Today in Whitehall-area History

September 13, 1974

            Tom Matchey carried 17 times for 131 yards and scored three touchdowns as Whitehall crushed Augusta 42-18 Friday night. The Norse defense, led by Todd Risberg's 13 tackles, held the Beavers to just 72 yards rushing.

September 13, 1963

            Brookside Apartments, Inc., a non-stock corporation, has been organized at Whitehall to sponsor construction of an apartment building for senior citizens, 62 years of age or older. Keil Blank is president and Floren Hegge, secretary-treasurer.

September 13, 1950

            Miss Norma Hagen was awarded the 1950 golf championship trophy of the Whitehall Ladies Golf Club at the dinner held on the regular ladies’ night Wednesday.

September 13, 1939

            Marcel Emery, 13-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dewitt Emery of Whitehall, is ill with infantile paralysis at her home. Marcel is the second eldest child in a family of seven children, and is the only member of the family that is ill. The family moved here from Hixton last fall, and Mr. Emery is operating a shoe repair shop in the former B.B. Olson hotel property.

September 13, 1929

            The Sunday School picnic at Emil Johnson’s last Sunday was well attended and everybody seemed to enjoy the program given by the children.

September 13, 1917

            A.E. Wood, who has the contract for the erection of the hospital, is still in critical condition at his home on Scranton St. Ben Engen has charge of the hospital crew of carpenters, and the work is progressing as well as can be expected. J.C. Wilken has charge of the crew who are erecting the MacCornack residence.

September 13, 1906

            There are 66 pupils in the high school this year, three more than there are seats for, according to Professor A.J. Herrick, the principal. If all who are said to be planning to attend do so, he says, there will be over 70.

September 13, 1894

            Bidney and Torgerson are putting in a new foundation under, and laying new floors in, their saloon building.

September 13, 1880

            School opened last Monday with Henry Comstock principal and Miss Belle McMillan in charge of primary department. It looks as if we were to have a No. 1 school this winter.

September 12, 1972

            The city council learned last week Tuesday that plans for an expanded sewage treatment plant for Whitehall have been approved by the state Department of Natural Resources. The proposed plant would be built in connection with a new 184-acre city industrial park, and would be used in part to accommodate an expanded facility to be built there by the Whitehall Packing Company.

September 12, 1960

            Fifteen members attended the first meeting of the new season of the Whitehall Music Study Club, a dinner at the Country Club Monday. Miss Pearl Brennom was in charge of the entertainment. Theme for the year is “Music for Every One and Every One for Music.” Mrs. Ralph Rasmuson is president of the club; Miss Stella Windjue, vice president; and Mrs. John Brown, secretary-treasurer. Hymn-of-the-Monty chairman is Mrs. J.V. Maldonado. Program committee members are Mmes. David Bey, John Brown and Alyn Larson, and Mrs. Brown is the club musician.

September 12, 1946

            J.L. Johnson, manager of the Pix Theatre, is a showman, proving that on many occasions, but more recently when he conceived the idea of showing local people and scenes of Trempealeau County on the screen at the theatre. Three nights last week the popular movie house was filled to capacity, with lines of people waiting between shows to enter.

September 12, 1936

            The women of the local golf club will play their caddies Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.

September 12, 1926

            In a sensational hurling duel between “Ernie” Lassig and the veteran “Lefty” Bitters, the La Crosse Eagles defeated Whitehall yesterday at Copeland Park to the tune of 4 to 2. Davidson started for Whitehall, but retired in the second inning when his arm gave him trouble. He had pitched a game Friday. Gibertson led hitting for Whitehall, getting two hits in four times up.

September 12, 1911

            On next Tuesday, Sept. 12, Whitehall citizens will vote on the question of authorizing the village to borrow from the trust funds of the state $12,000 for the purpose of building and equipping a village hall. At the present time, Whitehall has no suitable place for holding public meetings, outside of its churches, and that she is in need of such a place is patent to all. Most all the other villages in Trempealeau County have buildings of this character, and there is no good reason why Whitehall should not enjoy the same privileges in this regard as her sister villages.

