Today in Whitehall-area History
December 7, 1971
Whitehall’s Fred Thompson hit a jumper with six seconds left to tie the game in regulation Tuesday, but Osseo-Fairchild prevailed in overtime 63-61. Dave Schroeder had 17 to lead the Norse, who got 13 from Thompson and 12 from Doug Knudtson.
December 7, 1957
A special meeting of Ivy Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, will be held Saturday, when two candidates, Miss Susanne Bensend and Mrs. Thomas Hegge, will be initiated.
December 7, 1944
Mr. and Mrs. Ignatz Maule of Irvin Coulee expect to go to Madison today, J.E. Rhode taking them there, to get their son, 17-year-old Ignatz Jr., who has been receiving treatments there following an attack of polio. Ignatz is able to walk some but is being taken to the orthopedic hospital at La Crosse for further treatment.
December 7, 1931
Dr. G. O. Nordby opened a chiropractic practice here this week with his offices located in rooms over the M. S. Simonson meat market. Mr. Nordby has practiced for the past eight years, his most recent location being at Chippewa Falls. His family will reside at Eau Claire for the present.
December 7, 1916
Read the announcement of the Oakland car, the Sensible Six. Tubbs Bros. at Independence will gladly give you a demonstration.
December 7, 1905
Mr. and Mrs. R.S. Cowie have moved into their new residence, which is one of the prettiest and most conveniently arranged homes in town, modern in all respects.
December 7, 1894
The first meeting of the Whitehall Lyceum Club was held at the school building Friday evening and attracted a bigger crowd than the seating capacity of the principal’s department, where the exercises took place. The musical selections were excellent. The debate, “Resolved, that license is beneficial to Whitehall,” was handled in a spirited and pleasing manner by Messrs. D.J. McNaughton and John Porter for the affirmative, and H.L. Ekern and John Lowe for the negative. The judges decided two to one in favor of the affirmative.
December 7, 1881
A.R. Warren showed us a large wolf yesterday, which he caught in a trap near Mr. Lamberson’s. He will get $14 as state, county and private bounty. Our wolf-hunting league has not yet reported.
December 6, 1973
Offices of the Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church ALCW installed Thursday were: Mrs. Vernon Nehring, president; Mrs. Everette Herness, vice president; Mrs. Everett Berg, secretary; Mrs. Lloyd Fischer and Mrs. Odell Schansberg, secretaries of education; and Mrs. Robert Nehring and Mrs. Eyvind Peterson, secretaries of stewardship.
December 6, 1959
A change in schedule of mail received at and dispatched from Whitehall became effective Monday, Dec. 6. The principal mail received and dispatched daily except Sunday, which was formerly routed by truck from and to trains via Merrillan, was discontinued for the reason that these trains were removed from service. Mail is now received and dispatched by truck by way of the Winona post office. This truck arrives at Whitehall at 5:55 a.m. with the principal mail of the day.
December 6, 1947
The Mothers’ club of Whitehall High School has conducted a survey to learn what school girls in town were willing to act as babysitters and what hours, afternoon or evening, they would be available. Mrs. Hiram Hegge, who conducted the survey, found that every seventh- and eighth-grade girl would be available at least part-time, including Mary Mattson, Joan Thorson, Georgia Staff, Kari Lynn Rice, Rita Olson, Nancy Lou Boll, Shirley Mae Lee, Mary Joan Klomsten, Sharon Wood, Patty Hegge, Jacqueline Bautch, Yvonne Teigen, Solveig Ambli, Dorothy Swanson, Joan Hunter, Ethel Erickson, Lona Engen, Arid Christianson, Mary Herberg, Bonnie Mae Klomsten, Beverly Moen, Anne Holtan, Elaine Jacobson and Susanne Bensend.
December 6, 1934
The younger generation is enjoying the recent snowfall and indulging in sliding and skiing. Andrew Bensend, one of Whitehall’s earliest citizens, recalls the winter of 1885 when a 12-hour rain followed a heavy snowstorm, which formed a crust over the landscape. That was a winter of an unusual amount of outdoor sport activities. Andrew says that Whitehall people young and old would go to the hill west of town on the Speerstra farm and slide across the fields, using cutters, bob-sleighs, hand sleds and even scoop shovels and boards. The speed acquired was almost unlimited.
December 6, 1920
Northfield — The Hixton high school students from here returned to school again Monday after a week’s vacation.
December 6, 1906
Albert Johnson is repairing a house in Hale for Thomas Hulberg, who will remove from here there.
December 6, 1894
W.J. Webb is putting up a new office and a hundred feet of sheds in his lumber yard this week.
December 5, 1973
Traffic on Main St. in Whitehall came to a halt last week Wednesday when a large, mobile crane owned by a La Crosse firm collided with two Green Bay and Western locomotives that were switching cars.
December 5, 1959
Most of the 46 students in the Whitehall High School Latin Club, with their advisor, Mrs. Tracy Rice, and invited guests dressed in authentic costume and had a Roman banquet at the high school here Saturday. Guests were from Osseo, Independence and Galesville.
December 5, 1946
H.J. Elstad, city clerk, has received official notice that electricity must be conserved in this city. Outdoor and window display lighting is curtailed, and electricity in homes and business places may be used for essential purposes only during the present emergency.
December 5, 1933
The following officers were re-elected for the Scandinavian American fraternity at a meeting at the Village Hall Tuesday night: Richard Herman, president; Mrs. Alfred Olson, vice-president; Mrs. Albin Hanevold, secretary; Mrs. Ole Hallingstad, financial secretary; Mrs. Ben Pahnke, marshal; Miss Mabel Paulson, instructor; Mrs. Simon Windjue, inner guard; Emil Hanevold, outer guard; Mrs. Hilmer Hagen, treasurer; Miss Mayme Hallingstad, trustee for three years, and Mrs. Emil Hanevold, Mrs. Karsten Linnerud and Miss Mabel Paulson, members of the auditing committee.
