TEN YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 7, 1977
Two years of work and planning, involving about 20 committees and several hundred volunteers, will come to fruition July 19, when Wisconsin Farm Progress Days opens at its 1977 site near the Trempealeau County Health Care Center.
The proposed 1977-78 Whitehall school district budget published this week includes an estimated $2.03 million in spending, an increase of less than three percent, but would increase local taxes by more than 15 percent.
The Arcadia area is planning a royal welcome for its new Miss Wisconsin, Jennifer Woychik, who won the state crown June 25 in Oshkosh, this coming Sunday.
Dr. L.M. Bender, 25, has joined Dr. L.L. Patterson in his veterinary practice, which has been renamed Whitehall Veterinary Services. Dr. Bender is a former student employee with the local vet.
State Rep. Steve Gunderson and nine other legislators have co-sponsored a bill implementing the constitutional amendment allowing raffles in the state of Wisconsin.
Cindy Abrahamson was crowned Miss Independence 1977 during a special coronation program held Friday night in conjunction with the Independence Days celebration.
Brian Ausderau had three hits in five at-bats, and Steve Lyga and Dave Henrickson had two hits each, as the Norse beat Independence 10-0 to move within one game of first-place Alma Center Lincoln. Kevin Giese threw a two-hitter and struck out nine Indees for the win.
FIFTEEN YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 6, 1972
Three incumbents, Rayder Amundson of Northfield, Art Gunderson of Pleasantville and Roger Guse of Pigeon Falls, and Neil Humphrey of York have filed for the school board election to be held during the annual school district meeting to be held July 24.
Wayne Holte of Strum, appointed sheriff last year after the death of Stanley Amundson, has filed for re-election on the Democratic ticket. His only announced opponent to date is Whitehall policeman John Sikora, a Republican.
Reynolds Tomter, owner of the Pigeon Falls Store since 1955, has sold the business to Nolan Morphew, formerly of Nora Springs, Iowa. Tomter, who has been employed at the store since 1939, will continue to work there.
Steve Peterson, Maple Grove Country Club professional, shot a 102, a new course record, to win the Chippewa Valley Golf Association Open held at the Whitehall Country Club Sunday. Peterson’s 34-33-35 performance included a second-round hole-in-one on number nine.
The Whitehall High varsity has won four-straight games over the past week and a half, with Tom Monson pitching two of the victories.
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 12, 1962
The Whitehall city council Monday night approved a $120,000 bond issue to finance improvements to the city water system. The council also approved the extension and repaving of Christine Blvd., and agreed to vacate part of Lee Street to accommodate the Whitehall Packing Co.’s expansion plans.
Ed Woychik of Whitehall was sworn in Friday as acting postmaster, succeeding the late H.J. Elstad. Woychik was appointed by Congressman Lester Johnson.
Area native Rev. Roger Dissmore has been elected as the new pastor at the Assembly of God Church in Whitehall. Ordained in 1959, Rev. Dissmore has served the past 4 ½ years in Hastings, Minn.
Carl Webster, D.C., has purchased the Dr. Richard Rogers home on Main St. and will move his chiropractic office there from his current location on Dewey Street.
The Buffalo County board voted 16 to 12 June 26 against hiring Howard Mohnk of Cochrane as joint Civil Defense director for Buffalo and Trempealeau counties.
Iva Nelson and Gary Everson of Whitehall are among the 65 northwest Wisconsin graduating seniors to receive “A” legislative scholarships awarded by the Board of Regents of Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire.
Miss Marian DeBow, who had been employed at the Modern Beauty Shop in Whitehall the past 18 years, has opened a shop in Taylor.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 8, 1937
The body of an unidentified man was found Tuesday in Lake Martha, a backwater of the Beef River. The badly-composed body was identified one day later as that of a missing 55-year-old Osseo man.
The Ettrick and Northern Railroad has been abandoned with the approval of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The railroad was built in 1915, about the time that trucks came into general use, and was never a paying proposition. Ten years ago the track and equipment were to have been sold as junk, but Ettrick businessman Maurice Casey bought the property and formed a corporation. After the Ettrick company took over, the line trains were operated with a gasoline motor. The town of Ettrick in February made the final payment on the $75,000 bond issue floated in 1915 to finance the venture.
Clark Getts, who departed last month on a four-month expedition to Africa with Mrs. Martin Johnson and her party of explorers, recently wrote to his father, H.E. Getts of Whitehall. The party, traveling by seaplanes, covered the distance from England to Italy, a month’s travel by auto, in less than a day.
