From Our Early Files Oct. 4, 2023
25 YEARS AGO
October 8, 1998
Hundreds of people showed up Sunday to help Tri-County Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home mark the completion of a three-year $5.5 million building and renovation project. Hospital officials estimated that more than 400 people attended the open house for the facility’s “Building for the Future” project.
Pigeon Falls officials Monday night got a look at plans for a dam-repair project that may cost more than had been estimated. Mark Blaske of Abacus Consulting, the Eau Claire engineering firm retained by the village, presented the plans for the Pigeon Creek dam project at the monthly village board meeting. Blaske said that his estimate for the cost of the work was $400,000 – about $100,000 more than had been predicted previously.
Governor Tommy Thompson announced the approval of $11.4 million in federal transportation enhancement funds for 47 different recipients to implement a variety of transportation projects throughout the state in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Arcadia was awarded $186,592 for the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian trail in the city.
The Bethany Belles, from Bethany Lutheran Church in Rice Lake, will be providing special music throughout the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. church services at Christ Lutheran Church in Arcadia.
Although Galesville’s sky watcher kept a wary eye on the clouds, which hung over the city on Saturday, Apple Affair goers experienced only a few sprinkles. Organizers counted about 2,500 admission buttons sold to the 16th annual celebration.
Ettrick Village Clerk Smith Beirne said Tuesday night that a $47,089 Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA) storm relief grant has been approved. He said he received part of the funds and hopes to get the rest soon.
Seth Anderson, a 16-year-old Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau junior won the 1998 FFA State Tractor Operator’s Contest at the World Day Expo in Madison.
50 YEARS AGO
October 11, 1973
Mayo Armellini Simon, head of the extension program of the Associacion Rural del Uruguay in Montevideo, was in Whitehall for four days last week, learning about cooperative methods from employees of the WBI Farmers Union Co-op.
Areas of Trempealeau County are eligible for emergency loans to cover crop losses resulting from hail storms that hit the area July 18 and 19, according to the Small Business Administration.
The Norsemen defeated Alma Center Lincoln 16-12 Friday, with Arnie Johnson running for one touchdown and Bryan Pucik passing to Dave Pientok for another. Tom Matchey carried 20 times for 129 yards and ran for both two-point conversions.
Footings were poured Monday by Peter Nelson & Sons, Inc., La Crosse, for an 80-by-200-foot cheese processing plant for A-G Cooperatives, just east of the present creamery. The construction is part of a major expansion plant, hatchery, fertilizer plant, pellet mill and elevator and feed mill. Also under construction Monday was a 60-by-100-foot fertilizer storage warehouse near the fertilizer plant.
City police and the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Office are investigating a break-in sometime late Sunday evening or early Monday morning at Eckel Implement Company in Arcadia. Entry was gained by breaking a window in a rear door. Some cash was taken.
The Arcadia Red Raiders took over sole possession of the top spot in the Coulee Conference Friday night as they handed Holmen a 26-6 defeat and the Pirates of Cochrane-Fountain City knocked Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau from the ranks of Coulee undefeated with a 20-6 Homecoming victory. The Pirates’ win severed G-E-T’s consecutive conference winning streak, which began with the last game of the 1967 season, at 39. G-E-T’s run of 41 straight wins was snapped earlier this season by Loyal.
Owen Ayers Associates, an engineering and architectural firm from Eau Claire, recommends that the present elementary school in Galesville be abandoned and a new building constructed at a new site. The firm was retained by the G-E-T school board at the urging of district residents to make an impartial and objective survey of the Galesville Elementary and recommend possible courses of action.
75 YEARS AGO
October 7, 1948
Residents of Whitehall’s east side are finding it much more convenient to reach the downtown, now that a new bridge across Irvin Creek between Melby and Abrams streets is open.
Berger Lund and E.L. Gilbertson drove to Duluth over the weekend to attend a meeting of the Central Ski Association, during which the newly-organized Whitehall Winter Sports, Inc., was admitted to membership. Jan. 30 was set as the tentative date for the CSA ski tournament to be held at Whitehall.
Whitehall — Abner Thompson purchased the Texaco filling station and garage business operated in connection with it from J.V. Maldonado. Mr. Thompson will operate the station and garage in connection with his used-car agency.
Cornerstone laying for the new United Lutheran church at Pigeon Falls will be held this Sunday. The Rev. H.A. Oerke, former pastor of the church and son of the late Rev. A.J. Oerke, also a former pastor, will deliver the sermon at the morning service, to be held at the U.L. Hall. Immediately following the service, the congregation will proceed to the site of the new church for the cornerstone ceremony, which also will be performed by Rev. Oerke.
A business transaction took place in Whitehall this week when Stanley Amundson of Strum purchased the Standard Oil station on No. 53 on the east side from Hilmer Hagen, who built the station 10 years ago and has operated it most of the time since. With the station go three cabins which are rented out to tourists, but Mr. Hagen retains a railroad coach which has been converted into a home, situated just east of the station, presently occupied by the Albert Dahls.