December 5, 1918
Sheriff Erickson is out again after the accident with the revolver. He uses a cane.
December 5, 1907
Algernon Tallman is comfortably settled in his new dwelling near his blacksmith shop. S.M. Briggs and family occupy the residence vacated by Mr. Tallman.
Dec. 5, 1895
Parties having a surplus of kittens should have the courage to kill them, rather than the audacity to bag them off and dump them in a neighbor's yard in the light of the moon. Eh, John?
December 4, 1973
Whitehall-area residents honored at the recent Trempealeau County Hospitall awards night ceremony for their volunteer work were: Mrs. Ella Rasmuson and Mrs. Belle Sutton, 200 hours; and Rev. and Mrs. William Evert, Mrs. Alice Guse, Rev. Anton Lecheler, Olive Peterson, Marlene Bautch and Naomi Gunderson.
December 4, 1961
Ray Hagen, owner of the Hagen Chevrolet Garage, says he thinks his business was broken into after 1:30 a.m. Monday. He reports that the persons had gone through desks and had pried one file drawer open by breaking the lock. Hagen does not know if anything was taken.
December 4, 1949
Nine candidates from Ss. Peter and Paul parish and four from St. John’s church, Whitehall, were initiated by the Knights of Columbus council, Chippewa Falls, Sunday. Those initiated were: Dr. O.M. Schneider, Blair; Robert Baughman, Jacob Sylla and Rudolph Sosalla, Whitehall; and Joseph Maule Jr., John Maule Jr., Ralph Sylla, Adolph Passon, Jerome Wozney, Ephrem Slaby, Joseph Micek, Alfred Micek and Clifford Kulig. About 45 senior members from the local council attended the initiation.
December 4, 1935
Mrs. H.M. DeBow, assisted by Mrs. John Beck and Mrs. E.C. Engelhart, will entertain the Cardinals Homemakers at the DeBow home Wednesday afternoon.
December 4, 1924
Northfield — The new mill is now being installed, which was brought over from Winona by Mr. Chapple on Saturday. The hum of the new mill will be a relief to a big majority of the farmers in around and this vicinity.
December 4, 1909
Following a rain Saturday night and Sunday morning, the weather turned bitingly cold and since then the temperature has played around the zero point. The mercury read seven below zero this morning.
December 4, 1890
A few pearls have been found in the millpond here, the most of which being of an infant and inferior class. The mother and costly gems remain hidden in the deep and treacherous waters of the Trempealeau.
December 6, 1876
There was a dance in Pleasant Valley on Monday night in Granger’s Hall. Thirty-two numbers were sold. Everybody had a fine time.
December 3, 1967
Members of the First Baptist congregation held the first worship service in their new church building Sunday morning. A large attendance of members and visitors was present for the service in the new auditorium, which seats 200, compared with 85 in the old church.
December 3, 1957
Pvt. Richard Lewis, who enlisted in the Marines in September, recently placed first in target shooting at Camp Pendleton, Calif., according to word received recently by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Lewis. Lewis graduate from boot training shortly and plans to have a Christmas furlough. Before coming home, he plans to visit Disneyland.
December 3, 1945
Augusta’s supposedly weak basketball team turned in its second upset within a week Monday night, edging Whitethall 35-33 in an overtime thriller. Bob Bensend scored 12 points to lead Whitehall, which got six from Robert Tomten and four from Bruce Wilberg.
December 3, 1933
Four members of the Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Tomahawk returned to their camp Sunday night after visiting Whitehall friends over the weekend. Floyd Blllman was a guest at the Henrik Harness home. Howard McKendry visited the Ernest Hamilton home and Cyril Muldowney and Francis Osthoff spent the time at the home of Mrs. O. H. Tofte. Mrs. Billman, who has been staying with her sister, Mrs. Henrik Herness, accompanied her husband to Tomahawk where they will live.
December 3, 1919
The Pigeon Grain and Stock Co. shipped six cars of stock to Chicago yesterday. O.T. Libakken and H.I. Everson accompanied the shipment.
Thursday, December 3, 1903
The typhoid fever patients in town are on the mend and no new cases have developed.
December 3, 1891
Wood is scarce on the market, and those having the article to sell should haul it in, otherwise our citizens will be compelled to fill their storehouses with coal, to the detriment of parties having wood to sell.
December 6, 1876
Elder Richardson, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at this place, held divine service at Independence last Sabbath.
December 2, 1972
County Clerk Harold Tomter suffered cracked bones in both elbows when he fell from a ladder while doing carpentry work at the Maynard Roelof residence in Pigeon Falls last Saturday.
December 2, 1958
Twin sons were born Dec. 2 to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Boehm at the Community Hospital.
December 2, 1945
A program on the Pocket Testament league will be held at Our Saviour’s church here Sunday evening at the Senior Luther League meeting. The program will include a talk on the league by Miss Amy Kins, Pocket Testament league secretary for Whitehall, and information on the subject by Irene MacCornack and Seth Speerstra. The Rev. O. O. Birkeland will conduct a Bible quiz.
December 2, 1935
The American Legion Auxiliary enjoyed a Christmas party at the clubrooms Monday night, with Mrs. Alf Wilberg and Mrs. J.C. Tyvand as hostesses. Christmas gifts were exchanged and a Christmas tree was decorated for the occasion.
December 2, 1919
A cold wave struck us the beginning of the week. The government thermometer went to 25 below zero Tuesday night.
December 2, 1897
Geo. K. Whitney is putting a new stock of goods in the Reitzel building.