Miss Tillie Sylfest, former Trempealeau County superintendent of schools, has been appointed supervising teacher at Lincoln County.
Only one serious accident was recorded in Trempealeau County over the holiday weekend. One of Mike Shepherd’s daughters suffered cuts to the face and head when the family car, driven by Mrs. Shepherd, hit an elm tree east of Arcadia while the family was en route home to American Valley.
Van Sickle had two hits, and Garaghan scattered five Blair safeties, as Whitehall defeated Blair seven to one Sunday to open the second half of Western Wisconsin League play. On Monday, the local boys touched former University of Minnesota star Carlblom for 12 hits, including two home runs by Donald Warner, and defeated Galesville 11 to 2.
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 11, 1912
About 350 Whitehall people celebrated at Arcadia on the Fourth. The Whitehall coronet band furnished music for the occasion, and its baseball team locked horns with the Arcadia nine in a game that was close and exciting until Whitehall ran in four men in the ninth inning. Ed Torgerson, who isn’t as fleshy as he might be but is some runner just the same, took first money in the fat man’s race.
Lightning jarred the homes of Judge Hensel and Times publisher J.B. Beach Tuesday, probably just to wake them up a trifle. We don’t know how it is with the judge, but we had rather be prodded with a stick.
This is great growing weather.
A number of family picnics were enjoyed in and around Whitehall on the Fourth.
It was N.A. Hanson of Fly Creek who lost the cow on the morning of July 1, instead of Andrew Nelson as stated last week. We sometimes make a mistake, but are pretty nearly infallible.
We have had an abundance of rain the past week, and everything is blooming. The question is, won’t things get too big?
Lightning struck the chimney of the German Lutheran Church parsonage in Hale on the morning of July 3, doing slight damage.
Blair — The Fourth passed off with a picnic in the grove west of the village, where foot races and games were indulged in by our people.
Galesville — Weeds are ahead of the corn.
Centerville — Hollister Wright lost a fine horse last week from eating clover. Alex. Flemington also lost a fine Clydesdale from the same cause.
Arcadia — Dr. G.N. Hidershide returned Tuesday from a prolonged western trip in search of a new location. He brought back with him a large collection of rare and valuable specimens of petrified fossils, etc., which he obtained in the far west.
Trempealeau — Summer boarders have begun to arrive at the Melchoir house. Several who had been to St. Paul and the resorts there came back here to spend the season. They hail from St. Louis.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Thursday, July 7, 1887
Good corn weather. Ninety-five in the shade.
The chinch bugs are the first to have green corn this season.
The Whitehall nine invites neighboring nines to knock the chip off its shoulder.
Several of our village people enjoyed a basket picnic in Long View park north of town on the Fourth.
M.V. Allen is breaking his ponies. The “bitting” attracts a bigger crowd than an Indian pow-wow.
Solsrud and Ekern bought 50 bushels of blueberries last Friday, the largest amount ever taken in by one firm in this village.
Those who have seen the ractracks of the several agricultural societies of this portion of the state tell us that the one at Whitehall eclipses by far all the others.
Tomorrow our citizens vote on the question of incorporating the village. The question should be duly considered and every man should cast his vote for the best interests of the village, everything being taken into consideration.
Nels Hanson’s horse ran away early this morning and down into the brush near the slaughter house, where the stench was so great that it nearly paralyzed the animal. This is Ed Southworth’s statement, who is the party to be sued for slander in case suit is brought to recover damages for the allegations set forth in this squib.
Small boys, while shooting firecrackers Friday afternoon in the rear of the roller rink, threw a match down which caught in the dry grass and came very near burning the building. Had it not been for the timely assistance of The Times employees, the rink and town would have gone up in smoke. The only safe place for the average small boy to pop his crackers this dry time is from a boat moored in the center of the millpond.
Hale — The original Shube Breed was meandering around our town last Saturday. Shube was well pleased and says he will come again and bring his wife and boys. We will be as glad to see him as any man we meet nowadays.
Pigeon — The Fourth of July was duly celebrated at this place. A picnic was held at N.F. Hegge’s grove, at which a large crowd gathered in the forenoon. The day was occupied by speaking and other entertainments. In the evening, the young people repaired to P. Ekern’s hall and had a dance. Another picnic was had at Ole G. Eid’s. All were gotten up in dandy shape.