September 12, 1900

            The brickwork of the flume for the new water wheel is about completed.

September 12, 1888

            We were visited by a heavy frost on Wednesday evening of last week, the first of any importance this season. It “cooked” vegetation generally. Corn was mostly out of the way, and consequently not materially injured.

September 12, 1886

            Mat Anderson and Abbott Lawrence of Whitehall, and L.E. Danuser and John Brethow of Independence, attended the shooting tournament at Fountain City last Sunday. There were several renowned teams present and took part in the contest for prizes, and it is said that Lawrence came within two scores of winning the largest reward. As it was, he came home with a nice single-barrel, breech-loading shot gun, which he won for good shooting.

September 11, 1970

            Don Sokolosky scored a pair of touchdowns, and Mike Miller kicked a field goal, as the Indees beat the Norsemen 15-6 Friday. Whitehall’s score came on a pass from Mike Burkart to Jeff Dahl.

September 11, 1957

            The Whitehall city council in adjourned meeting Wednesday adopted the 1957 traffic code passed by the State Legislature, except for the penalties set forth in the new state law. The city will set its own penalties for traffic violations. The council also changed the city’s charter ordinance to abolish the elective office of constable and create the office of chief of police, and appointed Constable Ben Mahle to the new office. The change was made necessary by a new provision in the state traffic code that allows traffic violators to enter a stipulation of guilt and pay a fine without having to go to court and pay court costs; only a chief police, or his designee, can accept those fines.

September 11, 1947

            Enrollment in the Whitehall schools is the largest on record, according to Superintendent G.C. Boll. A total of 421 students fill the building, 200 in high school and 221 in the grades. An all-time high of 33 are enrolled in the kindergarten, so many that the teacher, Miss Joyce Jacobson, has divided the group into two sections, one reporting at 9 a.m., the other at 1 p.m.

September 11, 1935

            Princess Decora of Wisconsin Rapids and Chief Flying Cloud of La Crosse, members of the Winnebago Indian trube, were married by the bridegroom’s grandfather, Priest Tom Crow, in a public wedding in Whitehall Wednesday night. The marriage ceremony was preceded bu the enactment of the pre-marriage ceremony used by the early Indians.

September 11, 1924

            The pastor of the Federated church in Whitehall this year, it is understood, will fall to the Methodist branch of the federation. Last year the Rev. Young of the Presbyterian faith ably conducted the pastorate of the union church, and would have returned this year had be not been called to other fields.

September 11, 1911

            Archie Torson received notice Monday that he was one of the lucky ones at the Brethold land drawing.

September 11, 1899

            The village school opened Monday with an average attendance.

September 11, 1884

            The past week has been the hottest weather ever experienced at this latitude in the month of September.

September 10, 1974

            Pleasantville native Steve Gunderson outpolled Mike Papenfuss of Augusta 1,556 to 988 Tuesday to win the Republican nomination for the 91st District Assembly seat. Gunderson will face incumbent Democrat State Rep. Eugene Oberle in the general election.

September 10, 1959

            The brickwork was completed last week for the open fireplace in which a huge steer will be roasted on a spit for the sandwiches that will be served on Whitehall’s Appreciation Day to be held in the near future. The inside of the fireplace is 12 feet long and sides are eight feet. The outside is made of brick to match the city garage as it stands in the vicinity of the garage on the City Hall square. The Melby Bank will pay $500 toward the cost of the permanent oven and Thorp Finance has offered to pay $200 toward the cost of the beef.

September 10, 1946

            A large group of children have been enrolled in Saturday school, with a full corps of teachers. It is hoped the 100-percent mark will be reached at the next session. The teachers’ training course began Tuesday and the group will meet every Tuesday evening for 10 weeks. The class is open to all who wish to attend.

September 10, 1936

            Enrollment in the Whitehall schools exceeded last year’s figures, with 180 enrolled in the high school compared to 174 last year, and the grades increasing from 158 to 164.