December 2, 1886
There is considerable excitement in the neighborhood of York, Jackson County, over the discovery of an alleged Eldorado. Bent Gilbertson, living in that vicinity, while digging a well last week, struck a rock at 18 feet which is said to be literally alive with rich gold and silver quartz. The rock has been examined by local experts, who claim there is millions in it. Specimens have been forwarded to Milwaukee to been forwarded to Milwaukee to be assayed, and Bent is now awaiting with anxious suspense the result of the assayer’s examination. The man’s farm contains 80 acres, and he has already been offered $1,500 for the property. But so great is his faith in the rich development of his discovery that he would not part with his farm for 10 times that amount. Our advice to Bent is to take the $1,500. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
December 1, 1973
Whitehall’s small but successful “Meals on Wheels” program will apparently come to an end Dec. l, the victim of several factors. Among those was a decision on the part of the Tri-County Memorial Hospital that it was no longer practical to prepare the meals for the program, which provides hot meals for the elderly and homebound. Competition from the county’s new elderly nutrition program was also a factor.
December 1, 1962
David Sjuggerud, the grandson of Mrs. Ina Duffield of Whitehall, starred for the Navy in its football win over Army Saturday in Philadelphia. His mother, the former Hazel Duffield of Blair, was in attendance, courtesy of Menomonie residents who chipped in to cover her travel expenses.
December 1, 1949
Raymond Anderson of Madison arrived in Whitehall Dec. 1 to be associated with Burr Tarrant in his law office. Mr. Anderson has secured a room in the M.W. French residence, and declares that he likes our little city very much.
December 1, 1937
Another business change will take place in Whitehall Dec. 1, when Chris Berg assumes management of the Band Box Dry Cleaning establishment he purchased this week from Al Mattson.
December 1, 1922
Mr. Lance, one of the workmen at the schoolhouse, fell a distance of 15 feet Friday. His fall was broken by coming in contact with a fellow workman, otherwise death would have resulted. He has gone to his home to recuperate from the bruises. This is the first such accident during the construction.
December 1, 1911
Mrs. Anton O. Melby invited a company of her son William’s classmates Friday evening as a surprise on the young man. A bountiful supper was served and the participants report a jolly occasion.
December 1, 1897
Elk Creek — Sumner Scott left for the pineries Wednesday. He expects to stay the winter waging battle against the tall pine giants of the forest. Many of them that have withstood the storms and tempests for years will, in all probability, bite the dust before next spring from the effect of heavy blows with a keen-edged ax, delivered by his sturdy arms.
December 1, 1885
Cal Breed has been appointed constable and nightwatch by the town board. Cal went on to his beat Tuesday night. Hereafter it will be well for those who are on the streets late at night to toe the mark and comply with the provisions of law and order.
November 30, 1969
A total of 415 deer, shot during the season which closed Sunday, were registered at the Foss Mobil Station in Whitehall. That is down from the previous year’s total of 563, which is considered to be a record.
November 30, 1956
Eighty-six votes were cast Friday in the first-ever election of the recently-incorporated village of Pigeon Falls. Henry Paulson edged Arthur Dahl for the village presidency 45-40, while Robert Hanson, Louie Larson and Edwin Tomter won the posts of clerk, treasurer and assessor, respectively, with the latter running unopposed. Oluf Lovlien won the supervisor’s post 54-31 over Thurman Fremstad, and Albert Eid was elected justice of the peace on a write-in vote. O.B. Sletteland and Wilhelm Ringlien were elected village trustees.
November 30, 1943
A Mothers’ Club has been organized among mothers of the kindergarten, first- and second-grade chidren attending Whitehall schools. Leaders of the group are Miss Jeannet Kuettner, teachers of the kindergarten and first grade, and Miss Elouise Torkelson, second-grade teacher.
November 30, 1931
Miss Nettie Matson, Chicago opera singer, will give a concert at York Hall Monday evening, November 30 at 8:30. Adults 35¢, children 15¢. Social dancing and games will be held after the concert.
November 30, 1916
Newman Van Tassel has resigned his position as manager of the Sura garage at Independence, and he and Mrs. Van Tassel have gone to San Luis Obispo, Calif., where he has an interest in a garage. Newman will be right in his element when he hits those fine macadam roads.
November 30, 1905
James Wright reports the distribution of telephone poles for an extension of the farmers’ line through Fly Creek Valley.
November 30, 1893
E.J. Kidder, the village barber, has added a convenient and serviceable case to his outfit, which contains handsome, lettered China mugs of all his patrons in town. Gene has a well-equipped shop, and turns his back on no other barber for a clean shave or a stylish haircut.
November 30, 1881
The heaviest snowfall of the season yesterday.
November 29, 1971
The Whitehall Happy Homemakers recently named the following officers: Mrs. DuWayne Mickelson, president; Mrs. Neal Dauphine, vice president; Mrs. Robert Byington, secretary; and Mrs. Robert Hemauer.
November 29, 1959
A Luther League hayride will begin at 8 p.m. Sunday at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. David Schaefer is general chairman, assisted by Janet Foss, Karen Pavek, David Dale, Carol Holstad, James Solsrud, Ron Pavek, Jack Brush, Dick Jackson, Karen Nelson, Andrea Thomte and Betty Dahl.
November 29, 1945
The eagle which was on Whitehall’s first honor roll, later salvaged from the scrap metal pile and placed in the House of Memories, has been bronzed and put atop the rebuilt honor roll. The dates, 1917-18, now identify those listed as having served their country during World War I.
November 29, 1931
Cornel Hagen of Chicago and Miss Dolly Minnie of Prairie du Chien motored to Whitehall Sunday and visited with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Hagen. Albert Hagen of Viroqua was also a visitor with his parents and brother Cornel and the other members of the Hagen family Sunday. He came at this time to get his wife and daughter Alberta, who have been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Larson at York and at the home of her parents-in-law since Thanksgiving Day.
November 29, 1919
The Whitehall fire department was called out last Saturday evening about six o’clock by a chimney fire at the F.W. Lowe residence. No damage resulted, and the fire was extinguished before the arrival of the equipment.
November 29, 1906
S.F. Speerstra & Sons of Hale have a change of advertisement this week. They are well pleased with the results obtained through their advertising in The Times-Banner. They sold their two-year-old Poland China boar to M.H. Madson of Ettrick.
November 29, 1894
Fine November weather.
