 4-H clubs, with a total of 600 members, have been organized in Trempealeau County, according to Ray Shanklin, county club agent.
The new Evangelical Lutheran church building in Whitehall will be dedicated this Sunday during services to be held at 10:30 a.m. The church is built entirely out of native limestone, and has a seating capacity of 400. It construction was completed in one year, at a cost of about $100,000.
Clarence Benson of Minneapolis called on Elmo Fjeld Friday evening. The boys were war buddies in the Hawaiian Islands.
G.M. Steig of Whitehall was elected president of the Mjosen-Oplans Lag, which met at Pigeon Falls Saturday and Sunday. Other officers elected were Clarence Kaas, Whitehall, vice president; Oluf Hagen, Whitehall, treasurer; and Wm. Berg, Chicago, secretary.
Trempealeau County Judge A.T. Twesome suffered a fatal heart attack on a golf course in West Salem, where he had been attending a La Crosse County Bar Association conference. The extreme heat apparently exacerbated a heart condition the judge had and he collapsed while searching for a ball. He was 69 years old.
100 YEARS AGO
June 26, 1924
The young ladies should be drafted every year for the sale of Chautauqua tickets. The misses Arleen and Selma Steig are said to have sold $124 worth of tickets for the recent Chautauqua. The energy of the young women is commendable, and after each successful event, they should be given a substantial bonus. Such efforts will always put a Chautauqua over.
A representative council from nine churches met Thursday at the Whitehall Baptist church for the purpose of examining and ordaining Chas. Edw. Bowen for the Gospel ministry.
The Trempealeau County Holstein Association held its annual picnic on the asylum farm Thursday. The threatening weather did not stop the crowd in the least, as fully 1,500 people attended.
Theo. Olson, Delco-Light dealer, is always on the job to talk lighting plants. He recently sold plants to Henry Jacobson and Ignatz Maule of Irvin Coulee, Mr. Olson of Galesville, and William Schaefer of Hale, and a light plant and water system to Steve Pampo of North Creek.
Albert Dahl of Pigeon and Iver Johnstad of York were at Whitehall Friday. Mr. Dahl had bills printed announcing a Fourth of July dance at his farm during the afternoon and evening. Johnstad’s orchestra will provide music during the afternoon, and another high-class orchestra will be engaged for the evening.
Alex Erickson of Chimney Rock pleaded guilty to a charge of violating the liquor laws, and was sentenced to pay a fine of $200. In default of payment, he was committed to the jail for four months.
The local Buick agency placed several cars the past week. Dr. Simons purchased a country club coupe, Ole Fagernes of Welch Coulee a roadster, Mike Gillas of Alma Center a touring car and Gunder Gilbertson, a Chevrolet touring.
Tamarack happenings: A class of nine was confirmed at the Tamarack church. They were Juliet Thompson, Myrtle Amundson, Othilda Strand, Amanda Anderson, Anna Knutson, Esther Johnson, Oscar Strand, Norval Swenson and Edwin Halverson.
Newcomb Valley news: A community picnic was planned on the August Knutson farm. Events included a speaker, baseball games and races of different kinds.
125 YEARS AGO
June 22, 1899
The new free public library building on Main Street in Whitehall is about ready for the plasterers. It is to be light, commodious and pleasant quarters in which to while away hours in storing the mind with pleasant and profitable knowledge.
Twenty-three men are at present employed on the county asylum job.
Artist Rogan has his new photographic gallery nearly completed. He will have a grand opening of the same on July 4.
Home-grown strawberries, large and delicious, are on the market at three and five cents per quart. The crop about here is abundant.
H.L. Ekern has commenced excavating for the foundation to his new residence. It is to be steam heated and fitted with all modern improvements.
Peter Christianson will give a dance at his new barn next Saturday night. The structure is round, and no square corners will bother the waltzers in making the rounds. Everyone is invited.
The ice cream sociable on the courthouse lawn Friday evening for the benefit of the Happy Workers and the Norwegian school was a great success, socially and financially. The Happy Workers generously sent $10 to the New Richmond sufferers this week.
C.A. Sherwood is marketing some fine strawberries in the village. Charlie set out about an acre of strawberries, alternating rows of plants between his rows of blackberry and raspberry bushes a year ago, and now his garden is a sight to behold. We have seen many strawberry patches, but never before saw a lot of vines so heavily loaded as those in Mr. Sherwood’s garden at the present time.
Elk Creek — The night-cap social held at the Grange Hall Friday evening proved to be a lively affair. The assorted styles of head-gear furnished considerable amusement. Miss Lottie Dean received the highest commendation for ingenuity. The sale of the night-caps brought in $6.65, which is to be used in the purchase of an organ for the Wagner Sunday school.