September 10, 1925

            Work on the new addition to the hospital is progressing nicely. The carpenters are through on the second floor, and the painters have started. The problem of furnishing the rooms must be solved in the near future. Mr. and Mrs. N.L. Fredrickson have already picked out their room to furnish, and others are talking about it. It would be a great help to the hospital, and would lessen the heavy burden, if all the rooms could be furnished by different organizations. Those interested can get the necessary information from Albert Mathson.

September 10, 1913

            Another nice rain last night.

September 10, 1903

      Richard Mattson secured the contract for building the new brick addition to the county jail residence, the price being $1,250. There were two other bidders for the job, one an Arcadia party and the other a Winona party.

September 10, 1891

            Solsrud and Kidder have leased the Getts store and will fill the mammoth building with general merchandise, taking possession next week. This enterprising firm last week purchased the largest bill of dry goods that has ever been shipped out of La Crosse.

September 10, 1880

            John Ingalls lost a valuable horse last Friday night. The horse attempted to climb up the halter strap into the hay loft, but slipped and fell with his whole weight resting on the strap, which caused his death. It is a severe loss to John, as it breaks up one of his threshing teams.

September 9, 1968

            Fifty-six percent of Whitehall residents would use an indoor swimming pool, according to a survey made by the Lions Club. Henry Anderson gave the results of that survey to the Whitehall city council Tuesday night; Anderson, Kenneth Hoyer and Dr. Carl Webster conducted the survey.

September 9, 1957

            Mrs. Casper Ciszak took Mrs. Mae Beck to Arcadia Monday, where they visited relatives and friends.

September 9, 1947

            John Roseland, the 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvie Roseland, won the two-day trip to the world championship rodeo in St. Paul, Minn., in the quiz program held at the Pix Theatre Saturday. He will meet Gene Autry on the trip. Alternates are Clarice Bautch and James Breska.

September 9, 1932

            Twenty-one members of the Whitehall Ski and Soccer Club were present at the first meeting held this fall on Sept. 9. A great deal of interest was shown, both in skiing and in soccer, and to show that the interest was not merely oral, 16 members met on the new soccer field and worked most of a day getting the field prepared so that it will soon be in a playable condition. The new field is located on the Hilman Erickson farm on the left side of the road towards the ski hill.

September 9, 1919

            Last Tuesday morning, Gale College at Galesville opened its fall term for the 61st year. Miss Verna Hanson of Whitehall is again a member of the faculty, as an instructor in English.

September 9, 1907

            Alf Arntson came over from Norway Monday. He is a cousin of Magnus Christianson of Fly Creek Valley.

September 9, 1893

            Drs. Parker and Bodom performed a successful operation Saturday on Marius Peterson, who had the misfortune of getting his right hand and arm badly mangled in a threshing machine gear.

September 9, 1882

            The races at East Side park last Saturday afternoon drew a fair crowd, and were rich, rare and racy. The entries for the free-for-all race for the $50 purse were confined Ray Bashaw of Hixton, and Roan Ned of this place, the former winning in two straight heats, time 2:38.

September 8, 1972

            Gary Larson ran for two touchdowns, and the Norse defense held Osseo-Fairchild to 25 yards in total offense, as Whitehall defeated the Chieftains 20-8 Friday.

September 8, 1961

            A newly-remodeled and enlarged Johnson Furniture Store and Funeral Service will be the location of a gala grand opening this weekend. David Vosseteig, a Galesville High and Wisconsin State College at River Falls graduate who has been with the firm since June 1, and Bill Johnson, will be offering free prizes and free lunches Friday and Saturday.

September 8, 1949

            A reorganization meeting of the Pigeon Falls joint school district will be held Thursday, Sept. 8, at 8 p.m. At its annual meeting in July, the Thorson school voted to join the Pigeon Falls district and has been accepted. As a result, three directors will be eleved at Thursday’s meeting and regular business of the three combined districts — Pigeon Falls, Thorson and Sunshine — conducted. The two latter districts closed their school buildings in 1940 due to small enrollments and since then had transported students to Pigeon Falls. The Sunshine school joined the Pigeon Falls district in 1944. Both the Thorson and Sunshine schools have been sold.