November 29, 1883
We are one day late this week. The employees of the office had to take a rest after partaking of their Thanksgiving dinner.
November 28, 1962
Little Diane Pischke, who will be six years old later this month, underwent heart surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester last week Wednesday afternoon.
November 28, 1951
Neil Goodspeed, former teacher at Whitehall High School, stopped in town briefly Wednesday afternoon. He is a student at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, working on his master’s degree in chemistry.
November 28, 1937
Martin A. Wiemer, speaking of his recent trip to Europe with American Legion members at a meeting sponsored by the Senior League at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church Sunday evening, said that France is spending millions for defense and that the talk is not about if war comes, but when.
November 28, 1923
Ed Hermanson of Welch Coulee was at Whitehall yesterday. He reports that his brother Helmer is recovering from a siege of jaundice.
November 28, 1912
A dance at the old town hall Thanksgiving evening was well attended.
November 28, 1901
The farmers around here are taking advantage of the good weather and good roads, and are hauling off their hay and oats.
Nov. 21, 1889
Wanted, a first-class druggist to locate in Whitehall. Splendid opportunity for the right man.
November 28, 1877
Two men named Lawrence and O’Brien were arrested near Red Wing, Minn., to-day by John Knudtson, constable of this town, for obtaining money under false pretenses, in the name of a Mr. Metcalf of Winona. It is also charged that they hired a team at Whitehall, which they afterwards sold. Lawrence, who was left in jail in Winona, left a wife and child at the Exchange Hotel here, without a cent of money, and no means of paying her board. The anxiety she helt for him has thrown her into a nervous fervor, from which she lies in critical condition at this writing. O’Brien, the party who hired the livery from King & Stevens, was brought to this place and settled that matter.
November 27, 1969
Burr Tarrant of Whitehall is one of four members of the 21-member Trempealeau County board of supervisors who have served for 20 years or more.
November 27, 1958
Services were held in the sanctuary of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church on Thanksgiving morning for the first time since early last July, when remodeling of the altar and redecorating was started.
November 27, 1944
Three York hunters who started for the woods around Gordon early on Nov. 27 almost did not reach their destination, instead nearly passing to the happy hunting ground whence there is no return. Brice and Robert Humphrey and Alfred Peterson, with Brice driving, had just gone past Chippewa Falls when they were overcome by carbon monoxide. Bob was taken to the hospital, where doctors said that two or three more minutes of the gas would have killed him.
November 27, 1932
Members of the La Crosse National Rifle Association will be at Whitehall Sunday to arrange an indoor shooting gallery in the Auto Sales Co. garage. Those interested in improving their marksmanship are urged to attend the meeting, at which time plans will be discussed to organize a club at Whitehall.
November 27, 1919
Clarence Sime and Albert Gilbertson, of the Northwestern Telegraph School at Eau Claire, spent Thanksgiving with the home folks.
November 27, 1905
We had about a three-inch snowfall Monday night. It was accompanied by a high wind and some rain. In the evening the storm had a blizzardous appearance.
November 27, 1892
Snow and sleet last Friday, and a sprinkling of “the beautiful” now nearly covers the earth. Still, the wheeling is excellent.
November 27, 1877
Tuesday was a cuss of a day.
November 26, 1972
Three persons were injured Sunday on county roads slickened by falling snow. Becky Brownell of Eau Claire and Henry Bautch of Strum suffered minor injuries when a car driven by Jeffrey Chudyk of Whitehall skidded off Hwy. 93 in the town of Albion. Sharon Haugen of Whitehall sustained a fractured back when a car driven by her husband, Merton, slid off Hwy. 53 south of Osseo.
November 26, 1956
Fred Gardner, Trempealeau County game warden, reported Monday that the unofficial count of deer tagged in the county during the season, which closed Sunday, was 260. Of that number, 116 were shot in the county.
November 26, 1942
Beginning today, the Green Bay and Western station here will be open evenings except Sunday to take care of increased business and give telegraph service to the city. Sherman Erickson, the son of Station Agent A.B. Erickson, will have charge of the station from 4 p.m. to midnight.
November 26, 1932
The first of a series of parties sponsored by businessmen of Whitehall will be held in the village Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. The plan is to distribute cash gifts among citizens of the community that afternoon.
November 26, 1917
A flurry of snow fell Monday night.
November 26, 1902
Henry Indreboe sold his farm yesterday to Hans P. Skellerud, of Vernon County, who will take possession in the spring. We have not learned what Mr. Indreboe intends to do, but hope he will remain in this community.
November 26, 1890
The rush of farmers' teams in town yesterday reminded one of the palmy days back in the ’70s, when the wheat industry was at its height. And all in consequence of a spirited contest in the oat market, the price running up to 42 cents. There is nothing like a good market to boom things.
November 26, 1877
Miserably mean weather have we had for many days past. Monday it snowed and rained.
November 25, 1973
Whitehall area residents and businesses have already begun adjusting to the possible restrictions that will be put on energy use following President Nixon’s speech on the subject Sunday. Nixon asked for the voluntary closing of gas stations on Sundays now, with no-Sunday sales to be made mandatory later. Only two Whitehall stations would be affected by such a ban; one of them, Sidney Peterson of Sid’s DX, has announced that he will close beginning this Sunday.
November 25, 1960
Jerry Klomsten, who is employed in Kenosha, spent from Thanksgiving until Monday at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oswald Klomsten.
November 25, 1947
The senior class play of Whitehall High School will be presented Tuesday evening, Nov. 25. The playn chosen is “The Inner Willy,” with Robert Nichols in the title role. Others in the cast are James Holtan, Ethel Berg, Beulah Nelson, Solveig Sletteland, David Larson, Jerry Bergerson, Annie Lee, Beatrice Engevold, Phyllis Briggs and Francis Nelson.
November 25, 1933
The Whitehall Improvement Association will hold their final party Saturday in a series which has been conducted for six consecutive Saturday afternoons. The usual cash awards will be distributed, with the residents of the village also being eligible for prizes. A number of turkeys and geese will also be given away as added prizes by the businessmen.
