Dave Engel Ghost of Myself

River City Memoirs VII River CityDave Memoirs Engel Ghost Ghost of Myself

River City Memoirs VII1 Ghost River City Memoirs

iver City Memoirs VII: Ghost of Myself is a collection of stories previously pub- Rlished in the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tri- bune 1998-2008. This limited edition is available only to supporters of the South Wood County His- torical Corp. publication fund.

ommendation to : Phil Brown, SWCHC; Lori Brost, SWCHC; Kathy Engel, CMSPT; Allen Hicks, Daily Tribune; Holly (Pearl) Knoll, assistant editor; Daniel P. Meyer, patron saint; Warren Miller, Print Shop.

emo: no entity other than the Wiscon- sin Rapids Daily Tribune is autho- Mrized to scan, copy, reprint or transmit material from this volume without the expressed, written permission of River City Memoirs.

River City Memoirs 2009 5597 Third Avenue ©Rudolph WI 54475

You’re either part of the solution or part of the problem. Eldridge Cleaver (1935-1998)

2 From the first River City Memoirs 1983 River City Memoirs Ghost

he title “River City Memoirs,” But so much for the English major In a typical sendup of the fads of comes from the history major I side of life. For History, I took a look at youth, the 1959 Tribune lampooned a almost was at Point college  the 1959 Tribune (fifty years ago), and cultural phenomenon we now know andT to the 80 per cent of readers who sampled references that are part of the presaged the collapse of conventional prefer me that way: the gray-bearded, disappeared world the ghosts of my gen- moral values. prosaic, fact-filled, “Uncle Dave.” The eration had lived in. “Beatniks, in case you don’t dig the bulk of my stories have been in the his- Like the Rapids Theatre. term, are a curious collection of queerly tory category. They are my gift to you. It was just behind my lamp post on dressed convention-haters in full flight The reason I didn’t finish a major in Grand, on this particular night featuring from the world and in fresh pursuit of history is that I couldn’t remember the the “Mysterians,” in which scary space art. They express themselves by flailing first seven (or nine?) U.S. colleges in monsters chase shapely human females bongo drums and by painting and writ- the order they were founded, provid- around the block. ing – and sometimes, apparently, just by ing early evidence that I wasn’t a match Next door, the Friendly Fountain, sitting in bathtubs.” for that nit-picky world. So I took the where good girls didn’t go, and Perry’s We had one beatnik in town. When he path more traveled  by those with bad Sport Shop, where bad boys bought was absent, my friend Mike and I ex- memories for details and a headful of baseball gloves, boat cushions and Chi- plored his “pad” and I know a couple of big ideas  to the department of Eng- nese slingshots. his abstract art compositions ended up in lish, a discipline (or lack of discipline) Kitty-corner upstream on 2nd Street the SWCHC Museum. Also still around where ghosts are popular and so is the was the Sugar Bowl restaurant and can- are my own bongo drums. concept of “myself.” dy shop. After midnight in the 1960s, I But it’s time to tie up the ghost. Thus, the English major half of the watched a righteously humungous rat I once wrote, “It is an evening in July book title and that part of the book, bound from the vicinity of the Sugar 1945 and the world is taking a turn.” But “Ghost of Myself,” goes out to the 20 Bowl, no doubt flushed out by the radar it was actually October 1995, and I was, per cent of you who appreciate me un- cooking inside — one of those moments English-major-like, looking over my fa- der my Mid-State Poetry Towers beret. I knew would come back to haunt me. ther’s shoulder, in a small “hotel” above Providing a readership for columns like The nicest theater was the Wisconsin, a downtown Wisconsin Rapids tavern, this is your gift to me. on West Grand, advertising the always where he penned a letter for my mother- Both the History and English people palindromic Ava Gardner in “The Naked to-be, who waited in Manitowoc, Wis. have witnessed the struggle to explain Maja.” A post-show snack could be had The attempt to explain the way I felt this dichotomy, as in this passage, pub- at Wilpolt’s pretty nice restaurant, offer- about all this hastened my hiatus from lished well before the New Millennium: ing the “biggest egg whip in captivity.” the Daily Tribune. “You’re getting pret- “When David, his unbuckled overshoes The biggest screen in 1959 was to ty far out,” the editor told me. snagging, tramped along the ridge of be found at the Highway 13 “outdoor,” Yeah, that’s right. Next thing you snow banks from Two Mile School in with Jerry Lewis cavorting in “The Gei- know, it was, “Got’m” and a one-way the spring of 1953, the ghost of himself sha Boy.” On Buck Night, an entire car- ticket to never-never land. was with him, taking notes for later ref- load of hijinks for one dollar. Spooky stuff. That’s what English ma- erence. When Dave leaned on a lamp For the worst generation, there was jors do. post, smoking Salems and watching hot Clarence and Helen Molepske’s River- October 2009 rods drag up Grand Avenue, he was not side bar, where I, a few years later, was alone.” to join friends for great Saturday nights.

3 Ghost River City Memoirs Table of Contents

Fifties Timeline 7 Sesquicentennial 79 Murtfeldt 120 Korea 10 Inside Job 80 Father’s Day 121 Christmas on the Avenue 12 Two Mile Landmark 81 Murtfeldt II 122 Consolidated Landscape 14 9/11 Reminders 82 Farm Kid 123 Old Man Winter 16 Clara 83 Terwilliger Bunts One 124 March Madness 1951 18 Consoberries 84 Billings: Nash 125 Krohnographs 20 Eileen 85 Billings: Neighborhoods 126 1951 Spring 22 Rapids 1977 86 Cantin 127 Reuben 24 Marsh Harvest 87 Famous Dave 128 NEPCO 26 Lincoln 88 Suffragette City 129 Necedah Visions 28 Cranboree 89 Einstein’s Brain 130 The Howe School 30 Elsi Schultzenheim 90 Bee Bee at the Circus 131 NATATORIA 32 Leadership 91 1955 132 Army Men 34 Farrish 92 Cranboree Canceled 133 Pew Doodles 36 Wagner’s World 93 Hospital 1955 134 Stinkin’ Town 38 WSAU 94 Grove of Trees 135 Tail Gunner Joe 40 Bee Bee 95 Mel 136 Paul 42 Gronski 96 Tale of Two Cities 137 Bo 44 Grace 97 Laird in Marshfield 138 Bad Boys 46 Holiday Spam 98 Hank 139 Blackjack 48 Girly Man 99 No Success Like Failure 140 Big Kahuna 50 Assumption 100 Milwaukee and Vine 141 Cad Bates 52 Parishes 101 Imagineer 142 Too Many Daves 54 House Calls 102 Biron News 143 America’s Fairyland 56 Comics 103 Kahoun 144 Hurls Baby Into Furnace 58 Mary Hogan 104 Mary Hogan II 145 Kanieski 60 Zieher’s Arpin 105 Road Kill 1955 146 Knuth’s Beat 62 Rudolph Neighbors 106 Bixmas 147 Elksquire 1945 64 From Here 107 Last Little Indian 148 Illustrations 66 Sampson’s Burns 108 Laird III 149 Pull Up Your Socks 68 Champions 109 Lineup 150 Indian Jeff 69 Uncle Ralph 110 Hurlbut 151 Mayor Bach 70 Old North Side 111 Benitz 152 Alice’s Restaurant 71 Pupilation Explosion 112 Benitz: Sorry 153 Calkins’ Centralia 72 Pardoning Mortimer 113 Red Raiders 154 Sampson’s 73 Little Eau Pleine 114 Holland Road 155 Newton’s 74 Jake Chadwick 115 Brig Bombers 156 Mead-Witter 75 Zimmerman Part One 116 Riot 157 Camp Peterson 76 ‘Buseum’ Part Two 117 Courting Wipperman 158 Jere Witter 77 Litzer 118 Martha Klappa 159 Four Dead in Georgia 78 Rember Chadwick 119 Bye Bye Bee Bee 160 4 River City Memoirs Ghost

Trust Nothing 161 Big Frogs 201 The Devil’s Mother 241 Bancroft Tornado 162 Eisenhower doctrine 202 Gores the Butcher 242 Trouble 163 Vesper School 203 Picture Postcard Past 243 Stevens’ Point 164 The Usual 204 RFK @ LHS 244 Haunted 165 Red Owl 205 Santa was my Brother 245 WCTC 1956 166 Honoring the Sabbath 206 Cold Room 246 SWCHC 167 Blei 207 Glory Be 247 Memorial Day 2006 168 Building 208 Marceil 248 Conway 169 Herr Sigel 209 Clean Gene 249 Nehring 170 High Fliers 210 Cohen 250 City Point 171 Sara Kenyon 211 1980 251 Sphagnum Czar 172 Tom Nash, Pilot 212 1970 Restaurants 252 Worst Generation 173 War Against Nature 213 Squares Were Cubes 253 Shoplifting 174 Myron In Chicago 214 Abattoir 254 Winden Part One 175 T.W.B. 215 1957 Strike 255 Recall 176 Sandy at the Library 216 Sputnik 256 Anti-Union Five 177 Botkin 217 1957 Misc. 257 Sock and Roll 178 Essence of Gil 218 I Believe You 258 Curfew 179 Butch 219 World War II 259 Courthouse 180 French Connection 220 War Contracts 260 Judge Cate 181 Pernin 221 WWII-II 261 Union School 182 Pip Botkin 222 Witter Farm 262 County Centennial 183 3 Botkins 223 Half-Century of Schooling 263 Log Cabin School 184 Dead Poet Society 224 Memorial Surprise 264 James Daly 185 Soldier Pip 225 Field House 265 Palimony 186 Natwick from Hollywood 226 Papermaker Blues 266 More Schools 187 Beaver 227 Judge Connor 267 Centralia High 188 Who Killed Mary Hogan? 228 Educate Your Brains 268 Solomon’s Cousins 189 A Grieved Community 229 Dutch Mill 269 Schools 1966 190 Jesseca Penn 230 Buzz’s 270 Grim 191 Model Extraordinaire 231 Wrong George Mead 271 Ike 192 Last Civil War Widow 232 Bast Washes from Maverick 272 Rudolph School 193 Marsh Angels 233 Columbian 273 St. Vincent de Paul 194 Frank Kohnen 234 Hard Times on Grand 274 Miss Ann Pitsch 195 Crime Spree 235 Politics 1958 275 Chequamegon Christmas 196 [email protected] 236 Age of Light 276 Jukebox Saturday Night 197 POW Reunion 237 Teens Kept Knickers Up 277 Frontier Days 198 Sgt. Ryan’s War 238 A Ken Thing 278 Whigs 199 Braves Back Stab 239 Cyber- Christmas 279 Children’s Choice 200 Daddy Foamed 240 Index 280

5 Ghost River City Memoirs

1950

New home construction, Two Mile Avenue

6 River City Memoirs Ghost

South Wood County Historical Corp. presents River City Memoirs, The Fifties

The Wisconsin Rapids area in the 1940s is the subject of The Home Front, a River City Mem- oirs book published in 1999 by the South Wood County Historical Corp. with a grant from the Community Foundation of South Wood County. Here, under SWCHC sponsorship, the series continues into the 1950s. [As published in the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune]

1950/50 Years Ago spoke didn’t realize Mark and I were the both attended, he said, sure, he remem- authors. bered Emeline. She was one of those Timeline “Who did you know back then?” popular classmates who disappeared af- ter graduation. She mentioned Ann Pomainville, t was a happy coincidence that Daily Skip Wefel, Lee Kauth. “I’m trying to Kauth said Emeline had lived near Tribune columnist Mark Scarbor- think of people who still live here.” Howe School. Her father was with the ough happened to be with me at the Nash and Podvin law office. Her brother I Later that night, I thought of Ellen Sa- Grand Avenue Tavern when the woman rd also was an attorney. of mystery appeared. Who was she and betta, longtime curator of the 3 Street South historical museum, as I reached So how do you get to be Miss or Mr. where was she from? Switzerland? Scot- LHS? “People active in organizations, land? Seattle? for the 1955 Ahdawagam, Lincoln’s yearbook. Twenty years ago, Ellen had voted on by students in the class,” Kauth She seemed to speak several lan- looked me up. said. guages. In an accent I couldn’t place, Miss and Mr. LHS presided in a de- th Wow! she quoted early 20 century American cade sometimes called innocent, the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. She was lovely, this Emeline Cham- ’50s, when most students lived close My candle burns at both ends; bers (transferred from Ashland, Ky.) and enough to walk to Lincoln, now East Ju- active: Badger Girls’ State; Dramatic It will not last the night; nior High; when a strict dress code was Club; GAA; National Honor Society; But, ah, my foes, and oh, my in effect for students and teachers, and if editor of Lincoln Lights. A few pages friends— you got in trouble, Mom and Dad heard later: her portrait enlarged to half a page, about it before you got home. It gives a lovely light! “Miss LHS.” After a little prompting, the woman Friday night games and dances, and confirmed that she actually was “from To her right: “Mr. LHS,” Lee Kauth. maybe a short walk downtown to the here” and had graduated from Lincoln The following day, I called on Wis- Friendly Fountain; that was burning High School in 1955. She said she had consin Rapids Public Schools, where your candle at both ends. Miss and Mr. preserved the recent Tribune/South Kauth was filling in as director of busi- LHS were royalty from a past in which Wood County Historical Corp. memori- ness services, a post he had held prior to I, too, had a part. However my personal al tribute to former Lincoln High School retirement. From his desk in an addition title, “Mr. LHS” was more accurately teacher Alice Hayward, and even as we to the same Lincoln building we had translated as, “Loiter here, Stupid.”

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Fifty years ago this year, my dad in- graph of this residence in the midst of a Knuth recalled the event in a year scribed “1950” in the wet concrete of seasonal flowage that flooded Clyde. 2000 South Wood County Historical the top basement step of our new home, “Luedtke Acres,” between Cook and Corp. interview. “Near Love Street, we along with the names Don, Sally, Da- Two Mile avenues, and between Lincoln could smell wood burning. Smitty quick vid, Kathryn, Gary. Later, he chiseled in and Sampson streets, was advertised by turned in the alleyway by the Rapids Ken, born in 1955, the year Emeline and Winn and Murgatroyd Realtors as one of Beverage Co. About then, a ball of fire Lee graduated. the “Most Desirable and Fastest Grow- come out of the building: boom!” We were part of a population explo- ing Developments”—“The Quiet of the Besides the 1910 structure and a 1940 sion that echoed the atom bombs of Country and the Convenience of Town.” addition, a sticky mish-mash of candy, WWII. As the time line ticked through Our lot was west of the still-existing En- soda pop, beer, cigarettes, and matches 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, there was such drizzi water wheel, between the Caves was consumed. About the same time, a a building boom that you needed ear- and Butz houses and across from Mur- “flash fire at the W.F. Warsinske repair th plugs. gatroyd’s. garage on 8 Street South was doused with garden hoses supplied by neighbor My first home had been a cramped The permit for the $6,500 “ranch” John Dove and run from the house of apartment near St. Lawrence School, an was signed by Grand Rapids building Warsinske employee Walter Nystrom, easy walk for my dad to his stockroom inspector Harry Rucinski. My dad, with 640 Clyde Ave. job at the Frank Garber plumbing and a little help, was building the brick-ve- welding supply company. From the west neered house himself. That’s the way In the winter of 50 years ago, the ther- side we moved to a garage that Dad, by they did it then. mometer at the Nepco Lake power sta- then employed by Consolidated, built Moving to the edge of town, we tion registered minus 42, about as cold on Clyde Avenue, near 8th Street. He had joined a movement described at the time as it gets here. With temperatures con- intended to add a house but decided in- by columnist Hal Boyle. “The next step tinuing below zero, a boiler failure left stead to follow the wave of development is to pave the farmlands, leaving the the Wood County Home for the Aged farther out. United States one vast sea of concrete without heat, and 47 residents were and asphalt, studded with parks, sub- evacuated to the memorial Armory and While working on the next house, urban lawns—and billboards.” To ac- five to Riverview Hospital for a 12-day we rented – also on Clyde Avenue, just commodate the outflow here:Children’s stay while the old folks’ home heaters north of Grove school on the edge of the th Choice School on 48 Street, sporting were repaired. “Sand Hill” that began at the railroad the familiar “modern” box look favored Fifty years ago, the focal point of tracks. It was known as a tough neigh- by Donn Hougen, local architect. borhood. A Sand Hill boy stole my bicy- the community was the imposing Lin- Likewise, St. Luke’s Lutheran dedi- cle, and another, whose parents owned coln High School Fieldhouse, used for cated what was said to be the firstchurch the corner grocery, threatened my sister basketball games, track meets, musical building ever constructed in the “centu- until I socked him in the gut, and he went productions, public “forums,” the heart ry-old town of Grand Rapids,” at 10th home crying. There was no indoor toi- of Wisconsin Sport Show (the 1950 ver- Street and Wood Avenue, the Rev L.F. let, and the heat failed frequently, so we sion featuring live mink from the fur Schneider presiding. wrapped up in blankets. When we were farm of J.E. and Don Gazeley, east of Twelve below—on the night in 1950 sick, Dr. Handy came personally to ad- Nekoosa), and variety programs such as that city police officers Franklin Smith minister penicillin shots and Karo syrup the Lions Club Minstrel Show. and Donald Knuth discovered a fire on in salt water. There is a Tribune photo- Speaking of lions, the intimidating the upper East Side. 8 River City Memoirs Ghost beast known as the “Rudolph lion” was to a pro football team,” employed the “The iron is set too high. Don’t put it shot and killed by Franklin Langer in the flying wedge and the off-tackle smash, on where it says ‘Linen’ or it will scorch Ten Mile Creek area. According to wit- and in general departed “from the fi- the linen.” These are the last words nesses, the 3-foot-long Canadian lynx nesse of true basketball.” written by the candle poet cited earlier, “seemed much larger when we first saw Speaking of a few other residents in “Vincent” Millay. it.” Speaking of Rudolph, the commu- the news in early 1950: “Try it on ‘Rayon’ and then, perhaps nity high school enjoyed a gala home- Norway native and ski champ Ole on ‘Woollen.’” coming and basketball game. Arneson directed a jump tournament Her self-composed requiem came in Speaking of buckets, LHS grad and at Dyracuse Mound; his seven children a note to a neighbor who would arrive college senior Bob Mader, called the were “following in his tracks.” later to help with housework. “And be best prep guard ever to compete at the Harold “Honey Boy” Sullivan and careful not to burn your fingers when University of Wisconsin fieldhouse, Herb Ruder boxed in a revival of Golden you shift it from one heat to another.” played guard on the UW basketball Gloves tournaments, including an exhi- Millay died alone and was found seat- team in 1950. Speaking of Maders, bition between Honey Boy’s sons, Billy ed, head bowed, on the staircase of her older brother Jerry had competed in the and Pat Sullivan. house in upstate New York. “It is 5:30, 1941 state prep tournament and younger Russell A. Peterson returned to his and I have been working all night. I am brother Johnny was, in 1950, on the Lin- private airstrip in Grand Rapids after going to bed.” coln team. “When the Maders ran out a 5,000-mile Cessna Caravan flight to She was 58. of sons in the growing process, a new Guatemala with Morris A. Wolcott. ‘tagger’ was in order,” said the Tribune, Van Kubisiak ran for mayor, serving The date was Oct. 19. “and that role is now filled by youngPat as an anachronistic reminder that it was The year was that same fateful, 50 Daly. Mayor James Kubisiak who appointed years ago, mid-century mark we have Mader teammates on the high school the first official honorary municipal his- been revisiting all day. team were Boola Gill, Jimmy Ritchay, torian of “River City.” The year was 1950. Don Brewster, and Charlie Gurtler. Their August C. Miller, the only fire chief winning streak in the Valley conference Wisconsin Rapids ever had, retired. He was halted at 26 games by an arch rival, had been appointed in 1920, when a full 10-14-00 the unbeaten Stevens Point Panthers, led time fire department was established. by Dick Cable. The Lincoln Red Raid- Leo J. Barrette was named “first an- ers would rise to bigger things another nual” citizen of the year, largely for year. spearheading the building of the base- At times, high school basketball in ball stadium that still stands at Witter 1950 resembled the millennial NBA. athletic field. The Tribune described a game with Nek- Edward Kanieski, 31, pleaded guilty oosa (then of the same Wisconsin Valley to breaking into the home of a 76-year- Conference), in which players, dressed old town of Saratoga woman, who then in “customary basketball garb,” applied shot him. He was sentenced to Waupun half-Nelsons, threw “a variety of blocks state prison by Judge Byron B. Con- and tackles that would have done justice way.

9 Ghost River City Memoirs

Korea The first Wisconsin Rapids service- year; Harry Truman had been elected in man killed as a result of the “Korean 1948 and would serve two more years. ish I were more like H. L. War” was Lt. James G. Prebbanow, 25. In April, more than doubling the votes Mencken. Though I never His death came when a U.S. air force of Robert A. Bablitch, Stevens Point, met him, I did write a mas- plane crashed Sept. 24 in Japan. WWII Herbert A. Bunde, Wisconsin Rapids, W veteran Prebbanow was an air force pi- was elected to a six-year term as circuit ters thesis about the legendary “icono- clast” who wasn’t afraid to speak his lot. judge. Bunde had grown up in a small mind, especially when deflating hypo- Hal Boyle, a national columnist, logging town near Glidden and, in 1990, crites. called attention to a Rapids “GI” in ac- provided his reminiscences for the River Fifty years ago today, Mencken, 70, tion along the Naktong River near Wae- City Memoirs book, Shanagolden: An was confined to a Baltimore, Md., hos- gwan. When the South Koreans outlined Industrial Romance. pital after a near-fatal heart attack. Ac- a target area and called for help, Lt. Col. Carl C. Knudsen was reelected to cording to our Daily Tribune, he was Glenn Rogers turned to air control offi- a second term as mayor of Wisconsin drinking an imported beer and calling cer, Lt. Howard J. Landry, of Wisconsin Rapids over former alderman Van C. for a cigar. Rapids: “Okay, tell your boys to give Kubisiak. that mountain a haircut.” John J. Jeffrey displaced Harold D. Fifty years. On June 25, 1950, troops “Roger,” said Landry and ran to his Billmeyer as city attorney. In winning, from Communist North Korea invaded jeep radio to contact mustangs and jets Jeffrey lost a bet and owed a free wheel- South Korea. The United Nations called which were over the area. barrow ride down West Grand Avenue the invasion a violation of international “They’ll be here in five minutes,” to Richard Paulson “with Jeffrey sup- peace. The U.S. sent troops to defend Landry reported. plying the necessary motive power.” South Korea; Communist China and Onlookers could see planes swoop In November, among Republicans Russia backed the North Koreans. down repeatedly and could hear the clat- (who won all nine local contests): An August Tribune photo showed 79 ter of their 50-caliber machine guns rak- sheriff Arthur M. Boll; assemblyman Wood county men answering the first ing the “crags” for the hidden “Reds.” W.W. Clark; clerk of circuit court Jasper draft call since the outbreak of Korean Landry came in to report the air at- C. Johnson; district attorney John M. hostilities. The first Wisconsin Rapids tack had been successful. “They really Potter; and register of deeds Robert casualty was Pfc. Richard J. Ashen- clobbered that hill,” he said. J. Ryan. Democrats, said the Tribune, brenner, 19, with a hand injury. As the battle continued in Korea, The- polled higher numbers than usual in On August 29, Pfc. Neal W. Hafer- odore W. Brazeau, Wisconsin Rapids at- the “traditionally Republican county,” man was reported missing in action, ac- torney, replied to a circular letter sent out “particularly in the industrial Tri-City cording to a war department telegram by the Communist party of Wisconsin. area.” received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. “I am one of those who grew up from In the same election, Wisconsin William Haferman, 1111 11th Ave. N. poverty and know the advantages this Rapids city clerk Nels M. Justeson lost The next day, Marine S. Sgt. August country has given its citizens and appre- a bid for secretary of state to Fred R. Tessmer, Jr., was reported wounded in ciate the liberty I am enjoying. I would Zimmerman. action by his mother, Mrs. Irene Menz, not care to be in the Russian bondage Voters approved referenda to purchase 940 17th Avenue S. Tessmer had fought and I cannot appreciate its persecution voting machines for the city and to at Saipan, Okinawa and Iwo Jima in and disregard of human rights.” maintain the public zoo that had been World War II. It was a non-Presidential election established two years previous.

10 River City Memoirs Ghost

“Mayor Knudsen Stalks Out.” team honors to Dick Jung, Jim Ritchay For children under age 14, the Wood An unsympathetic November Tribune and Jack Billmeyer. County Conservation league supervised said Knudsen abandoned ship “after At undefeated St. Norbert college, a fish pond in a north shore lagoon. Two alderman James Hanneman asked him De Pere, the season’s leading rusher foot bridges would bring children near pointedly, ‘Is this a dictatorship or is it was 185-pound “squat speedster,” John to the 2,000 panfish stocked by Fred Ja- a democracy?’” For his part, Knudsen Ritchay, averaging over 10 yards per cobson, Wood county conservation war- had lectured, “This is no kindergarten. carry. den. You fellows came here to work. If you Preliminary figures from the bureau At Powers Bluff county park, a two- don’t want to do that why don’t you stay of census counted the population of story stone-and-concrete warming house home?” Wisconsin Rapids at 13,518, a gain of and recreation building was ready, ac- Sometimes known as the Polish 2,102 or 18 per cent, which was less cording to Emil Mueller, superintendent Catholic church, St. Lawrence observed than the increase of 2,790 or 30 per cent of Wood County parks. its 50th anniversary Sept. 24. from 1930 to 1940. “What about those Green Bay Pack- Under construction was SS. Peter & The 1940 total for the Town of Grand ers?” wrote Chris Edmonds, Milwaukee, Paul Catholic church. Designed by A.F. Rapids was 2,358; in 1950 it was 4,137. in a Tribune column. Under the only Billmeyer & Son and built by Frank Adding five to the total was my own coach they ever had, E.L. “Curly” Lam- H. Henry, it would replace the existing family. We had moved from the urban beau, the Packers had been in a slump frame building dating from 1873, west side, first to Clyde Avenue and, in that had my mother recalling the better The new Assembly of God Gospel 1950, to Two Mile Avenue, at the edge days of Hutson, Herber and Hinkle. Tabernacle at 550 Baker Street was of the new subdivisions. “But this gang is different,” Edmonds dedicated. The congregation, established Affecting lands just south of my said. “The pro football team with the in 1927, had been located at the G.A.R. Two Mile Avenue home, a game refuge college try” owed its spirit to new coach hall and the old Moravian church on was created by Wisconsin conserva- Gene Ronzani, from Iron Mountain, Third Avenue North. tion commission on lands surrounding Mich., not far from Green Bay. One of the worst fires in Wisconsin Nepco Lake. Tracts owned by Nekoosa- Contributing to a close, family-like at- Rapids history destroyed the block-long Edwards Paper Co., John E. Alexan- mosphere, the coach was known to help Frank Gill Paint factory on Love Street, der, Mrs. Sue M. Kibby and Louis and out at the ticket window when needed. even bigger than the Rapids Beverage Quesnal Gross were included. A lot of fans felt Lambeau had ruined conflagration in January of the same To us, it had been there forever; but the team and were happy to see him year—just a few hundred feet away. in the 1950s, Lake Wazeecha, upstream gone. Yet, the “curly-thatched Belgian” Pre-draft age young people didn’t pay from Nepco, was practically a brand was to appear at another Packer game a lot of attention to the war or to the antics new body of water. It had been complet- all right. This time, as coach of the team of their elders. Coach Phil Manders’ ed and named in 1938. he had joined after resigning from the “gridders” won four of six games, losing The “white beach” and “red beach” Packers, the rival Chicago Cardinals. to “perennial champion” Wausau and were clean and welcoming. The devel- “defending champion Stevens Point,” oped lake banks provided a shaded set- 11-11-00 according to the Ahdawagam yearbook. ting for family picnics. I especially liked Players Jerry Raasch, end, and John the swings by the red beach from which Trier, guard, were named to the all- you could leap and fly far down the san- conference football team with second- dy “cliff.”

11 Ghost River City Memoirs

Christmas on the Avenue While American productivity provides a trim a tree or buy the kids any toys; bounty of “exciting, beautiful and practical would you still shout a hearty “Merry ant to make this coming gifts,” there are many more people to give Christmas” to your friends when you Christmas the best and happiest them to than ever before, so more time is met them on the Avenue? Wyou have ever experienced? needed to shop. The newer and more excit- Or if a special decree went out from Then you must take Santa’s advice: ing gifts disappear quickly and those who your government that you should not Don’t lose a single moment. Don’t be lulled delay are “out of luck.” observe Christmas in any way, would into careless thinking by a glance at the cal- Saint Nick, aided by 20th century prog- you still do so? endar. Better start your Christmas shopping ress, has “transformed what once were con- The questions are posed in the Daily now! It’s getting late. It’s already Wednes- sidered prosaic items, into glittering new Tribune of Saturday, Dec. 23, 1950. day, Nov. 22. gifts, and has brought into existence new Yes, concludes the writer, Christian 1950. devices for work saving, and entertainment hearts will always observe Christmas, Nov. 24, 1950. for the whole family.” even in the face of a hostile totalitarian Friday morning. Santa arrives for a pa- Many of the advances of 1950 are plas- government. rade across the bridge to the East Side and tic: “realistic reproductions in miniature of Some places, Christmas doesn’t back to the free movies at the Wisconsin devices used in the practical world.” Big come easy. theater where he distributes “surprises” sellers are dolls that act, talk and toddle like Latvia, in northern Europe on the to children and collects letters addressed real live babies. “Many have soft-to-the- Baltic Sea, wedged between Estonia to himself. The Tribune: “Santa Claus has touch skin textures that will make little girls and Lithuania, is an unwilling part of come to Wisconsin Rapids, his great gift squeal with happiness.” the Soviet Union. After their takeover bag overflowing, his eyes twinkling a heart An important East Side anchor is the in 1940, the Russians abolished private warming invitation for everyone to lose no J.C. Penney store at 130 2nd St. S. Yet an- ownership of property. All farms were time in coming downtown to see his won- other of its numerous grand openings sports communized and the Latvians had to derful collection of mid-century gifts.” fluorescent lighting, an enlarged office and work for the state, paid with a share of “A great corps of assistants has unloaded new color schemes, fixtures, tile floor and the produce of their land. The Russians the contents of his overflowing gift pack, tables. forbade the celebration of all national spread them on gaily bedecked counters The Penney concern had been established and church holidays—difficult for a and shelves in stores of our city, to await 30 years previous as the Golden Rule, across people known for their enjoyment of your admiring inspection. Santa Claus has the street. “Ever since the store first opened singing. come to town early so that none need lack here it has suffered from growing pains ne- Through the machinations of several the chance to make the 1950 Yuletide the cessitating several changes in location and governments, some Latvians found their most perfect in all history for their friends remodeling projects,” says the Tribune. way to other places. Arriving in central and loved ones.” Joe G. Hagen is the Penney manager and Wisconsin, sponsored by Bethany and 7:15 Friday night: It looks like broad has been since the beginning. (See River First English Lutheran churches: the daylight after Cranboree Queen Donna City Memoirs II.) Hagen is proud that James families of Janis (John) Knostenbergs, Schelvan Haessly, with a wave of her silver Cash Penney himself, founder of the com- Janis Zarins and Arnold Pupols. wand, switches on Grand Avenue’s new pany, visited the local store in 1936. In Latvian villages, the newcom- mercury vapor street lamps for the first The problem with Penney’s to a five- ers say, Christmas had been a tradition. time. year-old boy such as me? It’s nothing but Behind trimmed windows, storekeepers Mayor C.C. Knudsen dedicates the re- socks and underwear. displayed toys, bright lights and orna- vamped pavement and lighting: “We ask the Suppose you weren’t permitted to go to ments. The post office and opera house blessing of that great architect above, who church this Christmas. Or weren’t allowed were also decorated. made it possible for this street to be a street to sing “Joy to the World,” even in a hushed Baking began several days before of truth, justice and happiness.” voice? Or suppose you weren’t allowed to Christmas, the old wood stove turning 12 River City Memoirs Ghost out cakes, cookies and white bread. day and sleep in bomb cellars at night. After and Chicago only to break down near Mad- On Christmas eve, candles burned on WWII, those Latvians found themselves in ison, pushing my ’59 Pontiac down a hill trees; joyous hymns were sung; cookies, displaced persons camps under care of the into a garage? candy and cracked nuts were eaten. “And U.S. army. “That amazing three or four days,” John that night the same white-whiskered, red- In American camps, the families were said, “I think we made it to Niagara Falls on suited Santa Claus who visits children all free to hold Christmas celebrations together. the way back.” around the globe,” as the 1950 Tribune tells They could go to church and have Christmas Yeah, I forgot that. it. trees and sing and they did all these things. “One of the oddest things,” he said, “was The mischievous Latvian Santa played a On Christmas, the children from the camp at the Canadian border. We had some hot few tricks. If little Mara couldn’t find her went caroling among the American military dogs in a container for about three days. gift, she might be told to “look in the stove,” families. They were starting to stink. The lady at the where the bauble was found among the cold The Americans gave the children gifts border made us open it. We laughed like ashes. and many of the American soldiers were crazy.” After a breakfast as early as 4:30 a.m., invited to join the Latvians in their celebra- A Latvian who moves to the U.S. accu- the family moved on to church, sleigh tions. mulates a different kind of memory than he bells jingling all the way. On Three Kings On Christmas, 1950, the Pupols family, would on the Russian border. Day, January 6, trees were taken down and formerly of Latvia, included two children: After a previous Memoirs noted several Christmas was over. Gunta, then three years old, and Janis, two. early Korean war casualties, Lyle Zurfluh But under Russian rule, the show of fun Now a metalworker at Stora Enso’s called to say his brother, Rowland, “Jackie,” ceased. There could be no outward signs of Biron mill, Janis, “John,” still lives on the was an early casualty of the war, a fact not the holiday, no toys, baking, or get-togeth- family farm near Bethany Lutheran church, noted by the Daily Tribune because Row- ers. So it was under cover of night that many an institution he said has been central to the land was missing in action until 1952. Latvian people smuggled small Christmas area’s Latvian community. “The war had just started,” said Lyle. trees into their homes. Some were satisfied John visited Latvia in 1975, when it was “His outfit went to Korea right away. My with evergreen sprigs, carried hidden under under Communist rule, and last year when mother got only one or two letters from Ko- coats. he found what was left of his parents’ for- rea, then nothing.” On Christmas Eve, families gathered mer homes: a barn foundation at his father’s In March, 1952, the body of Jackie behind locked doors, hung blankets over and three walls of a house at his mother’s. Zurfluh arrived in Port Edwards by train, windows and lighted candles. In some “Did it really happen?” I asked John accompanied by two sergeants from graves places, a member of the family had to watch Pupols; I don’t know that I’ve seen him registration. A military funeral at Nekoosa for Russian soldiers outside the door while since. Did I really leave the Wisconsin Rap- followed. the family within sang Christmas hymns ids paper mill after the 3-11 shift in the week A consultation with Thomas D. Stern, and worshiped. “In their hearts many of of July 4th, 1967; did I pick up John at that Wood County veterans officer, and contact the Russians celebrate this day too,” Janis same home place he lives on now; and did he with several web sites, including the Na- Knostenbergs says. “But they do not have and I and Mike Ebsen and Gordy Arts drive tional Archives, confirms that Roland H. Christmas on their calendars.” all night and all the next day to the “world’s Zurfluh, Private in the Army from Wood Now, after one Christmas here, how do fair,” Expo ’67, Montreal, Canada? County, Wis., died July 16, 1950, making the recent arrivals celebrate? “Just like we Did a cop really let us sleep on the ground him likely the first Korean war era soldier did in Latvia before the Russians came.” in a “cow pasture” that daylight revealed to from this area to be listed as killed in ac- In 1941, the Nazis chased the Russian be a sanitary landfill? Did we really drink tion. armies out of Western Europe and took Canadian beers and then tour the geodesic about 100,000 Latvians to Germany for dome that was the U.S. exhibit? 12-09-00 slave labor (including those who later came Did we sleep in a motel one night, leav- here) to rebuild bombed-out areas during the ing the next day and driving through Detroit

13 Ghost River City Memoirs

Consolidated Landscape The Daily Tribune described the scene: the Witter from the estate of former propri- “What is now an immense wasteland of ice, etor Lester P. Daniels and later deeded the th o you realize carp are eating acorns snow, tree stumps and brush will, within a outmoded 19 -century hostelry to the city the squirrels buried? few weeks, become a vast lake measuring as part of a long-standing plan to clear the “I guess everybody knows 15 miles long and four-and-one-half miles river banks for park land. Awaiting its re- D wide at its widest point.” The lake would placement, the Hotel Witter was operated that,” said the Plover sage, Justin Isher- wood, as we watched the sun set across measure about 30 feet deep in the center by a newly-formed corporation, headed by Wisconsin’s second-biggest inland lake. On the west or Juneau county side, the Ralph R. Cole, George W. Mead and Vinson Some years have passed since the mu- water line followed more closely the exist- Krapfel. tation into personal watercraft paradise, so ing river bank. On the east, it rose to the nat- The paper company previously pur- it’s easy to think of Petenwell as ancient. ural timber-fringed bank of the old “dead” chased the Commercial Hotel on the west But, when my dad took me down to view river. or mill side of the river, south of Grand Av- the gleaming machinery of the powerhouse, Petenwell was joined the following year enue, along with other property, hoping to the lake was five years old. by a sibling reservoir to the south. Again, erect a new facility on the site. The plan was When George Zimmerman hauled in crews cleared most of the bottom land of abandoned because of a perceived lack of that big northern pike on a Boy Scout camp brush and trees and the first turbo genera- parking space for the automobiles travelers out, the lake was about ten years old. When, tor at the Castle Rock Lake dam started up were now using almost exclusively. celebrating high school graduation, Mike in the summer of 1950. Electricity from “It is a rather sentimental thing – an old Ebsen and I leaped from the sandy cliff, Petenwell and Castle Rock was transmitted building,” Mead commented about the Ho- Petenwell was about fifteen years old. through interconnecting systems of power tel Witter, as he might have for the Com- As Isherwood and I watched the carp companies to a large section of the state, in- mercial, which shared the same fate. “For splash by the Hideaway supper club, Peten- cluding Mauston, Portage, Sheboygan and such a building expresses a mode of life, well Lake was still younger than we were— Fond du Lac. and for this reason we regret in a way hav- even though, like us, it’s elderly enough to After the lakes were flooded, there ing to tear it down.” turn green every August. came unintended consequences. In some ar- Turning its attention back to the east Named for a nearby landmark rock, the eas over a mile inland, basements flooded side of the river, the company had “little by reservoir, developed in 1949, is an accom- and water stood in fields. A series of ditches little” purchased properties not exactly in plishment of George W. Mead, long-time along the dikes were built to alleviate the the downtown but at the edge of it, extend- president of Consolidated Water Power & problem. ing from Fourth Street east and from East Paper Co. Technically, Petenwell was cre- Because of the far-flung Consolidated Grand Avenue to Oak Street. ated and owned by the Wisconsin River outposts, a short wave radio system linked Said Mead. “We now have a very spa- Power Co. of which Mead was president. “mobile units” (company trucks and the cious area for a motel type of hotel where The purpose: to fully develop the foreman’s car) and power stations at Wis- travelers could drive in and park their cars world’s hardest working river as a source consin Rapids, Du Bay, Stevens Point, on the premises and occupy rooms nearby.” of hydroelectric power, “a project to which Petenwell and Castle Rock. If a visiting paper buyer wanted to be Mr. Mead gave unlimited energy and re- Besides the two lakes, a significant very old-fashioned and take a walk, it would sources,” according to Ralph Cole, Consoli- showpiece was planned in the heart of the be about as far from the mill by way of the dated spokesman, in 1950. coated-enamel paper capital of the world: Grand Avenue bridge as the Hotel Witter To make for better boating and fishing, River City, aka Wisconsin Rapids. had been. over a thousand workers cleared vegetation For years, the most posh lodging in In an eleventh-hour move, Consolidated from 5,000 acres in one of the largest opera- town was secured at the Hotel Witter, just a asked the city for a resolution guaranteeing tions of its type known to have been under- couple blocks as the sucker swims from the “fair and reasonable” tax treatment for the taken at that time. Consolidated Mill. Consolidated purchased new venture. By way of argument, Mead

14 River City Memoirs Ghost stressed the low earning capabilities of ho- house dining room, kitchen, cocktail lounge In defense, Stanton Mead told a public tels. To the city council, he explained: and administrative quarters, all to be air- hearing that “Consolidated is, along with “It is generally recognized here in the conditioned. The remainder was to be pro- other companies comprising the paper in- city that one of the greatest needs is a ho- vided with proper outlets in the event it is dustry, a part of the people of Wisconsin ... tel. Commercial travelers and all the trav- later desired to extend the air conditioning. So are most of Consolidated’s 1,200 stock- eling public who come through here, and Listed in the plans, with an eye to the future, holders and 90 per cent of its 4,000 employ- they come mostly in automobiles, have not are television outlets. An apartment for the ees, together with their families, citizens of enough good places to stay. The total num- hotel manager was also included. the state. ber of rooms with bath is pitifully small…” At the 1950 commencement of the “So, also, are thousands of suppliers “A good hotel, with about 100 rooms University of Wisconsin, Madison, George who sell to Consolidated and hundreds of equipped with bathrooms and comfortably W. Mead was awarded an honorary merchants who sell to our employes. So, for furnished, would attract a great many people doctorate. that matter, are a great many of our custom- who avoid this city and go to other places In November of that year, Wisconsin ers.” where they are more hospitably received.” Rapids’ most important person stepped All, he said, were dependent on the Mead contracted with Donn Hougen, down, when Mead, after a half-century of right or permission to take water from the local architect, and was anxious to get start- leadership, tendered his resignation as Con- Wisconsin river and to return it in “used” ed hoping to avoid problems that might be solidated president. form. caused by the Korean war. The move was necessitated by a Sep- Representing Local 94 of the Pulp, Sul- After spirited discussion, Mayor C.C. tember 13, 1950, stroke that left the elder phite and Paper Mill Workers, a local labor Knudsen held up the decree by refusing to Mead confined to his home on the Island. leader suggested to a committee that 90 permit use of his title in the text, insisting His son, Stanton W. Mead, a vice presi- miles of the river from Rhinelander to be- that the word, “mayor” be deleted. When dent of the firm since 1939, would take his low Nekoosa be used entirely for an indus- Mead agreed to the omission, the council place. trial stream. “People employed by the mills approved the resolution 16-4. When representatives from wood prod- are more important than fish,” he said. Aldermen William Bonow, Lawrence ucts mills of 12 countries, including Norway, Gene Seehafer of the Wisconsin Rap- Behrend, Clarence Teske and William F. Sweden and Denmark, arrived, they came as ids chamber of commerce noted that 55 per Anderson cast the opposing votes. part of the Marshall Plan to rebuild the Eu- cent of city’s labor force was employed by According to the company’s Ralph ropean paper industry, touring Consolidated Consolidated. Cole, “Consolidated takes a certain amount and Nekoosa-Edwards mills and touting the No matter how many you employ; no of pride in furnishing this area with addi- local establishments. “Our visit through the matter how much you pay them; no matter tional modern hotel facilities and acknowl- paper mills in the Wisconsin Rapids area how broad-minded and how philanthropic edges the support given it by city officials, today has been the most outstanding in our your gestures; you and your property are not merchants, and the public in the undertak- whole tour of the paper industry in the Unit- safe from the barbarians. ing.” ed States,” said one competitor-to-be. While George Mead’s son, Walter, re- Construction began in September, U.S. officials hoped that the Europe- sided at his Chicago home, six teen boys 1950, with an expectation of completion in ans might “more efficiently increase their broke into his vacant two-story house near summer 1951. The cost of the two-story, 86- production and help sustain their country’s the Third Street South pumping station. room hotel was to be about $500,000. economy rather than rely on ours.” With .22s and shotguns, the erstwhile At a Rotary club meeting in the Hotel At the same time Consolidated enjoyed nimrods blasted away at windows and walls, Witter, the planned facility was christened, the satisfaction of great accomplishment, breaking every door and pulling fixtures out “Bel-Mead Hotel,” which roughly trans- the company and the industry entered a pe- of ceilings. lates, Mead says, as “beautiful valley.” riod of criticism. Paper mill pollution made Probably just having fun. The east portion of the Bel-Mead would the Wisconsin River what some called an “open sewer.” 01-13-01

15 Ghost River City Memoirs

Old Man Winter “The creative efforts as embodied in because each of the cars in the tangle had to this new building, born of imagination, pull into the driveway of the home, back up long planning and hard work, represent an and turn around. bit awkwardly, the Daily Tribune of achievement in county park development Fire chief James Mlsna said he was “out January 1951 celebrated a season it that could only be expressed in words of de- of patience with people who follow fire Asaid would hold its own in the record light by those who visit the Bluff and see for trucks and handicap our efforts. The police books with famous winters of the past. themselves what has been accomplished,” department will deal with these people in One morning, “the mercury” “dove” to said the Tribune. the future,” he said. minus 37 at the 16th Street pumping station Much of the park road was resurfaced Every year for 29 years, the townspeople (the lowest since the minus 43 of 1929). At with “blacktop.” Several thousand conifer- of Rudolph looked down their flooded main the Biron dam: minus 45. At the Nepco lake ous trees were planted with several thou- street and remarked, “We ought to do some- power plant: minus 46. sand more to be planted each year. There thing about this.” A lot of inconvenience at these temps: were plans for a toboggan run. Melting snows drained into the business train service disrupted; attendance poor at In a year-end report, superintendent Mu- district, flooding basements and converting Lincoln high school; 29 rural schools closed; eller offered a popular opinion: “During the the street to a swollen river of slush and ice. children at the county Normal Demonstra- spring when the trilliums were in bloom, I From the Rudolph public school and other tion School sent home until noon, hopefully believe this is the most beautiful place in the buildings, septic tanks emptied into the thor- allowing the building to heat up enough to county.” oughfare. Garage owner Frank Tosch called hold classes. On the last day of the legal fishing sea- the 1950 version the worst ever. “The flood No wonder, said the Tribune, that wintry son for northern pike, William Benz lands a began on Monday and during the last three weather might not seem as severe to the “monster” at Nepco lake – 25 ½ pounds and days I have counted 30 or 40 cars stuck in “softies” of that modern era, the mid-cen- 42 ½ inches in length, for which he rates a the middle of the street.” tury “day of oil burners, steam heat, indoor photo in the Tribune. The problem had begun in 1921 when plumbing and comfortable conveyances.” Nepco Lake in 1951 was 25 years old. the county laid an 18-foot strip of concrete “The recollection of a 10-mile trip to Also in January 1951, a pilot traveling through the village, explained C.A. Am- town behind a team of slowly plodding, west from Oconto, Wis., provided an inter- mann, cashier of the Farmers & Merchants frost-coated horses with the temperature esting moment for motorists five miles east bank. The town board was considering set- hovering around 20 below was enough to of Rapids. ting up a sanitary district with public storm convince anyone that there never again can Clearing their two cars by less than 20 and sanitary sewers. be weather that cold. But when the mercu- feet, his Piper Cub glided down and came to Spring of 1950 brought the “Cinder- ry sinks to a point where the school buses a stop in the middle of Highway 54 in front ella story of a $101,000 baseball stadium don’t run and the family gas buggy gives up of the farm home of Joe Stanke, who helped built for $57,000 by all of the people of a the ghost before you get it out of the garage, the pilot push the plane off the road. community that really enjoys the national even the old-timers must agree that maybe The two passengers, on their way from game.” Rapids citizens pooled money, time, King winter hasn’t lost any of his tricks for Oconto to the Mayo clinic in Rochester, labor, materials and talents so fans of the lo- making humanity miserable.” Minn., continued their journey – by train. cal White Sox could sit in comfort in a new According to Emil Mueller, superinten- Peckham Road, Nekoosa: 2,000 seat concrete and steel stadium, ac- dent of Wood county parks, the Powers A minor chimney fire caused no dam- cording to Leo J. Barrette, project chairman Bluff county park was ready for action with age but vehicles that followed the fire truck and 1949 citizen of the year. three ski trails and a power tow rope. Begun caused a traffic jam that blocked Peckham The history was: a wooden grandstand in 1949, the warm-up and recreation build- Road from Section Street to the residence built in 1906 on the West Side had been ing of hand-cut stone offered hot chocolate involved. moved to Witter field, after which profes- and the warmth of two fireplaces. The situation required 20 minutes for Pa- sional baseball was established. But one trolman Raymond Moody to clear the road summer, there were 13 fires in the flam- 16 River City Memoirs Ghost mable facility. This was incompatible, of- in 1932. “If we don’t have a fire within the had been purchased for a pittance. Many ficials said, with the “prestige of Class D next three years the country will be overrun thought it was to be used for commercial baseball.” by rattlers,” Tunis said, “Forest fires was sheep farms. Among the contributors to the new facil- what kept them from multiplying before. Klumb’s uncle, Joseph Cunat, drove a ity were Consolidated Water Power & Paper They’re getting to be a fright.” truck for the Necedah Creamery, picking up Co., $15,000; Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Co., Another poor year by the Packers under milk and cream from farmers. “As a young $15,000; Prentiss Wabers, $2,500; and the new coach Gene Ronzani ends with a loss girl, I would ride in the truck with my uncle, City of Wisconsin Rapids $12,000. Much to the 49ers on a snow-swept field in Green going from farmer to farmer. And I know of the labor was also donated. On holidays Bay. Word was out that one team was likely we visited farms that now would be under and other days off, William Kruger operat- to be cut from the National Football league’s Petenwell Lake,” said Klumb. ed a crane from Wisconsin Valley Concrete roster of 13. Will it be the 3-9 Packers? Uncle Joe became foreman of a “brushing Products Co. Volunteer painters from Con- They aren’t worried, a spokesman said. crew” that cleared the future lake bed of solidated’s Rapids division applied $400 The only reason for “our folding” would trees, farm equipment and farm homes. worth of paint from Frank Gill Paint Co. be finances and the Packers don’t have any There were still silos standing and farm When cash ran low and paychecks needed problems at all. It’s the best financial condi- machinery to be removed when the power to be sent, Consolidated stepped in with an- tion in the club’s 32-year history. “We’ll not company, behind schedule, began filling other $7,000. only pay all expenses out of this year’s gate Petenwell Lake. A 1950 referendum officially established receipts, but we’ll have a little left over.” Lake Van Kuren, a small body of water a zoo in Wisconsin Rapids. Residents had “We’ve been around this league a lot lon- north of the Strongs Prairie cemetery ... actually enjoyed one for two years, located ger than most of the other clubs and we’ll be no longer exists. The Petenwell dike, said on the grounds of the Gaynor Avenue sew- in it next year and a good many more, too,” Klumb, practically sits on what was Strongs age treatment plant. In the spring of 1948, said Packer president Emil Fischer. “And Prairie. employees of the sewage plant provided remember how things were about this time “As a child, my Mom would pack a picnic shelter for a fox, owl and several other ani- last year?” reminds the Daily Tribune. “For lunch and we would spend the day at Lake mals. In 1949, Punky and Spunky, two Java the second time in their history, the Packers Van Kuren. There were small cottages on gray monkeys, were purchased with money faced a major financial crisis. the lake where people would vacation from donated by children – among the estimated “But folks in this smallest town in the Chicago in the summer. Mom and Dad 10,000 visitors who came to see Pretty the league rallied around when a drive for funds talked about a dance hall that was also at peacock, Billy the Kid, Ella the deer, Cora started.” Lake Van Kuren and bands came from all the crow, two porcupines and several ham- An intra-squad game in a Thanksgiving around to play there.” sters. day snowstorm and a “whirlwind cam- The great lake Petenwell: With a $6,000 appropriation, the sewage paign” to sell stock in the non-profit corpo- Beneath it, the farms, barns, baubles, commission planned to relocate the zoo in ration which operated the club came up with homes, ponds, plows, effigies, graves, an adjacent wooded area, according to Les- $100,000. antiquities, villages and verities of mid- ter O’Dell, plant superintendent. .... century. And 50-year-old acorns, poised to Outside the bars, a surprising number of Adding a personal insight to the history of sprout on the day the waters are released to wild things slithered. The Town of Finley Petenwell Lake: Beth Klumb, 920 Two Mile the sea. previously offered a 25-cent bounty on rat- Ave., retired secretary to our Superintendent tlesnakes but over 400 were killed one year and Board of Education and daughter of the 02-10-01 and the bounty was dropped. In autumn Necedah postal clerk and postmaster. 1950, along the Yellow River, Ohio natives That the lake was “developed” in 1949, Tunis and Dewey Brandt waged war. The she writes, was misleading. Consolidated owners of 700 acres along the Yellow River began purchasing property as early as said their father died of a rattlesnake bite 1938. Local lore told that much of the land

17 Ghost River City Memoirs

March Madness 1951 from the league was accepted. Completing the 1950-51 roster were Bob A prospective Valley replacement for Olson, Jack Turner, Jack Crook, Wayne ob Mader. Jack Torresani. Mike Nekoosa was Eau Claire, defeated in mid- Oestreich, Jim Grosklaus and Rodney An- Daly. February by “as courageous a recovery as a derson. Jim Reimer. Dean Showers. John Lincoln High school team has ever staged. At Lincoln fieldhouse, Rapids met Point B Boola Gill … was as brilliant a basketball again in the finals of the regional tourna- Mader. Harold Brewster. player as one will ever see. It was unbeliev- ment. The Raiders surged to victory through Boola Gill. able that any high school player can build the “three-way scoring punch” of Ritchay, Charley Gurtler. himself to the tremendous peak of efficien- Gurtler and Gill in “one of those games All-stars in the best years of Lincoln high cy of which Gill was capable … Gurtler was which had the capacity crowd at Lincoln school basketball. just simply dangerous all the way through.” fieldhouse screaming from beginning to As the 1950-51 season moved into De- The second Rapids-Point meeting was end.” cember, Tribune sports editor Ed Hanson billed as the state, “game of the year.” In 1951, big and small schools competed praised a favorite guard. “With as magnif- “In past years this game has carried a great in the same WIAA tournament. They joined icent a display of basketball as the Valley deal of interest, both locally and throughout at the sectional level, from which winners conference has ever seen, Boola Gill led the the state, but never has the interest been so advanced to the University of Wisconsin Rapids Red Raiders … over Tomahawk.” intense all over Wisconsin.” The Panthers fieldhouse, March 15-17. For the sixth time in seven years the Red (15-2) and Red Raiders (15-2) vied for the At Stevens Point, big school Rapids Raiders swept the holiday tournament with Valley title and the top WIAA ranking. bombed Bonduel, bringing about a repeat Waukesha and Shorewood, concluding a The February 24 Tribune front page docu- of the 1949 sectional finals in whichRapids 9-1 first half of the season. “One cannot mented an ecstatic Rapids victory with fea- again outscored Rhinelander to move on to look at the conference record, which shows ture photos by Tribune photographer Don Madison. Wisconsin Rapids has averaged almost 75 Krohn. Prior to 1951, Rapids’ only “state cham- points per game … without realizing that Superb team play against Dick Cable’s pionship” derived from Lawrence College’s the Raiders were a potent aggregation,” “magnificent one-man effort” earned Rap- 1918 tournament at Appleton – a precursor wrote Hanson. ids the conference title, 76-59, “before a of the WIAA games begun in 1920. In late January, Rapids lost a lead and fell capacity crowd of 4,200 partisan customers The Madison tournament crown had elud- in overtime because of “a driving shooting who howled their approval from start to fin- ed Rapids, though they made the drive over demon when the chips were down in the ish.” the treacherous Baraboo hill 16 times and person of Dick Cable.” For Rapids, it was the third Valley cham- reached second three times. Hanson: “Here was a game that will be pionship in four years. In 1951, the Red Raiders rode into the fi- replayed for many a moon throughout the Doug “Boola” Gill was one of three unani- nals, carried by Gurtler’s 27 points against entire Wisconsin Valley conference. It re- mous choices for the conference sports writ- Menomonie. The finals opponent of first- ceived the greatest newspaper coverage of ers all-star team, along with Cable and John ranked Rapids: number two Madison West, any game ever played in the Valley.” Kardach of Point. Charley Gurtler garnered the 1945 champion. Having already lost the first contest 78-38, all but one vote. The second team included Before a capacity crowd of 13,800, the Supt. Arnold Wicklund of Nekoosa applied Raider guard Jimmy Ritchay. victory was achieved with style. for mercy by the second Rapids/Nekoosa The Coaches All-conference team also “Here was a team of Red Raiders that match. “We realize we were overmatched named Cable, Kardach, Gurtler and Gill caught the fancy of the fans from the first … and have little chance of ever winning with Ritchay on the second team and for- moment they stepped out onto the floor … a a title.” wards Don Brewster and Jerry Raasch, hon- popular crowd favorite although rated from The current Nekoosa team had failed to orable mention, thus including the entire the start one of the favorites for the title … win in ten Valley starts. Their withdrawal starting Red Raiders team. The zip, the fire, the undaunted will to win displayed by the Raiders will always be re- 18 River City Memoirs Ghost membered by those who witness this tour- But this team had heart, stamina and high school had not yet been built. Many of nament.” the poise of a champion. And it was a team the best LHS athletes attended the Catholic The high-scoring River City team had a with some of the greatest sports fans “in the grade school, “SS” Peter and Paul. hand in setting seven scoring records. Two world,” according to Hanson. “Basketball, Finally, Milwaukee City and Fox River players made the Associated Press all-tour- football, baseball or anything else, the conferences had not yet entered the WIAA nament team: Gill and Gurtler. Rapids fan was a true follower.” state tournament. “After being down here 17 times, it sure “No city will ever be more proud of its In a recent interview, Charley Gurtler, a feels good to be able to take home the tro- champions. No champions were ever more junior on the 1951 team, said that the teams phy,” said Manders. proud of the city from which they came.” that had gone before were no less distin- “Basketball crazy” Rapids turned out “It’s not the best team I ever had,” agrees guished, such as the team of his freshman 3,000 on Sunday afternoon for the home- Manders. “But it had more guts” year, undefeated during the regular season. coming. At Smoky Joe’s Corner (Highway Accompanied by a former Raider, Mike “You always looked to the older people that 13 South and 73), fire trucks, police cars Daly, then playing for the University of were playing and wanted to be like them.” and automobiles waited to escort the team Wisconsin, was Badger coach Bud Foster, Mader, Torresani, Daly, Reimer, Show- to the Armory. visiting Rapids in March, who said, “Your ers. For Don Brewster, one of the “legends” Accompanied by cheerleaders and the pride in these boys knows no bounds, and was his older brother, Harold, another Red rousing rhythms of Roger Hornig’s LHS especially were you proud that they con- Raider all star. band, game captain Don Brewster car- ducted themselves as champions in all re- You and I, little girls and boys then, were ried the big trophy and led his teammates spects at the state tournament. You feel they reminded that our heroes were just bigger through cheering crowds. were representing all of you and when they girls and boys – and so they appear in the The program included chamber of com- have a good year you were very proud.” old photos, wearing black athletic shoes and merce reps Bruce Beichl and Bernie Why were the teams of the late 1940s and flat-top haircuts. Once in a while, they got Ziegler, mayor C. C. Knudsen, superinten- early 1950s so good? Writing then, sports in trouble as girls and boys will. dent of schools Floyd Smith, LHS principal editor Ed Hanson had some ideas. When the team was feted at a Witter Ho- Aaron Ritchay, sports editor Ed Hanson and •Excellence of Lincoln fieldhouse East( tel luncheon, police chief Rudy Exner pre- coaches J. A. Torresani (who had made all Junior High). sented a long package, wrapped with a bow. 17 trips to the state classic), Dale Rheel and •Excellence in coaches: for the frosh, It seemed that, as a youngster, Gurtler had Phil Manders: “I’m so happy I don’t know J.A. Torresani; for the B team, Dale Rheel; imperiled a local neighborhood by plinking what to say.” for the varsity, Phil Manders. at unapproved targets. “Exner gave me back The team and its manager Tom Tate were •Excellent players for role models. “What my BB gun,” said Gurtler. saluted on radio station WFHR Sunday eve- boy in Rapids back some five or six years See River City Memoirs Volume II for ning and presented at the Heart of Wiscon- ago didn’t want to be what Bobby Mader more about the state championship of 1951, sin Sport Show at Lincoln fieldhouse. was?” including interviews with players and coach “One of the truly great championship Team members explained further: “prac- Phil Manders. teams,” said Hanson. tice” – at Saturday morning grade school Never, he said, have the players been leagues; in players’ yards at all seasons; at 03-10-01 anything but gentlemen. Never have they the “East Side” Lutheran and SS Peter & brought anything but honor. Paul gym; at the Biron community hall; on They hated to lose but lost graciously– the canvas in the fieldhouse before school; only twice all year. They won just as gra- after early release from school. ciously. There was nothing but cooperation from Yet arguably not the most glamorous LHS principal Ritchay, a former record-set- season in history? There was the 1949 team: ting high school player and proud father of 24 straight games without a defeat. James. It also was helpful that Assumption

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Krohnographs Krohn worked in the Tribune mail room the Speed Graphic. “In the early after school and during summer vacation. days, we took photographs with large ho can be calling at this hour His introduction to professional photog- flashbulbs,” Krohn said. “Eventually, of the night? raphy came in the darkroom, “souping” we got the first strobe unit. It had a very W It’s a doctor. film and printing photographs. large wet battery, almost the size of an It’s a police officer. The last step, in the era of letterpress auto battery. You’d carry that around printing, was engraving a photographic your shoulder. It was very good for A coroner. image with nitric acid on a zinc plate— taking sports photos, but it was quite a It’s a bad accident out by Smoky Joe’s “kind of a smelly operation,” said package to carry around.” corner. Krohn. You could do a lot of things with a It’s a major fire in town: Schnabel’s, After on-the-job training as a part- press camera you couldn’t with the Rapids Furniture, Gill paint factory, time weekend photographer, Krohn was smaller cameras. If you got tired, you Rapids Beverage. asked by owner and publisher Bill Huff- could always sit and rest on the Speed A murder in Grand Rapids. man, Sr., if he wanted to come in as full Graphic. If something happens at night, it’s time Tribune Staff Photographer. “He Reporters filled in with photos to probably bad. If it happens in the day, offered me the job at a little less than illustrate their stories, notably Jane it’s probably good. $25 a week.” Jackson, who became society editor. It’s a parade on Grand Avenue. Photographic experience in high Bill Huffman, Jr., the publisher’s son, It’s a dedication at a church. school and instruction from departing contributed an occasional shot. Also A celebration at the fieldhouse. photographer Joe Landowski was all helping out was freelancer Lawrence All part of the game in the days of hot Krohn needed to begin. Oliver of Vesper. lead and linotype. Back in the days of He didn’t have a lot of contact with The chief editor at the Tribune in hard work and not a lot of glory to it. the elder Huffman, whose offices were 1951 was Carl Otto. General photo as- When his labor is made public, the above Montgomery Ward at his Wiscon- signments, such as the ubiquitous “grip credit is an anonymous “staff photo.” sin Network and WFHR radio station. and grin,” came through the managing But, once in a while, initiative and talent The newspaper occupied a small build- editor, for some years Bill Beckmann. are recognized. ing south of Ward’s, facing the river. The “spot news” photo calls were Like May 10, 1951, when Tribune “The photo department was in sort of those that sometimes came at home, Staff Photographer Don Krohn receives a lean-to added to the back end of the and then, it seemed, usually in the mid- a “Fire Foto of the Year” award for building. It used to get fairly cold back dle of the night. “Moving In,” a dramatic shot of three there when you’d get a really hard cold Among the reporters was a good one, firefighters silhouetted against a wall of snap and the chemicals would almost said Krohn, by the name of Marty Seg- flame. freeze. We’d have to warm them up to rist, “who coached me with my early At his Port Edwards house in the win- 68 degrees. Eventually, they did add a writing.” ter of 2001, Krohn talked about his part large heater and piped in steam from the Also at the Tribune, writer and edi- in documenting the history of “River furnace,” Krohn said. tor Oliver Williams. Longtime Tribune City.” Early Tribune photographs were stalwart Lorena Paap had been society During his senior year at Wisconsin printed from 4 by 5-inch negatives editor and continued in that depart- Rapids Lincoln high school, 1946-47, shot on the standard “press camera,” ment. 20 River City Memoirs Ghost

Krohn received some of his assign- After the game, Krohn traveled back In 1953, Krohn, son of a Consolidated ments from sports editors, whose duties to Wisconsin Rapids in a heavy snow- worker, moved to Nekoosa-Edwards included providing play by play com- storm. The next day, he was out taking Paper Company as assistant editor/pho- mentary for radio station WFHR. Sports photographs at the homes of the play- tographer of the company’s magazine, editor Don Unferth left for a position ers. NEPCO NEWS. He became public rela- with the Chicago White Sox and was re- Krohn said former CPI public affairs tions manager in 1971. placed by Ed Hanson who reported the director Dan Meyer recently reminisced In the early 1980s, Krohn was a friend 1951 state basketball championship. about one of Meyer’s first days on the of the Wakely house, owned by his em- Rounding out the staff photographer’s job. Up to that time, press access to ployer, the successor of Nekoosa-Ed- duties were assignments from the adver- Consolidated’s unique paper coating wards. It was Krohn who loaned me a tising department. systems had been tightly controlled. It key so I could spend a night communing The photographer was in close touch was an event of significance when he with the ghosts of historic Point Basse. with the Wood County sheriff’s depart- escorted Krohn inside a local mill to Krohn retired in 1990 but continues ment and the Wisconsin Rapids police photograph a new piece of equipment. to be active in forestry issues and com- department. “They would call us when “Well, we finally made it inside of the munity organizations, especially the there was spot news,” Krohn said. “The Bastille!” Krohn told Meyer. Alexander House, Port Edwards. But sheriff’s department always wanted In a 1990 Tribune feature, reporter for some, his status will be defined by a copies of our photographs. They did not Jamie Marks observed that Krohn was a time long ago, when he was still living have their own cameras when I started charter member of the Wisconsin Press with his parents on 13th Avenue; when working at the newspaper.” Photographers Association and had he attended every public function and With no competition from television, been ahead of his time in beginning a knew everyone in town. Krohn said, “I was usually the only one standard of at least one local photo per When he could be readily identified at the scene.” day on the front page. “It was the old by his prominent position and the tools He was not lonely that weekend in school,” Krohn told Marks. “There were of his trade. 1951, when Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln some real characters…” When they knew him as Don Krohn, won the state basketball tournament. At Emphasis was on the “real,” Marks Tribune photographer. the Madison sessions, the photographers wrote, as Krohn remembered the took their places on the edge of the occasional newsroom sojourn to the floor, next to the out-of-bounds marker. nearby Uptown Bar at the end of a busy 04-14-01 “You’d always have the big guys there, day. the Madison newspapers, the Milwau- What happens to old Tribune photog- kee papers,” said Krohn. “Sitting right raphers? under the home team basket.” Do they, like old soldiers, fade away? “We didn’t have telephoto lenses. We For starters, they are not old. And they had the standard lens. The photogra- are well-soaked with photo fixer chemi- phers would be in groups right under the cals, so they do not fade, although they basket shooting flash right into the play- often switch from one side of the cam- ers’ eyes.” era to the other.

21 Ghost River City Memoirs

1951 Spring He had taken his daughter and two sons paying taxes. “We tell every man to pay into his law firm. his share of taxes on the dividends he receives,” he said. ey, buster! Better slow down. The younger Crowns were: Wood county’s first known woman lawyer, “All of the money we have saved The warning comes from Betty Ann, 24, a recent law school grad- through our co-ops has made our lives none other than Chief of Po- H uate; Byron, 27, about to be admitted to better and has built up our rural commu- lice R.J. Exner—to pedestrians braving the bar. He had lived three-and-a-half nities. We don’t believe in foreign ‘isms’ the busy intersection of Third and West years as a meteorologist in the Arctic and the fact that we belong to coopera- Grand avenues, the core of the West and Sub-Arctic region; Arthur Jr., 29, tives proves this.” Side, anchored by the Mead-Witter who had served three years during World Considered among the top “music block, Johnson Hills, the First National War II with the 15th air force in Italy. men” in the U.S., the conductor of the Bank and Church’s drug store. Indeed, Cincinnati Symphony orchestra arrived he said, motorists had told Exner that The action was beginning to heat up at the University of Wisconsin campus persons dash heedlessly into the street south of the border in the sandy plains of for a music clinic. He was a former without so much as waiting for the the township that retains the river city’s resident of Wisconsin Rapids and “walk” sign. former name. No surprise that a record number of votes was recorded in the acquainted with many residents here. “We had a no-fatality year in Wis- town of Grand Rapids. Edward P. Kurtz, a Two Rivers na- consin Rapids during 1950,” Exner tive and assistant manager of the Hotel said. “And we would like to carry this Elected: Ben Hanneman, chairman; Northland in Green Bay was appointed good record through this year too.” Gerhardt Oberbeck, clerk; Lloyd Mar- geson, justice of the peace; and Ray- manager of the new Hotel Mead, under Something you couldn’t prepare mond B. Kedrowski, constable. construction since the previous Septem- for: That conservationist guy down by ber. Kurtz, a veteran of World War II, Traveling by patrol car down Sec- Plainfield? 33, was married and had one son, later ond Avenue South to cover an accident He told the Heart of Wisconsin Con- known as “Jack,” also a manager at the in Port Edwards: David Sharkey, 36, Mead. a Wood county traffic officer, Deputy servation league that prairie chickens and sharptail grouse were disappearing Arthur Reinholt, 26, of Pittsville, Sheriff Lloyd Knuteson, 48, and Harry was appointed new Wood county traf- Precious, 43, county welfare director. from many states in the middle west, in- cluding Wisconsin. “We have to find out fic officer. He was a veteran of the army It’s a Saturday evening and a Nek- where we can economically have chick- engineer corps in the Asiatic theater of oosa guy driving toward Rapids with ens and sharptails,” said Hamerstrom. World War II. his date in the passenger seat passed John Potter, district attorney, a re- several automobiles on a curve by Lyon The secretary of the Wood County Farm Supply Cooperative, Vesper, told servist veteran of World War II, was or- park and rams head-on into the patrol dered to report for active duty with the car. The woman, an English teacher at a local Rotary club about the start of “farm cooperation” in Wood county. U.S. marine corps because of the Ko- Alexander high school, Nekoosa, was rean conflict. severely injured. It began in 1907, said Max Leo- Cpl. Edgar W. Heiser, 19, was award- Most likely, you have heard of A.J. pold, when a group of farmers sent John Rolsma of Arpin to Nebraska to obtain ed the Bronze Star medal for meritorious Crowns, 39 years an attorney and, in achievement on the Korean front. 1951, Wood County divorce counsel. 14 carloads of hay. Leopold denied that co-ops encouraged members to avoid

22 River City Memoirs Ghost

Recuperating in Miami, Fla., from He was part owner of the Vesper State Daniel J. Arpin, 88, member of the a stroke, George W. Mead, the builder bank and in 1913 organized the Nekoo- prominent lumbering family had been of the Consolidated paper company re- sa State bank. born in the small backwoods community ceived numerous 80th birthday greet- •John Stark, 84, Third Street S., of Grand Rapids in 1862. The previous ings from Wisconsin Rapids. He said he had arrived in 1911 to operate the Ideal Christmas, he had been featured in the enjoyed a birthday cake that had been theater just east of the Wood County Daily Tribune. sent down by a Consolidated employee. National bank. In 1914, he built what Miss Nettalie Boucher. At the time Joining him had been his son, Stanton, would become the Rapids theater, later of her death at 82, she had come to town daughter, Emily Baldwin, and Emily’s Rogers Cinema. as first principal of Howe grade school, son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Voss, born in 1865, had lived where she taught for six years. Return- Hartley Barker. 64 years in the Tri-Cities area. ing to be first principal at then newLow- Mead said he was able to walk with Voss had come to Rapids as manag- ell school, she retired in 1926 after two an attendant, a new idea for treating pa- er of the old John Daly Drug store, later years. ralysis. “As for me, I am going to get opening his own drug store, the H.H. Grace Balderston Daly, 81, first li- the most out of life in the years I may Voss and Wood County Drug company brarian of T.B. Scott public library had still have, with the strength of body and in the Wood block at the east end of the coined the slogan, “Grand Rapids, the determination that I may apply to the bridge. He had owned a hardware, furni- Heart of Wisconsin.” Her husband, the task.” ture and funeral service store in Nekoo- late John E. Daly, had founded Daly A special program in honor of Mead sa, which he sold to Vernon W. Feldner. Drug & Jewelry and operated the Daly was presented over the Wisconsin Rap- As a boy, Voss had lived near the Opera House until it burned in 1922. ids division mill broadcasting system. Ringling brothers in Sauk county. At the The county was named for Mrs. Da- Obits: first performance of the circus in Bara- ly’s maternal grandfather, Joseph Wood, Walter F. Herschleb, proprietor of boo, Voss recalled, “the show included who settled here in 1846. the Herschleb Ice Cream company, 69, trained dog and horse acts and an exhi- Pfc. Donald R. Young, 22, killed in was a former member of the city council. bition of snakes captured in the Baraboo action. A reservist, he had been with the He had entered the ice cream business in hills which were charmed reluctantly infantry in Korea since November. 1939, first at 240 East Grand Ave., then by Al Ringling’s wife.” Voss said the Lt. Howard J. Landry, believed 230 East Grand Ave. brothers set up a small tent to house the killed in action over Korea after his Herschleb built the ice cream plant spectators. Seats were rough planks laid F-80 plane collided head-on with an en- at 640 16th St. N. in 1945. across borrowed folding chairs. emy MIG jet, he had flown 111 missions Guy O. Babcock, retired president The first circus parade was devised and was looking forward to a furlough of the Wood County National bank died to create interest in the show. Rented home. at his Third Street residence. Among feed wagons, trimmed with crepe paper, As previously reported here, Lan- other “interests,” Babcock was a di- paraded through town behind a local dry’s words had been quoted around the rector of the Nekoosa-Edwards Paper band. world in an Associated Press story by company, Prentiss Wabers Products Co., Married in 1893 to Mame Perry of Hal Boyle: “They really clobbered that Dairyman’s State bank of Arpin and the Tomah, Voss also helped raise his wife’s hill!” Farmers & Merchants bank of Rudolph. sister’s daughter, Marion, later Mrs. M.R. Fey. 05-12-01

23 Ghost River City Memoirs

Reuben and a hard-working, presumably Swedish, to cut my hair. I was pulled into jail many father, Carl Lindstrom, who simply starts times, but I’ve had my hair cut only six bunking with a logging crew until the boss times. Some cop told me that I had broken an it be the Lord Jesus himself, come notices him and puts him on the payroll. a record in the ’30s – 400 times in jail. If to the Eight Corners grocery? Reuben attended Spring Lake school in I didn’t get locked up every day, I thought Sunlight radiates from behind the C the town of Sigel and specialized in play- something was wrong.” head of long hair that almost fills the door- ing hooky. In 1916, he and a neighbor saved Obit., 1938: Reuben’s father, Carl Lind- way. their wood-cutting money to attend an strom. “Who is it?” Omaha automobile college. Reuben stayed In 1940, according to Reuben, he was Her mother, the owner, wants to know a couple weeks. issued a patent for a power-producing but the little girl is so frightened she can’t When older brother Carl died in World windmill which proved to be correct. He speak. War I, Reuben departed for Alaska and Brit- also tried to patent wind toys but believed It’s 1935. ish Columbia, where, he said, he worked as his Minneapolis attorneys only took his Can it be a shock of hay? a longshoreman, sawmill hand and trapper. money. A 1941 Milwaukee Journal said, of Not when it moves and stands up and be- “There was a lot of dying up there,” his inventions, “Lindstrom claims this type comes a tall, skinny guy, with long hair, like Reuben says. “It didn’t mean much to any- of wind powered wheel motivation comes Christ on the cross. body.” the closest to achieving perpetual motion.” “What do you want?” When dogs killed and partially devoured According to the Journal, Reuben feared the He shows the boys a tin-can model train a baby, Reuben marveled when the father day a cop would tell him to get a license, that the wind makes go by itself. said he doesn’t care; he had plenty of kids. “for his weird contraption of bicycle wheel, It’s 1945. “If trappers died in their cabins, we would one cylinder gas motor, pulley, levers, A religious fanatic? lay them in their beds, lock the door, and scooter and miscellany.” Said the Journal, The venerable Grand Avenue drifter put a sign above the door saying, ‘Let him “Lindstrom putt-putts down the highway at preaches a line of social commentary a mile rest.’” a claimed 30 miles an hour, certain that if long—for my benefit. Reuben returned to the U.S. about 1929. anything goes wrong it can be fixed with a He’s got the famous bicycle with a third On a canoe trip down the Mississippi, a bout pin, a screwdriver and a pair of pliers.” wheel for riding the railroad tracks. Snake- with malaria put him in the hospital. That’s On July 30, 1945, a patient in a dentist like hair drapes over his face and down his when he concluded that long hair was an an- chair looked out on West Grand Avenue and back but he’s too old to be Jesus. tidote for heart attacks. saw Reuben steer his motorized bicycle in It’s 1966. In 1930, Reuben stayed with his sister, front of a car making a right turn onto the Reuben? Lida Lampman, in Nekoosa. Neighbors Grand Avenue bridge. The next day, the The long-haired ancient in overalls wraps figured he was an Indian. On top of hair Tribune reported that the “former Alaskan fingerless gloves around a cup of coffee at braided and tied with red ribbons, he wore a gold prospector” who lived on a farm with the counter of a drug store soda fountain on western-style, narrow-brimmed “Cady” hat. his mother north of Wisconsin Rapids, had State Street, Madison. He liked to sit on a wood-chopping block, been seriously injured. “Are you from Rapids?” asks the college smoking, talking about elk and the Northern The same year, Reuben found himself “a girl. Lights. guest” at the Wausau police station after rid- It’s the 1970s and yes, he is and it’s him, “Hoover was President, and everybody ing a freight train from Rapids, once again “Old Reuben,” no doubt society’s most so- was bumming,” Reuben reminisced to a re- receiving media attention. “Lindstrom, who ciable sociophobe, the so-called “hermit” of porter regarding the early 1930s. “The jun- wears his hair almost down to his waist, giv- River City. gles were full of them, and I had to watch ing him the appearance of a fugitive from a Reuben Lindstrom, born Nov. 7, 1896, in out for people stealing things. Had to watch wild west show…said when he was hospi- the town of Sigel to a Finnish-born mother, out for the sheriffs too, because they wanted talized the attendants cut his hair against his Anna, who never learns to speak English 24 River City Memoirs Ghost wishes.” the sky, remarking, ‘I don’t think it’s gonna with the woman was not disclosed. Explaining his presence in Wausau: “I got rain today.’” When Reuben departed for Reuben, in his mid-80s, was taken several lonesome, so I decided to take a trip. Guess other opportunities, he left behind empty cat times to Madison’s Methodist Hospital. In I’ll go out west and see a sister I haven’t food cans by the hundreds. 1984, a Madison social worker contacted a seen for 30 years. George Smullen’s 1968 Daily Tribune ar- former employer, the Good Samaritan nurs- “Fashion is the main religion of this ticle profiled a 72-year-old eccentric, who ing home in Lodi, Wis., and found a place world,” he opined. “If you are different, they said, “long hair isn’t enough – you mustn’t for Reuben. think you are nuts. Most people stay away comb it either. Many people know that, At Good Samaritan, he was bathed. His from me because they think I’m a religious but they still comb their hair because it’s a hair, which seemed to be alive, was washed fanatic. The girls also stay away from me.” fad.” with alcohol. His room, shared with three He said that in the summer he washes his “Nobody would give me a job after that other men, overlooked a corn field. He spent hair every day. “I soak it in the river.” [long, uncombed hair], not even the carni- a lot of time lying on the bed, looking out In 1949, a national news service circulat- vals. Look at the hippies. They’ve got long the window. ed “Samson Shorn,” a photo of Reuben with hair and they can’t get jobs either.” Reuben Attendants noted that Reuben seemed to his “Medusa” hair, taken in Buffalo, New said he would remain a hobo at heart and have a twinkle in his eye. He was viewed York, shortly after he is removed from a hoped society would permit him to live out as a gentle, free spirit, a street person. He freight train by railway police. He returned his life as he pleased. He wished to die in talked about riding his bike along railroad to Wisconsin Rapids with his hair trimmed the open, not in a hospital or convalescent tracks to Devil’s Lake but was not remem- and his face clean-shaven. home. bered as mentioning his relationship with Obit., 1949. Reuben’s mother, Anna Lind- Some Rapids residents knew Reuben lived Wisconsin Rapids. strom, 2011 Saratoga St., 90 years of age. a parallel life through the years, in Baraboo, Other than bib overalls, moccasins, and Four children survive: Mrs. Agda Garrels, Wis., visiting his sister, Agda Garrels, and other clothing, Reuben had one possession, Baraboo; Mrs. Carl Benson, Crows Land- riding his bicycle around that town. “My according to Good Samaritan social work- ing, Cal., Miss Agnes Lindstrom, at home, mother had a little influence on him,” says er Jackie Czehno: a picture postcard of a and Reuben Lindstrom, Sigel. Two children Agda’s son, Reuben Garrels, Baraboo, who “snake woman” act. His one visitor during have died previously. took “Uncle” to a barber. “He looked 25 his four-year stay was the woman from the In the late 1950s, as he surpassed the age years younger. The only time I knew of that postcard. of 60, Reuben settled down to $83 month- he cut his hair.” Five times, while at the nursing home, he ly from county social services. Routinely, Around 1969, “Uncle” left Rapids perma- was hospitalized. A month after breaking he rode his sometimes-motorized three- nently to live with Reuben Garrels, near Cir- his hip, Reuben tried to get out of bed wheeled bicycle on the railroad tracks from cus World museum. After five or six years, unassisted and was found dead on the floor. Sigel to Rapids. A Paul Gross film shows Lindstrom moved on to Madison. It was Jan. 2, 1988. him passing the Bender law office on the “Last time I saw him,” said Garrels, “he Reuben’s nephew, his existence not known East Side. was out here with a young couple to visit. to the staff, was not informed and Reuben Sometimes Reuben stopped at the Chat- He became a hero of the hippies. He liked was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Lodi, terbox restaurant on West Grand Avenue for sociability; but when it came to his personal with no friends or family in attendance. a cup of coffee and a nickel cigar, which he life, leave him alone.” In Madison, Reuben The staff at Good Samaritan had followed often saved for later. lived in housing provided by social servic- instructions not to cut Reuben’s hair. When Ed Vruwink rented a house to Reuben es. He spent a lot of time hanging around he died, it was the same glorious mop it had northwest of Wisconsin Rapids. “He’d be the square. been when he first darkened the door. out cooking, sitting on an old stool, the fire Reuben carried a picture of a woman with going, cats gathered around.” Invariably, a large snake wrapped around her neck but 06-08-01 Reuben scratched his head and looked up at his memory was fading and the relationship

25 Ghost River City Memoirs

NEPCO all their shopping there and almost never years ago, and also marks the beginning of had to drive to Rapids, except for the Cran- still greater progress and expansion.” ebel-sur-Quevillon. boree. The most important additions were a large Espanola. If Nekoosa was meant to be the home of warehouse at Port Edwards and a new paper Blendecques. labor, “Port” was the spa for management. machine at Nekoosa. Alexander listed other L Vice presidents enjoyed a short walk along improvements: new laboratories, machines, Mississauga. Scarborough. the scenic Wisconsin to the home offices trimmers, filtration plants, pulpwood chip- Ashdown. of a major paper company, their paper pers and pulp beaters. Nekoosa. company. In the interest of water pollution abate- Port Edwards. Port Edwards no longer hosts that fine ment, NEPCO experimented with burning A few of the little cogs that will circle office with art and history exhibits. Nor a spent sulfite liquor or spreading it on the the big wheel—Canada’s largest producer statue of the paper company’s owner in the area’s sandy roads. In the interest of for- of specialty and fine papers and soon-to-be paper company park. est management and reforestation, 300,000 third-largest maker of uncoated “free-sheet” The first owner to live here was John Ed- free seedlings went to farmers and landown- paper in the world— wards Jr. Next came his son-in-law, L.M. ers “all within easy trucking distance of the DOMTAR. Alexander and then L.M.’s son, John E. Al- mills for economy and convenience when But, for us in River City, long before exander. the trees reach harvesting size and are ready DOMTAR, Georgia-Pacific orGreat North- No longer do the Edwards keep a man- to be converted into pulpwood.” ern, there was our own Big Kahuna, our sion across the street from the mill. Nor do Advertising and merchandising of Nek- own two-mill, two-town paper combine— the executives stroll to and from handsome oosa “Pre-Tested” business papers and spe- NEPCO homes. No longer do we ponder whether cialty wrapping papers “carried the message Under that name, the firm was already Port is the wealthiest village in the world, to a continually expanding market.” The one merger along. In 1908, Nekoosa Paper “per capita.” No longer is it called White most popular products were watermarked Co. of Nekoosa had joined John Edwards City with so many company houses gleam- “Nekoosa” and “John Edwards.” Manufacturing Co. of Port Edwards to form ing with the pigment said to be provided Alexander also noted progress in wages, Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Company. wholesale by president L.M. Alexander. No salaries and social benefits with a comple- At my Two Mile Avenue boyhood resi- longer is it a Methodist-dry village, as the mentary advance in new schools, churches, dence, in what was then the town of Grand elder Alexander preferred. homes and stores in the two communities Rapids, there were certain days when a To check that, I called the village conve- where the mills were located. breeze wafted in from the southwest, when nience store today. Strikes, material shortages and bad weath- you sniffed, winced and whispered the bad “Do you sell beer?” er caused delays but in February 1951, the word, “Nekoosa.” “Yeah.” first classes were held in the “ultra modern” The N-word translates as “noxious “Are you the only place in Port Edwards Nekoosa school, designed by, who else? fumes.” It smelled about the same as that does?” Donn Hougen. “Mosinee.” The chemical-pulp odor guar- “I’m pretty sure we are.” Also in Nekoosa, a recreation area to be anteed that Nekoosa would remain a work- The Depression and World War II gen- called Riverside Park had been provided by ing man’s mill town, not a Lake Camelot. erally stymied growth but, local industries NEPCO. Not far away, a swimming pool, Occasionally, my family and I braved caught up as then NEPCO president John E. built with the company’s financial assis- the N-smell. I remember enjoying a fea- Alexander introduced a $4 million building tance. ture movie at the Rialto Theatre, downtown project: “The year 1950 marked the end of a As in Nekoosa, NEPCO directly and in- Nekoosa. It was a real downtown then, an decade which saw Nekoosa-Edwards Paper directly assisted development of the village old-fashioned lineup of businesses on both company make more progress than in any of Port Edwards with new homes, improve- sides of Market Street. Some residents did single decade since its founding over 60 ments in streets and highways, extensions

26 River City Memoirs Ghost to water and sewer mains, a water soften- dreamed of a supermarket, which he did not Throughout the summers of the Fifties, ing and filtration plant and more extensive have the finances to build. “John Alexander NEPCO and I crossed paths almost daily. lighting. NEPCO donated the Edwards-Al- came along and had a meeting with all the Or, more accurately, I crossed their paths. exander Memorial Park, with tennis courts business people in Port Edwards, and said As a juvenile Davy Crockett, I only had and swimming pool, on land that had been that Nekoosa-Edwards paper company was to trek half a block to set foot on NEPCO the L.M. Alexander estate. going to build a shopping center; would property. The company owned thousands On the site of the former village hall, a they move in as tenants? Dad grabbed the of acres surrounding Tri-City airport, then modern, eight-family NEPCO apartment opportunity.” a glass-strewn hangar apron and abandoned building was erected. The old hall was Inspired by “a little model shopping cen- POW camp. Nearby was the opening in moved to 8th Street South, Wisconsin Rap- ter” in the Milwaukee area, Alexander took the woods we called Swamp Valley—the ids, said Port historian J. Marshall Buehler, the Port business people down to Milwau- winding, one Mile Creek near its junction where it became Johnny’s Rapids Inn. kee on an overnight adventure. “Wined ’em, with the Two Mile. Some of the forest land The post office, formerly in the NEPCO dined ’em, put ’em up in a motel,” said Bue- was posted against trespassing or against main office building, was moved to a cen- hler. the discharge of firearms so we felt like we tral location, with larger quarters to handle The White City Store became Buehler’s were skulking and plinking like Robin in the ever-expanding daily mail. Also in the “Superette” and the old downtown became Nottingham. village: two filling stations, a lumber yard the two-block long Shopping Center, dedi- Though the young nimrods imagined be- and a combination restaurant and bowling cated in March 1949, “Latest step in the ing nabbed by Alexander’s NEPCO thugs, alley—the Paper Inn. development of the village of Port Edwards the absentee landowners and their lieuten- All village churches had new buildings: as one of the nation’s model communities,” ants were almost never seen. St. Alexander Catholic; Community Meth- according to a special Tribune feature. The jewel in the crown of NEPCO, from odist Church; and Trinity Lutheran. Conceived of by Alexander for a program my point of view, was their lake, about two John Edwards grade and high school had of civic improvement and planned during miles south of my house, readily reachable been a source of community pride since the war years, it was to be operated on a by bicycle. On the north shore—the private 1933. non-profit, self-sustaining basis. Like the NEPCO park that my friends and I so often Its colonial features were kept in tip-top school, the mall-like stone building was found our way into. shape and its modern decoration “recog- considered one of the finest structures of Just south of the airport and Swamp Val- nized as one of the finest of its size in any its kind “in any community of comparable ley stood a cathedral of pines. When NEP- comparable community in this section of size.” It housed Nekoosa-Port Edwards CO abruptly left it a ragged hillside of raw the country providing an equally up-to-date State Bank, George Sisco barber shop, Port stumps, I felt the first surges of resentment educational system.” Edwards Beauty Shop, Sandman drug store, against self-centered, all-powerful private “Where’s the town?” Fuhs restaurant coffee shop, an appliance enterprise. But in balance, NEPCO’s own- That was the mystery of Port Edwards. store and a hardware store. ership was a happy circumstance. Because It could be solved by traveling a couple Municipal space included a village board of its land ownership, I was able to enjoy blocks off the river, where, tucked away in meeting room, a “lockup” office, safe and acre upon acre of forest, streams and lakes, the peaceful, verdant village, was a modern public restrooms. A Medical Arts unit had saved from development even into the new phenomenon. facilities for both a doctor and dentist of- millennium. Port historian Marshall Buehler told me, fice. in a South Wood County Historical Corp.- There were two supermarkets: Buehler’s, 07-14-01 sponsored interview, how his family be- the “oldest merchandising establishment” came involved. in Port Edwards, and Klement’s Red Owl Buehler’s father, August, owned a gro- Agency. cery, the White City Store, but always

27 Ghost River City Memoirs

Necedah Visions tion, to which they directed their gaze, photographer next to me handed me a the pilgrims. couple of film holders.” rom all corners of the nation Despite admonitions from Catholic In turn, Krohn said, the Associated and from Canada and Cuba: the Bishop John Treacy to stay away: 60 Press and out-of-town newspapers used 100,000. By way of seven special priests and 30 nuns among the 100,000. the darkroom at the Tribune because F At the stroke of noon, the apparitions, it was the closest daily newspaper to trains, 125 chartered buses and 15,000 automobiles: 100,000 pilgrims to Nece- appearing to the farm wife out of a blue Necedah. All part of documenting one dah, the small Juneau County communi- mist at the ash trees: The Virgin Mary, of the biggest mass events to ever take ty. If early for the Aug. 15, 1950, assig- dressed in white. “Pray and pray hard. place in central Wisconsin. nation, they slept in cars and tents along The time is short.” With Krohn was William F. Huffman the highway, on porches and lawns and Her words to the pilgrims. Jr. The son of the Tribune publisher was wherever people would take them in: Perform religious rituals faithfully; learning the newspaper game as a re- these 100,000. be vigilant against the enemies of God; porter, although he wouldn’t get credit With county and state police keep- battle Russia and the Iron Curtain with for it. In 1950, news stories appeared ing order on two roads leading to the prayer, sacrifice, penance and sacra- without a byline. 120-acre farm, “where 57-year-old Fred ments. The words of the Mother of God, The apparitions of that year had be- Van Hoof, tries to edge out a living from relayed through Mary Ann Van Hoof to gun in April when Mrs. Van Hoof no- the barren, sandy soil,” they found their the 100,000. ticed that the figure on a crucifix emitted way, the pilgrims. Fifty-one years ago, Don Krohn was a strange glow and a voice she said was As relays of Catholic laymen at a pub- among the multitude awaiting a miracle. that of Mary, the “Mediatrix” between lic address microphone recited rosaries “It was quite a surprise when she fainted. God and the people of earth. through the morning, the crowd sweated I was with the other new people standing In May, “Our Holy Mother” appeared into the merciless sun and billowing right in front of her. All I recall is seeing in a flash of light behind four ash trees sand. Some of the 100,000 fainted, to thousands and thousands of people. All with messages for Van Hoof to relay. be revived by bystanders with the help tramping across the fields and into the “Tell the children of God to pray the of state police, a first-aid technician and area, coming to the old farmhouse that Rosary, to live clean lives and to make Red Cross nurses. was her home.” sacrifices for sinners.” The “Blessed On nearby property, a dozen stands Krohn was the Wisconsin Rapids Virgin” also called for prayers encour- offered for sale soft drinks, sandwiches Daily Tribune photographer. aging the conversion of Russia to Chris- and religious goods at “moderate pric- “Somebody was leading prayers, the tianity. es,” to the pilgrims. rosary, with all those people pulsating At the climactic event of August In front of the two-story farmhouse, a with enthusiasm. Then Mary Ann Van 1950, many onlookers viewed nothing white statue of Our Lady of Fatima, gift Hoof came out. There was an electric out of the ordinary, but Van Hoof’s hus- of a Milwaukee religious organization, feeling like a chant and then she faint- band, Fred, 57, declared, “She saw it.” banked with flowers brought by neigh- ed.” It happened just as Krohn used his The Rev. Sigismund Lengowski, pas- bors, for the 100,000. Surrounding the last piece of film. tor of St. Francis of Assisi parish, Nece- shrine, long rows of kneeling benches Fortunately, he was a member of the dah, also verified that Mrs. Van Hoof, erected by a voluntary citizens commit- Wisconsin news photographers organi- a 40-year-old mother of seven, had tee. To the rear, small ash trees where zation, and acquainted with many of his been favored with a visitation. Among the farm woman saw her first appari- colleagues. “The Milwaukee Sentinel other instructions, she was told to build 28 River City Memoirs Ghost a shrine on the spot of the apparition The Daily Tribune visited the Oct. 7, visions as two recent books attest: “En- and erect a large crucifix on the village 1950, event—a 25-minute “last” mes- countering Mary” (1991) by Sandra L. bluff. sage from the Mediatrix to the “throng” Zimdars-Swartz and “Something to De- “The year of 1951 will be a sad year of 50,000. clare” (1998) by Julia Alvarez. unless you pray, pray and pray hard,” Responding to this seventh vision, Some of the multitude hold their be- related the Mediatrix though Mrs. Van gasps were heard from women who liefs just as strongly today as they did 50 Hoof’s voice. With the Korean con- again saw the sun behaving oddly. A years ago. Joseph F. Shelfhout is care- flict as background, the message came: Catholic priest told reporters he saw the taker at the Queen of the Holy Rosary “Save those sons dying out there on the sun whirl clockwise and jump. Mediatrix of Peace Shrine, Necedah. battlefields now for lack of your faith.” After Mrs. Van Hoof collapsed and A Wrightstown native, he had known The Mediatrix also advised the faithful was helped into her house, word was Fred Van Hoof there. Mrs. Van Hoof, to take care of the children, clean up sent out that the Virgin had appeared Shelfhout told me, had wanted a smaller corruption and stop worshiping the al- in a flowing blue gown. Her message farm, and for that reason was steered mighty dollar. “Pray the Rosary! That’s warned of death and destruction unless to Juneau County. In 1950, Shelfhout’s the only weapon. The enemy is pow- people prayed hard for peace and the brother, Ray, had asked him if he want- erful and is ready to pounce upon you. conversion of Communists to Christian- ed to go down “where that lady is hav- The clouds are gathering close to the ity. “As citizens, do something! Save ing visions.” Americas right now.” your country. Not by good times, by Oct. 7, after a rainy morning, Joseph Words of a Wisconsin Rapids woman trying to outwit their neighbor as to who saw it; the sun spinning toward the earth are included in a book of testimonials by can get the best car, but who can say the as pilgrims all around him fell to their pilgrims. The woman had attended Mass most rosaries. Remember the way of the knees in awe. at St. Vincent De Paul church in Rapids, cross.” prior to driving to Necedah in a steady Some of those who visited with Van 08-11-01 rain. As she prayed before the scheduled Hoof didn’t see anything miraculous. visions, her husband said, “This reminds The Catholic hierarchy in La Crosse was me of a spiritualist meeting.” critical of goings-on at the Yellow River It was about noon when Van Hoof micropolis. After all, Van Hoof’s came out of the house and a woman mother was believed to be a “spiritual- screamed, “By God, it’s really true,” ist” and weren’t these visions just anoth- and fell to her knees. Then it happened er way of “channeling?” Some claimed that the Rapids woman and so many in the stigmata that accompanied visions the crowd saw the sun, covered with a were self-inflicted. Perhaps the com- dark, greenish gray disk, spinning down munity was all too eager to embrace the toward the earth. And she testified, “I action. “Bushel baskets” of cash car- thought the end of the earth was coming ried to the local bank by dark of night and fell to my knees.” alleviated an economic slump that had A Pittsville woman also described the followed the end of work on the nearby sun spinning closer to the earth. “I and Petenwell and Castle Rock dams. many other people, fell to our knees in Many years later, contemporary au- awe.” thors continue to examine the Van Hoof

29 Ghost River City Memoirs

The Howe School with 17-foot high ceilings on the third minor injuries. floor. It rose from a swamp to the west “Thede” Brazeau returned to the ittle Nicky was happy... to be and a forest to the east. The school yard, school as assistant principal in 1897 saying bye-bye to the dark, scary piled with four-foot cordwood, had to and taught mathematics and literature to place that had been his asylum be fenced to keep out neighboring live- high school students. He said the “bub- L stock. bler” was a water pail in the hall. Priv- for eight months. Bye to the ancient three-story stone building that “loomed” The building was frontier-fashionable. ies in the school yard were filthy and the above the hill like something out of a But, problems began when it was found interior was poorly lighted, poorly ven- Gothic comic. Adios to the decrepit sub- that a lumberman named Howe may tilated and a fire trap. “But some miracle terranean gothic where, if you had to go have set aside or only promised to give has carried us through so far without any to the bathroom, you might have a close $10,000 for a school; if there was such misfortune.” encounter with the monstrous octopus in a fund, it wasn’t available. The moral Dr. F.X. Pomainville started at Howe the furnace room. and legal controversy over the miss- school in first grade when it opened in (For fun, you might even sneak down ing endowment caused a “blot” on the 1877. He said children then had little re- at your own risk and run up the stairs community’s reputation, according to a spect for their teachers and vexed them screaming and laughing at the same newspaper retrospective. by rolling croquet balls on the floor and time.) Instead of relying on the gift, a loan of blowing off fire crackers in the class Bidding farewell to all that, Nicholas the same amount had to be negotiated rooms. J. Brazeau and his classmates were in from the state. Six months after old new Among the prominent graduates of safe hands, walking single file along 8th Howe was completed, public education Howe high school were Corydon T. Street, led by their kindergarten teacher, was recessed when only half the year’s Purdy, architect; Charles Donneley, Mrs. La Marr. $4,400 local taxes were able to be col- Northern Pacific railroad president; and It was April of 1951. Nick and his lected. Teachers continued to use the F.E. Compton, Compton’s Encyclopedia pals, David, Peter, Douglas, Karl, Ker- building on a “tuition” basis. editor. ry, Kent, Betsy, Judy, Jennifer, Marcia, Old Howe was built as a grade and Former principal Guy Stanton Ford, Kitty and Sharon, were headed for the high school. It became solely a grade who organized the first high school new school next door. school early in the century upon con- football team here, became University Records provided by Wisconsin struction of Lincoln high school a few of Minnesota president. Rapids Public Schools show Grace La blocks to the south. T.W. Brazeau said, “The old building Marr’s Howe school kindergarten class Financial embarrassment dogged has many fond recollections, but has of 1950-51 divided into two classes of the board for years only to be relieved outgrown its usefulness, and we are all 46 and 42 pupils. They would be the last as the passing years brought increased happy to see it replaced by a modern, to attend old Howe school; it was about prosperity. safe, sanitary building.” to be razed. Nick Brazeau’s grandfather, Theodore Well, almost everybody… For much of its existence, Howe had W. Brazeau, entered old Howe school in Already in 1918, the question arose, been central to the cultural life of the 1880 and graduated in 1891. In a remi- “What should be done about old Howe city—as the Grand Rapids high school. niscence, he described a schoolyard cov- school?” When it opened in 1877, old Howe ered with chunks of stone left over from In 1931, George W. Mead wrote to was the next latest thing, constructed construction. Pupils pelted each other Chicago architects Childs and Smith for by hand of locally-quarried sandstone with the remnants, resulting in many plans to remodel and expand the facility 30 River City Memoirs Ghost

but the Depression halted any further ac- in a noisy, dirty industrial area (near function and appearance, Howe became tion until the matter was broached again Consolidated). the showcase school of the city, serving in 1938 by William Thiele, a Mead as- Though its classrooms were small and the city’s most affluent neighborhoods. sociate and school board member. A its population base had shifted, Lowell A master plan for the grounds called federal grant application for an addition (1923) could be converted to a primary for tennis, basketball and volleyball was denied because local funding did school after the opening of Howe and courts, an outdoor amphitheater and not seem to be available. the replacement for Edison. sliding hill. In the early 1940s, focus changed from On the East Side, Irving (1897) was A sample from new Howe kindergar- remodeling the old to building anew, still old but had been updated. With a large ten, fifty years ago:Leon Schmidt, Jr.— with plans by Childs and Smith. Then potential enrollment in the area, Irving that big circle on the floor around which came World War II and all such projects could be replaced by a new primary the children were seated; Larry Miller— were suspended again. building, Smith suggested. the padded bench seat along the big, After the war, the baby boom began Lincoln high school had benefited by bright windows on the south side of the to flood classrooms and something had the opening of Howe as rooms on the building; Nick—nap time. to be done. A bond issue was floated by third floor previously occupied byth 7 Unlike Nicky, Leon and Larry, little the city council for a new Howe school. and 8th grade were made available. David was miserable. Opposition arose from West-Siders, who Smith said there was plenty of room He didn’t want to go. pleaded for equal treatment and Mayor at the south end of Lincoln for a voca- Didn’t want to say good-bye. Carl Knudsen vetoed several council ac- tional school and a previously-planned Didn’t want to leave the nice, new tions: “Not necessary; too expensive.” auditorium. ranch house his dad had built just a year Eventually, the school board and city The biggest population increase at earlier out in the subdivisions that were council asserted enough authority; fund- mid-century was in the east and south- producing such a great plenty of his ing was finally released to begin con- east portions of Wisconsin Rapids and peers, nervously toting their pencil cases struction. in the adjoining town of Grand Rapids. and notebooks along Airport, Cook and Completion, scheduled for Christmas Smith said the city should consider tak- Two Mile Avenues. of 1950, was delayed by tardy shipments ing steps to acquire land near the hospital Didn’t want to leave the comfort of his of materials, strikes in manufacturing for a primary school that would accom- mother, who was so nice to him. Didn’t plants and bad weather. modate the pupils the ensuing decades want to go to the big old school squat- Schools superintendent Floyd Smith would clearly see. ting at Two Mile and 8th Street that he reviewed all the city structures, in prep- “The net aim is to give a splendid didn’t know anything about and where aration for what he saw as a continued city a splendid system of school plants he didn’t know anybody. rebuilding program. where approximately one fourth of the So his mother asked Paul Murgatroyd, The most pressing need was to re- population centers its away from home a fifth grader from across the road, to place Edison school (1916), near Grand educational interest for approximately help; and Paul, already a mentor, helped Avenue and 17th Avenue, with a “unit” one third of its lifetime.” David along the half-mile walk from ba- similar to Howe. This would placate the Overcoming decades of impediments, byhood into the cold, cruel world. West Siders. Howe grade school was able to an- Also on the West Side was Emerson nounce its open house May 20, 1951, 09-11-01 (1885), no longer suitable for school with a 19-classroom building that could purposes, Smith said, as it was located hold as many as 600 students. Modern in

31 Ghost River City Memoirs

NATATORIA partly submerged trees to keep the boat fortuneteller. “You will take a long trip from capsizing. and make much money,” she told one ilapidated.” Rapids joined a long list of cities that patron. “Later in life you will marry “Terrible.” added fluorine to drinking water as a Kathleen Halverson.” D “I think it should be con- tooth decay preventative, prompted by On the other side of the timeline was demned.” –Alderman Arthur Witten- its own Dr. Glenn Bennett, president of Laura Biron, the daughter of Francis berg. the Wisconsin State Dental society. The Biron, local industrialist and founder “Looks like a dump.” –Alderman fluorine supplement was made possible of Biron village. With her 1951 death, Peter Schneider. “It doesn’t look like a by a 1950 addition to the 16th Street the family name was extinguished public swimming pool to me.” pumping station. Some viewed fluorine, here. Born in the Biron village “White Remarks prompted by the draining a.k.a. fluoride, with suspicion and noted House,” the heiress had been a patient of the Wisconsin Rapids pool by Henry that more dangerous substances could at the county hospital in Marshfield for Becker Jr., lifeguard, so council mem- be substituted by mischief-makers. 27 years. bers could get a first-hand view. Not enjoying the benefits of munici- “Home for the Aged Cemetery.” Not pretty: a cracked bottom with pal water was the town of Grand Rapids, A reporter read the sign and described sharp, jagged pieces of concrete. “My which then included “Sand Hill.” The “an equally weather-beaten cross” at the youngster has had about 10 cuts this 1950 census showed a Grand Rapids northern limits of Port Edwards village. year,” said Mrs. Kenneth Fisher. population increase from 2,358 in 1940 The patch of weeds had been abandoned August 1951. Fifty years ago. to 4,142. three years previous and contained the Fortunately for swimmers, there was The population of Wisconsin Rapids graves of 99 former residents of the a new pool in Biron at the community in 1950 was tabulated at 13,496, an in- Wood County Home for the Aged, bur- building. There was also Lake Wazee- crease of 2,080. cha, where a 12-foot skiff, carrying ied at county expense. nine persons from a picnic across to the One of the new Rapids residents Of 97 markers, only one had been south side beach, was swamped by the had a problem. An infant born with tu- “dignified” with a name. Metal numbers wake of another vessel and the mother mors was taken to St. Joseph’s hospital, identified the others. Marshfield, where a 12-inch section of of three struggling children swam more MEDIATRIX REDUX: A thousand her intestine was removed. Because she than half way across the lake to help her persons came to the farm home of Mrs. had lost so much blood, not until it was daughters stay afloat. All were saved by Mary Anna Van Hoof, Necedah, on the almost over, did staff administer ether. a rescue craft except for a 50-year-old anniversary of her vision of the Virgin To ease her pain, the child was offered grandfather who had, like the mother, Mary a year previous. With no new whiskey on a sponge. helped smaller children stay afloat as revelations promised, the crowd didn’t long as he could. Marilyn “Peewee” Malicke, 10, con- enter the property but lined its fences in Even newer than Wazeecha was “gi- fined to a wheelchair while recovering a pouring rain. Mrs. Van Hoof appeared ant” Lake Petenwell, where, later, a Hal- from rheumatic fever, wanted a watch, briefly but said and did nothing notable. loween storm marooned two area duck so her 9th Street pals, Kathleen Sullivan, A shrine in the yard had been disman- hunters in a small boat for over 20 hours Kathleen Halverson, Sharon Wefel and tled on the orders of Archbishop Moses in below-freezing temperatures. Jerry Bassler, put on a circus that raised E. Kiley of Milwaukee. The official Vat- Shaking from cold and turning pur- $1.47. ican newspaper warned Catholics that ple, the two had to stand up and cling to Jacqueline Malicke, 12, acted as a Van Hoof’s visions were false.

