TEN YEARS AGO
Thursday, June 2, 1977
The newly expanded and remodeled A&W Restaurant will hold a grand opening this coining Wednesday. Owners Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Geurink, who purchased the business in 1972, have remodeled the “drive-in” so that it will now be open all year.
Three Sunset Elementary School teachers, John Preston, Audrey Lee and Florence Johnson, were honored on their retirement at a recognition party held last week Wednesday.
Debbie Foss will represent Whitehall High at the girls’ state track meet this weekend in Madison, competing in the 110-yard low hurdles and as the defending Class C state champion in the long jump. Dave Neitzke will be the first Norse boy to compete at state since Tom Ritland in 1974, placing third in the Osseo sectional but earning a state berth on qualifying time.
Whitehall High golfers finished ahead of regional champions Arcadia, but placed fifth in the Black River Falls sectional and failed to qualify for the state tournament. Bill Petersen was team medalist at the meet, shooting a 79.
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO
Thursday, June 1, 1972
Paul and Mary Matthews of rural Independence were sentenced last week Tuesday to terms in state prison for their part in the March 8 kidnapping of an Eau Claire youth. Joseph Diffie of Whitehall was sentenced two weeks ago for kidnapping 17-year-old Steven Alm.
Basil Erickson of Whitehall, Trempealeau County clerk of court since 1962, died Thursday afternoon of a heart attack.
John L. Evans, formerly associated with the Park National Bank of St. Louis Park, Minn., has been appointed head teller at the Pigeon Falls State Bank.
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Geurink of Winona recently purchased the A&W Root Beer stand and have opened for business.
A memorial bulletin board and attached planter, designed and built by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Tomter, has been erected at the entrance to Ekern Park in Pigeon Falls. On it are listed the donations made to the park.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Thursday, June 7, 1962
A rural Whitehall woman, Mrs. Melvin Anaas, narrowly escaped serious injury when the car she was driving struck the back of a truck one mile north of Whitehall on Hwy. 53 Tuesday afternoon.
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Knudtson of Whitehall have leased the Coral City Store from Philip Thomte, and opened their new business June 4. The former operators, Mr. and Mrs. Helmer Iverson, have moved to Osseo.
Eugene Bijold of Whitehall and Henry Gamroth of Independence have announced their candidacies for county sheriff on the Republican ticket. Bijold served as sheriff from 1956-60, and has been acting undersheriff for the past two years under the term of Mrs. Winnifred Bijold.
Oscar Waller of Whitehall is now taking it easy at his home here following retirement after 43 years with the Green Bay and Western section crew, 39 of those as foreman.
Thirty-nine young people will be confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church this Sunday during the second service.
Ames Holen caught two northern pike over 31 inches long, one just under nine pounds and the other over seven, while fishing below the Whitehall dam May 27.
David Schaefer, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Schaefer of Whitehall, was awarded the Silver R during Honors Day at Wisconsin State College at River Falls.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
Thursday, June 3, 1932
Two business changes occurred in the village June 1. After a year in this village, coming last June from Independence, Luke Sonsalla has closed his restaurant in the H.A. Abend building. On July 1, he will take possession of the store and tavern in North Creek, which he purchased from Adolph Tylka. R.A. Holtan has rented the Abend building, and is making it into a drug store. He will move his stock of goods from the H.J. Elstad general merchandise store.
Thursday night, by the grace of God and because a cautious motorist was driving at a moderate rate of speed in a car equipped with brakes which allowed it to stop within 12 feet, the lives of Helene Magelee and her grandmother, Mrs. B.B. Olson, were saved. Edward Erickson braked in time to stop when the little girl, the daughter of Mrs. C.I. Magelee, publicity chairman of the Trempealeau County Safety Council, darted in front of him and Mrs. Olson rushed to grab her. Mrs. Magelee this week makes a personal appeal to all drivers to drive cautiously.
The Whitehall Memorial School Alumni Association extends an invitation to all adults of Whitehall and vicinity to attend its annual ball at the village hall Tuesday evening.
Whitehall out-hit Strum eight to five, but committed eight errors and lost its Western Wisconsin League opener five to one on Sunday. The locals’ only run was scored on a single by Roy Matson, a sacrifice and Kenneth Swenson’s base hit.
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Thursday, June 6, 1912
The season for game fish opened June 1.
Albert Bringsosen bought a workhorse of Ed Scott last week.
Sever Galstad was the first to market homegrown strawberries.
Sam Filla of Hale and Ernest Lehrke had bees last week, their neighbors turning out and shingling their barns.
Robert Slothouer, formerly of Hale, is employed by the Burlington Railroad at Savannah, 1ll.
The teachers from abroad have all returned to their homes after a successful year’s work in the Whitehall schools.
Elmer Wood has returned from Canada, the land proposition and other matters not shaping up as he had anticipated.
Fred Sielaff has purchased the Peter Larson farm in Lincoln. It is well improved. The consideration was $8,000.
Blair — There has been an immense amount of cane seed sown this season. Almost every farmer has put in some, and the aggragate is quite large.
Unity — Many fish are being speared in the Beef River.
Unity — Some scoundrel has put out poison to do away with the dogs in this town.
Arcadia — The miniature lake that graced Main Street in front of the Mineral Springs Hotel has disappeared.
Ettrick — There is talk of building a pound to accommodate the hogs running at large and pasturing in gardens.
Trempealeau — Some corn from
Trempealeau — Some corn from early planting in this vicinity has a slight movement of rock, and been frozen down three times.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Thursday, June 9, 1887
More rain is needed.
Have the grass cut if you want your lawn a la mowed.
Tuesday and Wednesday are chronicled as the hottest of the season. It was 96 and 94 in the shade, respectively.
The law compelling railway companies to place an ax and saw on the outside, as well as the inside, of every car used for transportation of passengers goes into effect July 1.
The first carload of lumber for the new Lutheran parsonage at Pigeon Falls was unloaded here last Monday. The building will be commenced in about two weeks. It is to be 24 by 30, two stories.
Work was commenced last Monday on the Trempealeau County Agricultural Industrial and Driving Park Association racetrack. Seven teams were put on the work Monday, and nine Tuesday. An excellent job is being done, as we predicted would be, under the wise supervision of the president of the society, Mr. D. Wood.
Osseo — Mr. Camp has rented one set of the living rooms over the store. He is going to start a paper, so the Osseo people will not have to depend on The Whitehall Times to furnish them the home news in the future.
East Hale — The Norwegian Lutheran Church Society, Rev. Hyer, pastor, broke ground Tuesday for their new church. The foundation is being laid, and it is intended to push the work to completion this fall if possible. The location is about two miles from the Hale post office, on the road connecting the north and south branches of Elk Creek.
Galesville — Fred Gallup has a young wolf, which he is bringing up on a bottle.
Independence — Baseball excitement in Independence is on the increase. We have three organized nines, and the way they talk each should be considered the first nine.
Unity — Good iron ore was discovered in this town a short time ago. Coal has also been brought to light in South Valley.
Ettrick — Scene at the stone quarry on the west side: Two men taking leg bail for security, one in the direction of town, and the other in the direction of the creamery; a little puff of smoke, a slight movement of rock, and all is quiet.