November 25, 1922
Pleasantville — Will Seiler, Ed Schroeder and Melvin Gunderson cleaned the schoolhouse furnace Saturday,
November 25, 1909
The Whitehall band has bills out for a Thanksgiving dance to be given at the Woodmen Hall Nov. 25. Holtan and Sorenson’s popular orchestra has been engaged for the occasion, and an oyster supper will be served at the Hotel Best.
November 25, 1897
The band dance at Opera Hall on Thanksgiving was a success. Forty numbers were sold, and all report a fine time.
November 25, 1886
Turkey day. Thanksgiving ball at Scott’s Hall this evening. All should attend.
November 24, 1973
Saturday night was “Agnes Hanson Night,” as more than 100 persons turned out to honor Mrs. Hanson for her 25 years of work as a 4-H leader.
November 24, 1960
The deer kill in Trempealeau County is down about two-thirds, compared to last year’s figure for the opening weekend. A total of 774 deer were registered in the county the opening weekend.
November 24, 1951
Dr. Anton Vold and family were fortunate to discover a fire in their residence last Saturday, before it could result disastrously. Dr. Vold called Fire Chief Einar Kildahl and asked him to bring a chemical extinguisher, and with some chopping of the floorboards, he was able to put out the fire.
November 24, 1938
A party of five deer hunters from the town of Hale—Everett, Fred and Henry Guse, Erling Johnson and Will Hanke — came back last Thursday with as many bucks: two 10-pointers, one eight-point, one six-point and one four-point. It was the first big game for both Henry and Fred.
November 24, 1925
The Webb lumberyard received a carload of tile Tuesday for Schaefer and Weiser’s new building, between Nelson’s hardware store and the Bensend restaurant. Excavation work is progressing rapidly and contractor Iver Iverson of Coral City expects to start building operations the first of the week.
November 24, 1913
H.P Fremstad of Pigeon was here Monday after a load of material for the heating plant in his new residence.
November 24, 1898
Seven degrees below zero is the weather clerk’s report this morning.
November 23, 1970
The deer take in this area for the opening days of the season was down only slightly from last year, with a total of 280 animals registered at the Duane Foss Mobil station as of Monday. Several bucks with large racks were taken, one the biggest by Aubyn Smith of Independence.
November 23, 1958
There will be a hunters’ Mass Sunday at 4:30 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church.
November 23, 1944
The Trempealeau County board of supervisors adopted a tax levy of just over $242,000 Thursday afternoon. C.B. Melby of Whitehall, president of the Trempealeau County Taxpayers Association and the Wisconsin Public Expenditures Survey, appeared at the budget hearing and urged that the levy be reduced, instead of increased by more than $17,000.
November 23, 1932
Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Wood of Milwaukee came to Whitehall on the eve of Thanksgiving and are visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Jacobsen. The Woods plan to spend the winter here.
November 23, 1918
Clarence Hertzfeldt had the misfortune to break his wrist Saturday morning while unloading poles from a wagon.
November 23, 1905
Richard Mattson is putting up a barn on his residence property for the convenience of his tenant, Register of Deeds Ringlee.
November 23, 1893
H.A.M. Steen has been appointed postmaster at Northfield in place of Mrs. Gardner, resigned. The appointment is a good one and will afford excellent satisfaction to the patrons of the office.
November 23, 1882
Another livery stable has been started in town, making three, with the prospect of a fourth. Competition is the life of any town.
November 22, 1963
Four free throws by Dave Amundson in the last 16 seconds of play enabled the Norsemen to squeeze past Alma Center Lincoln 54-49 Friday. Don Hanson led the Norse with 19 points.
November 22, 1951
In an attempt to encourage scholarship on the part of pupils, the faculty of Whitehall High School has adopted an honor roll this year. The plan is similar to those used elsewhere, awarding three points for an “A”, two for a “B” and one for a “C”. The top scholars in each grade for the first nine-weeks term were: Seniors – Lona Engen, John Julson and Edmund Symicek, 11 grade points; Juniors – Joan Hunter, Rachel Almlie and Joyce Herness, 12; Sophomores – Clarice Engen, 11; Freshmen – Roger Erickson, Kay Iverson, Bruce Myren, Gene Nelsestuen and Waltrout Vohs, 12.
November 22, 1936
Glen Erickson and Eugene Dettinger from York were among the members of the class confirmed in the Upper Pigeon Church Sunday. A large number from York attended the services.
November 22, 1922
The Jule Theater Co. changed their bill at the Opera House last night, presenting “The Call of the Wild.” The vaudeville between acts was especially good.
November 22, 1911
Will Harlow, Fred Jacobson and W.S. Kidder each got a deer. They returned yesterday.
November 22, 1894
Skating on the mill pond has been the sport of the young folks the past week.
November 22, 1884
The first snow of the season came Saturday night, and Sunday morning the weather set in cold and blustery. The mercury continued to drop until Monday morning, when it indicated 24 degrees below zero. The mild weather we have been having caught people off guard. Many were caught with plants and shrubbery exposed, and of course they suffered. It was a surprise to the oldest inhabitant, who predicted that we must yet have an Indian summer. The Indian is becoming civilized since Sitting Bull’s surrender and it is next thing to impossible to distinguish their summer from the white man’s.
November 21, 1969
Whitehall opened its bid for a fourth straight Dairyland Conference championship with a 50-44 win over Blair Friday. Ralph Rasmuson paced the Norsemen with 14 points and 20 rebounds.
November 27, 1958
Hensel Nelson of Ray Hagen’s Chevrolet garage, accompanied by Arthur Galstad of Blair, attended a meeting for bookkeepers at Wisconsin Rapids Friday. They traveled in snow most of the way going and coming.