32 River City Memoirs Ghost

According to a Tribune writer, every had come to be used as a model in le- tising. They fastened their dirty label on community develops its own unique gal textbooks. A bomb, mailed to the everything that was liberal and good.” character, molded by the people who rural Marshfield home of county board Morgan recalled visits to Rapids as a live there. Once established, this basic chairman John A. Chapman, killed Mrs. Marshfield athlete. “We used to do pret- nature is seldom altered, as Dr. Frank Chapman and blew off Chapman’s arm. ty well in football but we had a tough Starr, 86, former principal of Centralia Brazeau was appointed by the circuit time in basketball.” high school discovered when he returned court to discover the perpetrator and Despite Morgan’s memories, the 1951 from Los Angeles for an old-timers get- prosecute him. Rapids-Marshfield grid tussle resulted together during the National Cranboree. As a result of Brazeau’s work, John in a 46-0 Rapids victory. Yet, the town had grown so! Streets, Magnuson was convicted of the murder Russ Stimac raced up the middle for lawns, modern houses. The develop- through circumstantial evidence alone, 79 yards and a touchdown on the first ment along the river. The paper mill. one of the first such successes. possession and added four more touch- “The only thing you don’t have is a new The Tribune noted that many old downs in “as great an individual perfor- bridge…Better get at that.” When the folks were nostalgic about the Hotel mance as Beell stadium has ever seen,” old bridge had washed away in 1880, Witter, razed in favor of the new Hotel said the Tribune of the Marshfield per- Starr rowed passengers across in a flat- Mead. The scene of “gay parties and formance. Stimac carried the ball 10 boat for a dime a ride. elaborate social gatherings” had offered times and gained 281 yards. “The Nekoosa bridge—that too nar- “luxurious hospitality” to travelers that Quite a stench was raised on Third row, profanity-provoking structure span- included the likes of William Jennings Street, according to the Tribune, when ning the Wisconsin River on Highway Bryan. For many locals, it had been a Charley Chamberlain, caretaker at the 73 which is approached by a simulated stately meeting place. E.W. Ellis residence, set a trap to catch a ski slide on the east side and a reason- Early in 1951, a group of Norwegian rat but caught a skunk instead. able facsimile of a corkscrew on the pulp and paper representatives toured It’s very simple, Police Chief R. J. west,” said the Tribune, was probably Tri-City mills. Admiring American pro- Exner told Chamberlain. Just tie a rag the only bridge that had its construction ductivity, a spokesman said, “Our mill to the end of a fish pole and dip it into delayed by a buried whiskey bottle. employees just don’t want to work very chloroform, hold the anesthetic up to As the story went, free whiskey to hard,” noting that there was little in- the skunk’s nose and after it falls asleep, the voters of Saratoga was meant to centive because consumer goods were release it. Chamberlain said he didn’t persuade them to vote in favor of the scarce and wages low. want to get that close, so Exner sent out bridge. But the Irishman in charge of Another visitor was one of Holly- a skunk squad, in the persons of Officer distribution buried the jugs on the river- wood’s “top-ranking” motion picture Wilfred Gloden and Reinhart Steege. bank where they were in turn discovered stars, Dennis Morgan, visiting as part of When the rag was near its nose, the and the whiskey consumed by several a film industry promotion. skunk bit into it and drifted into slum- young fellows. The former Marshfield resident was ber as predicted. “I ain’t setting no more The bridge was voted down but final- the former Stanley Morner. traps for rats,” said Chamberlain as he ly built in 1915. He told Kiwanis club members at went back to his garden. “Next time I’ll At a meeting of the Kiwanis and the American Legion hall that, “Most use poison.” Rotary clubs, local attorney Theodore of what progress the Commies made in Brazeau reviewed the 1922 trial that Hollywood came from their own adver- 10-13-01

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Army Men M*A*S*H* was Sgt. Richard T. Stone, 32, a career Summer 1950: After World War II, army man, killed in action on the drive rmy men. the peninsula of Korea was seized from to Seoul, Sept. 25, 1950. The 1936 Wis- That’s what we called its long-time ruler, recently defeated- consin Rapids Lincoln graduate and for- th them. Japan, and divided at the 38 “parallel” mer Consolidated employee came home A into roughly equal zones. Russia occu- a year later to be buried in Forest Hill Not “soldiers” though they looked the part. pied the north; the U.S., the south. cemetery with military rites by Hager- Khaki-green. Helmeted, armed with The U.S. turned over political control strom-Rude Post 9, American Legion. rifles, a few pistols. Bazookas. to the newly formed “Republic of Ko- Late 1950: Comic book drawing: the If the army men had been left in the rea” and removed its last troops in 1949, defiant, big-biceped American who fired heat too long, the barrels of their rifles opting to say sayonara forever to the again and again until the gun glowed bent. If they bore nicks and wounds, it peninsula attached to China and tucked red… but they kept coming, an end- happened in combat among the hills and behind Japan. less maniacal shrieking yellow horde rivers we had made with sandbox ma- No such luck. On June 25, 1950, the of Reds with no respect for human life, chinery and the garden hose. North Korean People’s Army marched including their own. When more than Army men. into the South. Almost immediately, 300,000 Chinese People’s Liberation You bought them at Woolworth’s. as part of a United Nations action, U.S. Army troops crossed into North Korea, Molded of plastic, packed in plastic President Truman ordered air, naval and U.S. divisions, so recently victorious, bags, “Made in Japan.” ground forces to slow the advance. were forced into massive retreat. The M*A*S*H*: The satiric movie and Unfortunately, American occupation situation seemed so desperate that use television show about the medical unit forces in Japan were not well-prepared of the atomic bomb against China was in Korea, where, 50 years ago, the U.S. or equipped and suffered a miserable discussed. was fighting a forgotten war. series of losses. North Korea soon con- To aid the North Korean army of M*A*S*H*, in which medical base trolled almost the entire country. 250,000, Communist China sent almost antics frequently are interrupted when The Americans regrouped, retrained 800,000 men. In opposition, the South helicopters descend with the latest casu- and re-supplied. In September 1950, Korean army numbered about 600,000 alties. Victims of what the main charac- a surprise attack by troops under Gen. plus 480,000 Americans and 40,000 UN ter, Hawkeye, sees as the senseless war Douglas MacArthur, commander of U.N. troops from other countries. to end senseless wars. forces, changed the course of the war in To help fill the ranks, the selective M*A*S*H* favor of the UN, at least for awhile. service office in theWood County court- U.S.: 160,000 casualties, 55,000 MacArthur crossed into North Ko- house employed a full-time clerk, Mrs. dead. rea and captured its capital, Pyongyang. Lillian Hornigold, wife of a prominent South Korea: 400,000 casualties, The enemy appeared to be defeated. Lincoln high school teacher. As of De- 58,000 dead, 165,000 missing. Confident Americans advanced toward cember 1950, 75 young men had been Communist China: 945,000 dead or the Yalu river, the border with China. inducted from Wood County with 91 wounded. MacArthur wanted to end the war before more on the list for early 1951. North Korea: 522,000 dead or wound- Christmas and did not heed stern Chi- In the period leading up to Novem- ed. nese warnings against further advances. ber 1951, the conflict reached what was Among the victims of the early war often called a “stalemate.” Bloody bat-

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tles like Heartbreak Ridge, in which the But the Chinese legions remained day of the 11th month,” World War I, the Communists lost seven men for every formidable, said Sgt. Richard. “They war to end war, concluded by means of UN soldier wounded or killed, helped move up about dark, 500 yards from an armistice. In the following year, No- “hold the line” while the difficult truce your positions. Then they start crawling. vember 11 was set aside as Armistice talks proceeded. It’ll take them four hours to crawl 500 Day. In 1953, after “Korea,” it became In the midst of the conflict, a local yards. They’ve got a lot of patience.” To Veterans’ Day. In 1971, President Nixon soldier, whom I will call Sgt. “Richard,” detect these night fighters, the UN/U.S. declared Veterans’ Day a federal holiday was interviewed for the June 8, 1951, army had begun using searchlights. observed on the second Monday in No- Daily Tribune. The first Korean veteran Many Chinese were armed with vember. to return home to Wisconsin Rapids “burp guns,” said Richard, “and they According to the Tribune of Saturday, under the army’s rotation system, the love to use grenades.” The enemy also Nov. 10, 1951, that year’s Armistice Day 21-year-old Lincoln High school gradu- had U.S. rifles and submachine guns would be “business as usual” in Korea, ate enlisted in December 1948, and saw captured from the Chinese Nationalists, meaning continued attacks on a line of 10 months of combat, having landed in who had been defeated earlier by the Communist-held hills defended with South Korea just after the North Korean Communists. “In case you’re unlucky,” small arms, automatic weapons, mor- invasion. he remarked, “it’s better to be captured tars and hand grenades. Meanwhile, the Richard said he resented the phrase, by the Chinese than the North Kore- U.S. disarmament proposal was called a “police action.” According to the Tri- ans.” “three-act comedy” by Russian leaders. bune, his account “leaves no doubt that Life in Korea was much less advanced In the summer of 2001, straggling in a grim, full-scale war is going on over than it had been in Japan, Richard noted, from the new FDR memorial, my fam- there.” but as for the people, “They both sleep ily visited the Korean War Veterans Me- Ill-prepared to stop the first onslaught, on the floor.” morial. It was relatively secluded. Most his group only expected to slow it. “All “When you go in and liberate a town of the crowds of that year were headed we had was infantry, and the leader the civilians seem to be happy, North Ko- for the Vietnam wall and then the snow of the first platoon counted 104 tanks. reans as well as South Koreans. They’re cone stand. None of the weapons we had there did happy to see the fighting go north.” At the memorial, in the sweltering any good against them.” The Wisconsin Rapids GI claimed to heat so typical of the nation’s capital, Casualties piled up quickly in the first be too busy to pay much attention to the the 19 larger-than-life soldiers were weeks of fighting, but Richard’s division Korean feminine population but he said, cloaked in ponchos as they trudged col- won the presidential unit citation and a “They were getting better looking all the lectively toward their individual fates. citation from the South Korean govern- time!” Each would seem to be alone with his ment for its delaying action. Richard chuckled when he recalled thoughts on the long trail to Heartbreak The situation had changed by the time an amphibious landing made by the Ridge. The men of the forgotten war. of the June interview. American air- First Cavalry division on the east coast The army men. planes destroyed the enemy’s tank corps of Korea. The cavalry men arrived on and the UN was now well-prepared with the beaches in landing craft only to find 11-10-01 its own tanks, artillery support, bazoo- a truck battalion already in place, wait- kas, machine guns and replacement ing to take them north. troops. In 1918, on the “11th hour of the 11th

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comedy of errors: frozen hydrants, bro- Pew Doodles Cold and dark. The priest will tell you there is so much of it this time of ken hoses, ice-covered firemen on too short ladders, with a sick fire chief and hat do you do in church? year. Leave for work and return home nuns bailing water. Especially if the service in the dark. Beyond that, there’s plenty 1925: A new $100,000 school. happens to be late at night af- of “dark” in the world. The priest will W tell you it’s not so much different than 1931: New sisters’ residence. ter a big meal and too much who knows Because of the booms (baby, building what? If you’re like some church-goers, in the time of Jesus. That’s why people and religious), there is also a Catholi- you nod off for a nap; but I prefer to prayed that “Emmanuel” would light up cism boom in 1951: three parishes with think of things to write on donation en- a desperate world. a combined membership of 6,500; more velopes I find in the pew. In the 1830s, a few shacks not far than 2,300 families; 981 pupils in three But if you believe in either Santa from S.S.P.P. housed French-Catholic Catholic grade schools. Claus or the baby Jesus, Christmas has lumbermen and fur traders who were of- In 1947, West-Siders, who organized a magic attached to no other day. Hope- fered the first mass here by Father Van in the convent chapel of SS. Peter & fully, the weather is crisp and the snow den Broeck, out of the green Bay. A few Paul, form Our Lady Queen of Heaven mysterious. The decorations and lights: years later, the firstCatholic church was (St. Mary’s) parish. Early masses are inspiring. And people are so much better built-on the “other,” west side of the held at the Palace and Wisconsin the- than their usual selfish selves, right? river. aters. Designed by the A.F. Billmeyer & Another difference: it’s getting close By 1857, Catholics on the East Side Son, the school opens in 1949. First ser- to midnight. Ma should be in her ker- could support their own parish due to vices are held in an attached auditorium chief and pa in his cap, fast asleep. But Francis Biron, “a good, rich and gener- on Easter 1951. It is anticipated that the on Christmas Eve, we’re still awake! ous Canadian.” auditorium will become a gymnasium Yes, I have doodled in what is one of A second, more substantial church when a church building is constructed. Wisconsin Rapids’ finest and oldest reli- started its term as a long-lived city land- In September 1951, Tri-City Catholic gious establishments. Up along the riv- mark in 1873. An 1874 map shows it High school opens on the second floor er, in our oldest east side neighborhood at Church and Mill streets, a block re- of “St. Mary’s” school with 34 ninth- is the mother of Catholic churches: SS moved from a large sawmill complex on grade pupils. Peter & Paul. Bearing a name with one- the river. Also in 1951, a new rectory at St. too-many saints, it is called, “Ess Ess.” As SS continued to develop: Lawrence Catholic church is dedicated A step into SS is a journey into the 1886: A Catholic school opens in the and blessed by Bishop John P. Treacy of tradition of Roman Catholicism. The pil- old parish residence. The Notre Dame La Crosse. The dedication coincides with lars along each side of the sanctuary sup- sisters of Milwaukee in charge. the 25th anniversary of the ordination of port arches reminiscent of Rome. And 1895: New four-room school. Rev. Florian A. Marmurowicz, who had midnight mass celebrates a long succes- 1904: Polish Catholics build St. Law- been at St. Lawrence since 1949. sion of Christmas Eves. Evergreen and rence church on the West Side. “All things come to him who waits,” candles for the season. Lights dimmed, 1905: Grand Rapids becomes part of counsels Rev. P.J. Wagner. He has ful- incense burning and, on what can be the the Diocese of La Crosse filled a 30-year dream of a combination coldest night of the year, more than the 1924: Christmas Eve. At minus 12 grotto garden, parochial school and now illusion of warmth. degrees, a fire in the school building just completed by A.F. Billmeyer causes a a church in the village of Rudolph.

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The “Tudor Gothic” design by Carl male saints on the west side. “Conspicu- Minn. His first appointment was in 1919 Billmeyer resembles SS. Peter and Paul, ously set above the main entrance of the to the Vesper Catholic church, which had which until 1878, the Catholics of Ru- church is a spiral rose window … ten missions in Altdorf, Sigel and Arpin. In dolph had attended. Wagner had been in feet in diameter.” winter, Father Gille drove teams to these charge of the parish since 1921, erect- “In the sanctuary the ceiling is gold- outlying churches. He stayed 10 years ing a large brick building which served gilded and the walls peach-colored. at Vesper, returning to Wood County in as school and church combined until the When light shines through the windows, 1946 to fill the post at S.S. left vacant new church building was opened. the walls turn a deep rose.” by the death of Rt. Rev. Msgr. William It seems ancient, SS. Peter & Paul, Modern touches related to sound: ten Reding. the church that this story began with but loud speakers in the ceiling; a cry room Don’t you feel good when you walk it’s not. In 1951, it is brand new. The complete with a loudspeaker (incom- out of church, especially on Christmas congregation of 1,300 families had out- ing); a microphone built into the marble Eve? Just like you feel when you’ve fin- grown their old structure and built what lectern stand. In the balcony, a $12,000 ished an article like this. You’re a better the Tribune called a “magnificent stone Wicks organ hidden behind a screen. person now, and you’ve been freed from edifice,” seating 776. It had been dedi- What about the 1873 frame structure confinement. cated a month earlier as Bishop Treacy a block to the east? After Christmas Eve midnight mass, led a procession into a sanctuary over- Rev. Carl Dockendorff, an assistant there’s something else. It’s not Christ- flowing with a crowd of 1,000. Accord- pastor, says the “ancient” frame struc- mas Eve any more. It’s Christmas day. ing to the Tribune, the $400,000 build- ture will be razed for a parking lot. Pews ing is of Romanesque design with an and other furnishings will be put up for 12-08-01 exterior of Winona limestone. General sale. contractor is Frank J. Henry. Memorial windows? A.F. Billmeyer & Son, once again the Regretfully according to Dock- architect, comments: “set at an angle in endorff, the parish has no way of storing the block, the structure makes an im- the glass and would have to give up the pressive picture to motorists traveling windows. He supposes that those who north on First street. The position also want to, could obtain the windows from permits direct sunlight into the church the wrecking company after the contract from all four sides.” has been let for demolition. The “Son” of the Billmeyer firm is The Tribune calls the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Carl Billmeyer, a former student at SS. C.W. Gille the “spiritual leader of the Peter & Paul school. flock which will gather in the new The interior continues exterior church.” Msgr. Gill, SS pastor for six themes: vast size and simple beauty, ac- years, is also “vicar-general” of the La cording to the Tribune. Corinthian col- Crosse Diocese. The “genial priest,” umns of Botticino marble; oak beams; of French-Irish descent, is a native of magnetite flooring in the aisles; light oak Shullsburg, Wis., a graduate of Mar- fixtures and woodwork. Women saints quette university high school in Mil- honored in windows on the east side and waukee and St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul,

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Stinkin’ Town “Why not do something to awaken If Grand Avenue could seem cold, it—like fun for the young and old?” the cold war against “communism” was Why do we stay in this stinking Replied a Tribune editorialist: Rapids 40-below. Writer James Marlow asked, town?” must seem dull to a person accustomed from Washington, D.C., “What progress Wiping away tears, you say to the tumultuous excitement and tur- since Pearl Harbor?” “ moil of Brooklyn. “Having once resid- Marlow was glad the U.S. had as- your eyes burn from the short walk to McMillan library. The eyes, you say, ed in that metropolis, experiencing the sumed world leadership, even if it had they don’t burn like that anywhere else: daily joys of battling the subway crowds been through necessity, not choice. We “Some of the highest cancer rates are in between Bay Ridge and Midtown Man- acted to save our own skins, he said, south Wood County.” hattan, we can readily understand why first against fascism, later against com- “Maybe…” Brooklynites feel a sense of frustration munism. It’s true that if you drive in from Ru- when exposed to the peace and calm of “The roots of decay – political, eco- dolph on Highway 34, you know there’s the hinterlands.” nomic, and social – may be so deep in something nefarious in the air. Is it the “Perhaps we ought to dig a subway that ruin is inevitable anyway; or maybe smell of money? Not as soothing now down Grand avenue, with a tunnel un- our leadership has been too little or too that we’re not world headquarters any der the river, instead of planning an- late or too shoddy.” more. other bridge. And we might re-christen It took the shock of Korea in the In fact, River City is slipping. The our Wisconsin Rapids White Sox as the summer of 1950 to wake the county up, downtown is greatly reduced. Bad Dodgers- ‘dem bums.’” Nevertheless, said Marlow. In his view, we still were neighborhoods deteriorate. Good homes joked the commentary, nothing could not re-arming as fast as we could in the in good neighborhoods: razed for prog- reproduce the flavor (and aroma) of face of the communist threat. “Is this a ress. Kids with “nothing to do” light Brooklyn. repetition of the mistake before Pearl out for Plover. Old folk can only wave “The thing that disturbs us most Harbor. We’ll find out if there’s another to grandchildren on the other side of 8th about our eastern visitor’s complaint Pearl Harbor.” Street, unable to negotiate the traffic. In- is not that she considers our city ‘more Despite a stray letter to the editor siders don’t like outsiders and newcom- dead than alive’ (for she really hasn’t to the contrary, some Rapids citizens ers can’t break into the cliques. Where been here long enough to fairly judge hoped to make the world a friendlier can you find an intelligent conversation its merit) but that she feels her reception place. The Mayor’s Committee on Hu- anymore? Always a lot of complaints was a ‘cold one.’” man Rights, appointed by Mayor C.C. about this stinking town. If she were referring to the weather, Knudsen, included representatives for What about 50 years ago? The town the editorialist said, that’s something the entire tri-cities area. Officers were: didn’t even hardly stink then. There was that can’t be helped. But if she inferred chairman A.W. Zellmer, vice-chairman no Kraft mill. If your nose got a shot of that the community’s hospitality is not W.A. Sprise and secretary-treasurer C.E. sulfur, it came from Nekoosa. what it should be, “then we’re truly sor- Otto, Tribune editor. But there was this: ry. Strangers are the best judge of that The group had sponsored United Na- A Brooklyn, N.Y, woman, visiting quality – and we ought to take their crit- tions day here and the Wisconsin Idea for a month, wrote the Tribune that she icism to heart. We think we know just Theater show, “Mr. Human Being,” had received a “cold welcome.” In her how she feels—in fact, we felt the same which promoted equal rights, regardless opinion our city was “more dead than way when we spent the loneliest months of color, race or creed. alive.” of our life in Brooklyn.” 38 River City Memoirs Ghost

The land of the Flying Carpet. martinis. Spiked beer and bathtub gin. the world of clothing makers, Harvard Baghdad, the 1952 destination of The turkey trot and bunny hug. The flap- Clothes Inc. was able to keep operating former Rapids-area residents, the Fred per. “Twenty-three skidoo.” at capacity, said Paul H. Daube, presi- Locher family. To help provide technical Covered bridges. Cobblestone streets. dent of L.L. Rosenthal & Co., Chicago, assistance to underdeveloped nations, Old ladies driving electric automobiles. of which Harvard was a subsidiary. Locher had accepted an appointment as Mah jong. Champagne baths. Flag- “So why do we stay in this stinking consultant to the directorate-general of pole sitters. Marathon dances. Amateur town?” irrigation for Iraq. sports. Pogo sticks. Cigar store Indians. Because it’s not Brooklyn. It’s not On leave of absence from the U.S. Homemade bread. Big, thick steaks. Kabul. And it’s not Appleton, although Bureau of Reclamation, he also had Quiet evenings at home. it might be soon. worked for three years in the Rapids “Whew! What have we got left,” said Tumultuous excitement and turmoil? state highway commission office. Boyle, above, “besides television sets Not. Dangerous? Not. Expensive? Not, Explained the Tribune: Iraq, “cradle and congress?” relatively. of the human race,” is a tiny country in Besides early century ephemera, lo- Crowded? Not usually. Streets? In southwestern Asia, lying between the Ti- cal names and institutions of 1952 have good repair. Snow? Plowed. Parks? gris and Euphrates rivers. In Baghdad, a been swept into the dustbin of history. Lots and pretty. city of 500,000, the Lochers would join “Nepco?” Highlights? Performing Arts Center. 84 Americans, most connected with the In 1951-52, the Nekoosa-Edwards Cultural Center. Hotel Mead. McMillan American embassy. Paper Co. experienced its greatest ex- library. Syndicated columnist Hal Boyle pansion and modernization program to Our family doctors, dentists, bankers, noted that more fads, gadgets, ideas and that point, according to John Alexander, lawyers. ways of life had gone “down the drain” president and general manager. Schools? Premium. Friends? Many. in the first half of the 20th century than “Consolidated?” People: mostly decent. in any other similar period. Some are As 1951 came to a close, Consolidat- Home? Yes. no longer part of our vocabulary. Some ed Water Power & Paper Co. expected You and I… have returned to vogue. an all-time high in sales, according to We have walked these streets since The bustle. Bell-bottomed trousers. Stanton W. Mead, president and general we pulled on our boat neck shirts and Whale-boned corsets. Hobble skirt. The manager. headed for the Palace to hear the Za- vest. Red flannel underwear. Linen dust- “Consoweld?” kons. ers and goggles. Handlebar mustache Shortages of materials slowed pro- Smell? Most of the time, the wind and mustache cup. Straight-edged ra- duction of the company’s decorative blows it out toward Vesper. zors. Sideburns. Spit curls. The hairpin. plastic sheets in 1952. I forgot to mention the South Wood Two-bit haircut. Five-cent glass of beer. “Ahdawagam?” County Historical Corp. Without the Free lunch. Nickel hotdog. Penny candy. The paperboard division of Consoli- support of that non-profit institution and The five-cent telephone call. Cuspidors. dated was busy expanding in 1952. its director, Pam Walker, these remarks Smelling salts. Foot-powered player pi- “Prentiss Wabers?” of 2001-2 would never have been made. ano. Phonograph with horn on it. Radio Known as “Preway,” the defense In no other stinking town would River headphones. contractor also saw a good market for City Memoirs see the light of day. Minstrel shows and miniature golf apartment gas ranges in 1952. courses. Knickers. Silent movies. Wet Although business was not good in 01-12-02

39 Ghost River City Memoirs

Tail Gunner Joe stopped at the Post Office to talk to Joe but I am inclined to agree with the New Wheir to see if there weren’t Democrats York Times that there must be some good in anyone whom this demagogue robably the most famous ad ever in town, who are also members of the accuses.” printed in River City, filling most chamber, who ought to be objecting.” Jean Nash said her brother had “used of the back page of the January The same day, Milton Schneider, a P Democrat, discussed with Wheir his the right words” in commenting on the 21, 1952, Daily Tribune. “We, the un- charges. “We would jump at the chance dersigned citizens of this community, wife’s displeasure with the McCarthy to sue for libel if McCarthy were to re- declare ourselves against the menace appearance. The mutual interest was re- peat the charges without senatorial im- of McCarthyism.” Jean Nash, Gloria B. layed and within the hour, Gloria Sch- munity. I have no doubt that he (McCa- Schneider, Harry R. Klappa, William J. neider called Jean Nash and said she rthy) said those things because I signed Taylor, Carl C. Knudsen, Gerald W. Hi- wanted to talk. the advertisement,” said Miss Nash. erl, F.X. Pomainville, Mary Y. Ritchie, Said Philleo Nash: “I suspect that “I am an independent voter and I C.A. Searles, Gilbert K. Dickerman, Senator McCarthy has been stung by an signed it because McCarthy is destroy- Frank R. Fey, Wm. Bonow and Wm. L. advertisement in my home town paper, ing civil liberties and I feel very strong- Miller. the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, ly about it.” Would you have joined the list? It ‘Citizens Versus McCarthy,’ which ap- Days after he attacked Nash in the could have ended a promising career. peared last Monday and was sponsored Senate, McCarthy repeated his state- The statement was inspired by an by a representative group of Wisconsin ment in a Milwaukee speech by read- appearance here of U.S. senator Jo- Rapids citizens, including my sister.” ing his own remarks about Nash from seph R. McCarthy, a self-proclaimed All 13 signers reaffirmed their stand the Congressional Record. McCarthy war hero nicknamed “Tailgunner Joe.” “against the menace of McCarthyism.” claimed he was talking without the usu- The Appleton Republican would speak Harry Klappa: “McCarthy’s machine al Congressional immunity and offered to the local chamber of commerce at worked hard to find something on some- to supply Nash with a tape recording for the dining hall of the new SS. Peter & body in Wisconsin Rapids.” use in a lawsuit. Paul Catholic church. Admired by many Mayor Knudsen: “I still stand by my Nash said that his attorneys attempt- Americans, including my father, McCa- conviction that a man is innocent until ed for several months to get the tape rthy was abhorred by others for his ac- proven guilty.” recording from McCarthy, but that the cusations that numerous public figures Alderman William Bonow: “I think senator never produced one. were “card-carrying” Communists. if McCarthy had any proof of his charges Rapids mayor Knudsen received a On January 3, Jean Nash, a Wisconsin he would make them out in the open.” letter dated January 25 from one of Wis- Rapids cranberry grower, wrote to her Frank R. Fey: “If the paid advertise- consin’s most-published writers. August brother, Philleo Nash, a member of the ment in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune Derleth, Sauk City, wrote, “It is only by Truman administration in Washington, on McCarthyism helped to develop dis- such forthright stand as yours against D.C. “The opportunity seems to be at cussion and thought on a controversial the menace of Nazi-Soviet-like dema- hand to strike some kind of minor blow issue, I as one of the signers consider the goguery rearing its ugly head in our at McCarthy but if I participate I’m go- advertisement worthwhile.” midst that everything worth preserving ing to need both advice and material.” “This type of attack is exactly what in our great nation will survive. Support Jean said she had sent a protest to the the ad criticized,” said Mrs. Milt (Glo- of McCarthy and mccarthyism is trea- Chamber sponsoring the event. “I also ria) Schneider. “I don’t know Mr. Nash son to our country.”

40 River City Memoirs Ghost

McCarthy said, as reported in the ing before her eyes. She said ‘I didn’t Edith, the widow of Philleo Nash January 30, New York Post, that he did have anything to do with McCarthy’s at- included McCarthy-era reminiscences not know Nash’s sister had signed the tack on Philleo.’ in her autobiography, “My Life on the advertisement. The only thing he knew “I told her I never thought for a min- Left.” about her was that she and Nash were ute that either she or [husband] Henry “I was interviewed many times by born in Wisconsin Rapids. had anything to do with it but that I messengers from various investiga- “All I did was give the stuff from the couldn’t say the same for other people tive agencies, both at home and at the loyalty board, the FBI reports as they in town.” Georgetown Day School where I ran appeared in the loyalty board,” McCa- Reported by Peter Edson, February the office. The questions about various rthy said. “If it isn’t correct, the loyalty 13: “When a reporter started to ask Nash friends were always the same and be- board can say so.” about his alleged Commie connections, came a litany in my memory: ‘Was he a For his part, Truman uttered his most the ex-cranberry king replied, ‘Cranber- member of the Communist Party?’ ‘Did caustic comments to that date, denounc- ries are red, aren’t they?’” he advocate the overthrow of the U.S. ing McCarthy as a pathological charac- Nash: “I’m no Alger Hiss and they’ve Government?’ And then ‘Did he have ter assassin. got nothing on me. I’m clean as can nude parties in the backyard?’ or ‘Did McCarthy said the President should be.” he socialize with Negroes?’ answer a few questions about one of his From Philleo to Jean, February 27, A statement by Carl Knudsen, mayor aides instead of sidestepping the issue 1952: of Wisconsin Rapids, to be published by name calling. “McCarthy has been silent about me in The Nation, August 30, 1952, taken From Jean, February 1, 1952: “Joe since the Milwaukee speech. He has from his typescript: Wheir called to say that McCarthy’s been repeatedly asked for the recording, “In an attempt to discredit persons attack on you was the rottenest thing but has still not provided it. The newspa- and programs with which he disagrees he had ever heard of.” Furthermore, a pers know this...Do not be discouraged McCarthy has used methods so crude member of a prominent Republican fam- or uneasy. I am keeping the question of and irrational that the methods have be- ily handed Joe a bill and said, “Don’t a libel suit open and alive and will not come an end in themselves. He has used tell anybody, but put this where it will hesitate to act if it seems the right thing smear and intimidation as a club to de- do the most good.” to do at the right time. stroy the very civil liberties that distin- Jean: “Gloria Schneider said that the “After talking to these people from guish American from Communist and night the attack appeared in our paper Wisconsin, I am fully alive to the pres- fascist nations.” Art Treutel came over with tears in his sure they are under and that they share Words from own mayor, fifty years eyes and said ‘What can we do?’ Emily your feeling that some positive action is ago, where it happened, in River City. [Mead Baldwin] came up this morning needed to clear the air. I will make my to make her peace and has just left. She decision on the legal facts in the situ- 02-09-02 said she lost five pounds the day before ation. You cannot win an election in a our statement came out. She saw in her courtroom. I am as relaxed as I have mind the work of ten years organizing ever been in all my life, and I am feeling the republican county group deteriorat- no pain.”

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Paul Gross said the Palace, a building that Street in the vicinity of the present Qual- now houses the Central Wisconsin Cul- ity Foods IGA. “We used to get over 500 how tonight! tural Center, 240 Johnson St., was the people jammed in there. Made about 35 The youngest theater owner favorite of the projectionists. It had a bucks for a night. ” Spulls his coaster wagon through Spanish motif. Lights dimmed artfully, Other locations for free shows includ- the neighborhood, hawking his reper- a “cloud machine” moved shapes across ed the corner of Griffith and 8th Street; toire; clips of locals taken with his dad’s the ceiling and stars flickered on the the village of Bancroft; the Vesper band- camera; an educational strip; comics to ceiling. stand; the Port Edwards School; and be run forward and then backward when Mrs. Eckhardt and her husband also the Biron community hall on a screen a double feature is wanted. had remodeled the Ideal Theater, said painted on the wall. Exclusively viewed January 1938. The theater that Gross, and changed the name to “Rap- in black-and-white were previews, car- 13-year-old Paul Gross has set up con- ids,” later owned by the Stark family toons and feature films, “same as in the sists of a homemade stage and 25 fold- and then Tom Poulos of the Sugar Bowl theater, but they were older ones.” ing chairs in the cellar of his parents’ restaurant. It is now Rogers Cinema, After attending a Michigan watch- home. A promising start for the young 220 E. Grand Ave. maker school on the GI bill, Gross, in man who is to become, through a series After his 1941 graduation from Lin- 1948, apprenticed under jeweler Earl of movies and videotapes, the pre-emi- coln High School, Gross was called to Larson at Johnson Hill’s, “the only air- nent pictorial chronicler of River City. Consolidated’s Biron paper mill lab. conditioned store in town.” Years after his beginnings in the “The war had started. They were hiring Johnson Hill’s was a full-service movie game, Gross was hating his first like crazy and paying real good.” department store on four levels. In the “real job,” peddling shoes at Johnson In 1943, he left Biron to enter mili- basement: meat, groceries and hardware. Hill’s department store, when Ron Des- tary service. The year after the war’s Clothes and shoes on the first floor. Of- per and Mike Stewart sat down as if they end, he returned to the lab. “I wanted to fices and a restaurant on the mezzanine. were customers. Was Gross interested in go out on dates and all this kind of stuff. “We all used to congregate up there be- becoming an apprentice at the Wiscon- I thought, boy would it be good to have fore the store opened.” sin theater, where they worked as pro- a day job, so I asked to get transferred Sport shop. Beauty parlor. Bakery. jectionists? “My God, I thought I died to the office at Biron. Jeez, that was the Tailor. One-stop shopping. A “tube sys- and went to Heaven,” Gross said in an most boring job I ever had in my life, sit- tem” transported payments and receipts. interview this year [2002]. ting there making out payroll checks all Gross said at least one office gal sent a The owner of the theater, Mrs. Har- day long. So I quit and went to Alaska.” watch to him for repair via the tube. riet Eckhardt, “hated Ron,” said Gross. In the summer of 1947, Gross re- He noted many employees had been “Because when the Wisconsin got built, turned from Alaska and tried the free- with the firm for many years. “At five these guys waited until it all got in mo- lance movie game. The first show site o’clock,” Larson told him, “it looked tion and then they went on strike to be was downtown Rudolph. But when like the old folks home letting out.” unionized, meaning each of the three Main Street merchants bickered about When Johnson Hill’s was built, Gross theaters had to have two projectionists. who should pay and how much, Gross said, it was called “the Marshall Field’s That raised heck with their budget. In decided once there was enough. of the north” and much of the stock those days, unions were so strong that, The usual Monday show was spon- was obtained through the Chicago firm. during the brief strike, attendance at the sored by Rose and Roy’s root beer stand Gross said Johnson Hill’s owner Ray three theaters dropped right off.” at a field on the north side of Baker Johnson prided himself on copying what

42 River City Memoirs Ghost his friends at the Prange’s department set. The purpose was defeated when one had up there for 35 cents.” store of Green Bay did. “He’d have store girl chose a pattern and enlisted a flock Gross recalled fondly that Ed Bredow, meetings and tell how you did this and of other graduates to pick up free spoons a Johnson Hill’s clothing salesmen, had that and he tried to run a fine store.” to match. a reputation for pranks. He hooked up The day in 1951 that Wisconsin Rap- When jeweler Larson left Johnson a phone to the men’s dressing room and ids Lincoln won the state basketball Hill’s, circa 1955, Gross took his place sent customers in to try on a pair of tournament, Gross was preparing for his in the jewelry department. pants. About the time the guy got the watchmaker’s license exam to be held The store was under new manage- pants on, Ed would ring the phone in the the following Monday in Milwaukee. ment. When owner Ray Johnson con- dressing room. Then he’d say, “By God, On Sunday, when the team came back sidered selling the store, said Gross, those look good.” from Madison and “half the town” went accountants Chester Bell and Irving “When they built the YMCA, it was out to meet the victors at Smoky Joe’s Moberg, “came up here to study the John Alexander’s pride and joy. They Corners, Gross was still studying. He books and get it all organized, so that said the room where you first came in told his wife to go to the celebration Johnson would know how much to was an extension of his house so he without him. “Tomorrow, we’re leaving charge.” Instead, said Gross, Bell and could throw parties when it was closed. for Milwaukee. I just gotta keep prac- Moberg bought the store in 1952. “Ed Bredow went down to the Y for ticing.” “Then Bell and Moberg wanted to get the grand opening. He dressed up like a When he had worked at the Biron lab, their buying power up by buying more hobo. He even had a small cigar with a Gross said, workers often took the com- stores. They went over to Marshfield toothpick in it. He had whiskers and old pany bus to Rapids to stand in line at the and bought two stores there,” Gross ragged clothes. He’s sitting there paging Daly drug, jewelry and liquor store. It said. “One on each end of the town. through all the magazines and nobody was payday, the banks were closed, and Then they closed one of them. They also knew who he was so they didn’t want to they wanted to cash their checks. affiliated with a store in Beaver Dam. throw him out.” Later, watchmaker license in hand, They got wind of a store in Iowa and In 1958, Gross sold the Johnson Hill’s Gross left Johnson Hill’s and went to they were going to buy that, so they sent shop to Bill Johns and went to Florida Daly’s, an east side riverbank landmark, a guy down to Iowa to pretend he was a for six months. He returned to this area where he operated the jewelry depart- shopper, kind of a spy. via the Denis drug store in Nekoosa, ment for three years. “Apparently, he went out at night and where he operated the jewelry and re- Speaking in 2002, he recalled a had a few snorts and made the mistake pair department. After a year, the Daly’s Christmas contest in which a small of telling people what he was down there jewelry department opened up again and black-and-white television was to be the for. The word got back to the manage- Gross stayed there until he started his prize. When he left on a Friday night to ment and he blew the whole thing.” own store in 1978. go home for supper, the store was empty Gross recalled Rapids’ Ridikalas A couple of years later, on a snowy of customers. When he came back, Gross Daze. “In the first few years, it was re- day in the spring of the year Reagan was could hardly squeeze behind the coun- ally good because merchants weren’t elected president, he recalls, the Daly’s ter. There was such a crowd, because going out and buying merchandise for building was razed, along with the Sugar everyone had qualified for the prize. it. That was stuff they really wanted to Bowl, Penney’s and the rest of the riv- In another promotion, girls, upon unload, their white elephants.” erbank block. It was kind of like a big high school graduation were allowed to Johnson Hill’s brought out “stuff from chunk of the ’50s tumbled into the river pick out a free silver spoon to begin a the attic. They were selling dresses they and floated away. 03-09-02 43 Ghost River City Memoirs

Bo present mayor has worked for four years Somebody advised her to try the Nation- for a token payment.” In public service, al Guard armory, where a horse-drawn t was a childhood version of her he said, he had been “compelled to at- artillery unit kept horses available for name: “Isab-bo,” for Isabel Eleanor tend banquets and weddings and buy exercise, which she did. IFletcher and it seemed to fit. presents,” all at his expense. “If you ex- Bo was warned, “This one’s pretty Three years after Bo’s 1897 birth in pect the same kind of service you have touchy.” But she insisted. “I’ll ride it.” Ogden, Utah, her family moved to Cali- been getting you can’t expect to get it The horse threw her and the two walked fornia. At the University of Wisconsin, under the wage you have been paying.” back separately. “Saddle it up again,” she met Thomas Utegaard. They were After the 1952 election, for the first she ordered and established who was in married in 1918. Soon, Tom was on his time, the position of mayor would be- charge. In the end, her son said, Bo was way to the field artillery. World War I come full-time at an annual salary of allowed to ride the battery commander’s over, the Utegaards moved to Wisconsin $5,000. horse. Rapids. Tom had been hired as an engi- Two weeks after the council action, More conventional experience in- neer with Consolidated Water Power & Juneau County native, WWI vet and cluded: two terms on the Rapids school Paper Co. salesman, Leon F. Kimberly, 54, an- board; chairmanship of the South Wood Working with company president nounced he would enter the race, hop- County Red Cross unit and the TB George W. Mead I and chief engineer ing to “develop a sound forward-look- Christmas seal sale; and activity in par- William Thiele, Tom designed private ing program so that the city can progress ent-teacher groups. and civic projects ranging from a new in all directions” and “create a spirit of Taking her cue from previously an- Rapids dam, the Rapids riverbank wall, harmony.” nounced candidate Kimberly, Bo said, an addition to Riverview Hospital, a In January 1952, three Utegaard sons “I think we all agree that more can be new airport road and Lake Du Bay. were in the military. Tom in the Navy, accomplished if there is harmony and After Pearl Harbor, Tom volunteered John with the Marines in Korea, and good teamwork in civic affairs than if for another round of wartime service. At Rolf in the Army, en route to Korea, so there is constant disagreement.” She the time of his 1943 death from cancer, Bo was alone in a lower apartment at emphasized the “progressive” history of Lt. Commander Utegaard was public 511 3rd St. S. when she became the first the community, a nod to her friend and works officer at the Navy port of Bay- woman candidate for mayor in Wiscon- former mayor, George W. Mead, who onne, New Jersey. sin Rapids history. had not hesitated to use public and Con- The Utegaard sons, Tom (Fletcher), Her spirit is displayed in two anec- solidated resources for what he consid- John and Rolf, attended Lowell School dotes related by Bo’s son, Rolf Ute- ered worthwhile projects. and Lincoln High School. They lived st gaard, Winter Park, Fla. But the March 4 Tribune reported at 350 1 Ave. S., not far from Rapids In their early married years, Bo’s hus- harsh words at the Water and Light Mayor Carl C. Knudsen, who ran a cor- band Tom had enjoyed “the odd cock- Commission meeting between Mayor ner gas station across from Sweet’s Gro- tail” but Bo had chosen not to drink: Knudsen and W.F. Thiele, commission cery. until the government decided to tell her president. Thiele was a friend of Mead In 1944, Bo sold the Rapids house she couldn’t. Prohibition provoked her and of the Utegaards. and moved to San Francisco but re- to take a drink whenever she felt like it. Thiele: “At the last Council meeting turned here in a year with Rolf, the only At the time the Utegaards moved to the mayor made disparaging remarks son still at home. Rapids, Bo enjoyed riding horses but about the number of men we have work- Outspoken mayor Knudsen remarked, there wasn’t a riding stable, said Rolf. ing here. I’d like those slurring remarks “I think the council must realize that the 44 River City Memoirs Ghost from the chair stopped.” hundreds of little folks laid open to this at the Hotel Mead. “We might compare Knudsen: “They’ll never be stopped daily risk.” our council or city government to an until things are changed around here.” To the Tribune, Knudsen said he orchestra and the mayor as its conduc- Thiele: “Then I’d like to have the would let the record of his past four tor. The duties of the conductor should mayor tell us how to run this outfit.” years stand as a platform in his bid for be principally devoted to coordinating Knudsen: “Things are all right as re-election. “Fidelity in government will the efforts of the various musicians. He long as we go along with you. But the be continued and … a long-range, busi- would produce nothing but bedlam if he minute I come out with a suggestion it’s ness-like program will be carried out in considered that this duty was not only a slur.” the future the same as it has in the past.” to conduct the orchestra but also to play Knudsen: “Do you fellows want to In person, Knudsen’s immigrant’s voice most of the instruments himself, regard- work or fight all the time?” urged, “Vee pay as vee go.” less of the talents of the individual musi- Thiele: “That’s up to you.” The mayor, 69, was born in Denmark. cian.” Knudsen: “No, it’s up to you. I’ll At the age of 21, he arrived in this coun- She said she did not believe “safe and work with you fellows if you want to try and got a job in an Iowa blacksmith healthful schools, real consideration of cooperate. Otherwise I’ll fight you.” shop. In 1912, Knudsen arrived in Rap- the youth of our community and the in- Commissioner R.J. Lawless attempt- ids to work for a construction firm. Two expensive encouragement of sports for ed to calm the discussion, complaining, years later, he started his own dredging young and old were luxuries.” “Every month we go through the same company. For about 15 years, his firm By a vote of 3,448-1,779, Knudsen thing.” drained swamps in Minnesota while he carried all but the 3rd Ward. Candidate At the Wisconsin Rapids Business maintained a residence here for his wife Kimberly did not appear in the results. and Professional Women’s Club, Bo and two sons. Knudsen’s statement suggested he asked, “Does it seem logical to you that In 1928, Knudsen opened a gas sta- thought wealth and power were behind when it is admitted even by the mayor tion and operated it until 1939 when he the opposition to him. “I have cam- that our city does need a new bridge, a retired. paigned very little, no money has been new west-side school and a new swim- He entered municipal politics in 1946 spent on my behalf. ming pool, that in a prosperous year as alderman from the 8th Ward. He was “It was a great honor to me that the our city tax, which is the main source elected mayor in 1948 and re-elected to Central Labor Union and Local 94, Pulp, of money for any city improvements, that office two years later. Sulphite & Paper Mill workers, without should be reduced?” Two controversies developed during my request, endorsed my candidacy for The two outstanding civic improve- Knudsen’s two terms, according to the mayor. Your action today has shown the ments under Knudsen were the Hotel Tribune: The “wrangle” over the new state of Wisconsin that the mayor’s chair Mead and the new Howe School, she Howe School in which Knudsen resisted in Wisconsin Rapids cannot be bought said, both accomplished “in spite of additional borrowing, the result being and that you do not want a mayor whose the mayor doing everything he could to that a planned gymnasium was not built. office, in my opinion, would be run by block them.” And the “squabble” over the financial remote control.” “With the money already on hand and condition of the water and light depart- earmarked for replacing that school, the ments that spurred him to run for mayor 04-13-02 present mayor attempted in every way in the first place. to block the construction of safer quar- On the eve of the election, Bo wound ters … perfectly willing to have these up her campaign before the Rotary Club

45 Ghost River City Memoirs

Bad Boys near Longview by a hitch-hiking Marine family in their first great screen comedy: because of “improper advances.” The Ozzie and Harriet, David and Ricky, in rat rats, fools and boobs: thou- deceased, who had been Biron principal “Here Come the Nelsons.” sands of college-age males bulg- 1917-18 and 1919-21, had been convict- Construction had begun to double the Fing with histamines, hormones ed in Dane county for making improper seating capacity of the Rapids Theater, and hijinks, bent on mass mischief. advances to a sailor and sentenced to the 220 E. Grand Ave. Tom Poulos, presi- Panty raid! Wisconsin state prison at Waupun. He dent and general manager, announced At the University of Wisconsin, a also had similar convictions in the state that the enlarged theater’s capacity “howling mob” of 1,000 parade down of Oregon. would be 627. The building would have Langdon Street and break into at least Fifty years ago. a “three-dimensional” screen and new seven women’s dormitories. Some of Right here in River City, two hot- air conditioning. the “screeching coeds” are “egging the rodders were observed by city police The “Rapids” would find new compe- raiders on.” At Lawrence College, Ap- officerCharles Kirchner, racing west on tition in the Highway 13 drive-in theater, pleton, females who try to invade a male Grand Avenue about 10:30 p.m. After also under construction, according to dormitory fail to rip off any underwear. he stopped the lead car, Kirchner “took John Anoszko, manager of the Wiscon- Instead, several females are deposited in after” the second car which had reversed sin and Palace theaters. There would be the adjacent Fox River. sharply and was speeding back toward accommodation for about 450 cars near By May 22, according to the Tribune, the center of the city. the intersection of Highways 13 and 73, panty raids have broken out at more than Siren blowing and red light flashing, south of the city (commonly known as 40 schools, often escalating to battles Kirchner’s squad car caught up with Smoky Joe’s Corners). between egg-hurling mobs and tear gas the second hot-rod in the 1700 block of Already operating was Hi-way 51 wielding cops. West Grand Avenue, when the pursued outdoor theater at “Coopers Corners,” A Tribune editorial deplores the “sil- party turned suddenly in front of Kirch- between Plover and Stevens Point. ly season of the campus cup-ups. There ner’s squad and the two collided. Dam- Fortunately, there were some clean- are a lot of young fellows in Korea who age came to $50. cut kids 50 years ago, such as Lincoln would welcome the educational oppor- Fifty years ago. Why did youngsters high’s Dave VanWormer, whose photo tunities which some of their civilian act up? appeared on the sports page, warming counterparts hold so lightly as to jeopar- Dr. Jay B. Nash, professor of educa- up for a track meet at the Fieldhouse. He dize though these crazy antics. Maybe tion at New York University, said maybe was “the chief hope” of coach J.A. Tor- the college boys could get their fill of because they spent 30 minutes more per resani for a win in the mile run at the excitement by trading places with the week at the TV screen than they spent in 19th annual Rapids Invitational meet. battle-weary GI’s for awhile. school. “They should be solving prob- Later, at the Wisconsin Valley Indoor A Madison grandmother says that, in lems, modeling in clay, making things at Track meet, Rapids defended its three- 1902, she had seen young males pouring a work bench, experimenting in chemis- year championship with a combined into Chadbourne Hall in search of femi- try, throwing a ball, playing a trombone, point total that exceeded that of the four nine undergarments. Fifty years earlier. skinning a squirrel.” other schools combined. Funeral services were held at Ti- Fifty years ago, adults had an idea Young VanWormer, an angler, no gerton for a former principal of Biron how to get the kids away from the TV. doubt appreciated the efforts of the Heart Grade School most recently a teacher at Send them to movies. Showing at the of Wisconsin Conservation League. Longview, Wash. He had been bayoneted Wisconsin theater was radio’s favorite Over 5,000 legal-sized trout had been re-

46 River City Memoirs Ghost leased recently in streams: browns in the Anthrax had appeared in dairy cattle, the extension of Hill Street. All the new Ten Mile; brooks in Bloody Run, Five mink and hogs. Horses, deer, buffalo, houses would be contemporary or ranch Mile and Lynn Creeks; and rainbows in guinea pigs and mice also were suscep- style, one story in height. the Four Mile, where they could move tible. Resident in the soil for many years, Fifty years ago, work began on raz- into 15-year-old Lake Wazeecha. anthrax was considered a natural agent. ing the old S.S. Peter & Paul Catholic Fifty years ago, state Sen. Melvin R. Local politics update: her energetic church on 2nd Street North. It had served Laird, 30, announced he would be a can- campaign was perhaps the most active as mother church of the area from 1873, didate for Republican nomination for ever staged here in a mayoral contest, rendered obsolete by a new edifice built Congress in the 7th district. The office commented the Daily Tribune. in 1952. So it happened that down went had been vacated by the death of Rep. Isabel “Bo” Utegaard, subject of last the towering steeple of the familiar land- Reid F. Murray. month’s Memoirs. mark that would be a crucial item in the When Laird had been elected to the An April 2 Tribune editorial consid- dating of old photos. state Senate to succeed his late father, ered the re-election of Carl C. Knudsen Obits: M.R. Laird Sr., he became the youngest by a 2-1 margin substantial endorsement Rev. Alpheus W. Triggs, 73, former legislator in the country. of his “pay-as-we-go” policy. The Tri- pastor of the Rapids First Methodists, Lucky for young Mel, he wasn’t bune congratulated Mrs. Utegaard for 1936-48, and then minister to Port Ed- present when five congressmen joined courageously speaking her views and wards’ Community Church. Services to troops at Yucca Flat, Nev., to watch an said it was “somewhat less than gra- be held at First Congregational because atom bomb explode. After the terrific cious” for Knudsen to infer that his op- of its large auditorium. flash of light and heat had passed over ponent tried to “buy” her way into office The Kansas native and Lawrence Col- them, the troops joked, jumped up and through use of various media. lege graduate was active in numerous laughed, only to gag as the blast drove a “Mayor Knudsen had his record to civic groups including the WWII Wood wave of dust into their open mouths. stand on; his opponent had to start from County draft board, Wisconsin Rapids Fifty years ago, in the year of the scratch in her bid for the voters’ sup- library board and Mayor’s Committee Cold War, Robert M. Kingdon, Wiscon- port.” on Human Rights. He was a veteran of sin Rapids, was spending a year doing Rolf Utegaard reports that when the the Spanish-American war. post-graduate work at the University of results were tallied, his mother con- “One of his greatest joys was to meet Geneva, Switzerland, under a fellow- gratulated Knudsen, who said, “You and chat with his friends whether on the ship awarded by Rotary International. shouldn’t have been in the election in street during his busy daily rounds or at He wrote back to the Tribune in a series the first place.” a meeting of the Rotary Club or some of articles. Fifty years ago, a new 95-plot subdi- other gathering.” “Twice this month I crossed the Iron vision, to be known as the “The Mead- The Tribune had detected in Triggs Curtain. It happened both times in oc- ows,” was surveyed and platted by a rare sense of humor. His sermons sel- cupied Berlin, from the West one to the Mead-Witter Properties on part of the dom lacked a story or two designed to East…” old Witter farm south of Mead Street make his listeners smile or laugh. He Fifty years ago, anthrax, one of the and east of a proposed extension of Hill often said that a long face was not the dread animal diseases that also affect Street. Frank Henry’s Economy Lum- mark of a true Christian. Indeed, Rev. man, broke out in scattered areas over ber Supply had options on 32 lots and Triggs must have had a funny bone; he Wisconsin as the south United States ex- planned to erect 20 homes before year’s baptized me. perienced its worst outbreak in history. end, beginning at Chestnut Street and 05-11-02

47 Ghost River City Memoirs

Blackjack Remaining bottles clatter into place. At other houses, such as my grandpar- Clonk. Snap. Pried-off cap into the box ents’, all the phones on the “line” would ia email courtesy Norm Arendt, below: snap. Fizz. Glug. Empty bottle ring at the same time. You answered to Middleton, Wis. To rate your into wooden case. Clunk. a signal, such as two longs and a short. Vrecall of these cultural artifacts, Well into the 1980s, Daily Tribune Or, for fun, you answered everyone’s count only those you actually remember, owner Bill Huffman Jr. kept his staff calls and listened in. not those you were told about. happy with a machine offering 12-ounce On my own party line, used until re- Blackjack chewing gum bottles of Mountain Dew for 15 cents, cently [pub. 2002], you dialed in private Licorice flavor, nickel for a pack of contributing to a generation of AARP- but might pick up the phone and hear five dusty sticks. Located by me at 3rd card Dew-heads. your neighbor talking. Street grocery, about half-way down- Coffee shop jukeboxes Telephone number with a word prefix town from my Two Mile Avenue home. Coffee shops? Let’s call them soda “Harrison 3-7200.” Blackjack was introduced in the fountains. Jukeboxes? Small “boxes” on Now, it’s 423-7200. 1800s by the Adams Company as one of the wall. Flip the cards with a lever to Call this number in the afternoon and the first mass-produced flavored gums. view selections. A nickel for a song or ask for “the Big Kahuna.” It will be well Warner-Lambert bought Adams and a quarter for six. Sugar Bowl. Friendly worth the effort. Do it today. You won’t halted production of Blackjack in 1976, Fountain. Art’s. Wilpolt’s. get many more chances. [No more reviving it temporarily in 1986 as part Home milk delivery chances.] of a “Nostalgia Gum Program.” Warner- Through a door on the breezeway Newsreels Lambert was bought out by Pfizer Co., side, a Fischer’s Dairy milk man set Any excuse to be in the theater look- makers of prescription drugs that in- quart bottles in the “milk chute.” The un- ing at the big screen. Views of Korean clude Viagra. lockable passageway provided a handy War and McCarthy hearings. Wax bottles entrance to the house when keys weren’t PF Flyers Miniature Coke-shaped bottles, filled available. Cream rose to the bottle top. Canvas “sneakers?” Never called with colored sugar water. Nip the top, In the 1980s, I talked to Bruce Fis- them sneakers. sip the “pop.” Or chew the entire bottle cher about how his dairy at 240 4th Ave. “Tennies.” like gum. In a couple seconds: a taste- S. was displaced for Rapids Mall. Red Ball Jets. less wad of wax. If you’re frugal, keep Now, in order to determine whether Butch wax chewing anyway. “Fischer” had a “c” in it, I made an In- Brylcreem. “A little dab’ll do ya. Ya Candy cigarettes ternet search. The first entry displayed look so debonair.” Something about the red-tipped sticks was “River City Memoirs” by Dave En- Butch haircuts. Crew cut. Shaved felt good to have and hold. And a pack, gel, as indexed by Marlys Steckler and short all around. Admiration for “flat- even better, like the real thing. available at the McMillan Memorial tops” like George Zimmerman’s. Like The taste? Somewhere between sugar Library Web site. That’s bad, when the the landing deck of an aircraft carrier. and chalk. Didn’t taste any better if you so-called expert source turns out to be Couldn’t get a proper deck because lit them. one’s self. my dad was cutting my hair and because Soda pop bottle machines Party lines my head was shaped like that of Garry Clank. Nickel through metal slot “Number please.” Moore, the radio and television person- and into coin box. Clink. Seven-ounce “2294-J.” ality. Garry Moore promoted Winston cola jerked out, glass on glass. Clack. “Hello.” Our number. cigarettes and smoked them frequently.

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He died of emphysema in 1993.Garry Metal ice trays with levers ago. Or does “drive-in” refer to root beer Moore had a secret; his real name was J. That painful cracking if you didn’t stands? We had a lot of good ones. Garrison Morfit. hold them under the water long enough. Studebakers Peashooters Mimeograph paper The little car that seemed to have Bamboo, plastic or metal tubes. Ac- Two Mile school: Before classes, one been built backwards. tual dried peas for ammo. Ow! of four women teachers cranking the Wash tub wringers Howdy Doody handle, mimeograph machine clicking Turn a handle and squeeze clothes Never liked the freckled little nerd. away. Remember those stencils you had between rollers, then hang ’em on the Met Howdy’s alter ego, Buffalo Bob to type first? Smell of the ink? line. Not that I ever used such a thing Smith, in 1970, peddling already nos- Blue flashbulbs but they were around, many on front talgic shtick to college students. “Say, First camera used, Mom’s old box. porches. kids, what time is it?” First new camera, a Kodak “Starmite.” How to score 45 rpm records Just after the big flash-bulbs and just be- If you remembered 0-5 of the above, At Your Record Shop, you could try fore flashcubes. you’re “still young,” 6-10, getting old- out the 98-cent two-song “records” on Beanie and Cecil er, 11-15, don’t tell; 16-25, “older than available turntables. Say what? dirt.” I bought classmate Al Rasmussen’s Roller skate keys LHS classmate Rob Gringle, in Wash- collection of used “45s” for $10, includ- Round and round in the unfinished ington D.C. recalled that at least two ing a record box which I still have and a basement, smacking into columns, fall- of the candy cigarettes in a pack were 45 rpm “record player.” If you turned it ing on concrete floor, scraping elbows, bound to be broken. He added to the list, up as far as it would go… having fun. Steel wheels, ball bear- bubble gum cigars, Clove gum, fizzies, Just let me hear some of that rock and ings. Skates attached to shoes. “I’ve got dots of candy on paper strips, Red Rock roll music! a brand new pair of roller skates and Cola and Herschleb’s lemon brickle ice S&H Green Stamps you’ve got a brand new key.” cream. Gas stations with glass cases display- Cork popgun Red Rock Cola? I remember Royal ing tumblers, cups and plates for free or One of those moments you remember Crown Cola. Good, and cheaper. at a reduced price with Green Stamps. for no good reason: on the stairway of “All of the above, with the exception “Fill ’er up.” More likely, “dollar’s the Clarence Riemer house on Rapids’ of Clove gum, the occasional Fudgesi- worth.” West Side, firing a workable cork “rifle” cle & Herschleb’s strictly verboten at Hi-Fis for the first time. Later, my own cork home,” Rob said. “All available though “High-fidelity” record players and gun with the nice wooden stock. Pop! at Peters Grocery on Baker Street, an 33 rpm “record albums.” Hi-Fi became One sunny day circa 1957, on an NRA easy bike ride.” “stereo.” gun safety course field trip to Friend- My quiz score? Only missed one Excited about my first stereo outfit ship mound, Pee Wee Peckham shared and that was “Beanie and Cecil,” which (with then-new detachable speakers), his 7-Up candy bar with me. You aren’t shouldn’t be in this quiz. I think it was a purchased at the Merchandise Center, around to hear it, Pee Wee, but thanks. television show. We didn’t’ even own a 3970 8th St. S. Recently, I spoke with the Some things we don’t forget. TV set 50 years ago. guy who owned the Merchandise Center Drive-ins then. But I can’t remember his name. Mentioned here recently: our own 06-08-02 Highway 13 “outdoor,” built 50 years

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Big Kahuna sure I met Rose Mary, and their children, working their way up the editorial slip- Renee, Julie, Amy and Andy. stream, with names such as Pete, Tom hy be a writer if you can’t If the Tribune were also a family (and and Jamie. His doctrine was simple. honor your friends? Espe- so it seemed during the ownership of “Put out the best paper possible.” Wcially now that one of the best William F. Huffman, Jr., whose father After he stepped down in 1985 or so as has cleaned out his drawers and headed had preceded him as publisher), Bob “the” editor, he remained “an” editor-at- out to hang a gnarly ten. was at the center of it. Watching him large. For many years, I’m glad to say, The first time I laid eyes on the Big pitching softball at a company picnic, I my work received his scrutiny. Kahuna was during my virgin visit to the didn’t realize that, some fifty years ago, Mr. K was also a writer, through col- Daily Tribune. In early 1980, I needed a Bob fell from a silo at his family’s farm umns such as “Rapids Pulse.” In one en- job and the Tribune wanted verbiage for near Green Bay and broke his leg. If the gaging sequence, references to his boy- the “Seventies” section. resulting shorter limb was a problem, he hood residence of Lena, Wis., inspired After apologizing for the pay scale kept a poker face about it. ongoing responses. (you mean for twelve months!?), Tri- Shortly after I started at the Tribune, Outside the Trib, Mr. K has been my bune editor Joe Karius introduced me Karius left for the sports editorship of fellow researcher, delving into back hall to the stalwarts of South Wood County the Milwaukee Sentinel and Bob became files at the Superiorcourthouse, tracking print journalism. Remember reporters interim editor here. After an abbreviated down Old Reuben’s nephew at Portage Vern Borth, John Pelton, Anna Marie stint by an irrational optimist, Bob was and interviewing Bob Dylan’s former Lux and Claude Werder? Scope editor named official editor. This made him, in drummer in Hibbing, Minn. and obit writer Debra Brehmer? Com- surfer-patois, the Big Kahuna. A Neil Diamond aficionado, Bob kept munity Life editor Diane Montz? Sports When the Tribune was sold to the a poker face about Dylan and, at a Mil- editor Dave VanWormer and his side- Thomson newspaper chain, Mr. K had waukee concert, made a determined but kick, Ken Kleppe? Photographers Craig to deal with the resulting economics, er- unsuccessful attempt to get a backstage Felts and Mel Glodowski? Most impor- gonomics, different comics, astral pho- pass. Because of his name, Bob, and the tant, city editor Robert Des Jarlais? nics, fluxomics and Reaganomics. Most many ties to my Dylan biography, at the “I saw the story about you,” I said to nights, a light burned in his office long age of two, my daughter thought Mr. K Des Jarlais that day. after he should have gone home. actually was Bob Dylan. Editor Karius had described his sec- But he kept a poker face. “You’re a couple of adventurous ond-in-command as a poker-faced poker That’s what I tried to do when he, as boys,” his mother told us as we arrived at player. “It was a slow news day,” Bob, the Big Kahuna, said to me, the photog- her Douglas, Ariz., home. Stretches the later dubbed the Big Kahuna, said. In rapher, “Could you swing by and get a definition of boys. But yes, we had been the same droll manner, he soon gave me shot of…?” to Truth or Consequences, Metropolis, my first encouragement as a newspaper Was he bluffing? Or did I really have Prentice, Winneconne, the rock ’n’ roll guy. “Rose Mary said she thinks you’re to “swing by” and shoot the duck in the reunion at the El Paso Club, an awards a good writer…different.” mailbox, then swing by and process the banquet in downtown Duluth, Woody’s For his part, Karius asked, “Do you film, then swing by and print a snapshot biggest burger bar in Pratt, Kansas. All have a camera?” Because I did, I was in- for the next day’s edition? It would de- in search of the perfect Southern Com- stantly a professional photographer. lay my weekend by two hours. fort Old Fashioned “sweet with an ol- An assignment soon took me to the Still employing his poker face, Mr. ive,” not a cherry. And, for Mr. K, trying Des Jarlais residence, where Bob made K helped a school of young journalists to solve this: If I only eat five sausages,

50 River City Memoirs Ghost three eggs, an order of hash browns and paper, Ironwood, Mich., he sent a letter highlighted by a softball game, called a couple of pancakes, why can’t I lose a to the Daily Tribune following Mr. K’s because of the heat. Not content with few pounds? retirement notice. their efforts in the game, the supervisors While on the road, he often visited an “Early in his Tribune career as sports competed in a sprint race in which Dick old friend, of which there were many. editor, Bob worked long and hard to Greeneway of Sherry emerged victor. In Houghton, Mich., a newspaper pub- provide outstanding coverage of local A crowd of 700 had attended the pic- lisher formerly with the Daily Tribune; and area sports. Later, working in gen- nic, the children participating in sack in Oshkosh, a newspaper executive; in a eral news he honed his already strong races and pie eating contests and the New Mexico, a former Rapids resident editing skills. Most impressive, though, women in nail driving contests. who continued to correspond. was his commitment and dedication to Fifty years ago, a war was still going As he was faithful to his family and newspapers and good journalism. At the on. Pfc. John R. Wulf, 23, Port Edwards, friends, so was Bob attentive to his faith. same time his professional and polite was killed in action in Korea, June 21. Every Sunday, he attended mass, while I demeanor earned him the respect of col- Wulf entered service January 8, 1951. wandered around such exotic terrain as leagues and news sources. You’re right Prior to induction into the Army, he was Socorro, New Mexico, or Ashland, Wis. – he will be missed.” employed by Nekoosa-Edwards paper At home, he provided support and coun- When Bob Des Jarlais fell off a silo Co. cil to St. Vincent Catholic parish and his fifty years ago, a lot of us were trying to Pfc. Wulf was survived by his wife, friend, the local reverend. injure ourselves over the 4th of July. the former Violet Schauer of Wisconsin Mr. K can converse with anyone about Yet, according to the Tribune of 1952, Rapids, a 9-months-old daughter, and anything. Basketball with poet t. kilg- we all failed. There was not a single ac- his parents in Oregon and Kansas. ore splake, journalism with author Nor- cident, traffic or otherwise, to report af- Fifty years ago, funeral services were bert Blei, abstract painting with heiress ter a “safe and sane” holiday weekend. held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church for Mary Burns, folk blues with guru Dave This, despite a crowd of 5,000 jammed Pfc. Neal W. Haferman, 20, son of Mr. Morton. No one is more ready to buy a into Witter Athletic Field Friday night and Mrs. William T. Haferman, 11th Ave. drink or over-tip a waitress. Beginning a for the giant fireworks display that cli- N. He had been killed in action, July 29, road trip, the bill has been paid before I maxed the celebration sponsored by 1950. get to the cashier. When Central Home Buckley-Baldwin Post No. 2534, Vet- Pfc. Haferman was born in Wisconsin Improvements, Inc. of Rapids finished erans of Foreign Wars. Carnival attrac- Rapids, March 30, 1930. He attended roofing his house, Mr. Kahuna chased tions and games and contests for chil- West Side Lutheran and graduated from all over town with a car full of rapidly- dren drew large numbers to the field Lincoln High school in 1948. melting Herschleb’s sundaes, to find and during the day and evening. Prior to enlisting in the army in Janu- reward the workers. Over 1,500 witnessed the State League ary, 1949, he had been employed by the He did me a favor when a Hibbing na- baseball game between Wisconsin Rap- Water & Light Department. tive asked him, “Are you a Bob Dylan ids and Wausau and thousands more at- He was survived by his parents and fan?” And he answered, “I’m a Dave tended stock car races at Crowns Speed- three brothers, all of Wisconsin Rapids. Engel fan.” way in the afternoon. Lake Wazeecha Had he lived to see this July morning He said it with a poker face. and other parks were “thronged by” pic- in 2002, Neal Haferman would be 72 Thanks, Mr. Kahuna. nickers, boaters and swimmers. years of age. Remember Joe Karius? Apparently The annual Wood County Board pic- now publisher of the Daily Globe news- nic, held at “North County park,” was 07-13-02

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Cad Bates derer. A rear screen door cut by a sharp The crime scene was roped off and the instrument and a wire pushed through to state crime laboratory Madison called in ne person had all the clues. But lift the latch. The hasp on the outer door, from Madison. Two guards were posted the rest of us didn’t even know secured by a padlock, torn loose. overnight while Boll and Potter con- Owho that person was. We had Some pieces were harder to find, no- tinued to question acquaintances of the to put the puzzle together one piece at tably the murder weapon. victim. An “inch-by-inch” search was a time. A criminal pathologist, called in from conducted by Al Hamann, state crime So it was that Wood County sheriff La Crosse to perform an autopsy, termed laboratory technician, said the Tribune. Arthur Boll picked up the phone on a the beating “highly unusual.” The vic- Miss Clara “Cad” Bates: Monday night fifty years ago, and told tim’s forehead crushed as if from a blunt Had operated the town of Grand Rap- what he knew to district attorney John instrument, yet other gashes on the head ids tavern for five years. M. Potter, who was waiting at the old made by a sharp edge. Was born in Burlington, Iowa, Dec. county jail for a meeting of the Wood Authorities advanced no motive for 27, 1875, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. County Sheriff and Traffic Committee. the murder. Robbery was ruled out. The Eli Bates. And so it was that, in turn, the people tavern till was untouched and jewelry on Had lived in the Rapids area for about of River City were provided one piece at the victim had not been removed. Boll 40 years. Was survived by one brother, a time, from the source that has always declared the act, “a brutal thing, prob- William Bates, Wisconsin Rapids, a sis- told them the most, their local newspa- ably the work of a sadist.” ter, Mrs. Grace McDonald, Burlington, per. Edward Kanieski, 11th St. S., and Al- one niece and three nephews. From the Daily Tribune of July 1, vin Phipps, Rt. 1, who lived a quarter- Funeral services were held at Krohn 1952: mile north of the tavern, had discovered & Berard Funeral Home, Rev. C.A. At 6 p.m. Monday night, June 30, the the body at about 6 p.m. Monday, the O’Neill officiating, burial to take place body of Clara “Cad” Bates, 76… day prior to the newspaper story. in Burlington. Found in living quarters attached to Kanieski said he had been driving past Wednesday, July 2, Tribune: Cad’s Tavern, a beer bar she operated the tavern on County Trunk U with his No new puzzle pieces, said Boll. He seven miles east of Wisconsin Rapids wife and child and decided to stop for a and Potter had questioned several per- and a mile north of Kellner on the Por- beer. He found the tavern door locked, sons and narrowed down the field of tage County line. The victim, who lived he said, and walked to the rear, where he those who might have committed the alone, found lying on a bed, unclothed heard noises inside that sounded “like a act. “What we are trying to do now,” the except for shoes and stockings. Skull woman or child weeping.” sheriff said, “is to locate the persons who crushed by repeated blows from a blunt Puzzled, Kanieski said, he drove to last saw Miss Bates prior to her death.” instrument, said coroner Dr. Harold Po- Phipps’ home and returned with Phipps. Investigation seemed to show that the mainville. Tight around her neck, twine Entering by way of the open rear door, tavern had been open up to 2 p.m. Sun- of shoestring and wrapping cord, cov- they found the victim’s body in a bed- day but that it had been locked up by 3 ered by a blood-soaked towel. room. Kanieski called Sheriff Boll on p.m. when friends of the victim stopped Puzzle pieces seemed to fall into the Bates’ house telephone. by. “That leads us to believe that the place. For example, death was believed Boll and undersheriff Tom Forsyth murder may have been committed Sun- to have occurred after 11 p.m. Sunday, went to the scene. According to the sher- day afternoon,” Boll said. “We have the when Cad closed the tavern. And, it iff, noises Kanieski mentioned would descriptions of four autos seen parked in seemed, forced entry made by the mur- seem to have been made by two dogs. front of the tavern at 2 p.m.

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“We would like the people in the tav- ing was set for July 14 and Kanieski, in Kanieski, meanwhile, was taken to ern at that time, especially, to come for- lieu of $5,000 bond, was committed to Madison for a lie-detector test, the re- ward with any information they have.” the county jail. sults of which were not released. A A thorough search for a murder weap- Police said Kanieski, born July 15, search warrant enabled authorities to on was made by the sheriff’s department 1918, had a criminal record dating at search his home, but the sheriff did not with the aid of 15 men from Battery C, least to 1933. His most recent convic- disclose what had been found. 126th Field Artillery Battalion, a local tion was Jan. 25, 1950, when he was Wednesday, July 9, Tribune: Another National guard unit. No weapon was sentenced by County Judge Byron B. search of the area near Cad’s Tavern was found. Conway to one-to-two years at Wau- made with a mine detector loaned by the Thursday, July 3, Tribune: pun State Prison for attempted breaking Stevens Point National Guard. The only As the search for the murderer moved and entering at the home of Mrs. Lou- result was a rusted jackknife. into its fourth day, a “John Doe” hearing ise Eberius, 76, town of Saratoga, in the Of possible relevance to the Bates case was called by Potter, to be conducted be- early morning of Sept. 12, 1949. was the ongoing three-way race for Re- fore justice of the peace Gerald W. Hierl Mrs. Eberius, who lived alone, shot publican nomination for sheriff among to obtain testimony from key witnesses Kanieski in the neck after he cut tele- Boll, Arthur E. Berg, Wisconsin Rapids under oath. Meanwhile, the puzzle that phone wires and forced open a screen and Albert J. Specht, Marshfield. had been framed was jumbled again. door opening onto the front porch, ac- The winner would face William Ober- It was learned from a preliminary au- cording to the Tribune. meier, town of Rudolph, the only Demo- topsy report that the victim was killed Sheriff Boll said the only recent de- cratic candidate. Saturday night or Sunday morning NOT velopment in the Bates case was the dis- Thursday, July 10, Tribune: late Sunday as was believed. covery that a cigar box containing about The autopsy report in the Bates mur- It was learned that cars seen parked $40, all in dimes bearing the picture der case was received by county coroner in the area on Sunday were owned by of the late Franklin D. Roosevelt, was Pomainville but the contents were not persons picking blueberries NOT by missing from the victim’s home. Rela- divulged. those frequenting Cad’s tavern. No one tives said Miss Bates was a collector of The knife found Tuesday afternoon was found who had been at the tavern that particular coin. was sent to the state crime laboratory. on Sunday. Monday, July 7, Tribune: Tuesday, July 15, Tribune: Furthermore, Clara Bates was in Wis- County authorities revealed they Kanieski was bound over to Circuit consin Rapids most of Saturday morn- found a small, weighted, leather-bound Court to stand trial on the abuse charge. ing but the latest anyone had seen her blackjack, hidden in a woodpile near Bond of $5,000 was continued and he alive was Saturday not Sunday. Cad’s Tavern. Sheriff Boll said, “If in- was committed to the county jail. Saturday, July 5, Tribune: expertly used, it could inflict the type These are the pieces of the puzzle Based on information that came inci- of head wounds that caused the victim’s available to the public in the case of Cad dentally to the sheriff’s attention while death.” Police were also looking for a Bates. investigating the Bates murder, a charge .25 caliber pistol Bates had in her pos- Nothing more of importance to the of statutory rape of a 10-year-old town session. “We now know Miss Bates died Cad Bates case was reported as of Au- of Grand Rapids girl was brought against sometime after 12:30 a.m. Sunday,” gust 10, 1952. Edward F. Kanieski, the same person Boll said, “since we have confirmed that Fifty years ago, today. who had called to report finding the she had kept the tavern open up to that body of Cad Bates. A preliminary hear- time.” 08-10-02

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Too Many Daves “David” was a good name for parents kin on “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” who wanted something Biblical that David Nordlee, one of the first Da- avid Engel, Dave the Engel, sounded like it came from Sears Roe- vids I knew. Lived across Clyde Avenue Dave the Buns of Engels, Dave buck. Also a good name for a short guy, from our house, in the late 1940s. Dthe big rib cage Engel… recalling what happened with Goliath. David Murgatroyd. After we moved An Internet search tells me what I al- And what was that thing with Bathshe- to Two Mile Avenue, he sometimes al- ready knew: too many Dave Engels. A ba? “Don’t call me King Dave!” lowed me to play with his toy trucks. If “senior research scientist.” A “popular Moving on to “Dah-veed,” the Re- any of his pals came by I should scram. mixologist.” A Saugatuck fisherman. An naissance sculpture by Michelangelo. I David Keating. I wore Dave’s passed- organic farmer in Viroqua. A concerned was named for it. That’s what it says in down blue jeans. That’s the way we did citizen. A gun shop owner. A webmas- one of my books. it then. ter. David in the Fifties: Dwight David David David. David Davidowski. Dave Engel: one of three founders of Eisenhower, the President. And Dwight David.com. the Portsmouth New Hampshire Yankee David Eisenhower, called David, grand- Most popular given names: Clipper Barber Shop Chorus. Treasurer son of the President. Married Julie Nix- In 1920, “John,” “William,” “James,” of the Central Ohio Chevelle Owners. on. “Robert,” “Joseph.” Yes, my 1967 Chevelle Malibu 283 ran Henry David Thoreau. John David “John” is Number one until 1926, for 160,000 trouble-free miles. In the pit Chapman. David Nelson, son of Os- knocked out by “Robert.” crew of Jim Bavuso (who got his start wald “Ozzie” Nelson. David was the In 1935, it’s “James” at Number 1, fol- helping Dave Miller according to an ar- square one. The hepcat was Eric Hilliard lowed by “Robert,” “John,” “William” ticle by Dave Dragovich). “Ricky” Nelson who closed the televi- and “Richard.” This is the year “David” For a while, I got those phone calls. sion show with mild rock-and-roll. enters the top 10 at Number 10. “Dave Engel?” David Niven. Actor. Birth name, From 1937-53, “David” hovers “This is the real Dave. I think you James David Graham Niven. around Number 5 but in 1955 makes a want the one that works for Georgia Pa- David Ben-Gurion, state of Israel’s big move, reaching Number 1 in 1960, cific.” first prime minister. 1961 and 1963. “Dave Engle does not like to risk dis- David Copperfield, the magician. It hangs on at Number 2 and Number rupting his hitters’ concentration by giv- Birth name, David Kotkin. 3 until 1973 when “David” declines in ing them advice during games.” Ralph David Kaminsky. Stage name, Danny favor of “Christopher,” “Michael” and David Engle, born 1956, apparently is or Kaye. “Jason.” was the New York Mets baseball hitting David Bowie. Birth name, David “David” sees Joshua (fit the battle of coach. His highest salary was $215,000, Robert Jones. Jericho) enter the fray in 1979. By now pretty close to my average at the Daily David Brinkley. David Duchovny. a journeyman with staying power, “Da- Tribune, writing stories about local his- Hasselhoff. Spade. Lynch. Cohen/Blue. vid” hangs on around Number 5 into the tory. Crosby. Lee Roth. late 1980s. When Daves are born, they are called Berkowitz, arsonist and serial killer, The nineties are disastrous for the “David.” Dr. Orville Straub, the Rapids born June 1, 1953. Called himself Son timeworn, fatigued “David.” In 1992, it dentist, cheerfully dubbed me, “Davy.” of Sam. is Number 10 with “Michael” (row the I loved my Davy Crockett coonskin cap, David McCallum: born September boat ashore) at Number 1. but hated the name, “Davy.” 19, 1933, Scotland. Played Illya Kurya- A 1993 tie with Ryan is the last hur-

54 River City Memoirs Ghost rah for “David.” The punch-drunk pug Or the movie, “Dave?” It seemed like him if it were true that he used to per- is gone from the top-ten in 1994, unable a perfect name for the doofus who be- form at the Ritz Bar on Main Street. to compete with “Zachary,” “Jacob,” came President. He said no, but he liked to hang out “Tyler,” “Brandon” and “Austin.” Remember David Obey? He’s been there. I wish they still called it “The The first half of 2001 shows “Jacob” “Dave” for quite a while. I wrote to Ritz.” (climbing Jacob’s ladder) in the Number Dave’s Washington office for a photo of My pal, Dave Zimmerman, has an 1 spot, followed by “Michael,” “Joshua” “Dave” in the Fifties but his lackeys did older brother named Bob. Bob Dylan, and “Matthew.” “David” is Number 21. not acknowledge the request. Even after whose real name is Bob Zimmerman, After my dad, “Don,” died, Mom the Dave to Dave talk we once had. has a younger brother named Dave Zim- (“Arline” but called “Sally”) and I were Dave’s predecessor in office was merman. When I was writing a book shopping for a coffin. Melvin R. Laird, then of Marshfield. In about Bob Dylan, I liked to sign myself “You may have seen Dave’s stories a talk at the “Hub City” library, I called “Dave Dylan.” in the Tribune,” she said to the funeral the former Secretary of Defense, “Hub” “Dylan” is the number 16 name in director, who was quick to respond, “I and mentioned his mother, Helen Con- popularity in 2001. I once wrote a song, love your work, Dave.” nor Laird. Afterwards, I was unexpect- “My name is Dylan but I don’t know As he showed us his wares, the Tri- edly presented with: “Helen Laird.” It why!” bune reader recalled ”my” humourous wasn’t Mel’s mother. It was the wife of In high school we were three Daves: rants about too many traffic lights, ram- his brother, Dave. Zimmerman, Hanson and myself. With- blings about fishing and critiques of the David Letterman seems to prefer be- out his approval, Dave Z. was “Zeke.” Packers. “That’s Dave Van Wormer,” I ing called Dave these days. Like Dave Dave H.’s nickname, “Mouse,” lasted as said. Barry. long as the peroxide streak in his hair. Back in the days of Joseph Karius, A cartoon was sent to me: “Dave “Did I ever tell you that Mrs. Mc- we journalists had to be known by our takes it upon himself to root out the en- Cave/Had twenty-three sons and she official birth-names. But when Robert emy.” Telemarketers’ nite at Dave’s Pub named them all Dave?” Kahuna became editor, he brought the and Dave clubs them as they come in. I had just finished writing thisTribune surfer mystique into play. Then there are the grandchildren, story when my wife, Kathy, a school li- “Can I call myself ‘Dave’?” I asked. Vera, Chuck and Dave, from “When I’m brarian, happened upon a distressing He said, “Go ahead dude,” and 64,” by the Beatles. footnote. changed his name to Bob. Dave Davies of the Kinks rock band. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of I thought of starting a photo collec- Dave Dudley. Born May 3, 1928, in that Dr. Seuss story before,” she said. tion of all the “Dave’s Body Shop” signs Spencer, Wis., Darwin David Pedruska “It’s even called ‘Too Many Dave’s.’” I have seen. grew up in Stevens Point. His first love A last indignity, in, “The Sneetches Have you heard of “Dave’s Falls was baseball. While recovering from and Other Stories,” by Dr. Seuss. It was Park,” Amberg, Wis.? A man recently an injury, Dave dropped by WTMT in copyrighted 1961, when the very pop- saved his four children and fiancé but Wausau, Wis., and ended up a radio ular four-letter word was lightweight drowned, crossing at Dave’s Falls. host. Fifty years ago, Dave formed the champion of the world. How about “Famous Dave’s Barbe- Dave Dudley Trio. His 1963 truck driv- cue?” It’s available at Wisconsin Dells in’ song, “Six Days on the Road,” made 09-14-02 (formerly named Kilbourn), among oth- overdrive sound cool. When Dave was er places. in Point a couple of decades ago, I asked

55 Ghost River City Memoirs

America’s Fairyland by a rural countryside that, for many of boards for sale. us, is the image of a true Wisconsin. Fif- Remember that quaint Fifties-style eymour, Wis., modern times. ty years ago at sunset, there was a light license plate? The yellow rectangle? A Having arrived early for an inter- in the barn. big slab of dairy product. Cheese. Or, if Sview, I need a place to wait. How Light, because Farmer Braun (Ger- you prefer, butter. Imprinted “America’s about the Dairy Queen on Highway 54? man equivalent of Brown) had fetched Dairyland,” it stood for the hard-work- So prosperous, an expansion is needed. Bessie, Dot and Molly in from pasture ing, wholesome, productive land we Even as I watch, a back-hoe chops into (the horse was “Nell”) and now devoted believed we lived in. That fantasy has th the smooth, flat, surface of the late 20 himself to the evening milking. It was melted like the high-priced spread on a Century. But what it forks out is raw, comparable to seeing a glow in church hot stove. The Agricultural Technology red clay. Outagamie county clay. Both windows and knowing someone was and Family Farm Institute has deter- slippery and sticky, when wet. Hard and inside praying. Fifty years ago, Farmer mined the number of farms in Wiscon- stubborn if dry. Even so, more fertile Braun, Mrs. Braun and the little Brauns sin declined steadily throughout the 20th than most. My grandfathers and great- did not have the leisure nor liking to clog century. For example, between 1959 and grandfathers had dedicated their work- up the highways looking for fun. 1997, the number declined from well ing lives to it. Fast food? Braun was frugal. Extra over 100,000 to less than 25,000. The The Seymour Dairy Queen is locat- earnings went back to the farm. Any- greatest losses were in the northern third ed on or adjacent to a parcel of land that way, he preferred his potatoes mashed of the state; along the Fox River Valley; had been owned by my grandmother’s and chickens beheaded personally. and in the counties surrounding the Mil- moved-to-town sister, Cleora, and her Gambling? A crime against God and waukee metropolitan area. husband, Winfred Schmidt. Like so good sense. And, it was against the law. Meanwhile, the typical Wiscon- many similar plots, their parcel had been Shopping? Farmer Braun had fields to sin dairy herd quadrupled in size from subdivided for commuter residences— plow, machinery to maintain and fences 15 cows in 1950 to almost 60 in 1999. except for a lot donated to the Methodist to mend. He had to fine-tune the clay he But the total volume of milk produced church. The gift would later earn “Uncle would be buried in. dropped along with the value of sales. Winnie” a favorable comparison to Mo- Farmer Braun was a denizen of the Apparently, cheese factories have prob- ses in a eulogy from the pastor. Old Millennium. In the New, the coun- lems getting enough milk to supply their The Seymour Dairy Queen serves tryside is little more than a thoroughfare demand. the nouveau royals who have converted for five-million maniacs who can’t drive Our “new” license plate pretty much a bucolic Fifties farm town to a smart 55. says it all. Out with the cheese; in with bedroom community. It serves the Anyone who cares to look will find a generic jumble of icons promoting a princes and princesses who stand in line there is no light in the barn. The wind dreamy playground where Chicago-land waiting for their daily Diet Pepsi and the blows freely through cracks in the hay- refugees can trip lightly among the lilies works. loft walls and the nearly shingle-less of the field. The slogan for theNew Mil- Almost every time I return from the roof. Before the next thunderstorm lennium, sanctioned by the best minds creeping sprawl of eastern Wisconsin, strong enough to take the barn down, of Wisconsin Dells: “America’s Fairy- I think of the same path in the Fifties. Farmer Braun’s son, who works at a land.” Then, with three or four kids stashed paper mill in Kaukauna and favors the Like the rest of the state, Wood coun- around the ’49 Pontiac and Fibber Mc- Oneida casino, will move the RV out. ty has lost a lot of farms. David Long, Gee and Molly on the radio, we passed Then an ad goes in the shopper: barn University of Wisconsin analyst, said 56 River City Memoirs Ghost that the 1950 agricultural census showed from Stevens Point to Rudolph, I would If you remember my chapters about 2,647 farms in Wood county. The 1997 view what has been some lovely and the “old Monson place” on which I live, census counted 968. From 1992-1997, productive farm country. The farmland you know it was once a typical 80-acre the amount of land in farms decreased used to continue on Highway 34 south farm although marginal in productivity while the average size increased from from Rudolph. because of the soil. I often found parts 215 acres to 227 acres. In 1980, as a new Tribune corre- from milking machines in the dumps In 1980, county agricultural agent spondent, I interviewed my neighbors, here. The farm is now the site of four Louis Rosandick told me the great- Wendell and Lois Eastling, who were residences along a road becoming in- est threat to the family dairy farm was milking forty cows—all made easier, creasingly “built up.” an astronomical rise in land value. Ten Wendell said, by the technological ad- “We are lucky,” I preach to my com- years previous, a 160-acre farm would vances then current. Despite the hard panions, as we ride bicycles west on Oak have sold for $28,000. In 1980, the same work and daily chores that kept them Road to the corner with Highway 34, “to farm: $128,000. Agriculture, previously home almost every day, the Eastlings be able to see cows standing in a field.” a modest and independent way of life, were happy farming. Back at Seymour, one of the large had become a big business, costing Now, 22 years later [2002], I spoke modern residences sometimes known as about $325,000 to finance that 160-acre again with Wendell, now 64. In the Fif- “McMansions” occupies the corner of a operation. Most young persons could ties, he said, almost every place between field near my grandfather’s house. If you not contemplate such an investment. Rudolph and Rapids was a farm and want to visit his grave, just follow the Consequently, the total farm population there were three small dairies such as signs to the golf course. The golf course of the state dipped under ten percent. their own. and the cemetery stare at one another In August of this year, Rosandick’s At the time of the 1980 interview, from equally scenic sites on what used successor, Tod Planer, retired. The big- he figured, the township had 12-15 to be some of the finest farm land in the gest change he had seen, Planer said, dairy farmers. He can name all of the renowned dairy state of Wisconsin. was the decline of small farms. Today’s half-a-dozen that remain. There is just farms are larger and more business ori- one active dairy farmer on Highway 34 10-12-02 ented, Planer said, requiring complex on the Rudolph to Rapids stretch. And record-keeping. “They’ve gone from that farmer isn’t him. Eastling sold the cigar boxes to computers.” Planer was cows and equipment two years ago. He troubled by the number of vacant farms says the place will never be a dairy farm in Wood county, victims to the economy again. of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Changes have to come, he says. Like “Not many young people today want the one-room Lone Birch school he at- to go into farming,” Planer said. “They tended, the old-time 20-cow dairy farm see their contemporaries going to work can’t survive. in the city and getting vacations, insur- Retirement has allowed Eastling to ance and other benefits. Not many peo- do what he hadn’t been able to before: ple want to take on the 24-hours-a-day, get out on the road. On his latest trip 365-days-a-year job.” to Upper Michigan, we could have met If, on my way back from the Fox along the road. Up there, you don’t mind Valley Megalopolis, I took Highway C seeing a neighbor now and then.