September 8, 1935

            Two babies were christened at the United Lutheran Church in Pigeon Falls Sunday. They will be known as Charles Edward, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gaylord Jacobson, and Georgia Ann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Staff.

September 8, 1924

            Northfield — The students from this town who commenced school at Whitehall Monday are Judith Steen, Edna Bergerson, Evelyn Tweed and Paul Steen.

September 8, 1913

            Dr. Storey, R.E. Hoffman and C.B. Melby returned Monday night from a hunt at New Auburn, bringing home all the prairie chickens the law allowed.

September 8, 1902

            Ole Insteness of Chimney Rock was in town Monday bringing his daughter, Miss Laura, over to take the train here for Scandinavia, where she will attend the Lutheran academy. 

September 8, 1892

            H.E. Getts has sold his interest in the mercantile business at Osseo will devote his entire attention to the grain trade.

September 8, 1881

            The amusement season is just beginning. The first show was given to the public in the shape of a free exhibition late last week. The entire outfit consisted of a panting team attached to a lumber wagon, driven at break-neck speeds over sidewalks and, into fences, guided by a jug of tanglefoot and an animal styled as a man. We look forward to a lively season of sport.

September 7, 1969

            A community picnic held at York Sunday afternoon honored Olger and Anne Mickelson for their many years of community service.

September 7, 1959

            Mr. and Mrs. Palmer Hagen accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Kaas of Pigeon Falls to Eldora, Iowa, for the weekend, where they were guests at the Don Balvanz home. En route home Monday they stopped to see Mr. and Mrs. David Hauge and family at Austin, Minn. Mmes. Balvanz and Hauge are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Kaas.

September 7, 1944

            R.A. Lamberson is building a basement on a lot in the northeast corner of his farm, facing Hwy. 121, and will move a house from the former Gus Gilbertson farm in Irvin Coulee, which he recently purchased.

September 7, 1931

            Speeches, music and sports entertained the large assemblage gathered at Melby Park Monday for the community picnic sponsored by Whitehall businessmen. The village was well represented, and farmers from around the area were also present.

September 7, 1916

            Just before going to press we learn that the Louisville Real Estate and Development Co. of Louisville, Ky., has purchased 20 acres of land, lying in the southeast part of town, from the Melby heirs, which this firm will subdivide into residence lots. Four new streets will be graded, forming what will be known officially as the Oak Park addition to Whitehall. We understand that these lots will be sold at public auction, and it is part of the advertising plan to give one away free. Anyone desiring a real home site will do well to keep an eye on this spot.

September 7, 1905

            Clarence Larson is catching on to the system of bookkeeping in the John O. Melby & Co. bank, preparatory to succeeding Charles B. Melby as assistant cashier when the latter leaves to resume his law studies at Washington, D.C.

September 7, 1893

            The Whitehall fair premium list is out. It is the largest book of its kind ever published in the county, containing about 100 pages, and embracing much new, interesting and valuable information pertaining to Trempealeau County’s resources and industries.

September 7, 1880

            Rev. J. Irwin Smith, of La Crosse, was in town Tuesday, in the interest of the Galesville University.

September 6, 1973

            Milo Johnson, chief deputy of the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, says that county farmers have reported a number of cattle missing since the beef shortage began, but that his office has not been able to come up with any hard proof of rustling.

September 6, 1960

            The MP Club will meet in the Pigeon Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church parlors next Tuesday evening, with the Mmes. Clifford Fremstad and E.A. Sletteland as hostesses. Mrs. Wendell Hagen will lead the devotions, Mrs. Edwin Fremstad will give a topic from the book “Women of the Bible,” and Mrs. Clifford Fremstad will conduct hymn study.

September 6, 1948

            Eugene Smith, Whitehall, World War II veteran, was the first to register with Clerk Clarence Johnson for the peacetime draft registration in Trempealeau County. A total of 56 were registered in this county Monday, and another 100 on Tuesday.

