Today in Whitehall-area History

April 19, 1974

            Fred Thompson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Thompson of Whitehall, is touring the Soviet Union with a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire group.

April 19, 1959

            Eleven-year-old Darrel Semb of rural Blair, seriously injured in an auto accident Feb. 22, was made a member of Boy Scout Troop 43 of Pigeon Falls Sunday. The youngster has been studying for the Scouts since he was hospitalized with a fractured leg and a cut to his throat from a broken piece of glass.

April 19, 1945

            The fellows at Whitehall High are engaged in some form of sport at all times. At present, they are beginning a program of spring sports which includes track and spring basketball. Four track meets have been scheduled, including the conference and regional meets in Eau Claire and the state meet in Madison. Boys out for track are Bob Bensend, Bugs Bergerson, Jerry Bergerson, Kenny Fremstad, Byron Hagen, Harland Hagen, Jim Holtan, Herby Johnson, Larry Johnson, Erling Kildahl, Alyn Larson, Thomas Larson, Billy Meyn, Merlin Moen, Roger Nehring, Bob Nichols, Sidney Peterson, Quinn Risberg, Donald Simenson, Seth Speerstra, Alan Stuve, Donald Tomten and Bruce Wilberg.

April 19, 1934

            Borrowing, while occasionally necessary, may easily become a habit. The Community Telephone Company of Wisconsin is now publishing a series of advertisements which emphasizes the evil of habitually borrowing telephone service. The telephone company believes that its subscribers are entitled to exclusive use of the service, and that if neighbors want to talk on the phone, they should order one of their own.

April 19, 1923

            The spring of 1923 will go on record as one of the latest springs that this section has seen since the arrival of the pioneers. At this time, we have failed to learn of a farmer attempting to do any spring’s work. David Wood informs us that, in the year 1881 or ’82, the first grain was sown on April 23. Unless we experience a sudden change, we will beat the record of 40 years ago.

April 19, 1910

            H.P. Skellerud of Pigeon accompanied his son Amond to La Crosse Tuesday, the latter to undergo an operation for appendicitis.

April 19, 1900

            Our machinery men are putting out quite a number of farm implements.

April 19, 1888

            All the businessmen of this village have subscribed liberally to a fund for the purpose of repairing the highway across the bottoms north of the village.

April 19, 1876

            Mud drying up. Seeding commences. Prepare to whitewash. All’s well that ends well. Buy your beer by the keg. Brush up your dooryards.