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Hurls Baby Into Furnace six offenders pleaded guilty in county The two-story Wisconsin Valley court and another male was sent to the Creamery brick building at 160 1st Ave. o you skip over wholesome and Green Bay Reformatory. S. was razed by Consolidated Water educational history stories in fa- To find the furnace story, you will Power & Paper Co., the owner. Erected vor of tabloid-titillation? Thank have to make your way through some in 1907 by E.I. Chambers as a livery D th goodness it happened that, 50 years ago, local history. The 4 annual National stable, it had been enlarged in 1914 for there was trouble in River City. Four Cranboree attracted 60,000 people on Mott Food & Produce Co. In 1916, Mott women and four men were arraigned in a Saturday afternoon in late September, & Wood Co. was selling wholesale dairy justice court on “morals charges.” War- 1952. During a post-parade speech at products and farm produce. The name rants were issued for the arrest of two Witter Field, U.S. Sen. Alexander Wiley changed to Wisconsin Valley Dairy other men. complimented “what I consider one of Products Co. in 1922 when Paul A. Pratt So, what in the name of Monica the finest civic expressions in the coun- became president and became Wiscon- Lewinsky are morals charges? “Alleged try.” sin Valley Creamery Co. in 1926. illicit sexual relationships” between the Marjorie Jensen, Cranboree queen, Elected (all Republican): Gen. Dwight four women and six men, all from the opted out of the local events to attend a D. Eisenhower, president, over Gov. Ad- Wisconsin Rapids area. similar festival in Massachusetts but an lai E. Stevenson of Illinois. Richard M. Officers Donald Caylor and Dave airline snafu caused them to also miss Nixon, vice president. Wood County’s Sharkey had been investigating the case the Massachusetts fest. vote: 14,617-6,914, in favor of Ike. for eight weeks. Most of the affairs, they Rapids mayor Carl C. Knudsen re- Walter Kohler, governor, over Wil- said, took place at the home of one of fused to consider a committee request liam Proxmire. Melvin R. Laird, 30, the females involved. for a $500 appropriation to fund the Marshfield Republican, elected for the Three of the females, all prefaced Cranboree and Dick Davis, Cranboree first time to the U.S. Congress in the “Mrs.,” were charged with adultery. general chairman, charged the mayor 7th District, over Ernest Kluck, Whit- A fourth, identified as a divorcee, was with using unfair tactics. ing. Arthur E. Berg, sheriff, over Wil- charged with lewd and lascivious con- Consolidated’s Civic Foundation of- liam Obermeier, a Democrat. Berg had duct and released to care for her two fered to contribute 20 percent of the cost been sheriff from 1947-51. Donald E. children. of a proposed new municipal pool. A Reiland, Assembly. W.W. Clark, state What in the name of Snoop Doggy referendum on raising the tax rate to pay senator. Joseph R. McCarthy, U.S. sena- Dog is “lewd and lascivious conduct?” for the pool was scheduled for spring. A tor. At Madison, James Doyle, chair- It’s better left to the imagination. “long and often heated controversy” de- man of the state Democratic Organizing The morals investigation had begun veloped between Mayor Carl C. Knud- Committee, said: “To McCarthy: War “in earnest” after an anonymous early sen and Alderman Walter Wefel, who unto the death.” morning phone call identifying “some wanted to appropriate the funds imme- Alamask P-3 Concentrate. The first real parties” going on at a far east-side diately. Knudsen: “We’re taxed to death experiment in Wisconsin to alleviate the house. Following her eviction, the own- by the federal and state governments. stench from kraft pulp mills, conducted er moved to a town of Grand Rapids ad- People holler about the mess in Wash- at the Nekoosa mill of Nekoosa-Ed- dress and the parties went with her. ington and ask for tax cuts, but when it wards Paper Co. Made by DuPont, the When three of the females, accompa- comes right down to home they don’t compound of synthetic aromatic chemi- nied by three males, traveled to Neenah want to do it. We should start at home, cals produced a “spice-like” odor when together, the officers nabbed them. All and that’s what I’m trying to do.” added to pulp.

58 River City Memoirs Ghost

Winifred Binger: became the first Beer cards. A “foolproof” identifica- ware over which a tremendous amount woman and the 100th employee to retire tion card system, for use in proving age of youthful energy has been expended under the Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co.’s in taverns. It had been tried before. But in the past six years.” Sealed within: “A 1949 plan. She had worked for Nepco now there was “lamination” of a stan- quantity of gridiron grit and river water since the age of 16, beginning at the old dard ID card in a plastic case. from the respective communities.” The paper mill at South Centralia. A ream Deer season. Officials considered Panthers won in the final game of the cutter, “forelady” and “label girl,” she calling off hunting as officials debated season for both teams at Point’s Goerke recalled “finishing room girls” taken to the fire hazard in an autumn without rain Park, thereby retaining the jug for the and from the Centralia and Port mills since August but a timely downpour al- fourth straight year. in a wagon. On one occasion, the team lowed “red-coated” hunters to bag one James Grosklaus. Lincoln High broke away, leaving the girls stranded forked-horn buck each. School senior tackle, named to Associ- near the outskirts of the village. Don Ruder. The most consistent win- ated Press all-Wisconsin high school Mrs. Van Hoof. The Roman Catholic ner of stock car races at Crowns Speed- football team, the first local so-honored farm woman claimed in 1950 to receive way in 1952, shown with his “famed” since Dean Showers in 1948. visions of the Blessed Virgin. The fol- Car 77, “became almost an automatic “One Christmas Eve:” The newest lowing year, the official newspaper of finisher in one of the top spots in all book on the shelves in the children’s the Vatican discredited her claims. In races.” department of T.B. Scott Public Library, October, 1952, a crowd of 5,000, includ- Babe Parilli, in his first regular-season written by Ripon native Miss Wallie ing many aged and crippled, gathered at performance with the Packers, helped Ritzinger, an assistant librarian here for her home near Necedah. rout Curly Lambeau’s Washington Red- five years. A Christmas story for every- Unrelated. In Restaurant Hospitality skins. Fifty years later, I tried to contact day, in which a crippled boy with a big Month, an attempt was made to induce Babe Parilli at his home in Denver. But heart proves what it means to believe. families to dine in restaurants, with these the Babe was out of town. Fifty years ago [1952], according to local establishments participating: University of Wisconsin. Selected to the Tribune, a town of Grand Rapids Hotel Mead, Johnny’s Bar & Grill, represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl. mother grabbed her 3-month-old daugh- Lake Aire, Golden Gate Supper Club, UW had tied with Purdue for the confer- ter, dashed into the basement, opened Swarick’s. ence championship. the furnace door and hurled the blanket- Sugar Bowl, Paper Inn, Grand Grill, Don Rehfeldt. The greatest basket- wrapped child head first into fiery coals. T-M Bar, Kerrin’s Candy Store, Davis ball scorer ever to graduate from the But the father, alarmed by his wife’s be- Restaurant, Friendly Fountain, Dixon University of Wisconsin, in 1952 a sales havior, had stayed home from work. He Tap Room & Brig. rep with Gross Common Carriers Inc., followed her to the basement, pushed Wilpolt’s Restaurant, Kenny’s Grill, Wisconsin Rapids. The 6-7 center’s ca- his wife aside and yanked the baby from Yetter’s 13th Street Grill, Edgetown Tav- reer at Wisconsin, interrupted by mili- the furnace. The “mentally unbalanced” ern, The Coach, The Midget, Chicken tary service, concluded in 1950. The woman, a nurse by profession, suffering Hut, Lyle’s Venetian Tavern, Al & Ha- Chicago native played two years of pro from what Dr. George Handy termed zel’s Bar, The Golden Eagle, Bowen’s basketball with Baltimore and Milwau- “acute depression,” was committed to Restaurant. kee. Winnebago State Hospital, Oshkosh, for Labor Temple, Anderson’s Drug, Ol’ River Jug. The winner of the Ste- observation. Sunrise Tavern, Sky Club, The Mead- vens Point-Rapids Red Raiders game Fifty years ago. ows. would be awarded “a chunk of earthen- 11-19-02

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Kanieski sembled that of another possible male sus- ki by the elderly Mrs. Eberius as he tried to pect. break into her house. anta couldn’t wait to get to River There was and would be no confession. The 1950 prosecution by Kanieski trial City. In late November, he rolled into There was and would be no murder weapon judge Bunde, then district attorney, resulted Stown on the Milwaukee Road train. found. There was no known motive and no in Kanieski’s two-year sentence at Waupun A fire truck took him to the West Side and witness to the crime. state prison. East Side market squares, where he met But there were lots of pieces of a puzzle Boll, Potter and Bunde also knew that the some of the 3,000 youngsters who would be that seemed to portray Kanieski as Boll and Stevens Point native was the product of a attending free movies at the Wisconsin and Potter proceeded with the prosecution. For distressed background that had landed him, Rapids theaters. My pals and I enjoyed the instance, doesn’t a criminal return to the in 1928, at St. Clare’s orphanage, Polonia. Christmas parties and Santa’s personal visit scene of the crime? Wisconsin Rapids resident John Vicker, then on Christmas Eve. “Who runs that tavern?” Kanieski had at the orphanage, said Kanieski told him he Another boy my age was not so happy. asked Phipps, the day the two found the vic- was building a big airplane and charged Bad enough to be going blind. Bad enough tim’s body. “I think there’s someone sick or Vicker a nickel to see a wing he had in actu- that his family couldn’t afford this Santa hurt there.” ality found on a nearby farm. “Eddie could stuff; his father had been arrested for child But Kanieski well knew who ran Cad’s talk anybody out of anything,” Vicker said. abuse and was being held in jail. Place. He had posed as a crop duster and When Kanieski began hiding in an attic Wood County’s first murder trial in 17 promised to fly Cad to Iowa. Later, he put above the large outhouse at the orphanage, years began Monday, Dec. 8, 1952, in Cir- on bandages, said he had an accident and “the Portage County Sheriff drove up and cuit Court under Judge Herbert A. Bunde wouldn’t be able to take her after all. “I lied pulled ol’ Eddie from the attic, and we never where the boy’s father, Edward F. Kanieski, to her but didn’t mean anything wrong.” saw him again,” he said. Kanieski’s subse- 32, pleaded not guilty to first degree mur- Puzzle piece: Phipps said two dogs were quent residences included Waukesha School der in the beating and strangulation of Clara inside the Bates house when the murder was for Boys; a Catholic school in Sturtevant; Bates, 76, at Cad’s Place, the tavern she discovered but, earlier that day, he had seen Green Bay Reformatory; Winnebago State owned east of Wisconsin Rapids. the same dogs outside the house. Who let Hospital and Waupun. The body of the victim was found on June the dogs out and put them back in? Pieces of the puzzle. If Bates were killed 30, 1952, by Kanieski and Alvin Phipps, a Furthermore, when Kanieski and Phipps after her bar closed on the night of the mur- neighbor of Bates, as described in an earlier found the body in a bedroom, Kanieski der, where was Kanieski? “River City Memoirs.” seemed oddly calm. Not a big deal, but He had provided conflicting stories of his Reports from the state crime laboratory worth mentioning. activities on Saturday night, June 28-29, showed that a hair found on the victim’s When Sheriff Boll wanted him, Eddie when the murder was believed to have oc- bedspread was not inconsistent with a sam- Kanieski was easy to find. The suspect was curred, and, according to Potter’s later ac- ple of Kanieski’s pubic hair and that fibers in the county jail awaiting trail for carnal count, failed a lie detector test in Madison. on a noose around the victim’s neck could knowledge and abuse of a minor. In this and Kanieski was forced to admit he had been have come from Kanieski’s trousers. Con- the murder case, the indigent Kanieski was at Cad’s on the night of the murder because sequently, Wood County sheriff Arthur Boll represented by attorney Harold Billmeyer. five young people said they had seen him arrested the very person who had reported On August 1, 1952, a ten-year-old girl and Bates engaged in a private conversa- the crime. testified to Potter and Boll that Kanieski tion. Shortly after Kanieski left the bar, District attorney John M. Potter worried had sexual intercourse with her a few days Bates said she was tired and would like to that the apparent matches did not conclu- before the murder. When Boll drove to the close. When the young people left about sively prove Kanieski had committed the site of the crime, he noted that he passed the 12:40 a.m., Bates seemed “nervous and ex- murder or even that he was present at the house of Linda Eberius. As deputy sheriff, cited.” time. Besides, hair on the bedspread also re- he had investigated the shooting of Kanies-

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During the three-day trial, Kanieski told them from blueberry picking. other piece of the puzzle. Was it possible a jury he had never been intimate with the As Kanieski sat with “icy reserve” before that Cad Bates had been killed by Ed Gein? victim, although he had been associated Judge Bunde, the jurors stood one by one Potter said Gein denied any knowledge of with two other women in the living quarters and repeated, “Guilty.” The first ballot had Bates and that officers could not link him of the tavern home. “Clara Bates operated a been 8-4 for conviction, then 10-2, 11-1 and with the crime. type of sporting house where a man could finally, unanimous. A male juror said the At Gein’s 1958 sanity hearing, the presid- buy a woman if he wanted to,” he testified. major factor was “discrepancies” in the de- ing judge was the Kanieski case’s Herbert Kanieski said he hadn’t told the truth ear- fendant’s testimony. Bunde. lier because he didn’t want to get mixed up Kanieski was sentenced to life imprison- The wife of Edward Kanieski Jr., Colleen in the murder. “I didn’t bother that woman ment at Waupun. Bunde: “You were con- Kohler Kanieski, wrote the 1995 memoir, in any way,” he said. victed of a terrible, horrible crime—a use- Please Pass the Roses, describing Edward The group of young people were making less and thoughtless type of crime…” Jr.’s struggles against his own progressive too much noise that night, he said, so he pro- “It wasn’t proven.” blindness and his father’s conviction. ceeded to Worzalla’s tavern in Kellner. He “It is the court’s opinion that you are Edward Jr. remembered the day his father stayed until closing and drove to his house guilty as well as the jury’s opinion.” was taken to jail. As father and son sat on in Wisconsin Rapids, where he arrived about Bunde told Kanieski that if he wanted for- a bench outside the courtroom of the old 2 a.m. It was too hot, he said, and he spent giveness, he should look to God. courthouse, two “big guys” “pulled Dad’s most of the night sleeping in his car. He also Defense attorney Billmeyer presented an wrists together in front of him to put cuffs said his wife was angry when he got home unsuccessful motion for a new trial, claim- on. Dad tried to hide them from me, but I and that was why he slept most of the night ing the evidence was insufficient to prove saw them … It made me angry. I ran toward in his car. the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable the guy who’d put the cuffs on Dad and Pieces of the puzzle. Like the shoes. doubt. began to kick him. The guy thought it was When he searched the house, county of- Sheriff Boll, who had been defeated for funny. He laughed and pushed me away.” ficer Donald Caylor could not find the shoes reelection, summed up: “It was a baffling At the trial, it seemed to some that the Kanieski had been wearing the night of the case in which the convicted murderer was primarily female jury had to hurry home to murder. Caylor said he looked everywhere, under suspicion from the time he returned to prepare for the Christmas holiday “so delib- including the attic. the scene of his crime and reported the mur- erations were brief.” Suddenly, the resoled shoes appeared in der to us ... But, with the hard work of all After the sentencing, wrote Kohler- plain view, when a minister of Mrs. Mildred members of my department and the coop- Kanieski, Eddie’s mother, Mildred, wrote Kanieski’s church looked into the attic. eration of the district attorney, the case was to a local radio program, “Letters to Santa.” Kanieski said he had placed his only pair of brought to a successful conclusion.” Edward Jr. would hurry home from school dress oxfords in the attic to dry, because his In 1971, prisoner Kanieski underwent to listen to the little radio in the kitchen, son was trying to pull the new soles loose. heart surgery at University Hospital, Madi- while his mother fixed supper. “Then, one Had the shoes been resoled to remove traces son. The same year, his conviction was over- night, they actually read his!” wrote Kohler- of evidence? turned by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Kanieski. “Of course, they kindly edited out Pieces of the puzzle. Like the yellow sport he was released from prison in 1972. any reference to his father’s imprisonment. shirt Kanieski had worn the night of the The court agreed with what Billmeyer “He was so excited when his letter won murder. His wife, Mildred, said at the trial had said, nineteen years previous. There second prize. His mom took him down to that she had scorched it as she was ironing was not enough evidence that the defendant pick up his prize. Of all things, he had won it. Afraid her husband would be angry, she was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. a garbage truck.” Later, he said, “It told me destroyed the shirt by burning it. After his release, Kanieski moved back to exactly what the people of Wisconsin Rap- What about scratches that appeared on Wisconsin Rapids and died in 1975. ids thought of me.” his arm? Kanieski said he got them at work, In his 1993 book, The Tangled Web, for- from chipping tools. And he said he got mer district attorney Potter considered an- 12-07-02

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Knuth’s Beat in an old frame building owned by the Bender not afraid to work 18-20 hours a day. It was the brothers: the Midget restaurant, a barber shop first restaurant with “radar” cooking. They also iver City, 1953. and the Dixie Bar, run by Red Bouton, Buzz’s made candy and sold it at the counter.” Former city police officer older brother. Red came into town as a baseball Building razed for riverbank park. player.” •Friendly Fountain. Next to Rapids Theatre. RDon Knuth, 80, 140 Canal Building razed for Rapids Mall. “Bob Luzenski owned it. Walter Herschleb St., can tell you who owned or oper- •The Square Bar. On the West Side Market had built it as an ice cream parlor. It was a good ated almost any business here. In Square. Reine Kroll, Prop. stopping place for high school kids after the many cases, he can compile a reliable “Reine, long deceased, started the Square show or after school. There were booths and a genealogy complete with nicknames. Bar. He had managed the Labor Temple Bar counter. I always liked the malted milks.” above the Kroger store on West Grand Avenue Now part of Rogers Cinema. On Christmas Eve, fifty years ago, in the 200 block.” •Johnny & Ruby’s Bar. many local businesses advertised in Still in same location. “Ruby Avenue is named after Ruby, the the Daily Tribune. With this list in •Dixon Hotel Tap Room and Brig. wife of John Dove Sr. Dove Avenue was part of hand, I asked Knuth about some of “Dick Boehme’s grandmother purchased the Dove’s property. John Dove Jr. is on the county the taverns and restaurants, grocery hotel. Dick’s parents took over management. board.” His dad, William “Spider” Boehme, started the •Lake Aire. South on Highway 13, across stores and gas stations of our town. Chinese cuisine they were known for. He was Nepco Lake. The first paragraph identifying also a musician.” “It was one of our better supper clubs even each site is taken from the Tribune Building razed for City Hall parking lot. way back. Clayton and Winifred Snyder had ad, followed by Knuth’s comments. •Bill’s Billiards (above Kroger’s) 251 W. it a number of years. Later, it was owned by Grand Ave. Roger Ebbe. His father, Harlow, had a motel Bars and Restaurants “Owned by brothers Bill and Sam Houston. by what is now County Market (Ebbe’s Motor •Edgetown Tavern. Over the West Grand After a few years, Bill moved to Washington Haven, 2021 8th Street S.).” Avenue viaduct “and to your right.” Earl and state. Sam sold the business to Ted Walrath, Lake Aire, now owned by Charles and Evie Keuntjes. who started a ‘recreation center’ in the Palace Kathy Sedevie. Don Knuth: “It was a good bar and supper Theatre building, now the Central Wisconsin •Johnny’s Bar and Grill. Highway 54 East. club. The exclusive ones then were Wilbern’s Cultural Center, 240 Johnson St. A younger “It was on the site of the later Jimmy’s sup- and the Mead. Joe and Irma Parzy had it for brother, Jimmy Houston, is an ace pool player per club. John Emerson owned it. Johnny had many years. Irma then went to the Mead and still. owned a liquor store on W. Grand in the Wal- Joe worked at Consoweld. “Bill had started some time after ‘Fritz and loch building, which was adjacent to Johnson Edgetown is now [2003] Goose’s Pub. Pete’s, on the first floor of the Mead Witter Hill.” •Swarick’s. 641 W. Grand Ave. building, owned by Fritz Hribernik and Pete •Skyway Ballroom. Betty Joslin, Mr. Knuth: “Owned by Chester Swarick. Chet’s Sakalosky, had gone out of business.” and Mrs. Larry Dhein, Mr. and Mrs. Howard father, Frank, had started a tavern on the north •The Badger Bar. 150 1st St. N. Edward Amundson. side of West Grand in the 600 block in 1933 Kleppin, Prop. “It was a dance hall and roller skating rink when the country ‘went wet.’ After a few years, “It was strictly a tavern. Kleppin’s brother, in a Quonset on the airport side of 1st St. S. on Frank sold the tavern to Joe and Ann Romanski Leo, was a partner with Van Kubisiak in the Sand Hill. and then started the Golden Gate supper club Hiawatha Bar at 7th and W. Grand. That was “Sand Hill was equated with the three Neit- on Highway 13 South, now Lance’s. After another shot-and-a-beer place.” zel brothers, one of whom furnished most of Chet died, Swarick’s was owned by Clint and Became David Harold’s. Recently resold. the mason sand used in town. At first, he hauled Verna Falkosky.” •Sugar Bowl. 170 2nd St. S. it from the sand pit with a team of horses. The Both the Swarick and Romanski tavern “It was a nice restaurant owned by Tom Neitzel location is now the site of several office buildings on Grand Avenue were razed for the Poulos, who also owned the Rapids Theatre. buildings on Daly Ave. Skyway was destroyed Rapids Mall project. His wife was Mabel Reber from Rudolph. by fire.” •The Midget. 625 West Grand. Mr. and Mrs. There was another Greek involved. Jimmy •Johnny Kuenn’s ABC Bar. Clarence Jones. Drivas, a faithful employee, stayed with him “Johnny’s also served dinners, fish fries Knuth: “There were three business places until the end. I admired the Greeks. They were and the like. Johnny Kuenn came to town as a

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baseball player in the late 1920s or early 1930s. and was Miller’s Grocery. Karl Bremmer owns 8th St. He, like Red Bouton, played semi-pro at Witter it.” “Morris Wolcott ended up president of Field, where I liked to sneak in under the fence Still standing. Community State Bank.” if my uncle couldn’t take me.” •First St. Market & Grill. Next to Green Now Riverview Expressway area. Johnny’s was long known as the Lincoln Bay Depot. T. Sabota, S. Konietski. •Ronnie’s Wadhams Service. 210 E. Grand Street Bar. Now, Ida’s. “Teofel Sabota and Sylvester Konietzki Ave. Grocery Stores were brothers-in-law. A big frame building, it “Ronnie Hanson later moved to 8th St. •Harold R. Kelley Grocery 960 1st St. N. had been the grocery of Val Siewert, the father where the Expressway is.” “It was across from the swimming pool. of Johnny Siewert. Later, it was a used furni- Site now a parking lot adjacent to Rogers There were rooms for rent upstairs. Way back, ture store owned by Ed and Syl Konietzki, who Cinemas. it was owned by Mrs. Haefner. Bill Aschen- were brothers.” •Auto Electric. 131 N. 3rd St. brenner had a TV store in there. It was a his- Service Stations “Owned by Ed Steiner and George Bo- toric old building. The place burned.” •Jake’s Cities Service Station. dette.” Now, a vacant lot. Across from the Palace Theatre “at 3rd Av- Still in business with new owners. •Produce Market. 631 W. Grand Ave. enue S. and Johnson. •Consolidated. 8th & Plum. Charles “Squirt” “Originally Anderson’s bakery. Owned for “It was set at an angle. A gas station with no Berard, manager. many years by Babe Lutz. There were apart- service bay. Owned by Jake Frechette. “A service station later owned by Maynard ments upstairs. It was two-story brick. Strictly “Jake’s mother, ‘Ma’ Frechette, lived across Paterick. Now ‘Super Wash.’” vegetables and fruit in large quantities.” from the high school. She had a little eating •Reliable Auto Body. 2521 W. Grand. Razed for Rapids Mall. place in her house. The kids who didn’t want to “Then owned by Chuck Sparhawk. Now •Gottschalk’s Grocery. eat in the cafeteria could get something there. Sparhawk Trucking and Esquire Mufflers, “The cranberry family. This is the grand- Her building is still there at 341 6th Street S.” owned by Tom Sparhawk, Chuck’s son.” father to them all. Gottschalk was a typical Jake’s: Now, US Bank parking lot. •(Art) Jevnick’s Standard Service. 8th & old grocer with a white apron. His son, Bob, •Nieman’s DX Service. 810 W. Grand Ave. Chestnut. married a Rezin. Old Gottschalk and Anderson “The owner, Herbert Nieman, is still in “Jevnick later owned a supper club in Kell- owned a lot of property on the West Side. It business at 2141 W. Grand Ave.” ner and Safe-Way Bus Transit.” was a two-story brick building with apartments Building now vacant. •Christy Service. 611 E. Grand Ave. and professional offices upstairs, next toGuar- •Billmeyer Super Service. 1820 Baker “Now auto, truck and U-Haul rental place.” antee Hardware at the northwest corner of 4th Drive. •Clark’s Super Gas Station, 511 E. Grand. Avenue and West Grand. “It was a Mobil station owned by Paul Now Domino’s Pizza. “Later, we, in the police department used it, Billmeyer, who lived next door. When I moon- •(Adolph) Schmidt and (Wilbur) Fisher while the new city hall was being built. Blenk- lighted and drove a gas and oil truck for my Mobil Service. 8th & E. Grand. ers TV was in there too.” cousin, Harold, I delivered there. Now Rapids Shell location. Razed for Rapids Mall/City Hall. “Paul was a son of A.F. Billmeyer, the •Peters Grocery. 1051 Baker St. architect and builder, as were Carl, also an In fact and fancy, River City was th “It was at 11 and Baker, now a vacant lot architect, Harold, a lawyer, and Rod, who had a smaller town fifty years ago. Along for an auto supply store. Two fellows, Peters Rod’s tavern. th and Martin, had a little grocery store. It was Super Service is now Rollin’ Dough pizza. Grand Avenue, Baker Drive, 8 torn down and a big building built where the •Polansky Service Station and Hudson Street and the other thoroughfares, auto supply is.” Sales & Service. Cor. 8th & E. Grand Ave. business places were owned, not by •King Henry’s Trading Post. 220 Johnson “A two-bay service station: gasoline and faraway corporations, but by neigh- St. auto repairs. Sold used cars too. Carl Polansky bors with faces and names you could “Henry Weltman owned it. It was an early had been service manager with Bethke Chevro- low-markup operation. He owned several build- let and Olds garage.” put a finger on. ings in that block.” Now, Keysavings bank location. Now, a union hall. •Wolcott Garage & Auto Wrecking. 01-11-03 •Diebels Food Shop. 122 8th St. So. “It was on (421) Daly originally across from “It was originally built by the Miller family the new River Cities Bank. Then it moved to

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homes out of soy beans after the war… Meanwhile, Rapids Mayor Carl C. Knud- Elksquire 1945 “Out of all the places I have been, I regret sen presented his plan for a bridge connect- to say I haven’t as yet met anyone from Wis- ing Chase and Witter streets, lining up a see where the Lily White Leaguers have consin Rapids, the closest being a guy who proposed new east-west thoroughfare. been trying to simonize the sin out of once caught a fish in Nepco Lake. Most of The buzz word was “integration.” Com- I Wisconsin Rapids. Next, I expect to the fellows on board are from the East and I panies were integrated if they produced pick up a paper and see where prohibition spend much of my time telling them of the both pulp and paper. Besides ground wood has been declared. superiority of the Big Ten, Milwaukee beer, and chemically produced pulp and a vari- Just kidding. and I finally fall back on the cheese. ety of enamel papers, Consolidated Water The quote comes from a letter printed in “…I hope the high moguls that are going Power & Paper Co. produced all of its own the June 1945 “Elksquire,” a World War II- to rebuild the city in my absence, don’t run electric power and a substantial portion of era publication of Wisconsin Rapids Lodge a bridge or highway through the middle of its pulpwood. Not to mention paperboard, No. 693, B.P.O.E., that was sent to service- the Dixon Hotel.” shipping containers, cartons, tubes, coated men around the world. Another letter published in “The Elk- opaque waxing, tissues, crepe, manifold pa- The issue at hand was loaned by Joe and squire” came from Tom Utegaard (whose pers, and Consoweld, a decorative-plastics Irma Parzy, 1840 Clark St., former owners mother, Isabel, ran for mayor in 1952). “At surfacing material. (1952-62) of the Edgetown supper club. sea” with the Navy, Utegaard said he more Sales of the Consolidated specialty, “The Elksquire,” edited by Bernie Ziegler than ever appreciated the town and country coated enamel paper, had increased since with assistance from Ole Rember, printed he had lived in. “I’ll bet you there is not WWII, prompting two new lines: Consolith letters from overseas soldiers, including one person receiving Elksquire who doesn’t and Productolith. Cpl. Harold Witt, who wrote: “I had a very read it just after the letters from home, and My 1985 book, “River City Memoirs pleasant surprise on the boat going over. I puts it away, feeling not a little homesick.” III,” was printed on Productolith; the 1988 met Earl Odegard [sic] and one of the Parzy Another correspondent, Jim McCourt, “Fat Memoirs” used Consolith. boys (Joe’s older brother, Sylvester). It was helped liberate 900 Yanks from a German Of Consolidated’s neighbor to the south, really nice to meet someone you know.” prison camp and described appalling condi- with headquarters in Port Edwards: “The Others had similar experiences. In the tions. By contrast, while his unit was on the highest sales volume in the history of Nek- Philippines, Frederick Brahmsteadt had move, he said, it found German beer, wine, oosa-Edwards Paper co. was attained in met up with Dennis Plowman, Bill Sher- cognac and champagne, all “on the house.” 1952, and the greatest expansion and mod- man and “a Konopacki.” In the Netherland “The Elksquire” noted the June death ernization program in our history is almost Indies, Tony Schultz had encountered Clint of Burt Williams, “Promotional director” completed,” declared John E. Alexander, Falkowski, Bill Jackson, Hank Schulter, nd for Consolidated, a former newspaper pub- NEPCO president and general manager. Hans Wagner and others of the 32 Divi- lisher and prominent Democrat. He was the Preway: sion. father-in-law of Consolidated president, Ralph S. Wiltrout and Michael Woolf re- An entertaining letter came from William Stanton Mead. signed from leadership positions and were H. (“Spider”) Boehme of the Dixon hotel. The new bridge proposed for Jackson replaced by J.O. Ellis, president and general It was Boehme who penned the “simonize” street? Consolidated was against it. manager, and D.F. Abel, director of sales. paragraph above. At a City Hall hearing before state of- Ellis said that 1952 was a record year for “A few days ago,” he wrote, “I received ficials, Stanton Mead and Ralph Cole, Con- the company that made oil-burning space the first mail for a long time and was pleased solidated treasurer, advocated widening of heaters, electric ranges, gas ranges, furnace to get a few copies of the Elksquire, my the present bridge instead. Consolidated ob- equipment and camp equipment. membership card, a bonafide liquor license jected to the destruction of the firm’s park Technology from the state of Washington, the vest pock- system; the congestion that would be created It just keeps happening. et edition of Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, and at its main mill entrance; and the increased Fifty years ago, the Wood County Tele- an advertising circular about how to build danger of flooding the mill and office. phone Co. was keeping up with it by install- 64 River City Memoirs Ghost ing a microfilm recording system, according tween $30 and $40 monthly. After three of Alan (The Horse) Ameche. to general manager H.B. Flower. Now the years, the school was moved to the Howe Ed Hanson, Daily Tribune sports editor phone company could record the exact de- building and the “fight” with Marshfield for and sportscaster for regular Wisconsin foot- tails of each completed long distance call. a new school began, settled in favor of Rap- ball games, assisted the NBC announcer at During 1952, the company also had ac- ids in 1907. the Rose Bowl. quired four “switched-line” companies in Last train from Nekoosa Too many Daves the rural area west and north of Rapids. A story by J. Marshall Buehler chroni- Long-time reader Dave Billmeyer cor- WCTC also had eliminated all company- cled the last passenger train out of Nekoosa, rected last month’s story: Service station owned crank type rural telephones in favor as service, which had begun in 1892, was owner Paul Billmeyer was not the son of of “modern” eight-party rural service. terminated in 1952. Off the main line on its A.F. Billmeyer, as stated. He was the son of The company also was proceeding with own loop, Nekoosa always had been a prob- A.F.’s brother, Frank, which made Paul not the purchase of the Chrystal Saratoga Tele- lem location. the brother but the cousin of Rod, Harold phone Co. that served an area south from Indian agency and Carl, the latter being Dave’s father. Two Mile Avenue to the Adams County According to Leo Pratt, local Indian Imagine line. Land Field Agent, recently of Oklahoma, Spider. Riverview the Wisconsin Rapids Indian Service field The wry commander of the Brig, a subter- Fifty years ago (in 1952) it was 50 years office was opened to settle land holdings ranean saloon at the Dixon Hotel. Yes, they old as an institution. The first hospital build- of deceased Indians and to review the land put a bridge through it: and a City Hall. ing looked like a large, white house. It was problems of Winnebago Indians in central John Lennon followed by brick structures in 1915 and Wisconsin. Pratt said most of the Winne- In my first year as a cub reporter at the 1940. bago land was suitable for forest crops only Daily Tribune, John Lennon was murdered. Doctors who had joined the hospital staff and the owners had moved to areas closer to My eulogy was an exercise in hepcat bop. in the 1930s were: O.A. Backus, Wallace towns and places of employment. Then River City Memoirs came for me and I Nelson, R.E. Garrison, Leland Pomainville, Sports donned the cloak of municipal historian. My F.J. Pomainville and Harold Pomainville. In If you know Rapids basketball, you accomplishment was to borrow the name the 1940s came E.G. Glenn, E.G. Barnet, know the Gurtlers. Charlie Gurtler had been from a town that knew how to spell trouble. J.J. Smullen, L.J. Bennett, Elmer Debus and instrumental in Rapids winning the 1951 This year, Lennon’s fellow Beatle, George George Handy. state high school tournament title and had Harrison, the philosophical one, died of nat- Wood County Normal broken nearly every school scoring record. ural causes. It was around 1970 that I had Fifty years ago, like the hospital, it was He had led the Red Raiders to an 18-2 regu- been so absorbed by Harrison’s dreamy solo 50 years old. It had been built under the lar season in 1951-52. Rapids had scored album, “All Things Must Pass.” leadership of E.P. Arpin and others as a 673 points to their opponents’ 381, before All things must pass away. new type of institution, devoted to training being knocked out of the tournament by an So he says. teachers for work in rural and state graded opening round loss to Waupaca. “Simonize.” systems. An estimated 1,300 teachers al- For the team of 1952-53, reserve Tom Who even knows what it means any- ready had graduated from the school, nearly Gurtler scored 17 points of a record total more? half of whom remained in Wood County, 120 against Merrill, although the leading according to the Tribune. scorer was Wayne Oestreich. 02-08-03 Prof. M.H. Jackson was the first princi- Jim Grosklaus, LHS football tackle for pal. The first classrooms were in the pre- three years, was one of three Wisconsin 1931 Lincoln High School. All 22 of the players chosen to the all-American high first graduates were female. school football squad for 1952. Applicants needed an eighth-grade edu- The UW football Badgers lost in the cation. Graduating teachers were paid be- 1953 Rose Bowl to USC despite the efforts

65 Ghost River City Memoirs Ghost of

My- 1946 11th self Ave.

1952? Two Mile School

1963 “Beer card” 1958 First Methodist church 66 River City Memoirs Ghost

1965 Millworker “3-11” 1980, at Daily Tribune

At Walden Pond, Wrestling with Thoreau 2007

67 Ghost River City Memoirs

Pull Up Your Socks Not dead but forgotten, unlike “the Face to face and heart to heart with emember me? Sometimes we’re Duke,” who is dead but unforgotten as the real Lafe, it was plainly obvious that away for a while and when we long as the antediluvians of “old” Lin- the jogger I annoyed at the I.G.A. did come back, maybe we’re not ex- coln high school roam the earth. When- not resemble you in the least; I have no R ever the tweedy Englishman, Prof. Al- idea who he was. Plainly, I should have actly what we were. When I met a grizzled homeboy I fig- fred “Duke” Hornigold, emerged from pulled up my socks. ured was you last summer, I used the the bio-chem cloisters he shared with Following the reunion trivia con- same greeting I had liked so well back his comrade, Mrs. Kumm, and spied test won by John Jay’s table in a close at Lincoln high in the old millennium. you in the hallway, he ordered in clas- contest with Butch La Chapelle (“Who “Pull up your socks, Hackersmith!” sic stentorian style, “Pull up your socks, stole Lincoln’s head?”), I offered a few The reply was a blank stare I interpret- Hackersmith!” remarks. The point was simple; we have ed as, “Talking to me, dingleberry?” Little did we acolytes know to whom been together in this world longer than To me, it made sense to see you grab- he alluded: George Hackenschmidt, a many of us realized. I had known emcee bing some Gatorade at West Grand former world champion wrestler in the George Zimmerman since he greeted I.G.A.; your brother, Bernie Enkro, tradition of Nekoosa’s own Strangler me at Grove School as “Inky,” 48 years owned the store. You, Lafe, had worked Lewis. ago. I had met you, Lafe, and your sister, at nearby “Paperboard” and resided for No grappler I had grabbed, and I Jennifer, four years earlier, at Two Mile years up the street, I thought. But the grabbed a few, was less fun to knock school. Truman was President. only meaningful dialogue came at the knickers with than our own Lafe “Hack- According to the invitation for your end of the conversation. “Running ten ersmith” Enkro, unless the party of the surprise birthday party, you’re the first miles a day. Getting back in shape.” first part liked being poked, elbowed, classmate who can truthfully boast of Back in shape from what? scratched, kicked, cuffed, gouged, butt- being a practicing sexagenarian. Wish I For me, the I.G.A. incident was one of ed, bitten and chewed on like a piece of could have been at the party. several encounters with a listless person- Juicy Fruit gum. But that’s why we write these RSVPs, al obscurity that left me suffering from a No one was more fun to watch. so we can be places we are not and talk low profile. A local teacher recently told Year by year, moving up in weight to those we cannot see. So we can pass her class, “We had a history guy named class but not in height, you became some time with old friends and thank Dave Engel but I think he’s dead.” the most fearless, most flamboyant and them for bringing amusement and in- Fortunately, one of the pupils, through shortest heavyweight in Red Raider his- spiration our way. So we can say, “I re- personal testimony, was able to set the tory, sporting wacky black wrestling member you, pal. Happy birthday.” record straight: “Dave Engel is my boots and the style of Hackenschmidt dad.” himself, who, a biographer said, tore 04-12-04 When I brought my dog to Doc Ras- into his rivals like a “Russian Lion.” mussen this morning (a couple blocks As happens with classmates, we went from the I.G.A. mentioned above), one our ways and the years floated by in of Doc’s gals said, “Saw Queenie in the chunks of ten until September 2003 and Tribune. So, what have YOU been up the 40-year Lincoln-Assumption re- to?” union at the Elks Club.

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Indian Jeff Director Andy Barnett and current Head Did Jefferson Davis father an illegiti- of Adult Services Don Litzer, the Tay- mate son in Wisconsin? The first weak- or my first baby steps down the lor book is more widely accessible than ness in this account stems from Arpin’s history trail, pundits pointed me ever. memory, of which he was pretty certain, Fto the venerable “Taylor book” It’s Monday; are you ready for some and mine, of which I am not. Beyond laid open in the basement at McMillan history? A few teasers from a chronol- that, those who knew Indian Jeff could Memorial Library. Taylor was the man ogy published on the McMillan website have been mistaken about his identity as then, but, as decades passed, casual from Taylor’s “Historical Wisconsin he might have been himself. scholars forgot the difference between Rapids 2nd Vol.”: Certainly it’s all pretty much hearsay; T.A. Taylor and Y.A. Tittle. Way back in 1829, closer to the War of we should not haphazardly embellish in According to his 1961 obituary, Theo- 1812 than the War Between the States, print the reputation of our founding fa- dore Asa “Tom” Taylor died at age 94 in Lt. Jefferson Davis was dispatched from thers. Fortunately, Davis wasn’t one of California. Fort Winnebago, at Portage, Wis., to re- OUR founding fathers. He was one of Seventy years earlier, which would move Daniel Whitney’s illicit shingle- THEIR founding fathers, so he can re- be in the 19th Century, he had arrived making operation on the Yellow River. main a certifiable reprobate. in Rapids from Menasha. Here, he pro- This was the same Jefferson Davis later Creeping toward our time, in 1831, moted his insurance business by printing to become President of the Confederate Green Bay investor Daniel Whitney historical photos on advertising materi- States of America. built the first saw mill on theWisconsin als. He later worked for the Consolidat- By coincidence, Davis’ counterpart, River at “Whitney Rapids,” the site of ed paper company as a land buyer. Abraham Lincoln, was also in the neigh- present day Nekoosa. Most important to us, Taylor was com- borhood during the Black Hawk “war,” And, surprising to me, in 1835, the missioned by the Wisconsin Rapids City noting later that all he slaughtered were steamboat, “Frontier,” chugged up the Council in 1934 to compile a pictorial mosquitoes. Wisconsin River from Prairie du Chien history he continued to add to through About 1980, E.P. Arpin, Jr., formerly to Point Basse, just below Whitney Rap- 1940. The resulting oversize photo al- of Wisconsin Rapids, then of Neenah, ids. Other steamboats followed but dams bum and book of text were placed on told me he had found, in Arpin lumber soon blocked river traffic. public display in the T.B. Scott Public company records, mention of a Native In 1841, Whitney bought the south end Library (now the South Wood County American named “Indian Jeff.” He said of “Long Island” in what was to be Wis- Historical Corp. Museum) on Third the former Arpin employee was believed consin Rapids. According to Taylor’s Street for 30 years or more. to be the son of Jefferson Davis, the timeline, Peter Love constructed the first After McMillan library supplanted the Confederate leader. Presumably, Indian summer cottage here about 1912. T.A. Scott facility, the fragile Taylor photos Jeff would have been about 70 years old Taylor himself added the next cottage in were viewable by request but displayed in 1900. 1914, along with concrete tennis courts. infrequently. Copy work was done by Arpin said I should take a look at those When you find yourself Love-Love on Lilas Smith of Consolidated and pres- records and, through his insistence, im- an island in the river and wonder whose ervation procedures instituted by then planted an image of aged leather-bound court you’re on, check out the Taylor Head of Adult Services Ken Hall. books with lists of names that I remem- book. Now, as part of Local History On- ber or imagine, included “Indian Jeff” Line, a project of McMillan’s Assistant and “Jeff Davis.” 04-19-04

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Mayor Bach From 1970-83, “What Rapids is go- ther. “He could hardly see and yet he ran ing through, I saw Duluth go through this farm. He put so much faith in me. iver City - Where some see a because the taconite industry left. I go I was cultivating corn and driving the parking lot of lost opportunities, back to Duluth now and look at the tractor with the hay baler and those sorts RWisconsin Rapids mayor Jerry changes they had to make. of things before I was ten years old.” Bach views the most valuable real es- “Duluth is a neat city. You drive over He also admires his parents, “two com- tate in town. It’s the place Montgomery the hill and there’s the big mall and you mon folks.” His father worked at Hem- Ward used to be, across Grand Avenue get to the downtown; that’s now the mersbach Motors as parts manager; his from the River Block, adjacent to river- working space. We don’t have the popu- mother was a nurse at Riverview Hospi- bank park land. Why not an apartment lation but that’s what our downtown is. tal. (“She probably delivered you.”) house with a fine restaurant? It’s not going to be a retail center. What “Mom would work eleven at night un- “The hardest thing is the vision,” Bach we’re talking about here is a place to live til seven in the morning. She’d be home says. and work. We’ve got the River Block to get breakfast for us kids; then we’d That’s because we’re just out of “a building, the Mead-Witter building, all go to school and she’d nap during the cradle-to-grave dependence on CPI Marty Schreiber’s, the bank, the mall. day. We never knew we had a working and Nekoosa Papers.” Years of letting If people that worked in these places mother.” George do it. “If George didn’t do it, could live close by, you start bringing a + + + or if he didn’t want it done, it wasn’t little bit of a European-style community Forget Me Not: The late (April 12, done.” back.” 2004) Thomas J. Narlock, 63, whose en- “Our quality of life is hard to beat.” Fueling Bach’s enthusiasm are fond thusiasm for the likes of Gene Vincent The mayor points to medical facilities memories of the old downtown, from the (“Be Bop A Lula”) was contagious. Tom “sound as a rock,” excellent schools, Sugar Bowl restaurant to the Wisconsin gave me the phrase, “Put the pedal to the public library, performing arts center, Theater. “Remember how big and plush metal,” and I use it every chance I get. skateboard park, soccer fields, BMX that used to seem? You come back now track, softball fields, golf courses and and the buildings aren’t as big as they 04-26-04 fishing off the downtown pier. were. But it was a community that had When Bach graduated from the Uni- some vibrancy to it that I think can be versity of Minnesota, “just like I hear brought back again.” young people saying now, there was When Bach attended Assumption high nothing in Rapids for me to do. I didn’t school 1957-61, the new football coach, want to work for the paper company.” Don Penza, became a role model. “He His forestry degree led him to Utah and helped me get an athletic scholarship to Idaho, prior to returning homeward via college. I had a lot of respect for coach Consolidated’s northern Minnesota tim- Penza. Then, seeing him become mayor. berland operations. Then, the Duluth Never in my wildest dreams did I think technical school, teaching young timber I would be here with my picture on the workers. And, his own logging busi- wall downstairs beside his.” ness. Another role model is Bach’s grandfa-

70 River City Memoirs Ghost

Alice’s Restaurant Monday tol until police arrived. And Speaker Jo- They considered themselves patriots. seph Martin, who ducked for cover but The U.S. had taken the Caribbean is- otta love Joe’s Place. Settled in got back to rap for order, asked members land of Puerto Rico from Spain in 1898 an easy chair with a hot “cup- to take their seats long enough to recess and continued to control it. In 1952, a Gpa” whatever, Daily Tribune in the House and clear the galleries. constitution took effect, establishing a hand. Or should I call it “Alice’s Restau- Monday afternoon, March 1, 1954. “Free Associated State,” still under the rant,” where you can get anything you Fifty years ago. The worst terrorist control of the U.S., but the Nationalists want? attack ever on Congress. The shooters: called for complete independence. Arlo Guthrie, in the “Alice” song, Rafael Cancel Miranda, Andres Figueroa According to the ethic of Lolita Le- does his dirty deeds via a VW “micro- Cordero, Irving Flores, Lolita Lebron. bron, “conquest and pillage” of one’s bus” and by jiminy there’s one down at Lolita Lebron, 34, displayed a Puerto homeland by a foreign invader justi- Joe’s Place too, stuck inside the Mead- Rican flag and shouted, “Viva Puerto fied the use of force to achieve libera- Witter building like a ship in a bottle. Rico libre!” And she joined her com- tion. Lolita and her compatriots wanted Joe and Alice Wallner call their cof- rades, firing shots with automatic pistols to stun what they thought of as an op- fee house at 250 West Grand Avenue at the helpless legislators scurrying for pressor and draw world attention to the “From the Ground Up.” But rather cover below. “brutal” nature of U.S. domination in than type and retype “From the Ground Congressmen present that day: about Puerto Rico. Up,” I asked Joe if I could refer to it as 240. Shots fired: 29 or 30. The terrorists were tried and impris- “Joe’s.” Congressmen injured: 5. oned until U.S. President Jimmy Carter Like a good husband, he suggested The worst, Alvin M. Bentley (R- freed them in 1979, coinciding with Fi- I use his wife’s name. Maybe “Alice’s Mich), 35, shot in the chest. Others were del Castro’s release of several Ameri- Restaurant.” Like a good wife, Alice Ben F. Jensen (R-Iowa), Clifford Davis cans being held in Cuba. said, no big deal, “Joe’s” is fine. (D-Tenn), Kenneth A. Roberts (D-Ala) Now in her eighties, an unrepentant That’s how quotidian it was on an and George H. Fallon (D-Md). Lolita L., one of two surviving mem- Organic-Ethiopian Tanzanian-Peaberry- “I didn’t realize it was real until I bers of the shooters, continues to enjoy Supreme Fair-trade-Guatemalan Mon- saw the flames coming from their guns,” prominence among Nationalists, al- day in 2004. Wisconsin Rep. O’Konski of Mercer though her politics are more and more Until I opened the newspaper. It was said. “When I saw what it was I really muddled. Not only is she subject to like 9-11 all over again. hit the floor. The girl was shooting at the cosmic religious visions, Lolita L. has Hot off the wire, early on a Monday leaders. A couple of shots hit the major- acquired a taste for what she calls, “El afternoon, I read that three men and a ity table right in front of me.” Pollo de Kentucky” — Kentucky Fried woman fired pistols from the Ladies All the wounded survived the attack. Chicken, popularly known, in the lingo Gallery and wounded at least five mem- Fifty years later, the bullet holes can still of the tyrant, as “KFC.” bers of the House of Representatives. be inspected in that table. On a Monday, as some safely sipped Why, at the loss of lives and liberty, 05-03-04 their cuppa-whatever elsewhere, specta- did the four Puerto Ricans resort to vio- tors grappled with terrorists in the Capi- lence?

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Calkins’ Centralia got here by way of stagecoach to New McFarland told Vida Calkins that the Lisbon and on foot the rest of the way McFarland property in downtown Cen- own at Joe’s place on Cranberry north. tralia, now the neighborhood of Joe’s Street, the second Monday in Then came the railroad. Pilgrims to Place, was used as a camping ground by DMay, with a cuppa whatever, I the Pinery such as Vida Calkin’s grand- Indians who kept her awake at night with crack open the “History of Centralia.” parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. O. Lemley, their “savage” yells. The house was sur- If you’re a neophyte who doesn’t know arrived at New Lisbon via the new 1857 rounded by dense woods populated by Vine Street, Centralia, from Center steam railway and took a four-horse bears, wolves and other wild animals. Street, Vandalia, listen up. stage 45 miles to Centralia. “From this After I had written this story, Karen I’m looking at a copy of seemingly time on the history of Centralia is very Lamb, 1821 Two Mile Avenue, called to ancient, handwritten notes by someone interesting and dear to me as I have lived say she had some old papers found in named Vida Calkins. She says that, in here all my life,” Vida writes. her aunt’s Third Street house after the 1836, “Mr. Harris of St. Louis” built Lemley, a contractor and builder, aunt’s death. The same Aunt Vida who a sawmill on the west side of the Wis- helped build the first pulp mill on the was the wife of judge Frank Calkins; the consin river in what is now Wisconsin Wisconsin river and the first store build- Centralia story is one of the things she Rapids. The property was sold to Daniel ing (Jackson & Garrison) in “Centra- didn’t throw out. Whitney of Green Bay, a big wheel in lia.” +++ the Pinery whose name keeps coming up The settlement was named by Henry Forget me not: Sophia Des Jarlais, here. The idea was to cut the big white W. Jackson, who, like the Lemleys, had 90, mother of former Daily Tribune edi- pines along the river, saw them up, and come from Hinsdale, Mass., in 1857. tor Bob Des Jarlais. Visiting Sophie in float the lumber down the river to buy- Undoubtedly, the name was selected for Douglas, AZ, Bob, “the Big Kahuna,” ers like Mr. Harris in St. Louis. the central location in the state and/or af- and I were a couple seasons past our The new mill was set at the edge of ter Centralia, Pa., Centralia, Ill., Centra- mid-life crises; but to the old lady, then some 100 acres of dry land bordered by lia, Mo., or Centralia, Iowa. Later, came about 80, we were “adventurous boys” river and swamp. The beginnings of a the most well known, Centralia, Wash. and so we tried to conduct ourselves village consisted of three frame houses Though it was a frontier settlement, from then on. for mill workers and the log house of only the land was wild. The people David Baker about where Daily Tribune were as civilized as Easterners. Within is now. a couple of years, they had established: 05-10-04 It was common for the former inhab- a post office, with Jackson as postmas- itants, whether Winnebago, Menominee ter; the store of Jackson, Garrison & or Chippewa, to hang out on the high Worthington; the Centralia Enterprise ground, brew a cuppa whatever and talk newspaper, founded by C.H. Clark; and about the old days, just like we’re doing a physician’s practice, by Dr. Geo. W. now. Whitney of Maine, followed a couple of In the middle 1800s, what we call years later by Dr. P. Hurley. “pioneers” poured in from eastern states, About this time, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Canada and Europe. For a while, they E. McFarland located in Centralia. Mrs.

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Sampson’s plenty of pea pitchers around to critique river,” watching carp jump. your efforts Workin’ for a living can kill you, I hat I know about workin’ for After “pitching,” you took a turn told one of the eponymous family, Jim a living, I learned from peas. watching peas fill metal bins that you Sampson, years later. I had been push- W Early on a Monday morn- weighed and dumped for transport to ing a massive cooking tub along the rail ing much like this, sleepy boys at least Rapids. Finally, you rested on a wagon it hung from, when it slammed to the 16 years old assembled at the tall brick tongue, swatting flies with a stick and floor at my feet. The heavy iron hanger landmark on the east river bank (north eyeing puffy clouds drifting over bucol- barely missed my head and struck my of where the swimming pool used to be). ic Wood County. Rain might mean the wrist, which puffed up like a golf ball. Built as a brewery, it was the Sampson rest of the day off. Because I hadn’t slept, in the morning, Canning Co. factory in the summer of Lunch break was enjoyed in a shady I saw Doc Hulme, before reporting to the ’62. Here, groups of a dozen or so new orchard across a country road. This is Sampson secretary that their machinery employees were assigned to pea viners where I cashed in. had jeopardized the future of River City in outlying agricultural areas. Each morning, I set out from home Memoirs. She chided me. “Why didn’t En route to a location north of Ves- with three cans of frozen soda pop in you come in and get permission before per, my crew shivered on planks laid my battered, thermos-less lunch box. you went to the doctor?” across concrete blocks in an open truck At noon, two cans were sold for a spicy “That must have been Nona Davis,” bed. Soon, the truck hit a bump, the profit. The third was mine, thawed to a Jim Sampson laughed. plank and everyone on it bounced up state of sweet satisfaction. Perfect. And from Ms. Davis, the last great and, coming down, crunched my metal The big boss man of our pea field was benefit of workin’ for a living, the living lunch bucket. Ernie Becker, stocky and tough, switch itself. At 95 cents per hour, it added up With no gate across the back, gloves, in hand, like he might use it on our lazy fast. hankies and hats flew off the back, re- city slicker backs. Perfect. Perfect. ceding from view as the truck continued Over by the rotting pea vines: a one- + + + toward the pea fields. The return trip legged, gap-tooth “old codger” on the For an interview with Jim’s brother would likely be made 8-12 hours later. far side of 50, who spit snoose and spun and Sampson co-owner, Ray Sampson, Work began with the employee stand- his false foot. Perfect. see May 2004 Artifacts, a quarterly pe- ing on a pile of pea vines, pitchfork in If workin’ for a living in the great out riodical of the South Wood County His- hand, encouraging fresh vines into a of doors satisfied the spirit, hours spent torical Corp., 540 Third Street South. machine that extracted the peas. If the inside the factory during bean season dumping had been done well, the pile showed the other side of the leguminous 05-17-04 ate itself up. If the vines were tangled, life: slavin’ for a living. Imperfect. you wrestled with the mess you were at Shift work on the line: a monotonous the same time standing on and the viner standing in place on a concrete floor at clunked along empty; or if you pushed a conveyor, sorting cans and packing too hard, the machine clogged and had boxes; regimented breaks on the cool, to be cleared. As you worked, there were fragrant bank of the “hardest workin’

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Newton’s ery. waited for the same last gentleman On the east wall were displays with to appear because he inevitably had a t was like old times all over again. sales racks below, carefully watched by large number of packages waiting for Monday morning with Ellen Sabetta the staff. “We kind of knew when Dor- him in the basement. By coincidence, in the heart of the old downtown, at lese was taking the last markdown.” the man’s widow walked past us that I Along the west wall and toward the Monday morning in 2004 as Ellen and “Joe’s Place,” a.k.a. From the Ground Up coffee house. back, an array of sartorial splendor: I reminisced. Ellen and I first met in 1980 at the sweaters, blouses, coats, dresses, linge- “Small town, don’t you know,” she South Wood County Historical Corp. rie, hosiery, handbags, wallets, gloves, said. Museum, 540 Third Street S., where monogrammed handkerchiefs. On Grand Avenue, it seems that way. she, then curator, regaled me with many Four dressing rooms, sales counter Another place Ellen worked was a tale of trouble and triumph in River with cash register, one rest room. “The Sampson’s canning factory, profiled in City. customers used it too and we girls had to last week’s Memoirs. She started out Also 1980, in the same space where keep it clean.” sorting and snipping on the second- we now occupied a stuffed couch, El- “We had problems that modern-day floor, flipping bad beans over one shoul- len began working Friday nights and stores have, like shoplifters. And, people der, then the other, to relieve line-work Saturdays—at Newton’s Women’s Ap- would cut buttons off our coats. How, boredom. parel. According to a 1982 city directo- was beyond me. It was done so slickly, When co-owner Ray Sampson said, “I ry, Newton’s was owned by Margaret L. even though there were two girls in the got a better job for you,” Ellen moved Leist and managed by Dorlese Snyder. store.” to the main floor, where women stuffed At Newton’s, an upscale women’s “Many is the time I sat on the floor beans into cans to be filled with brine clothing shop, clerks knew their cus- doing inventory by the cost code,” said and sealed. Wearing a double pair of tomers’ tastes, said Ellen. When some- Ellen. “It was a four-letter thing. Some gloves, Ellen learned to pick up two hot thing appropriate came in, you’d get of them spelled silly words and some cans in each hand while squeezing a fifth on the phone to the customer, “‘We’ve didn’t. Two of us would shout the cost in the middle. got a dress that kind of looks like you.’ code and the boss would translate it into When she had filled the big iron bas- It was one of the few stores where you the cost on an old manual adding ma- ket, she took her break in the doorway, could take things home on approval. If chine.” and, like generations before and after, you didn’t want it, you brought it back. In 1988, when Ellen left Newton’s, Ellen enjoyed a whiff of that unique am- We also had charge accounts.” it was in part because Rapids Mall, a bience to be found only in River City. Nancy Mortimer, said Ellen, worked block or two away, had helped change in the basement doing alterations. When merchandising in our town. Until the 05-24-04 two women from Third Street expressed end, “there were still some of the older interest in the same dress or suit, you people that appreciated the kind of ser- might warn her, “Mrs. So-and-so bought vice we gave.” that,” so the two wouldn’t end up at the For years, Newton’s clerks were same bridge table flaunting the same fin- amused each Christmas Eve as they

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Mead-Witter sauce and there might have been a slice my mother didn’t like Frank Abel. That’s of cheese. We always went to Wilpolt’s a gazillion years ago.” hen I met with her on a Mon- after the movies and I don’t know how ●242—Western Union Telegraph day in May 2004, Ellen Sa- our dates indicated that, yeah, you could Co. Wbetta held a poppy she had order an Aristocrat. It was maybe fifty “E.J. Wallace was the telegrapher. acquired at the Baker Drive IGA. It re- cents. Dorothy Jaecks and June Flatt worked minded her of the 1930s when she stood “Harry Wilpolt’s wife was a Panter there.” outside Woolworth’s “dime store” on the girl, Ramona. She worked in the restau- ●244—Anderson’s Drugs. corner of 3rd and Grand avenues, “with rant in a uniform. (In 1941, Whitrock pharmacy.) my little poppy basket on my arm.” “He probably threw us out regularly Operated by Harris and Delbert An- “Down this block and I guess every because we made a lot of noise and mess derson, from Frederick, Wis., by way of other block of the business district of for a nickel Coke and the poor waitress- Madison. Rapids, there was a hole in the sidewalk es knew they weren’t going to get any “I worked at the soda shop in the where they flew a flag on all flag holi- tips.” late forties. We had the best ice cream. days.” ●224—Rapids Bakery. It came up from Milwaukee on a night “This block,” meaning the Mead- “The best crescents, with a little bit train packed in dry ice in those canvas Witter block. Please join Ellen and my- of orange frosting. At one time, it was ice cream cans. Everything was hand self for a figurative perambulation as we owned by people named Anderson. I dipped. I had a tremendous muscle from revisited the 1940s and 1950s: still know Andersons’ phone number. dipping.” ●210 W. Grand Ave.—First Bond The fire department was ‘1,’ my friend ●250—Newton’s. See last week’s & Mortgage Co. and Ziegler Insurance Sally Madsen was ‘2’ and Anderson’s Memoirs. (1941). In 1955, Harstad’s Shoe Store was ‘3.’ Sheer memory, kiddo.” ●252—Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea and Klismet’s Toyland. ●230—D&M Beauty Shop. Co. ●212 W. Grand—Fritz & Pete’s Bil- “I have a photo of me taken with a “I have some menus and recipes from liard Hall, owned by Fritz Hribernik and fresh haircut from there when I was in 5th A&P before they built their own build- Pete Sakolosky. grade. I got confirmed and immediately ing on 4th Avenue about where the drive- “When I was small,” said Ellen, “my after, got my long braids cut. I had my in for the First National (US) Bank is.” father, William Prebbanow, would drag first permanent there in 1939. You were ●264—F.W. Woolworth Co. me in and plop me on a stool while he hooked up to a machine. It was heavy “The first job I ever had, 1941-42, played pool or billiards. In later years, and hot. They’d stand and fan you.” Friday nights and Saturdays. My first my friends and I would walk down from ●232—Barber shop. rate of pay was 12 cents an hour. I saved Lincoln high school. Boys would grab 1941: Joe Arnold barber shop. 1955: enough to buy a black Chesterfield win- our books and duck in the pool hall be- Fritz Haefner barber shop. ter coat with a black velvet collar.” cause they knew we thought it was hor- “He always waved.” rible to have to go in after them.” ●240—Abel’s Clothes Shop. 05-31-04 ● 222—Wilpolt’s Restaurant. “My mother picked out my father’s “They had a deluxe hamburger called clothes. Bob Patzer’s father worked the Aristocrat that had a gob of barbecue there. He usually waited on us because

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Camp Peterson job in hand when Peterson said, “Come crash but the downed plane wasn’t found on, I have to get my plane gassed up.” until 7:30 a.m. It had clipped the top of he city is busy with historians; but So they drove to Peterson’s air strip, oak trees and fell short of the unlighted you can’t be sure where they live hopped in the plane and flew down by landing strip. Tuntil you knock on their door. Friendship. “I actually had my interview Like a lot of us, Darwin went out to When Karen and Darwin Lamb in the plane and got hired. I worked the airport to see what he could see. I cleaned out the Third Street house of her there a couple of years in the mid-Fifties remember looking for the plane as my aunt, Vida Calkins, they found a cache as delivery and lumber yard man. He dad drove what must have been our ’49 of papers, including Vida’s memoirs also built houses and I used to go out Pontiac on Griffith Avenue. previously featured here. When some- and help.” Darwin thought some of the land one cleans out the Lamb house at 1821 The houses stand in the vicinity of might have been called “Camp Peter- Two Mile Avenue, they’re going to find Griffith and 9th Street, south of Wal- son.” an equally-valuable trove of history. Mart. And so it probably was. A list of ser- “I’ve got some old pictures,” Darwin Peterson, said Darwin, was a heavy- mons by Rev. Robert W. Kingdon, then says. set cigar-carrying progressive guy, a go- of the Wisconsin Rapids Congregational Pictures and more. During the busy getter who would swoop in the door on church, according to a web posting by season, he cuts out “this stuff” and lays half a run, always doing something. “A his son, includes “Laws of the Abun- it aside. Then, in winter, “I do something good guy to work for. I think I made $112 dant Life,” delivered at the “Boy Scout with it,” securing it in 3-ring binders. every two weeks. Every winter we’d go Camp, Camp Peterson,” May 15, 1955. The result is a display of family pho- up north and cut Christmas trees.” The sermon includes these words: tos, newspaper clippings, brochures and On the east end of what is now the “A Scout is Cheerful. memorabilia. 6th or 7th fairway of Ridges golf course “Nobody likes a grouch, and every- Darwin, born 1934, worked 37 years were Peterson’s hangar, plane and land- one loves a smile. One cheerful face, in the traffic department of CW Trans- ing strip. “Just before this happened, I one pleasant remark, sometimes even port, a local trucking company that was went to the airport. His plane battery one joyous ‘wise-crack’ can make a bought out by Gerber Products Co. in was going dead so I had it charged,” whole gang feel better. 1988. “Here’s a book you can have said Darwin. “In the morning, I went to “The fellow who is lucky enough to about their history,” Darwin says. He work. I was sitting there waiting for him wake in the morning to the sound of his has two. to open up the doors but he never came. mother’s singing, or his father’s cheer- One of the undated clippings in a “So finally a car drove up and Har- ful call, has his day all oiled and run- scrapbook regards Russell Peterson, old Wittman, the manager of the lumber ning smoothly by the time he gets his who owned a lumber yard at 8th Street yard, says, ‘He won’t be here because he face washed.” and Griffith. “Russ had a small Cessna got killed in a crash last night.’” plane he’d fly around for business. He The partial Tribune article in Dar- 06-14-04 belonged to this Cessna club; he and his win’s scrapbook says Peterson, 47, lived wife would take trips to the Bahamas.” at 4721 9th St. S. Darwin said he walked into the lum- At 2 a.m., a resident who lived near ber yard office with his application for a Peterson’s air field heard noise from the

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Jere Witter After a stunt flight, Witter impulsive- Coming down, he felt an excess of ly asked “Cap” Mulzer for permission to joy and “monkeyed with” the shroud id Jere Witter fly under the jump, saying it would be too bad to take cords, causing some “oscillation.” Then, Grand Avenue bridge? Not the chute off unused. “So that’s how I the landing. “The dear old ground.” But Dlikely. Did he jump out of an got myself into the jam. And I couldn’t I had no idea that it was coming so fast. airplane? You bet your life. very well back out. I told Sarge Richter I think I hit, something like a tractor Daredevil, banker’s son and Consoli- that I was nervous as a cat on ice and he dropped off the Woolworth building. dated Paper Inc. heir, Jere (“Jerry”) Wit- said, ‘Well, if you are you’d better not “Very gently, I pulled myself togeth- ter was the first local to obtain a private jump.’ I told him I wasn’t as nervous er and was most grateful to see Cap’s pilot’s license. as that.” brown Buick coming out. To the boys On Nov. 13, 1929, he wrote “The Witter crawled into the passenger seat in the Buick, I intimated that parachute First Jump” for the Daily Tribune. of the front cockpit—the first time he had jumping wasn’t all beer and skittles, but “My grandmother told me that ‘flying ever been there. Leaving the ground, his to the rest at the hangar, I said, ‘Just an- machines’ were very dangerous because last thought was “No ambulance, thank other day … in the life of a sap.’ The at an altitude of more than 100 feet they you; just a hearse will do.” last under my breath.” were positively uncontrollable and that “Cap” made a wide circle of the field … the pilot was sure to fall … Naturally, and headed back into the wind. “Long Estelle Harcinski, 4711 Ninth St. S., I believed her. I still do to a certain ex- before there was any necessity of it, he provided the date: Russell Peterson, tent.” was telling me to get out on the wing.” subject of last week’s Memoirs, crashed But there was no problem with anxi- Witter said he bumped his head on the his plane on July 30, 1954. ety on the big day, because the night top wing as he struggled out of the unfa- +++ before, Witter had “not the feeblest in- miliar front cockpit. Forget-me-not tention of jumping.” By the time Witter “It isn’t a pleasant sensation to stand Kathryn Easter, 101, 40-year Tribune arrived at the airport at the end of First in propeller wash on the ground without employee and later South Wood County Street South, Jerry Saunders had rolled goggles, much less on the wing at 2000 Historical Corp. board member. Then in out the aviator’s plane and was warming ft. My eyes watered. I crouched down; her 80s, she asked me if I could fix her it up. my left hand on the flying wires, my smoke alarm, the thing had been peep- Nepco Airways general manager right on the fuselage as directed.” ing for several nights and she couldn’t Capt. Leslie Mulzer asked Witter if he Witter grasped the rip cord with his sleep. To buy a battery, all I had to do intended to do any acrobatics and Witter right hand, let go with the left and fell was walk a few feet to Wal-Mart. Seems said he might be tempted. Only because off backward. What happened next, he Kathryn’s house had a good reason to government regulations required use of couldn’t say for sure but he pulled the sound an alarm. Its lot was about to be- a parachute during acrobatics had Wit- rip cord, felt a jerk and was suspended come a small part of a big parking lot. ter purchased one. True, he had been in mid-air. impressed two days previous when Bill “To feel myself floating gently waft- 06-21-04 Graves, Hub Stark and Johnnie Mar- ed by zephyrs and not eight feet under- geson had parachuted. So, maybe… ground … was an exceedingly pleasant sensation.”

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Four Dead In Georgia Seldom has our community experi- his retirement in 1953 and continued to enced such shocking and saddening own it. With his wife, the former Clara he Tribune heard about it first. news, said the Tribune. Each victim oc- Rusch (married in Withee), he lived at Word came at 2:30 p.m., June cupied a place of importance in the busi- 130 10th St. S. T24, 1954, in the form of an As- ness life of this community. Each was ●Ray J. Melville, 54. sociated Press bulletin. A plane from held in high regard by a wide circle of The Chippewa Falls native worked Wisconsin had crashed in Atlanta, Ga., business acquaintances and close per- on construction for Consolidated 1928- killing four unidentified occupants. sonal friends. 31, returned in 1938 and enlisted in the Gasoline for the Beechcraft Bonanza Four dead: Army in 1942. had been purchased in the name of D.L. ●Delbert L. Jensen, 36. In 1945, he came back and organized Jensen, of “Stevens Point.” The pilot. His family came from Far- the Wisconsin Valley Concrete Products The Tribune knew D.L. Jensen and go, N.D., when he was nine months old. Co. of which he was president. Melville, his family, actually of Wisconsin Rap- The LHS grad, an Army Air Corp pilot who had lived on Chestnut Street, was a ids, and made the telephone call that in WWII, was a partner with his father bachelor. provided the names of his companions. in the L.E. Jensen garage. The four were en route to Jesup, Ga., to Confirmation came when Mrs. Califern He had established Krista Enterprises, attend the grand opening of a new paper Walker received a call from an Atlanta named for his daughter, with Charles M. mill on which Schroeder’s son-in-law, funeral home that also placed calls to Amann, about two years previous. They Ralph Kutchera, formerly of Wisconsin families of other victims. built a hangar at Stevens Point. Rapids, was construction engineer. Mrs. Clara Schroeder heard about the With his wife, the former Roberta Kutchera had been an engineer for death of her husband in a radio broad- Housten of Green Bay, and three daugh- Consolidated here and an associate of cast while at a Wisconsin Rapids beauty ters, he resided at 640 3rd Ave. S. Melville in the concrete business. shop. Overcome by shock, she was tak- ●Harry W. Walker, 60. The party left Wisconsin Rapids by en by shop attendants to a physician’s The Whitewater native and WWI car about 4:30 a.m. the same morning, office. Army pilot worked here 1926-32 as a drove to Stevens Point airport, taking “Trapped in the flaming wreckage of a bank examiner. At the time of his 1948 off in the plane owned by Jensen and private plane, four prominent Wisconsin retirement, he was stationed in Min- Charles Amann, president of the Farm- Rapids businessmen perished at Atlanta, neapolis. In that year, he became vice- ers & Merchants State Bank, Rudolph. Ga., Tuesday afternoon when the air- president of the First National Bank. The flight to Jesup would have been craft crashed and burned on an attempt- Walker’s father had been superinten- the last leg. ed takeoff from the Atlanta municipal dent of the Wisconsin State School for Said the Tribune, “Words are feeble airport.” The single-engine, four-place the Deaf in Delavan. things with which to express the feel- plane could not gain altitude and one of With his wife, the former Califern ings of the many who knew and admired its wings clipped a tree at the edge of the Chamberlain (married here), and daugh- these four fine citizens and neighbors.” airfield, bursting into flames a few feet ter, he lived at 611 10th Ave. S. from a house. ●Ernest A. Schroeder, 61. 06-28-04 The news gripped local people with a Born in Owen, for 23 years connected sense of “numbing shock and grievous with Cities Service Oil Co., he operated sorrow.” Schroeder Trucking Co. from 1941 until

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Sesquicentennial Consider [2004] these dates in which tive names. the following were established; Lincoln, 1861. hat could be more madden- Wood County, 1856: The year-and- Springfield, 1861: Vacated in 1865 ing than digging a hole in a-half until its big date is, in municipal and attached to McClellan. WRudolph muck? The more terms, the blink of an eye. McClellan, 1864: Made up of the you dig, the more it collapses around Town of Grand Rapids, 1856: When present towns of Remington, Hiles, you, like something just poured out of a Wood County was founded, Grand Rap- Cary and Dexter. Reorganized and va- cement truck. All the more credit to my ids was the only political township. It cated in 1865. neighbor and Rudolph town chairman, retains the former name of Wisconsin Sigel, 1863: Named for Franz Sigel, a Al Herzberg. On a day much like today, Rapids. brigadier general in the Union Army. he got up from an easy chair to help Town of Rudolph, 1856: At the first Sesquicentennials for the remainder shovel and bail for long hours, trying to meeting of the Wood County board of of the towns will come around so get down to a leaking well connection. supervisors, a petition to establish the late someone else will have to do the So when he asked me to speak to a town was considered, says Robert Ru- dancing: meeting of town officials at the Ru- dolph (no relation) in “Wood County Remington, 1868; Wood, 1874; Auburndale, 1874; Marshfield, 1875; dolph town hall, I dug deep and laid it Place Names.” Rock, 1878, Richfield, 1881; Milladore, on thick. Town of Saratoga, 1857: Accord- 1882 (originally called Mill Creek). “Gentlemen and ladies, prepare your ing to The History of Wood County, the Sherry, 1885; Hansen (first established town clerk’s records,” I told the presid- town was founded at Henry Kennedy’s under the name of Vesper in 1885); ing officer, Tom Buss of Grand Rapids, tavern on the Ten Mile Creek. Cary, 1901 (established by George and dignitaries assembled from the five Town of Seneca, 1857: Seneca was Hiles near his granite quarry); Arpin, corners of Wood County. “Gather your first named Hemlock. Like Saratoga, it 1901 (successor of the town of Vesper); atlases and history books. Convene ge- was (in 1861) named for New York state Cameron, 1903; and Cranmoor, 1903. nealogists and scholars. Call Mike Goc locales. For more on that unique assemblage at New Past Press for a commemorative Town of Centralia, 1857: once, the of cranberry growers, see the centennial book. E-mail editor Treinen at the Daily entire countryside west of the river. As history, Cranmoor: The Cranberry El- Tribune. Send Wausau TV your press population grew, new towns were par- dorado by yours truly. releases. Look up “sesquicentennial” in celed out until, in 1875, Centralia as a After the towns come the villages, the dictionary and prepare for the tidal township ceased to exist. As a city, it cities, churches, schools, clubs and an wave as celebrations of 150th anniversa- joined Grand Rapids in 1900. odd sesquicentenarian, all needing some ries roll out.” Town of Dexter, 1858: Supposedly recognition. A lot of us are still around who re- named after a mule belonging to George member the big Wood County centenni- Hiles. Taken over by the town of Hiles 07-05-04 al celebration in 1956. Some of us tried in 1884 until 1901, when Dexter was to grow beards; in this case, at 10 years split from Hiles. old, I wasn’t one of us. Now, 50 more The following four townships, formed years have passed. during the Civil War, took representa-

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Inside Job across the street, probably the Quick planted that May. Extended forestry de- Lunch, to learn if they had seen “any- velopment was expected, in accordance he scene of the crime was con- thing out of the ordinary.” with Peterson’s plans for the area. “Mak- venient. Wisconsin Rapids chief A statewide alarm was broadcast, pre- ing it especially attractive is the fact that Tof police R.J. Exner walked two sumably in hopes of alerting potential just about every species of tree common blocks from his office at the “old” City buyers of the hot skirts. to Wisconsin, with the exception of yel- Hall, 441 W. Grand Ave., and crossed Mrs. Leist said she believed the bur- low birch, grows in the area,” said the the street. glary was committed by someone who Tribune. It had happened the previous night, had been in the shop often enough to Eight fireplaces and camping areas June 23, 1954, in premises sometimes memorize the locations of the more were almost ready, one for each patrol called in this column, “Joe’s Place.” valuable merchandise, possible hiding and one for troop executives. Klinger Parties unknown, “who apparently places and exits. said plans called for a general campfire knew the store by heart,” stole about ●A campground on the Four Mile area so a Scout court of honor and other $1,500 worth of dresses from Newton’s Creek was alluded to in the June 14, programs could be held that summer. women’s apparel shop at 250 W. Grand 2004, “Memoirs” that featured Darwin Swimming areas were expected to be Avenue (now From the Ground Up cof- Lamb’s recollections. Now, the June developed in the Four Mile Creek. fee house). 21, 1954, Tribune provides details on The camp was meant primarily for the Mrs. Margaret Leist, the proprietor, the project, which was being developed use of Troop 72, although other troops said the stock of “better dresses” in a fifty years ago. with Explorer leaders could use the fa- basement display room was almost com- According to the 1954 Tribune, cilities when certain improvements had pletely cleaned out. Forty items, valued Lamb’s employer, Russell Peterson, a been completed. at from $30 to $50 each, were taken. lumber yard owner and pilot, had signed Affairs of Camp Peterson were han- Mrs. Patricia Biot, an employee, dis- a 10-year lease to Boy Scout Troop 72 dled by trustees Larry Chambers and covered the theft when she, in response of Wisconsin Rapids. Henry Baldwin. Morgan Midthun and to a telephone call, went to the basement It allowed the Scouts to use 64 acres of William S. Grimes were assistant scout- to look for a dress. land bounded on the north by Peterson’s masters. But Chief Exner could find no evi- air strip and on the south by the Four Plans changed on July 30, when Pe- dence of a break in. Curiously, all the Mile Creek. The property would later terson died in a crash at his airfield. The doors had been found locked when the become part of Ridges golf course. future of Camp Peterson as a recreation staff arrived in the morning. Maybe the The Scouts had paid a nominal fee and and learning center for Boy Scouts was thief or thieves entered the store before the lease was renewable as long as the suddenly in jeopardy. it closed Wednesday evening and hid camp was operated to the best interests until night fell. of all concerned. Scoutmaster Lloyd 07-12-04 Exner told reporters his investigation Klinger said the primary objective of failed to turn up evidence of unusual ac- “Camp Peterson” would be to follow the tivity around the store during the night. Scout program of outdoor activity and His officers were attempting to contact appreciation of nature. Two thousand employees of an all-night restaurant white pine and jack pine trees had been

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Two Mile Landmark About this time, Swarick sold the He had married Edith Zimmerman at Chatter Bar to William J. Radomski, Kellner in 1919 and moved to Portage omething about that log-look who, like Chet, would live upstairs with county. building suggests times past on his wife. A son, William A. Radomski, In 1930, they moved to Rapids. Ap- SHighway 13. From Two Mile lived in a house built next door on Two parently, he had been a Wood County School in the 1950s, I used to look at it Mile Avenue, said George Swarick, who deputy sheriff. An Army sergeant in every day and wonder about goings on worked with the elder Radomski at Pre- World War I, he was employed at Pre- there. Clearly, it was more than a resi- way after Radomski left the tavern busi- way until 1958, when he became a court dence. ness behind. bailiff, retiring in1964. A lot of us have noticed lately that the “We used to make oven doors for gas Radomski was a charter member of two-story structure at 3610 8th St. S. is ranges. He made the doors and I made St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, where he for sale by its owner, Terry Wolfe Re- the panels down below for the grill,” sang in the choir. alty. said George. “He was a good guy, a When William’s wife, Edith, 71, died In the late 1930s, it was called the happy-go-lucky joker.” Jan. 6, 1968, her address was 3610 8th Chatter Bar, operated by Chet Swarick, David Rucinski, 469 Sparks Ave., St. S. 26-year-old son of established tavernist long-time resident of the neighborhood, She was survived by one son, Wil- Frank Swarick. Chet and his wife lived said it was a typical bar with a dining liam, later of Longview, Washington, upstairs in the 8th Street building. room in back. Born in 1930, Rucinski and two daughters, Mrs. Howard (Lau- Food was featured downstairs at the stopped by with his pals, Tom Gray and ra) Henry and Mrs. Robert Patzer. Julia Chatter Bar, said Chet’s cousin, George Ben Eggan. “They used to have chick- “Susie” Patzer died June 11 of this year. Swarick, 1351 Wisconsin River Dr., en,” he said, “but they never served Knuth noted that, in the days of the Port Edwards, because Chet’s mother, the wings; nobody ate the wings. They Chatter Bar, there was still farmland sur- Kate, was an able cook, specializing saved them for neighbor kids.” rounding 8th Street, which, at Two Mile in chicken and fish. “They had a good Don Knuth, 140 Canal St., peddled Avenue changed its identity to “High- business,” George said. Daily Tribunes by auto on a tube route way 13.” After a couple years, the Swaricks in 1939-40, coming up from the inter- One of the land owners was Julius left the semi-rural location. “He had a section of State Highways 73 and 13, Nelson, a farmer from Sigel whose chance to go downtown,” said George, called Smoky Joe’s Corner. The tavern daughter had married Knuth’s uncle. referring to a West Side location “across was one of the last stops. Nelson had some advice for Knuth’s from the old Central Hotel where his It was owned, he said, by Bill Ra- dad, Clarence, “Why don’t you buy dad was. He was in there quite a while. domski, whose wife tended bar. “It was farm land on 8th Street. It’s going to be Guess he called it the Grand Avenue a pretty nice little tavern. It had a bar, the coming thing.” Tap.” a couple tables. I don’t know of any And so it was. But, like so many simi- A 1941 city directory lists the Chat- food.” lar opportunities, who had the cash when ter Bar at 3610 8th St. S. in the name of According to his obituary, William J. it would have done the most good? Chet Swarick, who is also a resident of Radomski, a Chicago native, 73, died at Route 3. his 3610 8th Street home, Feb. 27, 1966. 07-19-04

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9/11 Reminders ny, the capital city. An exhibit at Al- Paul’s Chapel, 1766, the oldest public bany featured the film “9/11” by French building in continuous use on the island EW YORK – It began as a brothers Jules and Gedeon Naudet. It of Manhattan. In the ancient cemetery normal morning something like was originally planned as a profile of a could be viewed the stump of a tree Nthis until something happened. firefighter trainee at Duane Street fire- destroyed by flying iron from the Trade At my town of Rudolph residence, my house, located seven blocks from the Center. brother, Ken, was visiting from Bell- World Trade Center. St. Paul’s had functioned as an oasis ingham, Wash. “You’ll want to see Hearing a roar, Jules Naudet turned after the attack. A pew once used by this,” I said. “A plane hit the World his camera upward to catch the first George Washington hosted foot mas- Trade Center in New York.” plane coming in. Filming continued sages for recovery workers. On the On “Good Morning America,” until the towers collapsed in a storm of day of our visit, a chorus of teens from Charles Gibson, broadcasting from the debris that covered the city, threatening “Sulphur Springs” sang inspirational ABC studio in Mid-Town Manhattan, the lives of the photographers them- Christian songs. tried to find out more. The normally af- selves. So it happened or didn’t happen fable Gibson, watching a monitor, was Outside the small viewing room in on July 9, 2004: another in a series of stunned when a second plane smashed the Albany museum, the homage to bright, sunny days in the city. into the second tower. By telephone, he 9/11 continued. A burned-out fire truck On “Good Morning America,” the tried to get information from bystand- in which several firemen had been same Charles Gibson who had brought ers as smoke streamed out of the build- killed stood among other twisted relics the news of 9/11, spoke cheerfully to ing. Can it really be a second plane? Is retrieved from Fresh Kills landfill. tourists in Bryant Park, a few blocks this an attack? The following day, my wife, daugh- from Times Square and adjacent to a On another channel, Bryant Gumbel ter and I entered New York City by New York public library that houses a interrupted for a special report. “We stairs up from Penn Station—under the Gutenberg Bible and an original hand- understand that there has been a plane site of this year’s Republican conven- written Declaration of Independence. crash at the southern tip of Manhattan. tion at Madison Square Garden, con- Gibson was happy to welcome us to a We don’t know if it’s a commercial sidered a prime target for terrorists. We performance of the “Grammy-winning” aircraft. We don’t know if it’s a private were soon tourists, inside the Empire pop group, “Train,” which performed aircraft.” State Building, queued for a long hour- something from the sound track of A few minutes later, from an eyewit- and-a-half in hallways under repair, “Spider-Man 2.” ness on the phone: “Oh, there’s an- looking as though they had already The song was titled, “Ordinary.” Ac- other one! Another plane just hit! That been hit. cording to singer Pat Monahan, it was definitely looks like it was on purpose.” Not so many blocks to the south inspired by Spider-Man’s struggle to As we watched, Gumbel was visibly waited Ground Zero, the site of the for- have a normal life while fighting evil. shaken. “Why do you say that was defi- mer trade center, where in the unremit- For most of us, the normal life comes nitely on purpose?” ting glare of high noon, visitors studied naturally. It’s the superhero thing that In July of this year, with former “before and after” displays. Surround- can be a problem. Rapids resident Jim Nuhlicek, my ing “skyscrapers,” some being rebuilt, family and I visited the New York state looked tall but had been dwarfed by the 07-26-04 museum at Rockefeller Plaza in Alba- twin towers. Just across the street, St.

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Clara Henry also ran a dance hall on the Zieher and Margaret, his wife, were farm. “My dad was a violinist. He had close friends of Clara’s. ecently, at her 1400 River Run a real good violin that his parents had On “the other side,” Elmer Klawit- home, Clara Freund recited brought back from Germany.” Casper ter’s meat market. There was Dunn’s Rsome words from long ago. played with the Reidels from up the grocery story and Bean’s grocery store. In the center of Wisconsin, road, an orchestra consisting of a drum- And Doc Whitehorn. Where the giant trees once stood, mer and an accordionist. Doc Hartsough was the veterinar- Oh, they carved a splendid county In 1918, when Prohibition took ef- ian. And Pagel, he had the shoe store. And of course they named it Wood. fect, the dance hall closed. “There was Then there was Woodruff. They had the a nice bar, and a big back bar with lumber. “My folks were so in love with Wood mirrors all around. I remember it at the Elmer and Clara ran the store un- County, I learned a poem about it,” she auction where they sold all that stuff,” til 1950, when they sold to “Chicago said. That was in fifth grade atLone Clara said. people” “but it came back and another Maple school. “It was far enough so She and her family attended Catho- person bought it but they couldn’t take the folks had to take us. Dad built a lic church in Rudolph. At “religious care of it and it came back again so we regular little cabin and we had a horse school,” the students helped Rev. Philip tore it down.” that hauled us to school. We put hot J. Wagner break up bottles and bake After Elmer’s death, Clara came to stones in for the winter to keep our feet them in a kiln “for the Grotto.” Rapids, where she worked six-and-a- warm.” Wagner also drove country roads with half years at Wood County infirmary Clara, 96, was one of 13 children his car to pick up Clara and other pu- and five years atRiverview Hospital, born to Henry and Anna Casper, who pils. “We walked six miles home every prior to marrying Vincent Freund of had bought “80 acres of standing tim- night,” she said. “He was a wonderful Rudolph who died in 2000. ber, the lake and the babbling brook for priest but we were scared we might say Her verse continues: $900” in the town of Sherry. something wrong and get punished.” The Casper home, three miles south So now would you come with me Clara said she became “the farmer’s of Milladore, became a center of activ- To the county I love best? daughter that met the merchant’s son ity when Clara’s father converted the This county in Wisconsin and got married,” a reference to Elmer living room to a saloon and built an With milk and honey blessed— Dassow, who, with his father, ran a ice house nearby to make cold beer Hurrah for Wood County! grocery and feed store in Vesper. “We possible. Henry also constructed a big had groceries and 60 meat lockers. We For the complete interview see Arti- merry-go-round. sold dry goods, material, notions. Work facts for August 2004, published four “They had a donkey in the center to there? Sure I did. We had different ones times a year by the South Wood County pull it around. Sometimes the donkey that helped out between the children.” Historical Corp. and available at the would get real stubborn and wouldn’t Where was it? “In the middle of SWCHC Museum, 540 Third Street move so they had to get a pony. I guess Vesper!” South. the way Mom tells me, they always Across the way were George Horn’s charged five cents a ride for each per- hardware and Zieher’s tavern. Nick 08-09-04 son.”