September 6, 1934

            Miss Lenna Larson, R.N., is attending Gale College this year, and besides her course of studies she is employed as resident nurse of the institution. Miss Larson is a graduate of the Community Hospital Training School.

September 6, 1919

            Olius Johnson of Bruce Valley, former of Whitehall, was killed Saturday afternoon when the car in which he was riding was struck by a train at the crossing in Strum.

September 6, 1906

            There are more hunter’s licenses being taken out than there are pieces of game being tagged.

September 6, 1897

            The Whitehall school opened Monday with an enrollment of 42 students in the highest, 32 in the intermediate, and 38 in the primary department. Principal Huleatt says the school opens under the most favorable of conditions.

September 6, 1886

            Mr. T.H. Earle departed Monday for Darlington, this state, where he will permanently locate and engage in the lumber business. In the departure of Mr. Earle from Whitehall, the village loses one of its best businessmen and citizens and society, one of its most estimable families.

September 6, 1876

            Many strangers in town of late, looking over the many advantages which this town promises.

September 5, 1972

            Crews from the Jurowski Construction Co. began work Tuesday on Whitehall’s new 18-acre park next to the swimming pool and golf course. When completed, the “package” of the pool, the golf course and the new park — which will have two playgrounds and facilities for softball, tennis, basketball, horseshoes, volleyball and picknicking — will give Whitehall one of the best recreational areas in Wisconsin for a community its size.

September 5, 1960

            Dr. and Mrs. S.B. Ivers and family returned Monday from their cottage at Shell Lake. 

September 5, 1946

            Nels Hegge, his wife and two sons have moved into their home in the housing authority. The 10 houses in the addition are now all occupied.

September 5, 1932

            The speakers at Monday's Labor Day picnic, sponsored by Whitehall businessmen, will be William Evjue, editor of The Capital Times of Madison, and Judge Levi Bancroft, the candidate for attorney general. Evjue will speak on behalf of the Progressive Party candidates for state office and Bancroft, a conservative Republican, will discuss issues supported by his branch of the party. A tug-of-war has been organized between the Progressives and conservatives for the afternoon, with P.M. Paulson and H.M. DeBow in charge. 

September 5, 1918

            The Whitehall people are still enthusiastically assisting the farmers in the cleaning up of their fall work, especially with the shock threshing, which requires so much additional work.

September 5, 1907

            Judge Cowie has our thanks for a fine mess of trout. The judge is an expert angler.

September 5, 1895

            Whitehall is well represented at the Arcadia fair today, the crowd principally taking the excursion train which went down this morning.

September 5, 1877

            Diphtheria is quite prevalent in this part of the county, quite a large number of deaths having occurred within thepast two weeks.

September 4, 1968

            The Whitehall Chamber of Commerce last week Wednesday discussed the local housing situation. Fred Gillmore, supervisor of the Farmers Home Administration, said the new housing law would make available funds for low-income families to build new homes.

September 4, 1958

            Miss Avis Moe of Whitehall graduated from nurse’s training at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul last Thursday.

September 4, 1944

            The Fly Creek school resumed session Monday, with Mrs. Merton Hagen of Pigeon as teacher. Miss Adelaide Lundberg tolled the school bell in Fuller Coulee on Monday. Miss Violet Lein of North Beaver Creek is the teacher in Schimmerhorn; she will stay with the Rogstads.

September 4, 1932

            Sunday, Leonard Gjestvang and Mr. and Mrs. Sever Williamson went to Norden to attend the ordination and 60th anniversary.

September 4, 1919

            Several contributed items and some correspondence was omitted last week when the entire force struck last Thursday, the paper going to press on Wednesday. The county fair was the grievance, and after a splendid outing they returned to work again.

September 4, 1906

            Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig Solsrud returned Tuesday from Red Oak, Iowa, where they took their eldest daughter for treatment.