Tom Lindem, pioneer citizen of this area, says he has seen dry periods heretofore, but according to Tom’s weather chart he has never see it drier than it is at this time.
Drivers education was taught at Arcadia High School this term for the eighth consecutive year, principal W.B. Gautsch announced. About 82 students took the instruction, with John Koetting as teacher of the course. This was a classroom course aimed at aiding students in acquiring the knowledge and developing the attitudes essential to becoming a good driver. It provided opportunities for full discussion of traffic problems and thus developed an appreciation of what is expected of a good driver.
Arcadia was held to a scoreless tie in the football game with Whitehall last Thursday night in a Mississippi Valley Conference contest. Each team got to its opponent’s 10-yard stripe at least twice in the game, but defensive stands prevented any scoring. Only three first downs were chalked in the first half. Running plays were repeatedly stopped cold by the players on both sides. The game was hard-fought, but clean and only a few penalties were called.
100 YEARS AGO
October 11, 1923
The Parent-Teachers’ Association held its first meeting in the high school auditorium last week Wednesday, and was very well attended. It was decided to raise enough money to finish a rest-room for teachers and pupils. This room will also be used in carrying on the dental survey in our schools this year.
Henry Engen is confined to the Community Hospital as the result of a peculiar accident. He was helping Helmer Hoff to weigh a cow on the scale at Nelson and Larson’s when the animal became frightened and lunged, her weight tipping over the wagon and pinning Henry underneath. It was a very painful experience and a miracle that he was not instantly killed.
The largest school board convention held in Whitehall in years assembled at the courthouse Monday. From one to three members from each district were present, and the entire department from both the Galesville and Arcadia training schools attended.
H.J. Hopkins is making a big success of his work as designer for McPherson and Co. of Chicago, mentioning in a recent letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F.D. Hopkins, the large amount of work they have designing homes, hotels and theatres.
W.A. Lieberg has opened a gents’ clothing store in the Theo. Olson building on Main Street. A fine line of men’s and boys’ clothing is on display. Will is an experience man in this line of business, and his ability to care for your wants in his line is unequaled.
The Auto Sales Co. has purchased the two lots east of the company’s garage from the Central Trading Association, with the intention of enlarging its garage.
Elk Creek — The Elk Creek Central office is soon to be moved to the Louis Smick residence, where Mr. and Mrs. Guy Briggs, who operate the same, have rented rooms.
York — The York Community Club will meet at the hall Saturday night. A short play, entitled “Early Ohios and Rhode Island Reds, “ will be given, also singing. A dance will be held after the play.
The ice house belonging to Mike Pinorsky at Trempealeau burned to the ground.
An electric burglar alarm system was installed at the State Bank of Arcadia.
Woodrow Hild narrowly escaped serious injury when he was struck by an automobile while he was riding his bicycle across the river bridge in Arcadia.
A reunion of Galesville Telulah Tribe of Redmen No. 90 will enjoy a picnic in Reception Park. The Winona tribe has been invited.
A.A. Beck, pioneer of Galesville, will celebrate his 80th birthday. He plans on dancing a jig on his kitchen floor. He has been a figure of Galesville since 1857. He was born in Sweden, served in the Civil War. He and Mrs. Beck have one son and they now head the Beck ice business.
Work has begun on the grade of Decora Hill. The highway will be cut down 12 feet.
Galesville was once the home of Bob Roy, pacing horse, owned by Dr. W.O. Mailer. He was sold to T. Lee Wright in 1915. Bob Roy was on the racing track until a short time ago, and has won more races than any other racers in the world. He died at the age of 21 and was buried on the Wright farm at Platteville. Dr. had never raced him, but used him for a driving horse.
125 YEARS AGO
October 6, 1898
The Odd Fellows Hall is being redecorated with paint and paper. Russ Morden is doing the work.
A number of local hunters are making preparations for a deer hunt in the northern part of the state the latter part of this month.
Fire came near destroying the residence and farm buildings on the J.C. Southworth farm at Coral City Thursday. As Christianson Bros. were planting their stream rig to thresh the grain on the premises, fire was seen to issue from a straw pile in close proximity to the outbuildings. All hands turned in and miraculously saved all the endangered property, except the old straw pile. A spark from the engine is thought to have started the fire. Had the 14 stacks of grain and buildings gone up in smoke, the loss would have been considerable, as Mr. Southworth had put up a barn and granary this season.
Editors B.A. Gipple of the Galesville Republican, Wm. M. Bunsen of the Galesville Independent, W.S. Gilpin of the Osseo Recorder and R.C. Wheeler of the Arcadia Arcadian, were conspicuous at last week’s county Republican convention. The gentlemen are all able and influential quill-slingers for the Grand Old Party.
Blair — A cave-in of the waterworks trench on the Thorsgaard premises yesterday covered up one workman completely and two others partially. For a moment there was considerable scrambling, especially after the man was wholly out of sight. None of the unfortunate men were injured so but what they continued at their labors after being liberated from their perilous positions.
Arcadia -- A partridge flew through a pane of glass in A.F. Hensel’s residence and landed in the parlor. The mischief-maker was captured and made to pay the penalty with his life.