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Consoberries ployees made up more than half the city There was no single dominant ethnic labor force. or cultural group. About a third of the onsolidated. Cranberries. The As for cranberries, “Wisconsin Rap- residents were Catholic. There were 19 “two Cs” that spread the fame ids” was second only to the state of churches in all. Cof “the Rapids” throughout the Massachusetts, said Nelson. Three co- The Wisconsin Rapids White Sox nation. So said Max T. Nelson in a Mil- operatives here marketed 25 per cent played in Class D of the Wisconsin State waukee newspaper of Sept. 21, 1952, of the nation’s crop, about a quarter- Baseball League. Locals were proud of provided by Gale Jackson, 5561 Victo- million barrels in 1951. Fresh berries their high school teams, having recently rian Way, Wisconsin Rapids. were sold under the “Eatmor” label of won a state championship in basketball. Consolidated Water Power & Paper the Wisconsin Cranberry and Midwest A 40-member municipal band was Co., later Consolidated Papers, Inc., was Cranberry Sales companies and under more than 50 years old; many locals en- the predecessor here of Stora Enso North “Indian Trail” from Cranberry Grow- joyed their Barber Shop quartet. America. Its original mill had been con- ers, Inc. Together they represented more Mayor Carl C. Knudsen, 63, a retired structed in 1904. The locally-founded than 200 growers. business man who had been elected al- company achieved “a series of fascinat- Cranberries gave the community its derman in 1946 and mayor in 1948 on ing chapters”: paper making, power de- most notable civic social event, the Na- a platform of raising taxes to cut the velopment, flood control, civic minded- tional Cranboree, in late September, at city debt, was determined to run the city ness and philanthropy, said Nelson. which visitors enjoyed 2,500 free cran- “like a business” and/or “like a house- Consolidated also provided the “No. berry pies. hold.” Looking to the future, a fund was 1 citizen” of Rapids, George W. Mead, The second largest employer in Rap- earmarked for schools and other civic whose son, Stanton Mead, headed the ids was the Prentiss Wabers Products improvements. First on the list was an- company. The high school (present East Co., with 800 workers. It had been start- other bridge across the Wisconsin river. Jr. High), athletic field and fieldhouse ed, said Nelson, by a couple of campers Nelson noted that the city was with- were built in 1931 during Mead’s tenure unable to get dry firewood. The result out any public transportation aside from as mayor. Mead had also made Consoli- was a manufacturer of electric and gas taxicabs “although no one in town seems dated the principal support of the latest cooking stoves, oil space heaters and overly concerned.” addition to Riverview hospital. Beauti- furnaces, camp stoves, picnic ice boxes The adjoining Town of Grand Rapids fication of the downtown riverfront was and parts. The balance of production (pop. about 4,000) “wanted in” but the supported by Mead and his brother-in- filled government contracts. Most of its city wasn’t interested. Mayor Knudsen law, Isaac Witter. Consolidated’s “mo- products were marketed under the Pre- believed the expense of the additional telized” hotel, the Mead, was a little way trademark. “wardage” would be greater than the over a year old. Other employers were Sampson Can- revenue from it. Consolidated was a national leader ning Co., with 400 seasonal workers and In the 20 years previous, River City in making paper “enameled simultane- Harvard Clothes, Inc., a men’s clothing had enjoyed a rate of population growth ously on both sides,” a product used by manufacturer with a payroll of 110. second only to Madison, the state capi- Life, Time, Fortune, Popular Science, An important retail trades center, the tal, making the future so bright you Parents, Good Housekeeping, Cosmo- city of 13,496 was served by the First needed Venetian blinds. politan, Newsweek and Better Homes National and Wood County National and Gardens. Consolidated’s 2,700 em- banks. 08-16-04

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Eileen For parties, you made do. Carrells missed so Eileen showed up instead. had a little house with a stone base- Barrette thanked her. “You tell him ou didn’t have a lot; but it ment. “We’d get it all straightened to come as soon as he’s well.” Duane didn’t take a lot to have a good around, hang balloons,” said Eileen. did so and he got the job that meant a Ytime way back when. Way “We had our pot luck dinner down lifetime of security. back in the Fifties when payday came there.” Learning of an opening for welders, every two weeks and, to celebrate, you “The men liked a beer. With five Duane told his neighbor, Don Engel, bought a big bottle of soda. When you couples, we might have one six pack a trained welder who was working got home, the kids had the glasses lined for them to share. I played the piano; for the Frank Garber industrial supply up. You poured and they stood right your mother played the piano. We sang. company. So Don went down to talk to there to see that each one got their fair We made our own fun.” Barrette and that’s how my family’s as- share. For fun, you went for a ride. If You went camping in canvas tents sociation with Consolidated began. it wasn’t payday, you dodged the root that invariably leaked when it invari- “What was my dad like in those beer stands so the kids wouldn’t beg for ably rained. Out by the lake, you sang days?” I asked Eileen. an ice cream cone. some more, the old songs. “Don was fun, always kind of teas- Way back, when Eileen Keating, 81 Like my parents, Keatings were ing,” she said. “Of course, he was a [2004], 911 Two Mile Ave., and her among the many post-World War II farm boy and your mother was a farm husband Duane, were good friends of arrivals here. A machinist, Duane first girl and I wasn’t brought up on a farm; my parents, Don and Sally Engel, and worked for Four Wheel Drive, Clin- but I wanted cucumbers. I didn’t know the children were playmates too. tonville. “Then the shipyards exploded you probably could put three seeds in. Duane and Eileen had four: Sherry with the war and we went to Sturgeon I dumped half a package in each. Your (1941), David (1942), Diane (1946) Bay.” dad never forgot that. and Scott (1949). In 1944, Duane went down to join “Sally was so thoughtful and so giv- Don and Sally had the same number the Navy but ended up in the Army for ing. I don’t believe she ever said a bad with one match and some close hits: two years and some months. After the word about anybody. David (1945), Kathryn (1946), Gary war, he got a job at a Green Bay paper “You were a quiet little guy. A lot of (1950) and Kenneth (1955). converting company but wasn’t happy times you’d be by your mom with your Young families lived in little houses there. Then his cousin, Bud Shambeau arm around her neck. Seems to me all they were building themselves on offered Duane a job at an 8th Street of you were quiet. Maybe thinkers, Clyde Avenue. The bathroom fixtures South welding shop; Duane could get huh, even then?” you couldn’t afford weren’t available into the little places Bud couldn’t. But anyway so out of four doors you made it wasn’t the answer. 08-30-04 an outhouse you had to back into. So a 1948 interview with Leo Bar- For fun, you walked the Avenue rette at Consolidated [Water Power & (Clyde) and met the neighbors: Keat- Paper Co.] for a machinist job meant ings; Engels; Lawrence and Audrey a lot. Unfortunately, Duane got a bad Carrel; Norman and Beverly Nordlee; case of chicken pox and was quaran- Jack and Eleanor Bessey. tined. It was a chance that couldn’t be

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Rapids 1977 company town? Glenn Anderson, Con- teresting building.” solidated public information manager, The downtown straddling the river n August 16, 2004, “River City credited a low key approach to com- was unusual in that there were no vacant 1952” was portrayed in these munity relations. They were “willing to stores, “though some of them need re- pages as a vigorous community help” but “would not push.” modeling.” A planned downtown shop- O On a personal level, the relationship ping mall, then a somewhat novel idea, growing toward its prime. Almost mid- way between 1952 and now came a 1977 between company and employees was would bring a new look. About 40 stores story by John T. Wells in the Milwaukee a lasting one, said Wells of the Journal. were proposed. Also coming was a new Journal. Wells celebrated a contented He cited a conversation with Don , a re- “triangular” City Hall. Mediapolis here that sensed only a whiff cent retiree, who said, “It’s a wonderful Already enhancing the downtown of what was blowing in the wind. place to work.” Good pay, good bene- on each street corner were planters of Like most observers, the journalist fits and a good retirement program were brightly-colored petunias. Where park- focused on the hard-working Wiscon- part of the explanation. ing lots had been built, “room has been sin River as central to the Rapids iden- As he traveled about River City, spared for trees and shrubbery,” Wells tity. “Born as a trickle in the tamarack Wells said, he was often greeted by per- said. swamps of Oneida County, the river be- sons he had never seen before. The topic Like most Wisconsin communities, comes a giant as it works its way south- of conversation tended to be hunting. development sprawled out along the ward for about 450 miles to its outlet in Part of the relaxed atmosphere, he major highways. “Here, on Highway 13, the Mississippi river.” said, “may be due to the river and the entering the city from the south, there is Hydraulic power brought progress for abundant parkland that borders it.” You a long formation of fast food restaurants, communities along its banks: as true in could stroll for miles and never bump motels, car dealers, small shopping cen- 1977, said Wells, as it was in the 1880s into buildings, marinas or warehouses. ters and other businesses. when the first pulp and paper mills were For the riverbank parks, “ever changing “Unlike many communities, nobody built. and ever beautiful,” Wells credited past seems in a rush to get places. The speed Wells dutifully gave a nod to George and present planners. limit along Highway 13 to the south is W. Mead. After the original planners Pollution had “sullied” the river 35 m.p.h., but the traffic moves at a lei- both died, Mead had, in 1903, assumed somewhat but it was getting better all surely 25 m.p.h.” responsibility for building a dam and the time, with Consolidated playing a According to the correspondent from paper mill. role in the cleanup. A new $8.6 million Milwaukee, that’s the way it was in Riv- Mead’s Consolidated Water Power & water quality center brought the com- er City. Why be in such a big hurry to Paper Co., was, at the time of the 1977 pany into compliance with 1977 pollu- get somewhere else when we were do- story, the world’s largest producer of tion standards. ing so well right at home? enamel printing papers. At its Wiscon- Residentially, Wells found a pleasant sin mills, it employed about 4,900, three blend. One of the old mansions lining 09-06-04 fourths of whom lived in Wisconsin “the bluff” on the east side of the river Rapids area. Consolidated influenced (3rd Street South) was a museum oper- everyone in the city of about 18,500 (up ated by the South Wood County His- from 13,000-plus in 1952). torical Corp., not far from the new and How did such a dominant corpora- modern McMillan Memorial Library, tion avoid turning a small city into a which he found “an architecturally in- 86 River City Memoirs Ghost

Marsh Harvest lucrative fruit was associated with our the first to arrive at what he called the Two Mile Avenue neighbors, the Mur- “cranberry Eldorado.” end out the photographers; it’s gatroyds, through Auril M.’s mother, Soon, cranberry marshes became cen- harvest time on the marshes. The Lela Winn, who later shared her remi- tury farms and I interviewed Chuck modern cranberry highway and niscences. Bennett about his family’s long Cran- S th I watched one Cranboree parade from moor history. Long-time Potter Bros. the “Eldorado” of 19 -Century chroni- clers come to life. John Murgatroyd’s second floor office stalwart Hank Westfall described long I have long favored cranberry country. on West Grand Avenue, where I knocked nights on dikes and Clarence Searles In my piscatory youth, my dad took me to over a bottle of ink, almost as embarrass- talked about his family history and the the ditches, where even I could snare the ing as some of the ink I spilled later. Arpin-Brazeau marsh. snaky cran-pike, so crazy for “Daredev- In the early 1960s, Wayne Dempze of I was getting to be a cranberry nut. les.” The biggest “lunker” shook off the the Biron cranberry family and I played Soon, the papers of T.E. Nash, founder red-and-white spoon and slipped away high school cornet. After a pep band of the Nekoosa paper mill, documented into the tamaracks; yet I later boasted gig, his car stalled on the far side of the his exploits with big-name Madison pal to my younger pal, Bruce Zanow, that I marsh and we had to trudge frozen beds William F. Vilas. Their Cranmoor-area had hooked a “28-inch northern.” against a bitter north wind, wearing marsh crashed in the flaming 1890s. Cranberries, centered in the town of flimsy trench coats, and, for vanity, no Each year, the Wisconsin State Cran- Cranmoor, are the signature product of headgear. About that time, at a clearing berry Growers Association, Wisconsin our landscape. At Bowlmor, you can’t where berries had been dumped during Rapids, asks me to profile the summer sneeze without dislodging an Ocean the cancer scare, a warden interrupted meeting host in booklet form, allow- Spray baseball cap from someone. a private social gathering I attended by ing me to stay up-to-date on the always Traditionally, cranberries were for inviting me and my parents to meet with colorful, often entertaining saga. Last Thanksgiving. At Grandpa’s farm, the the sheriff at the courthouse. Thus, a spring, through the inspiration of “cran- holiday centerpiece was a deep-red cranecdote for the future! kid” grower and town clerk Phil Brown, cylinder of jell that held the contours Around 1970, Jon Gottschalk, a he- I published “Cranmoor: The Cranberry of the can indefinitely. When relatives reditary Cranmoor grower of my gen- Eldorado” a book-length centennial his- visited us, we drove out to the blessed eration, happened to stop at the Brig tory. lonesomeness of big sky and desolate pub in the basement of the Dixon Hotel. It’s all about the berries. swamp that contrasted with neatly geo- He said he would likely be up all night metric cultivated beds. watching for frost. Kind of different, I 09-13-04 In the 1950s, clusters of colorful build- thought, for a young guy. Many of us ings remained from the storied seasons were still goofing off. when crowds of pickers and rakers as- My introduction to Cranmoor history sembled for work and play. writing came when Lela Winn asked me If you were a grower yourself, you to help with an early draft of her 1981 could afford fancy restaurants like “the book, “The Marsh.” Mead” or Wilbern’s, where they served After my 1980 debut at the Daily special-recipe cran-bread and cranberry Tribune, Newell and Helen Jasperson juice cocktails. shared the picaresque tales of Newell’s In my own green years, I knew the grandfather, Sherman Whittlesey, one of

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Lincoln him. That was in September [probably slaves, the cruelty with which they were August] and I was going to be 14 years treated and the suffering they were ex- or decades after his death, ora- old the following November.” periencing until there was hardly a dry tory blossomed forth across the Debates between Stephen A. Doug- eye in that crowd, said Fisher. “Then he land on February 12 because it las, the Democratic incumbent Illinois told of the duty of men as he saw it, with F U.S. senator, and Lincoln, a relative a voice that rang out like a trumpet call, was Abraham Lincoln’s birthday; but the “greatest President” was once just unknown, were held in each of seven and he won.” another candidate. Congressional Districts during the 1858 According to a Douglas/Lincoln web- A 1929 Daily Tribune (provided by campaign for a U.S. Senate seat from Il- site, Lincoln explained that he would Gale Jackson, Wisconsin Rapids) said linois. speak for one hour, Douglas for an hour that “the best” Lincoln birthday speech “The debate was on the Missouri and a half and then Lincoln for half an had been delivered to students of Wood Compromise,” Fisher told the assem- hour, a total of three hours. County Normal, our local teachers col- blage at Wood County Normal, “which A few words from Douglas may put lege. The reminiscence “came from the had been passed in the senate just short- Lincoln’s position in perspective. “All I lips” of a witness to the Freeport, Ill., ly before and the question was, squat- have to say of it is this, that if you, Black Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858. ter sovereignty or freedom? Lincoln, of Republicans, think that the negro ought At Wisconsin Rapids, the event began course, stood for the latter.” to be on a social equality with your with community singing. Kathryn Jole, To an immense outdoor crowd, Doug- wives and daughters, and ride in a car- musical director of the Normal school las spoke first, said Fisher. riage with your wife, whilst you drive chose the Civil War songs, “Battle Hymn Lincoln, who took the stand with a the team you…have a right to entertain of the Republic” and “Tenting Tonight sad, sober face, wasn’t attractive, ac- those opinions, and of course will vote on the Old Camp Ground.” cording to the account. for Mr. Lincoln.” The speaker was introduced by school His coat hung carelessly about broad In response, members of the Freeport superintendent A.W. Zellmer: W.J. Fish- shoulders, his sleeves were far too short rabble supposedly shouted, “Down with er, Civil War veteran, for many years for his arms and his vest was a mass of the negro,” “No, no, etc.” a Rapids resident. Fischer, 84, said he wrinkles. Lincoln’s prospects did not Lincoln lost the election but the de- hadn’t prepared a speech but was just look favorable. bates launched him into national promi- going to talk. But the candidate met the challenge nence and led to his election a couple “Men like Lincoln never die,” Fisher with stories and jokes, Fisher said, and years later as the first Republican Presi- said. “His physical form might pass had the crowd laughing and cheering as dent of the United States. on, but the things he did, the things he his high-keyed voice “penetrated to the thought and the ideas which he strived outermost edges of that enormous gath- 10-04-04 to fulfill will never die. As long as the ering.” English language is spoken and as long “He had the most expressive counte- as America exists, the name and works nance I had ever seen. With that expres- of Lincoln will never be forgotten.” sion and his words he could sway that Fisher, whose family had lived about mighty audience, I might say he had fifty miles south of Freeport, said, “I was possession of the crowd.” one of the happiest boys in the world The self-styled backwoods lawyer when my father offered to take me with related the wrongs being done to the 88 River City Memoirs Ghost

Cranboree received gifts that included a three-piece “jive drumming” by the Gopher Elks luggage set from Heilman’s, a red coat Drum and Bugle Corps of St. Paul,” a ifty years ago, this was a city of from Johnson Hill’s, a seven-diamond “Negro” unit. 80,000. For a day or two, anyway. cocktail ring from Johnson Jeweler, two- Dancers enjoyed a hoe-down by the According to the Daily Tribune, dozen roses from Dahl’s and two tickets Doleysh Bros. Orchestra at the Memo- F to the Gene Autry Show from Wisconsin rial Armory. normally tranquil Wisconsin Rapids “became a scene of marvelous wonders Rapids Elks Lodge No. 693. Sunday, 30,000 servings of Cran- for a brief moment Sunday afternoon, Audrey, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. boree sherbet were served to viewers of with pilgrims by the thousands coming Walter Tork, 446 Cook Ave., was en- the Cranboree Roundup Parade that pro- to glory in the magic of the National rolled in the liberal arts course at Mar- ceeded from depot to square to Grand to Cranboree.” quette University. The prospective den- 8th to Witter Field for a massed finale of The official estimate of 80,000 attend- tal hygienist “admitted she thought her 2,000 musicians. ees was low, if anything, said a balloon- chosen field would combine well with The Championship Rodeo at Witter ist who viewed the scene from above. homemaking.” Field ended the weekend event. If the crowd were the largest in the On Saturday of Cranboree weekend: Forget me not: Dixie Ann Sarchet “extravagant” six-year history of the free fire engine rides at the East Side Kuenn, 69, Orlando, Fla., the 1951 local celebration, so was the parade. Market Square, sponsored by Rapids National Cranboree queen, who died “Without a doubt it was the greatest free Lumber and Supply Co.; an Old Timers March 12, 2004. She graduated from attraction offered anywhere in the state,” Reunion at the Elks Club (All Old Tim- P.J. Jacobs High School, Stevens Point, said the Tribune. ers Welcome); and the National Cran- in 1952 and attended the University of The 1954 Cranboree took place the boree Pie Baking Contest at Lincoln Wisconsin-Madison. weekend of Friday, Sept. 17, through Fieldhouse. The winner was Mrs. Les- Sarchet won the Miss Wisconsin that Sunday. It began with a Kiddie Kos- ter Balthis, Oakdale, who was looking contest, was named Miss Wisconsin in tume Kavalkade from the landmark Mil- forward to presenting a “Frosted Cran- 1954 and went on to the Miss America waukee Road Depot on West Grand to berry Pie” to President Eisenhower. She contest. She married Harvey Kuenn in the landmark East Side Market Square. would also make a television appearance 1955, a Major League baseball player (Both landmarks have entered the after- on WBAY-TV. who managed the Milwaukee Brewers life.) The evening’s Bananoree Parade in the early 1980s. They later divorced The big event Friday night was the went from “the depot” to the East Side and he died Feb. 28, 1988. queen judging and coronation ball, fea- Market Square, then the Witter Field. turing Griff Williams and his orchestra, It featured the Banana band, Wiscon- 10-11-04 at Lincoln Fieldhouse, where Audrey sin Rapids American Legion Drum and Tork, “a personable young brunette,” Bugle Corps and the local Boy Scouts topped five finalists to become the 1954 Drum and Bugle Corps. At Witter, the National Cranboree Queen. In the bril- Tournament of Champions Invitational liant lights used for the newly-prominent Drum and Bugle Corps Contest: won by television cameras, the 1953 queen, Le- the renowned Madison Scouts, “which anne “Sis” Parmeter, brought Audrey to put on the most brilliant display of music stage center as the Williams band played, and marching ever seen at Witter Field.” “O You Beautiful Doll.” Queen Audrey But most entertaining was a display of

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Elsi Schultzenheim But he is best known for his night job: wagon that towed a trailer. They played band leader and trumpet player. all surroundings states and such notable ally Ives and I were co-con- It began at home. Ives’ dad, a Dix- venues as the Eagles Ballroom in Mil- spirators. In the radical Eight- ieland-loving businessman and Marsh- waukee and Indian Crossing Casino ies, against conventional wis- field mayor, rigged a PA system on his near Waupaca. W car for advertising purposes, “and he Back in the day, Ives recorded with dom, we wanted to save the Wakely Inn, scheduled for demolition by its owner, would ballyhoo with that. Bartman’s Lawrence Duchow of Appleton for Great Northern-Nekoosa Corp., of Port shoe store here was going out of busi- RCA. At age 27, Ives signed his own Edwards. ness and we went along, my cousins and contract with Mercury records. A re- At about the age I am now, the gen- myself. They’d give us these belts and cently-produced CD features some of teel Ives was president of the South we would go along the street and march his good-time standards: “Milwaukee Wood County Historical Corp. and I, to Dixieland.” Waltz,” “Aunt Ella’s Polka,” “Oody’s at the age Jack Benny always claimed After playing trumpet in Marshfield Polka,” (his brother was called Oody), to be, was municipal historian with the school bands, Ives started his profes- “Timberscript Line,” “Elsi Schultzen- Daily Tribune. sional career with Irv Lutz & the Florida heim,” “Braves Polka” and “Schtinker- At his television repair shop in Wis- Five. Of the Stevens Point band, none of waltz.” consin Rapids, Ives and I cooked up our the members had been to Florida. “And In the 1970s, Ives played with a Rap- schemes. He asked a pilot friend at Great I was with the Delta Boys in Marshfield ids/Point Dixieland band, “Uncalled Northern-Nekoosa Corp., with authority and also Benny Graham, a darn good Four Plus Two,” that included Don over the Wakely structure, what could band in Point.” Chesebro on clarinet, Carmen Lane on be done. He was told that the compa- Next, Ives went to the Blue Denim piano and Bob Worth on drums. ny might change its plans, “if you find Boys of Winona, Minn., playing the pol- Ives left Rapids for Florida and Up- somebody who could take care of it.” kas and waltzes that became his trade- per Michigan when he retired at age 62. One of the first to step forward was mark. “Then they formed a new band, Now of 1412 S. Adams Ave., Marsh- David Teske, a member of the Central the Country Gentlemen, and I was in field, he returns [2004] regularly for the Wisconsin Home Builders Assoc. Teske, charge of the trumpet section. We played Wisconsin Rapids city band with which with Ives and myself, signed the origi- several states.” he counts 32 ongoing years of playing nal incorporation papers of Wakely Inn When he started his own band, Wally and directing. Preservation, now Historic Point Basse, hired his brother, Lovell, on trumpet As the future music Hall of Famer Inc. Coincidentally, Ives had been in and as arranger. In order to take advan- told me, “It’s been really a wonderful the house previously, to fix a television tage of a poster already available, Wally time.” problem. It didn’t work because the an- changed “Six Fat Dutchmen” to Wally A more complete interview with Wal- tenna was buried in six inches of bat Ives & the Jolly Dutchmen, meaning ly Ives was published in the February guano. “Deutsch-men” or Germans. 2005 Artifacts. Ives, who grew up in Marshfield, The group became familiar to those came to Wisconsin Rapids in 1956 to who tripped the terpsichorean fantastic 10-23-04 work for Harold Collman’s radio and TV at Skyway, Eagles club, Bulls Eye and service. “Then I had a chance to set up a Golden Gate. shop for Speltz music.” Soon, Ives went For out-of-town engagements, Ives into the TV repair business for himself. and the band crowded into a station 90 River City Memoirs Ghost

Leadership In a sweeping victory that would typify school building program that would his career, Laird lost only Anderson’s take half the tax burden off the property pathy, they called it, with a lit- home county. taxpayer, financed by higher taxes on tle too much enthusiasm. Fifty •For the Democrats, William Prox- the rich. years ago, less than half the eli- mire, 38, candidate for governor. Proxmire’s opponent was the A The Illinois native had graduated from incumbent, Gov. Walter J. Kohler Jr., 50, gible voters were expected at the polls. Nevertheless, from the nasty non- Yale University and Harvard Business also a Yale graduate. The manufacturer Presidential campaign of 1954, emerged School. During World War II, he served of plumbing fixtures, whose company two major Wisconsin figures. in Military Intelligence and then in the was undergoing a big strike, was running •For the Republicans, Melvin Robert Wisconsin State assembly for two years. for his third term. Laird, 32, Marshfield, Wis. Briefly aMadison newspaper reporter, he Kohler pointed to honesty and After the 1946 death in office ofMelvin was the son of a surgeon and considered, efficiency in state government; a cut in R. Laird Sr., a Presbyterian minister, like his opponent, “wealthy.” income taxes; and millions spent wisely Melvin R. Laird, Jr., by then a decorated In 1952, Proxmire ran unsuccessfully on buildings for state institutions and WWII Navy veteran, took his father’s for governor. For the next two years school. place as a Wisconsin state senator. he campaigned almost continuously. According to Kohler, Democrats were By 1954, Laird Jr. had six years in the Unemployment, he said, was hurting unwilling to admit anything was possible state senate and one term in the U.S. city folk and a drop in dairy income was in America except by an “emergency” House of Representatives. bad for country folk. And Wisconsin that brought about government Laird told a Republican rally at the state finances were badly handled. intervention, controls, pump-priming Rapids Elks Club that Democrats His program for better schools, and war. had resorted to smears, half truths welfare institutions and roads meant When Kohler won by a whisker, and falsehoods to divert Wisconsin more jobs and steady prosperity, said with 51 percent of the chads, a recount voters from former President Truman’s Proxmire. Wisconsin had been a leader was demanded by labor supporters, soft record on communism, crime, in humane legislation under the La but Proxmire preferred to interpret corruption and war, all reversed, said Follette Progressive Republicans but the election positively. It had been the Laird, by President Eisenhower and the now big business Republicans were in strongest Democratic showing in 29 Republican congress. control. years, he said, and spoke well of the His GOP had ended the Korean war, Proxmire admired the aggressive future. empowered the FBI, passed the St. campaigning of “Fighting Bob” La Speaking of the future, 1954-style… Lawrence Seaway bill, increased social Follette and emulated it, perhaps talking Earlier that year, a long-time Democrat, security benefits, lowered federal excise with more persons personally than any James Doyle Sr., lost the nomination for taxes and chopped 27 billion dollars other campaigner in state history and governor to Proxmire. Now, fifty years from the federal budget. with hundreds of thousands more via the later, the governor of Wisconsin is James Responding to charges by his new medium of television. Doyle Jr. In 1966, the same Jim Doyle Democratic opponent, Kenneth On Saturday, Oct. 2, Proxmire spoke Jr. married Jessica Laird, the niece of Anderson, Stevens Point, Laird at a dinner in his honor at the SS. Peter another candidate from back in ’54, our defended his voting record for veterans’ & Paul church dining room in Wisconsin own Melvin R. Laird. legislation. Rapids. He proposed a $200 million 11-01-04

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Farrish “At the Mason house?” me there. When he was gone, I didn’t Jim Mason, like Don and Marion, always show up.” good-sized crowd showed up seems to have connections to just about Don was also Mead’s caddy in the at the 1010 Baker St. home of everybody. Indeed, the proposal took early days of Bull’s Eye Country Club. Donald and Marion Farrish but, place at Lloyd and Dorothy Mason’s, During the Depression, Bulls Eye A 530 Mead Street, where Marion stayed couldn’t afford to run the “second nine” no problem; even in February, there was enough strawberry shortcake for all. This when she worked at Gross Brothers and they closed it down, Don said. So he was a promising start for a planned oral trucking company. and Mead’s son-in-law, Henry Baldwin, history interview series, spearheaded by Don had been hired by Leo Barrette started the Tri-City golf course. Wisconsin Rapids Sunrise Rotary mem- at Consolidated in the sulfite mill lab. He After World War II, Don traveled ber Jim Mason and attended by several soon moved to the sales office inStevens back and forth to Consolidated’s Chi- of his cohorts. Point, and back to the Rapids main of- cago office, residing at the then-new A whole lot of people know the Far- fice. After their 1939 marriage, the Far- YMCA. Marion stayed busy here with rishes. I met them when their son, John, rishes moved to Chicago, where sales her children and her mother. suggested we do “something to remem- manager Walter Mead educated them in When Consolidated launched Con- ber,” lifted Lincoln’s head from his body city life and enjoyed Marion’s cooking soweld, a plastic laminate company, and got us suspended from high school. during visits to their apartment. Don helped set up nationwide distribu- The Farrish forebears were merchants At the beginning of World War II, tion. “And I covered the whole United and lumbermen here in the 1800s. Don directed an athletic program in States on their expenses. It took the cu- Marion grew up in the Wood County Boston for the military but, “wound up riosity out of my soul. I saw the whole town of Richfield, the daughter ofAlma as a beach master leading in the Marines country.” and Arvid Backstrom, a brick-layer. and sailors.” When Consoweld experimented with Marion said that, in 1937, she was the During the war, Marion worked at constructing houses out of their product, first Wood County “dairy queen.” Her Marshfield’s Roddis plywood company, Mead sent Farrish out west to ask Wey- position led to a job with county agent which was then making parts for Liberty erhauser and others if they should con- H.L. Lathrope and a move to Rapids. ships and British planes. tinue building the plastic houses. Farrish She lived with her mother and a group After the war, Don worked in Chi- came back and told Mead “he ought to of young women her age in the same cago, where his boss, Mead, left every get out of that business and he did.” house at which our 2004 interview was Thursday on the 1 p.m. train for Ocono- “Consolidated did a lot for the com- conducted. mowoc. At 4 p.m., Don took the Hia- munity,” said Don. “The Mead family Marion met Don in the vicinity of the watha for Rapids. were very generous and old G.W. lent all juke box at the Witter hotel. Their first Mead’s father was Consolidated the kids money to go to school. During date was for an Elks Club dance. president, George W. Mead, who had Christmas, he would open up his house At this point in our conversation, I been Don’s Sunday school teacher at on the Island and invite us for parties.” was surprised by another coincidence the Rapids Congregational church. “My (For the complete interview see the as Marion turned to fellow interviewer attendance was very good when he was November 2004 “Artifacts,” a publica- Jim Mason: “Don proposed to me on there,” said Don. “He did the level best tion of the South Wood County Histori- the davenport at your mother and dad’s to keep on the religious stuff, but he cal Corp., 540 Third St. S.) house.” wound up telling us about his trips and so forth. Those were things that drew 11-08-04

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Wagner’s World the gophers, caught the sparrows, killed other a brush-hook. “You’ll get yours the killdeer, poisoned the rats, behead- now. Why don’t you look where you’re ach of us is a secret world. ed the groundhogs, and deodorized the shootin’?” Blunders, stupidity, suffering skunks. Crows were often caught in Facing Wagner was a father and son, and struggle mark every human traps or killed with strychnine.” who had been cutting brush. The son, E “We cannot have a man in the house holding his abdomen, said he surely life far deeper than transient joy and happiness. who is afraid of blood,” said his sister, would die; but seeing him walking With such words, Rev. Philip J. demanding Wagner butcher a chicken along, Wagner noted, “I thought it can- Wagner, the Catholic priest who built for Sunday dinner. not be too bad.” the Rudolph Grotto Shrine, began his While stroking the shiny feathers, The abashed cleric advised his autobiography, “Milestones and Memo- he mused, “Now to think that from this victims to see a doctor in Arpin at his ries.” fowl’s bright eyes the world of light expense. He also proffered a $10 bill. “I Then pastor of “St. Philomena’s” should fade forever!” Holding “her” am sure it was the most they had ever in Rudolph, Wagner wrote, “As the legs in one hand, he cut the neck half earned in such a short time.” light beams over my table in my study way through but the bird gave a jerk In 1926, Wagner returned to Iowa I am still writing of my happy young- and ran off, with Wagner in pursuit. and went fishing in the familiar Turkey manhood. Since then, more than half a He seized the head and with one twist, River. The fish weren’t biting so he and century has gone down the corridors of it came off. “Before me the feathered his friends grabbed pitchforks “and into eternity, and I have grown considerably biped was leaping demented. Could it the river I plunged, striking the water older and more sullen.” have acted differently when its mind with my fork.” Born in 1882, Wagner wandered the was lying in the grass, while its body “Splash! Splash! Splash! Out came farmlands of Iowa as a youthful and was still performing?” one fish after another. unrepentant nimrod. With a sling-shot, Later, while stationed at Rudolph, “Kill ’em! Kill ’em!” shouted Wag- he “toppled off” birds from posts and Wagner liked to fill idle hours by taking ner’s uncle. branches, “striking down as David did his firearms and beagle into the brush, “Here, take and eat!” Wagner yelled Goliath.” stalking “bunny fluffy-tail.” In one as he threw a wet fish squarely across Along the Turkey River, the young notable incident, he thought he saw his uncle’s mouth. “David” saw chipmunks and squirrels one, and suddenly there rang out his Good for a laugh and one last playing hide-and-seek or a cottontail “Bang!” “Got’m.” frightened from its hide-out. “How I Only to be answered by an angry would have enjoyed banging at it with voice from the direction he had aimed. 11-22-04 a rifle or shot gun! In those days my “Look out where you’re shootin’! I’ll brothers and I destroyed everything that kill ya!” Two men, “highly incensed,” did not earn its own living. We trapped approached, one carrying an ax, the

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WSAU The new WSAU-Channel 7, would action shots.” be a CBS affiliate but would air stories Network shows included “Jack now came early this year, along from the NBC, ABC and DuMont net- Benny,” “Toast of the Town with with a flipping horizontal hold, works. It would be the first station close Ed Sullivan,” “People Are Funny,” slanted lines and a persistent enough to be viewed clearly here by “Liberace,” “Hit Parade” and “Four S means of a roof-top antenna. “Televi- Star Playhouse.” Familiar “sustain- buzz. Because of nefarious NFL nego- tiations, the Sunday-night Packer game sion enthusiasts in the Wisconsin Rapid ing” shows were “I Led Three Lives,” wasn’t broadcast from Wausau; but it area, their appetites for the new enter- “Cisco Kid,” “Hopalong Cassidy” and was on Channel 5, WFRV, Green Bay. tainment medium whetted by fringe “Joe Palooka.” Unfortunately, non-cable reception was reception from Milwaukee, Green Bay “As guests in your homes we must no better than it had been fifty years and the Twin Cities,” said the Tribune, guard the quality and good taste of all ago. “have been waiting eagerly for the programs,” Frechette said. “As the only Until October 1954, we had been opening of the Wausau station.” television station in the Wisconsin Riv- peering through a virtual blizzard usu- Wisconsin Rapids native and 1937 er Valley we must be prepared to serve ally emitted by Channel 2, WBAY, citizen of the year, George Frechette, all interests in the entire area—business Green Bay. Then, a new Wausau sta- was named station manager, vice and economic, as well as social, reli- tion, WSAU, went on the air. president and general manager. He had gious and educational.” One of the founders was William F. been general manager of Radio Station How were we going to accommo- Huffman, owner of the Wisconsin Rap- WFHR and business manager of the date television sets in living quarters ids Daily Tribune and Radio Station Daily Tribune, which he had joined in that weren’t designed for the soon-to- WFHR. Also involved were the Antigo 1928 as a reporter. be-dubbed “boob-tube”? Journal, Marshfield News, Merrill Dai- Other staff included assistant gen- Louis Nichols solved the problem by ly Herald, Rhinelander News, Wausau eral manager Richard D. Dudley, from cutting a hole in the wall between the Daily Record-Herald and Radio Station WSAU radio; chief engineer, Roland living room and one of two bedrooms WATK Antigo Richardt, a WSAU radio pioneer; sta- and placing a swivel table in the open- Said the Tribune: “There has always tion program manager, James K. Harel- ing. Now, the TV could be seen from been a close and kindred feeling be- son; art director, Sid Kyler. the living room, kitchen and the two tween the cities of the upper Wisconsin Weatherman Howard Gernetzke, bedrooms. River Valley, all springing from the from WSAU radio, stood behind “Experience here and elsewhere lumbering days and living on in the glass and drew in the movement of air indicated that the family’s original papermill age. They have met—at least masses on a map of the U.S. Walter tendency to abandon all other forms of until now—on the playing fields. J. Chilsen from WLIN, Merrill, was leisure activity in favor of television- “The men and women of the val- newscaster. watching,” offered the Tribune, “will be ley cities have always shown a warm “Big events as they happen can be corrected in time as the novelty wears interest in the happenings of the others, brought into the living rooms of Central off and the family winnows out the exchanging visits to special community Wisconsin,” said the Tribune. “The me- programs it doesn’t care for.” affairs and meeting together to work dium can also give punch and impact out common problems.” to national news stories, punctuating 11-29-04 the oral report with pictures, slides and

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Bee Bee body, and there wasn’t any so I came •As Norm Nordley [sic] was moving home.” a ladder, a paint bucket plunged earth- t could have been called “Stupid- •At Immanuel Lutheran vacation Bi- ward. “Norm is not one to waste any- ville”; but the amusing incidents ble school, Dorothy Thedens, 5, snipped thing and so he made a valiant backhand took place right here in River City. off the sleeve of her sweater between stab at the flying pail. He caught it but I glances from her teacher. his effort to save the paint was a total They were noted in the column, “What’s Buzzin’” by “Bee Bee,” probably Wil- •At the Methodist church, one offer- failure, unless you count the fact the liam “Bill” Beckmann, managing editor ing envelope was sealed tight; glued; gray stuff completely covered Norm.” of the Daily Tribune. Scotch-taped; and stapled. “That’s my •At Perry’s Sport Shop, Rapids police Samples from 1954: boy!” Mrs. Leslie Trowbridge affirmed. Officer Herb Zuege brushed against a •It was a hot afternoon when Marjorie The envelope was opened and a dime musky plug that became imbedded in Bidwell placed a cake in “the oven” and fell out. “Yes,” said Mrs. Trowbridge, his sleeve and he had to borrow a knife dozed off, only to be awakened by what “That’s my boy, Tommy.” to cut it loose. she thought was the cake burning. But •In the 21st Avenue area, Mayor Just- •As his father shot down mallards left the oven was empty and she couldn’t eson, Engineer Cajanus and five alder- and right, Leon Schmidt Jr. was the re- find the cake … until she looked in the men were examining a map and paying triever, in water two inches over his boot refrigerator. no attention to an over-friendly pup. tops. “Wonder how many perch were •While at Johnson Hill’s, Mrs. Law- “Watch out, Art!” But, before Art Wit- lodged in the bottom of their boots.” rence Kundinger’s ten-year-old son, tenberg, vice mayor, could shout “scat,” •Barney Goggins, en route to his of- Larry, won a puppy, so Mrs. K. picked he had a wet shoe and trouser cuff. fice from duck blinds, found himself in a up the dog and a case of dog food. When There followed loud chuckles and wit- local eatery wearing two different kinds she reached home, she realized she had ticisms about the dog ordinance being of shoes. “He had another pair at home left behind a minor item, her three-year- enforced and the need for better sewage just like it.” old daughter. and drainage in the area. •Fireman Clarence Cheatle shot a •Mike Hanneman, 4, escaped from his •As Royal Baker opened the door to duck, then kayoed it with his gun stock father and mother in a downtown store, the family soft drink supply, he was before putting it in his hunting coat. A only to be spotted, looking up at a star- greeted with a line drive from the stop- wiggle, a flap of wings and out flew tled lady, and declaring, in his unusually per on a root beer bottle. Stuff had quite the duck, suffering from lead poison- deep voice, “Hiya Babe!” a kick, from the dent it made in Royal’s ing, shock and a loss of prestige. For his •Kindergartner Jerry Schneider was complexion. troubles, Clarence was given the next telling about dancing classes and ex- •Police Chief R.J. Exner had trouble shot. plained, “When the girls jump up we hearing since a New Orleans conven- It was followed by a steady pow pow could see their girdles.” tion he had attended. A probe by a Rap- pow and four more pows as the duck •Sharon Allworden, 9, Port Edwards, ids physician found a piece of cotton flew on through the heavy fire, circled at home from the Port pool, was asked if inserted during a plane ride. “The jovial a rather high altitude and headed south. she had been swimming. “No, I walked police chief took a look at the ear plug, around the pool two times trying to find shook his head, smiled, paid the bill and 12-06-04 a place to jump in without hitting some- walked out.”

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Gronski hurries to get the boys to school, and “At McMillan,” the newsletter. “I could herself to an 8 a.m. job as a bookkeeper go to work in the morning and have my o the Spirit of McMillan Memori- at a dental office. “What the dickens?” list of things I was going to do that day,” al Library Past takes Kathy Gron- exclaims the Library Spirit at another she explains, “and never get to one of ski for a ride. stop. He has led Kathy into a jungle. them because that much new walked in S Really, a classroom at Grant School, or presented itself on the phone or came First stop, 1950. At one-room Pleasant View school, transformed with the help of giant wood- from the director’s office or whatever.” they see a young country girl lost in en spools from the telephone company, Her last assignment, she says, was “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm,” a book stacked up like a tree hut. It’s the first el- to reorganize the support staff with a borrowed from the collection in the ementary-school library in the district. building-wide perspective, “a major, corner. “It gave me that feeling of be- “You’re now a librarian,” principal philosophical change.” ing transported some place else,” Kathy Schwendinger told Kathy, then a teach- Finally, the Library Spirit ushers tells the Library Spirit. er’s aide, in 1976. “I want a central li- Kathy into the board room, busy with From the rural Sigel location, they brary.” board members from her early days: fly to St. Philip’s Catholic School, Ru- “The teachers didn’t care so much Gennaro, Conway, Endrizzi, Gilbert, dolph. Here, the country girl finds all about the books leaving,” Kathy told the Fischer, O’Brien, Barrett, Lenk, Sabetta, classrooms used and books shelved in a Spirit, “they didn’t want to lose the book Schmidt, Orcutt, Nobles, Retzlaff, Fez- hall. Her first true library waits at Ru- shelves.” ziwig, Tenpas, Hagen. dolph high school, from which the girl, At last, they arrive at the big house, “Special people, selfless.” The list Kathlene Smith, graduates in 1958. McMillan Memorial Library, 1978. works its way toward the present. Two years later, at 8 a.m. on a Mon- The new Associate Children’s Librar- Hanson, Brennan, Ellie, Rasmussen, day, she’s in Shakespeare class at Wis- ian reads aloud from favorites neatly Bukowski, Miller, Daly, Wasson. consin State University, Stevens Point. stacked in row upon row, like “Rebecca The Friends of the Library: Sisley, But it’s “Mrs.” now; the previous week- of Sunnybrook Farm.” Berklund, Clark, to name a few. end, Kathy married fellow student “I loved being in the children’s room,” And the lively persons from portraits John Gronski. Their son, John, is born Kathy tells the Spirit. “I enjoyed coming on the wall? Scott, McMillan, Burt, in 1961, followed by Robert, Kenneth, to work every day.” Witter, Mead, Bell, McCourt, Brazeau, James and, last, Edward, in 1967. In 1987, she moves to the business Hayward. Next the Spirit brings Kathy to the office to be titled variously, Administra- Gronski? studio of radio station WFHR. It’s the tive Assistant, Head of Support Services “I love this library,” she says. “I loved early 1970s. Here, broadcasting a Rap- and Business Office Manager under di- it from the day I walked in.” ids city council report, is the part-time rectors Ramon Hernandez, Bill Wilson Kathy, [then] 64, retired at the end of reporter, her boys seated at her feet. and Ron McCabe. the year, 2004. “I learned how to tell a story in a min- Identifiable by the jingle of keys, she’s ute-thirty,” she recalls. busy, responding to the library Director, 12-13-04 In a moonlit morning of 1973, the year the board of directors, co-workers and the government didn’t change daylight- the public—listening, consulting, solv- savings-time back, the working mother ing, supervising, helping. She also edits

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Grace “Do you like it here?” Christmas before that, she had been At “Good Shepherd,” nursing home, transported from “assisted living” to a nless an able Samaritan lifts she finds herself among the brood she nursing home in the same complex. her into a wheelchair, my aunt had grown up with. One December And before that, she lived in the house Grace will pass the season in evening, they trotted off, young, to the on Main Street that I had hoped to take U Christmas party at Pleasant View school my children to see. It was a museum of bed. Just now, she happens to be looking at me, so I need something to say. and, what seemed like the next night, lay all the similar wallpapered and lamp- “Have your eyes always been blue?” down beside the still waters, old. shaded homesteads I, as a child, had vis- No reply from behind the outdated Christmas last, we set the wheelchair ited in that town. To the end, it smelled eyeglasses someone was good enough where Grace could face the carolers as it did in 1955, like warm milk fresh to place on her. From the background, from the Methodist church, sharing from the cow. comes the jingle of a familiar carol: “glad tidings of great joy.” Her head Christmases before that, who knows “While Shepherds watched their flocks was already bowed but she knew me what she did? The rest of us were busy by night, the angel of the Lord came and made sounds only I could catch the in other places thinking about other peo- down…” meaning of. She told me she liked the ple. “I wonder what color your dad’s eyes mashed potatoes but not the squash. Christmases before that, she was were?” Her ordinary silence had been a life- north of town at the farmhouse, where Through age and thinning of hair, time habit. Perhaps by default, more than we blessed the ham and played Old Grandpa’s skull has surfaced in her as intent, she had lived like an Evangelical Maid while snow from open fields blew it does in due time with all his descen- United Brethren nun. Never smoked, against dark windows. dents. never drank, never… Christmas before that, she was a little “Do you like the flowers?Florence said A long list of things she never did. But girl and I was yet to be born. it’s your birthday. You’re 82, right?” let me lay out a few fragments of what Christmas before that, they say, ap- Inside somewhere, I think she answers she did do. peared one or more angels to shepherds but her tongue can’t get the sounds out. Christmas before last, she was excited and sheep alike, calling out glory to God An institutional caregiver most likely al- by the Packers and Badgers and looked on high and to the Earth, “Peace.” ready heard her last word. forward to whatever post-season heroics The carolers carry on, hoping to soothe they might provide. 12-19-04 those in need. “Fear not, said the angel Christmas before that, looking at old (for mighty dread had seized their trou- photographs, she provided names of bled mind).” a generation she had known well but “Parkinson’s” had made Grace a fear- hardly anyone else alive had ever met. ful lamb of God, wrapped in swaddling Christmas before that, she showed me clothes and laid in a white-sheeted man- another album. It had been compiled by ger. Her neck is bent stiffly to the side, a hearty, middle-aged bird watcher and bringing her head inches from the Oprah tour taker. Who would have predicted show she isn’t looking at because she’s Grace would be adventurous in retire- helplessly staring at me. ment?

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Holiday Spam “The carrier thus takes the place of sponsored by the national letter carriers the school boy who used to deliver such association. ach of us has looked out from forms of advertising by tossing them in However, a letter to the editor from the comfort of our homes on a the general direction of your front door Cleve Akey suggested the Tribune was blustery winter day to view our for a fee paid for by the advertiser,” said a biased commentator. E the Tribune. It was not proper, he said, to excuse postman going about his delivery of the daily mail. We likely have looked with One advertiser said, if he got six re- the inequities of 2nd class privileges, such admiration and pity at that public ser- plies for each 1,000 pieces sent out, he as those enjoyed by newspapers, by ex- vant, who day in and day out, rain or felt the expense was justified. aggerating and condemning the practice shine, serves us in the old tradition that Acting Postmaster John Billings told of handling 3rd class matter. Junk mail the mail must go through. the Tribune that Rapids carriers handled was already going out every day, bearing But within the past year, the pleasant four separate “junk mail” deliveries in a 2nd class permit, he said, in “hundreds anticipation of a letter from Grandma, one morning in addition to normal mail. of publications dealing with such impor- word from friends, our favorite maga- One of the items was the size of a Sun- tant matters as sex, passion, unfaithful zines and all the other mail we look day newspaper. wives, murder, crime, detection.” forward to, has been dampened by an- Carl Newman, a local carrier, said, “It Akey said he didn’t know why the other form of mail, which has made the has made a bill peddler out of us. Some- editor should expect the public to sup- always-difficult job of the postal carrier times we start with a stock of stuff that ply aid to magazines like Life, Look, that much tougher. is piled higher than our heads.” Saturday Evening Post, Colliers and Wry words of woeful wisdom from Patron response was the same as Esquire. “Nor do we understand why a the Daily Tribune during the holiday that of the letter carriers, according to four page piece of advertising delivered season of 1954. the Tribune. “They don’t like it.” Mrs. by the mail carriers differs from a four The problem had started 15 months V.C. Trewyn of 9th Street said, “It is pure page insert mailed free by the Tribune earlier, when the U.S. post office depart- waste. I don’t read any of it, and most of and delivered by the same carriers.” ment allowed direct mail advertising. it I don’t even open. There is not room in Apparently, the old adage held true. Soon termed “junk mail,” it allowed a our box for anything else on days when Perhaps it was Poor Richard (the in- flood of advertising circulars addressed we get a flood of advertising. Some of ventor of free mail delivery) who first not to an individual but to “Household- it is dropped in the yard and it blows in penned in his venerable Almanac the er,” “Letter Carrier Route,” “Letter Car- the streets.” timeless adage, “One man’s Spam is an- rier Patron,” “Residential Patron” or just The Tribune was happy to enter the other man’s ham.” plain “Occupant.” Advertisers brought fight against junk mail, “Loading up big bundles of mail and paid, not by en- our mail boxes and adding to the load 12-27-04 velope but by weight. The carriers then on every taxpayer’s pocketbook.” Resi- had to drop one item to every address on dents were encouraged to write to their their route. Congressman in support of legislation

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Girly Man myself, ascended the Daily Tribune Yet, his future reputation depended on stairway for the first time. That makes words like this. t is with great humility that I boast me the longest-term writer and pos- After Mead’s story was published in about this award.” sibly the most ancient “employee” of the Daily Tribune, he telephoned me I know what you’re thinking; but the Tribune, barring some route driver to provide a quote I’ve repeated often: I supplementing his or her social security “Dave, I went to River City Kentucky don’t snicker at the Diedrich Knicker- bocker Lifetime Achievement Plaque. in hopes of being able to afford a new Fried Chicken and everybody knew Long ago, the sly scholar himself was muffler before the tie rods give out. me!” quoted in the first volume of the book Admittedly, my record makes Brett For my part, in conclusion, I would series, River City Memoirs. “What Favre look like a girly man. For 25 like to thank all you River City rep- important beings are we historians. years, all deadlines, no matter how robates for making the latest half of We are the powers that be. We histo- excruciating, were met. That would my life worthwhile by giving me the rians decide the renown or infamy of amount to more than 500 stories started Knickerbocker prize. But I can’t thank our fellow mortals. We historians are and just as many finished. My tenure as you for the piles of ducats and this benefactors of kings, guardians of truth, River City City Historian is almost as wonderful plaque, because none of it scourgers of guilt, instructors of the long as that of journalist. exists. Lies are not always any better world, etc.” My mother and my sister, both than truth. We are what we say we are, true deceased these many years, traveled What I can do is honestly and whole- enough. But so what? to River City City Hall for the munici- heartedly slobber all over the River The Knickerbocker: what is a little pality’s birthday party hosted annu- City Knickerbocker Award committee history worth in the baby-brained mer- ally by then-mayor James Kubisiak, CEO, board of directors, executive cantile Babylon in which we live? who signed the official citation for an director, staff, clerical group, spiritual The Knickerbocker: what does it honorary position without pay. That advisors, foundation, donors, consul- bring the fawning recipient besides last unfortunate phrase suggested an tants, etc. a coated-enamel plaque to hang next astounding fact of historical journalism, Because I created the organization to the mirror? How about the keys to namely the contrast of dirt-cellar wages and its prize out of thin air as I earlier River City? How about a six-figure sti- and penthouse power. created River City itself. pend from the River City Foundation? It was a big dose of River City irony After a quarter century, it kind of How about a lifetime complimentary when I found myself spending a num- goes to your head: the power of the buffet at River City Japanese & Chi- ber of my $5-per hours interviewing press. nese Restaurant? Stanton W. Mead, former commander- +++ How about a lifetime subscription in-chief of Consolidated Papers, Inc. Forget me not: LaVerne E. Keller, 74, to the River City Daily Tribune? How Mead had been listed in Time magazine a Trib veteran of thirty years when I about knowing you’ll never have to pay as head of one of the nation’s wealthi- met him. A lot of Memoirs were deliv- for another drink in River City? Take est industrial stockholding families. He ered to Verne in the “backshop,” where a deep breath, gentle reader. For good was long retired, yet by sitting quietly he offered frank counsel to ad reps, and evil, it’s been 25 years. across the table from me, the genial oc- reporters, photographers and editors A quarter century ago, this now togenarian was raking in an estimated alike. venerable scribe, by which I mean thousand times per minute what I was. 01-03-05

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Assumption Rapids; St. Alexander, Port Edwards; tants and nine Sisters of St. Francis. The Sacred Heart, Nekoosa; St. Philomena, Mother General was Rev. Mother Mad- hey had better dances at Assump- Rudolph; and Holy Rosary, Sigel. eline; local Superior and Vice Principal tion. Bishop J.P. Treacy of the La Crosse was Sister Marie. The Wisconsin Rapids Catho- diocese, who was involved in numerous Other Catholic communities were T building projects, secured two Sisters following similar patterns. In Stevens lic high school on Chestnut Street often featured rock ’n’ roll bands on Saturday of St. Francis of Assisi, Milwaukee, as Point, St. Joseph’s Academy for Girls, nights, whereas my home institute, Rap- teachers. When the school opened in established in 1922, became the new ids Lincoln, wouldn’t allow such un- September, 1951, on the second floor of Maria high school about 1955, the same couth cacophony. Our Lady Queen of Heaven elementary time Pacelli, a successor to St. Peter’s The Assumption I knew in the early school, there were 36 students. for boys was built. Maria and Pacelli 1960s was an almost-new and first class The name Assumption was chosen merged in 1970. institution, its first year of operation be- because, in that year, Pope Pius XII pro- Marshfield Columbus was completed ing 1954-55. The long, modern-style, claimed to the world that the “dogma in 1952. brick building was conveniently located of the assumption” of Mary, Mother of Wausau Newman started in Septem- just below “the hill” from Lincoln High God, into heaven should be taken as an ber 1951 at St. Mary’s school and later School, Witter Vocational School and “article of faith.” Mary, “having com- at St. James. Their then-new building Wood County Teachers College. pleted the course of her earthly life, was opened in 1956 with a blessing by the “Old Lincoln” is now East Junior assumed body and soul into heavenly ubiquitous bishop, Rev. Treacy. High and the other two buildings now glory.” La Crosse Aquinas, in the heart of the commune with the real Grand Avenue Other Assumption high schools were diocese, dated to 1928. Bridge in the architectural afterlife. established in the region, including those Mauston Madonna operated from Carl Billmeyer of A.F. Billmeyer & at Davenport, Iowa (1958), East Saint 1933-65; Pittsville Maryheart, 1949- Son architects of Rapids designed As- Louis, Ill., Louisville, Ky., Burlington, 1961. sumption, built for about $1 million. The Ontario, Syracuse, N.Y., Miami, Fla., The Catholic high schools relieved fact that the new school would accom- and Napoleanville, La. There is also an the pressure of the baby boom on their modate as many as 700 pupils showed a Assumption high school at Assumption, public peers; but, in a few years, a simi- lot of faith in fecundity. Ill. lar wave of construction, this time tax- On the first floor, were 10 classrooms, Enrollment in Rapids for 1952-53 payer funded, engulfed former farm offices, cafeteria, kitchen, storerooms numbered 93, including only the fresh- fields at the edge of Point, Marshfield, and a small chapel. On the second floor, man and sophomore classes. A survey Wausau and right here, in River City. 18 classrooms. A third floor “penthouse” showed that within a few years the to- housed a convent with 20 private rooms, tal high school enrollment should reach 01-10-05 a dining room and another chapel. nearly 600. The total for 1953-54 was Plans for a “Tri-City Catholic” high 176, reaching by then into the junior school had been formulated in the sum- year. mer of 1951. It would be sponsored and As the new school opened in 1954 financed by the parishes of SS Peter & with Father James F. O’Connell as prin- Paul, St. Lawrence, Our Lady Queen cipal, construction work continued. of Heaven (St. Mary’s), in Wisconsin Faculty consisted of local parish assis-

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Parishes After 33 years, Van Sever was suc- St. Alexander’s ceeded by Rev. P.J. Wagner, the grotto The Port Edwards church was orga- ssumption High School, Wis- builder, who was still in office in 1954. nized 1940/1941 by Rev. Thomas E. consin Rapids, opened fifty Railroad service bypassed the church Mullen. Most members came from the years ago, supported by seven A area and a new village grew up in the Sacred Heart congregation at Nekoosa. Catholic parishes. present location. A 1921 building housed The name was supposedly chosen in SS Peter & Paul a school, convent, rectory and church. honor of Bishop Alexander J. McGav- The oldest was SS (various punc- The present church/rectory combination ick of La Crosse. First masses were held tuations, for “Saints”) Peter & Paul. was completed and dedicated in 1951, in the recreation room of John Edwards The first official masses in then Grand the same year as SSPP. High School. The church was finished in Rapids were offered as early as 1837 by Holy Rosary 1942. priests from Green Bay and Portage. The Sigel congregation dates to 1881, Our Lady Queen of Heaven A small wood-frame mission was when it began to be served by Rev. Kle- In 1947, West Side Catholics formed built on what is now Third Avenue North, mecki in the homes of John Jagodzinski Our Lady Queen of Heaven (St. Mary’s). about 1854. After a fire destroyed the and Peter Brostowicz. Until the school/church building was West Side mission in 1857, Rev. James Five acres were donated by Joseph completed in 1949-1950, masses were Stehle began building a real church on Jagodzinski for the 1882 church and held in the Palace and Wisconsin the- the East Side. It was completed by his cemetery. Operation as a mission alter- atres. brother, Rev. Nicholas Stehle and Rev nated between Junction City, Rudolph, Property was purchased from the A.T. David. Vesper and St. Lawrence in Rapids, with Stanton Mead property. The adjacent In 1873, a new church was built on which it shared a Polish ethnicity. Nels Johnson home was used as a rec- Second Street North. The present struc- Junction City-based priests were tory until the Sisters of St. Francis of ture dates to 1951. named Krogulski, Babinski and Lugows- Assisi occupied the property in 1949. SS hosted a succession of schools: ki. In the early 1900s, a school was built St. Lawrence 1886, in the old parish residence; 1895, with Frank Andrejewski as teacher. His When West Side Polish Catholics or- a new four-room building; 1913, two son, Joseph, became the first priest or- ganized St. Lawrence in 1900, the first rooms added; 1924, four more. It all dained from Holy Rosary. masses were in private homes. went up in flames on Christmas Eve, Sacred Heart of Jesus Following the appointment of Rev. 1924. Nekoosa’s church was a 1900 mis- James Korczk, a combination church A new school: 1925. sion of Rudolph’s Rev. Van Sever until and school was built in 1904. It burned St. Philomena Father Joseph Feldman came in 1901 to ten years later and a new building and What became St. Philomena’s (now a new church building. A new church church were completed in 1915. St. Philip’s) in Rudolph was a mission was begun in 1930, supervised by Fa- Names of priests resemble those of to SS Peter & Paul in 1878 under Rev. P. ther Theodore Fraling. Sigel’s Holy Rosary: Korczyk, Ciszews- Pernin. Rev. August Van Sever became In 1908, a school was built, courtesy ki, Mieczkowski, Rombalski, Eichman, pastor of the new church in 1885 and of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, Marmurowicz, Klimek. Sometimes his- opened a school with the Notre Dame Milwaukee. In 1938, the school was re- tory can sound like a good polka. Sisters of Milwaukee in charge. placed with a six-room building on the same site. 01-24-05

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House Calls much if you relaxed.” because the appointments were for my So, I learned my lesson. daughters rather than me. By then, the here was a new guy in town. No matter how deeply I had sliced cure-all was Amoxicillin not penicillin Sure, he only wanted to help; my thumb with an Exacto knife; nor and it came by spoonful not by needle. but I avoided him like the how high the bayonet that pierced my As Chamberlin related, Dr. Hulme T shoe had sailed; no matter how rusty was often called in for consultations by plague. According to the Daily Tribune, the shovel that dented my forehead; a succession of younger associates. “Andrew” landed here from Michi- how rabid the dog that gashed my leg; For much of a long afternoon in the gan in 1953, when I was eight years no matter how inflamed the bumps, 1980s, I waited for him with a sick of age. Friends and family called him burns, lumps, moles, pencil stabs and daughter, way up in one of the new “Andy,” although to us, he was “Doctor concussions; mum was the word. multi-story clinics that supplanted the Hulme.” Nothing against Dr. Hulme. He was Garrison-Handy facility. He had joined doctors Handy and perfect: solid, capable, trustable, friend- It became apparent that Dr. Hulme Garrison in their new clinic on 3rd ly-enough, kindly-enough, firm-enough wasn’t going to make it back soon from Street South, across Dewey from “old” (I’m guessing now). With his glasses, delivering one of the 7,000 babies he Riverview hospital. The attractive white frock and, on house calls, black has been credited with, so my own little ranch-style clinic meant progress. bag, he was a spitting image of a doc- darling and I split the scene for the Our family physician had been Gar- tor. Shopko pharmacy. rison himself, whose office was listed When Dr. Hulme was still a new When I needed a doctor for myself in a 1941 directory as being in the guy, his colleague across town, Doc 20 years ago, I had to find a new guy Mead-Witter building and probably was Pomainville, was kind of old and I in a new place. The first question from at that address when I knew him. couldn’t avoid him. But I didn’t care; the boyish visage of Marvin Vos was, Didn’t that mean that the afflicted he was somebody else’s doctor, not “How old do you think I am?” had to cough and wheeze their way up mine. A charismatic healer who used “Couple years older than me, I long steep stairs to second floor of- boating stories as therapy, “Doc Lee” hope!” fices? Not if they were bedridden, or phoned me at the Tribune. In his office Now, just when I was getting used to if there were too many to haul in, as was lawyer A.J. Crowns at 90-plus. him, he retired, and, the heck of it is, I happened when our family came down “Dave, ya gotta meet this guy and have to start over with an even younger with measles. Then, house calls could I don’t think he’s gonna last much new guy I’ve never seen. be made. longer.” Pomainville didn’t last much Wonder if that big nurse is still About 1950, Dr. Garrison or Handy longer either. around. It’s enough to scare your pants hazarded a visit to our rented house Now, the news comes that Dr. off. on Clyde Avenue and prescribed what Hulme, the new guy, got old and died, I remember as Karo syrup, water and January 13, of this year, at age 81. 01-31-05 salt. It was awful but not the reason I He had delivered three generations of ran from doctors. babies, according to his colleague, Dr. No matter what a kid went in for, the Regis Chamberlin. One of them was big nurse said, “pants down,” grabbed probably my brother, now 49. a big hypo of penicillin and stuck a When Dr. Chamberlin became the needle in the rear. “It wouldn’t hurt as new guy, I didn’t have to avoid him 102 River City Memoirs Ghost

Comics head had been held higher to show the Gille, of SS. Peter & Paul Catholic jagged neck dripping blood.” Church, government censorship; Mrs. ow to poison that unwanted Of interest was the admittedly well- Laurel Gross for the United Church relative—10 cents. written tale about a deranged father Women, state and national legisla- H Ax murder technique—10 who played the Halloween game of tion; Judge Byron B. Conway, legisla- cents. hiding bones and guts in a bag, telling tion, not by “blue noses” but carefully Care and feeding of vampires—10 his neighbors to reach in and grab … worded; Rev. Milton C. Feldt, appeals cents. parts of his own daughter! to stores and publishers. A study of adultery—10 cents. The story was by Ray Bradbury, Rapids Mayor Nels Justeson, na- What if your little darling brought author of FAHRENHEIT 451, a 1953 tional censorship: “There again I want home this set of documents? A few novel in which a fireman, to protect to add that no law or ordinance is any younger parents would deep-six the society, burns books. On the fireman’s stronger than society wants it to be.” trash immediately. jacket: “451,” the temperature at which Clarence Lukaszewski, Alderman, Most would remove it to a private books are said to burn. said the public spent a million dol- area for further study; because you are From the basement of his Sport lars for school instruction for the same the generation whose minds were de- Shop and Chinese slingshot dispensary children who spent 10 cents to destroy stroyed by the evil that infiltratedRiver at 240 E Grand Ave., Calvin J. Perry what they had learned. City fifty years ago. distributed 15,000 comic books each A letter-writer said non-Christian It was the noxious plague of comic month to 16 retailers. Perry said read- parents were as fond of reading the books. ing matter should be policed by parents comics as the children were, so Chris- In late 1954, a Tribune reporter and not outside agencies. For his part, tians should band together against sampled 16 issues sold here and found he would not permit his own children Satanic forces. enough gore, lust, mayhem, murder, to read what he distributed. In that spirit, Wisconsin Rapids po- sadism, perversion and other stinkers to There were some naughty bits, “but lice had a bonfire.Chief Exner invited turn the stomach of the toughest adult. there’s not a thing I can do about it.” children to round up bad comics and For instance, THE VAULT OF He said he was out of business if he bring them to their schools. Saturday HORROR by William M. Gaines’ En- didn’t sell what the public wanted. morning at Witter Athletic Field, four tertaining Comics. Perry predicted the industry’s voluntary boxes of objectionable material were When Gaines, the publisher of code and the “folding up” of the Gaines burned. Lest the amount seem insub- “Mad” magazine, testified before a enterprises would fix the problem. stantial, said Exner, “The children have Senate subcommittee on comic books Nine persons answered inquiries really responded well when one consid- and juvenile delinquency, Sen. Ke- from the Tribune. ers that the collection was in progress fauver showed Gaines a cover that R.E. Clausen, superintendent of only three or four days.” depicted a man holding a bloody ax in schools, urged parents to “teach chil- He said burning the books was a step one hand and the severed head of a girl dren the fallacies behind the lurid in the right direction. in the other. stories portrayed in cheap printed mate- Oh yeah, the venerable Alfred E. When Kefauver asked if Gaines rial.” Neuman grinned; it would be a good considered the cover in good taste, Wood County Sheriff Arthur E. Berg blaze—if it reached the level of FAHR- the publisher replied wickedly, “Yes. urged a legal ban; Police Chief R.J. Ex- ENHEIT 451. It would have been in bad taste if the ner, voluntary censorship; Msgr. C.W. 02-07-05

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Mary Hogan Had Miss Hogan had been drinking that a body might have been thrown coffee when the intruder entered? into the Wisconsin River from the dam upid came before Christmas but Thompson believed that whoever were discovered. the heartbreak had not yet been robbed the tavern and must also be The green truck was a red herring. It fully written by Valentine’s responsible for the tavern keeper’s dis- was soon established that a neighbor C appearance was someone she knew. had been in the tavern after the truck Day. As far as anyone here knew, the Crime lab technicians said the had left the scene, apparently with object of attention had been a woman amount of blood spilled on the barroom Mary Hogan still on site. of late middle-age, waiting alone at a floor precluded the victim being alive. Witnesses said the neighbor left at tavern southwest of Bancroft, Wis., on Their investigators found a .38 caliber 4:40 p.m., so “Evidently it was after County Trunk D. revolver, assumed to be Miss Hogan’s, 4:40 p.m. that the killer arrived,” the She was not at the scene when Por- in a back room, where she lived. It had sheriff said. tage County sheriff Harold Thompson not been fired. The green pickup belonged to a Por- arrived and what he saw caused him to Miss Hogan was characterized by tage County man, whose daughter had issue a statewide alarm for Miss Mary Thompson as a large woman “well been with him when he stopped at the Hogan, and her escort, instinctively as- able to take care of herself.” Originally tavern Wednesday afternoon for ciga- sumed to be a male. from Chicago, she had run the tavern rettes and a beer. According to the Dec. 9, 1954, Daily for something like six years and was The sheriff said his office was run- Tribune, the discoveries had been made considered suspicious of strangers. She ning down every clue but “so far every- shortly after 5:15 p.m., the previous was unmarried and had no known rela- thing has fizzled out.” day. That’s when Seymour Lester, who tives in this area. The only other positive development lived about a mile distant, had stopped Neighbors had seen a 1951 green was discovery of a bloody fingerprint to purchase ice cream. Dodge pickup truck parked next to the on the coffee cup that had been over- Lester told Vilas Waterman, town of tavern during the afternoon, before it turned on the table in the tavern. No Pine Grove supervisor, that it looked sped off to the west. one knew who had left the print. It like there had been a fight at the tavern. A search for that truck occupied local personalized a billet-doux of the worst Or maybe something worse. authorities during the initial investiga- kind, sent early but still not deciphered About 6 p.m., the Portage County tion. by this day in 1955. sheriff’s office was notified and Wood County Sheriff Arthur E. Berg Thompson arrived at the bar. More dark said he and officers Donald Caylor and 02-14-05 conclusions were foreshadowed by Dave Sharkey and Deputy Earl Tess what he found: patrolled adjacent South Wood County Markings that showed someone had roads until midnight with no results. been dragged into the yard. An empty Later, Thompson came to Wood .32 caliber cartridge on the floor of the County to question suspects and search blood-soaked bar room. A spilled cup for a truck that had been seen on the in the center of a table. A chair next Port Edwards dam the night of the to the table, overturned. A cash box, incident. emptied, and a roll of nickels and two Officer Dave Sharkey helped Thomp- $1 bills left on the barroom floor. son check out the lead and said no signs 104 River City Memoirs Ghost

Zieher’s Arpin road.” for 33 years. “You know how the trucks dump the He helped organize Arpin as a vil- len Zieher’s favorite word is gravel, one big hump after another. He lage in 1978 and was the last justice of “Whatchamacallit.” That’s be- was always in a hurry. He’d drive right the peace there in 1964. To that, can cause he’s losing his memory, over. Ooomp! Ooomp! I hit more damn be added town board, 1966-70; volun- G ceilings. teer fire department; village president; he says. Maybe, but he has plenty of whatchamacallit in reserve. “It was amazing he could live to be county jury commissioner; American Since 1992, Zieher has resided you- 86 years old.” Legion; Elks. know-where, but his memories of his At Central State College (now “You wonder why I lost my hair? boyhood home in that other, smaller UWSP), Zieher’s advisor was Fred I was so tense for forty years because town out past Vesper by Skunk Hill, Schmeekle, namesake of the Schmeekle I had so many irons in the fire. Nine may be the fondest. Reserve. Besides Michigan State, only groups and offices in seven: that took Born in 1933, he figures, the son Central State offered a college course its toll.” of Otto and Katherine Proesel Zieher in Conservation at the time. “I think the He also organized the Wood County spent his early years in five different first year was 1952. I was among the basketball league at Pittsville and took locations along one mile of highway very first group. I thought, ‘This is for Arpin baseball teams to tournaments north of Arpin. Meanwhile, the name of me,’ because I liked the outdoors, hunt- that included Milwaukee county sta- the highway changed three times. ing and fishing and so forth.” dium in 1961, 62 and 63. After his first move, Zieher said, He won’t forget being one of the In 1963, he started Evergreen Acres “Mommy, let’s go home.” early visitors to the Frederick and Fran Nursery, a private enterprise. Mommy said, “You are home.” Hamerstrom prairie chicken preserva- In politics, he is Republican, a group He won’t forget Butch, a dog left tion project near Plainfield. “Groups of to whom age-induced amnesia is en- with the Ziehers by a soldier sent to maybe twenty of us would go out with demic. “My dad was a big Laird sup- Japan in the last months of World War a professor and we’d stay overnight. porter,” Zieher said. II. Out by the road, Butch was run over All they had was five or six bunk beds. One of the highlights of Glen’s by a neighbor and killed. Everybody would bring a sleeping bag travels was a 1966 honeymoon to that “That was a terrible day for me,” or something.” big humid city on the Potomac where Zieher said. “I prayed all during mass “In the morning Mrs. Fran made all Wisconsin Representative Melvin R. that Butch would be alive when I came the twenty young college kids breakfast Laird Jr. gave Zieher and his wife, Jean, home. I was so sure that dog was going on that stove. They had a hand pump by a full tour of the thingamajig the whoz- to be back. Somehow, I got a little bit the sink; I don’t think they had electric- its meet in. mad at God for a couple days.” ity. See the February issue of Artifacts, a “Then my dad felt so bad for me that “Fred took us out in the field and as- publication of the South Wood County we went and got that little dog Teddy signed us to our blinds. It was quite an Historical Corp., 540 Third Street S., from a good friend of my dad’s.” experience.” for photos and more memorable mate- Glen’s father, Otto, was town chair- Zieher’s college career was inter- rial from Glen Zieher. man and, thus, also a county board rupted by military service. He returned member. He would pick Glen up after to Point but didn’t finish because he 02-21-05 school and say, “I gotta go over and got a job in 1958 as a rural mail carrier see if they’re putting that gravel on the back home in Arpin, where he stayed

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Rudolph Neighbors So Karius appointed me one of a carry boxes so Andy could move in that long series of “weekend photogra- night. “That’s the way people are here,” f a neighbor girl were seriously phers.” This was an educational alba- Andy Simonis told me. injured in an auto accident and the tross of a part-time job that I’ll describe Back in Rudolph, I interviewed expenses were too much for her I in excruciating detail some other time. Naomi Jacobson about the planned family, would you help? It was the first For the most part, the confident pass- nuclear plant and the rise of the League question I asked the readers of the Dai- word, “Tribune,” was the ticket to Against Nuclear Dangers. For the other ly Tribune and the people of Rudolph sporting events, picnics, homes, re- side of the story, I talked to Ralph Cole answered with an emphatic, “Yes.” unions, festivals, schools, flea markets, of Wisconsin Power & Light Co. “It shows what this community is executive offices, fisheries, archives, If growth and change had said, all about,” said Jerry Wix, my neighbor pancake breakfasts, nursing homes, “Yes,” to the nuclear complex, the twin then as now. Jerry and I got acquainted dances, church basements and the towers would make up my northern when my job was to help him lay up minds of the populace. skyline now. a stone front on my house. The baby Looking back at the Seventies sec- As I was backing out of the garage daughters we had then are now old tion, I notice a photo I took of a young, on a Saturday night in February 2005, ladies in their late twenties. dark-haired Michael Hittner at his headed for the Wakely Winter Feast, On a Saturday morning in Febru- natural foods shop. Can it be the same the Jerry Wix I mentioned earlier, ary 2005, Jerry phoned with a polite M.H. I saw on a recent weekend? This stopped by. He had bagged a couple request he often makes. Could he do grizzled old-timer had a gray-white rabbits and had one wrapped in a news- some rabbit hunting on my property? beard and was wearing clothes that paper for me. Of course, I answered with a good Ru- looked like a fashion show from 1840. “Thanks, neighbor,” I said. dolph, “You bet.” Among the stories of the seventies I According to a scrapbook I kept up recapped in 1980 was that of the Ru- 02-28-05 for a while, the firstTribune story of dolph public school, completed in 1975 my creation appeared Feb. 15, 1980, in only after it seemed that students might the “Seventies,” a special section that be transported to Rapids, commonly celebrated “growth and change.” Then viewed as a den of propinquity. and during my first years on the beat, The former grade and high school I roamed the central Wisconsin coun- became “Hillcrest Plaza.” For a short tryside and met hundreds of residents, time, it was a “mecca for country only a few of whom I had known be- music” and a shopping mall at which I fore, and saw a lot of things I wouldn’t bought some indoor-outdoor carpeting have seen otherwise. still in use. After a couple weeks of stories, My second Tribune story took me to Tribune editor Joe Karius asked, “Do our neighboring community of Vesper. you have a camera?” With misguided The village looked pretty much the pride, I described my seven-year-old same as ever but there was change Ricoh 35-mm camera, purchased to and growth here, too. When Andy’s photograph the early days of my oldest Supermarket was completed, the story daughter. said, most of the town showed up to

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From Here Murgatroyd, from here. Bill Proxmire was from Illinois. Hillary Rapids patriarch George Mead I, Clinton, from Illinois, is a New York etter not let your readers find was not-from-here, same as L.M Alex- senator, as was Robert F. Kennedy, out.” Advice from Anton Dern ander and T.E. Nash, founders of the from Massachusetts. and Max Andrae after I admit- Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co. President George W. Bush was born B A survey of “locals” who meet in in Connecticut but now he’s from Texas ted that, though born in Wisconsin Rapids, I was conceived in Manitowoc. my synecdoche support group: Hugh and Washington D.C. His father was Newcomers to River City, Dern (30+ (Pennsylvania); Bob (Illinois); Hank born in Massachusetts. John Kerry was years) and Andrae (50 years or so), (Illinois); Jeff (Beaver Dam, Wis.); born in Colorado. Now he’s a Massa- knew that locals might figure I too was Bill (New York City); Bruce (Kansas chusetts’ senator. “not from here.” City, Mo.); Pete (Lancaster, Wis.); Tom My nearest neighbors in the town “Mr. Dern,” of West Jr. High, is one (New London, Wis.). of Rudolph are both from Nekoosa. of a large class of not-from-heres who Tim is the only homeboy at the My longest-term neighbor, who knows arrived as novice teachers. Similarly, table. every blackberry bush for miles around, Andrae was among the talented young- What about those who are writing is from the Stratford area. sters who came to Consolidated Water our history? In Rapids, where I was born but Power & Paper Co. and its subsidiaries. Isherwood? He’s a Plover “common- never lived, I am “from here.” Same with Daniel P. Meyer, who tater” whose roots are so old they’ve In Rudolph, where any red-nosed called about my February 28 story. He grown tubers. But he will never plumb Rustler considers himself a true son of didn’t recall Ralph Cole working for the depths of River City. the curd, I will always be a transient, the power company I mentioned. No one has published more Wiscon- having moved to this postal address a What would Meyer know? He’s only sin history than Michael Goc of Friend- mere 32 years ago [2005]. been here 53 years. Actually, Dan is ship, Wis., but he’s from Chicago. Back in Oconto, my wife’s mother always right; it was “Roger” Cole. Mark Scarborough, the historical was Kay Stewart, a former English Last season, my otherwise gen- columnist formerly of the Daily Tri- teacher and head of the local histori- teel wife, deranged by a Packer bune, is from Edgerton, Wis. cal society. When Kay died, my wife’s gaffe, swore, “Crumps!” It might be Local history specialist Don Litzer, stepfather was proud that so many “Crumps” in her home Oconto county of McMillan Memorial Library: Mara- showed up for her funeral. After all, the but in River City, it’s “Cripes” or thon County. former Kathryn Kenney, of Marshfield, “Cripes Almighty.” J. Marshall Buehler, Nepco chroni- hadn’t much chance to get acquainted, My wife has lived here for two cler and South Wood County Historical having just moved to Oconto 43 years decades but it’s my daughter, born in Corp. president, is from Port Edwards. previous. 1989, who qualifies as “from here.” My The eminent Portage County his- “She sure knew a lot of people,” her parents were not-from-here, like many torian, Malcolm Rosholt, who died at husband said, “for a girl from out of of their generation who came after age 97 on February 20, was very much town.” WWII and became the city fathers and “from” Rosholt, Wis. mothers. In national politics, George Wash- 03-07-05 Our Two Mile Avenue neighbors, for ington was from here but Alexander example: the Butzes, from Ohio; Caves, Hamilton wasn’t. Hancock, Wis.; Endrizzi, Hurley, Wis.; Quintessential Wisconsin senator

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Sampson’s Burns The inferno was one of a series at the Around the time old Jake died in 1901, unfortunate location. his nephew, now known as Big Jake, t was something you don’t see ev- The site, “across the road” from SS opened a tavern south of the brewery. It ery day and don’t want to. One of Peter & Paul Catholic church “up past was destroyed by fire. Iour few remaining landmark struc- where the old swimming pool used to Ironically, Big Jake was for many years tures was being reduced to a spot of pea be” was formerly home to the Wood chief of the Rapids volunteer fire depart- grease on the riverbank. County courthouse and the city’s most ment. Big Jake also ran the Old Empire On Saturday night, I viewed the smok- prominent brewery. The Grand Rapids tavern that seemed to have survived. ing brick shell of a local institution that “hop shop” was one of several produc- His greatest accomplishment was the had seemingly guarded the north side ap- tions of the Lutz family, beginning when Grand Rapids Brewing Company, incor- proach for just over a century. I admired old Jake Lutz and brother Andrew had porated in 1904, “rising over the ruins of it all my life and had found my first fac- moved to Stevens Point in 1867 to work the past.” tory work inside its sturdy walls. at a brewery. But the 18th Amendment, effective Jan. Too tall for what it was in my time, the In 1880, the much-younger Andrew 29, 1920, put an end to the production building held a mysterious fascination. purchased the Schmidt brewery in Grand of beer. The brewery went into receiver- But Saturday, in contrast to the dark Rapids, which he sold the same year to ship and then to its vice president, H.A. sky, light from a giant beacon and stream- Jacob and David, all Lutzes. (The Lutz Sampson, who converted it to a canning ing water from hoses on high searched genealogy will be straightened out at an- company. for the few flames that still flickered in other time.) According to Henry’s son, Ray Samp- upper floor windows. Next door to the brewery, in the old son, who took over in 1928 and ran Having started via a reputed explo- courthouse, David Lutz Jr., lived in and the cannery with his brother, Jim, until sion, the fire burned throughout the day operated a cigar factory. That court- 1969, Sampson’s went out of business of March 5, 2005. The structure, very house/factory burned in 1885, victim of along with other small canners when close to a century old, was going to be a an arsonist “fire fiend.” automated pickers came into farm fields total loss, according to the Central Wis- Six years later, the brewery itself was and “the big boys” got into the canning consin Sunday account. destroyed in a “midnight conflagration.” business. In recent years, it had been used by Arson was again suspected, perhaps in Another constant irritant, Sampson Northern Steel Castings, a foundry with order to remove the building from valu- told me, was the state Department of 100 employees. The 34-year-old com- able water frontage needed for various Natural Resources. pany makes parts for equipment used in saw, pulp and paper mills. Anyway it’s gone, so I guess I can tell mining construction, railroads and oil When one of the Jake Lutzes rebuilt my friend, Betsy, to nix our plans for a fields. Half the process took place at the under the name Twin City Brewery, restaurant overlooking the scenic Grand now-gutted 80 Oliver Street (off First he bricked the walls and added an iron Rapids from high in the old brewery. In Street North) plant and the other half at roof. Nevertheless, in 1895, “a lurid the patois of Big Jake, that great notion Ninth Avenue South. light in the northern heavens betokened is, like the building itself, kaput. With the workflow disrupted, own- no good” and the inflammation had ers Glenn and Jeff Gregg and President struck again, plunging the building into 03-14-05 Tom Nowak were uncertain about their “a mass of ruins.” plans.

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Champions trips to Madison through mad March something more. “It takes a while for snow storms that have become a chap- the impact to hit you, but eventually hile you were sweating ter in the story, only to return without it comes back to you that you were on bullets and your face was the big trophy. this team…” renamed “Big Red,” the When the championship is replayed In the same spirit, Tribune publisher W in memory and print, the roster of Helen Jungwirth wrote, on the day of boys stayed cool and coordinated. You, the Rapids basketball fan, suffered a player-heroes is recalled fondly. the first 2005 game inMadison: “It was little and celebrated more as your Red Charles Gurtler, center. a basketball team made up of friends Raiders moved through the conference, Doug “Boola” Gill, guard. who provided a memory for an entire then the regionals and sectionals and on Jimmy Ritchay, guard. community…and none of us who were to the state tournament. Jerry Raasch, forward. there will ever forget.” She referred This class was something special. Don Brewster, forward. to the 1966 team, for which she was a Their conduct on and off the court Bob Olson, Jack Crook, Jim cheerleader. made them a crowd favorite, despite Grossklaus, Wayne Oestreich and Rod- Another bunch of friends, the boys their high ranking. ney Anderson. of ’95, who made the most recent visit Their teamwork was extraordinary. Coach, Phil Manders. The principal? to Madison until this year, already ex- Working together had become a habit. Aaron Ritchay. pressed a sense of history last week to As “Coach” explained, it was a family- The words that began this story the Daily Tribune. style group that had come up together could be applied to the team of 2005, Former player Bret Van Dyken through grade-school basketball pro- but they came 54 years ago from the asked the boys of ’05, Beamish, Strat- grams and shared the ideals that make a typewriter of Ed Hanson, Daily Tri- ton, Vidal, Shepard, Falk, Gellerman, championship team. On offense, every bune sports writer and WFHR sports Ritchay, Goska, Bartelt, Kolstad and player knew where his teammates announcer. The only year Rapids had Becker, to remember “they are living were, whether the high-scoring big guy ever won the Madison tournament was examples for the next generation of was open or covered and whether his 1951, when the top-ranked Red Raiders Red Raider basketball players that are partner should go for the outside shot. beat Menasha and Menomonie prior to going to be wearing their uniforms in a Every player contributed to a balanced a 64-55 victory against second-ranked few years.” defense. Madison West. It was Don Brewster of the boys of By supporting the team, you, wear- A victory celebration followed, in ’51 who said to me in March 1983: ing the scarlet letters “W-R,” were part which some 3,000 local fans met the “You just went out and played and won of the winning campaign, along with team upon its return. “Leading the Red and it was fun. You didn’t realize what students, cheerleaders, parents, towns- Raiders through the crowds that lined it meant or how long it would last. It folk, teachers and administrators. In the the sidewalk outside the Armory was never hit me for about three years. Now crunch of fans wanting tickets to big Game Captain Don Brewster, carrying every time you get a contending club games, the Lincoln principal, a former the mammoth trophy after their cham- they start talking about it, what hap- athletic coach himself, stood at the pionship conquest of Madison West on pened, plays we made. gate, handing out tickets. Saturday night,” wrote Hanson. “It was an event but only later did I But cruel fact tells us that, if the What had been a “bunch of friends realize the strength of the moment.” sport is basketball, a lot of years go by having a good time,” 1951 team mem- between state championships. So many ber Bob Olson told me in 1983, became 03-21-05

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Uncle Ralph native language so all could absorb and indígenas” and traveled over a thou- appreciate it. To this end, a translated sand miles to take them to the potential id what happened mean his Zoque New Testament was published in readers. The modest number of diction- life’s work was, in my words, 1978. aries was soon dispensed, along with “meaningless?” Luckily, the Engel family happened seven New Testaments. D to be absent in March 1982. That’s In 1988, Ralph visited the home town His vocation had been familiar to me since the 1950s, when he, my uncle, when the volcano Chichonal erupted, of a young Zoque who had helped Ralph Engel, visited our new house on sending terrified villagers to theCatho- with translation. “I walked around the Two Mile Avenue and showed slides of lic church for shelter from a rain of village visiting homes with New Testa- the small concrete and metal residence stones and sand that collapsed most of ments and dictionaries to sell. There at which he lived, in a jungle village far the houses. When the volcano quieted, was some interest in the dictionary but away. survivors fled on foot with whatever no one bought any even though we Ralph, “the philosopher” student they could carry out on their backs, offer them at a low subsidized price. It of Seymour, Wis., high school, and including babies and invalids. On April made me sad that no one showed any Mary, a missionary college graduate 3, the volcano blew again, obliterating interest in the New Testament. I did not from New Jersey, had met at a Texas what was left of the village. sell even one copy.” church camp meeting. After marriage, Ralph returned to the land of his la- Over strawberry shortcake much they joined Wycliffe Bible Translators bors, looking for familiar faces among later, I remember watching, with my and found themselves working with a the refugees. When he made what we parents, one last slide show: the re- language that had never been written, might consider a trivial sale, 16 New mains of the village after the volcano, a much less translated. It belonged to the Testaments and 14 gospels of Matthew, landscape of ash. “What does it mean?” Zoque (SO-key) “Indian” people. he said, “Praise the Lord.” I asked. “How do you feel when all In 1954, Ralph and Mary moved to But only a few accepted the Word as your hard work goes for nothing?” Francisco Leon, deep in the Mexican offered. He said simply that he had been rainforest, a mountain village that could “I explain salvation by faith because blessed. He had been happy to be able be reached only on foot. Across a swift of what Jesus has done for us, but it to do his work which was that of the river from the cluster of habitations was does not get through to them,” Ralph Lord. Chichonal, a small, dormant volcano. said. Ralph Engel’s labors came to an end Ralph and Mary lived a large portion When my uncle visited Francisco in 1995, through his death at Waxhaw, of each year in the village and worked Leon in 1983, his guide hung a bundle N.C., where his widow, Mary, and sev- on the prospective translation, begin- on a stick protruding from the sand. eral family members continue to live. ning with learning the Zoque language. “That is where your house used to be.” Meanwhile, their oldest daughter, who What did Ralph say, when all was 04-04-05 was crippled by polio, was followed lost? by three more children born and one “PRAISE THE LORD, the Zoque adopted. dictionary is off the press!” The purpose that drove their lives, In 1987, my uncle got on a bus with Mary wrote, was to give “a witness of two boxes of the new 429-page “Dic- Christ dying for their sins” to the Zoque cionario zoque de Francisco León. Se- people, and to have it written in their rie de vocabularios y diccionarios 110 River City Memoirs Ghost

Old North Side Streets to nowhere. Sidewalks to there was still a West Side versus East nothing. Steps to vacant lots. Historical Side rivalry. “Well, Joe let me tell ya. treets to nowhere. Sidewalks to markers? None. Times have changed. It’s not East Side nothing. Steps to vacant lots. This is another place where the town West Side any more. Now it’s North SHistorical markers with pho- that moved used to be: North Rapids. Side versus South Side. And, this time tographs of company offices, librar- Just around the vacant block is the around, who do you think is winning?” ies, schools, shops and homes. This is biggest, most powerful thing for miles We live in a town that has moved and where the town that moved used to be: around: the paper mill, heart of the continues to move. North Hibbing, Minn., revisited last former shiny-paper capital of the world. Way back, it went from up by where week by this correspondent. Most of the neighboring houses have the swimming pool and Sampson’s Just around the bend from the empty been removed to make way for the mill used to be, south to the Grand Avenue grid, a wicked north wind whipped and its accoutrements. complex we knew as kids; then out across the biggest hole dug by man, It’s windy on top of the world where to the 8th Street “Miracle Mile” my still being excavated for taconite ore. those smokestacks culminate. And you children called “downtown”; and now This was the Hull Rust Mahoning mine don’t have to be a weatherman to know farther out 8th Street to “New South that literally devoured a prosperous which way the wind blows. Rapids,” including and abutting Wal- city. A short drive south is Wisconsin Rap- Mart. A short drive past the nearby Grey- ids’ downtown, a testimonial to the 20th Most American towns move their hound origin bus museum was “South Century, when paper companies subsi- shopping districts around to suit the Hibbing.” The former iron ore capital dized modernization of a new town that times, e.g., Arpin, Rudolph, Nekoosa, of the world is a testimonial to the 20th included the landmark Hotel Mead; a Stevens Point, Wausau, Appleton, Century, when mining companies sub- high school with one of the finest field Green Bay, Milwaukee, Chicago. sidized construction of a new town that houses in the Midwest; and an up-to- Nowadays, the destination is usually included the landmark Androy Hotel; a date shopping district, anchored by a four-lane highway corridor at what high school with one of the finest the- Johnson Hill’s fine department store. used to be the edge of town. atres in the Midwest; and an up-to-date Downtown’s main drag, Grand Av- As Point college chancellor Lee Sher- shopping district, anchored by Feld- enue, can be quiet as a sleepy mouse man Dreyfus predicted in the 1970s, man’s fine department store. now, as the area declines economically it’s getting to be one central Wisconsin Downtown’s main drag, Howard and in population, while the franchises conglomeration. For Stevens Rapids Street, can be quiet as a sleepy mouse of the “Grand Mall” maneuver com- and Wisconsin Point, the downtown- now, as the area declines economically merce further down the strip. in-progress is currently named, “Plo- and in population, while the franchises Consequently, some of the storefronts ver, Wis.” as our mobile entrepreneurs of the “Grand Mall” attempt to move are vacant, many have changed names keep a keen nose out for the stuff that’s the town to the belt line and “New and the most likely social spot to be blowing in the wind: the sweet smell of South Hibbing.” Consequently, some of noticed is Joe and Alice Wallner’s From scented candles and hair spray. the storefronts are vacant, many have the Ground Up [2005] coffee house in changed names and the most likely the Mead-Witter building. nightspot to be noticed is Zimmy’s bar, The other day, Joe and I were dis- 04-11-05 dedicated to the nativity of a local bad cussing a digital enlargement of his- boy made good, Bob Dylan. toric Grand Avenue, when he asked if

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Pupilation Explosion women who won World War II weren’t Lowell school later closed and its pu- about to see their schools get anything pils made their way to Mead school, oom! Grove (1949). but better each and every year. without a trail of tears. Lowell’s time Boom! Children’s Choice Remember Edison school on West had passed. As James Russell Lowell B(1950), Howe (1951), Mead Grand Avenue, in the vicinity of what is said, “Each day the world is born anew (1956). now the West Side fire station? At the for him who takes it rightly.” Boom! Grant (1958), Pitsch (1959), end, Edison still had old-fashioned high Then there’s Lone Birch. If they hadn’t Woodside (1959), Washington (1961). ceilings, wide hallways and open cloak- closed that homespun one-roomer back An explosion of elementary schools, rooms. There was a small room on the in 1967, my daughter could walk three with their approximate go-boom dates, first floor that had been used for special minutes to school rather than getting up plus Rudolph and Vesper, built later. teachers, “the nurse” and the West Side around midnight for the bus to Rapids. Baby boomers born in heaps and public library. But she doesn’t miss the quaint institute bunches: your Lindas, Marys, Patricias, A Feb. 24, 1956, Daily Tribune, pro- with its little belfry and toilets out back. Johns, James and Roberts. The previous vided by Gale Jackson, described the All pupils here quickly learn, as Jack elementary or “grade” schools were too walk, classroom by classroom, from Monson said, “Whichever way that small, old and outdated. four-room Edison to the new G.W. Mead north wind blows, it’s cold.” When my own alma mater, Two Mile school. “It claims a fair share of loyal It seems Grove is the oldest elementary School, was demolished fifteen years alumni,” said the Tribune, though the building standing in the district. Grove ago, I took home a brick for a souvenir. pupils didn’t look back. Edison’s time was pretty much new when I sported Now, it’s lost among the bricks from all had passed and no one had any other skull & crossbones for Ray Lecy, the the other buildings gone down since. ideas for the building except to sell it. basketball coach, who once said, “Some The disheveled landmark stood at Two Thomas A. Edison himself once said, day, David will be taller than any of th Mile Avenue and 8 Street. That once- “There is no expedient to which a man us.” calm country corner had found itself will not go to avoid the labor of think- What happened? smack dab in the heart of Miracle Mile. ing.” The demographic bulge has deflated My school closed at the same time as Emerson, on 4th Ave North, was the and the bulgers, for whom all those Irving school, about 1977, though Ir- oldest city school (c. 1885) after old now-depopulated schools were built, are ving continued to host special education Howe was demolished in 1950-51. In struggling with decisions. After you’ve classes until 1979. “There is a certain excellent repair, Emerson had been re- spent several hundred grand on a sub- relief in change, even though it be from modeled several times. In the early urban estate and your retirement invest- bad to worse!” Washington Irving him- years, there had been a separate building ments disappoint, how can you afford self said. on the grounds for kindergarten purpos- educational frills that other people’s Irving school was built in 1898 be- es. When Emerson was buried by Con- kids - Madison, Emma, Abigail, Aden, cause Howe school was too crowded. solidated Water Power & Paper Co., pu- Ethan and Dylan - don’t really need? Likewise, Grove was built because Two pils didn’t look back as they transferred Boom! Mile was too crowded, Woodside be- to Lowell and Mead schools. Emerson’s As A.M. Pitsch, then a teacher at cause Grove, which I also attended, was time had passed. Howe, was famous for saying, when an too crowded. As R.W. himself said, “Tomorrow is a algebraic mistake came to light, “Who When Woodside and Grove and Howe new day; you shall begin it serenely and pulled that boner?” became jam-packed all over again, they with too high a spirit to be encumbered 04-18-05 added on more rooms. The men and with your old nonsense.” 112 River City Memoirs Ghost

Pardoning Mortimer Beardsley died about twelve hours He was a model prisoner, according hen Leonard Romanski start- later. to the Waupun warden who gave a tes- ed Rapids Market on West Suspicion for the murder fell imme- timonial of good conduct in Wilson’s Grand Avenue in 1930, he diately on Mortimer Wilson, then 19, 1923 application for a pardon. W who had recently been employed by Also of influence in the decision were was given some advice by Todd Payne, Chief of Police. Don’t carry the day’s re- Beardsley. Wilson had been “out west” injuries to Wilson, indications of tuber- ceipts home at night, Payne said. You’re but returned to marry his girlfriend and culosis, and expressions by many Wis- better off hiding them in a money bag on needed cash. At a local home where he consin Rapids residents that he had paid the premises in a different place every was playing cards with a party of young sufficiently for a crime committed in his night. people, he was taken into custody by youth. Prompting the words of wisdom was District attorney Charles E. Briere and The petition was prepared and pre- a murder that had taken place 18 years undersheriff Julian T. Welch. sented to Wisconsin governor John J. previous, Romanski’s daughter, Marge Found in possession of a knotted Blaine by Wood County Judge W.J. Hamm, told me. handkerchief of the type the suspect had Conway. As previously published in the Daily worn and a .32 caliber revolver with one Undoubtedly of major influence was Tribune and in “River City Memoirs,” shell fired, Wilson was also confronted Consolidated Water Power & Paper Co. books, Edward Beardsley had waited in with a postcard and keys found in the president and Wisconsin Rapids mayor the house for his father to put the horse Beardsley privy, where he had appar- George W. Mead, who actively worked in the Beardsley barn on Sixth Street. ently thrown them. for the pardon. Mead was named Wil- It was October 1, 1912. Because the By the next morning, he had made son’s custodian on the condition that two had stopped downtown at the Daly a full confession. Wilson said he fol- Wilson “obtain suitable employment drug store to buy a football, later, when lowed Beardsley home from the store, and become and continue to be indus- he heard a noise from the direction of intending to hold him up and obtain the trious and conduct himself in a manner the barn, Ed wondered if his father had proceeds of the day’s sales, which he compatible with good citizenship.” blown the ball up and it had popped. knew Beardsley carried. As the grocer Wilson received the news of his im- Instead, Beardsley stumbled into the unhitched his horse in the barn, Wilson pending release over long-distance tele- house and mumbled to his wife, Ed’s pulled his revolver and ordered Beards- phone from Mead. mother, “Maggie, I’m shot.” ley to throw up his hands. It was expected that Wilson would be Earlier that day, the elder Beardsley “You’re joshing, aren’t you?” freed immediately and would visit his had been moving his grocery store into Beardsley reached into the buggy aged mother, who then resided in Eau the old Barnes Candy Kitchen location for a parcel, perhaps the football he had Claire, Wis. near the Witter hotel. Because the build- bought for his son, whereupon Wilson For her part, even the widow of the ing had a safe, Beardsley abandoned his fired and fled. He told authorities he victim agreed to sign a release for Wil- usual custom of taking the day’s late re- thought Beardsley was reaching for a son, causing a lawyer to remark, “Mrs. ceipts home. revolver. Beardsley, you are a saint.” To investigating police officers, the Wilson was taken to Wausau to avoid She replied, “I have three sons and wounded grocer described a short, thick- threatened violence and pleaded guilty two daughters. God knows what their set assailant wearing a white handker- at Stevens Point, where he was sen- temptations might be.” chief on the lower part of face and a soft tenced to life imprisonment at Waupun The conditional pardon was made ab- hat pulled down over his eyes. state prison. solute in 1938. 04-25-05 113 Ghost River City Memoirs

Little Eau Pleine One night we had to get boats out and tric power at no cost to the taxpayers. save several families living along 2nd “Wherever there is ample, cheap power am pretty sure it will be now or St. S. who were marooned and severely the population increases just as it has never,” George W. Mead “the first” frightened in the black night with deep all along the Wisconsin River,” wrote I told the Daily Tribune. In Septem- water all around their homes.” Mead. ber 1954, a little more than fifty years “Besides the general flooding of Otherwise, the paper mills could ago, Consolidated Water Power & Pa- streets and the general fear here, our expand their businesses by going to the per Co. president Mead wrote an open paper mills suffered the flooding of South for cheap natural gas and fast- letter published in this newspaper. their basements which were filled with growing timber for pulp. Many had The state Public Service Commission motors and machinery so the mills had done that “and it is now a great boon to and Conservation Commission were to close at a heavy loss to the com- our Southern states,” Mead said. considering his proposed reservoir on panies and an interruption of the im- The mills in Wisconsin would con- the Little Eau Pleine River and Mead portant payrolls on those days or even tinue to operate, he assured the read- wanted to make his case to the public. weeks.” ers, but they could not expand without Mead’s letter suggested a two-hour The same thing happened to the additional cheap electric power. “We drive up “Road O” north from near Nepco mills. “Do you remember the have no oil wells, no coal mines in Junction City “through the heart of the low road between Port Edwards and Wisconsin. Railroad transportation is vast low area of the Little Eau Pleine Nekoosa was flooded three feet deep expensive and sometimes uncertain so Valley.” At the “old bridge” crossing, and do you realize it doesn’t happen of course we ought to use our natural the water would stand 20-feet deep any more?” The solution was the Big resources to the utmost.” under a new bridge, he said, after the Eau Pleine reservoir. “A reservoir would be vastly more at- reservoir was developed. Now, Mead directed his attention tractive to sports men than this impen- Pausing at the hill where county high- to the Little Eau Pleine. According to etrable thicket of small trees and brush. way O met county C, Mead described a plans, at a cost of $6 million, it would This summer I have driven across scenic view of the Big Eau Pleine res- flood 27,500 acres of land of which Moon Road Bridge twenty times. There ervoir, the prototype for the Little Eau 20,000 were “low and worthless” farm are always fishermen there, smiling and Pleine version being considered. land. catching fish which cannot be said of “This is our largest reservoir, built The farmers tried to improve their most of our natural lakes in northern about fifteen years ago byConsolidated prospects 20 years previous, said Mead, Wisconsin.” Water Power & Paper Co. and sold to by forming a drainage district, and It would take two or three years to Wisconsin Valley Improvement Co.” digging miles of ditches, then planting build the dam, lift the roads and place According to Mead, it had paid for it- crops, but the corps failed because the bridges “so we ought to get started at self several times by producing electric land was heavy muck, sour and cold. once.” power. Not only that, before the Big When the drainage district went bank- “The lakes and surrounding areas Eau Pleine dam, both the Big and Little rupt, Consolidated bought the defaulted can be developed into the best wildlife Eau Pleine rivers poured a vast amount bonds from Milwaukee banks and propagation in the entire state and will of flood water into theWisconsin. In became owner of the 20,000 acres. prove a great attraction and valuable Wisconsin Rapids, “Water stood in the Like that on the Big, a reservoir on benefit to Marathon, Wood and Portage Congregational Church basement two the Little would abate floods and fur- Counties,” Mead wrote. to three feet deep, Elk’s basement also. nish a large amount of low-cost elec- 05-02-05

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Jake Chadwick After his 1926 graduation from high Ill. Bouton, like his brother Farnum school, Jake signed on with the Mis- (Buzz), married a local girl, stayed in all him “Jake” and list Charles sissippi Valley League’s Moline Plow- Rapids and ran a tavern. “Red played James Chadwick, Jr. among the boys. “The manager was the catcher for a Detroit farm team,” said Jake. “I outstanding local baseball play- too so when he wasn’t catching I was think I played against him when I was C catching and when he was catching I in high school, too.” ers to play at Witter Field. He was born in 1908 at Torino, Ill., a was playing outfield.” Jake met his wife-to-be, Dorothy coal mining town “that isn’t there any Meanwhile, Joliet’s Judnick went to Rember, while double-dating with his more,” Jake told me, along with co-in- Rock Island to compete in the same old buddy, Judnick, also now in Rapids, terviewers Jim Mason and Pat Schuetz, league. and Judnick’s fiancée, Margaret Hierl. at his 121 11th St. S. home, one year Back in Joliet for winters, Jake Some of the other players who had ago this week. played professional basketball at the come here to stay were Bill Marlotte, In Torino, his coal miner dad was forward position. Jimmy Summers and John Sandrin, in a tavern, while outside, a horse and In 1929-31, Jake’s baseball career none “from” Rapids. a wagon waited for someone. “I was took him to the Joplin, Mo., Miners in Jake’s team played against Madison, showing the kids what a brave boy I the professional Western Association Appleton, Oshkosh and the bearded was; I would go underneath the horse League. He was, he said, the kind of barnstormers, House of David of Ben- from one side to the other. My dad player who would sing and entertain on ton Harbor, Mich. He also remembers a come out when I was doing that. He the bus rides. ladies ball club. took the buggy whip. I started running He belonged to the Oklahoma City “I’d see that they didn’t get to the and he was switching me from the team “about half an hour when some- plate,” he said. “They’d slide into home back.” body called and told me to get ready to and I’d take ’em down.” If that’s how he learned to run fast, go to Wichita, Kansas, that I was trad- After the Gibson beverage gig, Jake Jake learned baseball “all around” ed.” Dizzy Dean’s brother, Paul Dean, worked the line at Preway several years South Wilmington, Ill., where the fam- said Jake, was pitching for Wichita at before taking what would become a 36- ily moved. “Some of us had gloves and that time. year position at Consolidated, mainly some of us didn’t.” “Born and raised” In 1934, another important call came, as a supercalender operator. The shift in South Wilmington, said Jake, was from George Gibson of Wisconsin work wasn’t so bad. You could play a Pete Sakalosky, another future athlete Rapids. lot of baseball before punching in at 11 of Wisconsin Rapids. “They offered me a job and a sal- p.m. While at South Wilmington, Jake ary too. I figured I wasn’t going to the played for the nearby Joliet, Ill., base- big leagues so I better get a job where 05-09-05 ball team. That’s when he met first I could make a living.” His employer baseman Joe Judnick, of Joliet, who was Gibson’s beverage company. Jake would also find his way to our River does not remember the name of the City. “He was kind of jealous of me be- team. There was no real league and cause I was playing for the Joliet team they didn’t play every day. and I was still going to high school. One of the other baseball players at First time I got up there, I hit a home the Roenius boarding house was Carl run over the fence.” “Red” Bouton, formerly of Peoria,

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Zimmerman In the camps, the POWs stayed 400 bombing of Berlin at the same time Part One of Two men to an unlighted, leaky, tent. They German V-2 rockets were launched slept on straw infected with lice. Two toward England. After a while, the n May 2, Daily Tribune report- spigots at low pressure provided water camp could hear the Russians coming er Beth Burger told the story of for a thousand men. The water was closer every day. Finally, the Red Army Norman Casey, 86, a prisoner turned off at night. arrived in the form of one tank knock- O Sometimes they didn’t get anything ing down fences and everything imag- of the Germans from January 1944 to April 1945, when he was liberated by to eat. Sometimes, they got a little inable. the troops of American general George bread, cabbage soup or tea. The worst The tank stopped, the turret opened Patton. was boiled dehydrated rutabaga. The and out stepped a woman. In broken On Nov. 18, 1944, Lawrence Zim- best came from the Red Cross. English, she said, “Now you are free.” merman was also taken prisoner. His On Dec. 24, 1944, the POWs were She got back in and drove off, knock- story came to me in 2002 by way of marched to a railroad yard and loaded ing down more fences. his sister, Anne Bell, who asked me to into the well-known 40X8 boxcars. The A Russian officer, who had been edit Zimmerman’s reminiscences so her next four days, 68 men stayed locked in “freed” as a prisoner of the Germans, family would know his sacrifices. “I re- a car made for 40 with only an infre- still wore part of his Russian uniform. alize his story could be every soldier’s quent pail of water to sustain them. Speaking fluent English he mourned, story who fought in the war,” she said. When the prisoners yelled to protest “For you it’s good to be free but I could As Patton’s army advanced across and pounded on the door, the guards be sent to Siberia. I was not supposed Europe, Zimmerman and his unit were shot through the sides of the car, just to surrender. I was supposed to die commanded to take and hold a small above Zimmerman’s head. fighting.” hill. The objective was doomed when For Christmas, the Americans sang Zimmerman did not feel the joy of American tanks abandoned Zimmer- one stanza of “Silent Night.” That’s as freedom until he was in a truck rolling man’s group to bigger German Tiger far as they could get before they wept. down the Autobahn on one of Hitler’s tanks. About a dozen survivors surren- Back in camp, Zimmerman and some new highways. dered. friends took the rare offer of a shower. Last stop was Camp Lucky Strike Zimmerman could speak fluent Ger- When they returned, their clothes had where Zimmerman met Ronald Wip- man, so he tried to persuade the soldier been exchanged for ragged German perman, his wife’s brother, a pilot in the guarding him to help Zimmerman’s army uniforms. They learned their Air Corps and also recently a prisoner wounded buddy but was hustled away original garb would be used by Ger- of war. without knowing the outcome. man infiltrators to pose as American Zimmerman said he had felt more On the march to prison camp, Zim- soldiers. secure in the hands of Germans than merman saw a man shot because he The heavyweight boxer, Max with the Russian allies. He even later didn’t stand up fast enough and two Schmeling, visited and signed auto- learned the Germans had gone back for more because they left the roadway. graphs. “We gave him a hard time his buddy, as he had asked, and put in a Another time, two brown-shirted men about being defeated by Joe Louis, steel rod that saved his broken leg. turned the horses they were riding into which he took good-naturedly.” the column to see how many prisoners At Zimmerman’s last camp, the 05-16-05 they could knock down. POWs watched the near-constant

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‘Buseum’ and serial number. To pass time, officerPOWs turned Second of Two Such minimal information at times to art in the form of drama, music, led German interrogators to scream and writing, Spam-can sculpture and A perfect story for the Memorial Day threaten abuse, or resulted in the POWs sewing. They listened to the BBC and weekend, told by a bus. being forced to stand for long hours in some produced “camp papers” with On Sunday, May 29, the “Buseum” the cold or rain to “soften them up.” war news. Sports competitions between will arrive at the South Wood County Some were beaten, while others were POWs attracted audiences of prisoners Historical Corp. museum in Wisconsin told they’d be shot if information was and keepers. Rapids for a short visit. not shared. Many POWs had been wounded “Beyond Barbed Wire,” an exhibit After the first marches, 60 or more when captured. Most soon contracted by the Iowa-based educational orga- men were loaded into boxcars designed dysentery. They lost weight, hair, teeth, nization TRACES, is housed in the for transporting 40. patches of skin. Most had infected feet. Buseum, a converted school bus. It No food was provided on the train. At night, murmuring, screaming explores the experiences of prisoners Water was served irregularly in pails and crying filled the narrow boxcars, of war, or “POWs,” from the American that, once emptied, doubled as toilets. barracks, barns or other places POWs Midwest who were imprisoned in Nazi Sometimes the transports were strafed tried to sleep. Germany. by U.S. planes. During “death marches” at the end According to the Buseum, there were Each POW camp housed either of the war, the POWs received even three main waves of Midwest POWs: officers or enlisted men, and was less food than they had before and too those captured in North Africa in 1943, organized by service branch. Barracks little water. They survived on stolen pilots downed during the air war over were hastily built, under-heated, dark vegetables, dead horses or handouts Europe, and soldiers captured at the and, as the global war dragged on, from German Hausfrauen. Battle of the Bulge, six months before over-crowded. Usually, the first clue the war was the war ended. The Nazi captors generally honored ending was the abrupt disappearance Because of the high rate of German the Geneva-Convention and did of the German guards. As soon as ancestry, numerous POWs from the not force officers to work. Lower- possible, the POWs were trucked to “Heartland” spoke German, including ranked POWs were used for labor collection points beyond the front our own Lawrence Zimmerman, subject and might be housed in barns, mines, or were flown to liberatedFrance or of last week’s Memoirs. Many had power plants, slaughterhouses or Belgium. relatives behind enemy lines. brick factories. The Buseum reports: “They departed changed men,” the Common ethnicity was not saving “As they starved on an unsteady Buseum states. “They had seen the grace for downed American airmen diet of rotten vegetables, German worst of human behavior; recovery bombing Germany or Nazi-occupied Brot stretched 20% with sawdust, or would take years.” countries. Usually, the civilians diluted grass soup, POWs turned to who apprehended them loathed the eating bugs, cats, birds or mice they 05-23-05 “Luftgangsters” (“air gangsters”) and trapped, edibles stolen or bartered from treated them roughly. civilians, or horses lying alongside the Nevertheless, most POWs later road, killed by strafing.POWs even reported having given only name, rank murdered for or over food.”