November 21, 1947
Ground was broken Friday, Allan Edmundson operating the town snowplow, in Pigeon Falls for the skating runk which is to be located just north of the school grounds. The project is sponsored by the Town Club, and the committee which was named to arrange for the work consists of Curtis Kaas, Wilhelm Ringlien and Edwin Fremstad. This is the fourth major project sponsored by the club since is was organized two years ago. The first was securing action by the town board in the street lighting project for the village. The second was putting the ball park into condition for baseball following the war years, when the team was disbanded. Later a group of club members purchased the Scandinavian-America Fraternity hall and built a new basement, installed new windows completely repainted the building, putting it into condition for public gatherings.
November 21, 1935
Alfred Nelson and crew are this week completing the new home of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Fremstad, Pigeon Falls, erected on the lot purchased from the Estenson heirs. The house is a six-room structure of Colonial type with shingle exterior. The Fremstads expect to occupy their new home about December 15.
November 21, 1924
The Rat Coulee Community Club will hold its meeting Friday evening. A program will be given, with a Norwegian play, “Amerikaneren.: A 15-cent lunch will be served. Everybody come and have a good time.
November 21, 1912
Hjalmer, the five-year-old son of John Engen, was shot in the shoulder with a 22 rifle by his seven-year-old brother Thursday, the latter getting hold of the gun unknown to his parents.
November 21, 1901
Last Thursday was a big day for Whitehall grain buyers, about 5,000 bushels being marketed here that day.
November 24, 1887
Notice to the citizens of Whitehall: We, the undersigned, hotel and boarding house keepers of Whitehall, agree and bind ourselves to close our houses to the public if private citizens do not stop taking in boarders and others on occasion of terms of court, farmer’s institutes, etc. We have established ourselves in business for the purpose of accommodating the public, and do not think it right for private families to try to take our business away from us. H.W. Pride, A. Bensend, A. Tuttle, M.V. Allen.
November 20, 1970
The Norsemen opened Dairyland Conference play Friday by defeating Augusta 63-46. Jeff Dahl had 19 points and 16 rebounds to lead Whitehall, which also got 13 points from Pete Lee and 11 each from Andy Johnson and Doug Knudtson.
November 20, 1958
Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Erickson, Whitehall, have received a letter from their daughter, Mrs. Lawrence Kaylor of Huntington Park, Calif., telling of a trip she and her husband took by Pan American World Airways to Tokyo, Japan, and other points. Mrs. Kaylor is the former Leone Erickson, who attended high school here and is a registered nurse. Mr. and Mrs. Kaylor went to Japan to visit Mr. Kaylor’s mother, who teaches English in the high school at Hingaskikurume, Japan.
November 20, 1947
Mr. and Mrs. L.E. Anderson of Black River Falls, who purchased the stock of merchandise from Mrs. Marian Garaghan, announce the opening of their gents’ clothing store in Whitehall this Saturday.
November 20, 1936
The Whitehall Mill and Power Co. will host a party for poultrymen of the community at its new Main St. feed store tomorrow. S.N. Hegge, manager of the company, states that he will have specialists here to advise farmers on their poultry problems.
November 20, 1923
Sheriff Erickson and Prohibition Agent Naustad found a still on the Elvin Omlee farm in Vosse Coulee Tuesday. Mr. Omlee pleaded guilty to a charge of manufacturing moonshine, and paid a fine of $200 and costs amounting to $32.
November 20, 1908
H.L. Ekern took along his rifle and visited his brother-in-law, George Anderson at New Auburn. Returning Friday, he brought a deer carcass.
November 20, 1897
The J.O. Gilbertson and Co. bankrupt stock of general merchandise was sold for $9,000 at a sheriff sale Saturday, to S.H. Van Gorden and Son, merchants of Hixton and Taylor. The sale was made to satisfy the levy of Friends Bros. of Milwaukee against Gilbertson for $3,800, but Sheriff Jensen was restrained by a Milwaukee circuit court order from turning the money over to Friend Bros., and there promises to be considerable litigation before the leading claims are satisfied.
November 20, 1884
The boys are settling their bets on the political contest, and new hats, cigars and ready cash are the result. Politicians are still resting from the arduous duties of the late campaign and trying to get their minds down to business again.
November 19, 1971
Whitehall High opened its Dairyland Conference schedule Friday with a 64-52 loss to Blair. Doug Knutson had 17 points to leaed the Norse, who also got 11 from Fred Thompson and 10 from Andy Johnson.
November 19, 1960
A group of neighbors and friends helped Mrs. Ida Fretheim celebrate her 84th birthday Saturday afternoon.
November 19, 1949
A successful hunting season has begun, according to the number of deer brought into the locker plant at Pigeon Falls, says Harry Galstad, who has suddenly become more than busy with all the carcasses coming in. The first Pigeonite to bring back a doe was Gerhard Oerke on Saturday.
November 19, 1938
A large delegation from here attended the Minnesota-Wisconsin football game at Madison Saturday. Those attending included Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Larson, daughter, Mae and son Alyn, Mr. and Mrs. Alf Wilberg, Mr. and Mrs. George Briggs, Mr. and Mrs. T. O. Rice, Mrs. F. H. Van Sickle, the Misses Kathryn Rice, Mayme Hailingstad, Gertrude Brom, Gladys Rasmussen and Gladys Sanrope, Miles Johnson, Bert Durand and Tracy Briggs, all of Whitehall; and O. B.Sletteland of Pigeon Falls. Miss Ethel Larson, a student at the University of Wisconsin, returned with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. N. Larson, from the football game Saturday and visited at her home here until Sunday.
November 19, 1925
The furniture donated by the York Community Club to the Whitehall Community Hospital has been on window display at the J.E. Garaghan hardware and furniture store. The members of the York club were generous in their gift, and their hospital donation is fully appreciated by the governing body of that institution.
November 19, 1912
Dr. Storey returned Tuesday with a fine buck deer.
November 19, 1901
The dance at the Woodman hall Tuesday evening was attended by 38 couples. Hackett’s orchestra from Baraboo furnished the music and the dancers declared it to be the finest they had listened to in a long time.