September 4, 1896

            Frank Hotchkiss was not satisfied with the result of the farmers’ race at the fair Friday, and afterwards wagered $25 with H.C. Carpenter for a match race between their two horses at the fairgrounds a week from next Saturday. It will be quite a race.

September 4, 1883

            A light frost in this latitude Tuesday night.

September 3, 1971

            As of Sept. 3, Mr. and Mrs. Art Kulig, formerly of the Pleasantville area, are the proprietors of Johnnie and Connie Dubiel’s restaurant and bar on Abrams Street in Whitehall. The business will now be known as Art and Irene’s Bar and Cafe.

September 3, 1959

            David Wood will leave Thursday morning for Rock Island, Ill., to teach at Augustana Lutheran College. Wood recently received his master’s degree at Bowling Green (Ohio) University.

September 3, 1946

            At the special school meeting held at the York school last week Tuesday, it was decided to repair the Timber Creek schoolhouse. Clarence Jacobson has been appointed to fill the vacancy created when Helge Dokkestul, who was elected at the regular meeting, refused to accept the position.

September 3, 1935

            Harvey Clott, 23, of La Crosse, who was severely injured last Thursday morning while working on the Hwy. 53 project, died at Community Hospital early Friday morning.

September 3, 1925

            To take every precaution with respect to the spread of disease is one of the most important functions of the people of a community. Because of the two cases of infantile paralysis reported in Whitehall, it is advisable to postpone the date for opening school, and at present time Sept. 21 is the date planned. There is no semblance of an epidemic in Whitehall, as they are only two cases and they are both in the same family and quarantined. The health authorities are exerting an honest effort to make Whitehall a safe place for children to go to school, and parents may rest assured that that is the case.

September 3, 1912

            Commissioner of Insurance Ekern was home from Madison Tuesday to vote.

September 3, 1900

            The village graded school opened Monday with Mr. C.J. Wentz as principal; Miss Eunice Gibson, grammar department; Miss Pearl Scott, intermediate department; and Miss Myrtle Whitney, primary department.

September 3, 1885

            Native and imported watermelons are in the market. Watermelons this year are said to contain cholera microbes. Bring your watermelons to this office and have the microbes destroyed free of charge.

September 2, 1974

            Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Nelson, son of Mrs. Dorothy C. Nelson, Whitehall, has been named military airlift command air transportation supervisor of the year in his united at Terrejon Air Base, Spain. A 1959 graduate of Whitehall High School, he isassigned to the 625th Military Airlift Support Squadron.

September 2, 1960

            The Daggett Labor Lovers 4-H Club plans to hold a carnival and bazaar in October. Linda, Bruce and Ronald Anderson and Eleanor Thorson have been appointed to the planning committee.

September 2, 1946

            The Pigeon Falls state graded school will open Sept. 2, with Everett Guse teaching the upper grades, and Mrs. Theron Paulson, the lower grades.

September 2, 1934

            There was fishing, more than ordinary, in the millpond Sunday. The dam was let out so that a pier could be repaired. Employees of the Whitehall Mill & Power Co. are doing the work.

September 2, 1923

            Louis Rasmussen was attacked by a bull last Sunday morning while he was in the yard feeding the cattle, and was knocked down and trampled upon. His son Reuben happened to be going to the barn and saw the attack, and found an iron bar, with which he struck the bull a heavy blow upon the head. The animal was dazed, and Reuben was able to assist his father from the yard. The deaths in Wisconsin from gentle bulls perhaps passes the hundred mark every year, and the practice of letting these animals run with the herd is altogether too dangerous to risk.

September 2, 1909

            We, the merchants of Whitehall, will not from this time open our stores on Sunday. From Sept. 1 we close our place of business on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Committee.

September 2, 1897

            Artist Rogan has rented and taken possession of the Knight residence.

September 2, 1886

            A.G. Buchholz is supplying residents of the village and environs with coal. He delivers the article for $8.30 per ton.

September 1, 1964

            Mrs. Pearl Trovatten and son Stanley are moving today from rooms over the Whitehall Bakery to the upstairs apartment in Mrs. Chas. Schilke’s residence.