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Litzer award-winning McMillan Coffeehouse St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church series began in 1997 through the inspi- in Kellner, we can find it. And more im- raditionally, Memorial Day pro- ration of local arts advocate Casey Mar- portantly, they’ll be able to find it after vides an opportunity to reflect on tin and McMillan director Ron McCabe. I’m gone. Tthose who have sacrificed in war Since then, there have been 118 events “I enjoyed working with [then] South time for our freedom. by 92 performers. Wood County Historical Corp. direc- “Not to diminish the bravery of those Memorable Monday nights included tor Pam Walker. She was open to the who gave their lives while in harm’s the Riverwood Roundtable and Mid- Library’s idea of making local history way,” said Don Litzer, Head of Adult State Poetry Towers “battle of bards”; available online.” Services at McMillan Memorial Library, Donna Decker’s Key West extravagan- He also drove a load of old newspa- “but there are too few opportunities to za; a Lars and the Lizards rock concert pers to Madison with Mark Scarborough reflect on the accomplishments of ordi- shortened by a Packer game; a frail Fran for microfilming at theWisconsin State nary citizens.” Hamerstrom’s last-minute entrance; Historical Society. He wasn’t talking about himself Tom Meier and his owl from the George At the library’s local history corner, though he could have been. He has ac- W. Mead Wildlife Area; and the evening Litzer credited volunteer Flores Gumz complished something here and he’s say- director McCabe filled in at the last min- for her tireless work in keeping the ing good-bye to River City. On June 13, ute for a missing lecturer. shelves in order. he’ll be at his desk in the Allen County Of Edith Nash, Litzer said, “She was McMillan director McCabe, Litzer Public Library, Fort Wayne, Ind., a ma- in so many ways the grande dame of lit- said, is memorable for realizing that li- jor genealogical repository. erature and culture here.” He will also braries can’t be reactive in the face of Litzer, 46, came to McMillan from the miss Linda Aschbrenner of “Free Verse” change but have to be progressive. Cincinnati public library in 1996, to be magazine, he said, without mentioning And Litzer appreciated Assistant Di- closer to his family and that of his wife, his own first poem, published there. rector Andy Barnett. “According to his Sarah, formerly of Milwaukee. He grew Litzer’s contact with local history be- own description, he’s a ready, fire, aim up on a dairy farm north of Halder, Wis., gan with the Heart O’ Wisconsin Ge- guy, always doing something. Just look and graduated from Marathon City high nealogical Society and progressed to at his book and website.” school. He recalls the Quiz Bowl team of his current stint as a columnist for Arti- You do have a chance of seeing Litzer 1975, “the first year they ran onChannel facts, the publication of the South Wood again. While Don resides in an apart- 7. I was the captain of the team; we lost County Historical Corp. ment in Fort Wayne, his wife, Sarah, the playoffs to Assumption.” When Litzer came to McMillan, he will be teaching in the Wisconsin Rap- As senior class president, he said, he found “local history stuff too fragile, or ids school district. gave the shortest-ever graduation speech too oddball to catalog, on a couple of “Sarah’s and my most lasting legacy and sang, “My Way.” tables in the lower level.” With the help to Wisconsin Rapids might be our­ res- The 1980 Lawrence University alum- of Sandy Young, Head of Processing, he toration of the Victorian house on 440 nus worked as an insurance underwriter organized the material and “carved out a First Avenue,” he said. until 1990. The following year, he re- space” for it. ceived a Master of Library Science de- “So when Paul Gross wants our 05-30-05 gree from Kent State University in Kent, catalog from American Carbonic Ohio. Machinery Co., or when Doris King Litzer’s work as impresario of the wants our 80th anniversary history of

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Dorothy Rember Chadwick celebrated electric car. “I remember sit- they could get married without a wait. ting up just as straight,” Dorothy said. “We came back, found an apartment and emember Jake Chadwick? If Congregational pastor Rev. Robert this is it, for almost 70 years,” Dorothy not, you forget fast. The baseball W. Kingdon was a favorite of the Chad- said. player from Illinois was the sub- R wicks. “He was low key and got along Married life began in the Depression ject of the May 9 Memoirs. with local people. He would do anything but, the hard times “didn’t mean any- Remember Dorothy Rember? Now for you he could. And he never wanted thing to Jake and I. We didn’t have too Dorothy Chadwick, she is very much to know what people gave.” much but we had what everybody else “from here,” born Oct. 7, 1910, on the Later, at Lincoln high school, Doro- had.” They didn’t buy anything unless West Side of what was then Grand Rap- thy said, “Aaron Ritchay used to dismiss they could pay cash for it and walked ids. Her father worked at Consolidated. us about ten minutes to twelve so that downtown and back with groceries from The Rember home was on 3rd Av- we could walk home for lunch during A&P. Their first car was a 1952 Ford. enue North near the “Green Bay” rail- the noon hour.” She also walked from Among her occupations was that of road tracks. Dorothy remembers walk- the 3rd Avenue house to the East Side a full-time office secretary for the local ing through piles of snow to Emerson swimming pool, at the east end of the Girl Scouts. Dorothy was also assistant school, past pleasant neighborhoods of dam. When the clock chimed on the old leader of a Girl Scout group led by Mrs. North Rapids, now vacant lots and in- library then near the courthouse, “We Starks that included Dorothy’s daughter, dustrial installations adjacent to the Sto- knew it was time to walk back home.” Pat. ra Enso paper mill. After her 1927 graduation, Dorothy For this and other interviews in the Dorothy transferred to Lowell School worked at the “overall factory,” near series, I was accompanied by Jim Ma- and proceeded through 8th grade, with a Emerson school, until it “quit busi- son, who has surprising ties to just about few bumps along the way. “I was left ness.” everybody. Jim’s father, Lloyd, worked handed and I had a teacher, who during One of the owners, Charlie Kruger, with Dorothy’s father and eventually writing class, she’d walk up and down brought her to work at the office of took his place as Consolidated superin- the aisle. Every chance I had, I’d put the the Wood County Wholesale Grocery, tendent of shipping and finishing. pencil in my left hand and she’d come which he owned. Located about where More personally, Jake and Dorothy along and she’d crack me on the left the Daily Tribune building is now, it Chadwick lived next to the Mason resi- hand and tell me to use my right hand. shipped Fairway brand groceries to the dence on Elm Street, where Jim’s moth- “One day, she took me to the first small “corner” grocery stores that pre- er, also named Dorothy, provided care landing. The principal’s office was up- dominated then. and advice on child rearing. “When the stairs. She said, ‘If you don’t stop writ- Dorothy’s co-worker, Margaret Hierl, baby was crying and you were afraid he ing with your left hand, I’ll take you up married Joe Judnick, an old pal of Jake was going to die,” Jake said to his wife, to the principal’s office.’ I was scared to Chadwick’s from Joliet, Ill. Judnick, “you’d take it over or Dorothy would death.” who worked at the Rapids water-and- come over to our house and just pick At the Congregational Church, Doro- light plant, also played baseball, so it him up and he’d stop crying.” thy’s Sunday school teacher was Ruth wasn’t surprising that Dorothy met Jake Mead, wife of Consolidated president through Judnick and they double-dated. 06-06-05 George W. Mead. After a party at the In 1934, Dorothy and Jake “hopped Mead house on The Island, Mrs. Mead on a train” to Crown Point, Indiana, gave Dorothy a ride home in the Meads’ just across the Illinois state line, where

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Murtfeldt winter tramping around in snow about Consolidated’s head salesman, Walter three feet deep.” Mead. ny red-blooded man looks back Living in the woods was fun stuff for Helen moved to Chicago when the at his days in the woods as the a couple of young guys. At noon, Murt- sales office did. Her letters began the Abest days. All that’s missing is feldt and his guide, Jens Finstad, would long commute north until 1937, when a red-blooded woman. Former Consoli- make a sort of a raft on the top of the Helen married Murtfeldt and moved to dated Papers, Inc. V.P. Larry Murtfeldt snow and build a fire. Jens would say, a log cabin in the Minnesota camp. managed to solve that problem. “We have a pipe now, okay?” During her June-through-December Born in St. Louis, Mo., in 1909, So they smoked their pipes. On a stay, a camp employee hauled wood to Murtfeldt is a 1930 graduate from stick, they hung a tin can, filled it full her stove and brought water up from Washington University with an engi- of snow and maybe a few rabbit drop- the creek. For light, there were gasoline neering degree. He came to Consolidat- pings and had some hot tea. What could lanterns and Aladdin lamps. When she ed’s Wisconsin Rapids headquarters in be better? found a bear exploring the yard, Helen 1933. “I had read that they were build- During logging season, Murtfeldt screamed and some of the jacks came ing a big lake out of a river.” worked as camp clerk, reporting to the rushing up with rifles but the alarm had On the Petenwell project, Murtfeldt Port Arthur office. He ordered food, been effective and the bear was gone. worked for chief engineer Bill Thiele. including cows to be butchered, from One morning, Larry and Helen heard “They had already bought a lot of land, Duluth. “All we had for refrigeration a persistent barking. Out the window, but there were farms that people still was the screened porch. That’s where they saw a camp dog barking up a tree rented. My job was to see that things the meat hung.” and a bear looking down. The bear went right. Logging took place in winter with would climb part way up and then he’d “Shortly after I got there, the Com- horses from “out west” and, from Du- come down and whap! the dog would pany wanted to do some surveying up luth, 300 lumberjacks. The best were run away. And then the bear would go above Wisconsin Rapids, which later Finns and Swedes who accumulated back up the tree. became the Du Bay reservoir. I took a enough money to head for a bar and/or But bears were not the reason for small party of men out and we did the brothel until they went bust and had to leaving, said Helen. job, trenched it and so on.” go back to work in the woods. “John Longbody was an Indian In order to educate him about tim- Lumberjacks hand-sawed eight-foot with a great big teepee and a bunch of berland and logging, Consolidated sent lengths of pulpwood which were hauled daughters,” said Helen. “I was up there Murtfeldt up to Minnesota, north of to the nearest river and piled on the six months and then Stanton [Mead] Grand Marais, not far from the Canadi- ice. The spring flood carried the logs thought Larry was looking at John an border. The nearest company office into Lake Superior, where they were Longbody’s daughters and maybe he was in Port Arthur, now part of Thun- rafted and towed by the tug Butterfield better bring Larry back to the Rapids.” der Bay, Ontario. to Ashland, Wis., then loaded for rail See May 2005 Artifacts, a publication Consolidated president-to-be Stan- transport to Appleton and Rapids paper of the South Wood County Historical ton Mead and forester Emmett Hurst, mills. Corp., for a complete interview with drove Murtfeldt up to Grand Marais on Before his woods adventure began, Larry and Helen Murtfeldt. his first trip. His job was to map land Murtfeldt ran across a good-looking the Company owned so logging roads gal on the streets of our own River 06-13-05 could be built. “We spent the whole City. She was Helen Stahl, secretary for 120 River City Memoirs Ghost

Father’s Day mined to order the lunch he wouldn’t brutally wrong. be able to eat. There was a right and a On Two Mile Avenue. think of my father when my left wrong way to die. When I mowed the lawn, I also had foot hits the brake. He knew there I think of him at the Grand Avenue to trim around trees with a scissors I was a right way and wrong way to Grill. He insisted there was a right and and mulch strawberries with clippings drive. Using the left foot for anything wrong way to make toast; and a right caught in a steel tub he had welded. but the clutch was the wrong way. and wrong time for the waitress he in- There is a right way for these mind- I think of my father when I turn left evitably flirted with, to serve his coffee. numbing, sweaty tasks, and that’s to get from 8th onto Oak toward the “new” At the Methodist church. When I someone else to do it. Jackson Street bridge. According to his turned “adult,” he said it would be I think of him when I see the lone instructions, there was the efficient way right if I paid the $12 a year it cost to tape-mended snowshoe hanging on and the wrong way to cross town. keep my name on the rolls, so I did the my breezeway wall. The judge at Boy I think of my father when I switch on wrong thing. Scout Klondike Days had asked, “Did the car radio: that nutty debate about At City Hall. His allegiance to Con- your dad help you with that?” whether turning up the volume took solidated may have lost him his seat on “Maybe a little,” I said. more power. He admitted he might be the City Council. He didn’t campaign I think of my dad when I look at my wrong, which was the right thing to do. because you shouldn’t have to. house, which I couldn’t have built with- Why didn’t I admit the same? At the SWCHC Museum. When he out him. He started early and left late, I think of my father when I see Earle installed a section of the old Grand even when it hurt. Garber, who kindly says “Don” made Avenue bridge railing, a steel cable I think of him when I look at old the right decision when he left the snapped and dang near took off a vol- fishing tackle in the garage. The first Garber company for 39-or-so years at unteer’s head. Technically, that might time I heard him cuss, he was fighting a Consolidated. have been the wrong technique. losing battle with a tangled line. I guess I think of my father when I see Eileen At Engel Fellowship Lodge. For do- there’s a right way and a wrong way to Keating. Her husband, Duane, a ma- ing the right thing the right way, espe- untie knots. chinist, and my dad, a welder (who cially when he supervised work on the I think of my dad when I sit down later retired as a “planner”) shared building, the local Odd Fellows lodge and open the Tribune. I inherited his space in the Machine Shop. is named after him and my mother. chair and the need to tilt my head and The only time a couple beers showed On Township Avenue. Next to the read through the lower frame of my up in our fridge was when Duane and old town hall was a similar structure in spectacles. I think of him again when I Eileen visited. Even for a Method- which he diligently marched the Boy get up and try to straighten my back. ist, there was a right way to treat your Scout troop. “Forward harch. To the I think of my dad when I look in the friends. rear, harch!” mirror, if my eyes are especially green, I think of my father at the Hotel Apparently, “harch” was the right bloodshot and sad. Why did his eyes Mead. How proud he was of remodel- way to say, “march.” look that way when he wasn’t? Never ing the “old” section. A couple decades At the end of meetings, he had me get asked him; wouldn’t have been right. later, he shuffled his skin-and-bone self the cheap bugle from the frigid back across the Mead parking lot, deter- room and play “Taps,” which I did, but 06-20-05

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Murtfeldt II The conversion from tree to paper told and work hard and you’ll get along began in the wood room. “You get the all right.” n 1938, Larry Murtfeldt, now [2005] bark off,” Murtfeldt said. “You chop it “After I came, they badly needed a at River Run, Wisconsin Rapids, up, then you have to cook it, and then patent attorney and he trotted up here,” Imade a reasonable decision. His this sulfite thing. We used limestone and Murtfeldt said, of his brother, Harold, employer, Consolidated Water Power sulfur.” The eight brick-lined digesters, who later became company president. & Paper Co. said he could remain in his 15 feet in diameter and 50-feet high, Helen Murtfeldt’s grandfather was log cabin north of Grand Marais, Min- were prone to leakage and deterioration. Frank Stahl, sheriff of Wood County, nesota; or he (and his newly-wed wife, Murtfeldt said he was called in for emer- who also worked at a West Side wagon Helen) could come down to the mills gencies but Bill Prebbanow was always factory and “had his fingers in a lot of here and learn the paper business. there first. things.” Murtfeldt chose to start work with “The guys would take a long pole, Prior to her marriage to Murtfeldt, Wisconsin Rapids mill manager, Clar- sharpen it, and somebody’d hold the Helen Stahl had worked in Rapids for ence Jackson. “My job was to learn ev- point right up to that hole where it was Walter Mead, George’s son, until the ery pump and pipe in the whole bloody coming out and two or three of them sales office was transferred to Chicago thing, which I did, so that if we had trou- would ram it in.” in 1936, “and I went along.” ble at night, you knew where the trouble A decade prior to his retirement in Walter Mead, she said, “was very kind was before you got there.” 1978, Murtfeldt had a large part in the to me, and very thoughtful and, I just Before long, the modest Murtfeldt, planning and building of the Kraft mill liked him very much. who retired in 1978, was made “so- that replaced the sulfite mill. For the George W. Mead, she said, did so called pulp superintendent and head of project, Murtfeldt contacted Jim Essel- much to make life more comfortable for the manufacture of sulfite pulp.” Later, man. “He’d worked in the Kraft mills others. One Depression year, he had one he rose to Assistant Mill Manager, Mill other places and he knew a lot of other of the machines make nothing but toilet Manager and Vice President of Manu- good men, which he brought to us. We paper and gave it out to the employees. facturing for what became the world’s had it designed by a company in South At a time when there was no air condi- largest maker of enamel-coated paper, Carolina, but overseen by Esselman and tioning, “some way or other he brought headquartered in our own River City. his crew.” ice in, and sent that through the regis- Murtfeldt said the sulfite mill itself When he came to the Rapids plant, said ters, you know, to cool us off. He was was a “tough project.” The digesters had Murtfeldt, Consolidated was operated always doing nice things like that.” to be “blown off” periodically. Amongst mainly by George Mead and his brother, See a complete interview with Larry a lot of noise and smell, gases went up Ray Mead. The two had been running and Helen Murtfeldt in the May 2005 into the sky and “liquor” down into the a furniture company in Rockford, Ill., Artifacts, a publication of the South river. when George Mead married Ruth Witter Wood County Historical Corp. In a telling incident, “the old man,” of a prominent Rapids paper company George Mead, called him, said Murt- family. 06-27-05 feldt. “I want you to get right over to Murtfeldt recalled his first meeting [Ebsen] the florist. He’s pretty mad; with Mead at the Rapids office. Mead’s we’ve burned up his garden.” advice pretty much summed up the “I didn’t save his plants but we had a company’s attitude: “Do what you’re nice talk about it.”

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Farm Kid straw to smoke and cats to launch into cannot resist his calling as an uncom- orbit with a hearty, “Got ’m!” mon commentator. re you homesick for the scent The narrator is not an exact copy of On the material plane, Isherwood’s of manure? the young Don; the kid in the book is houses must have towers. And he pres- A Do you, like me, yearn for more astute, according to the author. “I ently ruminates in an odd structure re- the smack of ripe silage forked under was a wise child but I had fun. Really ferred to as “Mid-State Poetry Towers- a cow’s drooling schnoz? A proud wise children do not have fun.” Plover”: no house attached. cock-a-doodle-doo from the chick bin? “Such a sense of liberation. I find it In the same spirit, “Farmkid” might A well-placed ray of sun on the kid’s difficult to imagine comparable child- look like a simple book. But, towers are golden hair as he races the farm collie hoods, just being that active and ca- attached. (Lassie) to the pond by the woods for pable of so many choices.” When I asked him what questions an idyllic dip? But wasn’t it a hard life? he would really like to answer, he of- Yup, a few forkfuls from the stan- “We were labor-intensive children. I fered a transcendental missile that rose chions of nostalgia. You can find a resented it partly but at the same time toward the starry skies. smidgeon of that style of imagery in I was so glad as a kid that I could burn “What is the quest the narrator’s on? the newly-published “Farmkid,” an at- up my energy against something.” Is it Biblical? Is it spiritual? Is it mere tractive and easily-readable paperback Wasn’t it lonesome? curiosity? from Badger Books, Oregon, Wis. “I liked being alone. Maybe there “The narrator is asking the native “Farmkid” is based on the early life was no choice so I made peace with it. questions we all ask but we’re too of Donald Justin Isherwood, central I could take a dog and a .22 and go into afraid or too polite to say out loud. Wisconsin’s most recognized author the woods and be deeply content, and “What’s God? What am I about? and certainly one of the drollest. still can. What’s the difference between me and A number of chapters have been “Doing farm chores, it wasn’t any a frog? previously published in his Stevens big deal to talk to yourself or think to “They are heathen questions I sup- Point Daily Journal column, “Plough- yourself. I learned to sing.” pose. Though in truth I am and will man’s Inch.” As his readers know and What about kids today? always be a seminarian. The right ques- appreciate, Isherwood is representative “The rules of life are different. The tion is whether I’m writing scripture or of a breed now diminished in numbers: environment is dramatically different, not and I am.” a genuine tuber-grubbin’, John Deere- the weight of the atmosphere; it’s a dif- “The act of understanding life is a lovin’, aphid-eradicatin’, dirt farmer. ferent planet now.” continuous strand. When you stop it His crop is potatoes. Can the book be read purely for fun? at a segment saying we have sufficient Though imaginatively enhanced, the “The chapters are short, they’re answers, you do some kind of wrong to “farmkid” closely resembles Isherwood quick, they’re in and out. You enjoy it spiritual life; you do wrong to life. himself, then known as “Donnie.” that way. I’ll send along a roll of toilet “I am part of that evolution and I take During my recent visit, now well past paper.” it seriously. But not without a good his first AARP discount, he showed me Readers Digest level prose? Not deal of fun. That probably separates me the family farm on Isherwood Road. likely, for the bard of the Buena Vista. from true seminarians.” Here, the original farm kid had cows Like his current fascination, “Hank” to milk, barns to clean, silos to climb, Thoreau, of Concord, Mass., Isherwood 07-04-05

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Terwilliger Bunts One “Our general manager was a rosy- bank. ‘Not a good omen,’ I thought to cheeked guy named Elmer Collar who myself. But Wisconsin Rapids actually n 1963, Wayne Terwilliger and I was always smiling, win or lose. I was turned out to be a nice little town.” crossed paths at Witter Field, though a little leery of guys like that—I thought Late in the season, the Senators’ team he didn’t know it. He was manager I there must be something wrong with bus hit a Volkswagen almost head-on. “I of the Wisconsin Rapids Senators and I a guy who doesn’t even notice when was sitting in the front with my typewrit- watched a couple games that summer. things go obviously wrong. Then one er doing game reports and I had dozed For me, baseball was a passing fancy. day Elmer showed his other side. I don’t off, so I didn’t see what happened. The “Twig” stuck with it. remember what set it off, but one of my impact threw the typewriter to the floor At 79, he has completed his 56th sea- infielders cussed at him and Elmer took and broke it, and I had glass and small son in professional baseball, the lat- off, chasing the kid around the club- cuts all over my hands and arms from est as manager of the Fort Worth Cats house. I gained a new respect for him. the shattered windshield. We pulled over in the independent Central League. He Not long after that, we released the kid. to the side and somebody said we’d hit has been in uniform for more than 5,000 One of the reasons we let him go was a car, so we all ran back and found the professional games as a player, coach, lack of speed, which was as obvious on Volkswagen upside-down in the ditch. and manager in the major and minor the base paths as it had been in the club- “I had a little outfielder named Willie leagues, house when Elmer almost caught him. Adams who didn’t have a lot of talent He is now writing a book, Terwilliger “It shows you something about what but he could run and he hustled all the Bunts One and shares a passage about a a minor league manager is up against, time, and he was one of my favorites. year in Wisconsin Rapids. though, when your players are immature He was one of the first off the bus and he His early career featured semi-pro play enough, or dumb enough, to swear at the ran right to where the car was. at second base with the House of David general manager.” “The rest of us were standing around team in Benton Harbor, Mich., and pro- Terwilliger said the Senators were telling Willie to watch out because there fessional stints with the Chicago Cubs, bad the first half of the season and good was a strong smell of gas, but he kept Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, the second half, finishing with a 58-62 right on working until he could pull the Kansas City Athletics and Washington record. Catcher Jim French from Ohio driver out.” Senators. In 1961, he managed Greens- University came for the second half and Terwilliger said he would not forget boro in the Carolina League with the “was the sparkplug who made the dif- a hotel the team stayed at in Dubuque, Yankees organization, then switched to ference.” Iowa. “There was an old steam radiator the Washington Senators organization. While driving up from spring training in the room, and tied to the bottom of When the Alabama-Florida League in Pensacola, Fla., Terwilliger was driv- the radiator was a long coil of very thick folded after the 1962 season, he writes, ing through Wisconsin, when an oncom- rope. I wondered, what the heck is this the Washington Senators looked for an- ing vehicle swerved into his lane. He hit for? I soon figured out: it was my fire other Class D team. They found one in a ditch and bounced around pretty good escape! In case of fire, you were sup- the Wisconsin Rapids Senators in the before he got his automobile under con- posed to throw it out the window and Midwest League and that’s where Ter- trol. “I was still a little shaky when I slide down. williger spent 1963. The Senators played pulled into Wisconsin Rapids, and one “The players talked about the ‘fire es- a split season against nine other teams in of the first things I saw was a bunch of cape’ the rest of the season.” Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. bloated, dead carp lying along a river- 07-11-05

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Billings: Nash Biron. Later years, his son, Philleo [later Mrs. George Mullen, Charles, Neil, who Wis. Lt. Gov. and U.S. Comm. of Indian was in Port Edwards, Lawrence, Will, ohn Billings should take over this Affairs], was involved there. George, and they were all business peo- column. Turning 95 on July 21, he’s There was another son, Tom, an older ple in the community. forgotten more than I’ll ever know J brother of Philleo’s, who was killed in My wife’s family and the Nashes were about our fair mediapolis. an airplane accident. Irish Catholics. They thought the world Well, maybe he hasn’t forgotten so I knew Philleo because he was born of the Nashes and wouldn’t buy any- much. The long-time South Wood Coun- in the same year I was. When I started thing unless it was from the Nash fam- ty Historical museum docent has been school in town here, he was in fifth ily. So, my brother-in-law always drove interviewed quite a few times, by me grade with me at Howe School. Philleo an Overland Red Bird. My father-in-law and others, because of what he remem- played violin and that was kind of un- had a Willys Knight, and they all came bers. For example, in our latest meeting, usual for a youngster in grade school. I from Nashes. I asked him to talk about a prominent can remember one class play at the old There were other Nashes and I wish I local family by the name of “Nash.” A Howe school that Philleo was in and so could separate them for you. There was sample of the result is presented here. was I. a Nash family on Fourth Avenue North. In John’s words, much condensed. At the Nash house was an upstairs And the name was Frank Nash. They The Nashes were people that improved window with a screened platform and a had one daughter, Caroline, who was the community, and were working for bed for Philleo’s sister, Jean, who was at married to George Frechette. betterment, always. Thomas E. Nash [of the beginning of a tubercular thing. She I think of another old Nash that could the Nekoosa Paper Co.] was the found- used to sleep out there, and it looked have been a brother to this Frank. And ing father, so to speak. He built the big kind of funny to us to see somebody sus- then he had a whole raft of kids. Can home that [Consolidated paper company pended in their bed out over the lawn. you remember names like Dobber Nash president] Stanton Mead lived in. In New York City, Guy Nash heard that ran the tavern? And there was Ed, Guy Nash was his son, who lived up a speech by the man that founded the and Joe and Ray and then there was… at 1020 Oak Street. Another son, James Boy Scouts and he brought that back to I think if you had the means to do it, Nash, lived next to the [SWCHC] mu- Wisconsin Rapids and introduced it into you could go back in that Nash fam- seum in the big white house with the our city. We ended up with a Boy Scout ily and find them all kind of gathered pillars. troop at the Congregational Church, the together, because they all came down A third son lived down the street a same church I belonged to. from Canada to this country through block or so, and to my knowledge he Guy Nash’s wife was the organist. Rudolph, all those Irish, years ago. never married, a little old man named She’d be all over the bench, playing I used to hear this all from my father- J.L. Nash. He worked on the section, on away. It amused us young blades. She in-law. And he was one of the same, you the railroad, way back in his beginning. was a Philleo. And you know, when you know, way back when. And his father I knew them as old people already, be- start talking about Philleos, what it does came from Canada when my father-in- cause they were that far advanced. with our history. law was three years old, or something Guy Nash was a part of what was going Right across Third Street from the like that. on at Shanagolden. He was the Nash in- Congregational church, was this big See the complete interview in the Au- terest in owning that timberland up there brick home that belonged to Lawrence gust 2005 Artifacts. in Ashland County. And, then, of course, M. Nash, the brother of old T.E. Nash. Guy acquired the cranberry marsh at And, of course, he had several children, 07-18-05

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Billings: Neighborhoods The Third Streeters, Billings said, had A district he and his friends “used originally invested in places like Con- to shy away from,” centered on Irving e learned which streets were solidated and Nekoosa-Edwards and School, since closed but in existence. tough as child, friendly as continued to be interested in the stock A nearby cemetery, ancient and over- Hpostal worker. John Billings, markets. That’s why they were some- grown, was part of the reason for taking source of last week’s column, knows a times waiting on their porches for the the long way around. The other reason lot about this river city, in part because Chicago Tribune. was a group of “older kids that were of his excursions as a long time postal Many along Third Street also sub- kind of behind in school, so they were worker. For example, he delivered scribed to Life magazine. They were bigger than we were but in the same parcel post packages to every part of supporting their own cause; Life grade, and so we kept hands off of them the city. provided a major market for Consoli- I tell you and stayed on our side of the Billing’s route started downtown on dated’s pricey coated-enamel paper. “I sidewalk. the West Side, with the Consolidated think that it came out on a Thursday. “And then there was a bunch over paper company and Johnson & Hills, And when you got that route, why you around old Lincoln high school, all “because they were the biggest mail- had your work cut out for you because around the fair grounds, you know, the getters in town, and I wanted to get those were heavy son-of-a-guns.” Witter Field? There was Harold Knoll their mail and parcels delivered and out Billings lived on Third Street as an and the Klappa boys. of the way.” adult but he had spent part of his boy- Billings said he lived by the Green Then he would return to the post hood in the “Green Bay & Western Bay tracks and went to the Howe office several times, picking up mail area” around St. Peter & Paul church School, and had to “run the gamut all to fill relay boxes for letter carriers on on the East Side. “It was all railroad the way up to Howe School, and I was the West Side, then the East Side and people. And, of course, you had to kind literally around that group I just told on to the schools. “I’d come back and of get used to the noise and the banging you about. There must have been at by that time, I was pretty near cleaned of trains that would switch and operate least four Klappa brothers and they had up with my parcel post, and then I’d all night long. If you didn’t have that twin sisters and they would all be com- do Third Street, which was just a small racket, you couldn’t sleep. We’d just go ing to St. Peter & Paul. amount, in comparison to the rest of the to bed and never even think about the “We would go on one side of the city.” trains bumping into cars and switching street and they’d go on the other, there Third Street? in the night.” was too many of them for us. There The neighborhood between the hos- Other neighborhoods with which were only about three of us from my pital and Grand Avenue, he said, was young Billings was familiar were neighborhood, going to the Howe “for people that made a difference.” characterized by nearby schools, such School, so we were a little cautious of No snobs, the residents “were all nice as Howe on 8th Street, still in operation how far we extended our travel. people, they were wonderful.” The let- in 2005 though not in the same build- Of the varied clusters of toughs from ter carrier with that route, according to ing. “Those kids would be together and ’hoods, Billings said, “You didn’t call Billings, “wouldn’t trade it for anything do things together and lived their lives them gangs. They were just a bunch of in the world,” in part because of gener- together. There would be guys like Don kids.” ous holiday tipping. Farrish and Donald Schnabel.” 07-25-05

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Cantin time, she got lots of financing from happened to be playing a mouse and Lincoln high school for our plays and either the mouse or the lady was preg- ccording to Lois Cantin, all we had support from the community. nant. the world is a stage and that Stanton Mead was a regular theatergoer Thirty years ago, Cantin said, every- Aincludes a lot of unexpected and his wife, Dorothy, often provided thing was in place to start a community venues. I wasn’t too surprised when I costumes for the performances.” theater. ran into Toto, the famous canine per- English teacher Jan Sisley, Cantin “We had a great number of people sonality, at Joe’s coffee shop on Grand said, was “always involved in one way from AAUW ready to go. We had the Avenue. or other and knew all the plays” new library theater and here comes a Technically, “Toto” was Skip Wefel, In her personal history of theater talented person, Cathy Meils. It was the now en route to his office, upstairs in here, Cantin includes the early Jaycee right combination at the right time.” the Mead Witter building. The emi- production of Miss Wisconsin Rapids Cantin, who has been involved for nent barrister is one of a crowd who Area pageants, then part of the Hopa most of those years, recalled other have once or twice strutted and fretted Tree Festival, and Royal Revues at locals who have gone on to a career through a theatrical production here. Assumption high school, “one of the in the biz: Twyla Hafermann, Scot As Cantin had said moments before, first stages to be offered to anyone with Buzza, Katie Cavanaugh, Peter Greyy, Wefel’s non-speaking role with her in a talent who wanted to perform.” Joel Goodness, Scott DelaCruz, Jim 1950s high school “Wizard of Oz” was Beginning in the 1960s, members of Oligney and Kelli Cramer. But theater, notable. “I was good queen Glenda,” the American Association of University said Cantin, is not only for those with said Cantin. “Ted Olson was the lion.” Women provided live “gorilla” theater professional aspirations. Whether it be Did I say that our town is a stage and to 24 schools in the district, through Skip as small dog, Lou as tin man or our fellow citizens are players upon it? classics such as “Aesop’s Fables” and Hank as scarecrow, it gives others of The River City troupe is assembling “Paul Bunyan.” our neighbors a chance to perform. this weekend at the Great Tent Event, “You would load the props up, Cantin, by vocation an instructor marking the 30th year of Wisconsin maybe you had a blue face, sometimes of nursing, said theater has been her Rapids Community Theatre. you had a mustache, but you always avocation since kindergarten at Lowell For Cantin, it began in the 1950s at looked pretty rare when you went school. “They put me on and I could Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln high school, through town, considering it wasn’t memorize and everybody cheered and where “theater was my sport.” Halloween,” said Cantin. “You’d go I loved it and I said, ‘Yes, this is what I Big shows took place in the cavern- into Immanuel Lutheran in the big gym want.’ ous field house that served as track, or St. Philip’s in Rudolph, where the “As much as acting, I loved direct- gym and theater. “Certainly, if you pupils would go up the stairs and down ing. You feel so good when you’ve couldn’t project, you didn’t belong on the stairs. We would perform on the put together something meaningful to that stage; it was a wonderful training.” landing.” people. Everybody works together to One-act plays and musical produc- “We hauled our kids with us. In put that show on. That’s what’s fun.” tions were held in the more intimate those days, women didn’t necessarily Little Theatre. work outside the home.” 08-01-05 For the success of the high school At a Woodside school performance, program, Cantin credits drama coach a girl exclaimed, “That mouse is preg- Harriet Schleich (Timm). “Even at that nant!” One of the University Women

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Famous Dave feature of South Wood County Histori- of Robinson Park summer playground cal Corp.’s history quarterly, Artifacts. program closing picnic contest winners: appy birthday, Dave. This This week in 1955, Lake Wazeecha’s Craig Skibba, George Zimmerman, week in 1955, the Daily Tri- South (Red) Beach: VFW Water Carni- Mike Miers and Gordon Dakins. (Note Hbune said all kids born on val, featuring outboard boat races, two that Jim and Pat Mason had perfect at- “Davy” Crockett’s August 17 birth date Wisconsin Dells “ducks,” and dance tendance.) were invited to a big party. It would music by Red Saeger’s Orchestra and These are my peers; some were pals. be held in San Antonio, Texas, home Junior and His Jolly Do-Boys. Because fifty years ago this week, on of the Alamo, scene of the Tennessee At Highway 13 Outdoor Theatre: Friday, August 12 (a day before that of politician’s demise. Buck Nite. The entire family could see my Two Mile Avenue sidekick, Bruce “A word of advice, young’uns,” ad- “Night People” and “Jungle Gents” for Zanow), came my 10th birthday. vised the Tribune, “a birth certificate or one dollar. Perhaps it was then that my parents a note from your parents that you and At the Rapids Theatre: “Seven Little presented me with my coonskin cap, Davy were born on the same day will Foys” with Bob Hope. For Saturday’s a pricey model entirely covered with be required.” matinee western, all seats would be a actual coon hide as opposed to the bald Good luck, Dave. dime. toppers that were common. It had a This week in 1955, 14-year-old David At the air-conditioned Wisconsin: snap-on tail and earflaps. (I’ll tell you a Anderson, having won in Rapids, was Marilyn Monroe in “The Seven Year funny story about that cap some time.) making plans to move on to the All- Itch.” Monroe was also appearing in Coonskin caps were inspired by Walt American Soap Box Derby in Akron, “There’s No Business Like Show Busi- Disney’s 1954-55 television series Ohio. He would be escorted by Dick ness” at the Rialto in Nekoosa, with Fess Parker as Davy Crockett and Davis, Daily Tribune business and ad- At the Palace, held over, the greatest Buddy Ebsen as his sidekick. The show vertising manager. “love story” ever told, Walt’s Disney’s was so successful that the original three By this week in 1955, the Rapids mu- animated “Lady and the Tramp.” It was part sequence was released to theaters nicipal pool had not been completed. 25 cents for children and I was one of as a full-length movie, “Davy Crockett, Some of Dave’s friends beat the heat at those who paid it. King of the Wild Frontier,” followed by the recently-developed recreation area At T.B. Scott Public Library’s Read- a two-part TV sequel and accompanied on the north shore of Nepco Lake. ing Round-Up Club: awards for those by the “Ballad of Davy Crockett.” But lake namesake and park owner reading 20 or more books on the “cow- Texas native Fess Parker now heads Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co. was about boys and horses” theme, presented by the Fess Parker Winery and Wine to restrict attendance to its employees A.W. Zellmer, library board president. Country Inn and Spa, near the wild only. That meant a young’un like me Of 54 active members at the West frontier of Santa Barbara, Cal. Parker would have to park his bike behind a Side Branch and 220 at the main li- invites former young’uns to submit bush and sneak down the hill like the brary, a sample of recognized names of old photographs of themselves wear- king of the wild frontier himself. my age group: Betsy Brauer, Mary Ann ing coonskin caps for display in the The Nepco park story in the Tribune Cwiklow, Jon Gottschalk, Robert Grin- Shooting Gallery on the winery and spa was illustrated with artistic photographs gle, Jeri Knutson, Nancy Mielcarek, website, fessparker.com. by Donald Krohn, who had recently left James Peaslee, Marilyn Rokus, Mar- the newspaper for the paper company lene Saeger and Mary Ann Stenerson. 08-08-05 and whose photos have been a regular More familiar names from the list

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Suffragette City not see her first, second and third placed suffrage organizations no longer names in print in 1920 media. Yet Jes- needed, Mrs. Witter stated. The League omen’s suffering. sie Annette Jack Hooper, a Democratic was “non-political” in that it was not Women’s suffrage. Party activist and advocate for world affiliated with any political party. W Though both were deliv- peace, would be nominated for U.S. The expectation, the “Inquisitive Re- ered largely at the hands of men, they Senator two years later. Her husband, porter” found, was that women voters represent two distinct conditions, one Ben Hooper, was well-acquainted with would stabilize the political situation. of which was remedied through the the VIPs of Rapids. They would insist on cleaner politics legislative process. A lawyer for the “Bensley estate,” and “a more careful selection of poli- “Suffrage,” through an etymology Hooper was instrumental in the con- tics.” Women would reject radicalism too weird to relate, means the right to solidation of water powers here in the and lend a refining touch and ability to vote. Suffragettes are the women who 1890s. He was briefly a director of politics. worked to get women the right to vote. “Consolidated” in the litigious period After the vote was granted, the Their effort succeeded in 1920 with the before a mill was built, to be replaced Inquisitive Reporter was back on the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitu- on the board by J.D. Witter, father-in- beat, asking women “Are you going to tion, which states: “The right of citizens law of George W. Mead. register Aug. 31?” Predictably, the an- of the United States to vote shall not be Mrs. Hooper, state “chairman” of swer was once again in the affirmative. denied or abridged by the United States the League of Women Voters, deliv- Mrs. Kate J. Pepin, “Yes, I am going or by any State on account of sex. Con- ered her address, “Learn How to Vote” to register.” gress shall have power to enforce this and “Learn Citizenship,” to 150 local Miss Fern Walsh, milliner, “Sure article by appropriate legislation.” women at the Ideal Theatre (now Rog- thing, I will register. I do not want to For a while, River City was Suf- ers Cinema). She also spoke at Nekoosa miss the opportunity of voting.” fragette City. In July, 1920, a month High School and the then-new commu- Mrs. Angeline Roy, bookkeeper, previous to the ratification of the nity auditorium at Port Edwards. “Well I should say so.” Amendment, the Tribune’s “Inquisitive In August, three branches of the Mrs. A.A. Arndt: “Without a doubt Reporter” asked local women, “Are League of Women Voters were orga- I will register. I surely want to be one you going to vote for President this nized in this vicinity. Elected chairmen hundred per cent American.” fall?” All those quoted responded in the were Mrs. Henry Demitz for Wisconsin Miss Kate Kammerer, Cashier, Tele- positive. They expected to vote yet had Rapids, Mrs. Franz Rosebush for Port phone Co.: “Yes, I am going to reg- not yet been granted the right to use Edwards and Mrs. Herb Cleveland for ister. I think every woman in this city their first names:Mrs. W.L. Atwood, Nekoosa. Mrs. Isaac P. (Charlotte) Wit- should do so.” Mrs. E.J. Clark, Mrs. M.C. Whitrock, ter, who lived in the residence that is Miss Jessie Farrish: “Yes, I will Mrs. A.G. Miller, Mrs. L.A. De Guere now the South Wood County Historical register. I want to be up to the times and Mrs. O.N. Mortenson. Museum, was appointed County Chair- and shall try my best to use the ballot With the likely passage of universal man. intelligently.” suffrage came an interest in the use of Mrs. Witter told the Tribune her aim Miss Sadie Dorney, stenographer” the ballot. was to secure at least 500 county mem- “Certainly, I shall. I think the women To what was then Grand Rapids bers for the League. She planned to who have ideals should be at the polls came Mrs. Benjamin Hooper of Osh- help organize Marshfield within a few and do their duty.” kosh, who, like our own ladies, would days. The League of Women Voters re- 08-15-05

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Einstein’s Brain the brain itself. According to the Tri- But what happened to that brain? bune, all his life Einstein wished to do The answer is mostly based on a 1978 here was only one genius: Albert his work without the disturbing influ- story by Steven Levy for a Princeton Einstein. ence of fame. magazine. T He looked the part, with wild, For the last twenty years, Einstein After he performed the autopsy, pa- grey hair, a scraggly mustache, baggy (and his brain) headed the school of thologist Thomas S. Harvey, a last-min- trousers, well-worn sweatshirts and mathematics at the Institute for Ad- ute replacement at Princeton Hospital, sweaters over starched shirts. Perhaps vanced Study in the university town of hung on to the brain. But the publicity that’s why I’m so often mistaken for Princeton, N.J. There, he came up with surrounding the event had antagonized him. At a formal dinner at which he theories that were understood by very the Einstein heirs, so Harvey didn’t talk was being eulogized, he told a writer, few, according to the Tribune; but they about it much. “You know, I never wear socks.” were written about and discussed freely Twenty-two years after the autopsy, The Jewish refugee had been in the by those who had the mental capacity reporter Levy found the brain still in public eye since age 26 when he (and to understand them. That probably ex- the possession of Dr. Harvey at his his brain) presented his “theory of rela- cludes anyone writing or reading this. Wichita, Kansas, office, sliced up and tivity.” That was fifty years before his Always happy to talk about the pickled in two Mason jars inside a box death, fifty years ago. theories but not about himself, Einstein labeled “Costa Cider.” “The big excite- Neither his demise nor his 1879 birth said, “Let every man be respected as ment for me,” Levy said, “was seeing in Ulm, Germany, should be memorial- an individual and no man idolized. The those little brain-pieces, each the size ized, Einstein (and his brain) said. “It is essential in the being of a man of my of a Goldenberg’s peanut chew, bob- a known fact that I was born and that is type lies precisely in what he thinks bing up and down in solution.” all that is necessary.” and how he thinks, not in what he does Harvey, at last report in his nineties, Einstein was refreshingly goofy; but or suffers.” retired back to New Jersey. Someone his brain was a “mathematical marvel” A Tribune editorial, April 21, 1955, tracked him down this year, on the 50th according to an article in the Daily said Einstein’s only needs were a pen anniversary of Einstein’s death. Tribune, following the death of both and pad. “With them he could log The elderly physician said he had on April 18, 1955, at age 76. The body the great explorations he made in the driven up to Ontario with the brain in was cremated but, over the brain, a realm of the mind. And what a bound- his trunk and given some researchers a “mild tug-of-war” erupted. Einstein’s less realm his mind was. Luckily for sample. The last bits went to the pa- son, Hans, had decided the brain and the world, the greatest of these already thology department at Princeton, in the vital organs of the famed scientist could have been engraved on the tablets of doctor’s words, “a year ago,” actually be used for research. science. They will endure through cen- 1998, said the reporter. Montefiore Hospital inNew York turies.” Most of Einstein was somewhere City expected to get the precious glob On the other hand, “Five minutes else; but a part of his brain had, in the of gray matter, while Dr. Thomas S. after the great brain of Albert Einstein vernacular of the morons that write Harvey of the Princeton staff, where was stilled, all its fabulous percep- about him, “come home.” Einstein had been employed, insisted it tions of the nature of the universe were remain at Princeton. erased.” Most of Einstein had been 08-22-05 All this was likely embarrassing to converted to a pile of ashes that found the any residual synapses operating in their way to an undisclosed location.

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Bee Bee at the Circus “George Monson will take a final check who had a fine time racing and beat- in the mirror before going to work ing some of the fancier boats at Nepco ow and then we sample the from now on. Seems his trousers got Lake. “When motor trouble developed, work of “Bee Bee,” 1950s all twisted up in other apparel, the type however, the real status and rank came NDaily Tribune columnist Bill worn by women, the other a.m. George into play. There, standing and shout- Beckmann for embarrassing tidbits as wasn’t aware of the fact until he had ing directions and orders was Capt. popular with the populace fifty years paraded through the entire mill. He was (Queeg) Metcalf and there sat and ago as they are now. then informed the underclothing was paddled unranked seaman John. Talk Like when Joseph Liska Jr. picked showing. George turned every color about getting caught without a paddle: up the Sunday paper and found he was under the sun and retired to his office John was trying to propel the craft with supposed to be at a Clintonville concert for a quick change.” a 2-inch piece of plywood. The pair put at that very moment. Naturally, a mad Like William Proxmire at Rotary. He on quite a show, but it didn’t last long. dash ensued. had outlined the tax problems of the The boat has been sold.” Like when Emil “Al” Krumrei, work- state and headed down the home stretch Then there was Bee Bee and son at ing at the post office, picked up a box with questions from the floor. Someone the circus. addressed to 320 E. Grand Ave. “Where asked, “In the minute or so you have “It was a busy afternoon trying to do you suppose this goes?” he asked left could you tell us just what you keep the lad spotting the aerialists and co-workers. “There isn’t an address like would do to solve these problems?” acrobats while he kept his nose in the 320 E. Grand Ave.” As Proxmire opened his mouth, there 20-cent bag of peanuts. The clowns, Al was informed he was employed by came a loud blast over the intercom horses and more clowns performed and a firm, Uncle Sam’s postal department, speaker with a musical background. “If the climax, unannounced, rolled around whose address was 320 E. Grand Ave. I ever needed you, I need you now…” with three elephants going through Like when Jack Fritzsinger called Then there was young Steve, at the their paces. Then the man said, ‘Please Lawrence Carlson about a topic for Memorial Day parade, being looked use the exits at the front of the tent.’ Toastmasters. “Hello Beautiful. May after by his father. The two-year-old “Bee Bee Jr. looked at me with a I speak to that homely husband of was well behaved except he didn’t question in his eyes. I looked at my yours?” enjoy walking as much as his father watch and said, ‘Yap, guess that is it.’” “Beautiful” answered, “Oh! Well, thought he should. “Some time during As for the sideshows, “After explain- you must want the OTHER Lawrence the parade Steve took off a shoe and ing that the fire-eater really didn’t eat Carlson—his number is 1061.” evidently was more comfortable. When the fire, as almost anyone could plainly Like Mrs. Len Sanger, who “had bet- time came to go home, Steve’s father see from our vantage point, and that the ter wear track shoes next time she parks was more than upset to find his son sword-swallower did not swallow the her auto on a driveway incline” as she with one shoe on and one shoe off and sword with the handle as long as the did on 15th Ave. N. “Within seconds missing… blade and that he, my son, shouldn’t pet she was seen giving the driverless auto “Bet Chet Bell will put double knots the ferocious lion as one other lad had a chase down the drive and across the in the little lad’s shoestrings next time done, we ambled toward the auto and street. The race ended in a tie as the they go on an outing.” the trip home.” auto halted at the curb and a breathless Some funny stories, like about two Mrs. Sanger took over and reparked it.” old salts, Rounds Metcalf, the skipper, 08-29-05 “We understand,” said Bee Bee, and his one man crew, John Rodencal,

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1955 By the same formula, the increase Consolidated had hardly changed in in residents in five years for the other five years. There were 1,459 employ- s of fifty years ago, our River communities were as follows, with the ees at the Wisconsin Rapids Division, City was not just getting older; 1950 census figures in parentheses: a decrease of 18. The Biron Division Ait was getting better. Town of Grand Rapids, increase of employed 714 persons compared to 713 In just five years following 1950, 930 (4,141). in 1950. However, an increase of 57 what was then called the Tri-City area Port Edwards, 216 (1,336). was noted in executive and administra- (Rapids, Nekoosa and Port Edwards Nekoosa, 174 (2,352). tive personnel. with Biron and Grand Rapids also Biron, 87 (528). But additional employment was pro- included) had experienced a popula- Further reflecting community growth vided by several other manufacturers tion boom accompanied by a surge of in the five-year period,Tribune circu- headquartered here. The biggest factor new housing, according to the Daily lation rose from 7, 744 to 8,307. Of on the labor scene in the period was the Tribune. these, 6,823 were in Nekoosa, Port 1954 Consoweld Corp. plant that pro- In that five-year period, 942 new Edwards and Wisconsin Rapids. vided employment for 199 persons. homes had been erected, a Tribune Where were these added persons em- Consoweld, with ties to Consolidated, survey reported, by which they figured ployed, asked the Tribune? Two-thirds manufactured a laminated plastic-like a population increase of 2,826 for the weren’t employed at all. They were sheet for counter tops and similar ap- area, arrived at in the following way. school children and mothers, who then plications. The 1950 census had shown the five were not considered part of the work The impact of Consoweld’s growth political divisions of the Tri-City with a force. From 1950 to 1954, Rapids had was tempered by a corresponding drop combined population of 21,854. an increase of 557 children of school in employment at Consolidated’s Ah- Building inspectors and assessors age reflecting the post-war baby boom. dawagam Division, later called Paper- provided the Tribune with figures that Beyond that, major industries in board Products Division, from 370 to enumerated new homes erected in five the area “absorbed” an increase of an 212 as employees transferred from one years: estimated 400 or more employees in the Consolidated company to the another. Wisconsin Rapids, 473. past half-decade. Overall the Consolidated work force Grand Rapids, 310. E.P. Surprison, employment manager had increased by 81 in five years. Port Edwards, 72. of the Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co., Another company of major impor- Nekoosa, 58. reported that his company increased its tance here was stove maker Preway, Biron, 29. working force 23 per cent in the five- in 1955 rebuilding after a post-war In order to guess at the population in- year period, from 1,618 to 2,078. slump. Preway employed a high of 600 crease from 1950 to 1955, the Tribune The biggest single factor was a new persons in 1950, fluctuated with the multiplied by three the number of new paper machine, the company’s ninth, at Korean conflict and hovered at 500 in homes built on the basis of the 1950 the Nekoosa mill, directly or indirectly 1955. Preway closed its Rapids opera- census average of persons per house- adding more than 100 new jobs. Mill tion in 1987. hold of 3.48. employees at Nekoosa rose from 566 The population of the city of Wiscon- in 1950 to 762; at Port Edwards, from 09-05-05 sin Rapids had increased by an esti- 658 to 770. The total payroll was nearly mated 1,419. double that of 1950 at $10 million.

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Cranboree Canceled Cranboree, for it was a combination permitted “to surround the fate of the of all the other things too, which were 1955 event so long that an air of pes- ifty years ago, a rotten thing hap- considered in making the decision,” simism had taken hold of many who in pened. It put an end to an event said Ziegler. “But as things stand now, past years were numbered among the that glows like a bottle of fine F the Cranboree is still on the ‘unfair list’ event’s most ardent boosters.” Certain- cranberry wine in the reminiscences of of the AFM.” ly, the delay in organizing would have most residents over 55. It was an end to Martin Lipke, secretary and business made it a “lesser Cranboree.” the mythic Cranboree, canceled when agent of Musicians Local 610, said, The Tribune did not accept that the the local Chamber of Commerce board “We wrote letters to the Chamber of Cranboree was too ambitious for a of directors decided not to sponsor the Commerce on April 15 and again on community of our size; but “too many event again. “Due to the general lack of May 1 asking for a meeting to negoti- were too willing to let too few do all interest in some quarters, the financial ate, but so far have not had any word the work and bear all the expense.” burden which rests heavy upon certain from them. Maybe it’s because the Even worse were those who, “without people and upon firms who annually Chamber has not found a convenient contributing in any way, shape or man- have had to cover expenses incurred time to meet with us.” ner to the success of the Cranboree” in the celebration, and due to several Ziegler said the Chamber had not sought ways to personally profit from events large in scope and important to been told why the Cranboree was put the event, which “by its very nature our community in the immediate future, on the musicians’ list and had not been was a non-profit venture.” and other extenuating circumstances, it told what had to be negotiated. “The In the what’s-in-it-for-us category, was resolved to suspend the National gate to the door for settling this affair said the Tribune, was the local Musi- Cranboree for 1955,” revealed B.T. has always been open,” Lipke said. cians Union, “which helped to speed Ziegler, manager of the Chamber. He repeated that his union had not the demise of the event. We doubt that As a replacement, the Chamber board “blacklisted” the Cranboree, and that even the Musicians Union will feel any hoped that the opening of the new “blacklisted” was a term invented by sense of satisfaction in seeing the Cran- Jackson Street Bridge be given proper the Tribune. boree pass from the local scene. For recognition by a one-day celebration The Cranboree had been held for six it did provide employment for union with the possibility of a short histori- years, gaining national renown, accord- orchestras.” cal pageant. A centennial celebration ing to the same Tribune. It had attracted Faraway, in a more cran-happy vein, in Wood County for 1956 was also an estimated 60-80 thousand spectators Vice President Nixon was presented a referred to. on the day of the big parade. “There is cranberry pie in Washington D.C. by Only one person had volunteered a sense of genuine regret in Wisconsin Mrs. Lester Balthis, Oakdale, Wis., to be general chairman of the Cran- Rapids, as well as among the com- winner of the cranberry pie baking boree and that person was the only munity’s neighbors and friends far and contest held during the 1954 National one offering any outside help. But also near. It has, without a doubt, done more Cranboree. Nixon promised to share of concern were recent difficulties than any other single civic enterprise in it with his 7-year-old daughter, Tricia, between the Chamber and Local 610 modern times to put Wisconsin Rapids because she liked cherry pie and he of the American Federation of Musi- ‘on the map.’” thought she’d be similarly delighted cians, apparently one of the extenuat- Perhaps it was the only logical deci- with a cranberry pie. ing circumstances. “I couldn’t say that sion under the circumstances, agreed it was the factor for suspending the the Tribune. “Uncertainty” had been 09-12-05

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Hospital 1955 hospitals.” the basis of our best information, the Precious questioned whether his de- overall charges at Riverview are not out ates were just too high, more partment could justify paying “$10,000 of line for a hospital of this character than the welfare system could per year more than we would have to today. The hospital should have the Rafford. And if other hospitals pay if we secured hospitalization else- full support of every one of you (board offered a better deal, it was time to take where.” members) and it would seem most ill- that option. However, Precious said, “We freely becoming for Wood County to take any So it was that Wood County public admit that by nature of the hospitals in- action withdrawing support from this welfare Director Harry Precious threat- volved the rate should be higher locally needy institution.” ened to discontinue sending clients than either at Marshfield or Stevens The letter deplored any attempt to to Riverview Hospital unless a rate Point.” The hospitals in those cities “shop around” in an effort to get lower reduction was offered—50 years ago, were operated and supported by the rates. in 1955. Precious said he would ask Catholic Church. Abel reported to the County board in the County Board for permission to Precious said he would withdraw July 1955 that efforts by himself and send local welfare recipients to Saint patients from Riverview on June 1 if other Wisconsin Rapids area supervi- Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, St. Mi- given County board sanction for the sors to arbitrate the fee schedule differ- chael’s in Stevens Point or the Univer- transfers, adding, “There’s no person ences had failed. sity Hospital in Madison. who wants this thing settled more than Precious said his survey showed that But B.C. Brazeau, chairman of the I do.” daily room charges at the local hospital board at Riverview, said the Wiscon- Just when it appeared that the County were out of line. It’s no wonder that sin Rapids hospital did not believe Board would give its go-ahead to send he and others in charge of the purse it “should furnish service at a loss to welfare patients to Point and Marsh- strings were upset. After all, Riverview that department.” He said the board’s field, county Supervisor Frank Abel hospital billed patients (or the county) position was the same as it had been of Wisconsin Rapids said he would $11.50 for a bed in a ward, $13.50 five years earlier when Precious also attempt to negotiate a settlement. Abel for a semi-private room or $16.50 for had asked for a special rate and was said the issue put South Wood County a private room, plus some additional turned down. “Since this hospital supervisors in a “peculiar situation” charges. receives private donations to support because of the potential effect on both More than $10 for one night! There its operation,” Brazeau said, “we do doctors and the hospital that removal of was a limit to what the taxpayers could not feel we should redonate the money welfare patients to other communities bear. to the welfare department.” Riverview would have. “I still believe this matter was almost unique in the state in that can be threshed out so it will be favor- 09-19-05 it operated on a self-sustaining basis, able to both parties.” Brazeau said. In a mimeographed letter circulated Precious most recently had sought a among the county supervisors, a special rate adjustment in a March letter to Dr. committee of the hospital board had J.K. Goodrich, hospital administrator. asserted that “the fees at Riverview In it, he presented a survey of 108 state Hospital will remain as they are for the hospitals, concluding that the rate here indefinite future and that no discounts “exceeds the rate charged by all other will be allowed in any situation. On 134 River City Memoirs Ghost

Grove of Trees gatroyd, then of 440 Two Mile Ave. Principal Budahl lived around the God made for us the tree, corner on Sampson Street from my 439 long time ago in a faraway land, A wondrous thing it be, Two Mile Avenue home. When he gave a gigantic statue of Ozyman- Standing here for us to see a talk at the local library years later, he Adias, “king of kings,” called out A blessing there for you and me. said he was proud of encouraging Sand from an inscription on its base, “Look The post was painted by Paul’s Hill reprobates; but it was apparent he on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” schoolmate, Gerry Irwin, of Airport didn’t know me from Pee Wee Peck- Later, according to the poem by Percy Avenue. ham. Shelley, the same statue, now a “colos- Now one of the Wisconsin Rapids When he was my 8th grade basketball sal wreck,” lay broken and half-buried district’s oldest schools, Grove was coach, Ray Lecy promised that, though in the shifting sands of time. Ozyman- still wet behind the ears when Paul and I was short, some day I would be taller dias, king of kings, and his aspirations Gerry and the other pupils, armed with than Harlan Kramer, which didn’t hap- had run up against mutability. spades and axes, cleared underbrush pen, and taller than Ray, which did. That pretty much sums up the lessons and planted the first stand of ever- Lecy also chose me to accompany of history. greens. classmate Pat Splitt to the courthouse On Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2005, an An April 1955 Daily Tribune counted for a special day of cigar smoke. Later, impish reader asked the Daily Tribune 5,000 3-year-old Norway pines. Fu- as principal of East Jr. High, he invited what happened to the trees by Grove ture classes were expected to add to me to join his faculty, though I had no Elementary School on the corner of the total until the available portion of training in that direction. Grove Avenue and Port Street. the school’s 15 acres had been fully Thanks, Mr. Lecy. Officials told theTribune that, as planted. Paul Murgatroyd had been my friend some trees had become diseased, Supervising the planting were Palmer and mentor as I grew up across the branches might fall on students pass- Budahl, principal of Grove school, and street from him. He and his family were ing beneath. Brush under the dying Ray Lecy, 8th grade instructor. Budahl among the best of neighbors. trees also made it difficult to observe said the forest would be used as a con- Thanks again to the Murgatroyds. students during recesses. To save the servation classroom in which studies of Seems like the school forest post imperiled pupils, the trees were cut and the trees and soil would be made as the painter Gerry Irwin became a drummer sold for pulp. The cash was used to plantation grew. in a rock and roll band. When I first tip- remove the stumps and “re-seed” the If future plantings were as large as toed into the Grove school band room area. A few specimen pines worth sav- the one contributed by the class of as would-be trumpeter, he was kind to ing were left in testimony to the ambi- ’55, said the Tribune, the school forest me. tions of members of the Grove 8th grade would be completed in four years. Thanks, Gerry. graduating class of 1955. In 1954-55, I was a fourth grader at They say that, in the all-too-sunny Fifty years ago last April, they put Grove’s partner, Two Mile school. The paths of the Grove, gratitude lasts lon- the finishing touches on a corner post next year, as a proud Grove School ger than trees. that identified theGrove and Two Mile Pirate, I probably added a few seed- School Forest and listed the class roll lings on Arbor Day. I know I thought 09-26-05 of 47 students. The post also bore an fondly of that forest a few times over original poem by 8th-grader Paul Mur- the years.

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Mel Consolidated was kind of a family father gave me the greatest inheritance company.” a man can give a son, a good name and his is Mel Laird.” Mel’s father was Melvin R. Laird Sr. a fine reputation. I was 23 years old, Hello! Not the first person I “The R is for Robert, same as mine; still in my Navy uniform as a lieuten- expected to hear from on a mun- I’m a junior.” ant, junior grade, when the people of T The elder Laird was born on a farm Wood County, Clark County and Taylor dane Memoirs morning—an eminent son of central Wisconsin but just as at Maysville, Illinois, worked his way County elected me to the state senate down-to-earth as ever. Long associated through Illinois College, then attended on the reputation of my father.” with Marshfield, Laird had been the Princeton Theological Seminary where Laird also said he owes a lot to Helen predecessor, beginning in 1952, of cur- one of his professors was Woodrow Connor Laird. “Mother was very ac- rent office-holder, Dave Obey, as “our” Wilson. tive, a great lady. She was first woman Congressman. Laird Sr. came to Marshfield as a president of the school board in Marsh- In 1969, Laird was named Secretary young Presbyterian minister. After field, president of the Marshfield library of Defense by President Richard M. chaplain service in World War I, he as- board and a member of the board of Nixon. His challenge was to manage sumed the pulpit at Westminster Pres- regents of the University of Wisconsin, a dignified exit fromViet Nam. Now byterian church in Omaha, Neb. and Madison, for nine years. She was on a senior editor at Readers Digest, he married former Marshfield parishioner the state library commission and head continues to have a major impact here Helen Connor. of the 7th district Federation of Wom- through the Melvin R. Laird Center at That’s how Mel Jr. came to be born en’s Clubs. Marshfield Clinic. in Omaha, Sept. 1, 1922. After a year, “There couldn’t have been a better It was Nov. 8, 2004, that Laird tele- the Lairds moved back to Marshfield. relationship with my mother. After my phoned from Florida to discuss his “The records show I checked into the father died, I spent a lot of time with roots here. His mother, Helen, was born Marshfield Clinic as a young baby in her. We took the train all the way across in Wisconsin Rapids, Laird said, not- December of ’23,” Laird said. Canada and stopped at Banff and Lake ing that the community was then split Back in “Hub City,” Laird Sr. served Louise and made that about a three- between Grand Rapids and Centralia. as secretary of the Connor wood prod- and-a-half week trip and got out to In 1891, the prospective parents ucts company. His father had retired as Victoria in British Columbia. We had of Laird’s mother, W.D. and Huldah a minister, said Laird, but he filled in many trips like that. MaryBelle “Mame” Connor, lived in at Wausau, Stevens Point and Wiscon- “When I was Secretary of Defense, I Auburndale but took the train to Rapids sin Rapids. He also became involved used to call her almost every day or she for the birth because Dr. George F. Wit- in politics becoming chairman of the would call me, giving me advice. She ter, Mame’s father, practiced medicine Wood County board and elected to always gave me a lot of advice when I here. the state senate in 1940, serving to his was in Congress too. Sometimes I took Laird said that, through the Witters, death in 1946. “He was a fine father, a it, sometimes I didn’t but it was nice to he is related to the Mead family of Wis- fine man, a fine leader, said Laird. “He have her there.” consin Rapids. organized the firstBoy Scout troop “Of course I’ve done a lot of things in Marshfield. He was interested in 10-03-05 for the Consolidated. It’s no longer young people, and he was interested owned by the Meads, which is too bad. in his family. We were very close. My

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Tale of Two Cities cycled to Babcock, where he found a mercial activity, with all new buildings “pleasant village,” that did its best to and chain fast food places.” est of times, worst of times. Age help him. It also has, in Pratt’s experience, lo- of wisdom, it was the age of fol- Inez Regalia, whom Pratt met at the cals as accommodating as those in Bab- ly. Everything before us, noth- Babcock post office, invited him to her cock. B house. She served cranberry cocktail When Pratt took refuge from a down- ing before us; we were going direct to Heaven, we were going direct to Hell. In and cookies while he used her phone to pour at the Food Tree convenience store, short, it was now! call Phillip McKeel. a Rudolph resident, originally headed Those sentiments were contained in McKeel, Remington town chairman, the opposite direction, offered a ride to an old book club version of “The Tale of already had assisted by mail and now McMillan Memorial Library, which was Two Cities” by Charles Dickens that I drove Pratt to a location McKeel guessed to become a home away from home. found at “Joe’s,” a.k.a. From the Ground was the old Smith homestead. “It’s a big library with a lot of infor- Up coffee house. The book had been Lyle Scott, Babcock cemetery care- mation and easy access. The staff is very shelved next to the same chair I sat in taker, located Patrick Smith’s grave, helpful. last week. But I wasn’t reading; I was near that of the eponymous H. W. Rem- “There’s a very good local history talking with one of those out-of-state ington. area with census records and genealogy tourists the multifarious chambers of Jim Walker, a Babcock resident, information I can’t access easily in Cali- commerce seek to commandeer. drove Pratt to the Seneca Road poor fornia.” An ardent bicyclist, Robert Pratt, 60, farm cemetery in search of Pratt’s great- In the back room of Joe’s, Pratt and I of Oakland, Calif., had taken a plane great-grandmother’s grave. viewed a mural-sized panorama of Oak- to Minneapolis, from which he ped- Later, with prospects of a late-night land’s sister city, San Francisco. “The aled here, arriving after dark and in the bicycle trek across the cranberry moors Bay area is busy with big city problems,” rain. During this first visit to Wiscon- back to Rapids, Pratt accepted an offer Pratt said. “There’s a lot of activity, a sin, Pratt hoped to learn more about his of lodging upstairs in the Frost Watch lot of stimulation that possibly doesn’t forebears, enabling him to report back to tavern. exist here. People are leery of strangers his 94-year-old mother, who had related The following day, he visited a Bab- because of the possibility of crime. family stories she had heard of the Irish cock restaurant and met more good- “The pace of life here is slower. Peo- fold at Babcock. hearted Babcockers before returning ple are more relaxed; it’s less hectic.” Among those early settlers were here. As we approached the front exit of Pratt’s great-great-grandmother, Mary Pratt said he had pictured Rapids as the coffee house, an enlarged black- Ann Smith, married to Anthony Hurst. a quaint and sleepy mediapolis “and it’s and-white photo received our attention. The Hursts had one child. Pratt’s not.” “That is what I expected,” said Pratt. grandmother, Helen “Nellie” Hurst (lat- “I was hoping for more of a walkable The shot of the Wisconsin Rapids er Fitzpatrick), born in 1874. downtown with cafes and stores; but a downtown had been reproduced from a After a divorce, the great-grandmoth- lot of that’s evidently gone, although recent cover of the local history maga- er, Mary Smith Hurst, married John Sul- we’re sitting here in a nice little café zine, Artifacts. It had been taken by Tri- livan and with him had a son, Arthur, and talking. bune photographer Don Krohn in 1950. three daughters, whose married names “Rapids is an active community and were Gunning, Card and Lesarge. it’s prospered and it’s grown. It’s got 10-10-05 Upon arrival here, Pratt immediately the Eighth Street strip mall, full of com-

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Laird in Marshfield and grade school, she’d have four or “We always tried to get some kind of five boys, and four or five girls in. She a job in the summer. It kept you busy Part Two really did a fine job of entertaining and and you had a little spending money. I showing us some of the fine things of worked at the cheese factory on Vine t happened at the big cannery in life.” Street in Marshfield. I was one of the Marshfield. Call it the Pea Wagon Laird also remembered former Rapids best paraffiners of cheese that you’ve Incident. I resident and “Memoirs” subject, Wally ever seen. “I was young,” recalled Mel Laird. Ives, the popular trumpeter. “Wally “I worked pulling plywood at Rod- “Ellen Roddis and I were out there and must have been two years behind me dis plywood plant in the summertime. we liked to steal some peas, take ’em in school. His father was mayor of But that cheese work was the toughest off the wagon as it went by, a tractor Marshfield.” Laird said he went to a lot job. It was hot over that paraffin. You pulling a big wagon full; so we were of Wally’s gigs. “He would put in plugs dipped that big cheese. You’d have to stealing pea vines and we would sit for me when I was running for office.” take ’em out and get ’em ready for stor- down and eat ’em and it was kind of Laird didn’t participate in high school age. I did that one whole summer.” fun. I ran out from behind the wagon sports much because of the Pea Wagon Laird said he told his father, Melvin and bang, I got hit and it ran right over Incident, he said. “I had a knee cap that R. Laird Sr., a teetotaler and former my left leg and most of my right leg but was in two pieces so I had a little prob- pastor, about the first time he tried a the one that got damaged was the left.” lem with that. I tried to play basketball beer. That was the testimony of former but I was never any good.” Rev. Laird said, “I’d rather you not Congressman and U.S. Secretary of A favorite hangout for Laird and his but that’s a decision you’ll have to Defense Melvin R. Laird, who as a pals was the clothing store owned by make in your life and I wouldn’t tell mostly-law abiding lad, called Marsh- the father of Jack McDonald: “Gag’s” you that you couldn’t do it.” field home. or “Jack’s.” “It had a good back room “I had to tell him,” said Laird Jr. “We Laird said the Roddis family and his where we used to do all our algebra and had a great relationship.” family spent a lot of time together. His geometry and trigonometry and stuff. Another item of minor mischief in- uncle, Gordon Connor, married “the We used to play cards back there. It volved playing golf with Bill Copps on oldest Roddis girl.” was right next to Wayne’s drug store a school day when the district super- Laird was also well-acquainted with that had a nice soda fountain in it. Once intendent drove by. “Our dads didn’t my wife’s mother, then named Kathryn we got our licenses, we drove up and give us as much hell as the principal Kenney. He said she was a smart and down the street. did. They just kind of reprimanded us, attractive girl. Kathryn’s father, Bill “I had a good church program at the told us they were disappointed and they Kenney, sold Laird his first life insur- Presbyterian church there which I was hoped we wouldn’t do it again.” ance policy. “Bill was an insurance active in. I was active in the YMCA salesman for New York Life. And he camp in Boulder Junction. I was up 10-17-05 was very active in the American Le- there in the summer quite a bit. I was a gion. He was a great supporter of mine counselor at Manitowish one summer, when I came back to run for office. when I was in high school. “Kathryn’s mother was a straight- “I was in the Boy Scouts. My dad laced person. She liked to give tea organized the first troop in Marshfield parties. When we were in high school in 1908. 138 River City Memoirs Ghost

Hank They had both seen an article in the his power supply. “You see, a Maytag, Daily Tribune about Lindstrom, who you can’t speed ’em up or slow ’em hat Hank sees first is a shock had fled to Canada to avoid service in down. There’s a governor on the fly- of straw glowing in the sun. World War I and had recently returned wheel.” WImagine, when he realizes from an extended stay in the woods. After the race, Reuben said, “I think it’s the massive hair of a guy on his “He lived on Kronstedt road off of F. I need a stogie and we better hoist a knees. When we drove over there, the drive- beer.” “I don’t think we better go any clos- way was all mud. So we had to stop at So the three lads went to Broecker’s er,” Hank’s pal Pete says. “He might be the road.” tavern in Arpin. Reuben had a few a wild man. What Reuben brought out to show coins in his pocket, given to him by his “I ain’t scared,” says Hank, always Hank and Pete was a little train with sister, “the head nurse or something” at ready for a dare. fins and wheels that spun, made of tin Riverview hospital. Then the figure,Reuben, stands up cans. When Reuben set the device on “He used to come over to Nieman’s tall, his mangy head of hair towering a plank, the wind blew and the train to see me when I worked there,” said over Hank like a palm tree. started going all by itself. Reuben had Hank. “He told me that when he was in “I heard you invented some things.” something similar made out of pizza Canada, him and his brother lived in a “Ya,” Reuben says, already friendly. plates that pulled him and his bicycle cave and ate berries and rabbits.” “I can go in and get ’em.” along too, Hank learned. “Reuben stopped in at Nieman’s one That’s how Hank’s story begins and Reuben asked Hank and Pete where time. Herb Nieman says, ‘you guys go none of my former mechanics can tell they lived and they said “by Arpin.” over by that sign.’ He wanted a picture. one better than Henry Nehring, 81, One day soon after the first meeting, “On the sign, it said, ‘The only dif- 1320 Apple St. Likewise, no resident of Reuben showed up on a little cart. ference is the money you save.’ See, it River City has left a more picturesque “It had four wheels and two more be- was cut-rate gas. impression than Hank’s comrade, “Old hind. When he worked a stick, it lifted “Reuben had long hair and Herb had Reuben” Lindstrom. up the two back wheels to go ahead. that camera that developed the picture As previously described here, Lind- Then two more wheels behind would right away. He took one of Reuben that strom made an impression on a couple drop down and that was reverse. With a he had laying on the desk a long time. of generations as a proto-hippie long- Briggs & Stratton motor, it was some- “He said, ‘Reuben, why don’t you hair who traveled from rural Vesper to thing like a go-cart.” give Hank a hug?’ Rapids via a bicycle equipped to ride For himself, Hank had an old 50-cent “But he was so lousy,” Hank said, the railroad line. motorcycle frame fixed up with a May- these many years later, “I didn’t want to By way of introducing the three-way tag washing machine motor. He had stand too close.” race that would go down in history, found Pete another cycle frame out by Hank introduced his buddy, “Pete “Orbundale” for a dollar or so. “I give 10-24-05 Trummer, a Switzer from Nekoosa, him one of my wheels to put in back so who lived on Powers Bluff at one time; he could put a pulley on that; then he they built a farm where we lived.” put that Briggs & Stratton in there.” When Hank proposed an excursion The results were soon in coming. Pete to Fischer’s Cycle in Rapids, Pete said, won the race, Reuben came in second “I’ll ride along.” and Hank came in last. He blames it on

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No Success Like Failure wildlife specialists wanted the land to be Here, Mead said the late L.M. Alexan- acquired by the state for a public hunt- der of Port Edwards, then president of ll good Tribune readers know ing and fishing grounds. Two Town of Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co., “planted about the new Stanton W. Mead Green Valley supervisors testified the the idea,” in the early 1920s, as the two AEducation and Visitor center at reservoir would destroy about 15 farms returned from a meeting of the Wiscon- the Mead Wildlife area north of Milla- and harm 18 others and that “a stink hole sin Valley Improvement Co. at Wausau. dore. They may not recall that it results and mosquito nest is likely to develop” “Mr. Alexander told me that the idea of from a remarkable failure, a dream of near the township school. a reservoir on the Little Eau Pleine had Stanton Mead’s father that dried up like A school teacher at Carey School in been passed on to him some years be- a raisin in the sun. Green Valley said the reservoir would fore by his father-in-law, John Edwards, In autumn 1955, the big Wisconsin harm the health of her pupils but upon the founder of what is now Nekoosa- Valley Improvement Co.’s “George cross-examination by Improvement Co. Edwards Paper Co.” Mead reservoir” on the Little Eau Pleine lawyer Richard S. Brazeau, admitted, “Some 10 years later,” said the Tri- river was still on track. according to the Tribune, that the school bune, “came an opportunity to do some- An earthen dam almost three miles was located near a swamp and no at- thing about it.” long would submerge 27,000 acres along tempt had been made to drain it. When, in the early 1930s, the Dancy the Little Eau Pleine. The project was so Four town chairmen testified that their Drainage District went bankrupt, Mead big it would equal the capacity of the boards had approved the contract for re- purchased bonds from a Milwaukee other 21 reservoirs operated by Wiscon- location or abandonment of roads. Testi- bank, giving his company title to most sin Valley Improvement Co. along the mony was also presented that Knowlton of the land to be inundated. Consolidat- Wisconsin river. Eighteen miles long, township, Marathon county, had benefit- ed would turn over the entire holdings the impoundment would be second in ed by construction of the Improvement to the Improvement Co. when the last size only to Lake Winnebago within the Co.’s Du Bay dam, mainly through an purchases made. state. increase in utility taxes collected. “This reservoir and our new bridge are Lake “Mead” would hold high water After hearing this testimony and oth- two of the biggest things that have hap- during spring floods and be let down ers, the Commission approved the proj- pened around here in a long, long time. during drier periods to maintain the flow ect expected to begin before the first of The reservoir is going to be a boon for at generating plants downstream. About the following year and be completed in the entire valley,” Mead said. half the contents would come from the the spring of 1958. The Tribune called The Tribune called it “mighty welcome Little Eau Pleine and the other half from the “30-year” dream, “a long step nearer news.” The public-spirited attitude of the excess flow pumped from theWisconsin fulfillment as a result of approval given Improvement Co. contrasted with that River. No power plant was planned. Af- by the Public Service Commission.” of some non-resident sportsmen who fected would be the towns of Green Val- The dream was that of George W. fought the reservoir “without thought ley and Bergen in Marathon county, Au- Mead, retired Wisconsin Rapids indus- for the interests of the people of this area burndale and Milladore in Wood county trialist, in whose honor the reservoir who are dependent on other things than and Eau Pleine in Portage county. would be named and with whom visited hunting for their livelihood.” Opposition surfaced consistently. At a Tribune reporter at Mead’s picturesque an August 1955 Public Service Com- home on Belle Isle, just south of down- 10-31-05 mission hearing, some conservation and town Rapids.

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Milwaukee and Vine on the east. Elm, High, Lincoln, Wis- Lincoln to Cleveland. consin, Franklin, Main, Oak and Front South of West Grand, the single change hey say a stranger getting off the streets on each side of the river. was Oak Street to Johnson Street. Also train here in 1905 needed a guide, Four streets on the west side had two on the west side, streets running north Ta camping outfit and sincere hope sections, each with different names. and south became “avenues.” in his destiny to find a residence in what Front Street on the east ran into Water Front became First and, traveling west, was then the city of Grand Rapids. Street on one end and into Center Street in order, disappeared Main, French, Ma- An undated Tribune clipping loaned at the other. There was College Street ple, Spruce and Park. The new arrange- by Gale Jackson, 5561 Victorian Way, and no college. ment eliminated the combined Giddings shows how order had to be imposed on The city council had determined in and Pine streets, which became Seventh chaos. 1902 that streets on the two sides bear- Avenue. Originally, many thoroughfares were ing the same names would add “east” or Seward and Factory became Eighth unnamed paths following the river’s “west.” In 1905, the common council Avenue; Banks and Witter, Ninth Av- course. With the platting of streets, under mayor L. M. Nash went further. enue; Webster and Daly, Tenth Avenue. lanes, boulevards and avenues, names Credited with the plan was George M. Continuing west, “Campson” (Samp- were needed. Inspiration came in many Hill, a west side alderman and president son ?), Lyon, Meads (Mead?), Sherman, forms: patriotic gestures to politicians of the council. Hill had traveled to Den- Dewey, Schley, Houston, Park Avenue, and military figures; descriptors of geo- ver where roadways on one side of the Cottage Grove, La Grange, Central and graphical and municipal features; hon- city were called “streets” and on the oth- Daly became Eleventh to Twentieth av- oraria for the men who first platted the er side, “avenues.” In Rapids, the river enues. sections; and copies of famous metro- formed a natural dividing line, making On the east side, Front and Water com- politan streets. the plan even more apt. bined into First Street. Front and Center Here, we had Cranberry Street, which The same local resolution split each streets became Second Street. was to become West Grand Avenue,. side of the river between north and south. Main, High, Sycamore, Court House, Although the west side (Centralia) and The dividing lines were Oak Street on Law, College, Milwaukee, Broadway, east side (Grand Rapids) had been joined the east and newly-dubbed Grand Av- Madison, Seneca, Lincoln, Chestnut, into Grand Rapids five years earlier, the enue on the west. Hazel, Rablin and Portage. These street street names hadn’t been changed. There On the east side, the name Vine Street names were changed to numbers as the were no numbers on buildings in an age had been changed to Grand Avenue “a reorganization continued through Six- when everybody knew everybody else’s dozen years ago” from the date of the teenth Street. business. article, when the route east from the As orderly as the new arrangement With the delivery of US mail directly bridge had been extended up the hill (at seemed, it didn’t mean a stranger arriv- to residents’ doors arose a need for con- present McMillan library). ing in town a century later wouldn’t take sistent addressing, despite the inability Changes that were made to west side a while to figure out that the “avenues” of west side and east side to see eye to streets: are on the west side and the “streets” on eye. Some of the duplicate names from Cranberry Street changed to Grand the east, a fact some residents have yet 1905: Avenue. to learn. Milwaukee Avenue and Milwaukee Traveling north from West Grand, Street on the east side. Park Avenue and Franklin changed to Roosevelt; Wis- 11-07-05 Park Street on the west and Park Street consin to McKinley; Elm to Van Buren;

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Imagineer simple sketch of a rabbit. “He handed military service during the Korean con- me the paper and said I should draw flict. He was trained in California and ny day was a good day for me to one. So I started drawing it and I was Florida, before being sent to Anchorage, draw,” he said. drawing it upside down; then I turned it Alaska. “I loved it,” he said, having ad- A Any time, any place. around and looked at it, bingo!” opted the attitude, “This is adventure.” Because he is an illustrator, designer, Grim Natwick, known best for creat- From 1952-56, Matthews, then mar- artist, cartoonist, sculptor, architect, his- ing the animated figure Betty Boop, in- ried, attended the University of Wiscon- torian, steamboat builder, “you name spired Matthews to further pursue his sin on the “GI bill.” He moved back to it.” He is an “imagineer,” the combina- talent. During a visit of Natwick’s to Rapids as a freelancer before being hired tion engineer and visionary valued by Rapids, “my grandmother introduced by General Electric in Schenectady, Walt Disney and company. “Anything me to him,” Matthews said. “I was very N.Y., at a time when Ronald Reagan you can think of; I’ve got a dozen things young at the time.” was company spokesperson. I’ve done in my life.” Through the Daily Tribune Seckatary Besides the Seckatary Hawkins con- He is Gerald Matthews, now at 420 Hawkins feature series, Matthews had tests, Matthews had other contacts with Piltz Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids, after come to public attention. “Any time the Daily Tribune. He helped his father a career in California, Florida and the there was a drawing contest in the news- with newspaper deliveries, not so bad world, in which he designed and drew paper I’d always do something.” except in winter and when dodging dan- for theme parks, golf courses, gardens, Natwick, aware of the young prod- gerous dogs. restaurants, Disney World, Tokyo Dis- igy, visited Howe school. “He came at Hank Silka, of the Tribune circula- neyland. Christmas time. Of course, I ended up tion department, also managed Skyway, Matthews also focused his talents on with the surprise that he was going to be a ballroom/skating rink near the com- our own River City, for which he envi- there. The art teacher put me on one end munity’s airport on First Street South. sioned a larger-than-life raftsman sculp- of the stage and he was on the other. Matthews, on leave from the military ture for the riverbank. “It would give “So I had a little, ‘Who’s the fastest in 1949, recalls an evening at Skyway. credit to the logger and the person of the with a sketch?’ and I did pretty well and “The minute I walked in the place, ten period,” he said. he was delighted.” or twelve kids that knew me crowded For which he designed a walking Much later, the two met again in Cali- around. bridge across the Wisconsin River. And fornia. Natwick was in his last days and “She was clear down the line some- for which he redesigned the downtown Matthews was able to take him out to where. She kept giving me a big smile.” to include an elaborate cultural center. “I dinner. “She” was Marilyn Westfall, then a se- laid it all out for them but nothing came Matthews said he was “well used” nior in high school. of it,” he said. during his days at Howe school and at “Once the music was going again,” Matthews, born in 1928, continues Lincoln high school, where he drew a Matthews said, “I kind of walked away to generate creativity. Among his cur- lot of posters. and asked her to dance.” rent projects is illustrating a children’s During World War II, the Matthews They danced and, according to calcu- book. family moved to a farm. He said he rode lations, have been married now about 55 He traces his graphic abilities to a the bus for a while; then went to a little years. childhood incident. As the toddler Ger- country school house to “get my class- ry sat in his high chair after a meal, he es.” 11-14-05 watched his father, James, execute a After high school, Matthews entered 142 River City Memoirs Ghost

Biron News thy Brandt, Fayth Atwood and Betty Cumberland, Walter DeKarske and Gus Grosklaus, associate editors. Beatz down in the Store Room playing here wasn’t anybody immune “We can serve them best by send- Sheephead.” to the threat of that world. We ing them messages from home which Among activities reported from the Twere worried here in Wiscon- are laden with the love and devotion Biron Community Hall were bowling, sin Rapids and Biron about the enemy we hold for each one of them, whether basketball, bingo, pot luck suppers, coming.” they are related by blood ties to our community singing, speeches, dancing, So recalled Jack Kahoun, now secure members or not,” said the News. “Each cards and a costumed band that includ- in his Lincoln street home across from Biron boy is, after all, ‘our boy’ in the ed Warren Beadle and Phil Nobles. the high school he attended during service no matter what his name.” A 1943 issue said, “Biron is almost World War II. “Hitler was bombing Further, the News hoped to “fill the overrun with Rapids kids…They come England; the next thing was to take great yearning of the Biron boys, locat- up just about every Friday night to over England.” A couple weeks after ed in the four corners of the earth, for dance or else to see the various girl his 1944 graduation, Kahoun joined the more and yet more news from the home friends they have that reside in our big military effort to put an end to Hitler’s town, which is so solidly behind them town.” To further the war-conservation burgeoning holocaust. in their great contribution to the holy effort, at least 8,000 containers of fruit Kahoun had enjoyed early life in and cause for which they are fighting.” In a and vegetables were canned at the hall. around Biron, which he knew well. similar vein, Earl Otto wrote: “We let Also busy were the Biron swimming He delivered milk on his bicycle and them know in a very pleasing manner pool, the Biron store and “Joe’s” where served as a lifeguard in the swimming that this is ‘our’ war, not theirs alone… “Nellie” served up her famous “Bar. B. pool, “when it was down below and we all doing something to get Hitler’s hide. Q.” got our water from the cranberry creek We’re going to get him and Tojo all Of the newsletter, Daily Tribune edi- that goes underneath.” stuck up with war stamps, all bound tor, father of a soldier and Biron cran- To get to Lincoln high school, he ei- ’round with war bonds. We’ve told our berry marsh owner, William F. Huff- ther walked or took the Biron bus “for boys all this and we’ve told them that man, wrote, “As one newspaper editor a nickel.” we will keep them supplied with news, to another, you’re doing a bang-up job Biron had a small village atmosphere, smokes, cookies, jokes, anything to of keeping Biron’s men in service hep said Kahoun. It also had a strong sense help get the axis goats.” to what’s what in the old home town. In of patriotism. Consequently, when Most issues of the News used purple fact, so commendable are your efforts World War II came and young people ink, ditto machine style. Two issues that the Biron News has been made began leaving for service, the village were printed professionally at the Daily required reading for members of the formed the Biron War Service Club (of Tribune. staff of the Wisconsin Rapids Daily which Kahoun’s father was president). One version of “Mill Notes” by Tribune.” Wrapping bandages and assembling Granny Weaver counted 95 boys gone packages were popular activities. But to soldiering with more to be leaving 11-21-05 perhaps most important was “Biron soon: Eddie Haydock, Lawrence Koh- News,” a correspondence that equally nen, Eddie Molepski, “Sam” Bodette informed service-folk, almost all male, and Paul Gross. and villagers at home. The staff consist- Meanwhile, “As of old, any noon ed of Eudora Beadle, editor, and Doro- hour you will find Fred Vidal, Geo.