November 19, 1885
Pigeon — Strong inducements are being made to induce our cheese factory man, Mr. Fred Hinckley, to move his factory and business out of our town and county. We hope they will not prevail, for we need the cheese factory, and have room for a creamery besides. What we need is more, not less, businessmen. The lower town is gradually building up.
November 18, 1968
The Whitehall Chamber of Commerce met Monday night to organize its fund-raising drive for the new Tri-County Memorial Nursing Home, naming Maynard Clipper and Don Pearson as chairmen, respectively, for the Second and Third Wards. A First Ward chairman is yet to be named. It was reported that solicitations of business places had already resulted in $20,000 being pledged.
November 18, 1956
Mr. and Mrs. Jackie Malmin of Menomonie visited at the Clifford Fremstad home in Pigeon Falls from Saturday afternoon until Sunday of last week. Saturday evening they visited at the Edwin Fremstad home to see Charles, who was home from St. Olaf College for the weekend.
November 18, 1943
Lester Back, who has operated the Rudolph Holmen farm in the town of Hale the past few years, moved his family and equipment this week to the 120-acre Guy Shepherd farm in the town of Preston. The Holmen farm is now occupied by Clarence Hoff and family.
November 18, 1929
A meeting of the Red Hot Peppers Club was held Monday. This club was organized for the purpose of instilling pep and spirit in the high school. This ought to bring a greater and peppier turnout to the games this season.
November 18, 1917
The Methodist Episcopal bazaar last Saturday was a successful affair, the net proceeds being about $86. The only disappointing feature was the fact that the aeroplane failed to connect. The committee reported that it must have been attacked by Germans.
November 18, 1904
J.D. Olds, of Rice Lake, came down Friday for a visit with relatives here and in Pigeon.
November 18, 1892
Arthur Lamphere left Friday for the woods on a deer hunt. If a good job is offered him, he will winter in the pines.
November 18, 1880
Messrs. Earle & Wood have commenced operations at their hay yards, and are starting in with flattering prospects. Their facilities are better than ever before, having a barn large enough to store immense quantities of hay and the pressing is done in the building, enabling them to continue work in all kinds of weather. The machine for unloading hay is a fine thing. All the farmer has to do is drive up to the end of the barn, and before he has time to ask the price of hay a patent fork comes out, takes the load off at one grab and disappears within. The granger hastens around as soon as convenient and discovers that the giant hay press is just swallowing the last morsel. It’s the biggest thing out.
November 17, 1972
Debra Mueller, 22, Indepedence, lost control of her 1971 sedan on a slippery stretch of Hwy. 121 three miles west of Whitehall this morning. The car jumped the guardrail and went down a 120-foot embankment. Mueller was taken to Tri-Coounty Memorial Hospital; her condition was not known.
November 17, 1958
Robert Phillipson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Phillipson, Whitehall, left Monday by plane for Boston, Mass., where he will be stationed with the Navy after a 20-day leave with his parents.
November 17, 1946
Mrs. Donald Schroeder, Whitehall, is being treated at the Kenney Institute, Minneapolis, for poliomyelitis. Mrs. Schoeder’s is the first polio case to be reported in this vicinity this year. Mrs. Schroeder was stricken Nov. 12 and taken to Minnesapolus Saturday. She had had an attack of influenza the week before. The Schroeders have a baby daughter.
November 17, 1934
Occasionally the young folks indulge in hiking. Last Saturday Jeanette and Myra Stahoski walked from their home in this village to Pigeon Falls, accompanied by their dog. After hours of steady plodding, they reached their destination, purchased a lunch at the Ekern Store, ate it by the roadside and set off homeward. By the time they reached home, their limbs ached, but when they arrived, supper awaited them, and their appetites were keen after the strenuous exercise.
November 17, 1920
York — The program given at the hall Wednesday night by three consolidated school districts was very well attended. Our county superintendent, Miss Hardie, gave an interesting talk.
November 17, 1907
Floren Bensend, late of Chicago, spent Sunday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bensend, and left Monday for New Auburn to have a deer hunt with his friend , George Anderson.
November 17, 1892
John O. Melby is now conveniently and desirably located in his new bank building. His office is finished off very nicely, probably second to none in the county.
November 22, 1876
Two hundred loads of wheat on the street last Friday, and it was not a very good day for wheat either. From $1.02 to $1.05 paid.
November 16, 1973
The Norse boys nearly upset Blair, one of the top-rated small schools in the state, Friday night. Led by Arnie Johnson, Whitehall came from behind to take a one-point lead in the fourth quarter, before losing 57-49. John Peterson led the locals with 14 points.
November 16, 1959
Arnold Granlund, buttermaker at the Trempealeau Valley Dairy co-op, returned to his home Monday from the Community Hospital, where he had been a patient for eight days after receiving caustic burns to his face and head and his right side. He received the burns from a cleaning powder that was not in its accustomed place.
November 16, 1944
East Whitehall is developing rapidly, and it is not unusual to visit that area and see one or more new residences where a short time previously only vacant land existed. To comply with building regulations, many who need homes are moving buildings into town and preparing them for occupancy. The most recent of those is Gus Guse, who recently bought the lot owned by Lee Johnson situated between the Einar Kildahl and Oscar Nyberg homes.
November 16, 1928
Misses Lenna Larson and Agnes Halverson, registered nurses who left recently for Minneapolis in search of employment, are now located at San Haven, N.D., 18 miles from the Canadian border, where they are engaged at general duty at a hospital.
November 16, 1916
John Halverson has leased the Leonard Stahoski farm in Ervin Coulee and will work it in connection with his own.
November 16, 1905
Iver Semb has finished his threshing season and resumed blacksmithing in his shop.
November 16, 1893
Lovers of the weed are puffing that Badger cigar all around town. They prefer it to other cigars on account of its superior flavor and strength.