September 1, 1949

            Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Wiltsey and daughter Beth of Independence have purchased a trailer house and will move to Whitehall, occupying ground near the W.R. Bensend residence. Mrs. Wiltsey is employed at the Trempealeau County Abstract Co.; her husband, a printer for the Independence News-Wave, will commute.

September 1, 1935

            A gathering of half a hundred relatives was held at the Edwin Thomley farm in Timber Creek Sunday in honor of Mr. and Mrs. James Anderson and two children of Canton, Iowa, who visited relatives in this vicinity from Saturday to Monday. 

September 1, 1925

            Clarence Kaas and Theo. J. Thompson of Northfield were at Whitehall Tuesday. The gentlemen were looking for an engine to operate their ensilage cutter, and called at our office to inquire of several “for sale” engines advertised in the Times.

September 1, 1910

            Nels Davenport, the blacksmith, is laid up with a crushed finger that was caught in a drill.

September 1, 1898

            Mrs. Christian Everson, living about two miles south of the village, had her mammoth farm barn struck by lightning and burned last Thursday afternoon. The building was full of hay, and contained considerable grain, three calves, several pieces of machinery, harness, etc. Two stacks of grain standing nearby were also destroyed. The loss is estimated at between $1,700 and $1,800, and Mrs. Everson will receive about $1,200 from her insurance through the Trempealeau County Mutual.

September 1, 1884

            The village school opened last Monday. Mr. H.T. Haskin is principal, and Miss Martha Benson presides over the primary department. The enrollment in the higher department is 37 and in the lower, 40.

August 31, 1973

            The Norsemen won Ken Stellpflug’s first game as head football coach Friday, crushing Onalaska Luther 52-6. Tom Matchey rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns; the defense allowed Luther only 91 yards in total offense.

August 31, 1956

            Alan Stuve arrived last week Friday at the home of his mother, Mrs. Alice Stuve, after serving as water front director at Eagle River during the summer. He left Aug. 29 for Allen Park, Mich., where beginning Sept. 4 he is teaching industrial arts in the high school.

August 31, 1944

            Whitehall will have a greenhouse and nursery, the first one in Trempealeau County. Kenneth Berdan, who is now employed by the county Soil Conservation Service, has purchased over two acres of land from N.L. Fredrickson fronting on Hwy. 53, directly west of where August Nyberg, who is also in the nursery business, has shrubbery growing. Mr. Berdan plans to build several greenhouses on the lot eventually.

August 31, 1934

            Mr. and Mrs. Basil Erickson, who returned from their wedding trip to Chicago Thursday, were charivaried by their friends Friday while they were guests at the Martin Simonson home. After the hour of 10 a crowd of folks stormed the door and demanded the bride and groom, who came docilely enough, but to an unexpected indignity. Outside stood an old buggy, borrowed from Lewis Fredrickson, and in this Basil was told to seat his lady and take her for a ride. Basil would have run but for the stronger men in the crowd, and he was placed between the fills, handcuffed and told to proceed. Like a queen the bride sat as her hero drew her to Main Street and then down through the business section.

August 31, 1919

            The organization meeting of the Young Peoples Society of Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, which was held Sunday, was very well attended, the church being filled to capacity. The society will surely experience no difficulty in building up its programs.

August 31, 1909

            The mercury ran down to 30 Tuesday night, destroying the tobacco crop, only about half of which in this locality had been cut and shedded.

August 31, 1895

            The engine for the waterworks arrived Saturday. The contractors say the water system will be in operation in about a week.

August 31, 1880

            Mrs. W. L. Morrison departed on the Monday morning train for Florence, Marquette county, to attend the funeral of her sister, Mrs. J. N. Armstrong. We do not learn the particulars of her death, Mrs. Morrison’s information being a telegram.