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Kahoun returned to his base Christmas day. movies, delivering mail, pilot on trans- “We saw him bowling one night at the port planes and a parachute jumper.” iron News, April 1943: Robert hall, but promised not to tell the score. April: In Bob’s words, “After the war Kahoun finishes basic train- Stoney and Don Ellis had a good old I would like to stay home for some time Bing and moves on to advanced conflab down at the Sugar Bowl until to give us both a rest, you from wor- training. After five jumps from a plane, the wee hours one night. Paratrooper rying about me and me to really enjoy he will be a full-fledged paratrooper. vs. Pilot! Sandwiches, cokes, and the things we are working for now, like May: Robert enjoys a ten-day fur- fudge sundaes, served by the Greek sitting in the living room and talking lough home before being sent to Camp himself, helped lubricate the conversa- with the family, listening to the radio, Mackall, N.C., near Ft. Bragg. tion. Stoney had us all sampling his K playing records, getting bread fresh out June: Robert’s brother, Jack, is to be rations.” of the oven, raiding the refrigerator like the life guard at the Biron swimming “Did you hear about Jack Kahoun I did so much and was so good at. pool, “so you know where all the girls losing his head on the guillotine? A “It is these things that stand out most will be this summer.” magician visited school and offered to in my mind (and almost everyone else “Jack Kahoun deserves much praise show how the little apparatus worked. that I know) and will be like heaven to for his progress in music the past year. He cut a head of cabbage in two with it return to.” Now he is attending the Music Clinic and then asked for volunteers. Six boys Jack? He has a part in the senior class at the University of Wisconsin. For all went up on the stage and Jack was the play. we know, he may be a future Harry victim.” June: Jack arrives in Milwaukee for James.” February: Bob is somewhere in Eng- induction. “During his absences they had five land. July: Biron is “shocked and sad- different life guards! They couldn’t find March: Prophecy Comes True. From dened” on July 6 when word comes a regular.” History of the 1937 9th grade class. that “one of our own boys, Pfc. Robert August: Robert sends a photo of “Robert Kahoun develops a very Kahoun, had been called upon to make himself hanging 12 feet off the ground enthusiastic interest in airplanes and the Supreme sacrifice on June 19, in from a tree in North Carolina. He aviation which we hope may aspire him Normandy.” says he slipped out of harness, hung to bring the school some aerial honors Another letter is received from on to the bottom of the parachute and within the next twenty-five years.” France on July 6. It’s from Robert. dropped to the ground. Bob had climbed to the top of a silo “Try to forget this thing and before you Meanwhile, Jack painted the inside of with an umbrella for a parachute but, know it I will be back home again. I the boy’s bathhouse and moved on to finding the air cool, the wind strong, worry more about how you feel than working for the village. and the altitude high, “he frantically anything else…God bless you all and September: Biron Honor Roll. Julius grabbed the ladder and climbed back keep you safe and well for my return.” Rude, Jr. F 2/c USN – Gold Star. First down to good old mother earth, feeling Jack gets the news at Fort Bragg, WWII death from the Biron area. that perhaps he had better wait until he N.C., where he is studying radio com- October: Jack is elected president of could afford to buy a good parachute munication. Like his brother, he is the Lincoln high school senior class. before he did much experimenting.” a soldier. Unlike his brother, he will He had been treasurer of the junior The prophecy said he would be a first survive the war. class. “He really advances, doesn’t he?” Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corp.: January 1944: Robert, aka “Stoney,” “a hectic ten years stunt flying for the 11-28-05

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Mary Hogan II Sheriff Thompson disclosed that the disappearance, but investigation more than $3,000 was found in the rear showed he knew nothing about it.” n Dec. 2, 1954, the Plainfield room of Mary’s tavern in cigar boxes, A June column by Sun editor Ed Sun reported four men had plastic bags and purses. A considerable Marolla again wondered if the disap- Oappeared in Ira Coon’s Jus- sum, officers believed, had been taken pearance was going to be “one of those tice Court for illegal transportation of by the perpetrators of the crime. Hogan completely unsolved mysteries? So far, a Christmas tree. But a more sinister had deposited about $1,500 in the bank it seems to be.” The tavern had been situation would persist over the Dec. 8, two weeks before her disappearance. reopened and was being operated by 1954, disappearance of bartender Mary At the end of December, information Henry Sherman. “But what happened Hogan. was received that Hogan was born as to Mary Hogan is something no one The Sun described events that be- “Mary Curran” in 1901 at Dusenberg, knows, that is—no one except the mur- gan when Seymour Lester went down Germany. A “Mary Curran” was mar- derers themselves.” the road from his farm to get some ried Oct. 4, 1920, at Springfield, Ill., to In November 1955, 37-year-old ice cream for his daughter at Mary’s Joseph Medved, a miner. She was 19 “Harlo G.” confessed to shooting an Tavern “on the blacktop highway, some and he was 34. She left him March 1, Almond woman in October and was or- eight miles north and west of Plain- 1922, and he was granted a divorce on dered committed to Central State Hos- field,” in the Town of Pine Grove. Dec. 23, 1925, according to the Sun. pital at Waupun for observation. He Finding evidence that someone had Mary wed in 1935 at Crown Point, had been involved in a string of crimes been shot and dragged from the build- Ind., to Louis Peck and divorced from with a companion not apprehended. ing, Lester drove to the George Cum- him in Chicago in 1939 on grounds of Harlo pleaded guilty to breaking into mings farm from which town chairman cruelty. During this time she used the a house, the Prochnow drug store and Vilas Waterman and Portage County name of Hogan. Pohl garage at Almond. sheriff Harold Thompson were called. In 1949, Hogan appeared in town A similar crime had occurred in Wild Presumed victim Mary Hogan had of Pine Grove records when she was Rose. Some wondered if there was a arrived five years previous fromCi- granted a tavern license. She owned connection among the crimes and who cero, Ill., believed to have worked as a the tavern and a small home behind it the companion had been. printer. The Hogan tavern was consid- which she was remodeling. “Still completely unsolved is the ered well run and she had a consider- In January 1955, according to the disappearance of Mary Hogan from her able business, said the Sun. Stevens Point Journal, the Portage tavern almost a year ago. The tavern is Just before Christmas 1954, the state county finance committee rejected a considerable distance west of Almond crime laboratory reported blood found Pine Grove chairman Waterman’s claim but on the same county highway as at the scene was human. Suspects were for $139.92 for services rendered as a some of the other crimes.” questioned and one was held at the Por- deputy for former sheriff Thompson on On Dec. 8, 1955, the Sun again tage county jail, but all were cleared. the Hogan case. wondered “What happened to Mary Town chairman Waterman was ap- In March 1955, the Sun wondered, Hogan?” pointed temporary receiver of Hogan’s “Will the disappearance of Mary Hogan “Authorities investigated all possible property. A hearing was scheduled last December be written off as one of leads, but nothing more appears known before county judge James H. Levi to those unsolved mysteries? A suspect today than when the situation was first appoint a permanent “receiver.” was picked up in a local tavern last discovered on December 8, 1954.” week when he boasted knowledge of 12-05-05

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Road Kill 1955 celebration for the official opening of •Mrs. Alex Budzinski, “an attractive, the new Jackson Street Bridge, includ- young housewife,” stepping outside her s the “50-years-ago” RCM jug- ing speeches by Mayor Nels M. Just- home in Rapids when something palm- gernaut crunches along, frag- eson and others. size fell out of the sky. Was it a meteor- Aments too short to be published •Controversy. Walter L. Mead, Ocono- ite? fall by the wayside like dead cats. We mowoc, to blacktop Riverwood Lane at •An air raid alert that hardly anyone call them “miscellaneous.” From the his own expense without curb and gutter, noticed. The community-wide civil de- Daily Tribune, spring and summer, contrary to a city ordinance. On behalf fense test “not an unqualified success” 1955, the following bits of road kill. of Mead, Atty. Richard S. Brazeau said according to civil defense director A.J. •“An air of extreme obstinacy in the Mead had previously agreed with may- Midthun. attempt by Clarence Teske and the West or C. C. Knudsen on a plan to maintain •Jere O’Day, “veteran local stock car Side Civic Assn. to force their will upon Riverwood’s country-like atmosphere. driver” winning most honors at Crowns the city of Wisconsin Rapids by ob- So Mead had sold several lots along the Speedway before 1,400 fans. structing the project for construction of lane with assurance that no curb and •Sign-carrying pickets from Local a new municipal swimming pool.” So gutter would be installed, “ever.” 722 of the Motion Picture Projection- described a Tribune editorial regarding •To reduce the flow of sulfite liquor ists Union at the Highway 13 Drive-In Teske’s pitch for a small pool on each waste into the Wisconsin River, Consol- Theater as the theater opened for the side of the river. idated Water Power & Paper Co.’s new summer. Other union members checked Tribune: “Our city is not so big, either soil filtration lagoon on Hunter’s island. license numbers of the 300 cars going in population or in area, that one mod- •Warren Lensmire, principal and li- through the entrance. ern, well-equipped pool cannot serve brarian of Pulaski community schools, •Fred Beell, who won three world its needs adequately for many years to appointed principal of Wood County wrestling championships before retiring come.” The east side pool under discus- Normal School for the 1955-56 year, to in 1919 to Marshfield as a police officer sion is gone now and the remaining pool succeed Edwin B. Corrigan, who had and was killed in a 1933 robbery of the is indeed on Teske’s west side. been in place one year. Marshfield brewery. In April 1955, his •Assumption high school: Among 33 •Junior historical society, from Hazel killer, Elmer Dingman, 54, died at home in the first graduation class: Gregory Gemberling’s fifth and sixth grade com- in Appleton. He had been released on Kulas, valedictorian, and Le Roy Love- bination room at Howe school, included parole in 1951. Later, his sentence was see, class president. officers Susan Wefel, Peter Leder, Alan commuted by the governor. •St. Luke’s Lutheran Church: to build Norman and Larry Davis. •President Eisenhower’s plans for the th at 10 Street S. and Wood Avenue, Rev. •“Faultlessly attired in colorful finery. world’s first man-made satellites. L. F. Schneider at helm. . . a bevy of senior high school girls . . . Tribune: “We are living in an utterly • Highway 34 between Rudolph and descended upon the Elks Club.” Guests fantastic age. The splitting of the atom Rapids: relocation of a 5.6 mile portion of the American Association of Uni- was enough in itself to make our age the beginning south of Nash Road and ex- versity Women at their annual Senior most amazing (as well as the most pre- tending north to merge with the then-ex- Spring Tea, where Miss May Roach, carious) in all the long history of man- isting route. (Eliminating the wide curve Stevens Point, cited motherhood as one kind.” following what is now Reddin Road.) of the greatest careers but, “You may •Planned, in 90-degree heat at a city well do something worthwhile while 12-12-05 hall with no air conditioning, a one-day you’re waiting.”

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Bixmas Consider my modest proposal. Armstrong; singer Bing Crosby; and ecember 19. Only six shopping “Bixmas.” singer-composer Hoagy Carmichael. days left and, more to the point, The concept is fresh and innocent; it Best known recordings are “Singin’ the 700 words due this afternoon. hasn’t been corrupted into something Blues,” “Way Down Yonder in New Or- D unrecognizable; and the word itself has leans” and “Jazz Me Blues.” Ever since Johann Gutenberg Xeroxed his first issue of the “News,” correspon- not been done to death. It turned up a His own creations: “In A Mist,” “Dav- dents have found themselves up against mere 132 Googles. enport Blues,” and “In the Dark.” a deadline - for the umpteenth cornball Almost all were for “Bixmas 2002,” Like others of his nomadic tribe, Bix Christmas column. Throughout the Age explained as follows: “Bioinformatics ruined his health, through over-devotion of Aquarius, my colleagues thumbed and Multi-Agent Systems Workshop to to Prohibition gin. His last gig took through December issues of Women’s be held at the First International Joint place in 1931 at Princeton University. Day. Now, savvy 21st Century pundits Conference on Autonomous Agents and But Bix had played with a bad cold. He fire up the Internet “search engine” Multi-Agent Systems, July 15, 2002, died of pneumonia a week later in New Google. Bologna, Italy.” York City. He was 28. Accordingly, in the spirit of the A simple “Bix” brought up 1.7 mil- Bix was taken home to Davenport’s “Times,” I ditch my wife’s magazines lion sites. “Beiderbecke” accounted for Oakdale Cemetery, once managed by and grab the mouse. A couple squeezes 300,000. his brother Charles, who was able to later, citations pop up for the following According to the Des Moines Regis- escort fans to the grave, where Charles words, stated in millions: ter and a “Bixography” by Albert Heim, remarked, “It is amazing; he is nearly as Christmas, 250; “Xmas,” 17; Jesus, Leon Bismarck Beiderbecke was a heck popular in death as in life.” 73; Christ, 49; Easter, 36; savior, 7. of a musician. Born in 1903, he grew up Oblivious to worldly concerns such Walmart, 22 (million); Wal mart, 39; in Davenport, Iowa. Even at age two, as time, money, health, personal ap- bargain, 80; Ebay, 160; Santa, 221; Bix showed how he would rise above pearance, and shopping, it was through DVD, 386; money, 780; shopping, 884. the family’s lumber yard. music, according to his disciples, that Satan, 12; devil, 48; casino, 54; sin, Able to plunk out “Yankee Doodle Bix “wrought his everlasting legacy.” A 89; coffee, 142; sex, 220; golf, 251; Dandy” on the family piano, he soon Grammy Hall of Fame award came in Michael Jackson, 12; Beatles, 19. became known as a prodigy. At 15, he 1980 and his records still find buyers. God, 172; Mammon, 1.2. taught himself cornet. His zeal for mu- How should the new holiday be cel- Hypocrisy, 12. sic above all else got him kicked out of ebrated? It doesn’t take a Buber to know that, in Davenport High School and Lake Forest Naturally, heaven and nature will 1955, our culture took the “Christ” out Academy in Illinois. “sing” their harmonious chorus through of “Christmas” and moved on to some- By summer 1921, he played locally the instruments of mankind, from clas- thing less dogmatic. (Not so often men- with several bands, including his own sical strings to church choirs to the elec- tioned, we also deleted the “mass.”) Bix Beiderbecke Five. In 1924, he was trified keyboards of our decadence. As far as replacing communion with playing cornet with the then-famous Sound the bugle, beat the drum and commotion, it’s another case of “Got Wolverine Orchestra. ring them bells. “Bix lives!” So proclaim ’m!” Add all the petty bickering lately Bix played with the patriarchs of the true believers. He will hit high C for and clerics agree that a fresh start is his era: band leaders Jean Goldkette, peace on earth and good will to man, as needed. Frankie Trumbauer and Paul White- long as there is a Bixmas. man; trumpet player Louis “Satchmo” 12-19-05

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Last Little Indian Ralph showed us slides of his life in Until last month, when my dad’s broth- Little Indians.” Mexico. In high school, they had called er died at 92 in his Seymour farm home. In the Agatha Chris- him “Prof.” His first wife died in the 1940s leaving tie mystery that bor- Then there were six. him with three kids, and the death of a Ten Until my mother’s brother died in second wife in the 1980s meant caring rows its title from a nursery rhyme, ten individuals are invited to an isolated Madison, Wis. After WWII, the GI bill, for two more; but after a third marriage place only to find that an unseen person and graduation from U.W. he enjoyed and a new Hawaiian shirt, Fred had is killing them one by one. success as an inventor/engineer and, at looked happy. Ten. the time of his death, lived in Verona, Now there is one. That’s how many blood-related aunts Wis. Gordon didn’t much like to talk My dad’s brother, 90, in Texas. Wilmer and uncles I had when my youngest about his miserable life on a Depres- is the last of the “greatest generation.” daughter was born, 16 years ago. Only sion-era farm. Four. one was missing, Earl, knocked off by Then there were five. That’s how many grandparents I had. scarlet fever in his childhood. Until my dad’s brother died in Princ- Until my dad’s mother died in the Until my dad’s oldest brother breathed eton, Ill., a couple years ago. Early at- 1940s, too early for me to know her. his last at his Menasha, Wis., home. tempts as a preacher had proved too Three. Lung cancer. No, he never smoked. A stressful so he drilled wells instead. Until my dad’s father died at Bellin carpenter, Roy had constructed a motor- Seemed to carry the typical reserve, but, Hospital, Green Bay, in the 1960s. boat out of wood in which he had tak- after his brain operation, if you asked Two. en us fishing on Nepco Lake and Lake him a question, Wallace talked a mile a Until my mother’s father, a farmer at Winnebago. minute. Seymour, died in a Menasha nursing Then there were nine. Then there were four. home. Until my mother’s oldest sister fell Until, three months ago, my dad’s One. to chronic internal problems, at Black sister died in a Seymour, Wis., nursing Until my mother’s mother died in the Creek, Wis. She had been a house-keeper home. Parkinson’s disease had locked same Menasha nursing home, after years for a funeral home family prior to mar- up everything but her eyes, and finally, of silence. rying the town constable. For Christmas, they shut. To her nephews, it seemed Two. then “old maid” Mildred gave us books Grace had lived like a nun; but in her That’s how many parents I had. like “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” retirement from the feed store, she trav- Until my handsome, happy-go-lucky and on every visit, a handful of minia- eled the world wide, and, with satisfac- dad died at age 72 at the Marshfield ture Hershey candy bars to eat in the car tion, noted species of birds she hadn’t hospice of lung cancer. No, he did not on the way home. seen before. smoke. Then there were eight. Then there were three. Then there was one. Until my mother’s brother died in San- Until, two months ago, my mother’s Until my kind, still-mourning mother, ta Maria, Cal. He didn’t get along with sister was found by my cousin, lifeless 78, died suddenly at home. his parents and hardly ever came back. on her couch at home in Menasha. No So it is in the second half-decade of the Willard loved and played jazz music. one cared more about our family histo- new millennium; when there’s a ghostly Then there were seven. ry than Aunt Florence. That’s probably figure in a family photo to put a name to, Until my dad’s brother died in Wax- why she was so lonesome. there’s nobody older than me to ask. haw, N.C. A Wycliffe Bible translator, Then there were two. 12-26-05 148 River City Memoirs Ghost

Laird III those county board member; they were So he gets in touch with Carl Jacobs out working for me like the dickens. The in Stevens Point and he gets that young ike father, like son. Brazeaus were great. Even Philleo Nash attorney who was my classmate in high Before World War II, former supported me, and he was a big Demo- school, Bob Froehlke, to come up. That’s LCongressman and Secretary of crat. how we got that campaign going. Defense Melvin R. Laird Jr. had been “I never lost Wisconsin Rapids and “In 1952, I ran for the House. I had initiated into politics by his father, Mel- always carried it big. I carried Wood four opponents, [including] Malcolm vin R. Laird Sr., a successful Wisconsin County big always. Rosholt and a guy who was the head of state Senate candidate for whom Mel “Otto Zieher was a great supporter. the cheese makers union. campaigned in 1940. “I was just finish- Glen is Otto’s boy. Otto was on the “Chet Krause down in Iola started out ing high school that year. I worked aw- county board with my dad. Those coun- with a little paper. I remember going in fully hard in that campaign, went door ty board members were all great friends and seeing Krause in that little Iola print to door every place from Neillsville to of my dad. Those town chairmen loved shop. He was actually putting that pa- Wisconsin Rapids.” him because he was such a good leader per together by hand. He supported me But a campaign of a different sort and such a thoughtful man. and it was a hard job for him because he came, when Mel and his older brothers “During the Depression, people would liked Malcolm, too.” joined the Navy. “Connor did it on the come to our house for aid and support. In 1959, Vice President Richard Nix- Monday after Pearl Harbor, my brother My dad always would find something on appeared here for a testimonial to Dick about two months later and I about for them even if he had to give them a Laird at Lincoln Field House followed three months later. So we all went into handout. During the bad part of the De- by a dinner at Assumption High School. the Navy approximately at the same time. pression, Reuben Connor (a relative) Laird said that everybody ate a lot of My oldest brother, Connor, was killed in was running the county welfare pro- cranberries that night because the cran- the service. Dick came back OK. I was gram to take care of people the best they berry crop had just been “banned” be- almost three years in the Pacific: Oki- could. cause of possible contamination by the nawa, Leyte, Luzon, all of those.” “We used to go over to Wisconsin herbicide, aminotriazole. Laird, who served on the destroyer Rapids to see the Mead family. That’s “You’d have to eat about two barrels Maddox DD73, returned to take, at age when George lived out on the island, the of it to get sick, so I was able to con- 24, his father’s place in the state Senate. old man. George Mead I was a pioneer, vince the Congress to indemnify the “I had a lot of supporters after World like D.C. Everest was up in Rothschild. growers for their crop that year and I War II. Carl Otto [Daily Tribune edi- “D.C. came up there as a lumberjack got reimbursement for them when they tor] was one of them. There was a guy on the river and built the Marathon pa- burned it.” that worked at the paper by the name per company. D.C. was probably my Like his father before him, Laird al- of Felker. He was from Marshfield. He greatest supporter. He knew my father, ways has taken pride in being there for helped me sometimes with speeches and and he knew my grandfather. He was his constituents in their time of need. ideas and so forth. the man that called me and said, ‘Mel, “Bill Huffman Sr. always supported you’re gonna run for Congress, and I’m 01-02-06 me. His son thought I was a little too gonna support you 100 percent. I’ll conservative. My relatives in Rapids raise the money, but I want a good trea- were all supporters, like Emily Bald- surer that you can trust.’ win, and Henry. And Roy Potter and all

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Lineup The judges: Mrs. June Lee Haertel, received a piece of luggage from John- Wisconsin Rapids; Ben D. Sisson, Mil- son Hill’s and a $20 savings account at hat did they have in com- waukee, state Jaycee president; Carl the First National Bank. “It follows the mon? Turner, publisher of the Waupaca Coun- pattern set up in naming the Grand Ave. W Sherri Baldwin, 17, 1620 ty Post; and Joseph A. Bors, Washington bridge,” she said. “As the city grows Woodbine Ave., senior at Lincoln High D.C., newspaperman. and it becomes necessary to build an- School. The decision was sealed in an enve- other bridge south of these bridges, this Nancy Schmidt, 20, 940 Wylie St., lope and taken to Rapids police head- bridge can then also be named corre- interior decorator at Wisconsin Rapids quarters until Saturday. Who would be spondingly.” Drapery Co. queen? The bridge dedication pageant substi- Joan Sickles, 19, 410 Ninth Ave. S., Queen of what? The world’s hard- tuted for the canceled Cranboree. Spec- graduate of LHS. est working natural water course. “Miss tators lined both bridges for the proces- Karen Kinsman, 17, Nekoosa, senior Wisconsin River.” sion, led by the South Wood County at Assumption High School. To her would go $100 in cash, a trip Boy Scout drum and bugle corps from Linda Brundidge, 21, 1011 Township to a Milwaukee Braves baseball game, a the west-side market square across the Ave., employed at the Daly Drug Co. piece of luggage from Gift & Luggage Grand Avenue Bridge north on Second Carol Manders, 17, LHS senior Shop and dinner at “the Lake Aire.” Street and over the newly named Jack- (daughter of coach Phil Manders). Queen Nancy Schmidt was crowned son Street Bridge. Grand Rapids band Antoinette Peplinski, 18, employee by Rep. Melvin R. Laird, Marshfield, uniforms “came out of mothballs” and of Hardware Mutuals, Stevens Point. for the dedication of the Jackson Street the Nekoosa Legion-VFW drill team Sandy Reddick, 17, 2730 Eighth St. Bridge, an “epochal event” according to performed. S., senior at LHS. the Aug. 22, 1955, Daily Tribune. The An ox-drawn Conestoga wagon, a Sally Sanger, 19, Nekoosa, dental hy- bridge was not only a new artery of traf- mule-drawn prairie schooner, a surrey giene student at Marquette University. fic but “a further unifying force in the and a stagecoach pulled by four white Donna Christensen, 20, Arpin, teach- community,” a reference to the feud be- horses in which Mayor Nels M. Justeson er at Dairybelt School. tween the west and east sides. was riding escorted a brand-new 1955 Elaine Coon, 18, 720 Daly Ave., em- The bridge was the culmination of a convertible carrying “Miss Wisconsin ployed by Consolidated Water Power & project that began in 1950 with a com- River” and her court. Paper Co. prehensive traffic survey. Construction Log rafts and canoes passed below Elaine Dallman, 20, 1241 Washing- began in July 1954 and was completed and a parade above portrayed the evo- ton St., student at Wisconsin State Col- the following summer. lution of transportation. T.W. Brazeau lege, Stevens Point. With one bridge in a city divided by reminisced. Mrs. Damon smashed a Joann Ellis, 18, 430 Seventh St. S., a river and the major industry on the bottle containing river water. Fireworks senior at LHS. west side, traffic congestion had become exploded over the river and Mayor Just- Barbara Sparks, 18, Arpin, senior at acute, especially when shifts changed. eson snapped a ribbon, allowing the fu- Pittsville High School. There also was danger of an emergency ture to go forth. Fourteen young ladies with the same during peak hours. The single city fire Note: Sunday, the temperature goal, guests at a banquet in the South Pa- station was on the East Side. dropped from 103 degrees to 59 at night, cific room of the Hotel Mead on Thurs- The name came from a winning en- a 44 degree difference. day night, Aug. 18, 1955. try by Mrs. Hugh Damon for which she 01-09-06

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Hurlbut ments in 1940; Point’s own program be- sion against Antigo that ended in a tie gan in 1946 under John Roberts. as did the first meet, with D.C. Everest, e is the coach who started the In 1952, Roberts moved on to the Jan. 18, 1956. “The result was satisfac- most successful athletic pro- Central State College, also in Point, tory, if not completely pleasing to Coach Hgram in Wisconsin Rapids his- and started a wrestling program there. Ken Hurlbut,” consoled the Tribune, “as tory. The coach with a winning streak Hurlbut followed the same pattern. At the Everest wrestlers have a year’s ex- that extended for four years. The coach P.J. Jacobs, under Roberts, he wrestled perience edge on the Red Raiders.” whose wife did the team laundry and heavyweight his sophomore and junior “I think I was a competitor by all terms went out to buy athletic tape when it ran year and at 177 pounds his senior year. that fit it,” Hurlbut said. “I worked hard short. He and his younger brother, Dave, with the kids and they performed well.” The coach who, fresh out of college, had a pact “that we would never try for At a University of Illinois wrestling got the call from Lincoln High School the same weight class. We flipped a coin: clinic, said Hurlbut, Bill Reeves, a for- Principal Aaron Ritchay to teach math whoever lost, had to starve.” mer Rapids wrestler, was demonstrating and begin a high school wrestling pro- Hurlbut wrestled as a freshman at moves. Seeing Hurlbut in the stands, he gram here. He was the coach who Lawrence College, but returned to remarked to the crowd: “Everything I coached me: Ken Hurlbut. “Central State,” where he played foot- am going to tell you I was taught by that As a high school senior, I never had ball, sang in the glee club and presid- man up there.” “gone out for” a sport. With so many of ed over the senior class. By the time Hurlbut left in 1963 for Evanston, my friends on the wrestling team, I de- Hurlbut graduated in 1955, the Rapids Ill. He retired in 1988 and moved to his cided to give it a whirl. School Board, according to then-mem- present home on the Waupaca chain of Being a jock-for-a-season was fun. It ber Donald Farrish, 96, 1010 Baker St., lakes. relieved me from gym class and gave me was ready to bring in wrestling and in- He always has been a proud coach a chance to beat up on Pee Wee Peck- door track. “We had the facilities, and and one who may always grapple with ham and Dan McGlynn. I thought we should take advantage of certain setbacks, like the first loss after Surprisingly, Rapids wrestling was them,” he said. a long string of wins. “They barely beat only seven years old in 1962-63. It had The new coach found he would be us, and I was really disgusted,” he said, begun with a reorganization of the Lin- competing in one of the biggest gyms adding, with the perspective of almost coln coaching staff. When Phil Manders, in the state, although his wrestling room half a century: “My wife came over and head football and basketball coach for was converted storage space in back. made some comment about, ‘It’s not so 10 years, resigned in 1955, his coaching “I was the only wrestling coach, so I bad. It was close.’ duties for the following year were split would coach the freshmen from 4 to 5 “I told her, if she couldn’t think of between Bernard Knauer, football, and and the sophomores would come in and something sensible to say, not to say any- Al Duhm, basketball. That’s when Hurl- work with the freshmen for a while; then thing. Later on in the season, we went but was named assistant football coach the varsity would come in later.” over to their school and wrestled them and Lincoln’s first wrestling coach. On the team that first year were in a dual meet and beat them something Hurlbut had been an all-star football Lannie Anderson, Ron Verjinski, Ken like 38-5.” player and wrestler at P.J. Jacobs High Graesser, Ken Reinicke, Dean Dix, Ron The earlier loss, he said “was just one School in Stevens Point at a time when Schooley, Jim Saeger, Charles Witten- of those nights. It had been our turn to the latter sport was just getting started. berg, Alan Bassuener and Herb Jackson. lose, I guess.” The WIAA sponsored its first tourna- The first competition was a practice ses- 01-23-06

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Benitz Finding an ad for a driver education theater and teach. Our wrestling room teacher here, Benitz called to see if the was a chair storage room on the south hen Rapids wrestling coach position could include that of wrestling side of the field house. We had 100 kids Lewie Benitz was hired in coach. Schools Superintendent Ray out that second year and there was no W1966, he imagined a grand Clausen told him Lincoln wanted an place to put them, so we’d go in shifts. entrance via West Grand Avenue. “I experienced coach who could bring “Just being around guys like Mr. visualized coming in by that root beer the program back to the level it had [Dale] Rheel and Cepek and Roger stand and the people waving.” It would enjoyed under Ken Hurlbut. “Later on, Harring; here I was, a little kid off the be a few years before anything like that I found out the guy they were trying farm who had a chance to rub elbows happened. to get was Norris Hattlestad, who was with some really great coaches. What Benitz knew of Wisconsin coaching down at Richland Center,” “A lot of the stuff I learned on Rapids he had heard from two Lincoln Benitz said, “and then he went to Mer- coaching I learned from Rog. He would High School graduates: Dale Dix, like rill and we ended up rivals for a long always say, ‘I want to surround myself Benitz, a member of the Stout college time.” with good people.’ Roger was always wrestling team; and Benitz’s sometimes After biding his time on a construc- fair and he could keep things in per- opponent, Larry Ironside of UW-Madi- tion job that summer, Benitz got a spective.” son and Stevens Point. better offer from Clausen: driver ed and Benitz said he also learned a lesson Benitz arrived here when wrestling assistant wrestling coach. “Young and or two from athletic director Charles was in the process of being adopted stupid,” Benitz declined. “I wanted to Swartz, “like patching uniforms if they at schools across the state. As a high coach.” could be patched. I wanted to get some school senior in 1958-1959, on the first A couple weeks later, after football new uniforms that second year and he Boyceville team, he finished “unde- practice had started, Lincoln coach said, ‘Does your wife do some sewing?’ feated,” he said. Roger Harring called. “I think I can “When I came here, I don’t think “I was 3-0.” help you get that wrestling job if you there could have been a better fit than a Benitz had just turned a baby-faced will help me with the football team.” green, redneck farm kid in a blue-collar 17 when he played football at Eau Harring’s ploy was successful, and town at a time when they’d had a good Claire teachers college before dropping Clausen called again. “You’re a stub- wrestling program that had slipped a out to work on the family’s farm. After born young man; you got a job.” little bit. a year, he enrolled at Stout state col- Needing to transfer their possessions “I was always the kid, always the lege, Menomonie, where he joined the to Rapids, Benitz turned to a family boy. I was smart enough to sit back and wrestling team. friend on a nearby farm. “I went out listen. So many things I missed that I Later, while Benitz pursued a mas- there and asked him if we could bor- thought other people knew. Then one ter’s degree at Stout, the local Menom- row his cattle truck. We washed it out, day I came to an in-service meeting in onie high school wrestling coach was threw in the little stuff we had, and the fall, sitting by Denny Nelson, look- injured. Benitz “inherited” the job and that’s how we moved here. ing around, and I whispered, ‘Denny, a squad of kids good enough to win the “I was in awe of the size of Lincoln. I’m the oldest guy here.’ Big Rivers Conference. He could have “I had an office up on the third floor “Just like that, it happened!” stayed at Menomonie with his wife, in a broom closet I shared with a jani- Joyce, and son, Scott, but it was time tor. Bob Marx, Gary Campbell and I 01-30-06 for a fresh start. would carry our stuff down to the little

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Benitz: Sorry “He said, ‘Oh, yeah,’ and that’s all and knees in front of two caskets there that was ever said. in that little Methodist church, hoping ewie Benitz, Wisconsin Rapids “That 40 has grown up again. When- he could hear me tell him I was sorry. Lincoln wrestling coach (ed- ever I drive by there I think about my “After that, nobody was living at Lited): dad. He was a good man but hard. It was home on the farm. I was the youngest “When I was that little boy going into all about work. Sunday was just another one; the other kids had all left. Joyce ninth grade, I asked my dad if I could go day. and I moved back out and I basically out for football. My brother came and “One morning, when I was 19 or 20, quit school. It was right during the NFO talked to him because my brother had after I had been out late the night before, strike. It was a traumatic thing. not been allowed to go out and after a I went out and milked. I knew we had “My wrestling coach, Max Sparger, long time, Dad said, ‘ You can go out for to combine that day so I greased the ma- came out one day to this little farm up football but you’re going to milk cows chine. But it was too wet; so I went back in the hills and he said, ‘God gave you a before you go to school and after you to bed. gift, don’t throw it away.’ get home.’ “He didn’t know I had been out there “I remember saying, ‘Mr. Sparger, “I said, ‘Thank you.’ I was happy. and did all that stuff. You’re talking I’m so far behind in school.’ “When I dropped out of Eau Claire about two really bull-headed, stubborn “And he said, ‘I’ll talk to your teach- college right after football season, I was people with bad tempers. ers. We’ll get it straightened out.’ still a boy still wishing I could be in high “He came up and he said some things “It was the only reason I ever went school. My dad never said anything; but he shouldn’t have. One of them was back. he bought this ‘40’ that had been owned about my wife. “So we were milking in the morning, by an old codger who had passed away. “We both lost our temper and got into going to school. Putting in crops that There were some old buildings and a lot a fight. I was a college wrestler andI spring was crazy. Then Scott was born of elm trees. Most of it was swamp. hurt him; he went off up in the woods in May. I grew up real fast. “We cleared it that winter. Took a somewhere. “Aren’t too many days when some- tractor and trailer and went down and “My mom and I were really close. I thing doesn’t cause me to think back to cut wood all day. Then we got a lumber cried to her, but I never got around to what happened. I made a few promises guy in with a saw rig and we made lum- telling him I was sorry, and I suppose to myself. ber in the spring. he would have wanted to tell me he was “One was that I was never going to “He knew all that elm lumber was no sorry. do anything again unless I thought it out good. I don’t care how you stack it, it “Joyce and I married on Jan. 4, 1964, pretty carefully. I wasn’t going to let that warps. It’s all twisted; you can’t split it, right in the middle of wrestling sea- temper hurt me or other people again.” you can’t nail anything. We got a bull- son. Then that day in March, we were dozer, burned a lot of the big stumps, supposed to be with my mom and dad. 02-06-06 got a breaking plow in. On Sundays, we cut logs; I was always “But it was marshland. You could finding ways to make my way through never get in there ’til July. school. “He was a smart guy, he knew all that. “We got this call from Chippewa He made his point. When spring came, I Falls on March 4, 1964. They’d slid into said, ‘Would you help me if I went back a train. They were both killed. to school?’ “I can recall yet being on my hands

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Red Raiders there. The school colors: crimson and 39 volume states, “You can be down white. but never out! That was the spirit of the here is a nation deeply rooted in Another parallel to the LHS experi- 1938 Red Raiders.” pride and passion, found only ence. The term applied only to the football Tin the shared memories of those No use of the term Red Raiders was team, which was also called the “Red who have rejoiced there. Not a place you found in the Tribune until 1938. On and White Raiders.” can find with a compass or on a map, it Sept. 22, in a game against the Antigo The many parallels include Port is everywhere. “Ants,” emerged historic terminology Jervis, N.Y., whose red and black team It is the Red Raider Nation. for “the Red and White offense”: “The had been called “Red Raiders” early in It is Uniontown, Pa., which shares Red Raiders will face one of the heavi- the 1940s. By 1946, an Indian appeared a clannish nomenclature almost identi- est teams….” on the yearbook cover and by 1953, pic- cal to that of our own Wisconsin Rap- Seemingly in competition with “Red tures of white students and administra- ids Lincoln High School. According to and Whites,” the “Red Raiders” handle tors posing as Indians throughout. Al- a Uniontown Web site, its high school continued to be used for the football though criticism of like names has been teams were awarded the label “Red team, presumably because of the red intense throughout in upstate New York, Raiders” by a sports writer during the color used for uniforms and the pleasing it persists. 1938 football season, “for uncertain rea- repetition of the “r” sound. “The Red A decade ago, almost 60 Wisconsin sons, without fanfare and without offi- Raiders displayed a stubborn defense public high schools were using Ameri- cial acknowledgment.” throughout the entire first half, permit- can Indian icons. Now, most have modi- Almost exactly the same process took ting the Ants to score only with several fied those nicknames or logos. place here. minutes remaining.” All the Wisconsin “Red Raiders” The first reference by that name may In October, the venerable terms “Lin- have, as has Colgate University, changed have been an ad in the Daily Tribune for colnites” and “Red and White gridders” either their name or logo or both. That the 1927 silent cowboys-and-Indians were still used. But the sports writer includes Bruce, La Crosse Central, Mar- movie, “The Red Raiders,” at the Palace seemed to want the third option. “The athon, Medford, Wauwatosa East and theater. Red Raiders jumped into the driver’s Wisconsin Rapids, which replaced an A second date of significance was seat,” said the Tribune, also noting “the Indian head with the letters “WR.” 1932. That year, Carl Klandrud gradu- Red Raiders in action” and the “luckless My favorite mascot moniker is ated from River Falls Teachers’ College Red Raiders.” Rhinelander’s Hodag: irresistible, ap- and came to coach Lincoln High School As basketball season replaced foot- propriate, clever, whimsical, unique. football. ball, the Red Raiders tag faded from But even this hoary habitué of hemlock Also in 1932, Colgate University, view. In December, “we were more sur- has been known to fall victim to its ri- Hamilton, N.Y., achieved renown for prised than the Hodags to see the Red vals, among them the notorious Sidehill being undefeated, untied, and unscored- and Whites dumping the ball through Gougers, Jackalopes and Red-bellied upon. The “Maroons” also received the hoop.” Also used were “Red and Timber Snipes. bright new uniforms that inspired a jour- White quintet,” “Lincolnites” and “Rap- nalist to dub the team, “The Red Raiders ids Basketeers.” 02-13-06 of the Chenango Valley.” The name first The same cycle appears in the Lin- was applied to the football team but be- coln yearbook, “Ahdawagam.” There came the official nickname for all sports is no reference for 1937 but the 1938-

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Holland Road renamed Hollandtown. Peter Peters met Joe, John – all brothers. They settled in one of the Van de Loop boys at the local a row on Holland Road.” ike many immigrants, Leon Pe- sawmill and was invited home, “which Leon was born on the sawmill, or ters’ grandparents had a big fam- is where he met the sister (Maria-Anna west, side of the road. Also on Holland Lily. Eighteen offspring? As he Van de Loop) and times went by and my Road was the site of the original Ru- said, “There were nine boys and each grandpa married her.” dolph area Catholic church and school. had a sister.” A little Dutch humor. It Several of Peter Peters’ sons bought “Across the road, I can remember a stone was same sister all around; her name homestead land on the Niobrara river building with the roof gone, where they was Minnie. in Nebraska. Leon’s uncle Arnold, the had put their horses when they came to “My grandpa came from Holland,” fourth son, whose own uncle, Gerardus school.” said Peters, 83 [2006], Rudolph, “be- Van de Loop had already settled there, The old church was replaced by a cause at Green Bay they knew the Hol- wrote back from Hay Springs, Neb., to school building in the village of Ru- landers were good at making canals and the rest, “There’s no stumps. Why don’t dolph, to which traveled the Holland- they wanted a canal built. Father Van you come out here?” ers. Religious services were held in the den Broeck went over and solicited the In 1893, Arnold was joined by John, basement. Hollanders to come here.” William and George, and later by brother The main floor held quarters for the For their part, the Dutchmen wanted Martin’s widow and a sister, Wilhelmina priest, Rev. Philip J. Wagner, and three land, which they found at Little Chute, Heiting, and family. classrooms. The south half of the sec- Wrightstown, Hollandtown, Dundas, After Leon’s brother, Anthony, and ond floor was inhabited by nuns on one and Kaukauna, Wis., whose wres- sister, Minerva, were born, their father, end and boarders on the other. “Father tling team here last week sported such Joseph Peters, opted to join his broth- used to go out and pick up students and names as VanSchyndel, VandeLoo and ers in Nebraska but found no land left they’d stay all week,” said Peters. Vanevenhoven. for homesteading and got a job hauling Wagner was popular with the young- “The story they told me,” Peters said, mail. The Peters had two more children er set, having built a “big slide” that, Pe- “was about where the ship hit an iceberg in Nebraska. “Then my mother said ters recalled “came out” on Main Street. and was leaking so bad the passengers there was no Catholic school so we got- “In the winter months, he’d also take a had to run a bilge pump around the clock. ta go back.” toboggan behind his car, let the kids get But Arnold Verstegen wouldn’t pump The Joseph Peters family (Leon on there, drive around the country and because he said, ‘I paid my fare.’” not yet born) soon followed two other give them rides.” When the travelers disembarked at brothers, Albert and Henry, to the appro- “During noon hours, we’d go out and Green Bay, no one was left to man the priately-termed Holland Road, now 5th wash rocks at the Grotto; he’d give us a bilges and the ship sunk at the dock. Or Avenue, town of Rudolph. Albert found stick of gum or a penny.” so the story goes. a temporary home for Joe’s family in The famous Rudolph church picnics, “My grandpa at that time was around the company store and blacksmith shop as Peters recalled, had their beginnings 21 years of age,” said Peters. “His name of the Clark & Scott sawmill prior to outside at the northwest corner of the was Peter Peters.” Joe buying the actual sawmill property school. “They had a big furnace, on top A colony from southern Holland had across the road. of it a big kettle. That’s where they put been established in the neighborhood of “He sold the company store to Bill the chickens and the vegetables. That’s the St. Francis Seraph Catholic church Dorshorst who come from Nebraska,” where they had their chowder.” in the settlement of Franciscus Bosch, said Leon. “There was Bill Dorshorst, 02-20-06

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Brig Bombers U.; Wayne Oestreich, a recent Lincoln George Mikan, some of the other Lakers player; Dick Tuszka of Stevens Point; were Vern Mikkelsen, Clyde Lovellette, ifty years ago, they were the best and Cary Bachman, Nekoosa coach. Slater Martin, Whitey Skoog, Chick of the best: the Brig Bombers, After the Bombers defeated a team of Mencel and Dick Garmaker. “We took a Ftermed by the Tribune of Nov. Stevens Point State College players, the chance,” said Richard Boehme, 350 12th 25, 1955, the first semi-pro basketball Tribune in January 1956 said they over- Ave. S., then the 21-year-old son of the team in this city “for years.” Organized came 30 personal fouls to beat the Strat- Brig owner. in 1955, they were named after the Brig ford Merchants 104-80, in an “exceed- “We had to offer them a guarantee restaurant and bar in the Hotel Dixon, ingly rough game played on the small and pay the school for the gym. They which also sponsored a softball team of Stratford floor.” thought they were coming up to play a the same name. When the 8-0 Bombers “just about bunch of hicks.” At the Assumption high school gym ran out of competition in the state” they The Bombers added 6-9 Paul Mor- the Bombers soundly defeated another scheduled a January 1956 game against row and Jim Ritchay, who would assist similar team, Hewitt Machines of Nee- the professional All-American Indi- Daly and Gill at guard. nah-Menasha. Hewitt was led by Char- ans who claimed to have been defeated If the Lakers took the Bombers light- lie Block, whose 1947 play for Menasha only twice in 512 contests. “The Indi- ly, said the Tribune, they soon changed high school knocked the favored Wis- ans entertained the crowd … but so did their mind. consin Rapids out of the state tourna- the Bombers with some of the sharpest Fantastic outside shooting by Gill, ment. passing and best shooting the nets at the Ritchay and Oestreich brought back The Bombers featured “a pretty fair gymnasium have ever seen. And when memories of the great Red Raider teams lineup,” including the University of the final horn blew, it was evident the of recent years and unexpectedly good Wisconsin’s two all-time high scorers at Bombers will have to go even further if rebounding kept the Bombers in the that time, Don Rehfeldt and Dick Cable. they are going to find some competition game all the way. The local team led for “Rehfeldt set most of the records before that can give them a serious battle.” much of the game and the 80-70 final he graduated in 1950 and Cable broke “Dick Cable, after he got the range, score in favor of the Lakers, represented most of them in winding up his Badger put on a terrific scoring show that saw the largest margin of the night after the career last season,” said the Tribune. him rim the nets with 37 points. Mike first quarter. Rehfeldt, 6’ 7’’, a Chicago native, had Daly and Boola Gill contributed some Dick Garmaker, former University of been drafted in 1950 by the profession- almost uncanny passing, big Don Re- Minnesota ace, was the top Lakers scor- al Baltimore Bullets. He came to Wis- hfeldt swept the boards and Wayne er with 23 points. Cable led the Bomb- consin Rapids to work for Gross Bros. Oestreich flipped in several of his long ers with 18 points. trucking company. jump shot specialties.” After the game, the Lakers stopped in Cable, 6’ 2”, played for Stevens Point The competition the Bombers needed at the Brig to pick up lunch, have a drink high school, 1948-51. He returned to was found at the highest level when Brig and hit the highway back to the Minne- Stevens Point and became an insurance owner, William “Spider” Boehme called sota metropolis. Several in a crowd of agent. the Minneapolis Lakers. local loyalists got bombed again at the Also playing for the Brig were Mike The Lakers, a leading NBA team, em- Brig, savoring the moment when they Daly of Rapids Lincoln high school ployed many of professional basketball’s almost beat the biggest of the big guys. and UW-Madison; Boola Gill, of 1951 brightest stars, according to a February state champion Lincoln and Marquette 1956 Tribune. Led by “Mr. Basketball,” 02-27-06 156 River City Memoirs Ghost

Riot Helen Morland (now Zimmerman), According to Exner, there had been 2030 3rd St. S., like Barry, was a no violence during the evening. One 17 arry Jens, 1131 Weeping Wil- member of the LHS class of 1958. She year-old youth who failed to follow a low Dr., remembers everything didn’t get off so easy. police officer’s instructions after sev- Babout Friday, Feb. 24, 1956, ex- Helen had heard rumors of the prom- eral warnings, was locked up for a few cept who won the Rapids-Point game. ised rumble too, and, like many class- hours at the city jail to “think things It happened the night after the mates, “wouldn’t miss it for the world.” over.” Two other boys were ordered to Thursday when the Brig Bombers She saw the fire truck go by and she report to police headquarters, where played the Minneapolis Lakers, an saw Rapids police chief Rudy Exner they were given a stern lecture and event Barry enjoyed immensely. What exhorting the assemblage from the fire released. came next evokes mixed emotions. truck, but she was pretty sure nothing A couple weeks later, a 16-year-old All week, rumors circulated that a much was really going to happen. No under suspicion took a lie detector test “rumble” would take place after the way they would hose a bunch of high and displayed no knowledge of the high school basketball game against schoolers. gang organizations. “The kids were just arch-rival Stevens Point at the Lincoln According the Tribune, the action trying to act smart,” he said. Some had fieldhouse. “Blackboard Jungle”-styled occurred in the 100 block of 2nd St. written “Hipster” on the backs of their gangs such as the “Hipsters” were go- N. where some 350 teenagers milled jackets to attract attention. ing to converge on River City looking about, mostly curiosity seekers like “Citizens of this community,” edi- for trouble. Barry and Helen. torialized the Feb. 28, 1956, Tribune, It was an East Side story on Friday Expecting trouble, all police officers “must have felt greatly relieved by the night, as Barry found himself in the on the force had been called out by Ex- efficiency and dispatch with which teen hangout, the Davis restaurant, now ner, who also enlisted the help of Fire police handled the situation.” Hollyrock’s tavern, which soon was Chief Cloyd Vallin. A fire engine was “Those teen-agers (leather-jacketed swamped with high school kids fresh driven past the crowd twice. ‘hipsters’ and ‘Road Kings’ from Wau- from the game, many in red-and-white On the third run, Exner, amid cries sau, Stevens Point, Plover, or wherever) LHS letter jackets. As Barry peered of “speech, speech” from the mob, used who congregated here with the idea of through a frosty window for a glimpse a public address system based in one of creating a disturbance deserved exactly of any action outside, a burly police of- the patrol cars. “Boys and girls, you’ve the reception that they got. ficer burst into the room, ordering, “All had your fun and now the fun is over. “Indeed, they were fortunate the right, everybody OUT.” I’ll give you five minutes to disperse or police were there to avert trouble, else The cop grabbed Barry and sent him you’ll get a cold bath.” the aftermath could have been a con- to the door. As the abashed young man When the youths refused to leave, siderably more rueful one for them. As exited, he saw a fire hose pointed at firemen went into action with a sudden the authorities see it, the gang members him and “water all over the place.” burst that sent the crowd running in all are a group of abnormal youngsters Barry fled around theOak Street cor- directions to escape the chilly spray. attempting to swell their egos by at- ner and looked back to see a lot more The spray scored a direct hit on Helen tracting attention to themselves by their kids following. It was 11 p.m. on a cold Morland and swept across the other unusual attire and unsocial conduct.” winter night so Barry did the only thing kids standing outside the restaurant. he could think of; he ran all the way Her winter coat, Helen said, hung in the 03-06-06 home. basement all week, drying.

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Courting Wipperman The process of enticing what we Success came in February 1891, after like to call “entrepreneurs” had begun six weeks of meetings with Charles and hat is the matter with Centra- in earnest a couple of years earlier. In Herman Wipperman. Charles owned a lia and Grand Rapids? March 1890, a meeting of Grand Rapids “small factory” at Chilton “but he de- “Bad luck,” according to bigwigs convened to consider throwing sired to avail himself of the many ad- W some cash toward a furniture factory, a vantages in the line of hardwood manu- some. But it was hard to tell if the news- paper was bragging or complaining. natural fit where good times are carved facturing which our sister city (Grand Centralia Enterprise & Tribune, Feb. in wood. Rapids) was able and willing to offer. 24, 1891: “Ice, water and fire have de- Many of the investors’ names have Among those advantages might be men- stroyed a lot of property but still the twin been immortalized in these pages and tioned large capital, contiguity to timber cities prosper, and there is every reason elsewhere, such as Thomas E. Nash of and unexcelled railroad facilities.” to expect a boom in spring with all the Centralia, who said he had come pre- Of the total capital stock of $20,000, improvements made lately.” pared to buy stock in a new enterprise. Wipperman subscribed to $10,000. The For instance, the Port Edwards, Cen- On motion of Geo. L. Williams, E.B. remainder was financed “by people of tralia & Northern Railway, connecting Brundage was elected secretary. On such financial stability asF.J. Wood, S.A. with Marshfield. “It opens up the best motion of F.J. Wood, George R. Gardner Spafford, Geo. N. Wood, G.S. Biron, timbered and tillable sections of the was elected chairman and immediately Jas. Canning, Geo. R. Gardner, Daly county.” estimated $50,000 would be needed “to & Sampson, Elizabeth Rablin, Geo. L. And the Centralia Pulp and Water- secure salutary results.” Williams, C.E. Pariseau, F. Pomainville, power Co., about ready to place ma- J.D. Witter thought $50,000 entirely J.D. Witter, Jacob Lutz & Bro., Chas chinery in its mill, making it “one of the inadequate and said $100,000 would be Briere, Mrs. J. Hamm, Ed. Wheelan and largest and best-fitted paper mills” west a more likely figure. He recommended a John Farrish.” of the Allegheny mountains. “bonus” of $10,000. The concern might have been “fairly “And now comes Mr. Chas. Wip- Wood offered to donate land in the successful,” according to Rapids histo- permann, of Chilton, and together with vicinity of the Green Bay depot on north rian Tom Taylor, but Chas. Wipperman, Grand Rapids capitalists, determines First Street for a building site. as an executive, made a good cabinet to put an extensive furniture factory In September 1890, a meeting was maker. in Grand Rapids, called Grand Rap- again held to figure ways to raise a “Wipperman’s” was taken over by ids Furniture Co., work to begin soon. $15,000 “bonus” to induce Chicago par- the Kaudy Manufacturing Co. (incorp. These new industries are now assured, ties to establish a furniture factory here. 1906), makers of bar and office furniture and along with them and as evidence “The meeting was about as effective in and fixtures, which closed duringProhi- that our superior shipping facilities are accomplishing results as is depicted in bition. The buildings were idle until the becoming known abroad, come several the tale of the king of France, who, with advent of Prentiss-Wabers Stove Com- parties to look for sites for potato and 20 thousand men marched up the hill and pany. Then came the Latin Company, other produce store-houses. then marched down again,” critiqued the makers of “Parkway” clothes for men, “Our water powers also become newspaper. “There was a heap of talk, a followed by “S&S” clothing company, known abroad. Pietch and Richmond of considerable display of wit, and a final which owned the 42-year-old facility Appleton have been looking for a paper adjournment without being one whit when it burned in the spring of 1934. mill site, as was R. Spencer of Lowell, nearer the desideratum than when the Mass.” meeting opened.” 03-13-06 158 River City Memoirs Ghost

Martha Klappa Nekoosa, before moving to “where Paul night, you know how that goes. Gross is now.” Finding Oak Street “a bit “We stayed open until nine on Fridays. n a bright spring morning re- out of the way for traffic,” the Neises There was a time they said we should cently, local historical activist moved into a former barber shop on Sec- stay open on a Thursday night too but OPhil Brown emerged from his ond Street South across from the Wood that didn’t work out. Den of Antiquity long enough to realize County National Bank. The store space “During World War II, everything was he had misplaced his sunglasses. Before was rented from Rose Mazur, formerly rationed. There was hardly enough fuel he scurried back into the Den, Phil de- of Chicago. to run the place and keep it warm. Every scribed why he has been underground. At the time, Gleue’s shoe store was on shoe had to have a ration ticket.” He is busy assembling a display that the riverside corner of Grand and Sec- Having been gone a year and a half, will profile the old East Side downtown ond, Martha said. A few steps upstream Arnold Neises was killed at Leyte in the for the South Wood County Historical was the Sugar Bowl restaurant, owned Philippines. Martha needed part-time Corp. Museum. by Tom Poulos, assisted by Jimmy Dri- help but kept working the store. “You Perspicacious sexagenarians know I vas, cook. Jimmy made the candy on had to go forward. You had to make a began my misadventures in River City display in the cabinet near the door, said living.” by taking a figurative walk through the Martha. It was expensive but good, “like In 1949, Martha married Edward Klap- old East Side. My charming escort, a no- they make in Germany.” pa, a fellow parishioner at S.S. Peter & nagenarian herself, Vi Palmer, took me Then came her own store, Gamble’s Paul. Edward brought two daughters to through the mysterious town in which hardware and Penney’s (which also sold the marriage; a son, Gale, was born in she had lived and worked as a young shoes) and the Daly drug store. “There 1950. clerk. I hadn’t seen some of the build- used to be a little radio shop next to the Martha said she had surgery in 1955 ings she frequented nor met the person- Gamble store. When he went out, there but “I never took a vacation in the for- alities she spoke so highly of. was a bakery in there for a while. The ty years. I worked every day Monday Now, another generation has passed company we bought shoes from decided through Saturday. Nobody stayed open and I took a similar imaginary hike with to tear that wall out and make our store on a Sunday. That just wasn’t the thing another woman of the East Side; but this bigger. After a while, that got too small. to do. time, it was a place I remember. We built on clear to the river in the back. “Those were good years. Little by lit- Martha Klappa was the long-time It got to be pretty good-sized.” tle, things just didn’t work out. I think owner of Neises’ shoe store, only a few Across Second Street, returning from they thought the buildings weren’t that blocks upstream from her present home Brauer’s clothing store on the Oak good any more. They wanted us to go in at 521 2nd Street S. Street corner, were the Coast to Coast the mall but we were almost of retiring Born Jan. 7, 1913, near Milladore, to hardware and a grocery store that be- age. Rosalia and Louis Linzmaier, Martha is came Schroeder’s variety store and last, “It’s too bad they tore it down. It was a 93 and remarks, with humor, “Isn’t that the bank. good business block. My store was right awful?” With apartments and offices above across from the bank. Veterans Park, She attended St. Killian’s Catholic many of the businesses, there were a that’s where we all were.” school in Blenker and was married to lot of folks coming and going. “Friday Edward Neises at St. Killian’s in 1934. night downtown was hilarious, the big 03-20-06 For about a year and a half, Arnold and night. It was the night to go out. I guess Martha operated a shoe repair shop in the taverns were all busy on a Friday

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Bye Bye Bee Bee urday night so he’d be in good shape Charmaine Ristow, the other day, and for hunting the next morning. He was found out a few things about “love” in ee Bee’s Daily Tribune column awakened by the phone, which his wife the modern generation. gave you a pretty good scoop on answered. A very formal voice asked for Charmaine was asked about her boy “What’s Buzzin’” here. The fol- B Mr. Charles Spees and asked, “Can you friend and she explained his name was lowing are from late 1955 as BB told it. answer the $64,000 question?” Before Gerry Gruber, 8. •The kindergarten class at Congre- Charley could say a word the receiver “How do you know he’s your boy gational Sunday School got off to a clicked. Understand Teacher Spees was friend, did he tell you?” queried her smiling start. Seems Mrs. Cliff Winter conducting quite an investigation in aunt. “Oh no, he didn’t tell me. I can tell had gone over some songs the children classes Monday. by the way I look at him that he likes enjoyed and asked if any of them had •A.A. Ritchay missed his first foot- me,” was Charmaine’s answer. a special song they’d like the group to ball game at Lincoln High School in •Mrs. John (Catherine) Krause was sing. Several suggestions were made but 36 years when he didn’t get to see the doing a bit of routine grocery shop- they were drowned out by Bill Handy’s Point-Rapids game. ping recently and all went well until she request—“Davy Crockett.” It is hard for us to believe John would opened her purse to pay for the merchan- •About 19 ½ years previous to 1955, schedule a wedding the morning after a dise. Mrs. K. let out a stifled shriek and the Tribune carried a picture of a tiny Point game but he did and so A.A., be- her face turned a rosy red as she (and baby propped up in a chair, garbed in ing all involved in wedding parties and several people nearby) observed a long, a diaper and an officer’s cap, and hold- the like, just couldn’t stick around for old, dried-up corn cob in her purse. ing a holster on his lap: entitled “Future even a quarter. Without stopping to explain, Mrs. K. Cop!” Little did the newsman realize •Jimmy Natwick will be more care- paid her bill and rushed out of the store that this week, that baby—Bob Exner, ful the next time he makes a necklace before anyone was able to recognize her now 20 years old—started his “on-the- for Cub Scouting. You see, Jimmy had (she hopes). A steno at City Hall, Cath- job training” with the FBI. a colorful Indian necklace all ready for erine knew that she was not in the habit •In the middle of the bridge was a stub- a den meeting but put it within reach of of carrying old corn cobs in her purse. born auto … blocking traffic. Not much the dog. Because it was made out of a Consequently, the finger of suspicion we could do but give the gent a push as breakfast cereal and quite inviting, the pointed to Bob Tain, assistant city engi- traffic was jammed up coming towards dog ate it. Jimmy went back to work on neer, a very likely suspect… us and we had started a pretty good line a new one and issued a warning to the But, with a few last sibilants, the buzz of cars behind. So push we (the 1950 canine to keep away from his projects. went silent. Bee Bee was about to fly model blue hornet) did. As the car ahead •Robert Goetszke, Lincoln High the hive, having relinquished his duties cleared the bridge, the door swung open School instructor, to a cut-up in one of to new managing editor, Oliver D. Wil- and Capt. Frank Exner gave us a nod his classes: “You’re quite a card; you liams. of appreciation. “Shucks, Frank, it was should be on the stage.” William R. Beckmann, a member of nothin’. We know how hard it is to read Student: “Gee, Mr. Goetszke, do you the staff since 1946, like many jour- the ‘gas’ indicator so early in the morn- really think so?” nalists before and after, had upped his ing.” Goetszke: “Yes, I do—and the stage pollen quotient at a public relations •Charles Spees doesn’t think much leaves in 10 minutes.” department, that of Evinrude Motors, of television shows and pranks built •Mrs. Clarence Plahmer got in a con- Milwaukee. around them. Charles retired early Sat- versation with her 6-year-old niece, 03-27-06

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Trust Nothing pended on to keep you employed dur- Full-service gas stations along 8th (but River City Memoirs) ing down times, like they did during the Street and Grand Avenue. Fill ’er up. Depression. And the groceries on uncountable cor- hat can we depend on any Even if you can’t get in at Consoli- ners. Ketchum’s coal and Daly’s ice. more?” dated, one place you can depend on is Wood County teachers college. More W That is the topic of a big Preway. It’s piece work but if you work prospective pupils born every year and community vision thing down at the hard enough, you make just as much. more demand for pedagogues. Saint Pe- Witter Hotel. Of course, local dignitar- If you can’t get a job at Preway, you ter & Paul school. No problem staffing ies want to give it a good spin. can depend on other local companies, Catholic classrooms. Nuns: one thing To the congregated multitudes, com- like American Carbonic, the refrigerat- you can depend on. pany president G.W. Mead “the first” ed-air company, or Harvard clothing. Lone Birch, Lone Maple, Lone Pine, says we can depend on his Consolidated Like Eatmor Products Co. and Indian Lone Elm, Lone Spruce, Lone Oak, Water Power & Paper Co. “as long as Trail cranberries. As long as there is Lone Popple and Lone Lilac schools. As there is a rapids in the hardest working Thanksgiving, there will be a market for long as folks eat, there will be farm kids river in the cosmos.” Cranmoor’s most important fresh fruit. and little schools by trees. L.M. Alexander, Mead’s counterpart You can depend on companies like There has always been a lot to depend at Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co., agrees Grand Rapids Milling Co. and Grand on. Just ask Bob Wakely at Point Basse that, as long as mill owners stroll from Rapids Creamery Co. As long as there where you can always depend on a tan- their mansions along the river, we can are housewives baking bread, there will kard of Goodhue’s Finest. Wakely’s pal, rely on local enterprises. be milkmen coming up the walk. Amable Grignon, knows there will al- Furthermore, a union official admits You can depend on sawmills that line ways be a demand for the gentleman’s that it might not be glamorous, but he the river from Nekoosa to Biron. And beaver headwear he specializes in. knows one job he, his family and his de- wood products factories like Grand Grignon’s sometimes neighbor, Chief scendents, can depend on, is papermak- Rapids Combination Wagon Co., Grand Oshkosh, will enjoy his land as long as ing. Rapids Sash & Door Co., and Oberbeck the sky is blue, the ink is black and the Neighbors raise their noses in accord. furniture. There are more trees in Wood President, an honorable man. As long as world headquarters for that County than you can cut in a hundred As Oshkosh’s predecessor, the mound familiar sulfur smell are in Wisconsin lifetimes. builder, surveys his monumental work, Rapids and Port Edwards, so Major Grand Rapids Brewery? In Wisconsin, he knows one thing you can depend on Mulzer at Tri-City Airport vows, there you can depend on Krauts to drink beer. is that no one will ever disturb some- will be a plane to Chicago. The rock-solid brick building will stand thing a guy went to so much trouble to You can depend on Consolidated and for centuries. pile up. It might be early April in places Nepco. That much know the brothers Grand Rapids Cigar Co. A good smoke with calendars but that doesn’t make the Gross and Clark at their trucking com- is one thing a man can always enjoy. mound builder anybody’s fool. That’s panies—in it for the long haul. Anyone can see there is a lot more in one thing, he knows, you can depend Even if your employer by name hap- River City to depend on. Like a public on. pens to be the “Consoweld” laminated transportation system that includes city That, and a good hot meal of woolly countertop company or “Ahdawagam” buses and streetcars. No way the old la- mammoth with a little trilobite on the paperboard manufacturer, good old dy’s got to hike a muddy street to John- side. Consolidated, the real power, can be de- son Hill’s for a new girdle. 04-04-06

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Bancroft Tornado groups or wandered aimlessly down the carrying cars and buildings through the highway, reported the Tribune. air. bout 1:30 p.m., April 3, 1956, The home of Mr. and Mrs. Har- In Berlin, Mrs. Neil Zamzow saw a town of Pine Grove chairman vey Kramer, directly east of the house funnel-shaped object heading towards AVilas Waterman, stood by the Hofschild was working in, weathered her house and ran outside to grab her Bancroft, Wis., bank as a familiar scene the blast but chairs and tables were over- four year old daughter who was play- was transformed. “It was real foggy. turned, windows shattered, curtains torn ing in the yard. As Mrs. Zamzow turned Suddenly the fog lifted and I looked to shreds and bits of furniture strewn back toward the house, she watched the over a couple of blocks and saw this throughout the structure and outside. “I tornado strike the main building of the house just collapse.” was standing on the back porch waiting local Carnation plant. Mrs. Zamzow ran As Waterman rushed from the bank, for the thunder and lightning to calm to her basement, shoved her daughter the force of the gale blew him across the down,” said Mrs. Kramer. “It was dark between a large freezer and several bags street. A thunderous tornado had struck and foggy. Suddenly the porch door and of cement, and laid on top of her. the normally peaceful village. windows burst open and everything She heard a loud crash and looked Pitching in with other townspeople to seemed to take off. The next thing I re- up in time to see the framework of her help those in immediate need, Waterman membered was that it got real light out- house uprooted from the foundation and used his station wagon as an ambulance side and when I glanced out back I saw carried away. Then all she saw was day- and transported Nick Lorbecki, 77, to that our garage was gone.” light; the house had been flattened to St Michael’s hospital at Stevens Point. Waterman said it would be quite a kindling. The home of Nick and his wife, Susan, while before “we get this mess straight- The storm crossed Lake Michigan and 80, had caved in from the force of the ened out.” began producing tornados from Saug- winds. Susan lay beneath the ruins, one Red Cross and Salvation Army offi- atuck to Traverse City and inland, kill- of two who lost their life that day. cials came forward with offers of help ing 17 more and obliterating dozens of Also killed was Gilbert Hofschild, 55, but left when Waterman told them he houses. Wisconsin Rapids, crushed while work- thought the local folks could get along When conditions had quieted here, my ing on a nearby house with his wife, all right by themselves. family joined the procession of sightse- Mamie, 56, also injured. “Just 200 yards It didn’t seem like it that day but Ban- ers to what locals still call “Bang-croft.” to the side and it would have taken our croft was only a part of a major weather For a youngster, it was something to schoolhouse filled with kids,” Waterman event. Within an hour, another tornado brag about. Looking at a wrecked house told reporters. His own home suffered hit Berlin, Wis., leaving seven dead and at which someone had been killed. severe damage to the roof and a storage 50 injured. “I felt a sudden pressure in building was demolished. my ears and before I knew it, cement 04-10-06 Wood County Sheriff Arthur E. Berg blocks, machines, and people were float- reported that the entire southeast quar- ing around on the ceiling,” remembered ter of Bancroft was wrecked by violent John Sands, Berlin, president of Sands winds. Trees had blown across roads, ty- Knitting Mills. ing up traffic and telephone lines to the The storm came within a few yards area were out of commission. Hours after of the high school, where 400 students the deadly swath, people stood in small watched the tornado churn toward them,

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Trouble pressive than the former and less per- tions, no address listed. River City Real- sonal than the latter. Please do not call it ity. The next year, River Cities Christian ell, ya got trouble, my friend. River City “Memories.” Church. River City Salon. Right here in River City. First, it’s medicinal wine from a tea- Would you like to know what kind of W Tonight, at McMillan Me- spoon, then Bud Light from a brown conversation goes on while your kids are morial Library, 7 p.m., presented by the bottle and next, your son is playin’ for loafin’ around the pool hall? They’ll be Friends of Marian the Librarian: River money in a hip-hop sweatsuit and lis- tryin’ out Bevo, tryin’ out Cubebs, tryin’ City Memoirs author, municipal histo- tenin’ to some out-o’-town jasper push out tailor-mades like cigarette fiends rian, poet, sage, philosopher, skeptic, horse race gamblin’, not a wholesome and braggin’ all about how they’re gon- cynic, knocker, crab apple, cat kicker, trottin’ race, no, but where they set down na cover up a tell-tale breath with Sen- chronic bitcher, chipmunk butcher, mis- right on the horse. Sen. anthrope… An early adaptation here was “River In 1997, came River Cities Bank, Riv- After 26 years [2006], though I can’t City Band” in the early 1980s. Vocalist er City Insurance Center and River City find my eyeglasses, remote control or “Duke” Ross told me the moniker had to Process Servers. In 1999, River City the phone number of Mayor Kubisiak, be ditched because another group from Cab. 2001, River Cities Spas, River City I still remember how “River City Mem- Wisconsin Dells had already taken it. Automotive, River City Motors, River oirs” come into being. Years ago, I began a file, “Things City Rentals, River City Tap. In 1981, when Tribune editor Tom En- Called River City.” Here, can be found Now one fine night, they leave the pool wright asked me to find a name my serial River City Mall, Home School Assoc., hall headin’ for the dance at the Armory, ruminations, I had never heard “Whisky YMCA Ski Club, Shootout Girls Bas- libertine men and scarlet women and Rapids” referred to as River City. The ketball Tournament. awful so-called music that’ll grab your idea came to me by way of Meredith “River Cities”: Re-Leaf Program, Es- son, your daughter into the arms of a Willson’s 1957 Broadway musical, “The say Contest, Fun Fest Pancake Brunch, jungle animal instinct. Music Man,” also a 1962 and 2003 mo- Investment Center, Country Jam, Festi- River Cities Community Access. tion picture. val of Lights House Decorating Contest, In 2003, River Cities High School. Willson’s rousing tribute to brass is Business Expo ’93. River Cities Home Inspections. based on impressions of his birthplace, In 1985, came the first use of “River Mothers of River City, before it’s too Mason City, Iowa, and represents simi- City” to appear in a local phone book or late, watch for the tell-tale signs of cor- lar provincial mediapoli such as our city directory: “River City Shopper.” ruption. When your son leaves the house own. Yes, there are “River Cities” from All week long, your River City youth’ll for McMillan library tonight, does he La Crosse to Watertown and Lawrence be fritterin’ away their noontime, sup- rebuckle his knickerbockers below the to Louisville. Edmonton, Alberta, is pertime, choretime, too. The kids in the knee? “River City” and, in Scotland, a soap knickerbockers, shirt-tailed young ones Is there a nicotine stain on his index opera takes the name. peekin’ in the pool hall window after finger? A Democratic pamphlet hidden So “River City” was chosen for its school. in his backpack? universal qualities and for the devil- The second known entry came in 1991: Is he starting to memorize jokes from try of some lyrics in the musical. Why River City Construction, followed by, in Cap’n Billy’s Whizbang? “memoirs”? 1994, River Cities Development Corp., Well if so, my friends, ya got trouble. Because memoirs are somewhere be- which, named our chamber of com- And that’s right here, in River City. tween a history and a diary, more ex- merce. In 1995, River City Investiga- 04-13-06

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Stevens’ Point “When last here, he was completely bro- terwards, he went back to Pennsylvania ken down, much bent over, and leaned and New York to make arrangements to hey were a footloose bunch, these heavily on a stout cane with both hands settle permanently in Wisconsin. capitalists, who carved their good in walking.” Stevens sold his interests in Big Bull Ttimes in the “pinery.” Up the river Cate said that the son of George, Ches- Falls in 1844 to three guys from St Louis they went, from Point Basse (Nekoosa) ter D. Stevens, resided at Bull Run Falls for $5,000 and went back to New York to Frenchtown (Port Edwards); to Grand a while and probably had been with his again. He returned to this area in 1851- Rapids (Wisconsin Rapids); to Mill father at Stevens Point, but went west to 52 for a short visit. Creek to Plover to “the Point,” to Little California in search of gold. No one here, at the time of the 1939 Bull (Mosinee), Big Bull (Wausau) and Cate also said George Stevens was story, knew what had become of Stevens. Jenny Bull (Merrill). induced here by Robert Wakely, who Now, through the Internet, the informa- They and their forebears had already had opened a tavern and trading post at tion is widely available. Through a Wil- made their way up other rivers, from “ye “Point Bausses,” a mile south of what is liam Cory family website, it was found olde” England to New England, New now the city of Nekoosa. that “Lucy Corey” married George A. York state, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin Wakely wanted to know where the Stevens, son of Phineas Stevens. territory. great river came from and trudged north George, born 1790 in New York state, The Oct. 11, 1939, Daily Tribune re- from Shaw Rapids, now Stevens Point, died in 1866 at Rockford, Ill., at the marked that one of our notables, George to Big Bull and Grandfather Bull, where home of his daughter Pamelia Loop. Stevens, was born in Belmont, N.Y., and he found the thick, heavy timbered and She was, like him, a native of Almond, that he had been active with the Baptist potentially lucrative country of pine trees NY. He had lived in Mendota, Ill., and church of Almond, N.Y. along the banks. He was so impressed was buried in Belvidere, Ill. Like father, like son. Among the first with the surroundings, he attempted to Another source, an 1844 newspaper, settlers of Allegany County, N.Y., had convince everyone who would listen printed notice of a Sheriff’s Sale in Dane been the father of “our” George, namely that this region would be ideal for per- county, Wisconsin Territory, against the Phineas Stevens, credited with an 1803 manent settlement. “goods, chattels and lands” of George arrival at Almond Village, New York. In 1837, eleven years before Wis- Stevens, county of Portage, Wisconsin The pattern becomes familiar. The consin became a state, Wakely made a Territory “in favor of Christopher Doug- “pioneer,” Stevens Sr., was the first to trip to St Louis with a lumber shipment lass.” build a sawmill on Almond’s Canacadea from the Whitney mill near what is now Stevens’ lots in the county of Por- Creek. He also opened a tavern “hotel,” downtown Nekoosa. While traveling, he tage, which included what is now Wood An account attributed to Portage County met George Stevens, on a similar mis- county, were to be sold at the capitol in Judge George W. Cate said Phineas’ son, sion. Madison. Some call them vicissitudes. George Stevens, unloaded his wagon on Wakely told his fellow New Yorker They are the ups and downs of the saw- the river bank at the foot of what is now about great pine forests and water power. dust millionaires of early Wisconsin. Main Street, Stevens Point, to be trans- Stevens had his doubts but at the insis- ported by canoe upstream to Big Bull tence of Wakely, accepted an invitation 04-24-06 Falls. to accompany the Whitney expedition Cate said he saw Stevens a few years back to this region. later and frequently, until Stevens’ last When Stevens arrived, he found visit to the Pinery in 1851 or 1852. Wakely hadn’t exaggerated. Shortly af-

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Haunted given me and that God will, too.” working in the soil.” Using only the authority of a son, I In that first year of grief, things got ear Mom, forgive and absolve you, Mother; your sorted out. Seven years. It took me that life was a tribute to my father from the August 8. “Dug out your rain jacket Dlong after you died to open the day you met until the bitter end for both (with tears flowing) from your golf cart plastic bag and unwrap the 36 double- of you. and will wear it even tho it’s painful.” sided pages. You thanked him for the central air She also dug out stuff for us middle- Unlike this, yours is a private mes- conditioner, for the red Buick he bought aged kids to look through. Coats to be sage, addressed to Dad, though you for you when he was dying, and “those cleaned and given away. Shirts to Good- must have known I would read it. “Be- beautiful, thoughtful cards from you will and the Family Resource Center. loved Don…” when my mind was confused. “Oh, how Old checks from the 1970s, burned. Your husband, my father, Donald A. I meant to make a chart of all the things Then came the first Christmas in 52 Engel, retired long-time Consolidated you meant to me (I know I did it in the years – Mom, without your beloved. employee, Methodist, Boy Scout leader, past, but I could have helped you so “My arms just ache to hold you again. alderman, Odd Fellow. You were writ- much by doing it again): I hope you felt I try to feel it in my mind. Went to the ing to him, probably as therapy, a month it.” cemetery with a dozen red silk roses. after he died in May 1991 at St. Joseph Every little thing reminded you of Other roses from anniversary were still hospice. him. in vase frozen, so I just laid the red ones “Today again I was reminded of won- The song that had played at a Menasha in the snow.” derful times when a photo arrived, taken bowling alley, “when we were dating It was such a lonesome Christmas at Japanese Gardens [Florida], that late and you picked me up.” night that, “of all things,” you got out in life paradise, and I plan to send them A walk to Two Mile Creek, “made be- the vacuum cleaner and went to work. the beautiful tribute Dave wrote to you lieve I was walking with you at Silver You, “Mom,” my mother, Arline “Sally” in The Tribune. I miss you so much that Lake.” Engel, who died abruptly in 1999, with- I wonder sometimes how to get through September 13: “I’ll never forget the out time for one last purge of materials another day.” day you gave me my diamond in Terry like this journal to your husband, wrote: Mom, the years after your four chil- Andrae Park The glint in your eyes was “Today I had a ‘haunting” experience. dren grew up and before Kathy died so special.” Had bridge here. Then Alice came late, were the best for you and Dad. At the As ever, the garden. “That’s the clos- came in the back door without knock- end, he was the sickest man I have ever est place I feel to God and you, even ing. seen walking public thoroughfares. tho your touch is missing. I’m trying to “I heard the door ‘squeak’ and it As you wrote, July 7, 1991, “This do the best with the shrubs you were so seemed like old times when you would morning’s devotions in the Upper Room proud to plant. There’s even a blueberry be coming in. are about Peter washing Jesus’ feet. I or two on one. “Oh, how I would love to have you was so glad to remember that I washed “Worked in the flowers, which is still walk in that door, or any door. I miss your feet and gave you a ‘sponge bath’ the best therapy for me. you so much.” several times. I realize now how very “The beautiful maple tree in our front much spirit you had to face your pain yard reminds me of when we planted it 05-08-06 like you did. I’m truly sorry I wasn’t and also the joy you had working in the more considerate and hope you’ve for- yard. You left a legacy for our family of

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WCTC 1956 A garage for the company would be In the olden days, homesters called located at 10th Avenue and Chase Street. “central” by turning a small crank which How about the names they come up The $1 million program would also projected from the side of the phone with now? require construction of underground cabinet. Connection was made with The latest is my trash pickup compa- conduit and cables, and aerial cables, an operator seated at a switchboard, ny. “Onyx” will become “Veolia,” a big (telephone lines?) throughout the ser- sometimes in a residence. The resulting French company named after the wind. vice area. “calls” went out on a “party line,” with Get it? Garbage, wind. Consultants The company had expanded modestly varying combinations of short and long carve some clever copy. in the 1930s, with the purchase of the rings for each household. “Solarus.” The new handle for my Kellner Exchange and a small exchange There was no hand-cranking here in phone and internet provider. I prefer on Plover Road, but the worldwide 1956 but, to make a call, it was neces- the tongue-twisting “WCTC,” good ol’ depression slowed communications sary to answer the operator’s “Number Wood County Telephone Co. The famil- growth. Although dial equipment had please.” Dial would change all that. iar letters represent the history of one of been ordered for Port Edwards in 1941, Directors re-elected that year were: the last important world headquarters World War II again halted production of Earl Bossert, Frank J. Henry, William T. located right here in River City. needed materials for civilian use. After Nobles, Ellsworth Helke and Flower. Some of my wife’s relatives still own the shipment was received in 1945, Port “The large-scale modernization pro- a phone company in northeast Wiscon- converted early the following year. gram becomes necessary because of sin, so I have a personal appreciation for In 1953-54, WCTC acquired the the ever-increasing demands for more a company like WCTC that pulled itself Chrystal-Saratoga Telephone Co. which and better service,” Flower explained in up by its own fiber-optic cable. served a large area south and east of Rap- what has become a tech mantra. Founded in 1896 in reaction to the big ids in what has been our fastest-growing President Bossert told stockholders bully, “Bell,” Wood County Telephone area for more than half a century. that 1955 had been the most successful Co. was making a major change sixty Other small companies were absorbed in the company’s history. Good divi- years later and fifty years ago, and it and the company’s own rural lines con- dends had been paid to the 1,300 stock- came, fittingly, in technology. verted to eight-party service so all was holders in the Tri-City area. “We have In 1956, WCTC (not then known ready in 1956 to begin the changeover actually reached the end of the rope by its initials) was preparing to install to dial, which was completed in 1959. with our present equipment. Our switch- dial services throughout what was then A 1956 Tribune Centennial edition boards, which were more than adequate called the Tri-Cities area. Plans called enumerated the expansion of telephone a few years ago, have been extended and for new buildings in Wisconsin Rapids use here. extended to the point where it is impos- and Nekoosa, according to H.B. Flower, In 1878, four telephones. In 1896, 65 sible to add more to them. company manager. telephones; increasing to 229 in 1900; “There is nothing to be gained by The site in Rapids would be at 440 E. 2,933 in 1925; 8,175 in 1950; and 9,710 discussing our shortcomings at the mo- Grand Ave., across from the almost-new in 1955. ment. It is enough to say that we must Hotel Mead. Donn Hougen of Rapids The local phone company’s first of- take every step necessary to make our- had been engaged as architect. (A check fice was in the Wood Block, a building selves strong in order to meet the ever- of the “telephone book” shows WCTC still at the east end of the Grand Avenue increasing demands of the present and continues to operate at the same East bridge. After 1918, the office moved to a of the future.” Grand Avenue address.) then-new structure fronting on 2nd St. S. 05-15-06

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SWCHC in history, and the story of its growth Mrs. (Estella) Farrish, secretary-trea- and development from the frontier days surer, announced that 24 persons had ven history has history. For in- of a century ago should be compiled and taken charter memberships in the senior stance, our South Wood County preserved in readily accessible form for society through annual dues of $1 per EHistorical Corp. was founded in the benefit of present and future genera- year. (The dues in 1980 were still $1.) 1955 and had its first public meetings tions. In November 1956 at Howe School, fifty years ago. “To be sure, local history has not been Dan McKercher and James Nash, Wis- The formation of a society had been entirely ignored. There have been some consin Rapids, and Marshall Buehler, undertaken a few months previous, with praiseworthy compilations, largely the Port Edwards, presented early commu- T.W. Brazeau serving as chairman of the result of individual effort—such as the nity history at a meeting of what contin- temporary board. pictorial history assembled by T.A. Tay- ued to be referred to as the South Wood If you’ve ever founded something, lor, and the History of Wood County, County Historical “Society.” Buehler you know a constitution and by-laws published in 1923 by a Minneapolis showed early pictures of mill devel- must be conceived, or, more likely, de- concern.” opment at Port Edwards. Mrs. Farrish rived from that of a similar group. The In May 1956, at the multi-purpose showed articles that had been donated to SWCHC version was adopted in July room of Howe School, Schereck spoke the future museum. 1955 at SWCHS, when “Society” rather at the first public meeting of the recently- Eight new directors were appointed to than “Corporation,” capped the name, at organized South Wood County Histori- the board: Mrs. Hazel Gemberling, Carl least according to news accounts. cal Society. The state representative list- Otto, Buehler, Dr. F.X. Pomainville, At the constitutional convention were ed fields of endeavor in which the locals Martin Lipke, T.A. Pascoe, Mrs. Fern C.A. Jasperson, Port Edwards; Warren might engage, advising that collection Amundson and Dr. L.C. Pomainville. E. Beadle, Biron; Mrs. Estella Farrish, and preservation of historical material From the 1955 Tribune editorial: T.W. Brazeau and W.J. Taylor, Wiscon- was most important. Other worthwhile “History, it should be remembered, is sin Rapids. Also present was William activities might include operating a mu- a continuing thing. We are making it to- J. Schereck, Madison, field representa- seum, tape recording old settlers, pub- day, just as surely as did our forebears tive of the State Historical Society, who lishing newspaper articles and radio and when they established the first settle- played a large role in the early days of TV programs, filming historical movies, ment here some 120 years ago. Thus, the local organization and ensured a pe- marking historical sites, sponsoring pil- the society might well set itself the task riod of mutual support and recognition. grimages to places of interest and de- of keeping the historical record up to The mission of the group here was veloping a speakers panel. date, with the passing of the years, as “to preserve, advance and disseminate In fact, most of these suggestions were well as delving into the bygone eras, for knowledge of the history of Wood Coun- fulfilled in the productive first decade the greater enlightenment of those who ty.” Headquarters space was contributed after organization. shall follow in our footsteps.” in the Mead-Witter block, managed by At the May 1956 meeting, Mrs. Hazel Mrs. Farrish and in which a grandson Gemberling of the Howe School faculty 05-22-06 and great-grandson of T.W. Brazeau described activities of the school’s Ju- continue the practice of law. nior Historical Society and introduced A December 1955 Tribune editorial three pupils who reported on the group: said that the six-month-old institution Susan Wefel, Sally Hazell and John Far- filled a long-felt need. “This area is rich rish.

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Memorial Day 2006 Bakers, Balderstons, Woods, Witters, door for their eldest. Rest in peace, if Witherspoons, Whittleseys, Wipper- you can stand the traffic. very day is Memorial Day at mans, Worthingtons, Wakelys and War- My sister, somewhere else, blowing River City memoirs. In our ners. Rest in peace, founders. And for in the wind. Rest in peace, restless ash. Eworld, every year is Memorial the remainder, the Smiths, Johnsons and Every day is Memorial Day for you. Year. Adios to 1945, 1955, 1973, 1976, Joneses. Rest in peace common-called Every day is Memorial Day for the 1989, and Y2K, when we were told to folk as dear as any. Engels at the old Seymour graveyard, lie down in the bunker one last time. Every day is Memorial Day for the now across the valley of death from a Rest in peace, auld lang syne. worldly superstars who transcended golf course. You will never rest in peace Every month is Memorial May when their simple given names; for example, there, old farmers, busily fertilizing the lilacs in the dooryard bloom and the the musical idols John, George, Robert, dandelions. thrush chirps for the long-lamented lost Hank, James, Janis, Judy, Elvis. Lib- A reunion-full of aunts and uncles leader, Lincoln. erace? As Homer says, requiescant in died these past couple years: Fred, Rest in peace all the Mays and all pace. Grace, Wallace, Mildred, Gordon. In those who have almost succumbed to Every day is Memorial Day for a way honor of them, every day is Memorial the near-toxic swoon of the purple plant of life, the good old Consolidated para- Day. Rest in peace, quiet persons now that often grows on as a memorial to digm of paternalism, prosperity and pub- silent. something here and gone. Rest in peace, lic service. Out by Rudolph, a solemn St. Every day is Memorial Day for the homesteader. Philomena requiem for the dairy farms neighbors of the Clyde Avenue and Two Every morning is Memorial Morning that brought a pleasant, productive and Mile Avenue homes that I still drive by when the sun also rises, only to set on Puritanical order to the landscape. Rest every day or two. Rest in peace, happy the far side of noon. Every night is Me- in peace, peace. breezeway. morial Night, when stars born in the east Every day is Memorial Day for a Every day is Memorial Day for Bob are buried in the west. Rest in peace, lit- place, that community of people and Des Jarlais, my rambling pal. Rest in tle sparkles. You guided the sailor on a structures in the vicinity of the Grand peace, Mr. Kahuna, and all the friends dark sea. Avenue bridge. Penney’s, Sugar Bowl, we had. Here in the Heartland, every day is Friendly Fountain, Johnson Hill, Quick Every day is Memorial Day for our Memorial Day, but always first for the Lunch, Montgomery Ward. Rest in children in memory of what they were. sacrifices of soldiers. Our own, fallen peace, Rapids downtown. You provided Rest in peace little ones, and please, big in Revolution, Civil war, World Wars, grist for this mill. girls, don’t go before I do. Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq: for the bat- Every day is Memorial Day to the old Every day is Memorial Day for our tle dead a 21-word salute. And for the folks who shared the times of their lives long lost self, the boy who was witness equally dead of other armies, as the good in our 26 years of interviews. Sail away, to what is written in these pages. Jesuits say, requiescant in pace. oh ship of the 19th and 20th centuries. For these and other reasons, lay Every day is Memorial Day for the Rest in peace, tour guides. wreaths if you are a wreath-layer and high and mighty: the Washingtons, Every day is Memorial Day at the blow taps if you are a bugler. In River Roosevelts, Kennedys and the like. cemeteries: Forest Hill, Calvary and City, every man is a music man and ev- Every day is Memorial Day for a “generic” out on the bumpy four lane at ery day is Memorial Day. peripatetic bunch we have personally which my very original and extraordi- brought to glory but never seen, the nary parents are buried, with space next 05-06-06 168 River City Memoirs Ghost

Conway food. Items such as flour had to be car- er, free of cost and without price, but the ried for miles through the almost track- price they paid was the price manhood xcept for Native Americans and less forest. and womanhood loves to render for the an odd French fur trader, every- But over the years, Pat bought more gains which do it honor. Eone who called River City home land and a substantial home, ran lumber It was the cost of that labor which in 1856 had arrived recently. Many had on the Wisconsin river and became a builds up the true citizen; with priva- been citizens of foreign lands. logging contractor. He also tried cattle tions which strengthen rather than ener- Among the most numerous were the raising with considerable success. vate; and facing perils which exalt the Irish, including Patrick Conway. His bi- The family were devoted Catholics soul. ography in the 1923 “History of Wood who opened their home to missionary With every trunk they lifted to its County” is reproduced here substantial- priests. As a member of the Rudolph place in the cabin wall, a new layer of ly as originally written. town board, Pat helped develop and es- strength was added to their character. Like many of Pat Conway’s Irish tablish schools in his region. Every square of ground they subdued countrymen he found employment in Patrick Conway retired in 1898 and by their joint efforts at cultivation, gave England, where he married Bridget moved to Rapids where he died in 1902. new breadth to their views. Every peril Hinchey. But neither in Ireland nor in His wife, Bridget was still living in 1923 they surmounted, every conflict they England did the couple see any great op- at 89 years of age. won, refined and sublimated the spirit of portunity. Their thoughts turned accord- The Conways were blessed with 13 their lives. ingly to the United State of America, and children. And when, after years of such disci- for this country they took passage on a Typical pioneers in this district, Pat pline of labor and trial, standing by the sailing vessel which after four weeks and Bridget shared the hardships and door of his castle of logs, Patrick Con- landed them at New York. privations of the early settler and lived way heard the sound of the voice of his In that city they made their home for to view the reward that such industry loyal and contented housewife within a short time but soon found conditions and perseverance guaranteed in the land and the voices of happy children round in such a crowded center of population of their adoption. about… were too much like those in Europe. They stood forth in sharp contrast with While his eyes swept the fruitful pos- In the vast areas of the then far West the agricultural class in other lands, in sessions he had wrought from the wil- and Northwest, as yet wild and but thin- the origin of their title to and the nature derness, to their sufficient support and ly settled, the opportunities for which of their possession of, the soil they cul- comfort, he realized the individual in- Mr. Conway sought were awaiting the tivated. They entered upon the tremen- dependence of free manhood, and the hardy pioneer and he resolved to em- dous task of hewing out of the forests blessings of a free country which made brace them. of the town of Rudolph a farm and a possible the accomplishments of the In 1851, Pat and his wife drove into home, not as the tenant of some feudal subjects of this sketch… what is now Section 9 in the town of Ru- lord, wearing the collar of servitude and Patrick and Bridget Conway, who dolph and began the work of improving yielding all of the better portion of their came to Wood County, a remote wilder- 119 acres. A period of years followed, produce as a return for protection to him ness, and who brought with them the marked by hard and almost incessant la- as weakling laborers. best type of Christian civilization. bor. Self reliant and self dependent, they So it was said, in 1923, of the immi- During the pioneer years, the Conways took from nature the lease of their estate, grants. were strengthened by only the plainest rent free and bondage free. Not, howev- 06-05-06

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Nehring He came out of the cabin with a kero- me except he didn’t have a belly like sene lantern. He looked us all over. me. hen my friend Hank was ‘Oh, it’s you and you and you. Say, you “I was bachin’ it at the Bandelin Ho- born, his dad wasn’t there to can’t guess who’s here.’ tel at the time. They called it the Grand Wsay hello. Fred Nehring had “We went in and there he sat, by the Avenue Tap later on, by Romanski’s. told Hank’s mother, Hattie, that he was wood box, a man without a right hand. “My brother was 200 pounds. He lay going up north to work in the woods; “My uncle said, ‘Now here, Fred, is on the floor on his back. My old man but he didn’t come back. That was 83 your youngest son.’ bent over and picked him up by the belt years ago. “It was my dad. He stuck out his with his teeth. Yeah, he was a power- “I don’t really know what county I good hand. We shook hands. That was ful guy. Up north, he hit a guy with his was born in,” Hank told me at his 1320 the first time I ever seen him. He didn’t stub and the guy died. They tried him Apple St. home. “I was born out in say nothing to Ma and Ma didn’t say for murder but the other guy started the the woods on the Marathon and Wood nothing to him. They were quiet. fight. county line in a little log house like “The next day, we went hunting by “He stayed with another old codger Abraham Lincoln: one room downstairs Butternut. Just the guy that brought us out at Tustin. I don’t know exactly and one room upstairs. up and my Uncle Henry and me and my when he died. I know he had money Hank lived with his mother’s parents, dad. I remember that song was new, ‘I before that because he bought a brand Fred and Wilhelmina Miller, his older lost my thrill on Blueberry Hill.’ Not new Chevrolet truck. He was 82 years brother Walter, sister Lydia and Uncle Fats Domino, someone else. My dad old. Art Miller. For support, Fred had left kept playing it over and over in the “A friend of mine said she used to behind a little white horse named Dolly tavern. see an old guy that hung around the old and a nanny goat. “The next day, we went hunting again tavern at Tustin, liked to play pool and He had liked to go to the tavern with but the old man disappeared. He stayed play cards. He had his right hand off, Dolly pulling him on a stone boat and with his brother-in-law, Henry Miller, she said. ‘I bet that was your dad.’” the goat seated beside him. Arriving until he got kicked out. Never could home, “Ma would have to drag him leave women alone. 06-12-06 into the house.” “Then I seen him again at my broth- When Hank was 17 years of age, “a er’s house. He was living in Tustin with guy from Nekoosa” said he was go- another old guy. He came up to visit. ing up to see Hank’s namesake, Uncle “The third time, a guy by the name Henry Miller, in Park Falls, Wis. “My of Nels Johnson knew the old man and ma wanted to go. She liked to bum any brought him to my DX gas station at place. 12th and West Grand. I invited him to “‘You like to go too, Heinie?’ They come over for supper. called me that from the moment I was “My wife said, ‘That’s okay.’ But he born, I guess. It snowed and that ’37 didn’t come. Olds barely made it up there. There “Boy, he could fight and he could wasn’t no road to the buildings; you shoot. He could do anything with the had to walk. That was up at Kaiser. one hand. I’ll tell you how strong he “My uncle saw the lights of the car. was. He was skin and bones about like 170 River City Memoirs Ghost

City Point aged about five feet above marsh level. good left hand. After three rounds, Gal- The road was considered a companion las wrote, his left arm got so tired, he n the good old days, things were bad to another main trail about twelve miles had to grab and clinch and hang on as all over. With much of the world long, running east and west “across a long as he could. Iin the economic depression of the similar territory,” one of the first large “What’s the matter with that boy’s 1930s, the grass wasn’t much greener projects completed by the camp. Over right hand?” he said he heard spectators on the other side, encouraging a sense the winter, the enrollees repaired dikes ask. of common interest. and dams in an area now characterized A February 1939 Wisconsin Rap- Remembered fondly by many were mainly by cranberry marshes. ids Daily Tribune also chronicled the “CCC” camps that put young men to The April 14, 1939, sixth anniversary match. “Wading into each other for work at government expense. tours included educational buildings, three rounds, Pete Gallas of CCC Camp March 31, 1938, brought the fifth an- barracks, mess hall, work shop, dispen- City Point and Sylvester Jackson, Lac niversary of the Civilian Conservation sary, recreation building and personnel du Flambeau Indian, slugged fast and Corps, “which has probably received quarters. furious in a novice 147-pound match, more praise and less criticism than any A report said the camp had been es- Gallas taking a decision. other of the government’s alphabetical tablished for drought relief but was “Stan Bartkowski, City Point CCC agencies,” according to the Daily Tri- changed to a forestry detachment. It had boxer, took an edge to win over Clar- bune. been located at City Point because of the ence Molepski of the Tri-Cities Boxing South of Wisconsin Rapids was Camp large amount of reforestation needed in club in another welter match.” Petenwell and a “side camp” at Nepco that district. The camp had planted about At the camp in the evenings, the CCC lake that employed 50 young men, plant- 700,000 trees annually. boys played guitar, shot pool and played ing and raising seedlings. In the swamps A reminiscence by Peter Gallas in- dice. Beds were moved aside to set up a west of Rapids was City Point. cludes a passage about Camp City Point. small boxing ring. A couple years after its August 14, In 1938, he was part of a camp boxing One Christmas Eve, the Army truck 1934, construction, the City Point camp team that entered the Golden Glove took the enrollees to Marshfield. Being held one of its annual anniversary open tournaments in Wisconsin Rapids, Gal- a singer and loving music, “Bing” Gal- houses. Of 206 “enrollees” in Company las said. las went into a tavern and stood near the 2621, most came from central Wisconsin Six feet tall and slim, the 147-pound door watching people dance. Unexpect- counties. They were directed by eight welterweight injured his hand in practice. edly, a man accused Gallas of ogling his foresters and the camp superintendent, He didn’t know it was broken though dancing partner and said he was going to J.E. Tenney. One account says enrollees he was in so much pain he couldn’t tie take it out on him. In a fit of jealousy, the received $30 a month of which $25 was his shoe strings. His military coach told heavy, well-developed man pummeled sent home to parents and families. him to dress for the fight anyway. If the Gallas to the floor and choked him. The principal project in 1936 was the opponent didn’t show up, Gallas would Finally, Gallas turned the man over construction of a 13-mile truck road be- win by a forfeit. flat on the floor, shouting that itwas tween City Point and Mather that would But when the guy did appear, the Cap- Christmas Eve and they were supposed enable motorized forest fighters to reach tain encouraged Gallas to fight anyway to be living in peace, putting an end to tens of thousands of acres. Built with the and told him to keep jabbing his Native the fracas. aid of a narrow-gauge railroad, it aver- American opponent in the face with the 06-26-06

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Sphagnum Czar ing west of that city.” Sales were made to nurserymen, Add to River City’s accolades: sphag- florists and manufacturers of funeral n 1929, a man walked into one of the num marsh capital of the world. wreaths and designs all over the Unit- big florist shops in Boston. “Those More info: ed States and Canada. Florists received Iare the most beautiful roses I’ve Sphagnum moss grows commonly in the highest grade, shipped in burlap- seen in a long time. I’d like to send a damp, shady places in many parts of the wrapped bales 45 inches long, from 20- dozen to my wife, but I’m afraid they north temperature zone. After centuries 25 pounds each. wouldn’t keep. I want to ship some nar- of alternate growth and death, it forms Still another use for the moss was that cissus bulbs too. Does there happen to peat. In the 1920s, about 80 per cent of super-angler Isaak Walton to “scour” be any way to pack them so they would of the sphagnum used commercially worms for “piscatorial purposes.” You stand an express run to Denver, Colo- in the United States and Canada came stuff the moss in a jar, dig up some rado?” from about 100 square miles of marshes worms, put them in the jar, and after a The clerk smiled confidently. “Why, around City Point and Mather. couple days they will be almost trans- yes, sir. I think we could. The ordinary Commercial gathering and sale of parent, tough and lively, making an ef- way would be to transfer the order to sphagnum moss in Wisconsin seems to fective trout lure. our correspondent at Denver, but if you have begun in the late 1880s by Z.K. In the 1980s, James A. Retzlaff (1923- have a fancy to these particular roses, Jewett and Frank Hancock, who operat- 2003), of Wisconsin Rapids, intimated I’m sure we can pack them so they will ed independently of each other at Mather to me that he was the sphagnum moss keep all right.” and later at City Point. The industry de- czar and that I should look into the topic Going to a box behind the counter, the veloped slowly but as the produce be- some day. clerk picked a handful of vine-like plants came known, sales increased. In 1928, During World War II, Jim had flown and held them up for inspection. “This is production had been 175,000 bales. numerous missions over Germany when sphagnum moss. When properly damp- Moss was systematically harvested by his plane was shot down over the Dan- ened and carefully packed around the hand with hooks made especially for the ube River. After swimming to shore, he bulbs and the flower stems, you would purpose, then piled like hay, and when was captured and held prisoner until be surprised how long the plants will as dry as it was going to get, baled. war’s end. Upon return from the ser- keep fresh.” Sphagnum moss grows from two to vice, Jim graduated from the University “What is sphagnum moss and where three inches annually and a marsh area of Wisconsin-Madison and started his does it come from?” the customer want- once harvested will not yield another business career by founding the North ed to know. Many of you readers are just crop for five years. In the 1920s, the American Moss Co. as curious. moss-producing territory had been much While growing and distributing sphag- He was told that it is a species of moss too large to harvest, even in a five year num moss throughout the United States, which grows only in peat bogs and period. he held patents for a number of pertinent marshes and is composed of cellular tis- With the exception of the Bissig Bros., machines that alleviated much of the sue capable of holding about 15 times who began operations in 1911, and sold hard manual work previously required its weight in water, for a long period. their product un-harvested, the large in this field thus enabling Retslaff to “This came,” the clerk concluded, producers had consolidated their selling claim the moss throne. “from a Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., con- in the Wisconsin Sphagnum Moss Sales cern which we are told controls the company of Rapids, fully 75 percent of 07-04-06 product of large areas of marshland, ly- the state product being sold thorough it.