November 16, 1882
The eastbound trains are daily crowded with woodsmen en route to the pineries.
November 15, 1973
Construction of the new John O. Melby and Co. Bank building, which began last week, is now the principal concern of Whitehall’s sidewalk superintendents, replacing the dismantling of the Peterson Implement Co., which formerly occupied the site.
November 15, 1958
Mr. and Mrs. Gene Larson of Red Wing, Minn., spent last weekend at the home of his mother, Mrs. Oscar Fremstad.
November 15, 1943
Milan Hermann, 35, an employee of the Briggs Transfer Co., was injured when he was struck in front of the company garage Monday by a car driven by Andrew Lovlien of Pigeon.
November 15, 1932
Roy Royal, the famous horse owned by W.J. Webb, departed for greener pastures Tuesday at the age of 32. He was sired by Dare Devil, a New York trotter valued at $50,000; although he was never tracked, Roy Royal was said by many to be the best-bred horse ever to travel the streets of this village. A grave has been prepared on the Webb farm where his resting place will be fittingly marked.
November 15, 1919
Bennie Loveberg returned from France last Saturday. Since the Armistice he has been guarding German prisoners. He is looking and feeling fine.
November 15, 1905
Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Webb went to Marshfield yesterday to attend the wedding of their niece, Miss Nettie Sheerin.
November 15, 1893
Pigeon Falls — Several of our young people attended a temperance festival at Strum last week Wednesday evening, and report a very enjoyable time.
November 15, 1880
Mrs. Gumrag, of Munson’s coolie, came to town Monday with her oldest son, Henry, who is going to marry a light headed girl over at Hoofer’s corners, next Christmas. Henry got measured for a pair of number 12, heavy hip boots, and was looking up things needful for the important event. He said that Almira’s wedding trousers would be fit for a queen if he had to sell the yearlings. Bully boy, with an agate eye.
November 14, 1967
Floyd Hanson, son of Fred Hanson, Whitehall, was promoted to Army chief warrant officer Nov. 14, while serving as personnel officer in Headquarters Co., 577th Engineer Battalion, near Tuy Hoa, Vietnam.
November 14, 1953
Many from here attended the young people’s retreat at Lutherhaven overlooking the Mississippi Rover over the weekend. The Rev. O.G. Birkeland of Our Saviour’s church here was registrar and his wife was retreat nurse and counselor.
November 14, 1940
Carl Schaefer has sold his grocery store to Herbert Brandner, an experienced meat dealer and grocer from Medford.
November 14, 1928
The terrific wind Wednesday night blew down the huge advertiging signboard which former the complete background for the Inter-State Olil station on the south side. The high win also raised havoc with the electrical and telephone wires.
November 14, 1913
Scenes from grand opera done in full costume by the National Grand Opera Co., at Opera Hall Friday night.
November 14, 1903
Fred Sather gave a whist party to a company of gentlemen friends in his apartments in the Solsrud block last Saturday evening. A fine lunch was served. Fred is a capital entertainer.
November 14, 1889
The friends of Uncle Oley Knudtson are pleased to see him on the street again this week, he having shaken off his late attack of chronic rheumatism and neuralgia.
November 14, 1881
A strong appeal was made to the saloonkeepers last Monday night, by way of written communications hung on the door latches. The letters were written in a bold backhand; Bible quotations were particularly prominent, and there were emphatic by heavy dash lines. The one great mistake made by the writer was the statement that he and the saloonkeepers would soon meet “on the beautiful shore.” The appeal loses all its force there, and the boys will have the epistles framed and hung up beneath the motto, written in letters of gold, “Even a saloon keeper can inherit the kingdom of heaven.”
November 13, 1973
Downtown Whitehall will have a bright Christmas, but not for long. The city council last week decided not to light the street decorations until Dec. 21, in order to conserve energy.
November 13, 1959
James Schansberg will play the lead role in the Whitehall High senior class play, “The Big Fisherman,” to be staged next weekend. Supporting roles in the story of Simon Peter will be taken by Virginia Colliton, Karen Pavek, Dorothy Fremstad, David Warner, Darlene Matchey, Heidi Hegge, Gerald Schansberg, Kip Wood, Michael Nelson, James Brennom, Cyrus Getts, George Sielaff, Sara Rice, Becky Arneson, Dena Anderson, Dianne Hanson, John Nelson, David Schaefer, Michael Larson, Julie Tomter, Mary Swenson, Paul Birkeland and Gerald Weverstad.
November 13, 1945
Awaiting transportation home from Luzon, the Phillipines, with the 37th Division, is Staff Sergeant Paul Erickson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hilman Erickson, Whitehall. A verteran infantryman with 24 months of overseas service, he saw action on Bougainville and Luzon, and served on New Caledonia and Guadalcanal, and earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, among other honors.
November 13, 1933
John Taylor, who was engaged for many years in Trempealeau and Jackson counties in charge of testing associations, assumed new duties Monday of this week as fieldsman for the La Crosse Milk Producers Association. John’s work is check-testing in the various plants in that county for farmers who sell their milk to the association. John will see to it that the farmers get all that they have coming.
November 13, 1921
On Nov. 6, as Mrs. Ed Scott was about to prepare her Sunday meal, the door of her cottage was thrown open and in rolled chicken pies, hot mashed potatoes, escalloped potatoes, pickles, mince and pumpkin pies, bread, baked beans, cake and everything good to eat. About 25 friends and relatives had gathered to remind Mr. and Mrs. Scott that it was their wedding anniversary.
November 16, 1911
Mrs. Theo. Erickson looked after her millinery business at Blair the first of the week.
November 13, 1902
J.B. Dooney is on the gain. Instead of his ailment being muscular rheumatism, as at first thought, recent developments demonstrated that it is an abscess on the lungs.
November 13, 1890
J.C. Lamberson has handed in his resignation as director of the village school board. Thus a good man steps off the school board.
November 13, 1884
Clean and healthy sawdust for banking up your houses, at Camp’s.