August 30, 1972

            A survey is being conducted through October in the Blair, Independence, Pigeon Falls and Whitehall communities on the need for the establishment of a day care center. Persons interested in establishing a center should attend the meeting to be held Sept. 5 at the Pigeon Falls State Bank, or contact Mrs. Sandy Jack, Blair; the Rev. Bob Johnson, Independence; Mrs. Jean Hanson, Pigeon Falls; or Mrs. Judy Foss, Whitehall.

August 30, 1960

            The salary of the Trempealeau County superintendent of schools was set at $7,000 by the county board of supervisors at a special meeting Tuesday. The county has been without a superintendent since the resignation of Mrs. Hazel Lowe, and was unable to hire Mrs. Lily Reich of Independence because she had asked for a salary of $6,000 and the position paid a maximum of $4,000 at the time. Mrs. Reich, who has been on the Whitehall school faculty for several years, has been engaged to teach seventh grade here.

August 30, 1945

            Miss Ethel Berg, Hale and Hardy club, was chosen as an alternate to the Healthiest Trempealeau County 4-H girl during a pre-county fair contest, it was announced today. Dr. R.L. MacCornack, Whitehall, was the examining physician. Ethel was also selected as one of four singers chosen to represent the county in the chorus that will perform at the 4-H Roundup to be held Sept. 15 at Richland Center.

August 30, 1931

            Henry Schansberg, age 63, who was struck by a car driven by Ernest Carlson at the Galstad curve just north of Whitehall Sunday afternoon, died in Community Hospital Tuesday morning. Following an inquest before Justice P.M. Paulson, Carlson was charged with fourth-degree manslaughter, and will appear before Judge Cowie during the September term of circuit court.

August 30, 1918

            Claude Everson has been confined to his bed for several days. His tobacco crop, a fine field on the flat, was demanding attention, and they being short of help, there were grave fears of their losing a considerable amount of money. Twenty helpers from Whitehall went out Friday evening and suckered about an acre and a half.

August 30, 1906

            Farmers are cutting corn.

August 30, 1894

            Chairman J.M. Ingalls is putting in a new bridge across Irvin Creek on the street leading to the flouring mill.

August 30, 1883

            Fred Weingarten has recently become the possessor of two pups of the bulldog breed. They are as like two peas in the pod, and promise to do a good job at tearing the bosom out of a man’s pants as they become older.

August 29, 1972

            John Monson, principal of Whitehall Senior High, has announced that senior citizens of the Whitehall school district can obtain free passes to all athletic and school-sponsored events by stopping at the high school office in Whitehall.

August 29, 1960

            The Pigeon Flyers 4-H Club will meet Monday evening at the Oliver Johnson home, when all members should turn in their completed record books. Members, parents and leaders are asked to be present to discuss their annual outing.

August 29, 1946

            Myron DeBow, sportsmen’s committeeman for Trempealeau County, reports that the state Conservation Commission released 15 coons in this area last week. Four each were liberated in the Square Bluff area, Big Slough and German Valley, and three in Moe Coulee.

August 29, 1933

            Mrs. Andrew Semb, son Ernest and daughter Edna of Moe Coulee did shopping at Whitehall Tuesday morning. Mrs. Semb is very optimistic; she not only is confident that conditions will right themselves in the near future but she is also satisfied with the crop that was harvested on their farm this summer. The yield is not so bountiful compared with some years in the past, but Mrs. Semb said that she and her husband are thankful that they have sufficient feed for the winter, which is much more than many farmers have in some areas of the nation where the drought was more serious than here in Wisconsin.

August 29, 1918

            The mill dams are about completed, and the Whitehall Mill and Power Co. expect to furnish us with lights by the last of the week, which will be gratifying news to all.

August 29, 1907

            The Hegge boys have built a shed and are filling it with a fine crop of tobacco.

August 29, 1897

            A.W. Bensend and G.S. Rice caught 42 trout in Pigeon Creek, Jackson County, on Sunday. Andrew says his 24 weighed 10 pounds.

August 29, 1880

            Everybody enjoyed a clean shave last Sunday, owing to the appearance of an itinerant razor grinder, on our streets the day previous.

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