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Worst Generation For its part, the Daily Tribune penned Waukesha, broke a bottle over the bum- he greatest generation quickly an editorial entitled, “Time to Apply the per of a car and attacked a companion. recognized ours as the worst. Needle to Epidemic of Vandalism.” A drunken melee followed that was bro- Now “Grandma” and “Grand- A 1955 editorial focused on Hallow- ken up when the proprietor of the restau- T een “prankery,” describing the activities rant, Mrs. Louise Hewitt, called police. pa,” we are the juvenile delinquents of the 1950s and 1960s. of a band of young “ruffians” that de- Five girls were among the group appre- Our crimes included littering, loiter- scended upon Plank Hill school in the hended. The oldest had her 4-month-old ing, smoking, stealing, sneering, deal- town of Port Edwards, breaking 27 win- baby with her when the battle broke out ing, brawling, bowling, vandalism, dows, overturning an outhouse, entering at about 3:30 a.m. cynicism, agnosticism, inebriation, the school and smashing a water cooler. Tribune: “It is shocking to realize that cerebration, lascivious conduct and in- Windows were broken and a toilet our community harbors among its youth tercourse. Our screen idols were socio- overturned at Ross school, also in the a criminal element which has utter dis- paths: Marlon Brando, James Dean and town of Saratoga. Toilets were tipped at dain for private and public property John Wayne. Pine Grove in Seneca and the Wittenberg rights and which destroys for the pure We followed any stupid fad foisted school in the town of Port Edwards. deviltry of it. Certainly the time is at upon us by the foisters: flat tops, duck In the town of Grand Rapids, “a bra- hand when such goings-on can no lon- tails, goose steps, engineer boots, switch- zen, strong-armed crew” carted away the ger be tolerated on the assumption that blade knives, Fudgesicles. We were outdoor toilet from the home of Julius ‘boys will be boys.’” degenerate, poorly-dressed, bizarrely- Peters on 4th Street South and “under Hardly a week passed, said the Tri- coiffed and apathetic; what’s more, we cover of darkness” moved the building bune, during which it did not carry items didn’t care. We also passed along old, to the horseshoe drive at Lincoln High about petty rowdyism. Sometimes the sick jokes and read Mad magazine. school. A bicycle was hoisted to the top damage was to public buildings, such Even as we puffed straws behind the of the Emerson school flagpole. as the window-breaking at the Wood barn and injected aspirin into our Cokes, Houses were splashed with black paint County Courthouse and Wood County a mounting wave of juvenile delinquen- and windows broken. On the county jail, College. “Can it be that the parents of cy was noted by northern Wisconsin a sign had been appended: “Rooms for these young ruffians do not care what church leaders in 1955. Juvenile gangs Rent.” Out of town, fences were torn up, mischief their sons are up to? Or is it similar to those in metropolitan areas machinery driven into ditches and corn that they simply do not feel a sufficient had appeared in Eagle River and Jab shocks deposited in a roadway. Over the degree of parental responsibility to in- Switch Junction. summer season at Lake Wazeecha, toi- quire into the hours and company which Churches, police and parents of the lets were overturned, tables and benches their offspring are keeping?” greatest generation were cooperating to tossed into the lake, garbage cans tipped, The parents would pay their dues supervise the gangs and “channel their beer cans strewn about and bottles and eventually, said the Tribune, in the fu- interest to constructive pursuits.” Prob- light bulbs broken. ture support of the penal institutions ably the most egregious influence in the Brawls in public places were becom- toward which their wayward sons were degrading of society was television, an ing commonplace. At the Hickory Pit, heading. effect apparent in lowered attendance at an all-night restaurant east of the city on Something would have to be done but evening church services. In fact, televi- Highway 54, there were three fights in what? (To be continued.) sion viewing had reduced participation three successive nights. A Rudolph lad, in all community activities. 16, on parole from the Boys School at 07-10-06

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Shoplifting melons and stuck bad faces into pulp that a cut rate to willing girls outside Elks was all the sweeter for being illegal. Club charity dances. One individual he boys were bad. In the 1950s Young bad boys from Grove school carved an elaborate fake “Palace” stamp and 1960s, respectable citizens plundered stores of 8th Street from and cheated owner Ted Walrath of the were advised to avoid youthful T Glick’s bait shop to the Charcoal Grill. price of admission. jack-booted thugs carrying switch-blade Gas stations and corner groceries pro- When it came time to try unlawful al- knives in back pockets of low-slung vided a pirate’s booty of otherwise cohol, bad boys stole beer and booze by jeans and Tommy guns beneath black adults-only cigars, cigarillos and ciga- the bottle and case, from grocery stores leather jackets; these were the juvenile rettes. Soda pop from self-service cool- and the liquor cabinets of parents and delinquents. Mom and Pop might find ers at Stewart’s grocery was consumed neighbors. At a time when 18-year-olds themselves looking down the barrel of a on site by Boy Scouts and not paid for could belly up to the bar, bad boys rou- weapon loaded with a cartridge of liquid or, for the price of one, two or three tinely snatched beer paraphernalia (and the teenage lunatic might propel their were quaffed. traffic signs) until teen bedrooms looked direction with wetting force. Bad boys from Lincoln high school like Old Milwaukee museums. How did the wild ones come to pos- raided Haney’s drug store for Baby Ruth In one particularly wicked case, bad sess these metallic plastic, arm-length, candy bars, Sen-Sen and Brylcreem. boys visited Grandma on false pretenses $1 submachine-gun squirt guns? The Bad boys stole the head from Lincoln’s and cobbed a bottle of licorice-flavored rumblers of River City had heisted them statue in the high school foyer and se- German liqueur from her fruit cellar only from dime stores by sticking the ungain- creted it in Coach Knauer’s vehicle in an to pay later at Art’s when headaches and ly smoothbores down their pants’ legs. attempt to induce a heart attack. nausea substituted for conscience. In last week’s Memoirs, the charge At the end of the day, the lads slicked In a “funniest home movie” of teenage against the worst generation was van- back their ducktails and headed for the crime, a bad boy bent on busting into the dalism. This week, it’s shoplifting, also Friendly Fountain to celebrate and try to cash register lowered himself through a known as hocking, cobbing, copping, figure out how to get money out of the gas station garage window into a vat of lifting or “taking the five-finger dis- pinball machine. used engine oil. count” and, in the Sixties A.D. (after Downtown, any department of Wool- The discussion could continue in- drugs), as ripping off or scoring. worth’s was prime shoplifting territory definitely; but it’s time for bad boys to Bad boys stole anything that didn’t and bad girls were known to emerge confess to Father Wagner, beg forgive- bite and a few things that did. Out in double and triple-dressed from Johnson ness from Woolworth manager Louis the countryside, they “cooned” grapes, Hill’s. Shugart, apologize to principal Mar- apples, cucumbers or rutabagas. Some- Bad boys and girls snuck through vin Maire and cough up a hefty fine to times the harvest was hurled at passing back doors of the three downtown the- police chief Rudy Exner. Time for bad vehicles or sold at black market roadside aters and/or concealed themselves in the boys, flush with the ill-gotten gains of stands in neighboring townships. trunks of automobiles to steal into the a lifetime, to begin writing the checks Later, rather than risk a peppering of Highway 13 “outdoor.” Other nights, that will begin to atone for their life of rock salt from a Vesper or Kellner farm- they lied about their age and assumed crime. er, bad boys snuck to the front of IGA on false identities to claim a cheaper tick- (To be continued.) the developing Highway 13 strip, hoist- et. ed watermelons and raced to the vacant Buying (or stealing) magic markers, 07-17-06 lot around back where they cracked the bad boys sold counterfeit hand checks at

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Winden Part One make any difference.” that on several occasions they were Nash said he had told Bever and Hou- against you.” t the Wisconsin Rapids school gen of the actions, and that they had “You’ve always been on the side of board meeting, A.B. Bever in- both agreed. those who were on top. I opposed your Aterrupted a motion-to-adjourn “I didn’t say any such thing,” Bever selection in the first place because I felt with some new business. “Some of broke in. “I told you that if the rest of the you weren’t competent.” you,” he said on March 14, 1932, “took members felt that way about it, it would Winden said that Nash had come to it upon yourselves to fire [superinten- have to be all right with me. Since then him just after the special meeting and dent of schools] Mr. Winden. You held I have found out that the board was far a few hours before the regular January a secret meeting in a ‘hayloft’ and ran it from unanimous on the matter.” meeting and requested his resignation. gangster fashion. After voting him out of “Then I take it, I’m a liar?” queried John E. Schnabel said he had been a office you notified him that his contract Mr. Nash. member of the board a only short time would not be renewed and demanded “Take it any way you want,” replied when the subject of a new superinten- his resignation. Bever. “It was pretty rotten business, dent came up. “I didn’t know much “Now I want to make a motion to re- that’s all I’ve got to say.” about the school system but had always consider that action, to get the true ex- After the passage of a motion to re- considered Mr. Winden a capable man pression of every member’s opinion.” consider the resignation, W.J. Taylor de- for the job, and had heard many fine Terming Bever’s accusation an “in- clared that, “in all fairness to Mr. Nash, comments on his work.” sult,” board president Guy Nash said the I think those present at the meeting in Bever said he hoped all members meeting at which it was voted to request question should say something in his be- would “lay their cards on the table” and Mr. Winden’s resignation was “called, half. If we as members of the board of stated that “we have as good a school not as a regular meeting of the board, but education can sit here and say that we system as there is in the state.” as a private gathering of the board mem- were so taken by surprise that we didn’t A motion for a new vote on the origi- bers, in order to have a frank discussion vote according to our honest convictions nal question of accepting the resignation of the matter without embarrassing Mr. then we all ought to be back in school was made by Bever. Winden,” who, as secretary of the board again instead of trying to run a school Madsen offered an amendment to de- was present at all official sessions. system! We’re a bunch of jellyfish if we lay action until the April meeting but the Every member had been notified of the haven’t the courage and common sense amendment was defeated 4-3 with Mad- private meeting, said Nash, but Bever to say ‘I feel this way about it’ and then sen, Taylor and Nash voting in favor and and Mrs. Edward Hougen were unable stick to our decision.” Bever, Gottschalk, Hougen and Schna- to attend, which Bever admitted was For his part, Winden said he had held bel against. true but declared that the purpose of the the office for nine years and that this The same votes were tolled against ac- meeting had not been known. was the first time he had any idea that cepting the resignation. Mrs. A.F. Gottschalk stated that the his services were not satisfactory. “May “Well, there you are,” said Presi- question of Mr. Winden’s dismissal took I ask, Mr. Nash, what are your objec- dent Nash when Secretary Winden an- her so by surprise that she hardly knew tions to me?” nounced the result. how she voted. “I felt I should give the “Principally because you are always Said the Daily Tribune, “A long si- matter more consideration,” she said, on the fence.” lence ensued, which was finally broken “but thought that if the rest of the board “I’ve made decisions when I’ve had by a motion to adjourn.” desired a change, my vote wouldn’t to,” answered Winden. “You’ll recall 07-24-06

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Recall In March 1932, petitions asked for The entire school walked out on strike, recall of board members who wanted recalled Bill Heilman, a 1933 graduate n February 1932, after being be- Winden out: Guy Nash, president, W.J. of LHS, at his 50-year reunion; Benja- witched, badgered and beleaguered Taylor and Arthur Madsen. John Schna- min Marx said he was among the group for several years, Julius Winden I bel also voted for Winden’s resignation; that painted “We want Winden” around said he was quitting the teaching profes- he would be up for reelection April 5, town. sion to live on his farm near Wisconsin opposed by F.F. Mengel. Apparently, the walkout came to a Rapids. In fact, he had been fired as that The Central Labor union joined the quick halt when Winden confronted city’s school superintendent, shortly pro-Winden faction. the students and asked them not to skip after an impressive new Lincoln high At a public meeting with 150 pres- school on his account. school building and field house had ent, the audience, “taken aback by the On March 30, petitions bearing 1,430 been built. brevity of the meeting booed lustily” as names were filed with county Judge Winden, principal of Lincoln for three the board left to look at 50 applications Frank W. Calkins, calling for a special years, had been “elected” by school for the job. When Winden appeared, the recall election against board members board “commissioners” in 1923. One group applauded. “not competently nor properly serving of his first actions was to employ J.A. “Everybody is in a heated condition,” the best interests of the city.” Torresani to start a physical education board member Arthur Madsen said, “and A.J. Amundson, head of Wisconsin program. we need time to cool off.” Sphagnum Moss Co., Wm. Schroeder, a Perhaps Winden got on the bad side of Hearing that students at Lincoln high carpenter, and Earl Sherman, a “garage- some locals in April 1931 when he re- school planned a walkout to protest man,” successfully opposed Nash, Tay- fused to permit school skipping for the Winden’s dismissal, the board went on lor and Madsen in the special election first day of trout fishing. Perhaps it was record against such “mob action.” May 17. It was believed to be the first the 1931 homecoming in which drunk- What the Tribune called “juvenile case on record where a such recall was enness, theft and disorder occurred in agitation” included “Winden” painted effective. and around the field house. For sure, on the stand pipe at the high school In the “final chapter,” reported May he had made an enemy in school board and “We want Winden” on the viaduct, 25, the newly-organized board unani- president Guy Nash, who demanded McKercher Milling Co. grain elevator, mously reelected Winden for one year Winden’s resignation at the January Ahdawagam Paper Products Co. stand in a meeting interrupted by a group of meeting of the board. pipe and on sidewalks in front of board students outside the high school build- The Daily Tribune bade a tepid fare- members’ houses. Students chanting ing once again chanting, “We want Win- well: “Parents in this whole commu- “In with Winden, out with Nash; clear den.” nity sending their youngsters to the city the board of all the trash” led a snake It would be up to the commissioners, schools, particularly the high school will dance downtown and through the halls board member Amundson said, to deter- regret to learn of Mr. Winden’s resigna- of Lowell school. They interrupted mine if there was any foundation to the tion and will wish him well in his new public meetings and a piano recital by charges against Winden. Meanwhile, “It connection after he serves out the term Raymond Vickers. Some of the bolder is the duty of the board to do all in its of his local contract this spring.” Mrs. “children” entered W.J. Taylor’s house power, through honest action, to heal the Winden would be especially missed, and stopped in front of Principal A.A. breach which has been caused by the re- having been tireless in club work, wel- Ritchay’s house but did not enter. cent furor.” fare and community enterprises. 07-31-06

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Anti-Union Five Now, the “anti-union” five published Commissioner Brennan came to the their views in the Daily Tribune. “The teachers’ defense with a plea that the isconsin Rapids city super- issue is plain. Are the school authorities board “look ahead, and not back” and intendent of schools Julius and the school board as a governing body give the teachers another chance. “I Winden weathered the storms W to determine the policy of the schools, don’t think we’re looking ahead when of ’32 and went on to work in the district or is it to be determined by dissatisfied we rehire teachers the old board refused for the following four years. teachers, supported by some outside or- to hire,” Mrs. Hougen retorted. In January 1936, reelected at a “lively ganization and outside influences?” Brennan: “Well, you feel one way session” of the school board, he pledged In the July recall election, three “union about that, and we feel another. The to seek restoration of harmony among candidates” were elected to the school question will never be remedied until teachers and recommended “removal board: Arthur Rasmussen, George Mar- we find out which side is right, and the from the system of those who attempt to coux and Earl Brennan. only way we can find that out is by giv- destroy that harmony.” He meant those In September 1936 board member or ing these teachers a new trial.” who had organized a union during the “commissioner” Carl Odegard protested William F. Thiele suggested Supt. early “Great Depression” years. Winden he had been illegally barred from vot- Smith be the sole judge of whether the opposed the union and, with his approv- ing by board president Earl Sherman be- teachers became “disloyal” to him or al, contracts were not extended to some cause Odegard owned a share of Wood the board during the coming year. When 13-17 teachers. County Telephone company stock in vi- Brennan protested that this would put The problems of the unionizing period olation of state laws forbidding owners the superintendent “on the spot,” Thiele aggravated the effects of his troubles of utility stocks from holding city offic- amended his amendment to make the with the 1932 school board and Winden es. The recently-elected commissioners board judge of any disloyalty. resigned in April 1936 and was granted restored Odegard’s voting rights. Smith said he had no objection to an immediate leave of absence. The Ste- New superintendent of schools Floyd Ritchie, who had an “A” rating the pre- vens Point Journal reported that a Rap- Smith told the board additional teachers vious year, or to Neale. The rehiring was ids board member said Winden had suf- were needed in the English and com- opposed only by Mrs. Hougen. Sherman fered a nervous breakdown. mercial departments of the high school. remained silent as Thiele joined Mar- The board appointed Aaron A. Rit- Consequently, Mary Y. Ritchie was to coux, Brennan, Rasmussen and Odegard chay, Lincoln high school principal, as be re-hired as English teacher, Mary El- in approval. acting superintendent. len Neale as commercial instructor. In other board business, the Central For its part, the Central Labor union Mrs. Hougen protested the hiring of Labor union was granted use of five circulated petitions to again recall the Ritchie and Neale. Both, she said, were school rooms for classes in workers’ board of education, hoping to reinstate “disloyal to the school board and the su- education and the Junior Association of 13 discharged members of the Wiscon- perintendent.” The two belonged to the Commerce was allowed to serve punch sin Rapids Federation of Teachers. Wisconsin Rapids Teachers’ Federation at the Cranberry Harvest Festival ball in The board members named were Mrs. executive committee and had been ac- the field house, “provided it is kept off A.F. (Mabel) Gottschalk, vice president tive in negotiations for union recognition the basketball floor.” of the board, Albert J. Amundson, F.F. and a salary schedule, a process which In 1945, Julius Winden moved from Mengel, Earl Sherman and Mrs. Edward led to denial of new contracts to them, Randolph, Wis. to Huntington Park, (Claradona) Hougen. Several had been resignation of superintendent Winden Cal., where he died in 1963 at age 89. installed after the 1932 recall of the anti- and the July 14 recall election. 08-07-06 Winden faction. 177 Ghost River City Memoirs

Sock and Roll vessel left the dock and continued dur- Tribune, for the son of a house painter ing the more than two hours of the cruise who thought he’d be an electrician. don’t care what people say, rock ‘n’ while the orchestra played “rock ‘n’ roll RCA and others predicted big things roll will always be, it’ll go down in rhythms.” Most of those on board were for the new “Swoon-Producer” and the history … of the worst genera- “Negroes” but police said racial issues “Hottest Phenom,” now looking into be- I were not involved in the fighting. coming the next Marlon Brando. “So it tion. At first, there was some doubt in In another case, according to the Tri- would seem that Elvis Presley is here to Santa Cruz, Calif., as reported 50 years bune, a young woman of 21 carried a stay. If he can last long enough, this is.” ago by the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tri- baby in one hand while, with the other At the same time, here in sleepy, bune. “City officials intent on dispelling hand, she reached up and grabbed a square, central Wisconsin, there was any notion that Santa Cruz is the lair of “rock and roll” singer by the collar and still old time dance music being played the square, want it known that rock and started to pull. “You must come home at Skyway Ballroom, with George Mid- roll dancing is not banned in this Pacific with me. You MUST come home with dlecamp and His Troubadors; at Hillside Coast resort.” me.” west of Nekoosa, with Cliff Banks and Rock and roll, “along with other The singer in question had aroused His Orchestra; at Silver Dome, Neills- harmless types of swing music, enjoy- in women from teenagers to matrons ville, with Howie Sturtz; and at the Co- able to young and old, “was welcomed, “the strongest urge since Frank Sinatra lonial Ballroom east of Wausau, with said the Santa Cruz city manager. “We reigned supreme.” The rock and roll nationally renowned Louis Armstrong have nothing against rock and roll mu- singer caused riots and editorials and al- and his All Stars. sic,” chimed in the police chief, “It’s ready had made a fortune. The Wisconsin theater on Grand Ave- just what some people do while listen- A phenomenon of the times. A hill- nue in downtown Wisconsin Rapids was ing to it.” billy singer with overtones of rhythm showing, “Rebel Without a Cause. The “What some people do” was why and blues. Hard to define and hard to un- whole picture of the rock ‘n’ roll gen- public dancing to the more energetic derstand the words. In person he worked eration! This is their side of the story!” type of “R&R” would not be tolerated. himself up to such a pitch he often col- “Crime in the Streets” with James Whit- Police had cracked down on a dance at lapsed after a show. With all the shaking, more, John Cassavetes and Sal Mineo. the civic auditorium when the music in- wiggling, jumping and bumping, it was At Highway 13, “The Price of Fear” and cited some teenagers to “obscene and like watching a strip-teaser and a malted “The Creature Walks Among Us.” highly suggestive dancing.” The audito- milk machine at the same time, said the The cat was out of the bag and wail- rium manager had canceled an engage- Tribune sketch. ing, “If you don’t like rock ’n’ roll, think ment by another rock and roller “be- He was the first pop singer to have his what you’ve been missin’. But if you cause his music attracts a certain type of album sell so well it was listed among like to bop and stroll, come on down crowd that would not be compatible to the single records. Of course, he was El- and listen. Let’s all start to have a ball, this particular community.” vis Presley. everybody rock ’n’ roll.” A July 1956 Tribune suggested, Elvis owned a pink and a yellow con- Finally, in conclusion, signaling the “Sock and Roll Is Better Title.” A rock vertible Cadillac and a sedan for busi- imminent cultural shift, “ah, oh baby, ’n’ roll party aboard a Boston harbor ness purposes. Didn’t smoke, drink or ah, oh baby, ah, oh baby, ah, oh baby, excursion vessel turned into a near riot take dope. His entire diet consisted of rock.” when numerous fights erupted among pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy. the persons aboard almost as soon as the Even breakfast. Pretty good, said the 08-14-06 178 River City Memoirs Ghost

Curfew a growing lack of sense of responsibil- written warning, the fine for the first ity of some parents today, those who offense would be $5, escalating with imburger might have been expect the police, school officials and each violation. the last straw. A local resident others to keep tabs on their children.” Youths who attended organized Linformed police in March 1956 He said that if we could straighten out activities would be allowed one hour to that he had exited the movie theater even one per cent of the “wayward return to their homes. to find the fragrant cheese smeared elements,” it would be an accomplish- The Tribune endorsed curfew hours over the engine of his car parked at 3rd ment. for those under 17. It would be en- Street and East Grand; more likely, he “There is no one solution to the forced between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on discovered it after the engine heated problem,” contributed Rapids police weekdays, midnight on Friday and up. Someone had also slashed auto- chief Exner, “but a curfew would prove Saturday and 10:30 on Sundays. “Even mobile tires that night, it was reported, a valuable aid in reducing it.” A curfew teenagers approaching 17 need firm, although the tires reportedly didn’t would give police a tool “when they sensible guidance and most of them deflate until three days later. Just a need it” and would penalize parents of will admit this, if only to themselves.” couple of notes on delayed havoc violators. “This is not a vicious ordinance,” wrought by the worst generation. Exner was also quoted elsewhere in said Alderman Clarence Lukaszewski, From fiveWisconsin cities came the Tribune that, “We seek the oppor- chairman of the general business com- mayors and chambers of commerce tunity to question boys and girls when mittee which drew up the ordinance. functionaries, themselves members, they are found on the streets late at Before voting, the aldermen listened not of the worst but of the great- night.” He reported a “spot survey” of to an “eloquent” plea by a member est generation, to ponder the youth youths seen on city streets after 11 p.m. of the Lincoln high school student delinquency problem. Presiding at on a Friday night. Officers counted 44 council in opposition to the curfew. the conference was Wisconsin Rapids teenagers on streets, in restaurants or in John Kingdon said only 41 per cent of mayor Nels M. Justeson, with the as- cars, of which 11 were reported seen at seniors at the school favored the ordi- sistance of B.T. Ziegler, local Cham- 2:15 a.m. or later. On a Saturday night, nance. “The reason we are against the ber manager, and Wisconsin Rapids 100 juveniles were counted, among ordinance is because it is impractical, Police Chief R.J. Exner. Other attend- whom 29 were seen later than 1 a.m. it would be difficult to enforce and it is ees came from Marshfield,Wausau, The previous year, 108 persons under unfair and unjust to the majority of the Merrill and Stevens Point. 18 were apprehended, compared to165 teenagers.” Justeson said a youth center was not in 1953, and 199 in 1943. the answer. Although Stevens Point Under the curfew, anyone violating 08-21-06 had opened such a center and re- the provisions could be escorted home ported success, several years before, a by a police officer. Should the viola- similar facility there had closed here tor disobey the officer’s prior warning for lack of interest. “I think we will to go home, a fine would be imposed all agree that the problem stems from against the parent or guardian. After a

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Courthouse More than ever we need, besides beau- courthouse walls, Pors said, such as the tiful buildings, a citizenry intelligent, meetings of the county board and its agnificent,” they said, about honest and unselfish.” committees. the big, new, modern, func- Pors, representing the northern part of Board chairman Alba F. Bump, town Mtional and flat-topped Wood the county, said, “I feel in truth and in of Marshfield, welcomed the “throng” County courthouse that had replaced fact that there is no North Wood County, of 800 gathered in the courthouse square an antiquated facility of the elaborate nor is there a South Wood County. We and briefly reviewed the county’s first style. are all residents of the county of Wood. 100 years. A dedication ceremony in early Au- “It is true that there is a rivalry between Commander Raymond H. Flynn of gust 1956 featured keynote speakers the various sections, but it is not based Buckley-Baldwin Post No. 2534 Veter- Theodore W. Brazeau, Wisconsin Rap- on jealousy; rather, it is based upon ans of Foreign Wars presented Bump an ids, and Charles M. Pors, Marshfield, endeavor and the desire to achieve… American flag that had been flown over introduced by emcee Circuit Judge Her- which enures to the benefit of the whole the nation’s capitol. bert A. Bunde. county. Bump and Flynn hoisted the flag on Of the county board and its building “This building is a symbol of the the 70-foot flagpole at the center of the committee, Brazeau said, “They wisely county’s unity, with the general contrac- courthouse plaza while a bugler sound- perceived that the expenditure for a pub- tor from the north, the architect from the ed, “To the Colors” followed by the na- lic building of this nature, which is to last south; the electrical work performed by tional anthem, played by the Wisconsin for many years, should not be niggardly, a firm from the north, the plumbing from Rapids city band and the Marshfield but should be liberal enough to accom- the south, and with the wood paneling Civil Air Patrol band. plish the purpose of its being. The build- which decorates some of the rooms be- A brief address of welcome by Frank ing they planned incorporates strength, ing produced by a firm in the northern D. Abel, chairman of the dedication beauty and utility … [and] reflects the part of the county.” committee, and an invocation by Rev. dignity and stability of government, and Pors said that no class of buildings E.G. Kuechle, pastor of Immanuel Lu- invites the respect of our citizens.” in Wisconsin affects more people than theran church, had opened the program, Brazeau observed that the old struc- a courthouse with such services as the which closed with a benediction by the ture, built in 1881, “has long since failed keeping of vital statistics of births, mar- Rt. Rev. Msgr. C.W. Gille, pastor of SS. to comply with the needs of the county riages and deaths, the records of which Peter & Paul Catholic church. in size, convenience and safety, and it is are permanently preserved. Each piece Other distinguished guests introduced with little regret that we bid it farewell. of real estate is recorded and its owner- by Bunde included the mayors of Rap- “Years pass on and in time we outgrow ship and changes of ownership also kept ids, Pittsville and Marshfield, Rep.Mel- the things our fathers thought best. on record in the building. At the court- vin R. Laird, State Sen. W.W. Clark, “As we dedicate it to the purposes of house, those who violate law are given Assemblymen Arthur J. Crowns Jr. and government, let us also, as citizens of justice and those who feel their personal John S. Crawford, county board mem- this county, dedicate our lives to good, or private rights have been invaded have bers and architect Donn Hougen whose honorable, unselfish citizenship. Stone their day in court. The estates of all who solid-rock creation overlooks the Grand and masonry, spacious and luxurious of- die are administered through probate Rapids of the Wisconsin and the pecu- fices may inspire, but do not make up- courts. liar county of Wood beyond. right people. Buildings are temporary, Other, more workaday phases of 08-28-06 but justice and righteousness are eternal. government also transpired within the

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Judge Cate Cate, a member of the Wisconsin the first term of court in the pinery. All assembly from1852-1853, moved from the possible elements of character were ot a good omen. As Wood Plover to Stevens Point and was elected represented from the ‘strictly temper- County came into being, it was judge of the circuit court in 1854. He ate’ to the ‘half seas over’. By the time Nthe site of a “shocking” mur- continued in that capacity until 1875 the grand jury had been sworn in, the der. when he was elected to Congress as a latter were becoming prominent. In February 1856, the accused sat in Democrat in what was then a Republi- “One Robert Wakely, a man of high jail at Plover, seat of the mother county, can district. social qualities, whose good nature Portage. From the Stevens Point Pinery Cate was defeated in the next elec- never forsook him even when drunk, of March 15, 1856: “Lane, the mur- tion and resumed the practice of law in rode his horse into the courtroom by the derer of Rainer, at Grand Rapids last Stevens Point, residing at 321 Ellis St. wide door, just to salute the Judge. He month, had his trial this week at Plover, with his family. He died in 1905. held his hat off to the right of his head before Judge Cate. The proceedings In 1896, he related a story about the as in military salute, looking straight have elicited great interest... first session of the United States court at the Judge, a sweet smile lighting up “The case, after a two day’s trial, ever held in Portage County, Wisconsin his countenance, and softly singing that went to the jury last night. We have Territory. The site was an unfurnished ancient lullaby commencing, ‘Hush my not heard the verdict. Should it be one warehouse in the Village of Plover on babe, Be still and slumber,’ all the time of acquittal, there might be trouble, as Monday, August 25, 1845. forcing his horse along. there are quite a number of citizens of Present were: David Irwin, Judge; “The Judge was wild. He was re- all parties and nationalities, who regard George W. Mitchell, deputy United cently from old Virginia, a man of it as a most cold-blooded and brutal States Marshall; Nelson Strong, Sher- great learning and a high appreciation murder upon a young, inoffensive Ger- iff; and George Wyatt, Clerk. “Sheriff of the law. He demanded the arrest of man, whom all thought well of. Strong being out of the territory, he the intruder. Many thought it funny “Great commendation is made of appointed George W. Mitchell Under- and would pat Wakely on the back, but the patient bearing of Judge Cate, and sheriff, and Mitchell appointed William more frowned upon it. the impartial, faithful manner he has Fellows of little Bull Falls and a man “The Marshall had stepped from the provided during this, and other tedious named Wilder deputy sheriffs for the room and the Deputy Sheriffs were cases of the term. term. A grand jury was in attendance, slow to act, Mitchell was sent for. He “Later.—Lane was found guilty of some of which had traveled a hun- came and proved himself to be a man murder in the first degree, and sen- dred miles for that purpose. It was an who not only knew his duty but also tenced to the State Prison for life.” event looked forward to by the isolated had the nerve to do it. He speedily took The judge, George Washington Cate, population scattered in logging camps, Wakely from his horse and had him be- had moved from Montpelier, Vt., in at sawmills and shingle shanties remote fore the Court. The result was that he, 1845. As a young student of law, he from each other. Wakely, was severely reprimanded and worked in a sawmill and rafted logs “A first term of court in a western imprisoned in the Marshall’s bedroom to St. Louis, Mo., prior to locating in country was an epoch. Everybody at- a day or two and then Judge Catlin of Plover. The only other lawyer in the lo- tended. Frequently campfires were built Madison, an old and highly respected cality was James S. Alban, who died at and people sat about them all night. citizen, obtained his release by reason the Civil War battle of Shiloh and had a A load of people came from Madison, of the many good qualities of Wakely.” township named after him. 125 miles, in a two-horse wagon to see 09-04-06

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Union School Feb. 1, 1862: THE UNION SCHOOL. at the School House last Monday…The “Last Friday we took a glance at the in- exercises thus far have been conducted ur town? “Shall it still be known terior of the new school house, and find by Prof. Stewart of Waukesha… as ‘a den of ignorance and vice,’ it neatly finished. The rooms, three in “Mr. Powers has solicited several of or shall it rise in the full splendor O all, are high, capacious, and in every our citizens to give lectures before the of intellectual and moral development, way commendatory to the architects, class during its session, and we under- to radiate intelligence and purity wher- Edminster and Stevenson. The wood stand that several have signified a will- ever its influence shall be felt? Shall it in work on the interior is tastefully grained ingness to do so.” the future be the home of real worth and in imitation of oak and butternut. A large Oct. 14, 1875: “OUR SCHOOL.” virtue, or shall it be the hiding place of portion of the work was done by Mr. “We visited our school last week, the drunkard, the gambler, the licentious Salomon, reflecting credit on him as a twice, now under the supervision of of every caste, who shrink from the light workman of taste and neatness. On the Prof. Stewart as Principal. We walked in and purity of other communities? whole the building, outward and inward, as any visitor ought, without ceremony, “Let it be known through some chan- is an ornament to our town and should without knocking, taking the first va- nel, that we have the elements of civili- be appreciated by our citizens.” cant seat we came to, looked on, noted zation, refinement and virtue here, and A letter from “Justice,” Sept. 6, 1862: this and that, and retired when we were thus draw in worthy citizens, and by de- “Very few know that they could afford ready so to do… grees root out vice, and so open the way their families the advantages of even a “We found the Principal’s room full to a glorious future…” medium school here. I have met some of studious pupils attending to business. A letter to the editor, 1862, regarding who were surprised to hear that we had Mr. S. is proving himself a rare educa- the effect of a good education upon the any school at all! tor. reprobates who gravitate here. “But, sir, permit me to say to all, we “Miss Grace is doing remarkably well A school (though not the first) was have good educational facilities here. I as Assistant. In the lower departments, built in Grand Rapids in 1861 (and, in have been connected with the schools of we found Miss Fannie Baker in the In- Centralia, south of the Market Square). our State for the past twelve years, and I termediate Department, alive to the fact From the Wood County Reporter, of am happy to be able to say that there are that some seventy little heads had ideas, Dec. 21, 1861: “The new [Grand Rap- few towns in Wisconsin, of the size of and that she was there to teach them ids] school house is nearly completed. this, that can show a better school house how to shoot. Miss Fanny is doing ex- School will probably begin by the 10th or school, than we have here.” cellently well. She will make an admi- of January. We learn that competent October 4, 1862: G.F. Witter, Wood rable teacher. teachers have been engaged.” County Superintendent of Schools, ex- “Miss Dougherty in the Primary De- Another entry stated, “The new Union amined teachers at each of the three dis- partment seems to comprehend the fact School House is completed, we learn, tricts: Grand Rapids, for all who would that a demand will be made upon the with the exception of one room, which teach in the towns of Grand Rapids and “Primary” for recruits for the “Interme- required graining [of the woodwork]. Saratoga; Centralia for the towns of Cen- diate,” by and by and is conducting her- Competent teachers have been en- tralia, Seneca and Rudolph; and Dexter, self accordingly. gaged.” for in the towns of Exeter, Lincoln and “The little ones all love her, and we Jan. 11, 1862: “Our schoolhouse is Springfield. almost wished we were a little one.” about finished, and it is expected that the A letter to the editor from a “Student,” first term will commence by the first of Sept. 3, 1874: “The Teachers convened 09-11-06 next month. 182 River City Memoirs Ghost

County Centennial Later, as the “pinery” receded from the Orderly machine sheds, and hundreds streams that transported logs to market, of another type of structure that would oes it surprise you that our railroads filled the need, and hardwoods have mystified the 19th century pioneers Wood County acreage was once as well as pines found their way south. who never dreamed the future held such Dpart of a foreign country? We From the Age of Exploitation, we pro- a thing as a silo. Instead of the teams were claimed by Spain, France and Brit- gressed to the Age of Industry and Agri- of horses and yokes of oxen that were ain before the American Revolution, ac- culture that preceded the present Age of common in the logging days, modern cording to the 1956 Centennial Edition Acquisition. The cycle was repeated in Wood county’s thousands of acres are of the Daily Tribune. Following wars counties from the Atlantic to the Pacific. grazed by sleek dairy [cattle]—animals between France and Britain and be- In some cases, as the trees that brought so different from the scrubby cows first tween Britain and the rebel Americans, in the early immigrants disappeared, so brought to the area that they can hardly we became part of the Northwest Ter- did the settlements. Other communities be identified with the same species. ritory of the United States. In the early made the transition to new enterprises. “In the early days even these nonde- 1800s, this was part of the county of St. Grand Rapids and Centralia merged script milk producers were rare, and the Clair, Indiana Territory. In 1809, county and grew to become Wisconsin Rapids, county’s first creameries were the farms St. Clair and Illinois Territory were de- a center of paper manufacture. In 1956, where butter was churned and then tached from Indiana Territory, making we ranked 22nd in population among the traded to the storekeeper for staples that us part of Illinois. cities of the state. [In 2009, we were could not be produced on the farm During the War of 1812, Britain again, 37th.) “Almost 30 years were to pass after until the U.S. exerted practical control In the northwestern corner of Wood the Legislature defined the region as a through military posts at Green Bay and County, the coming of the railroad in- county, before farmers of the area found Prairie du Chien. With the admission of spired Marshfield, which had evolved the instrument that would make this Illinois as a state in 1818, we were Mich- from a lumbering town to a trading cen- one of the greatest dairy sections of the igan Territory. After Michigan became a ter. A small mill that made furniture in world – the corner cheese factory.” state in 1835, Wisconsin was designated 1956 sent veneer from Marshfield “to Already at the time of the 1956 story, a territory in its own right. all the world” and made that hub city a the corner cheese factory, like the saw Between 1836 and 1848, white men manufacturing town, 26th in population mill, was disappearing, “but the flow of other than trappers and voyeurs began among Wisconsin cities. [In 2009, it is cheese, butter, ice cream, and fluid and to arrive in search of raw materials, pri- 36th.] powdered milk continues. marily white pine. “The soil that nurtured the pines of “The tote road and the logging trail The state of Wisconsin was formed in a hundred years ago produces another have given way to a network of high- 1848. kind of wealth today, and on thousands ways—ribbons of concrete and asphalt In 1856, the County of Wood was set of acres where once was heard the sound and gravel traversed by motor vehicles up as one township until a regular coun- of cross-cut saw and axe, the roar of the the first settlers could never have envi- ty government was set up. tractor and the clatter of harvesting ma- sioned. The trip to the county seat that The Centennial Edition told of rough chinery are common now.” once consumed two days is now a mat- sawmill towns along the banks of the That was Wood County in 1956, fif- ter of 40 minutes from the most distant Wisconsin and Yellow rivers and their ty years ago: “The cook shack and the point in the county.” tributaries. Political subdivisions were bunk house have made way for farm 09-18-06 quickly established to bring order and buildings: neat houses and huge barns. regulate activities. 183 Ghost River City Memoirs

Log Cabin School Another school was opened in 1846 dered discontinued, apparently for lack by Hannah Davis in a private house in of funds. alling it a school house would Grand Rapids. “The subject of educa- That year, the school district was di- be bragging. It started with one tion is one of prime importance to every vided. Grand Rapids, on the east bank Cdecidedly humble home in the community, and the degree in which it is of the river, became District 1. Centralia north woods wilderness. Some of that fostered and promoted is always a sure may have been District 2. age were still alive to tell the tale when index to the intelligence and liberality of School District 1 purchased from Jo- “The History of Northern Wisconsin” the people,” said the History. seph and Matilda Wood its first property, was published in 1881. In that spirit, a “regular” free public a house and a half-acre block for $450 The History credits Rev. J.S. Hurlbut school was organized in 1850 in the for- worth of lumber and shingles. Prob- with starting the first local school, in a mer blacksmith shop of J.B. Hasbrouck, ably to pay Wood, the annual meeting of log house on the west river bank of what which had been purchased and “fitted 1853 levied a tax of $487.07 of which is now Wisconsin Rapids, in 1842 or up” for the propose. Miss L. Compton, 176.64 was delinquent. 1843. He was its first teacher. the first teacher, was succeeded in 1854 William McFay was hired to teach for The Methodist missionary had arrived by “Miss Powers.” three months at a salary of $85. Parents in the west half of Rapids, then known The blacksmith shop was the only complained about McFay’s moral char- as Centralia, in 1842, to preach and hold school building in the city until 1861 acter and abilities but no cause for dis- meetings wherever residents would have when a new building, referred to in a missal was found. The following year, them. During his “lonely wanderings,” previous Memoirs, was erected. Mary Powers took his place. according to the History, the zealous “Upon the completion of the build- The school house was repaired; but at pastor was often pursued by wolves who ing, the brave boys of the surrounding 1859’s annual meeting, it was voted to would surround dwellings and “make country were preparing for [Civil] war, purchase a block of land for a new facil- night hideous with their howls, plunder- and the new building was dedicated by ity. Proposals were received from John ing whenever an opportunity offered.” a supper and dance, in their honor.” The Rablin, who wanted the town to grow Hurlbut was officially appointed to first principal was Mr.“ Martin.” north along the river and Joseph Wood the Wisconsin River mission, which The following is from “actual school “up the hill.” included Rapids and Stevens Point, records” as reported by the 1923 History Block 22 of Wood’s Addition was pur- in 1845, at which time he founded the of Wood County. chased. Before construction, the school First Methodist Episcopal church here, In 1849, the school district of Grand population grew and plans enlarged to a the second house of worship established Rapids was set off from the town of two-department school. in this community. His labors as a mis- Plover, Portage County. The first annual District 3, south of Oak Street united sionary limited his teaching and he was school meeting was held in 1851 and with District 1 and a tax was levied. Per- succeeded as teacher in 1844 by John Joseph Wood was named director. The haps this accounted for the name, Union Warner. board rented L. Kromer’s house for $3 School. According to Rapids historian In the following year, Warner opened a month and engaged Richard Compton Tom Taylor, the building was on the site a general store on the east side (Grand as teacher at $25 a month. A blackboard of Howe School and was later moved Rapids) and the school was turned over was purchased for $3. to the fair grounds, now Witter Field, to Mrs. Searles. It was attended by eight How to pay for it all? A tax of where it burned. pupils and maintained by subscriptions $183—total. from those who had children in school. Yet, in April 1852, the school was or- 09-25-06

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James Daly ning with his first film, “The Court-Mar- brother, David, for the FBI. Sister Mary tial of Billy Mitchell” (1955), he became Ellen Daly was by then a major in the ou probably didn’t know his a recognizable character actor. WAFs. name but if you’re over 50 you Daly appeared in numerous live pro- Daughter Tyne Daly once said she knew the face of James Daly. Y ductions in the early years of television and her family were not always secure An obit says the Los Angeles resident and, during his career, in more than 600 and comfortable. “My father didn’t al- died of a heart attack in Nyack, New dramatic roles. He won an Emmy for ways work,” she recalls, “and we didn’t York, July 3, 1978, en route to Con- the drama special, “The Eagle and the always have money. When I was very necticut where he was to open in the Cage”; played in, “Give Us Barabbas”; young, we lived in New York near the play, “Equus,” along with his son, James and starred in two long-running weekly Third Avenue El – in a six-floor walk- Timothy Daly. series, “Foreign Intrigue” and “Medical up.” Other survivors were daughters Pe- Center.” An undated article from an entertain- geen, Ellen Tyne (lately of “Cagney and Among the TV programs Daly ap- ment magazine says Daly, the “silver- Lacy” and “Judging Amy” television peared in as a guest star were: Star Trek, haired chief of staff” on the then-new fame) and Mary Glynn; sisters Mary El- CBS Playhouse, Mission Impossible, CBS series Medical Center, didn’t want len Daly and Cynthia Densmore; and a Gunsmoke, The Fugitive, Dr. Kildare, to talk about himself. “It may be why he brother, David Daly. DuPont Show of the Week, Twilight manages to be obscure and famous at James Firman Daly was born here in Zone, United States Steel Hour, Stu- the same time. 1918, son of Percifer Charles and Ethel- dio One, Kraft Television Theatre, The “The breadth of his career may be mea- bert Hogan Daly. His grandfather was a Millionaire and Philco Television Play- sured by the fact that in 1958 he signed lumberman and his father a coal dealer house. a contract to make Camels commercials, who died in a notorious 1935 car crash, An story, probably from the Milwau- and for seven years was flown to all according Mary Ellen Daly in The Fat kee Journal, noted that Daly seemed points in the U.S.A. at his convenience Memoirs. content at his old remodeled farm house to be filmed smoking like a chimney and Hal Erickson, of “All Movie Guide,” in Suffern. N.Y., growing roses, breed- assuring the entire Nation that he’d walk says Daly got his start by appearing in ing sheep and swimming in the pool. a mile for a Camel.” community theatre in Wisconsin Rap- The reason he could enjoy life is that Among the topics Daly wasn’t going ids. He graduated from Lincoln high Daly had plenty of money from a “fa- to talk about was his marriage to Hope school in 1936 and Cornell College, Mt. mous” cigarette contract. One month’s Newell, a “college sweetheart” and Vernon, Iowa, in 1940 or 1941. worth of work in a year gave him the mother of their four children. The once After service in WWII, he went to New privilege of taking acting jobs he liked. would-be actress wouldn’t talk either. York, working his way up to Broadway The next production was to be 1961’s A friend was quoted as saying that, in 1946. Daly spent the next few years “Give Us Barabbas.” after 22 years, Hope couldn’t keep her between New York City and Wisconsin. “Several times every day I decide to mind open and he couldn’t keep his It was in Madison that Tyne was born. give up acting and open up a store some mind closed. James won the Theatre Guild award in place, preferably in Wisconsin where Jim was “with it.” He wanted to be 1950 for his work in a revival of Shaw’s my roots are,” Daly told the reporter. in tune with what was happening right “Major Barbara,” and co-starred later At the time of the story, Daly’s mother now; she couldn’t or wouldn’t go along that year with Helen Hayes in another was said to work for the Central Intel- with him. revival, “The Glass Menagerie.” Begin- ligence Bureau in Washington and his 10-02-06

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Palimony from unmarried companions who want- lover, companion, homemaker, travel- ed to share the fortunes of the rich and ing companion, housekeeper and cook.” can be a happy day when a River famous. Being sued were rock star Alice In order to provide these services, Jones City native receives national at- Cooper, actor Nick Nolte and actor Lee would abandon “a material portion” of tention. In January 1956, a short It Marvin. his potential career as a model. piece in the Daily Tribune noted some Randal G. Jones, 30, was suing in Daly and Jones lived together until locals had made it big. Santa Monica, Cal., for a share of the Daly’s death, after which Jones demand- “One of the major characters depicted James Daly’s estate. ed half the actor’s estate as the two, ac- in “The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell” Daly had died the previous year at cording to him, had agreed. But first the at the Wisconsin Theatre, was Lt. Cmdr. age 59, leaving an estate of at least $1 court needed to determine the validity of Zachary Lansdowne, a Navy officer million that his will specified go to his the “cohabiters agreement.” who perished in the 1925 wreck of the wife and four children. The Lee Marvin In making the decision, the judge re- dirigible Shenandoah. Lansdowne’s first case found that people who live together ferred to the previous case, “Marvin v. wife, who died early in the marriage, can make enforceable agreements just Marvin,” in which a woman sued a man was a Rapids girl, Ellen MacKinnon. like anyone else. (Lee Marvin) with whom she had been Her father, the industrialist, Falkland Jones was suing executors Mary E. living out of wedlock. Much like Jones, MacKinnon, subsequently took in Zach- Daly and other relatives, to whom James she alleged that they agreed to live to- ary and Ellen’s orphaned son, MacKin- had willed his estate. According court gether as husband and wife and share in non Lansdowne. records, Jones first met Daly in Decem- property. The movie’s subject, Billy Mitchell, ber 1975. The Marvin case determined that the had been a resident of Wisconsin, and Between that time and March 1976, claims for property, which was promised Billy Mitchell field in Milwaukee is they “met on frequent occasions, dated, in exchange for sexual relations, smelled named for him. engaged in sexual activities, and, in gen- too much like prostitution, which is ille- Also in the Tribune story, Mildred eral, acted towards one another as two gal. Natwick, who frequently visited here people do who have discovered a love, Same deal with Daly and Jones. with relatives—who included the car- one for the other.” The defendants, Daly’s heirs, charged toonist Grim Natwick. Mildred was to In March 1976, Jones and Daly that the agreement was unenforceable appear in a drama on WSAU-TV. agreed that Jones would quit his job, because “rendition of sexual services” Cast in the part of Lt. Col. White, de- move into Daly’s condominium, travel was a predominant consideration for the fense lawyer for Billy Mitchell (played with Daly and the two would “cohabit” agreement and inseparable from other by Gary Cooper), was James Daly, the as if they were married. During the time services the male model rendered, such homeboy who had already attained “star they lived together, the actor and model as housekeeper, traveling companion, status” in television. This was the first would combine their efforts and earn- cook, etc. of his numerous movies. ings and would share equally in prop- Jones v. Daly was a step down the Less remembered, Daly had another erty accumulated as a result. In addi- path to the controversies over gay mar- round of celebrity shortly after his death tion, Daly would give Jones a monthly riage that would become so absorbing in July 3, 1978. Some called it “palimo- allowance for his personal use. The two our time. ny.” “would hold themselves out to the pub- About that time, lawsuits had come lic at large as cohabiting mates” and 10-09-06 forth, mainly in the Hollywood area, Jones would “render his services as a

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More Schools Compared to the fiscal demands of the On the west side, Centralia, the first new millennium, education was once “Lowell” school was built, in 1876, for ome districts are poor; some are paper and pencil cheap. Even then, it $7,000. selfish; and some enjoy the bliss took some effort. Build a school and you make histo- Sof ignorance. Consequently, their A November 1920 Daily Tribune de- ry. We know the name of the architect, schools suck. In many cases, communi- scribed the first “regular” school house. C.D. Lemley, and the building commit- ties that will not support their schools, Its 1852 home in a former blacksmith tee: R.E. McFarland, R.C. Worthington, suck from A to Z. Smart people don’t shop was quickly outgrown, requiring Fred Haertel. want to live in stupid circumstances un- additional space to be rented in another T.J. Cooper, a Centralia businessman less the scenery is good. building. whom I otherwise would never have Buoyed by prosperity and the good Pupils in old “Grand Rapids” were heard of, supervised the construction; E. leaders that prosperity summons, our seated on eight benches in circular form LaVigne made the brick. The first prin- town has usually been generous and facing the teacher. Those who could write cipal was Charles Mead, was assisted by high-minded. The school board and were given rear seats. If you were study- “Miss Shaw.” civic leaders knew that a by-product of ing for your upcoming lesson, you had In 1920, the Lowell building was education is ideas: priceless. But it soon to listen to those reciting. Pupils would already under scrutiny by the school becomes apparent that excellence is a input text on laptop slates, a Flintstones board, the Chamber of Commerce and buy-product: pricey. The bitter capital- version of portable blackboards. other public-spirited citizens, who de- istic truth is that money buys better ad- Grades for the 25 students were based clared it a disgrace to the city. The same ministrators, teachers and buildings. Ac- on daily recitations with a premium for cycle happened this year with the “new” cording to the golden rule of supply and spell-down winners, who became super- Lowell, now gone to the Afterlife. demand, you get what you pay for. stars. By 1920, 24-year-old Irving School, The stately and expensive Lincoln In 1861, Union School was built on built at a cost of $7,200, had already high school that is now East Jr. high the present Howe elementary school been closed because classes attending came with a faculty that was for the most grounds. It was a major improvement, the building were so small that the cost part bright, and eccentric enough to pro- providing three levels of education. per student was too high “to successfully vide anecdotes for class reunions; it also Principal of the high school was M.W. operate the building.” The actual struc- boasted a world-class field house. What Martin. Martin’s wife ran the interme- ture was said to be in fair condition and the “new” Lincoln we know now lacked diate department and his daughter, the would probably be used again when pu- in tradition and balconies, it made up primary. pils would be numerous enough; and so for with a collegiate-style edge-of-town Martin was followed by J.Q. Em- it happened. Though no longer a school, campus which itself has attained a re- ery and then J.A. Gaynor, namesake of the building stands. spectable maturity; it boasts a fine fine Gaynor Park, now a parking lot across The first principal of Irving wasTheo. arts performing center. from the Wood County Courthouse. Un- W. Brazeau, himself a product of local LHS principal Gus Mancuso has der Gaynor, the first class of eight pupils schools. proven as dynamic and durable as the was graduated. Me too. legendary Aaron Ritchay. The faculty Irving school, still standing on the east That’s how I learned to think critical- is well-qualified and will probably pro- side, came in 1896; the firstLincoln high ly, use big words, eschew sentence frag- vide amusement in 2017 for this year’s school, on the then-future site of East Jr., ments and find out about stuff like this. graduating class. in 1902, all at considerable expense. 10-16-06

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Centralia High taken the place of the erstwhile fun at Chilton. After a few weeks rest, he making proclivities of the pupils. The would assume charge of the Marshfield hey kept the referendum simple: pupils and the teachers are alike to be schools. “For High School” or “Against congratulated, and the city of Centralia The Enterprise regretted that Pau- THigh School.” On the first Tues- may congratulate itself on its superior lus was leaving and sounded a familiar day of April 1890, voters of Centralia educational advantages.” theme. “Some day in the not distant fu- (now the west side of Wisconsin Rapids) In March of the following year, Prof. ture, when the twin cities shall be united marked their ballots, deciding whether a W.D. Parker, the state high school in- under one chamber and a common high high school “be established and main- spector, gave Centralia high a good go- school is established, they may be in a tained in said city.” ing over and pronounced the scholar- position to offer Professor Paulus a re- Centralia had an elementary school, at ship, order and decorum satisfactory. muneration more nearly commensurate which the principal was resigning. Prof. Regarding “Centralia High School,” with his services.” C.S. Groesbeck had accepted a better- “The above is now the official designa- In 1897, commencement exercises of paying position with the Denver Co-op- tion of our public school, and the one by Centralia High school were held at Uni- erative Building and Loan Association, which it will hereafter be known,” said ty church for four young men and four where his son was secretary. the Enterprise. young ladies. In looking for a new principal, the Cen- About the work of the pupils, State Su- Centralia High School made it to the tralia school board decided to sweeten perintendent Wells said, “On the whole, turn of the 20th Century, and the merger the contract with a two- instead of one- the papers submitted from your school of Centralia with Grand Rapids. week vacation. indicate an orderly habit, a tidiness of Of $16,000 levied for 1899 on both After the referendum passed “almost detailed preparation and a grasp upon sides of the river, it was pretty obvious unanimously,” the board met and “per- the subjects that denotes a good spirit on that “the great burden of taxation is in- fected” the high school organization and the part of all persons concerned, and a curred in support of the schools.” forwarded documents “to headquarters.” zeal towards the ends set for the school Consolidation of not only the cities but Examinations were held and an inspec- to accomplish that will do much toward the schools would save a lot of money, tor was sent by the State Superintendent excellent scholarship.” “not only now but after we have become to examine the general working condi- An invitation to the public went out in a city of great importance.” Fewer em- tion of the school. Unfortunately, the June 1891 to attend the closing exercis- ployees would be required and Grand submitted papers showed a “laxity of es of the Centralia High School. How- Rapids had a $15,000 library that could learning” in the various branches, and ever, there were no graduates, “in con- be taken advantage of. on the day of the visit, the boys were “on sequence of the transition from a graded In 1902, the first Lincoln high school mischief bent.” to a high school which was affected this was built on the site of the present East Taken together, said the Enterprise, week.” Jr. high. Centralia high reverted to its the situation “defeated the will of the In September 1891, both the Grand status as a grade school, apparently tak- people, and caused them no little disap- Rapids and Centralia High Schools be- ing the name Lowell before falling into pointment and chagrin.” gan the fall terms “in good working or- hard times. It was replaced by the Low- But “by strict discipline on the part of der.” ell school that itself was demolished this the teachers, and the hearty cooperation Prof. G.W. Paulus, principal of the year. and support of the school board, order Centralia High School, lasted through has come out of chaos, and a desire for the 1894-95 school year and “sum- 10-23-06 proficiency in the various studies has mer school” when he left for his home 188 River City Memoirs Ghost

Solomon’s Cousins as “unknown.” neau, “founder of Milwaukee.” Paul When Elziver Thefault of Rudolph was born in Theresa. His father, Narcis- he deceased were descended died, Feb. 8, 1906, his obituary said sus, at age 70 or so, and his family, came from one of the biggest names in he, a nephew, was one of few surviving to Rudolph in 1867 and bought the John Wisconsin. members of the Solomon Juneau family, Wells homestead in Section 17. T “the founder and first mayor ofMilwau- Paul ran the farm and worked in the When Mrs. Maggie Rocheleau died at home in Grand Rapids on Nov. 8, 1897, kee.” woods for Clark & Scott. One of his her obituary said she was the daughter Thefault, born in Canada in 1834, children was Margaret, the wife of John of F.X. Juneau, a cousin of Solomon Ju- came to Milwaukee in 1845, moving Fritsche, whose son, Nick Fritsche, told neau, “the founder of Milwaukee.” to Theresa, and to Rudolph in 1865. He me in 1980 that he was related to the Maggie, born in Theresa, Dodge married Delia Juneau, a sister of Jasper founder of Milwaukee. County, in 1854, moved here with her Crotteau of this city. After her husband’s In the town of Rudolph, in 1880, Ju- parents. She later married O. Rocheleau death, Mrs. Juneau-Thefault moved neaus included: and “surrendered herself” to taking care to Park Falls to live with her son and Paul, 32, a farmer, his Irish wife Kath- of his four children and twelve children daughter by her first husband. arine, 35, and their children: Claphas, of her own. When Howard Juneau, 19, Park Falls, Mary, Joseph, Margaret, Charlotte and The founder of Theresa, Wis., was son of Andrew Juneau, Grand Rapids, Angeline. the Solomon Juneau mentioned above, arrived in France with Wisconsin troops Eugene A., 45, his wife, Delia, 43, and said to have named that settlement after in 1918, the newspaper said he was a their children: Eugene, Israel, George, his mother. Juneau is also credited as a great-grandson of the first mayor ofMil- Matilda, Isabel, Andrew, Elizabeth. Eu- founder of the Milwaukee Sentinel. waukee, Solomon Juneau. gene may have been the son of Solomon Solomon Juneau died in 1856, his wife When Joseph Gokey, 98, died March Juneau. Josette Vieau Juneau in 1855. That they 29, 1916, at the Wood County poor Frank, 47, children Kate, Matilda, had 13-18 children helps account for farm, his obituary said he was a brother- Stella, Ernest, Frank and Laurence. many lingering relationships. in-law of Solomon Juneau, “founder of Margaret, 68, and a daughter, Adell Upon Clifford Juneau’s death, April Milwaukee.” Juneau. And Stella Juneau. 21, 1900, the obituary said he was a When Marie Husting, 83, mother of Living with Claphaes Crotteau was relative of the Crotteaus here and of the late U.S. Senator, Paul B. Husting, Elzore Tefault, 43, and Narcese Juneau, the late Solomon Juneau, “founder of died April 14, 1924, at Mayville, near 26. Milwaukee.” Clifford, formerly of Ru- Theresa, her obit said she was the only Andrew Vieau Sr., brother-in-law of dolph, had at one time been employed surviving daughter of Solomon Juneau, Solomon Juneau, didn’t think so much of in the photograph gallery of J.O. Hebert, “founder of Milwaukee.” his sister’s husband’s rep as founder of Grand Rapids. In 1954, 30 years later, when the fu- Milwaukee. “Juneau was one of the last Clifford died at Minneapolis, the ex- neral of Leo F. Husting, father of Frank to recognize that Milwaukee was des- act date not known. When taken sick, he Husting, Wisconsin Rapids, was held in tined to become a permanent settlement, was taken from a boarding house to a Madison, his obituary said he was the and had to be persuaded by his friends hospital where he died of Bright’s dis- grandson of Solomon Juneau, “founder into taking advantage of the fact.” ease. His effects failed to show where of Milwaukee.” his former homes were, or even disclose The 1923 History of Wood County told 10-30-06 his identity, and Mr. Juneau was buried of Paul Juneau, nephew of Solomon Ju-

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Schools 1966 ●Howe: Enrollment 698, capacity eas, building could be expanded. (In 625. Site is much too small for a build- 2006, temporarily closed.) utumn of 1966, the Wisconsin ing with this capacity. Good quality con- ●Irving: Enrollment 122, capacity 125. Rapids school district faced big struction, classrooms well-designed. Adequate site, dating to 1890s. Recently Adecisions. ●Mead: Enrollment 752, capacity 625. remodeled. “A neighborhood school has For advice, it turned to the University The actual school site is too small but some advantages but the perpetuation of of Wisconsin and the State Department has access to municipally-owned recre- such small attendance centers may be of Public Instruction which recom- ation area. Well-designed, high quality, questioned.” (Historic building is pri- mended the building of two junior high classrooms of good size and shape but vately-owned.) schools and a major expansion and re- special areas unable to accommodate ●Lowell: Enrollment 243, capacity modeling of Lincoln High School. present enrollment. 245. Small playground unacceptable. The researchers noted that the Rapids ●Vesper: Enrollment 307, capacity All classrooms too small. No expan- district had 4,460 students in elemen- 275. Location and size of site very good. sion should be planned for this school. tary school and 1,890 in the four-year Original building average, new build- (Razed in 2006.) Lincoln high school that is now East Jr. ing better. Classrooms in the old build- ●Two Mile: Enrollment 138, capacity High. District buildings had a capacity ing are small but three in the new part 100. “According to modern standards of 4,050 elementary students and 1,400 are excellent; the gym is adequate and this building is the equivalent of a two- in high school, leaving the district 1,000 kitchen large and well-equipped. room school; under these circumstances over capacity. ●Washington: Enrollment 189, capac- it is deemed inadvisable to continue to The 1966 study evaluated the 14 el- ity 200. Large site, above average con- operate this unit.” (Razed in 1990.) ementary school buildings for size, lo- struction, modern and up-to-date. The following school was replaced on cation, rooms, equipment, utilities, staff ●Woodside: Enrollment 228, capac- another site: space and the like. In conclusion, nine ity 200. Well designed compact unit of ●Rudolph: Enrollment (1966) 261, schools were found acceptable. good quality construction. Attractive capacity 250. Site too small and build- Eight are in use 40 years later: classrooms, central library, satisfactory ing is on side hill with rough northwest ●Ann Mary Pitsch: Enrollment in gym, could be expanded. exposure, wet, muddy. The addition is 1966 is 213, capacity 225. According The following schools are no longer in better than the original. “The rest of the to the 1966 report, the fairly-new school use by the Wisconsin Rapids school sys- building does not approach modern stan- is well constructed, easily expanded and tem though they are still standing. dards.” (Privately-owned and remod- suited for kindergarten through fourth ●Biron: Enrollment 302, capacity 250. eled, a small part of the original school grade. The location along “the highway and stands. “New” Rudolph school was built ●Grant: Enrollment 308, capacity river” makes pedestrian student travel on the east edge of the village.) 300. Sandy playground in need of pav- hazardous. Noticeable contrast between The report and the situation that made ing. Classrooms in original building the original building and additions. it necessary required that decisions be need redecorating, lighting, ventilation. Above average quality. (In 2006, in use made and carried out. Not only the fu- New classrooms are excellent. as a private religious school.) ture of the elementary schools but that ●Grove: Enrollment 431, capacity ●Children’s Choice: Enrollment 268, of Lincoln high school itself were at 350. Well-placed but of no more than capacity 225. Roof and toilet problems, stake. average construction and appears “rath- poorly shaped classrooms, flammable 11-06-06 er bleak.” acoustical tile, substandard special ar-

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Grim Natwick said. Then he “fell into” illustrating cov- Some of the faces dated back to the ers for “songs,” apparently referring to he famed artist had been “sum- Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, where what is known as “sheet music.” His mering” in Chillicothe, the he studied for three years. Natwick, for first was “for a kid from my home town Treporter from that city’s Consti- the first year, was allowed only to draw who asked me to do a cover for a song tution Tribune said on Oct. 24, 1985. portraits. he wrote. The song didn’t do much but He was Grim Natwick at the age of Natwick told the Constitution Tribune one day I showed the cover to a song 95, animator of Snow White and cre- that he was of Norwegian descent, born publisher in Chicago and asked him ator of Betty Boop, “the saucy, gartered in the “lumber area” of Wisconsin. if he could use one to do covers for sexpot once banned from the nation’s “Grim” was a nickname for Myron him; he looked at the cover and said, movie screen.” The boopadoop star of though, as a boy in Wisconsin Rapids, ‘Sure.’” short film from the 1930s had enjoyed a he was often called, “Wild Bill” and his Natwick counted over 300 covers that “popularity rebirth” with the generation brother, “Buffalo Bill,” courtesy of a he had done. He said he had an auto- of the 1980s. local blacksmith who liked youngsters. graphed photo of W.C. Handy of “St. Natwick, who would soon be winter- “Buffalo Bill” was shortened to “Buff” Louis Blues” fame. “I did all his cov- ing in California, continued throughout which his brother continued to use. But ers.” his life (1890-1990) to visit his home “Wild Bill” became “Grim” in a pro- Natwick also illustrated magazines, town, Wisconsin Rapids. cess not described in the story. studied at the National Academy of De- When the Chillicothe newspaper When Grim decided he’d like a career sign in New York and got into anima- interviewed him, he was writing for a as an illustrator, his father had “faith tion in New York. cartoon magazine and had several proj- and $1,000” to put to the task. Natwick ects going in his home studio, including enrolled at Chicago Art Institute and 11-20-06 a composite of masks he had already worked as a commercial artist on the drawn. “I’m doing what Michelangelo side, learning a lot about lettering and would have done if he had had Xerox,” filling in letters.

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Ike 1956, Tribune, were actually boosting two white mules. Behind was another the retirement age and teaching how to hunting roadster carrying bird dogs and ike us, the aging populations of adjust to new situations. some of the “Negro” beaters whose job the 1950s threatened the good “We need a great deal more of this. it was to flush the quail. Although they Llife of the American consumer Our older people are a great reservoir rode around the estate for two hours, by the sheer corpulence of their num- of skill and experience. To throw it the big-shots sighted birds only twice bers. According to a 1956 Tribune, one away is wasteful and costly both for and failed to bring one down in ten Americans then was over 65, them and for the country. It will be- When Eisenhower had his heart at- compared with one in 25 as it had been come more so as time goes on.” That tack in January, Sen. Lyndon B. John- in 1900. was before the consultants of the Grand son of Texas, then Democratic floor Now, it’s more like one in six. Mall learned that older workers should leader, commented from his ranch in The other 1956 statistic of interest be retired because younger workers and Texas, where he was convalescing from was that the number of folks 65 and illegal aliens cost much less. his own heart attack in preparation to over who were employed had dropped One of those aging Americans suf- getting back to work. “As a fellow hu- from 63 per cent in 1900 to 24 per fered a heart attack in 1955 and could man being who has gone through the cent—despite the assumption that they have, maybe should have, retired. It same thing, I am very pleased that the wanted to work. was President Dwight D. “Ike” Eisen- medical report is so favorable. I know One reason given was that so many hower, who was 64. Asked about laying every American will be happy.” had moved from farms, where retire- down his arms, the old general said, Johnson followed a pattern similar to ment was gradual, to what we call the “I’m saving that rocker for the day Eisenhower’s and himself went on to Grand Mall, where older workers were when I feel as old as I really am.” become the U.S. President who decided losing out to younger workers or were Though he opted to run for a second not to seek a second term because of hit by arbitrary retirement regulations. term of hard labor as President, Ike also the unpopularity of the Viet Nam war. By one estimate, 40 per cent of the liked to play. Eisenhower, born Oct. 14, 1890, died males over 65 actively sought further According to one account, a White March 28, 1969. Though he made his employment in 1956 but couldn’t get it. House visitor noticed the President was living as a General, he, in our hawk- The Tribune worried that the pittance wearing leather bandages on his left ish times, sounds like a dove when he offered by the government could not wrist. When Ike explained that he had a declares: “Every gun that is fired, every offer economic security. “A much bet- mild arthritic condition there, the visi- warship launched, every rocket fired, ter answer would be to keep these folk tor said he was glad it wasn’t serious. “I signifies, in the final sense, a theft from working longer in gainful jobs. The should say it is serious!” exclaimed Ike those who hunger and are not fed, those benefit to them is obvious. The public indignantly. “It means that I can’t play who are cold and are not clothed. and private cost of pension programs golf!” “The world in arms is not spending will be much less.” In January 1956, Eisenhower joined money alone. It is spending the sweat Furthermore, just like now, econo- his Secretary of the Treasury, George of its laborers, the genius of its scien- mists forecast a manpower shortage, M. Humphrey, on Humphrey’s big tists, the hopes of its children.” then due to the depression of the 1930s Georgia estate. Within minutes after rather than to the birth control pill. In arriving, the President and Humphrey 11-27-06 order to employ gung ho graybeards, changed to hunting togs and were off to some companies, said the June 19, the fields aboard a “roadster” drawn by

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Rudolph School a haphazard labyrinth of duct work, a faces of the Rudolph contingent, Ben noise problem on the second floor, and Hanneman of Grand Rapids said, allud- one knew if there would “dismal” toilet rooms. When physical ing to earlier, sometimes less-than-cor- continue to be a public education classes took showers before dial discussions as Rudolph residents No school operating in the lunch, the kitchen ran out of water. argued to retain their school. village or town of Rudolph. More than 800 Rudolph-area resi- Alternatives for Rudolph seen in the When the Wisconsin Rapids Board dents signed a petition, asking that the early 1970s were: do as little as pos- of Education in late 1970 hired an elementary school stay in the village. sible until the state closed the school; architect to study the situation, it was Spokesman Joseph Raubal noted a tear down the old section of the school assumed that the elementary school municipal sewer system being installed and build new school rooms; or begin would be closed, and the pupils would and plans for water service. plans for a new school at a different be sent to the pedagogical den of in- Just before Christmas 1971, the “Ru- site, possibly on one owned by the dis- iquity that those from “the Point” call dolph School Association for Better Ed- trict on Reddin Road. “the Rapids.” ucation” offered the Wisconsin Rapids In September 1973, the Wisconsin The high school portion of Ru- School Board what the Tribune called Rapids district school board brought a dolph’s school population had suffered a “Yule gift with strings attached.” collective sigh of relief to its northern that fate in 1962, when the district Raubal, the group’s president, brought neighbors when it agreed to build a was “consolidated” into that of their a check for $5,000, the proceeds of the new elementary school on a new site in larger neighbor. One-room schools in previous summer’s “county western Rudolph by 1975. According to a Nov. the district were eliminated in 1964. day,” to be used for remodeling or re- 24, 1973, Daily Tribune, the board had The last to operate here were Spring placing Rudolph Elementary School. decided it would be unwise to attempt Lake, Pleasant View and Lone Birch, a Raubal called the check a Christmas to revive the old building. stone’s throw from my town of Ru- gift from the people of Rudolph to the “Rudolph probably has the most dolph residence. Pupils from those taxpayers of the district. He said the serious problems of any elementary schools were transferred to Vesper or group planned another country-western school in the district. But the tenacity Rudolph schools. day the following July. But the check of Rudolph residents has also been a The Tribune found it “interesting” was unsigned, to be completed only big factor in inclusions of a new school that a Rudolph school should be up when the board decided to use the in the current building program.” for consolidation because the first big money in Rudolph. Plans were presented by Rapids ar- Rudolph school in 1915, had “consoli- Donald Rehfeldt, Rapids board chitect Donn Hougen for a new school dated” the old Clark & Scott school, president, noted that the decision was on a 20-acre site along County Trunk C a mile west of the village, which was yet to be made. In spite of reservations east of the existing school, at a cost of sold to become a house. about the gift, board members ex- $1 million. The result was the over-30 A 1961 addition to the 1915 Ru- pressed gratitude to Rudolph residents but still smart-looking temple of learn- dolph version was attached just prior for their efforts. ing, appropriately sited on Knowledge to annexation by Wisconsin Rapids Indeed, Raubal noted that hundreds Avenue, where all the children are School District, perhaps as a poison of residents put in many hours of work above average—in Rudolph, Wis., pill. A decade later, inspectors found in on the fund drive, probably a unique U.S.A., where the same can be said for the deteriorating older structure smoke effort in the district’s history, he sug- the cheese. and safety hazards, a basement that was gested “It’s nice to see a smile,” on the 12-04-06

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St. Vincent de Paul La Crosse; Loras College, Dubuque, La Crosse Diocese between 12th and Iowa; and St. Mary’s Seminary, Bal- 13th streets, south of Chestnut Street. A Vincent was a nun. timore. Following ordination in 1945, grade school would be first, for which My usually reliable wife Dockendorff assisted at St. Mary’s in Carl J. Billmeyer of Rapids was chosen told me that her 6th grade St. Wausau, 1945-50, and at SS. Peter & as architect. Plans called for an audito- teacher at St. Joseph’s Catholic school, Paul, here, 1950-55. While at SSPP, he rium that would be used temporarily for Oconto, Wis., was Sister Vincent de devoted much energy to the founding of church services. Paul, and was referred to as “V-D-P.” Assumption high school. St. Vincent school, with a capacity for A popular singing nun of Seventies In the 2003 newsletter, Assumption 700, opened in 1957 with Dockendorff vintage, Sister Vincent was known to English teacher Kath Cavanaugh related at the helm, where he stayed until his re- lead the class through “Blowing in the how Dockendorff, as a young pastor in tirement in 1991. He continued to assist Wind.” the early 1950s, had gone “door to door until health problems intervened at the St. Vincent is also a parish. to every parishioner” asking for contri- end of the 20th Century. 2006 will not pass without commemo- butions to the proposed Catholic high When Dockendorff died, Oct. 19, rating here an event of fifty years ago school. 2003, the mass was held at his spiritu- that reflected the growth and movement As founding pastor of St. Vincent, al home of many years, St. Vincent de of this city’s population to the southeast­- Dockendorff oversaw the building of Paul. —and strong support for Catholic edu- the parish church school and convent, Parish namesake Vincent de Paul cation. which were dedicated Oct. 20, 1957. In (1580-1660), a French peasants’ son be- Named in honor of a French saint of 1980-81, the buildings were expanded to come priest, was on a vocational career Christian charity, the newly-established include a gymnasium and auditorium. track to Easy Street; but when he em- parish of St. Vincent de Paul would According to a 1956 Daily Tribune, barked by sea to pick up an inheritance, serve the area south of East Grand Av- the parish was expected to number from Turkish pirates attacked his vessel. Vin- enue, including the townships of Grand 300-400 families. cent received an arrow wound, was cap- Rapids and Saratoga where most baby At that time, local Catholic schools tured, sold as a slave and escaped. bulge development was taking place. were unable to handle the multitudinous It has been said that he was, in turn: The announcement was made by a grade-school-age children of church traveling on a secret mission to Henry name familiar to Catholics of the Fif- members. Overflow classes occupied IV; employed by a certain Queen Mar- ties, the Rev James P. Finucan, secretary rooms at Assumption high school and guerite; and acting as a spiritual director to the most active and Most Rev. John in church sacristies. Several hundred for a wealthy Mademoiselle. P. Treacy, Bishop of La Crosse, at a children were unable to attend Catholic When a change of heart led him to de- meeting at the hall of the Rapids mother school at all. vote much of his life to helping the poor, church, SS. Peter & Paul. Finucan also SSPP would continue to serve the area de Paul turned his attention to assisting revealed that the Rev. Carl J. Docken- north of East Grand Avenue and east of and converting peasants and convicts dorff, then assistant at “SS.,” would be the river. St. Lawrence and Our Lady and founding hospitals, orphanages and the first pastor of the new parish. Queen of Heaven, commonly called “St. other charitable organizations. “Father Dockendorff.” Mary’s,” would continue on the West Vincent de Paul was canonized as a According to a locally-published 2003 Side. saint in 1737. Catholic newsletter, the La Crosse native The St. Vincent de Paul complex was 12-11-06 was a graduate of Aquinas high school, to be built on property owned by the

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Miss Ann Pitsch 1958, a new East Side elementary give the best that was in them, and by school for 380 pupils was proposed by providing expert guidance in their quest she placed an the Board of Education. Said Bernard for knowledge through her exceptional ad in the Daily Shearier: “Our experience in building talents as an instructor. Her sincerity of 1970 Tribune. schools hasn’t been very good. The purpose and unwavering sense of duty “To all my former fellow-teachers, plaster is hardly dry in a new building provide a shining example for all who students and other friends, I want to say before it is bulging at the seams with were privileged to know her. A Very Merry and Blessed Christmas capacity enrollment.” “The naming of the new school in and a Happy Joyous New Year. And I The new school would be located on her honor will come as a pleasant sur- wish to thank all of you, including The a city-owned site bounded by 17th, 19th, prise to Miss Pitsch, who retired from Daily Tribune who have taken the time Plum and Pear streets. Superintendent teaching only last week after serving to write me, send me cards or otherwise R.E. Clausen argued to a reluctant city here since 1920. We trust she will inter- have been so kind and thoughtful of council that it was needed because of pret it as a lasting token of community me since my retirement; and especially the overcrowding at Howe School. appreciation for her work.” since my residence at the Bloomer Me- The board was preoccupied with the Designed by Gene A. Rowland and morial hospital, Extended Care Unit, Lincoln High School problem. LHS re- build by general contractor L.A. Bauer Bloomer, Wis.” quired another expansion (a vocational of Nekoosa, nine-room Pitsch school Maybe the thoughtfulness of Ann addition was new in 1958) and the West was ready for the 1959-60 term. It Mary Pitsch is why she got a school Side elementary system also would would accommodate kindergarten named after her. A few clues to her life have to be expanded. through fourth grade pupils residing in from old newspaper items: By June 1959, the name, “Ann Mary the southeastern section of the city. In October 1925, the local histori- Pitsch Elementary School, was chosen, Back in January 1932, at a “Presto” cal and literary club met at the home “in honor of a dedicated teacher who benefit card party at the home of Mrs. of Mrs. G.L. Heilman. After members’ retired last week after 39 years in the Jere Witter, Misses Ann Mary Pitsch favorite recipes, “Miss Ann Pitsch” pre- city’s education system.” At the time and Lucy Keeler reported on the life sented the study topic, “Novels Dealing of her retirement, Miss Pitsch was the and works of John Masefield, the poet with Social Responsibility.” Following mathematics instructor in the upper laureate of England. her review of “Women Professional grades at Howe school. What did Miss Ann think of Mase- Workers,” and “Working with the A June 1959 Daily Tribune editorial field’s “Sea Fever”? Working Women,” “a dainty lunch was approved the “well-merited recognition I must go down to the seas again, served.” to a teacher who rendered devoted and to vagrant gypsy life, 1938, on Highway 54, four miles exceptionally able service in the city’s To the gull’s way and the whale’s way, east of Rapids, an automobile driven school system.” Hundreds of Miss where the wind’s like a whetted knife; by Ina Iverson stopped and was struck Pitsch’s former students would applaud And all I ask if a merry yarn from behind by another auto. Shaken the board’s actions.” from a laughing fellow rover, and bruised were the Misses Iverson, Miss Pitsch was not an “easy” And quiet sleep and a sweet dream Ann Mary Pitsch, Inez Morrow and teacher. “She earned the esteem of when the long trick’s over.” Helen Terrio, all teachers in local her pupils by setting high standards of schools. achievement, by challenging them to 12-18-06

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Chequamegon Christmas Sometime in the fourth century, the didn’t look so civilized. It was easy to date for the birthday party of the child remember that the wolves and bears my unrise of Christmas day, 1956, Christ was settled on. Happily for the grandma feared were coming back like came late. Hours had already great unwashed masses, it coincided bad pennies. Spassed since my 11-year-old with earth-bound rituals that beseeched Miles into the blessed nowhere, self had been allowed to get up from a the rebirth of the nearly-invisible “In- I came upon, somewhat abruptly, a nearly-sleepless bed and find my way vincible Sun.” startling vision: the village of Gil- to the tree, where holiday-wrapped gifts For a while, our Puritan cousins in man, Wis. The couple blocks of wide waited in the moonlight. Could bleary- England and New England fought the Midwestern main street were lit up to eyed parents deny it was the most bad practices brought to Christmas by resemble noon. The evening gather- wonderful time of the year? Germans and their ilk, such as overin- ing seemed to be centered on the bar To tell the impolite and unoriginal dulgence, intoxication, osculation and of the Gilman Bowl, where citizens truth: were it not for the big party we lederhosen. But the sanctimonious were congregated, awash in even more light, have attached to it, this could easily be soon overwhelmed by what an ignorant assuming postures the ignorant might the worst time of year. For our prede- observer might consider our religion: term devout. I didn’t need to look for a cessors in the northern hemisphere, the shopping. better example of how to deal with the package we call the holiday season had For no good reason, on a midwin- solstice. to include a few bundles of icy despair. ter eve recently, I took a drive and From Gilman, I returned home via This is the time of year surrounding found myself on the far side of the Medford and state highway 13, bring- the winter solstice, when the sun, from Chequamegon National Forest. ing to mind the sunset of the day that which all blessings flow, almost disap- Though it didn’t seem so at that began this memoir, that of Christmas pears into the southern horizon. exotic moment, my route circumnavi- 1956. As always, we had traveled to So if you’re the calendar maker and gated familiar territory. Many times, “Grandma & Grandpa’s” and it was have a big holiday ready to be put into during Christmas week, I had spent a amiably dark for the two-hour ride back action, why not schedule it for the sea- night or two with my blood brothers, to Rapids. son that needs it most? Taking that ini- Dunlap and Hebert, by a campfire at the As our 1949 Pontiac cruised through tiative were the nature-loving heathens: Chequamegon’s Mondeaux flowage. the countryside, off to the side, I druids, mummers, Mithrans, pantheists, A century earlier, my own grandfa- watched the glow of small windows Platonists, polytheists, Saturnalians, ther had built a cabin in Taylor county and I knew that, even as we flew by, shamanists, Sons of Isis, wiccans, at Jump River, north of state highways farmers went about evening chores, as what-nots and the Wassail bunch out by 73 and 64 on which I was traveling. they did every morning and evening. Amherst Junction. For those early Christmases, Philip and Along the road home, it was good to Christians, personified by the first family had lighted their fire, said their see a light in the barn on Christmas Pope Julius, scheduled their winter fest prayers and maybe hung up stockings, night. with reference to the same principle. in a simple one-room cabin. It is no more than an urban legend that My 2006 pilgrimage took me west 12-25-06 Jesus was born on the 25th day of “De- of Owen-Withee and north of Thorp cember.” into a vast and moonless night that still

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Jukebox Saturday Night filled to overflowing by this decision” & Paper Co. The 1920 building was re- Moving the office would have resulted placed by a new church at 510 Garfield s 1956 shaded into 1957, the in displacement of nearly 100 employ- Street, dedicated October 1956. background of what was then ees operating here in rented quarters. Gone but not forgotten: The Skyway AWisconsin Rapids’ newest in- “What this means to our economy is Ballroom at 1st Street and Airport Av- dustry, Benbow Foundries, Inc., was plainly evident. It means added popula- enue, burned Dec. 13, 1956. The large provided to the Daily Tribune by found- tion, added payrolls, greater purchasing Quonset-style structure as pictured ry president, David Benbow. power, more people to share in our civ- was way homelier than I would have “Benbow Foundries was only a dream ic, social and religious endeavors which guessed. until July of 1955,” explained its found- are so much a part of a community’s Lyle Nabbefeldt, operator of the estab- er and namesake. “We had traveled over strength.” lishment, who lived in a trailer house ten Ohio, Indiana and parts of Illinois and The chosen site was “Tourist Park,” a feet north of the ballroom, discovered Wisconsin looking for a location. We city-owned campground along the Wis- the blaze about 3 a.m. Nabbefeldt said preferred a small, progressive commu- consin river to the south, whereas the he attempted to fight the flames with nity with a suitable building. In July, locations at Stevens Point were all pri- available fire extinguishers but called while stopping off at Wisconsin Rapids, vately owned and not necessarily avail- the city fire department at 3:20, bringing we were told of the Wood County high- able. “We would be less than candid,” one truck to the scene. Thirteen minutes way garage building being for sale. We said the Tribune, “if we did not concede later, asst. Chief Clarence Cheatle re- immediately started wheels in motion to that political pressures may have had a quested another truck and crew. buy the property.” part in winning a decision favorable to The fire started at the east end of the The foundry at 330 9th Ave. S. had Wisconsin Rapids.” building and consumed the hardwood been in production since June 1956. It Also new at the end of 1956 was the dance floor until it reached the stage and employed 31. Rapids Zephyr Services gas station at bandstand at the west end. While the Also new for 1956 was an East Side the corner of East Grand Avenue and blaze was at its hottest, firemen played swimming pool that has only recently 6th Street: “More Zip...more Zoom with hoses on the house trailer to keep it from been removed and filled in. Two years Zephyr Power-Pak gasoline.” Managed igniting. earlier, the original pool, on the same by Jack Gill, it became a minor hangout The flavor of Skyway was illustrat- site, which utilized river water from for the worst generation. ed in a 1949 ad for a St. Patrick’s Day above the dam, had been condemned be- Demolished in 1956 was the Wood Dance on a Thursday night with music cause of safety and sanitation problems. County Grocery Co. building on the by Vic’s Little Band, followed by Friday The 1956 pool had been built with pub- West Side market square. The wholesale and Sunday roller skating and juke box lic funds and support from Consolidated grocery firm had purchased the former dancing Saturday night. Civic Foundation. potato warehouse building 35 years pre- Some time later, shortly after the fire, To be built in 1957: Approved and in vious and added two top floors. The site I rode my bicycle over to suck up an im- planning stage was a state office build- in 1956 belonged to the city and would age that I would use half-a-century later: ing, “a fitting climax to a great year of expand the Market Square parking lot. tumbled into a hole in the ground, the progress for our community,” according Gone by New Years 1957 was the First charred wreckage of good times come to to the Daily Tribune. “The community’s English Lutheran church at 4th Avenue a sudden end. cup of holiday cheer, already brimming and Roosevelt Street, the property pur- from other good news of recent days, is chased by Consolidated Water Power 01-01-07

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Frontier Days Strong, who testified he came up the Marceau, Carden, Leroux, Le May, and Wisconsin in a canoe on a prospecting Lyonnais. irst “white man” to arrive here? trip and decided he would make this his Life was somewhat rough and many Probably a French-Canadian ex- home. Whitney and A.B. Sampson were stories are told about Rev. Hurlburt, the Fplorer. First to set up a business? already running a sawmill “above the first preacher in Wood county to make And when was a town settled and who city,” at Whitney’s Rapids, according the river men see the light. Services were the pioneers? to the 1914 account— although “Whit- were held in an old building that had oc- The Grand Rapids Tribune of Sept. ney’s Rapids” usually refers to Nekoosa, cupied what in 1914 was the site of the 23, 1914, provided answers that have which would be “below the city.” First National Bank. become our history and are repeated to Strong bought out the Sampson inter- Perhaps unfortunately, the building each generation like a tribal mass. est and with another “prospector” went was partitioned into rooms used for In the winter of 1827, before Wiscon- into the mill business. In 1840, Sampson conflicting purposes. While church was sin became a territory, Daniel Whitney moved his family to Grand Rapids. In being held in one room, another was be- of Green Bay obtained a permit from the 1842, Henry Sampson was born, cred- ing used “as a boudoir by the Canucks Winnebago residents (now Ho Chunk) ited as the first white child born in what and the amens often mingled with the to make wooden shingles on the Wis- would become Wood County. Robert voluptuous snores of the sleeping man consin River. He hired his nephew, Da- and Mary Wakely’s son, Otis, was also and many times the preacher who was vid R. Whitney to superintend the mill born about this time. Both Otis and Hen- a big man would go to another part of at the mouth of the Yellow river (now ry Sampson were still “hale and hearty” the building to stop the fight which was under Castle Rock flowage). at the time of the 1914 Tribune story, the inevitable result of a game of High, Due to a perceived infraction, the out- With the building of the mill came Low, Jack and the Game.” put of the mill was confiscated by the the influx of settlers and consequent Rev. Hurlbut, according to the ac- U.S. government and the shingles and “firsts.” count, often dragged three or four of the timber taken to build Fort Winnebago at 1842, the first village blacksmith, in miscreants by the neck and made them Portage, Wis. the person of J.B. Hasbrouck. The same sit through the service, much to their In 1831, Whitney received another year, Ira Purdy, a mill builder from disgust. permit, this time to cut timber and erect Wayne, Pa., who was still living in 1914 The main product sold by local “gro- a sawmill at Nekoosa, where navigable as was Lemuel Kromer, who arrived in cery stores” was apple jack and squir- waters ended and the series of rapids 1845 as one of the first merchants. rel whiskey. When log runs started in that are now dominated by paper mills A great number of the settlers at that the spring and the lumber jacks came to began. The Whitney mill was built by time were Canadian French river men. town, the timid inhabitants, “who were David R. Whitney, A.B. Sampson and Daniel Whitney had brought some of mighty few by the way,” would take to Robert Wakely. It was the first on the them under contract from Canada. They their cyclone cellars, while the hardy Wisconsin river. arrived here by traveling from Green majority would get out and help paint In 1836, Wisconsin was designated a Bay to Portage and back up the Wiscon- the town red. territory of the U.S. and a strip of land sin, the way most of the supplies from “There was a time when Grand Rap- along the river opened to settlement. the outside were brought in. Among the ids was called the toughest town on the The first to settle and build anything French names were Closuit, Arpin, Cor- river,” said the Tribune. “But that was permanent at the “Grand Rapids” that riveau, Pepin, Pomainville, Biron, Lan- long ago.” became Wisconsin Rapids was Nelson dry, Cotey, LaBreche, Denis, La Vigne, 01-08-07

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Whigs because Wood County had not been right to run a ferry across the Wiscon- created. He was opposed by Abraham sin River (south of the present Nekoosa ob Wakely a Whig? And a poli- Brawley, the Opposition candidate. bridge). tician! The Point Basse innkeep- According to the Madison newspa- A feature on Orrin Maybee in the Ste- Ber has been seen as a roisterer, per, “This Brawley, in his usual classic vens Point Journal, Jan. 3, 1891, also perhaps a bounder, at least a raconteur. language, recently said, ‘Wakely is the relates to Wakely. Maybee, also from Certainly, he built a tavern south of Nek- most populous man in this Pinery: he’s New York state, assisted Wakely’s po- oosa and helped with mill building and more populous than myself.’ litical opponent, Abraham Brawley, in general commerce in the vicinity. Some “From all that we can ascertain, Mr. erecting the first sawmill in what was to of his family helped populate this area Wakely will receive a heavy vote in become the reduced Portage county. while some moved on west. the district, and a large majority in the Maybee was at Portage city when A “Whig District Convention” in Pinery. His moral character, his win- there were no buildings except the fort Fond du Lac, Wis., was reported by the ning yet unobtrusive manners, and his and was personally acquainted with Jef- Wisconsin Republican newspaper and intelligence and talents, when placed ferson Davis and General Taylor. About reprinted in the Madison Express of in juxtaposition with the character and 1846, the soldiers left for the Mexican June 28, 1845. Unanimously nominated acquirements of his opponent, Abraham war and never returned to the Portage were Stoddard Judd of Brown County, Brawley, invest him with such a decided battlements. George H. Smith of Sheboygan County superiority in every respect, that we can- In the early years, Maybee was em- and Robert Wakely of Portage County, not doubt the decision of the ballot-box. ployed by Point namesake George W. all candidates for the next House of Rep- “Like Dr. Judd, Robert Wakely is a Stevens to construct a canoe at the foot resentatives. “This is an excellent ticket thorough but not an ultra Whig. We hail of Conant Rapids. The canoe was hauled in every respect, as even our democratic his nomination as the precursor of a to the head of the rapids where Stevens friends admit,” said the Express. brighter day for the people of Northern Point “now stands” and where Maybee Wisconsin in 1845 was a territory and Wisconsin.” had helped Stevens erect the first log would apply for statehood in 1847. The Whig Party was formed to oppose shanty to hold his goods which were Like so many of our early settlers, the policies of President Andrew Jack- then reshipped in said canoe to Big Bull the three candidates, Judd, Smith and son and the Democratic Party. It tended Falls (Wausau). Wakely, had come from upstate New to support Congress over the Executive Maybee’s first trip down the river on York and represented for the moment and favored modernization and econom- lumber was for David Hill in 1840 from the progress-oriented citizens of the civ- ic development. The name was chosen Grand Rapids to St. Louis. On his return ilization growing out of the Pinery. to echo the Whigs who had fought for trip, he helped pole two canoes from About Wakely, the editors were vague. independence in the 1770s. Prominent Galena, Ill., to Portage and Point Basse, They said they didn’t know him person- later leaders were Daniel Webster, Wil- where he helped Robert Wakely erect ally but that gentlemen of both parties liam Henry Harrison, Henry Clay, Zach- his house, the first in that vicinity. who knew him better had described the ary Taylor, Winfield Scott, John Tyler, central Wisconsin entrepreneur as a man Millard Fillmore and Abraham Lincoln. 01-15-07 of unimpeachable moral character and Another reference to Wakely came undoubted talent. The resident of “Point in a March 9, 1852, Madison Daily Boss, in the heart of the great Pinery re- Democrat, which reported a bill by Mr. gion,” then resided in Portage County, (George?) Cate, granting to Wakely the

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Children’s Choice told of a small District 3 school on the stage of rough boards and canvas, plank south side of the Four Mile Creek in seats for the audience. A Christmas tree efore it crumbled into dust, 1870, serving German immigrant farm- with paper chains, popcorn strings and the clipping told its story one ers with large families. Consequently, paper figures. Picnics (Clara Helke’s Blast time: about the dedication District 4 was created. In 1890, land cake covered with orange slices). of a new Children’s Choice school on was purchased from John Glebke for And there were those visits from the “County W,” east of Wisconsin Rapids. $17.50 at what is now Highway W and county superintendent and his assistant, The Daily Tribune story was dated, as 48th Street. Miss McDermid, always feared. well as could be determined, January 6, Henry Glebke, John Rasmussen and The school was called District No. 4 1950. First classes would begin the fol- Fred Rickoff were school board mem- until 1917 when George Varney, super- lowing Monday, following Christmas bers in 1910 and Bessie La Vigne the intendent, thought all schools should vacation. teacher. La Vigne described a white have names. Taking part in the dedication ceremo- frame building with a wide porch across District 4’s parent organization, the ny were: the front. A photo shows an attractive Jolly Hour Club, asked each member to ●Mr. or Mrs. Corey (the first name had open porch on the old school, while submit a possibility. Mrs. Gilbert Moll, been lost), both former Wood County another photo, after remodeling, shows apparently the former Jessine Rasmus- superintendents of schools. the then homely but functional enclosed sen, submitted “Children’s Choice ●Rev. A.W. Triggs, pastor of Port Ed- porch. School,” which she said, “belonged to wards Community church. Running the wood stove was usually history.” ●A Biron Girl Scout troop. a problem for the teachers. During one “Choice” grew with the times. A base- ●Mrs. Ralph Turner, director of the class, an explosion blew ashes out the ment was put under the old school so it district school board, Theodore Welton, front and Wilbur Krueger, leaped over could have a furnace, running water, in- board clerk, D.M. De Rouchey, treasur- the back of the seat “like a deer.” A bul- door toilets and playground equipment. er, Ben Hanneman, town chairman of let in a chunk of wood was the suspect- In 1945, through the federal hot lunch Grand Rapids and Matt Knedle, county ed cause. Near the stove was big wood program, the storeroom was converted school superintendent. box. When emptied, it yielded old bread into a kitchen. In June 1949, construc- ●A cornet trio made up of Fred Schef- crusts, apple cores, stocking caps and tion began on the building now vacant. fer, Dave Denniston and William No- mouse nests. But the babies were bulging at such a bles. Teacher La Vigne said she walked rate that, by 1956, crowded conditions ●Linda Kortkamp and Marylyn Petta, from Oak Street, occasionally catching were already a problem. pupils of the new school, to help lay the a ride with Mr. Timm or Mr. Goldberg District No. 4 school, said the Tribune, cornerstone. on their way to make hay on the marsh- grew from a one-room frame building For the 134 enrolled, architect Donn es. Evenings, she sometimes rode a beer for 20 children, to a school with seven Hougen had included six classrooms, wagon. She loved the magnificent hors- classrooms, a library, a multi-purpose a principal’s office, teachers’ lounge, es but was embarrassed on Oak Street to room, a large gym, a kitchen and accom- kitchen and gymnasium. The building be helped down off the high seat. modations for over 250 children. It was was constructed of cinder block with an Like almost every country school, her a bricks-and-mortar conglomeration in outer facing of cream-colored brick. scholastic venue had: a pump, iron stove, the end as fragile as the clipping that During the U.S. Bicentennial, an Aug. slate blackboards and a long recitation told its story. 21, 1976, Tribune story by Esther Staeck bench. “Programs” that used a makeshift 01-22-07

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Big Frogs $500,000, a croaking huge sum in those pared with that made above.” days. They proposed to erect one of the Further, it was believed that steam- s a peeper in a small pond, I largest lumbering establishments “in all boats would service Nekoosa from plac- usually write about other small the West.” Saw mills, booms to control es like Kilbourn City, now Wisconsin Afrogs. But, looking back to the the flow of the product and dams “of the Dells, “where the La Crosse R.R. cross- beginning of our pond here, some of the most substantial and permanent charac- es the river.” frogs were at least medium-sized. ter” would be constructed. “All in all, it is one of the most promi- One of the first to arrive here was Even “in the wildest stage of water,” nent sites on the river for Hydraulics, larger-than-average Robert Wakely, the said the writer, “so that if every boom and for building up a town. It is in right Whig I wrote about recently. and dam above them, sho’d be swept hands, and will soon be a place of note About twenty years after Wakely away at the same time, they should be on this river.” hopped ashore, a story in the Feb. 10, brought up and the property preserved Another newspaper, the Wisconsin 1858, “Central Wisconsin” (a Wausau at Nekoosa.” Pinery of Feb. 19, 1858, contains a no- newspaper), told, with progress-initia- The mills would be capable of sawing tice from the Nekoosa Lumbering Com- tive turns of phrase, about the immi- an immense amount of lumber, “and so pany for a stockholders meeting at the nent rise of Wakely’s Wisconsin home, arranged as to be capable of an indefi- American Hotel, Milwaukee. “Nekoosa.” “The rapidity with which nite increase.” Four frogs of various sizes assembled: towns and villages are springing up in The great advantages of Nekoosa, as a Orlando Curtis, a resident of Stevens the valley of the Wisconsin, and along point for manufacturing pine lumber, the Point, Wis., president of the firm, and its banks, exceeds the expectation of the writer said, “have been long known and three directors of the board: most sanguine.” appreciated by all who were acquainted George W. Strong. Twenty years previous, the region had with that business as prosecuted on the Albert G. Ellis, early settler, historian been “all wild with the exception of a Wisconsin River.” and publisher, a pretty big frog. few lumbermen’s shanties. Now many The first mill had been erected atNek- Moses M. Strong. Born in Vermont, he fine villages have taken place, and oth- oosa by the amphibious Daniel Whitney, moved to Mineral Point, Wis., as a poli- ers are fast appearing.” of Green Bay, nearly twenty five years tician, lawyer, real estate investor, rail- The Central Wisconsin predicted that before, while the land was still owned road promoter and lumber mill devel- Nekoosa would soon rank first, in busi- by the native inhabitants. Whitney had oper. Like a lot of his peers, he founded ness and population, of all the settle- a lease from the United States Govern- something: Arena, Wis. ments on the river above the city of ment, reputedly with the consent of the An 1858 railroad scandal ended Portage. Nekoosa would become a very tribe occupying the country. His contin- Strong’s political career after which he big pond, if the big frogs had their way. ued for many years to be the only mill at organized the Wisconsin bar association “The point, Whitney Rapids—Point which lumber was manufactured here. (for lawyers). He also composed a his- Basse, is a fine one; and from the known The biggest charm of Nekoosa was tory of Wisconsin Territory. energy of character, and forecaste [sic] that it occupied the rapids furthest down- Write your own book. That’s how to of the parties engaged in this enterprise, stream on the Wisconsin river, with all get the rest of the pond to remember we are prepared to believe all that is pre- the timber above, waiting to be floated what a big frog you are. dicted of it.” down. Logs would be converted to lum- The big frogs had incorporated a ber and shingles and rafted to Dubuque 01-29-07 Stock Company with a capital stated at or St. Louis, “almost in market, com-

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Eisenhower Doctrine tine, Israel proclaimed herself a state. for the settlement of international dis- The Arabs fought and lost.” Subsequent putes.” Now, he considered the situation pening the Daily Tribune any Arab bitterness extended to Israel’s sup- changed and asked Congress for author- time after 1948 could reveal a porters, Britain and the United States. ity to use U.S. military might if neces- headline about the mess in the When Palestine was partitioned, al- sary to block Russian intrusion into the O most a million Arabs were forced from Middle East. He also wanted $400 mil- “Mideast.” The story could include an American Israel for “miserable refugee hovels” lion for economic aid. President’s efforts to counter anti-Amer- in surrounding Arab countries. The re- “The President believes that his per- ican fanatics infiltrating and attempting sulting anger “exploded” hit-and-run sonal prestige as the leader of the United to alienate oil-rich “allies.” attacks on the Israel-Jordan and Israel- States, “a Tribune editorial said, “may In his State of the Union message Egypt frontiers. exert a force for peace in critical times of January 1957, President Dwight D. New 1957 friction in the area coincid- that others might not. Eisenhower revealed his plan for a more ed with the rise of Gamal Abdel Nasser “By the same token,” said another aggressive foreign policy, the “Eisen- in Egypt: the Arab world’s new hero. commentary in the Tribune, “while so hower Doctrine.” The objective was not Also new, said Ryan, was the influence advantageously placed on the scene, to push democracy but to deter, through of Soviets in Egypt, selling Nasser arms the U.S. must somehow tackle the long- military might and economic aid, armed he said he needed as a defense against range settlement of Arab-Israel issues, aggression by Soviet Russian commu- Israel. and other disturbing Middle East ques- nists. “Russian influence was intruding itself tions. Otherwise, the moment of oppor- According to an editor’s note January into the Middle East with a vengeance. tunity may pass and the situation may 16 for William L. Ryan’s Daily Tribune And world communism welcomed the become frozen in the kind of frustrating column, “The cradle of civilization can climate of bitterness in which it might impasse that has marked such trouble become its grave if misjudgment in the hope to flourish.” spots as Korea, Indochina and divided Middle East sets off World War III.” British and French planes had bombed Germany.” Ryan, Associated Press foreign ana- Egypt in October to prepare for an inva- Sen. Wiley of Wisconsin, top Repub- lyst, said the worst enemies of the Unit- sion of the new Suez Canal zone. The lican on the Senate Foreign Relations ed States in the Middle East were igno- seizure by the Egyptian army of five Committee, said he “didn’t hear any op- rance, fear, corruption and poverty. “It British supply bases left a “vacuum” position.” will take more than a declaration against of western power in defending against Sen. Mike Mansfield (D-Mont), a armed aggression to defeat these allies Russia. member of the committee, called on of communism.” Too complicated for a Wood county Eisenhower for an estimate of the costs The Eisenhower Doctrine, he said, in- historian, as it was then for most of the and dangers involved. dicated an American realization that the folks here in the Heartland. Sen. Sparkman (D-Ala) said Eisen- last chance in the Middle East was at Meanwhile Israel occupied the Sinai hower had “quite a selling job to do.” hand. The core of the problem was the Desert and Gaza strip, inflaming their Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, the Sen- Fertile Crescent, made up of Iraq, Syria, neighbors. ate’s Democratic leader, said he would Jordan and Palestine, “alive with fer- General Eisenhower, the most impor- reserve judgment for the time being. It ment.” tant U.S. military leader of his time, had wasn’t so long before he was the one be- In 1948, when Britain “gave up her declared, “We do not accept the use of ing judged. League of Nations mandate in Pales- force as a wise or proper instrument 02-05-07

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Vesper School ing. In response, classes returned to the When Bessie La Vigne, of Children’s magine, a separate room for each previously-used building in the eastern Choice fame, taught in the upper grades, Igrade! That’s what happened when part of Vesper, Stephen Brazeau, teach- a fire broke out but eighth-grade boys one big Vesper school closed down four er. In 1895, the frame school building doused it. little Vesper schools. was moved to the western part of town Fifth-built is the existing structure In 1959, an “overflow crowd visited which was considered more centrally- which, in 1962, became part of the Wis- the new one-story, eight-classroom fa- located. Mabel White (Mrs. John Flani- consin Rapids school district. cility at the edge of town. It was the first gan) was the teacher 1895-97 for $25 per In June 1959, construction on Vesper completed eight-grade school in Wood month. At that time, not so much a baby Grade School was progressing rapidly County to result from the consolidation bulge but an influx of settlers caused the so it could open with the school term in of surrounding independent rural school school to become overcrowded. A small September, according to Matt Knedle, districts. addition was built but soon proved inad- county superintendent of schools. Although new to Wood county, con- equate so the too-big district was split The Vesper district expanded that sum- solidations such as that at Vesper were between Crescent, Turner and Spring mer, attaching Snyder, Bean and Turner occurring throughout the nation as more Lake districts. school districts. Part of the Crescent dis- students were bused from rural locations The fourth school credited to Vesper trict had already been integrated. Turner, to larger schools. itself was a two-room brick school built built in 1906, was located just southwest In Vesper, going out of the “three-r” in 1906 by “the Murgatroyds,” owners of Eight Corners and, in 1958, had 29 business (reading, ’riting and ’rithme- of the Vesper Brick Yard. For a while, pupils. Typical of rural schoolhouses, tic) were the Turner, Bean and Sny- only one room was used, by teacher the one classroom housed eight grades. der schools and the old Vesper village Miss Alice Merrick. In 1909, the build- There was outdoor non-plumbing and school itself. ing was used as a two-room school with little playground equipment. A Nov. 8, 1975, Bicentennial-themed George Varney, principal, Myrtle Row- Already before the completion of the story in the Daily Tribune said that there land the primary teacher. modern new building in 1959, residents had been four different school buildings According to the Bicentennial news- had to decide what to do as the district in the community we call “Vesper.” paper account, in 1921, Ralph C. Ben- expanded. Should they add more rooms First was a log cabin in the eastern part nett taught ninth grade in a building oth- to the structure originally intended only of the village built in 1878 with Marga- er than the school and, in 1922, Wallace to house pupils from the former Vesper ret Hanifin (Mrs. Peter McCamley) as Long was employed as a tenth-grade district? The answer was yes. teacher. At the time, the enrollment was As of 1975, the fate of former one- teacher. th th Second was a frame structure near the about 26. Both 9 and 10 grades were room Vesper-area schools was described. line separating Hansen Township from discontinued after two years. Bean: Hansen town hall; Spring Lake: Sigel township. Teacher T.J. Cooper Jerome Seifert told the Tribune that private house; Pleasant View: house; drove by horse and buggy from Centra- he and several other four year olds were Snyder: 4H Club House; Turner: stand- lia in 1880. enrolled at Vesper because the school ing in dilapidated condition; Pioneer: Third was a school built in 1892, board needed more students to qualify torn down. called “Sand Hill.” In August 1894, the for state aid. In the fall, after the funds Lone Pine and Natwick schools? Gone fire that burned the western part of Ves- were allotted, the parents were told the and almost forgotten, I guess. per destroyed the two-year-old build- children were too young to attend but the mothers refused to take them back. 02-12-07

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The Usual After Jackson’s retirement, William J. and Montgomery Ward retail and mail- Foote was named director of book paper order. years ago, there was no manufacture at Rapids, Biron and Whit- Offices on the second floor were: Ra- clue Consolidated wasn’t ing. Foote, manager of the Wisconsin dio Station WFHR; Milady’s Beauty forever. 50 River Division at Whiting since 1946, Shop; the business department of The In 1957, the Wisconsin Rapids offices had been with the firm 19 years. Tribune, the Wisconsin Network and could have been called “world head- He was a graduate of Lawrence Col- WFHR; Household Finance Corp.; and quarters” of Consolidated Water Power lege and received a Doctorate from the attorney John M. Potter. & Paper Co. But that language would Institute of Paper Chemistry, Appleton, The property was named for the late have been too ostentatious. At the time, in 1938, immediately joining Consoli- L.M. Nash and owned by his heirs: the big C was conducting business as dated as chief chemist. Charles M. Nash, George Nash, Neil usual in its usual from-the-ground-up L.W. Murtfeldt, assistant manager Nash and Mrs. C.G. Mullen. conservative way. of the Wisconsin Rapids Division, suc- The block, as it stood in 1957, con- Consider the retirement of C.E. Jack- ceeded Jackson as mill manager. Murt- tained none of the original grocery store son as mill manager and the chain of feldt, a graduate of Washington Univer- on the site, owned by George Corriveau. promotions it caused. Stability was the sity school of engineering, St. Louis, W.T. Jones and L.M. Nash had pur- order of the day and long-term service had been with the firm 24 years, in tim- chased the property in 1884 and formed was rewarded. berlands and manufacturing, and, most the Centralia Hardware Co. The press release came from Stanton lately, was pulp superintendent at Rap- According to the Tribune account, W. Mead, Consolidated president and ids Division. L.M. Alexander (known best for the son of George W. Mead, builder of the Stratton Martin, secretary to the vice- Nekoosa-Edwards paper company), Wisconsin Rapids mill 55 years earlier. president, manufacturing, would suc- owned the Nash property for a short At the time of his retirement, Jackson ceed Foote as manager at Whiting. Mar- time. Alexander, in 1897, sold it back to was production manager of the compa- tin, a 1942 graduate of Ripon College, the Centralia Hardware Co., and in Janu- ny’s book mills and Wisconsin Rapids began as a chemist in 1946. He had been ary 1912, Nash himself bought it again, Division manager. He had been with with the firm a mere 11 years. forming the Nash Hardware Co. the firm 43 years. In 1914, he graduat- Changing today’s topic from industry The entire block was gutted on April ed from the University of Chicago and to commerce, it was already apparent 50 23, 1937, in the most spectacular and came to Consolidated as employment years ago that Illinois had her eye on us. costly fire in the history of the city. It manager. When the company construct- The sale of the landmark Nash block to was reconstructed and opened the fol- ed a newsprint mill in Port Arthur, On- Hyman Coen, Chicago, was a big step lowing year. tario, in 1927, he was named manager toward the Grand Mall of modern times. The Nash/Montgomery Ward build- of that mill. Plans in 1957 called for renovation of ing was razed in the early 1980s, when I In 1929, following the sale of the the building for Montgomery Ward & was new to the history scene here. Port Arthur plant, Jackson returned to Co. The Nash edifice covered the entire It was apparent that demolition was the Rapids as mill manager and, in 1949, 100 block of W. Grand Ave., fronting on order of the day as “heritage” structures became production manager of book- 1st Ave. S. The property is now a parking were routinely smushed like so many paper mills. Under his administration, lot. Prior to the sale, the block housed VW “bugs” – or, more to the theme, like the Rapids mill made the transition from on the first floor, Nash Hardware, Jer- old Nash Ramblers. newsprint to enamel papers that deter- rold’s Clothing Store, IGA Foodliner 02-19-07 mined its historic niche. 204 River City Memoirs Ghost

Red Owl beauty aids, pet foods, hardware and Estreen, Wausau. He had purchased magazines. lumber yard property from Charles and n 1957, when a supermarket opened There were five regular checkout Elbert Kellogg, leasing it to A. Rounds at Avon and Market streets, it was a stands and one express checkout. Metcalf, proprietor of Rapids Lumber Isign of the times and a sign of times “Other features which will make for & Supply Co. to come. Likewise, its disappearance pleasant shopping conditions include The Metcalf lumber yard switched its some 30 years later. constant soft background music, air operations in July 1956 to “the old feed The name of this second local “su- conditioning and fluorescent lighting.” mill building” at 8th and West Grand per” food store was “Red Owl.” Red Owl boasted of a central loca- Avenues. If there’s a new supermarket, there’s tion at Avon and Market Streets. At that Construction of Red Owl, under bound to be a grand opening. Guests at time, central locations were coveted, direction of the local Frank J. Henry Red Owl’s fete in 1957 included Nels whereas, in the 21st Century, sites at company, began in August, shortly after Justeson, Wisconsin Rapids mayor; J.J. the edge of town are more likely to be the lumber yard was demolished. Nimtz, president of the Rapids chamber developed. A large, adjoining parking The cost of the concrete block struc- of commerce; and B.T. Ziegler, cham- lot, crucial to the supermarket concept, ture was about $130,000. It would ber manager. was being created. employ about 40. A woman selected from the crowd The visual highlight was an eye- Officials from theRed Owl’s general would serve as Red Owl Grand Open- catching 36-foot high pylon, surfaced office at Hopkins, Minn., attended the ing Queen. For her service cutting the with glistening white porcelain enamel Rapids festivities. The Red Owl organi- ribbon, she would be awarded a set of bearing the traditional Red Owl trade- zation now had 151 corporate stores. sewing scissors. mark. Outlined with neon tubing, the The floor plan came in at 10,000 The theme was a modern, “Food from big bird’s face glowed after dark. square feet. Comparing 1957 super- All Over the World,” with Bud Witter, Russell Chevrette was to be the first market to 2007 supercenter, a Wal- WBAY-TV, Green Bay, who hosted manager. He had most recently man- Mart ranges from 99,000 square feet Red Owl’s Sunday feature movie aged Red Owl at Gladstone, Mich. As- to 261,000 square feet with an average program on that station. Both ends of sistant manager was Jerome Bentzler, size of about 187,000. the half-dozen aisle counters sported most lately from Sheboygan. By the time of its closure in the a rotating globe, with one larger globe Francis Kirby, the meat manager, 1980s, Red Owl seemed to be a hom- as store centerpiece. A “Spice Island” arrived from Green Bay and produce ey, local, Mom and Pop store, but it counter contained samples, “from all manager Alfred Feifarek, from Apple- wasn’t. Red Owl was part and parcel over the world.” ton. of the super-trend that swept away the Inside, the store design embodied the The Tribune reported that the new corner groceries, butcher shops and latest features in “efficiency” and “con- Red Owl “agency” was to be the hub of bakeries that we more often wax nostal- venience,” such as refrigerated counters a shopping center located across from gic about. for vegetables, meats and dairy prod- the courthouse. Up to four more stores Its arrival prophesied the super-stores ucts and merchandise stacked in long would stand in a row along the south to come and, when it abandoned the aisles, easily reachable by customers end of the parking lot, the whole as- courthouse site, Red Owl’s example roaming the store, serving themselves. suming an L shape. pointed the way to 8th Street. Departments ranged from baby foods, The store and land, on a long-term “home-style” bakery goods, health and lease to Red Owl, were owned by Dan 02-26-07

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Honoring the Sabbath Grocery, presided over the grocers meet- At one time, according to Morin, all ing. “I don’t want anyone to feel that we but eight states had blue laws. ocal preachers gave it a shot are compelling them to close their stores Apparently, a few still have in 2007 but religion never had a chance on Sundays. Those who decide to con- statewide Sunday selling bans on some Lagainst Eighth Street. tinue Sunday operations may do so and products or leave it up to local jurisdic- As we follow the “fifty years ago” it’ll be all right with the rest of us. But as tions to decide the issue, with mall own- timeline, not only had Save More for me I’m going to close regardless of ers among those leading the fight for opened a supermarket but a Marshall- what anyone else decides to do.” freedom of shopping. Wells self-service hardware store had Father Carl Dockendorff, of St. Vin- When I was an innocent babe with joined it at 2513 8th St. S. (It would be- cent Catholic church, declared that the dew dripping from behind my ears, I come “Neipp’s.”) “law of God prescribes one day of rest followed my old German grandpa to The shopping center was owned by each week and if we work on Sundays the barn before sunrise. After morning Commercial Expansion Corp., Wausau, it’s a violation of God’s law. chores we went off to church on time which planned 20 units within the next “I’m not blaming the storekeepers but every time, undoubtedly with a dash of few years. The local Frank J. Henry, perhaps more so the buyers whose de- barnyard cologne around the ankles. Inc., general contractors, had erected mand keeps stores open on Sundays. We Typically, chicken dinner with rela- the hardware store. According to the try to tell our people that they can train tives followed and a lot of Sabbath sit- Tribune “Henry is secretary of the cor- themselves to do their shopping in six ting and resting, maybe croquet in sea- poration.” days.” son. But evening chores still had to be The two stores would be open 8 a.m. – As a sociologist, Dockendorff didn’t attended to; cows have to be milked. 9 p.m., daily. Staying open late on week- have a prayer. Other Sundays, at my Two Mile Av- days was a new “super” store thing. A 2006 story by Richard Morin opens enue ranch house here, the routine had They were open, except for Sunday. with a lead more provocative than mine: slight similarity. In the River City of 1956, the majority “Who knew Satan worked at the local Out to the breezeway before the break of grocery store operators agreed at a mall?” of day to do the chores: assembling the meeting of the Heart of Wisconsin Re- The study he was reviewing: “The Milwaukee Journal Sunday edition that tail Food Dealers in Wisconsin Rapids Church vs. the Mall: What Happens had been delivered during the night. City Hall to close on that day, prompted When Religion Faces Increased Secular In winter, I trudged out with my red by please from religious leaders defend- Competition?” Radio Flyer wagon piled high with ing the sanctity of the Sabbath. Scholars Jonathan Gruber and Dan- heavy Journals. Down the frosty lanes Truth to tell, some Mom and Pop iel Hungerman determined that allow- of Woodland Drive and Sampson Street, grocers were glad to be relieved of the ing an extra day to shop contributes up through the new subdivisions on burden of a seven-day work week. Im- significantly to wicked behavior, espe- Third. portant to the implementation of the cially among people who are the most In summer, it took several trips on my Sunday closing was the announcement religious. When states eliminated “blue bike. But in any season I had to be done by a representative of Save More Super laws” that prohibited certain activities in time for Sunday school at nine, church Market, Joseph Varga, that Save More on Sunday, church attendance declined and home for fried chicken. Not much to would “go along with the majority.” while drinking and drug use increased, do after that. Stores were closed. One of the Mom & Pops, George H. especially among those who frequently Peterson Sr., proprietor of Peterson’s attended church services. 03-05-07

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Blei ing, sharing and celebrating these rem- recall much more, except a great library. nants of wilderness, these healthy wild I have always liked that library. But you oor County is a good place. If places that nourish us, is our gift to fu- guys live there; you see some of the fin- you’re a writer: with the “New ture generations, and to ourselves.” er things.” DEngland” of the Midwest to cel- But, why worry? Door County is a Yes, we see Wood County is a good ebrate. good place. If you’re a tourist. place. If you look with satisfaction on If you’re a writer: with an audience “It’s true,” said Blei. “It’s just a beau- the tourists and plutocrats sucked up of well-educated spenders who rock the tiful peninsula. All these places, all the Highway 57 to Door County like flies shops of Egg Harbor, Fish Creek and great places, everybody wants to go into an Oreck XL21 Titanium Series Ephraim. If you’re Norbert Blei, the Un- there.” vacuum. If you like the fact that they’re cle Dave of Ellison Bay: with a portman- A good place. If you’re a wealthy prop- not bothering us here in Wood County, teau of genuine true stories that could be erty owner. “They’re moaning about the where I don’t stop the handy prankster called, “Door County Memoirs.” McMansions,” said Blei. “They have a from depositing dead skunks on High- In 2005, I spoke with Norb in his writ- new name. They want to be called estate way 34 to deter casual travel. ing den, a converted chicken-coop with homes.” Appreciating the view from the near- “MSPT-DC” subtly-enscribed above the “The mansion I made a lot of fun of ten est lighthouse, Blei said water is “the doorway. The perpetually-multitasking years ago, built for $7-8 million, sold a most magical phenomena of the whole Blei was compiling two books: a biogra- few months ago for $22 million, sight county. There’s always that sense of the phy of a lighthouse keeper and The Na- unseen, to a guy in California. People beyond that’s out there, almost within ture of Door: Door County Writers and with their second home, third home. A reach.” Artists on Preservation of Place, edited friend has three places, one on Wash- Here’s one for the book: Nicolet Bay in with Karen Yancey for the Door County ington Island, one in Minnesota, one in Peninsula State Park. For many visitors, Land Trust. Both are published by Blei’s Florida. it epitomizes the charm and beauty of Cross+Roads Press. “Everybody complains, even the peo- the Door Peninsula. It’s a good place. Nature of Door is a collection of writ- ple buying in; that’s the riddle. If they If you like a gorgeous seascape, neo- ings defending 21 locations “that have come with a reverence for the land- Gatsby yachts in the harbor, snack shack a great deal of meaning and that the scape, what they do in turn is to make it ice cream cones on the deck and sew- Land Trust has an interest in preserv- over into what they have just left. More age on the beach. A necklace of stink- ing.” (Think “fen,” “swamp,” “pond,” shops, more galleries, high-end restau- ing, weedy, pathogen-brimming slime, “swale” “farm,” “forest” and “woods.”) rants. wrapped around frolicking tourist chil- The Nature of Door. It’s a good book. “I ate at the Waterfront. I had a $100 dren, including my own. If you think nature needs help. If you gift certificate; it was $149 for two.” The One Mile Creek of my child- like the palpable affection and loyalty Wood County is also a good place. hood was a good place too. If you like to natural sites of the writers, some of “If you like “that restaurant in the ho- your rivulets overrun by development whom were actually born in the region. tel,” Blei said. If you like strip malls and brown globs draped in green fronds It’s a good book if you like highly per- better than cute little shops. If you like floating like jellyfish throughJohn Mur- sonal, reasonable essays calling for pro- pulp mills better than condominiums gatroyd’s Garden of Eden. tection of the best places, however small and marinas. “My fondest memory of or grand. Wisconsin Rapids as a place,” he said, 03-12-07 A foreword by Yancey says, “Protect- “was really along the river and I can’t

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Building •Also in the courthouse area was wedding receptions and parties. The Warsinske Motor Co., 162-72 2nd St. N. basement, to be entered via a stairway Tennyson said, “The old But Warsinske said its entire business in the theater lobby, had been leased to order changeth, giving would be transferred to 411 8th St. S., Mr. and Mrs. William Leder, operators As place to the new...” where it had purchased the real estate of Bill’s Billiards, 251 W. Grand Ave., Anyway, that’s what the 1957 Daily of Reiland-Pontiac and a location at for use as a soda fountain and pool hall. Tribune quoted. Or we can go by the which Warsinske continues to operate. The entire operation would be called opposite, in the words of less-lyrical The “downtown” Warsinske building the Palace Ballroom and Recreation sages, “the more things change, the had housed a Dodge-Plymouth dealer- Parlor. more they stay the same.” ship since it was constructed in 1934. Walrath said he felt a need for such To be specific and to follow our The Reiland-Pontiac building had been a place, “operated on sound principles “50-years-ago” timeline, what was a- erected in 1943 and 1947. to provide good entertainment. Noth- changin’ in February 1957? •Near 8th Street in a developing ing in Central Wisconsin will be able to •Couple weeks ago, I told you a Red residential area was the new St Luke’s compare with it.” Owl store had come to an East Side Lutheran church at 10th St. S. and Wood •A major new building was in plan- location at the edge of what was then Ave. It was attached to an existing ning that would compete with the Pal- considered “downtown.” The Red Owl chapel which would become the edu- ace for the attention of young persons project coincided with the construction cational adjunct. Guest speaker for the with active reflexes: the new commu- of the new courthouse and the demoli- opening ceremony was Rev. L.H. Go- nity center that would house the South tion of two “ancient” buildings: the etz, Nekoosa. A concert featured Carol Wood County YMCA, featuring a large 1881 courthouse and the 1895 sheriff’s Kuechle of Immanuel Lutheran church. indoor swimming pool and gymnasium. office and jail at 431 Baker St. •Of special interest to aspiring did- Designed by Donn Hougen, the $1 A portion of the jail building had dyboppers such as myself were plans million building, built by the Nekoosa- been used as living quarters for sheriffs by Theodore Walrath for converting Edwards Foundation for lease at a and their families for a long time. After the Palace Theater building, 141 3rd nominal fee to the local “Y,” would operations were transferred into court- Ave. S., into a ballroom and recreation be named, “John E. Alexander South house quarters under new Wood Coun- center. Wood County YMCA, Inc.,” after the ty sheriff Thomas H. Forsyth, the last Walrath was president of Kruger- president of the association. Other of- occupant of the old jail was Mrs. Arthur Walrath Corp., a realty firm which had ficers were Stanton W. Mead, Dwight Berg, wife of the outgoing sheriff. purchased the theater from Mrs. Henri- H. Teas and Neil Nash. Mrs. Berg said she had been getting etta Eckardt. •This year marks a century since the up by at least 5 a.m. to prepare three For those who have wondered in ret- South Wood County Historical Corp. meals every day for an average of ten rospect how a theater floor could be flat Museum at 540 Third St. S. was con- occupants of the jail. She also packed enough to dance on: extensive remodel- structed. From 1948-1970, it was the lunch every morning for prisoners, ing was in progress, under the direction T.B. Scott Public Library. who, under the terms of their sentence, of architect C.J. Billmeyer, leveling the were released for daytime employment. floor and excavating the basement. 03-19-07 As one prisoner who was allowed out The first floor ballroom would be to work each day told her, “You pack a used for dances, meetings, sales con- lunch just like my ma used to.” ferences, demonstrations, banquets,

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Herr Sigel bered. That decision and the fog of war German-American periodical. brought about a disaster. Sigel died in New York City on Aug. ore than a coincidence? Early in the war, the enemy was wear- 21, 1902. A monument in his honor was The Wood County town- ing uniforms similar to those of Sigel’s unveiled in Riverside Drive, New York ship organized Jan. 10, 1863, M troops, who saw the Confederates com- City, in October 1907. Not far away is took the name “Sigel” in the midst of ing but believed they were Union rein- Grant’s tomb. our Civil War. At the time, Franz Sigel forcements until the newcomers opened “New Market,” Virginia, in May 1864 was a general in the Union army. Sigel fire. had been another disaster for Sigel, this was a German immigrant like many of Sigel wrote to Major-General Fremont time at the hands of Confederate general the settlers arriving in central Wiscon- Aug. 18, 1861: “It is impossible for me John C. Breckinridge — more embar- sin. Why wouldn’t the township take its to describe the consternation and fright- rassing because young Virginia military name from the popular general? ful confusion which was occasioned by cadets played a key role. Other townships of “Sigel” did the this unfortunate event. The cry ‘They His performance at New Market was same, in the counties of Chippewa, Wis., [Lyon’s troops] are firing against us,’ summed up by Gen. Henry Halleck in a Huron, Mich., Shelby, Ill., and Brown, spread like wildfire through our ranks. telegram to Grant: “Instead of advancing Minn. “The enemy arrived within ten paces on Staunton he is already in full retreat The good news about Sigel is that he from the mouth of our cannon, killed the on Strasburg. If you expect anything had rallied many of the newly-arrived horses, turned the flanks of the infantry, from him you will be mistaken. He will German population to the Union cause. and forced them to retire. The troops do nothing but run. He never did any- The bad news is that he was one of the were throwing themselves into the bush- thing else.” worst generals we had. es and by-roads, retreating as well as Sigel was relieved of his command in Born in 1824, Sigel joined the German they could, followed and attacked inces- for “lack of aggression” and spent the revolution of 1849 to become the rebel santly by large bodies of Arkansas and rest of the war without an active com- government’s Minister of War. When Texas cavalry. mand. the revolution failed, he came to the Sigel resigned his commission in May The Wood County town’s namesake United States. He taught in New York 1865 and became editor of a German was immortalized in a humorous Civil City schools before becoming the direc- journal in Baltimore, Md. He moved war song in German dialect: tor of education in St. Louis. to New York City, and in 1869 was the When the Civil War began, in 1861, Und now I gets mine sojer clothes, unsuccessful Republican candidate for Sigel, an opponent of slavery, organized I’m going to fight mit Sigel. secretary of state of New York. a regiment and, within a few weeks, was Un ven Cheff Davis’ mens we meet, Sigel was appointed a collector of promoted to Brigadier General. This al- Ve Schlauch em like de tuyvil; internal revenue in May 1871 and, as lowed him a leadership role in the first Dere’s only one ting vot I fear, an “adherent” of the Democratic party, major Civil War battle west of the Mis- Ven pattling for de Eagle; was, in 1886, appointed pension-agent sissippi River, at Wilson’s Creek, near I vont get not no lager bier, in New York by President Grover Cleve- Springfield, Mo., in which Nathaniel Ven I goes to fight mitSigel. land (who also appointed his friend, T.E. Lyon became the first Union general Nash, of Grand Rapids/Centralia to a killed in combat. 03-26-07 government position). It was Sigel who urged Lyon to divide Sigel’s last years were devoted to the his army though Lyon was outnum- editorship of the New York Monthly, a

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High Fliers Jere III called me a couple times and flying glass of the windshield, broken t’s been a month or three since a told me about his dad, who, it seemed, by the impact. He was alone in the car reader, rusticating in upstate New was pretty much the same old Young at the time of the accident. The car was York, took time to pen a letter to the Jere to the end. Hunting through an on- badly damaged.” I line newspaper archives, I hoped for “Forced Landing Near Nekoosa Hurts Tribune editor, in appreciation of my “tabloid journalism.” Like any purveyor something new, immoral and illegal. Plane”: of the prurient, I wondered what to do To our mutual disappointment, the only September 1942: A plane piloted by for an encore, within the purview of an crimes were misdemeanors. Witter was damaged when he made a admittedly circumspect local clientele. “Fined for Speeding”: forced landing in a field three miles east In other words, how to get in some- In July 1923, Witter, of a Third street of Nekoosa. Witter was unhurt and the thing racy about a person who can’t sue, address that is now the South Wood right side of the plane’s landing gear which usually means someone famous County Historical Corp. Museum, paid damaged. The plane, owned by A.E. or dead. It doesn’t hurt if the story is a fine and costs amounting to $13.16 Padags, manager of Tri-City airport, true, which a good percentage of mine in Judge E.N. Pomainville’s court after was hauled to the facility for repairs. are. pleading guilty to “reckless and fast” Witter, of Los Angeles, was in town Naturally, I looked to Jere (pronounced driving on Vine street. It had occurred visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. I.P. “Jerry”) Witter. June 20 but, owing to the defendant’s Witter. “Young Jere” was the “playboy” son absence from the city, the matter was Another young local flier wasThomas of banker Isaac Witter and grandson of not brought up until over a month later. Nash, son of Mr. and Mrs. Guy Nash “old” Jere Witter, who was a respectable “Local Youth Hits Car of State Offi- and grandson of Nekoosa Papers, Inc. partner in almost every local enterprise. cer”: founder T.E. Nash. A Young Jere expose is perfect for Madison, Nov. 14, 1923: Adjutant Tom, the older brother of Philleo and 2007. This is the “Year of the Museum,” General Ralph Immel narrowly escaped Jean, attended Amherst College and was for the South Wood County Historical serious injury when an auto driven by featured by the Tribune when he returned Corp., because the building is celebrat- Jere Witter, Wisconsin Rapids, state home from working his way through the ing its construction by the Witter family university student, collided with and de- Panama Canal Zone by washing dishes in 1907. molished the car driven by Immel. The and other galley work. Common knowledge has it that Young adjutant general received lacerations An Oct. 2, 1929, story said Tom passed Jere, briefly a rival to Stanton Mead about the head and one student was his “check” flight at theGreat Lakes Na- as Consolidated heir, liked to buzz the slightly injured. val Training station and completed his Rapids mill with his aero-plane. Con- “Avoiding Collision, Car Strike first solo flight. ventional wisdom has him flying un- Poles”: He was to be transferred with the other der the Grand Avenue Bridge. If he had September 1928: “A large coupe driv- successful students to the training field tried, he probably wouldn’t have lived en by Jere Witter of this city, after being at Pensacola, Fla. long enough to establish a legend. crowded off the road to avoid striking an Only a couple years later, Nash died Jere’s son, also named Jere, became a oncoming automobile, crashed into two in a plane crash. When I find the tabloid well-known television news writer and telephone poles at the curve on Highway story that relates his death, I will pass it reporter in California. He died last year 54 just southwest of the local cemetery on to you. at age 79. Friday night. “Mr. Witter escaped with only minor cuts and bruises from the 04-03-07 210 River City Memoirs Ghost

Sara Kenyon When “Lowell” school was built, she cupied a stone structure across from the attended under Alfred C. McComb, old Witter Hotel near what is now the he Daily Tribune of July 1956 principal, and upper grades teacher. The east end of the present Jackson Street provided a reminiscence by a primary teacher was Lizzie Douglas. Bridge. woman who filled the role many T When Sara was eight, the family Except for a time in which she left think I now occupy, that of oldest na- moved to the corner of Cranberry Street the bank and “opened the books” for tive resident of Wisconsin Rapids. (West Grand Avenue) and Fifth Avenue the Centralia Pulp & Water Power Co., For most of her life, Sara Kenyon, 92 North. Sara worked at the bank until she was in 1956, resided on Third Avenue South During vacations, she and her married. She was at the bank during the in the neighborhood she was born in brother George picked cranberries on flood of 1888 that took out the wooden about 1864. The family’s log house had the Dutruit marsh, where the WFHR bridge. Sara heard the structure crack been the only permanent home in the transmitter was located in 1956. They and rushed down to the river to see area. The home had one long room with received 75 cents a bushel, the money Mrs. Sam Boles, the only person on the a summer kitchen and a bedroom. In going for clothes. bridge, escape to the Centralia side. winter, only the large room was used. To supply breweries, early settlers With the bridge out, in order to get to When Sara was born, she slept on a grew hop beds. Sara said she picked work, West-Sider Sara purchased a boat trundle bed that pulled out from under hops for Sampsons in the town of in partnership with Fred Brasted, which the parents’ bed. Her five brothers slept Grand Rapids, for Lords on the Ten they sold when a ferry started operat- in beds their father made. Mile Creek and for Paynes on the old ing. Kenyon’s earliest recollections were poor farm road, receiving 25 cents for In 1890, Sara “Goodman,” the name of Indians who brought blueberries, seven bushels. taken by the children, following Nor- venison and cranberries and some- At age 16, Sara started teaching at wegian custom, married Jesse A. Ke- times spent the night on the floor of the Five Mile school (later named Colum- nyon, a railroad worker. They lived at house. Others camped where First and bia) in the town of Saratoga, where she Tomah, Babcock, and Ironwood, Mich., Third Avenues South meet. taught two terms for $23 a month, pay- where he worked in the electric light Kenyon’s father was Goodman Ger- ing $6 for board with the John Chrystal plant for 13 years. manson, a logger and riverman. Her family. It was stated that the Kenyons owned mother, Elizabeth Teiman, cooked at She remembered the names of her their home at 370 3rd Ave. S. for 58 the Centralia House hotel, just south of 11 scholars: Mike and Belle Mathews, years, moving to the Wood County In- where the Daily Tribune is now. George and Clark Snyder, Hugh and firmary when they were 88. When Jesse Like numerous “pioneers of the Pin- Mary McCamley, Fred and Joe Snyder, died in 1953, Sara moved in with her ery,” Germanson worked in the logging Emma and Ella Turley and Jim Ke- niece, Mrs. William A. Fischer. camps in winter and as a river pilot ough. All were deceased by the time of Pleased with the way times had in summer, rafting lumber from mills the interview. improved since she was a girl, she still along the Wisconsin to St. Louis on the She then taught at Auburndale and felt, much in the manner of nonagenar- Mississippi. Nasonville, under superintendents T.W. ians today, that “people were happier When she was five years old, Sara Nash and Edward Lynch. in those days because they didn’t have attended a two-room frame building She then became the first woman to anything to worry about and had to she dated to 1861, at what was later the work in the First National Bank when work harder.” West Side market square. Jere D. Witter was president and it oc- 04-09-07

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Tom Nash, Pilot Moore and Nash had “hopped off” before he and Moore were rushed to from the airport in a Waco F biplane to Riverview hospital. ompared to daredevil Jere Wit- practice forced landings with Moore Moore, able to speak from his hospi- ter, Tom Nash seemed like a flying the ship. They had passed over a tal bed on three occasions, told Mulzer good bet to live a long life. He C field and were proceeding north along that all control parts of the ship were was described as a careful pilot and what is now 8th Street/Highway 13 at an functioning properly and that they had sensible person. altitude of about 100 feet. not had motor trouble, as was believed Like Witter, a member of one of the Nash, looking to the right, spotted by Snyder. The motor had been throt- Wisconsin Rapids’ prominent fami- a grain field just east of then-named tled down by Nash, preparing for the lies, Nash had been born in 1904 at the Highway 73 and shut off the power. landing. Nash-owned Ashland County, Wis., His purpose was that his student make The following day, Moore, 31, died mill town of Shanagolden. He came to a “dead stick landing” in the field. The at Riverview hospital at 10 p.m. He had Rapids with his parents, Guy and Flor- student, Moore, looking out the left fractured his right thigh, a left elbow, ence Nash, in 1908. side, believed the instructor’s move three ribs on the right side and suffered He graduated from Lincoln high was a signal to turn left and land in the lacerations about the face and body school, attended Amherst college, Am- field which they had just passed. Moore along with even more severe internal herst, Mass., and completed his bach- attempted the sharp left turn and be- injuries that proved to be the cause of elors degree at the University of Wis- cause of the power being shut off, the death. consin in 1926. Nash worked for a year ship lost flying speed, went into a spin Nash’s funeral was held at the home as a chemist for the Goodyear Rubber and nosed directly into the ground. of his parents at 1020 Oak St., where company, Akron, Ohio, but resigned The incident happened about 100 feet local attorney and South Wood County because of illness. west of then-State Trunk Highway 73, Historical Corp. founder T.W. Brazeau Regaining his health, he joined the less than a quarter of a mile south of delivered a short eulogy. Marine Reserve Flying Corps, which the Two-Mile school (at the Two Mile Pallbearers were Dick Hunter, he left in 1930 and entered the Nepco Avenue corner) at about 2:35 in the Charles Heath and Wilbur Morgan, School of Flying. He received his trans- afternoon. coworkers at the airport, and friends port pilot license and was employed George Snyder, Oscar Neitzel and Gilbert Dickerman, James Kellogg and at the Nepco (now Alexander Field) Walter L. Wood saw the crash and our previous subject, Jere Witter. airport as chief instructor. rushed to the scene. They pulled Moore Besides his parents, Tom Nash also As Nepco instructor, Nash was giv- from the cockpit and did not realize left brother Philleo, later Wisconsin Lt. ing lessons to E.L. Moore, a Marsh- Nash was in the plane, the cowling of Governor and U.S. Commissioner of field train dispatcher for theSoo Line the front cockpit having been complete- Indian Affairs, and sister Jean, a no- railroad. Working nights, Moore was ly crushed. table cranberry grower, who, prior to able to take flying lessons during the Snyder rushed to his home and tele- her death, provided significant family daytime and had a limited commercial phoned the airport, at which time atten- archives to the SWCHC Museum, 540 license. He was able to tell Major L.G. dants inquired as to Nash’s condition. Third St. S. Mulzer, head of the flying school, a It was then Snyder returned and cut the 04-16-07 somewhat hazy story about what hap- fuselage to remove Nash. pened on June 24, 1931. An ambulance was summoned. Nash was pronounced dead by a physician

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War Against Nature Fisher, a University of Wisconsin ento- eased trees had been discovered in Wau- mologist. Fisher said the city was “wise” watosa, Racine and Kenosha. he spineless little buggers had in instituting the control program as ear- The fungus disease, for which there stung us where it hurts most, in ly as they had. “Although people aren’t was no known cure, had been moving our own backyards. We struck T aware of mosquitoes until they have to northward through Illinois at a rate of 10 back with an arsenal of mass destruc- start slapping them, a control program to counties per year, spread by the beetles tion against their puny weapons of mass be effective must be adhered to through- and by elm roots. distraction. Clouds of poison gas against out the season.” Some Eastern states seemed to have clouds of suicidal individuals fighting Home-owners were urged to eliminate stalled the invasion and elm trees were for the survival of their wicked kind. It breeding places in their own yards by not necessarily headed for extinction, was a conflict that had been going on cleaning clogged rain gutters, scummy Chambers said. He noted that all trees for eternity and one we are destined to bird baths and other places where stag- have natural enemies which can usually be entangled in the rest of our lives and nant water accumulated. At the same be controlled. Healthy vigorous trees the lifetimes of our children; we had de- time, a second campaign on another rarely became infected and that is why clared war on Mother Nature. front was doomed to failure, this time trees in rural areas almost never devel- After years of tolerating annual incur- against a foreign infiltrator: European oped the disease. sions, Wisconsin Rapids in the summer elm bark beetles. The cost of spraying a tree was about of 1956 launched an all-out campaign, Spraying was scheduled to eradicate a $6 and one spraying would suffice for specifically targeted against themosqui- second brood of the culprit expected to the year. When a diseased tree was to. In an effort to stamp out the menace emerge in the state, a major step toward found, the advice was to cut and burn it, at its breeding sites, city crews dumped checking the Dutch elm disease already strip the stump of bark and spray it with waste drain oil on stagnant water-filled reported in four Wisconsin cities and DDT, followed by immediate spraying pits located in the city’s outlying areas. linked to the beetles. of all elm trees within three blocks. Street Commissioner Walter Arndt re- Once again, experts from the state The insect-ridding properties of DDT ported 200 gallons of waste oil had been urged militant action. E.L. Chambers, had been discovered in 1939 by a No- disposed of by May. state entomologist, recommended a vig- bel Prize-winning Swiss chemist, Paul Use of this oil, he pointed out, was orous municipality-directed spraying Muller. Unlike arsenic and cyanide, it economical; it had already served its program coupled with prompt identi- didn’t seem very toxic to humans. purpose in the crankcases of city trucks fication and removal of diseased trees. Other advantages were that it killed and machinery. He said the only way to permanently most insects without hurting mammals; City workers also began spraying other control the disease was for local govern- lasted a long time; did not dissolve in mosquito breeding places with Dichlo- ment units to purchase spray outfits and rain and was inexpensive. Unfortunately ro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane. Marshy treat the elms in the community twice a for lovers of summer freedom and the 4th areas along the northern reaches of 5th year with DDT spray. Too many com- of July, the war against mosquitoes was Ave. N. were the first targets of “DDT.” munities were adopting a “wait and see” all too obviously unsuccessful; defend- Other types of treatment were designed attitude and postponing action toward ing the noble elm against bark beetles to kill mosquito larvae, a prerequisite of the always fatal disease until it had be- didn’t work out too well either. any effective control program. come well entrenched. The program here was in the charge The first infected tree in the state was 04-23-07 of the Board of Health, assisted by E.H. detected July 6, 1956, in Beloit. Dis-

213 Ghost River City Memoirs

Myron In Chicago thing very wonderful about it. Collars this letter, I always choose a well cost fifteen cents apiece here, the same lighted path. etty Boop. as they do in Grand Rapids. “I have figured out several adequate Given enough time, ingenuity “Chicago products we hear so much methods of squelching thugs, and yet Band trademark infringement, the about up in Wisconsin are without somehow, when I think of bumping my “Boop-Oop-A-Doop” cartoon-figure, honor in their own town. nose against the cold, pulcless [pulse- River City’s most recognizable product, “If a merchant (meaning store keeper) less?] foreground [?] of a forty-four may one day replace the cranberry in down here gets hold of a few pounds caliber revolver, when there is noth- our hearts and logos. Absurdly enough, of genuine Wisconsin dairy butter, he ing in sight but darkness and the gruff the fictitious flapper, Betty Boop, is go- thinks he’s the whole cheese and makes voice of a masked thug, I frankly con- ing strong after almost 80 years. haste to put a big sign in his window fess that I am possessed of no surging, Conceived in 1930 as a French Poo- telling all about it. They are importing uncontrollable lust for the thrill and dle, Betty went human and was named Christmas trees here now; trees whose inspiration of a hold-up adventure. in 1932. Betty’s daddy, figuratively, marks and pedigrees prove them to be “Yours Pathetically, was our native son and now-renowned thoroughly Wisconsin grown. A tree “Grim Natwick animator Myron “Grim” Natwick that sells for thirty or forty cents up “P.S. I am not solicitous of publicity. (1890-1990). there will bring no less than two dollars That is not why I write this letter. Glory In December 1910 at age 20, Natwick and a half here. and popularity have never been pet in- wrote home from Chicago in his typi- “No, Chicago is not seriously trou- dulgences of mine. I write you merely cally droll fashion to the then “Grand bled with wonderfulness. The sun rises to let you know that I am still well and Rapids Tribune,” which called the and sets here much the same as it does squirming...” letter, “Thrilling Experiences in a Great in Grand Rapids. There are English Grim Natwick is the subject of the City.” sparrows here and house flies and cock- premier exhibit at the South Wood “I have noticed that when the great roaches, and the river banks don’t begin County Historical Corp., now celebrat- people of Grand Rapids make a voyage to compare with those up home. ing the “Year of the Museum.” The for- to some new and interesting locality, “Seeing men killed by accident mer T.B. Scott Public Library on Third they write an awe-inspiring letter to one and by street cars has become a mere Street is 100 years old and the society of the home papers and tell all about pastime to me. Murder and suicide are itself is just over 50. their trip in a manner that is athrob with amusements that still thrive in these Not a River City product, Mildred unusual dullness. This keenly observed parts, and marriage is also a common Natwick, Grim’s cousin, was a fairly custom I have vowed not to overlook; occurrence. There are a number of well-known actress. To my surprise, hence this letter telling all about Chi- people down here who have acquired a I found that she had a nephew named cago. bad habit of staving in people’s skulls Myron Natwick (II), a “familiar” TV “To quote a hackneyed phrase, let at night and then taking the money out and movie actor who played in “Am- me say that Chicago is quite a large of their pockets. There have been nu- ber’s Story” and lots of other movies I place,—much larger than Grand Rap- merous hold-up demonstrations in this haven’t heard of. ids. There are a good many people here immediate neighborhood, which makes What relationship Myron II has to our whom I am not acquainted with as yet. life here quite interesting. own Myron has yet to be determined. I had always heard that Chicago was a “When I come home late at night, wonderful city, but I have not seen any- which is very seldom if you publish 04-30-07

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T.W.B. ties at Howe, according to Brazeau, in- political factions,” said Brazeau. cluded fist fights, wrestling matches and Local industry in the early days was ost distinguished alumnus of jumping the old wooden fence around milling, lumbering and foundry work. the Wisconsin Rapids public the school yard. Brazeau named the Grand Rapids Mhigh school? Could it have During his school years, came the Foundry Co. in the swimming pool area; been Corydon T. Purdy? Who the heck flood of 1880, when water flowed down the Jackson Milling Co. on the west side; was Corydon T. Purdy? main street and knocked several build- and the Grand Rapids Milling Co. on the In 1934, a Rapids attorney, Theodore ings into the river, including Ferguson’s east side. Both shipped in grain from the W. Brazeau, presented Lincoln High hardware with Ferguson in it. west and used water power for the mill- School with an autographed photograph Upon graduation from Howe, Brazeau ing process. and biographical sketch of Purdy, the took a job as a teacher in a country school There were numerous sawmills and New York architect and engineer, and (Doudville in the town of Rudolph) at houses in town that still had huge white declared him the most distinguished $30 per month, walking the five or so pine stumps in the yards. Indians were alumnus of “Lincoln” high school. miles out from his house and back at numerous; hundreds came from the Or was T.W. Brazeau himself the most night. On paydays, he had to walk two Black River Falls area to pick blueber- distinguished – at least among those miles farther to get his pay check. ries and cranberries then growing wild who didn’t roam to greener pastures? The former prosecutor said law en- in the lowlands. Travel was done most- Certainly, the South Wood County forcement was not as efficient in the ly on foot. Only the rich could afford Historical Corp., now celebrating the early years of his law practice, when “all a horse and buggy. Brazeau said John 100th anniversary of its museum build- a sheriff had to have was a big neck.” Arpin had the first automobile in the ing, owes Brazeau a lifetime achieve- He recalled the famous county mur- area, around 1903. ment award as a founder and instinctive der trial of John Magnuson in which In his teens one of the favorite hunting historian of long standing. Brazeau was the prosecuting attorney. spots was along the Four Mile Creek. Brazeau provided reminiscences for The Magnuson case had been written up “We would walk out there and hunt rab- the Wood County centennial on July 31, in magazines and criminal annals as one bits, squirrels and partridge. Then we 1956. At age 83, he was one of the old- of the great examples of the collection would build a fire from leaves and twigs est native-born residents and an active and use of circumstantial evidence. and cook a squirrel or rabbit to eat.” attorney since 1900. Political life, Brazeau said, was Deer were plentiful. Brazeau recalled Theodore W., often called Thede, was very fierce, even involving the Henry that Reuben Lyon killed 75 one fall, born to Mrs. and Mr. Stephen Brazeau, Hayden murder of 1880. Hayden, an at- which he sold to butcher shops for re- a barber, in a frame house at the corner torney, was shot to death near the cor- sale. Shops carried a lot of venison and of 10th and Baker streets, 17 years after ner of West Grand and 3rd Avenues by bear meat. “This was a hunting and fish- the organization of Wood County. He William H. Cochran. The victim was a ing paradise.” was one of 13 children born, of which leading Democrat in the area and it was The game was slaughtered locally. The 10 grew to maturity with six graduating contended that political enemies had en- slaughter houses were unsanitary and from high school, a high number then. couraged Cochran to shoot him. gave off a terrific smell. “We used to go Brazeau attended the old Howe High The defendant, Cochran, was acquit- out to the slaughter house to shoot rats, School. It had no library and no athlet- ted on the grounds that Hayden had been which were as thick as flies,” he said. ics, he said. Boys exercised by chopping interfering in his domestic affairs but the wood for the school stove. Other activi- case “divided the town into two terrible 05-07-07

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Sandy at the Library work but she retired in a year or two.” In the back “sun room” was a reading How did then-named Sandra Kay room with magazines and newspapers. y first job was parking Mortimer, a town of Rudolph resident, What is now the cranberry history ex- bicycles,” said former T.B. find herself working at the city library? hibit held more non-fiction and inter- Scott librarian Sandy Young, Her mother told her to get a job and mediate books. M Lincoln high school guidance counselor “In back” where there is now a small now Head of Technical Services at Mc- Millan Memorial Library. “They’d ride Frances Nairn sent her to the library. “I office, teens sought privacy among their bikes here and just drop them on started the first Monday after gradua- older issues of magazines. the front steps,” she said, while visiting tion in June 1960,” Young said. Upstairs, the present Country Store the old library, now the South Wood Besides Dudgeon and administrative was one big children’s room. In what is County Historical Corp. Museum at assistant Marian Adams, the staff in- now the toy room, clubs met and story 540 Third St. S. cluded Nancy Gilbert in the Children’s hours were held. “Miss Dudgeon didn’t like that. I had Room; Stella Salter at circulation; In the second floor office, mending to be out there to make sure they stood Susan Perrodin (Maez); Carol Helke and cataloguing took place. Amenities their bikes up in the rack. Everything (Chambers); and Jean Simkins. included cookies in the closet and a hot was stricter in those days. You were The janitor was Arvid Kronholm, the plate over the register. After Kennedy’s quiet in here. It was almost a whisper.” cleaning lady, Esther Hoffman. assassination, Dudgeon allowed a radio T.B. Scott Public Library head li- Soon, Dudgeon added Helen McKe- to be brought in. “It was the best room brarian Edith Dudgeon, “ran a tight chnie, Mrs. Bevins, and Madalene Ow- with the best view,” said Young. ship. She could do every job here and ens. “We got a reference librarian that The local history file was also on the knew how long it would take you to had a degree in library science. I think second floor. In the third-floor attic: the do it. There was a time when we were Roberta Jensen worked here during the Tom Taylor history book. required to read a certain number of sixties and she got a masters degree.” In summer, the old library was hot. books and report on them in a staff Young said the library office was in “No air conditioning; fans in every meeting,” said Young. the present Museum gift shop. room. We did our summer reading pro- “She did a lot of the cataloguing. We To the left, now a wide doorway into gram out in the back yard.” didn’t have any professional librarians the Grim Natwick exhibit, the then- Nevertheless, Young said, it was a besides her; she was THE librarian.” closed door had provided a wall. cool place to work. “Every supervisor Dudgeon also had a progressive side. You could ascend the stairs to the I had, I learned something from, and I “I think I was the first staff member to Children’s Room or continue to the had some really good supervisors. Of be pregnant here. Miss Dudgeon had to “dining room” where the circulation those, Kathy Engel would be number go to the board and get special permis- desk occupied space in front of the one.” sion to let me keep working until the inactive fireplace. As she reflected on a career that baby was born. Once I started look- Then, there was no wall between the began 47 years ago, Young said, “I was ing pregnant, I could only work in the dining room, now devoted to a display just a high school graduate; now I’m processing department. I came back for about the library, and the Natwick head of tech services. The library has a month or so but it didn’t work out as room, which held stacks for fiction and been good to me.” far as child care, so I quit in 1964.” non-fiction. A card catalogue stood in “Miss Dudgeon was there at Mc- the vicinity and a reference librarian 05-14-07 Millan in 1973 when I went back to was stationed by the bay window. 216 River City Memoirs Ghost

Botkin title of “Bot,” in the course of a game August 20, 1863: of billiards, the other day, found his ball “IN TOWN.—Capt. W.W. Botkin, of uriosity about the name, “Bot- th kin,” caused me, 25 years ago, near the ‘spot’ at the head of the table, Co. G. 12 Wis. Reg., very unexpect- to start a file on a family I knew while the remaining three lay near the edly made his appearance in town last C right-hand side pocket, on which he Monday. nothing about. That, and visits to my wife-to-be at Botkin Tripp hall, U.W.- caromed and “holed” two in that pock- “Bott looks well and hearty—carries a Madison. Could there be a connection et and the other in the left-hand head stiff upper lip, and says Grant’s a trump. between the River City Botkins and the one—thus making thirteen at one shot. He has the same opinion of copperheads great University? It is the first time we ever saw it made that a Christian has of Satan—the army It was apparent that three brothers during the progress of a game and we ditto. named Botkin were acquaintances of lo- question whether it has ever been done “He returns to his regiment after a cal Wood County Reporter editor Jack before in the state.” short sojourn among his friends. Brundage and/or the Reporter’s H.B. October 19, 1861. “If Bott ever becomes a prisoner to the Philleo, who, as “P.P. Macaroni, Physi- “CLERK OF THE BOARD.—W.W. Confeds, they will have a tough, as well Botkin having been commissioned as as a very agreeable Captain.—We don’t cian,” composed the “Spinal Column.” nd From the Reporter... 2 Lieutenant of ‘The Evergreens,’ re- look, however for any such change in March 3, 1860: signed his office of Clerk of the Board Bott’s social status just yet.” of Supervisors, and at a special meeting Soon, W.W. “Bott” Botkin was ap- “Wood Co. Bank.—The Presidency of nd this institution has been assigned to Mr. of the Board held on Saturday last, Mr. pointed lieutenant colonel of the 42 L.P. Powers of this town. We learn that L.M. Hawley was chosen as his succes- regiment. Mr. Botkin has resigned the Cashier- sor, who takes possession to-day.” As an army colonel, the story goes, ship and that Mr. L.M. Hawley is to be The Evergreens were volunteers in the Bott found himself in New Orleans, his successor. The change has created Union Army. where antagonism ran high between of- considerable excitement here, it being Nov. 2, 1861: ficers of the army and navy, the latter as- distasteful to a majority of our business “CLERK OF THE BOARD.—The suming superior rank and social quality. men.” question now agitating our people is, At a tavern or similar establishment, According to the 1860 census, 34-year- who is Clerk of the Board? Mr. Hawley when Colonel Botkin vacated his seat, old Hawley was a married clerk born in claims to be and Judge Cate seems in- probably to look for the rest room, a na- Connecticut. His children had been born clined to believe that he is; while other val officer sat in his place. When Bot- in New York as the family moved west- experienced and profound lawyers deny kin returned, the navy man insolently ward. his claim, and assert that of Mr. Botkin. refused to surrender the chair. He didn’t The Botkin referred to was probably “Force has been brought into requisi- seem to know that all the Botkin men William Wallace Botkin, enumerated tion to oust Mr. Botkin. The other day, possessed unusual physical strength and in the 1860 census as “W.W. Botkin,” a Mr. George Hiles, of Dexterville, ac- was no doubt nonplussed when “Bott” 23-year-old banker with a personal es- companied by two others, forced from reached over, took the sailor by the col- tate of $1,000, a large sum that implies the hands of Botkin’s clerk the delin- lar, threw him over his head into the wealthy parents. quent land book, and ‘packed’ it off. aisle and took his seat, while the naval June 2, 1860: “This mode of procedure is not strictly officer retreated from the building. “Billiards.—A young gentleman who in accordance with either law or gos- is universally known hereabouts by the pel.” 05-28-07

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Essence of Gil Were his good works for his grandpa 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 or did Gil do it for “Dada?” His father, All good children go to Heaven. ll day I listened to him, not Stanton Mead, was “Dada”(dah-dah), When they get there, they all yell knowing he had already died: George I’s successor who preserved L-o-w-e-l-l. Gilbert Mead, one of the best A the prosperity and reputation of Con- Did his attachment have something to friends this town will ever have. Gil- solidated Papers, Inc. No one was more do with music? Gil always had a knack bert’s distinctive voice was preserved devoted to Wisconsin Rapids than Stan- for playing piano by ear. For Travel on tape, thanks to Kelly Lucas, who ton, a multi-millionaire when that meant Class, the dutiful son had to come out had asked me to interview him for the something. Yet, when he trekked from and play piano because his mother Community Foundation of South Wood the west side mansion that had been a wanted to show off his ability. He en- County. gift from his father, to the Elks Club, he joyed singing with various groups while The first conversation, March 9, 2006, asked for no more than to be one of us. attending school in Wisconsin Rapids. was by phone; Gilbert had been treated Was it for his family or was it a tribute Certainly, he had thought about it, the for throat cancer and might not travel to a small town boyhood that included back and forth legacy: “What it meant to here again. In discussion and in a visit at regular Sunday school and Boy Scouts? be Gilbert Mead, son of Stanton Mead, Hotel Mead, July 27, 2006, I wondered Gil’s Eagle badge eluded him only be- as one of my age, in addition to George how Gil had come to care for Wiscon- cause he left for Hotchkiss, a private and Mary, my brother and sister, grow- sin Rapids, where he had lived only his school. In a favorite image, the young ing up in Wisconsin Rapids; it didn’t first dozen years. Why had he given a entrepreneur tows his wagon down First bother me. I kept thinking it must have generous part of a fortune and reserve of Avenue, hauling vegetables harvest- made me feel very much an outlaw in precious personal energy on our behalf? ed from his father’s garden for sale to a sense, of not being really a part of a Was it for “Gompy?” neighbors. community, and not have an opportunity Gompy, Gil’s grandfather, George Was it the community or was he moved to have friends because, after all, I was Mead I, had built the Consolidated pa- by fun with pals? Hiding in the barn to this rich kid that lived at 730 First Ave per company and our fair city into world smoke straws filled with coffee; riding S.; it never occurred to me.” class operations. When young Gil came around Ninth Avenue with Herb Ditt- To call Gilbert Mead a “philanthro- down with scarlet fever, followed by mann; or joining Kent Dickerman for pist” may be apt, if that means a bene- rheumatic fever, he lay in bed all sum- skiing at Rib Mountain. “We were able factor with big pockets, a friend at heart mer. To pass time, he multiplied num- to make fast friends and do all kinds of and a sentimental soul who, by our good ber in his head with such skill that the things together,” Gil said. luck, grew up here. usually-reserved grandfather beamed Or maybe the good feelings came from He said he owed it to his family and with pride. Lowell school; Gil lived close enough community, “to give back in terms of Almost every Sunday, the extended to come home for lunch. At Lowell, my time and my energy and my resourc- family gathered at First Congregation- he enjoyed a rivalry with Anna Carol es to support what has meant so much al Church, followed by chicken dinner Kingdon, the congregational minister’s and I’ve never regretted it.” at the nearby Island with George I and daughter. The fact that I felt deeply im- “That’s Gil then?” I asked, at the end. “Gommy”, his wife, Ruth, providing mersed in the local elementary school “That’s Gil,” he said. “You got the es- “the opportunity to always know we was very meaningful to me,” he said, sence of Gil.” would be with family,” said Gil. rising to the challenge posed by memo- 06-04-07 ries of Anna Carol:

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Butch President John F. Kennedy at the Bay of oldest man; we could see our futures in Pigs. him. But he stopped aging at a relatively y classmate Butch had a party Butch was what we of the Sand Hill pleasing maturity and regained, as one the other day. It was a good saw as a rich kid, living la dolce vita female guest stated publicly, the quali- one, like you would expect M on Third Street, though technically his ties of a “hunk.” from a guy who lived “la dolce vita.” address was Riverwood Lane. How im- When I had asked for an interview, He laid out a sumptuous buffet and a bar pressed I was, at a time when traffic on Butch claimed, “A lot of people know with beaucoup beer, wine and cocktails. the river was novel, that he took me in more than I do” but, at our 40-year class His guest list included friends, family, his “speedboat” up to Rapids. reunion, despite sailing several sheets to co-workers, contemporaries, lawyers “Why wouldn’t I?” he said when I the proverbial Elks Club wind, he an- like himself, judges, several favorite asked him later. Didn’t I know he was swered the most questions in the trivia bartenders and maybe a couple drunk full of fun, nice to everyone? contest. drivers he had represented in court. After Butch blew out a knee playing At his big pink house last year, Butch, Especially for Class of ’63 members football, his life changed and, though who had quit smoking, continued to sip present, on display was a story I had underage, he was soon running a tab at vodka as he told me how his family had written following a Lincoln high class Coney Island bar in Plover. No coinci- come to town in 1956 and how every- reunion. The last line came from Gary dence that his attempt at the dreaded se- thing went pretty well for him except Kickland, who wrote in my freshman nior “mile run” was memorably inept. his mother died when he was in high yearbook, “Dave, it has been nice know- According to another clipping posted school. That was a tough one; but after ing you but I hope I don’t have to see for this year’s party, Butch and I both that, though underage, he got special you again.” Butch and I didn’t operate graduated from Point college with hon- permission from Rapids police chief that way. ors. Indeed, though he was already Rudy Exner to drive a car. In high school, Butch was a big man married with child, Butch and I met oc- “You gotta try this cheese,” he insisted on campus, albeit an amiable one proud casionally at Little Joe’s bar where he and told me the whole story of each va- of his senior inscription: “A good guy continued to expound on issues of the riety: aged, dry, perfect. La dolce vita. full of fun; always nice to everyone.” late 1960s. At the Grand Avenue Tavern, which I had first seen him from afar, when A few years later, at a town picnic in he showed up at regularly though he I was a bench warmer for the Grove Milladore, there was Butch, campaign- could hardly swallow, he said, “I want school basketball Pirates. Butch, hav- ing for office by shaking hands with to show them I’m not dead.” Always a ing reached full height ahead of his pals, kraut eaters and bussing Bohunks of all hard worker, he didn’t want to lose the played on the A Team for Howe, then the ages. business. slick kids’ school. A year later, I remem- During his four years as district attor- But then the problem was in the liver ber Butch and the freshman football team ney of Wood County in the mid 1970s, and he started planning one last party. clattering past Lincoln high school field he busted a lot of pot smokers, maybe Harold “Butch” La Chapelle, 61, died house, while I sat on my cornet case and too many. His political career ended May 5, 2007, at Riverview Hospital in waited for the school bus. Seemed like with a failed bid for a state senate seat. Wisconsin Rapids. some called him, “Losh.” Somewhere in our timeline came the Thanks for the boat ride, old pal. You Butch was also one of our pubescent ten-year class reunion. Butch had a didn’t forget us; and we don’t forget political pundits. In 1961, he excoriated party afterwards at which he performed you. history teacher, Mr. “Wild Bill” Miller, a convincing imitation of the world’s 06-11-07 for the fiasco perpetrated by Democratic 219 Ghost River City Memoirs

French Connection a new church on the Grand Rapids He was credited with organizing a par- side and this was done. The “mission,” ish at Plum City, Wis. and building new ur oldest Catholic church, SS. previously served from Green Bay, churches at Spring Valley, Colby and Peter and Paul, marks its ses- Stevens Point and other established Abbotsford before being “suddenly” quicentennial as a parish a year O churches, thus became a “parish” with transferred in 1906 to Rapids. after the Wood County “150” party. The its own resident priest, the Rev. James Another foreign-born priest here actual origins of SSPP, like the county, Stehle. When a church was built, Rev. was Charles Beyerle, who was born in were another 20 or more years earlier, A.J. David finished the inside and had a Strasburg, which was then French. He taking us back to the 1830s and 40s. small residence erected. had served at Duck Creek and Mari- Many of the first to arrive here were There followed a decade when a se- nette, Wis. When Beyerle died in 1897, French-Canadians with names that ries of pastors visited. the cortege to Calvary cemetery was so included Cotey, LaBreche, Trudell, Important to French such as Biron, long the Catholic Knights and Forest- Arpin, Dugas, Lefebvre, Chevelier, Ver the Society of St. John “the Baptiste” ers at the head had almost reached the Bunker (Verboncoeur), Grignon, Hom- was organized in 1875. The group had burial ground before the last carriage ier, Voyer Rocheleau, Borgeron and originated in Canada when the ruling left the church. Corriveau. Primarily Catholic, these English tried to abolish the French lan- Beyerle had followed, in the autumn French were able to celebrate mass in guage. In Grand Rapids, it was purely of 1875, a priest who had come here their tents and log cabins at least once a a social and benevolent society known from a situation of high peril: Rev. year, courtesy of traveling priests such for parades on the 24th of June. Peter Pernin, who had written the Biron as the indomitable Dutchman, Father The St. John society met for 14 years passage mentioned above. What hap- T.J. Van den Broeck of Little Chute. and included some additional French pened to Pernin? Find out next week. The 1907 “Golden Jubilee: St. Peter names: Berard, Biron, Boucher, Briere, But for today’s benediction, consider and St. Paul Catholic Church” told Frechette, Lambert, Lavigne, Lavique, the words of Louis A. Bauman, secre- how, in the early days, parents waded Martin, Meunier, Pomainville, Primeau, tary of the 1907 SSPP committee on through mud and snow for miles when Pinsonneault, Rattel, Thibodeau, St. arrangements. “Fifty years have rolled a priest was in town to attend mass or Amour. by. To glance backward the time seems have their children baptized. Sermons for the 1907 Jubilee ceremo- but as yesterday. The past teaches us A real Catholic church was built in ny were delivered in French, German its valuable lessons. Much has been 1854, on what was later named 3rd and English accompanied by programs attained, but more remains to be done. Avenue. It was set on fire by Christmas at the opera house that included a whis- New conditions demand renewed ef- decorations and was destroyed. tling solo and a speech by Judge J.A. forts. Next was the building that became Gaynor, “The Past Fifty Years.” “Our next Jubilee should show even SS. Peter & Paul. When SSPP priest At the time of the Jubilee, the pastor greater progress; not only materially John Peter Pernin, a Frenchman, wrote was Rev. William Reding, a Luxem- but spiritually.” in Latin a sketch of the congregation, bourg native who had grown up in Min- And so it is that we surpass jubilees he said there lived on the east side a nesota and would stay at SSPP for more and celebrate centennials, sesquicenten- good, rich and generous Canadian, than three decades. Reding had been nials, sometimes even a bicentennial named Francis Biron. pastor at Eau Galle, Wis., in western and whatever comes after that. Biron and a majority of the church Wisconsin, where he remodeled and en- members thought it advisable to build larged the church and built a residence. 06-18-07

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Pernin God Is There! or Thrilling Episode of a On Dec. 28, 1882, Pernin said he had Strange Event Related by an Eye-Wit- blessed a 304-pound bell for the La hen the Grand Rapids Cath- ness, Rev. P. Pernin, United States Mis- Crescent church. olic church was struck by sionary, Published with the Approbation In 1885, he was associated with La Wlightning, the priest may of His Lordship the Bishop of Montre- Crescent, Hokah convent, Hokah vil- have thought he was under a bad sign. al” (Montreal 1874). Pernin tells of the lage, Houston and Ridgeway. Two years According to the 1923 History of Wood “hurricane” driven fire that destroyed later, he was at Brownsville, also “at- County, Father P. Pernin “took charge” Peshtigo and razed his other, more im- tending” Dakota Holy Cross and Jeffer- of SS. Peter & Paul here in the autumn portant, new church at Marinette. son St. Patrick. of 1875 and, sometime during his two or He wrote the book, Pernin said, to From St. Bridget church in Simpson, three years here, the storm damage oc- raise funds to rebuild, which he did: Our in 1895, he attended High Forest and curred. Lady of Lourdes, a combination chapel Stewartsville. In 1898, Pernin was lo- While stationed in Rapids, Pernin also and school, said to be incorporated in cated at St. Joseph’s Church, Rushford. built a church for the new St. Philomena Marinette Catholic Central high school. Meanwhile, in 1889, St. Mary’s hospi- parish on what is now 5th Avenue, town Although Pernin was saved by im- tal opened in Rochester, Minn., and be- of Rudolph. mersing himself in the Peshtigo river, came associated with the Mayo clinic. The life of John Peter Pernin was the trauma landed him in St. Louis, The 1905 Rochester census says “Fa- an active one. He was born 2-22-1822 recovering. Adding irony to injury, his ther Pernin,” 83, “resident priest” at St. in France and ordained there in 1846. ordination papers were destroyed in the Mary’s, lived at West Zumbro. He was Called in 1865 to be pastor of French- other, Chicago, fire. 28 years in Minnesota and eight in the speaking L’Erable [Maple], Ill., he also The insult followed, in 1874, when “district.” ministered to nearby missions at Clifton, Pernin was forced to deny he had “em- From, “A Souvenir of Saint Mary’s Chebanse and Gilman. bezzled” funds raised in St. Louis for Hospital”: In 1869, Pernin transferred to Oconto, the Marinette church, on the grounds “With the increasing number of pa- Wis., a French-Canadian enclave, and that the $2,000 had been meant for him tients, the duties of the chaplaincy be- shortly, to nearby Marinette and Peshti- personally. came very onerous, and after 1894 it go, Wis., where the 1870 census notes Pernin returned to the diocese of was necessary to have a priest stationed he is a 45-year-old Catholic priest from Green Bay and a Bailey’s Harbor, Wis., at the hospital continuously. Very Rev- France with a $500 personal estate and a assignment. In autumn 1875, he arrived erend Pernin, vicar-general of the dio- Belgian housekeeper. in Grand Rapids. cese....was the first regularly appointed Then came the coincidence that made In 1877, he went to La Crescent, resident chaplain and held the office Pernin a household word in select cir- Minn., where the 1880 census finds him, from April 1, 1897, until his death, Oc- cles. On Oct. 8, 1871, came two great at 57 years old, a practicing “Reverend tober 9, 1909.” natural catastrophes. Most famous: the Clergyman.” Pernin, 87, SS. Peter & Paul priest Chicago fire. The May 5, 1963, Winona News names and chronicler of the Peshtigo fire, was The other, “Peshtigo” fire, destroyed Pernin as the first resident priest at La buried in Calvary Cemetery, Rochester, settlements and farms on both sides of Crescent 1877-1886; he also “attended” Minn. Green Bay, over a thousand persons. Houston, Minn. 06-25-07 The best account of the fire was written At La Crescent, Pernin kept his finan- by Rev. Pernin himself: “The Finger of cial accounts in the baptismal records.

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Pip Botkin “Now, we’ll wager a codfish, big of Co. A, 23rd regiment.—‘Pip’ Botkin, emember “Bott” Botkin, who enough for all practical purposes, that ‘the elder brother,’ is patriotically serv- bade good-bye to battle Breck- that same Alec will make his mark in ing his country at a ‘thousand a year’ as inridge, Butler and Beauregard? the world, before another generation paymaster’s clerk. R shall have passed away. Alec, here’s our So, off went the three Botkins to the But how about Bott’s baby brother Pip? Indeed, Pip is both revealed and con- [hand pointing]. We shall watch thy ris- most bloody conflict this country has cealed among the punishingly-playful ing.” ever known. Then what?” words of the Wood County Reporter of A fond Grand Rapids farewell to Al- A few years later, more items were Grand Rapids, Wis. exander Campbell “Pip” Botkin, who picked up by the local newspaper. A re- June 14, 1862: joined his brother, W.W. “Bott” Botkin, union of the graduates of the University “GONE FROM US.—Alexander the in the Union Army. of Wisconsin residing in Milwaukee in- little, alias ‘Pip’ alias Botkin, returned to March 26, 1863: cluded one of our friends. Madison last Tuesday to see his mother. “Departure Extraordinary.— July 23, 1874: Alec is a friend of ours. He’s a bully “Pip, alias ‘Botkin the Titman,’ who “They had just cart loads of toast, we boy, appreciates a joke, and sometimes has been sojourning in our midst the judge,” said the Wood County Reporter, perpetrates some poor ones, which we past week, having a presentment that his punning on the word, “toast.” are bound (by mutual agreement) to en- mother wanted him, took his departure “Our old time companion, Alec C. core, as fast as perpetrated. for Madison via Wausau last Tuesday. Botkin, who maketh the Sentinel now-a- “Alec has been studying law—i.e., ad- ‘Pip’ was got up regardless of expense days, went for it under the guise of say- miring Blackstone, criticizing Chitty on expressly for Dickens’ great story of ing something about his cherished Alma Contracts [a legal book], and re-revising ‘Great Expectations.’ Mater, and then all the rest of the chaps the Wisconsin Statutes.—all of which “‘Pip’ is exceedingly astute—a lover laden down with Greek and Latin and explains how he happened to swindle of fun, exhilarating beverages, and nice good appetites went for what was left the Wisconsin Stage Co. out of a dollar, girls; but with all his excellent qualities after Alex had done...” by making Old Grace believe he was a and natural gayety of spirits, he presents Oct. 1, 1874: boy, and therefore entitled to ride for to the world the strange anomaly of a “We acknowledge a pleasant call from half fare. Alec’s a bad chap for Old Law lover of fun who never laughs. To tickle A.C. Botkin, Editor of the Milwaukee to fool with, ain’t ye, Pip? ‘Aye, bully.’ his smeller with a straw, will occasion- Sentinel, during the convention. Alec’s a brick. ally create a smile; but he prefers the “Alec’s photograph keeps well; we “He sometimes officiated as one of the straw “a little lower,” with a mug at the don’t see that it has materially changed editorial corpse of the Reporter, while other end. since the days when it was custom in we ‘run’ the Spinal [Column] and be- “Then he smiles—so beautifully! this northern country to scale an ‘eight tween us both we educated the public in ‘Pip,’ adjew!” feet’ tight-board fence in mid-winter, at all matters pertaining to political econo- The next entry brings together in a midnight in woolen socks, and to hunt my and home morality.— paragraph all three Botkin brothers. up the boots in the morning.” “We hope Alec will return. We think he April 23, 1863: The playful Pip had already left be- will. We once had an old pewter quarter “We see that W.W. Botkin, the ca- hind youthful pranks for a life of impor- shier of the Wood Co. Bank, is Captain tance and would move forward to enjoy that went from us, but we lived to see th it return but little changed in aspect, the of Co. G., 12 regiment. S.W. Botkin, his share of abject misfortune. poor eagle excepted. a brother, is commissioned as Captain 07-02-07 222 River City Memoirs Ghost

3 Botkins hall, at which I visited my wife, Kathy, marshal, and a lawyer in Minneapolis, then a graduate student, and after which where he died in 1893. n the first rank of colorful names I named a Sheltie dog, Bonnie Botkin. Old Bot had studied at the University who have passed through our fair Then there was Pip’s brother, William of Wisconsin with William F. Vilas, Icity were the Botkins. Wallace “Bot” Botkin. The1860 federal who, like all the Botkins, had gone off There was Pip, the budding journalist census shows Bot in Grand Rapids, to the Civil War. of Grand Rapids (and later, Milwaukee) residing at the Wisconsin Hotel. At an According to “Joe,” a college friend, who went off to the Civil War. Born early age, he had been employed by “Old Bot,” may have saved Joe’s life. in 1842, Alexander Campbell Botkin a bank at Grand Rapids, Wis., “then During a “high old time,” someone had graduated from the University of a new place,” where he, according to stood in the middle of the room singing Wisconsin in 1859, prior to his ar- accounts, showed remarkable cleri- while Joe hung out the window, hang- rival “up north.” After helping save cal ability. While yet a lad, Bot was ing by his finger tips to the window sill. the Union, Pip was appointed marshal required to take a large amount of gold Another “friend” attempted to loosen for the territory of Montana, writing to between the bank at Grand Rapids, a Joe’s fingers but Old Bot rushed to the his brother, Sinclair, that there were no frontier town, and banks at Madison. rescue and pulled Joe back into the petty thieves in his prison; they were all With no railroads, he had to travel on room, enabling Joe to write, in a mem- murderers, bandits and desperados. horseback to Portage City through what oir, “Young men thought all old men With a posse of U.S. soldiers, Pip, seemed to Madison folks an almost were fools while all old men knew that as marshal, was sent after some unruly unbroken forest. young men were.” “Indians” in mid-winter and had to pass After the Civil War, Pip, the Montana Then there’s the father I will call over high mountains. During a severe marshal, younger by two years, ap- “Ancient Bot,” Alexander Botkin Sr., blizzard, exposure to cold caused an pointed brother Bot as warden of the who had come to Madison as assistant injury to his spine and rendered him Deer Lodge, Mont., territorial prison, secretary of state under the Territorial unable to walk thereafter. At Helena, where he was in 1880. government. A Whig, like Bob Wakely, Mont., Pip practiced law from a wheel- Bot himself had an infirmity which he was a lawyer and member of the chair, ran unsuccessfully for Congress developed into epilepsy, no doubt ag- Wisconsin state senate and assembly from Montana territory in 1882 and gravated by his exposure during his in the 1840s and 1850s. He died in served as Republican lieutenant gov- army and frontier years. He was even- 1857—before his sons came to Rapids. ernor of Montana after its 1889 admis- tually admitted to the National Home Ancient Bot had come from Alton, sion as a state. for soldiers at Milwaukee, Wis., where Ill., where the well-known Rev E.P. Later, he continued to ply the trade he died in 1914. Lovejoy published an anti-slavery “Ab- of law in Chicago and died in 1905 Bot had not married and was the last olition” paper, an act Botkin deplored while in Washington D.C. to revise the Botkin to survive. as incendiary. Ancient Bot acted as jury federal statutes. Pip is buried in Madi- A third and oldest brother, Sinclair foreman at one of the Alton proceed- son, Wis. Walker Botkin, born 1838, was called ings despite that fact that he had been The question I posed at the start of by a college roommate, “Old Bot.” He hit by buckshot along with other riot- the Botkin epic: was there a connection became a state librarian and was deputy ers in 1837, against Lovejoy, who was with the Botkin portion of Tripp hall on clerk of the state supreme court when killed while guarding a new press. the UW-Madison campus? Indeed. Pip he enlisted for the Civil War. Later, was namesake of “Botkin” residence he was U.S. assessor, assistant U.S. 07-09-07

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Dead Poet Society ing Ground, all in Boston, Mass, on the Schoharie, N.Y. brick-laid pathway called the Freedom The typically hillside cemetery behind est history is written in stone; it Trail. Here lie founding fathers such as the museum-house was built by early will last forever. OK, not forever Sam Adams and John Hancock. Palatines, bearing German names in- a couple million years or so, if B Old Burying Point, Salem, Mass. stead of the usual English. the tablet is of Barre granite. Convicted witches, memorialized by Kirtland, Ohio. In Late June, on the road to Swamp- later residents were originally hanged With the old Latter Day Saints temple scott, I visited, in this order, the follow- and dumped in a ditch, unfit to associate in the background, here can be found ing cemeteries: with the corpses of Holier-than-Thou. kinsperson of the Puritans and Baptist Witter Hill, Brookfield township,N.Y. Edson, Lowell buried in Massachusetts. Warned not to trespass by our guide, A patch of bare ground like that seen Beaverville, Ill., formerly “St. Marie.” Harold Witter of the Brookfield Witters, earlier at Amherst, at which visitors, Adjacent to the remarkable Cathedral- we viewed from a distance property once some kneeling have embellished writer like church, French names recall the ser- owned by forebears of the River City Jack Kerouac’s flat ground-level slab. vice of Father P.P. Pernin in the 1860s, Witters. Harold showed us the thicket, Cigarettes, beer bottles and scraps of who had also baptized a few citizens of high on the scenic landscape, that held paper are left for the author of On the our own River City and was featured five family gravestones — above one of Road. here during my absence. a succession of Witter farms that spread Sleepy Hollow, Concord, Mass. Cobleskill, N.Y. from east to west. On Authors Ridge, handsomely-ar- After all is said and done, the deepest Brookfield/Leonardsville, N.Y. ranged pine cones accent the graves of impression was made by the secluded At the side of a rural highway, buried Thoreau, Hawthorne, Emerson, Alcott hillside cemetery behind the house of in the 1850’s, were sisters, of “our” and the rest of the transcendental crew. my old pal Jim Nuhlicek (formerly of Josiah Witter and aunts of Jere. A couple miles down the road, granite Wisconsin Rapids). West Cemetery, Amherst, Mass. posts stand unattended at the corners of My first visit, in daylight, was friendly A bare patch of ground signaled the Thoreau’s Walden Pond cabin site while enough that I wanted to come back. altar at which poetry-lovers appreciated thousands of bathers throng the public The second was around midnight. To Emily Dickinson, who “could not stop beach. my surprise, I was just far enough in for death.” Old Witter Farm, Hopkinton, R.I. to be surrounded by the anonymous I went to Thank Her – With a map provide by the “cemetery Cobleskill dead, when something big, But She Slept – lady” at the town hall and directions shapeless, momentous and thorough Her Bed – a funneled Stone – from an Internet site, it was found off a ly terrifying seemed to rise up—like a With Nosegays at the Head and Foot dirt trail on private property, surround- cloud of bats representing the eternal That Travellers – Had thrown – ed by poison ivy covered by blackber- souls of all human kind above and Burial Hill, Plymouth, Mass. ries. The most central and only stand- beneath the earth. The old wooden markers have rotted. ing stone bore the even-more familiar OK, not “eternal souls,” but something But rocks laid down in the late 1600s name: Josiah Witter (There were more just as scary. Believe me, I couldn’t get mark the resting place of many a Pil- than one.) out of that one fast enough. grim. Oak Grove, Ashaway, R.I., and First Granary Burying Ground; Kings Hopkinton, R.I. 07-16-07 Chapel and Cemetery; Copps Bury- Witters but not “our” Witters.

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Soldier Pip sight. So many cannon, each fired with the eye can reach, is a most suggestive ou have heard a great deal about the greatest possible rapidity, left not a prospect. And then, when they went into the Botkins, who lived here be- second of interval, but kept up a con- camp, how magically does that prairie fore the Civil War sent them tinuous roar.” become transferred into a city of tents. Y “From our Correspondent ‘Pip’ Notwithstanding the almost inconceiv- packing. When Pip, a journalist, wrote back to editor Jack Brundage at a Rapids “Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 20, 1863 able rapidity with which these tents are newspaper, the editor called his letters “Dear Jack,--During the month which put up, the whole camp is formed with “Pip’s ‘Diary North and South!’” Thus has transpired since I last wrote, I have as perfect regularity as if laid out with they become part of the greatest trove been much tossed about, like Virgil’s the aid of chain and compass... of historical correspondence, Civil War hero of old. “Having now finished the payment of letters, this country has known and are “On the 27th ult. I got on the cars at Al- our assignment; we returned to the Land- reproduced here pretty much as origi- giers, the village opposite New Orleans, ing in an ambulance. Now, riding in an nally printed, beginning Aug. 6, 1863. and proceeded to Brashear City. Here I ambulance through this country is not “June 20.—The hurried coming and got on a steamer and rode through Bur- unlike charging a secesh [secessionist] going of orderlies to and from Regimen- wick Bay into Bayou Teche. battery as far as danger is concerned. tal Head Quarters, and the whispered “I don’t know how to describe this “But the mules, happily, are generally consultations of field officers, which stream. I have too much respect for equal to the emergency. They will draw had attracted my attention on the previ- Four-Mile Creek to compare it to that. safely a heavy load down a descent ous evening suggested to me that some It is no wider, but so deep as to be navi- which a horse can scarcely be induced military movement of importance might gable. The water is, in many places, en- to attempt when only encumbered with be anticipated. I was not disappointed. tirely covered from sight by a vegetable his rider. “At 4 o’clock this morning, our whole which grows on top. It is a perfect Eden “In passing through this section, one line opened its artillery and poured a for alligators, and both banks exhibited has ample opportunity to notice the dev- perfect shower of missiles into the rebel specimens of that amphibious animal, astation which this war is bringing upon works. You can easily imagine that the with their open countenances, submit- the South.—Beautiful houses, which noise was not long in arousing me from ting their tough hides to the genial influ- had so lately been the seat of domestic my slumber on the canes which consti- ences of the solar rays, and apparently joys, were now entirely deserted, or in- tuted my couch.... enjoying a delicious, self-complacent habited only by desolate females whose “Every sound which the human voice reverie most enviable. husbands, fathers and brothers were is capable of producing had its appro- “The land around this Bayou is very suffering the privations and dangers of priate representative issuing from the rich, and many fine plantations adorn its a soldier’s life within the doomed city deep-mouthed cannon. The tones of the banks... of Vicksburg. Gardens, showing in their “I arrived at Opelousas [La.] on the decay their former beauty and luxuri- 81-pound mortar on the far right, break- st ing upon my ears like a deep moan min- evening of the 31 . Early on the follow- ance, had been allowed to run to waste gled with the shriek from an adjacent ing morning, our army here and beyond or were trod down by our soldiers. How battery of Parrott guns, until both were commenced falling back. I went with it, have the crimes of this people brought lost in the booming which proceeded and then for the first time understood their retribution to every heart and to ev- from the entire line, while a cloud of what it is for an army to move. To stand ery home! smoke, war’s stern incense, arose and in a large prairie and see a line of wag- “Pip.” shut out the rebel fortifications from ons and men, in either direction, as far as 07-23-07

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Natwick from Hollywood cere attempt to portray the realities of and “Willie Whopper.” In 1934 he joined the picture industry which lie under- Walt and Roy Disney. In preparation at rim Natwick: one of the most- neath the publicity glare,” said the Tri- the time of the 1936 Tribune story, was mentioned names from Wis- bune. And if “Hollywoodians” play, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” It consin Rapids history, in part G they work, too, at the absorbing task of would take another year to make, added because of the exhibit devoted to him at creating amusement for the screen con- to the year and a half already in process the South Wood County Historical Corp. stantly nearer the artistic ideal. And that, and would be the first full-length ani- Museum, 540 Third St. S., and the many Natwick’s manner showed, “was enough mated feature. mentions in the Daily Tribune. for any artist.” While in Rapids, Natwick said Jea- The movie “animator,” creator of Bet- Myron had been dubbed “Grim” in his nette MacDonald would be the actress ty Boop, was also a sagacious commen- youth by a companion, “Hank” Wasser, he would select if he were to paint the tator on living, here and elsewhere. On who made it his goal in life to nickname most beautiful of Hollywood’s stars, June 27, 1936, Grim, whose given name people. Natwick’s work with pen and with Loretta Young a close second. was Myron, was home for the golden pencil had begun early, he explained, as “They have gotten away from beauty, wedding anniversary of his parents, Mr. he “ruefully” recalled the Indian head pure and simple. The actress as a wom- and Mrs. J.W. Natwick. motif that graced the cover of the Lin- an is what counts.” Notable examples of According to the Tribune, after more coln high school Ahdawagam yearbook female personalities were “Garbo” and than five years in Hollywood, the mo- of 1912. “I was proud of that then.” Katherine Hepburn. tion picture capital of the world, Natwick After graduation from Lincoln, Nat- According to Natwick, stars had to was “not sorry he laid down his palette wick studied at the Chicago Art Insti- keep up the illusion the public created and oils to become identified with the tute, National Academy of Design, New around them. There were too many tour- business – art, rather – of creating those York, and, after World War I, the Royal ists and autograph hunters about to let fascinating strips of celluloid we view Academy in Vienna. them relax. “After living in Hollywood on the screen, animated cartoons.” Back in New York, he became inter- five years, one reduces his comments to In Natwick’s view, “[Hollywood is] ested in short animations or cartoon wise-cracks directed at the weak spots a glamorous storybook kind of place movies. Around 1920, doing all the in it rather than the strong ones. Read full of make believe set down in a gor- drawing himself, he made 22 comedies, ‘Queer People’ [a satirical novel] if you geous land of semi tropical beauty and such as “The Katzenjammer Kids” and want something close to the truth,” said inhabited by people no better nor worse “Silk Hat Harry.” Natwick. than any of us even though possessed of Natwick attempted to make a living He explained that there was more more beauty and more money, people with “fine art” until the Depression hit night life in Hollywood than River City, who must live always up to the ideas when he returned to cartooning. Walt “because there is the greater urge to ac- their ‘public’ has of them whether on Disney had by then begun making talk- cented diversion,” brought on through the set or off.” But, said Natwick, it is ing cartoons though Natwick joined Max exciting work for long periods at high a place where people work a lot harder Fleischer studios in New York, where he tension and a consequent “release” when than most of us, in the Tribune’s word- produced “Popeye” and “Betty Boop” it was done. ing, “hinterlanders.” films. Natwick’s “brief talk” of Hollywood Hollywood work began in 1930 with 07-30-07 and motion pictures included “the sin- Ub Iwerks’ animated “Flip the Frog”

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Beaver Strang was gunned down in 1856, after joyed a cup of tea in that house. which the Mormons left the Island to Other fur trade era buildings just beaver is more than a good- the buck-toothed rats. down the hill from Fort Mackinac, now looking tail. Beginning in the More beaver action took place at visited by tourists, were likely utilized A1600s, desire for its fur-covered Mackinac Island, which we visited almost 200 years ago by the Grignons. skin or “pelt” sent traders paddling next. For a couple hundred years, After another history tour, I told you through-out the lakes and rivers of the Wisconsin’s economy depended on about Father Pernin, who had been Great Lakes basin for a couple-hundred the beaver muffs and hats of Europe. priest of SS. Peter & Paul here. Sur- years. French-Canadian merchants traded use- prisingly, he too had a brush with a This busy dam rodent has been a ful and ornamented items of European beaver namesake. Pernin had come recent obsession with me, having just manufacture for furs from their Native through the French community south returned from both Beaver Island and neighbors and in-laws. Thus, beaver of Kankakee, Ill., that included “Bea- Beaverville. Blame it on former Daily pelts were carried by canoe to yet to- verville,” now the site of an impressive Tribune ace Mark Scarborough, who be-named River City down the Wiscon- Catholic church I toured in July. Also had long touted the historical romance sin and up the Fox rivers to Green Bay, to Beaverville came numerous French of Beaver Island, home of America’s then to Mackinac and on to Montreal. Canadians, including members of the only resident king, James J. Strang, self By the early 1800s wild beavers had Bourassa family. anointed successor to prophet Joseph been depleted. One of the last fur trad- Besides Mackinac Island, another Smith of the Latter Day Saints. He was, ers was our own Amable Grignon. “historic” site is located between lakes like Smith, a monarch bee to whom The son of Pierre Grignon and Louise Michigan and Huron: the Mackinac workers swarmed. Delanglade was born at “La (Green) bridge that was built 50 years ago to Being a Mormon nut, I wanted to Baye,” in 1795. During the War of connect upper and lower Michigan. view Strang’s kingdom. To this end, I 1812, with capital from this venture, The very same day my friends and I took a two-hour ferry ride from Char- he joined with his brother, Hippolyte were leaving the “LP,” the bridge was levoix, (Lower Peninsula) Mich., into (Paul) Grignon, and worked the upper about to be closed for a celebratory the blue expanse of Lake Michigan. Wisconsin River. parade. My dad would have stayed for With me was a Rapids crew: my wife Amable married Judith Bourassa in the fireworks; he liked to seehistory and daughter; friends Hugh and Carol 1824 – in Mackinac County, where they being made. Midor; brother Hebert and his son Dun- lived in 1825. Concluding my book, River City lap; and a trombonist buccaneer dubbed By the 1840 federal census, he, with a Memoirs V, is a snapshot of myself and Hawthorne Dellsbob. household that included 16 adult males, my sister on a rocky shoreline. Rising The main historical attraction of the was located in Portage County, along out of the fog in the background, under village of St. James was the Beaver with the familiar Dubays, Whitneys and construction, are the giant piers of the Island Historical Society museum. The Wakelys. Amable died at Grand Rapids Mackinac, a bridge to the past and to former print shop had furthered the in 1845. the future. ambitions of Strang, who seemed able On Mackinac Island can be viewed a to come up with an approving message small cabin called the McGulpin house. 08-06-07 from God whenever he wanted an- Mrs. McGulpin was a Bourassa, like other wife. Nearby, was the spot where Judith Grignon. Perhaps the two en-

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Who Killed Mary Hogan? not for the characteristic obscurity, but “What did (the murderer) say to the because I mentioned it at all. sheriff who arrested him?” ome November, will blow in the Had I aspired enough to a widespread “Have a heart.” golden anniversary of the biggest readership, I would have written not Come November 2007 at Mendota Cnews event ever to be datelined just a mild newspaper rehash but a full- mental hospital, Madison, a few long Wisconsin Rapids. Come November length book; but my name would have term workers will remark about the when my colleagues relive revelations been mud and my mother would have meek little man who was no trouble at that, 50 years ago, inspired Grandma to rolled over in her grave, had she been all. Come November, among the world- grab the apple pie from the window sill in it. wide web, will be a fiesta of the maca- and lock the screen door. Dec. 8, 1954, Seymour Lester went bre, a party for the nocturnal gnome I Come November, when a few old men from his farm to the nearby Hogan tav- have been compared to because I admit- will tell how they were called from “gun ern home for the ice cream his daugh- ted assassinating a few chipmunks. deer” season to blood-sport of a third ter wanted. He found no one home and Yes, if I am like him, I am the most kind. Among the red-plaid brethren was blood on the floor. What happened to the perverted handyman who ever shuffled my co-author Herbert A. Bunde, the bar owner, Mary Hogan? up the lane. I am a peeping-tom strutting judge, since deceased. Ed Marolla, editor of the Plainfield and howling in the moonlight. I am liar, “You better get down here right away,” Sun, wrote often about the disappear- thief, nutcase, creep, sicko, slime. I am the voice on the phone said, so Bunde, ance and apparent murder of Mary Ho- self-obsessed, narcissistic, necrophilic, like a lot of us, left Shanagolden for gan. He also worried about a series of sociopathic. I am the weirdo who gave something darker. other crimes that caused “uneasiness and weirdos and pork chops a bad name. Come November 1957, Bunde found consternation” among the residents of The authors with the books I thought out more than he wanted to know and, southern Portage and northern Waush- of writing contributed more synonyms: in spite of our morbid curiosity, so did ara counties. If Mary Hogan had been “America’s most bizarre murderer,” we. In Novembers to come, Herbert A. killed, who was the murderer? from Judge Gollmar Bunde was questioned but preferred to Come early November 1957, an an- “Deviant,” by Harold Schecter in his remain silent. swer came from a stranger, an inmate at book But the “other” judge, Robert H. Goll- the Minnesota State Prison who “con- “Psycho,” by Bloch and Hitchcock. mar, of the circus family, was not so fessed” he had beaten to death the tav- He inspired “Silence of the Lambs,” reticent. After an indecent interval, the ern owner. But he had not. “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” and affable raconteur autographed for me, in A couple weeks later, a friend, the real “Three on a Meathook.” He was “De- 1981, a more than candid book that in- murderer, who sometimes told the truth, ranged” and “Maniac.” cluded obscene photos originally meant retraced the route he had taken three Who, come November, killed Mary as evidence not fit for viewing by the years earlier and showed where he had Hogan? general public. burned and buried parts of Hogan under It wasn’t the usual ex-husband, lover, Wanting to do my job in a professional an ash pile near his farmhouse. common thief or jealous wife. Around manner, I telephoned the last victim’s About that time, November 1957, town, they called him, “Eddie.” son to ask what he thought about the when I arrived for lessons at Grove Who killed Mary Hogan? book; he hung up. I wish I hadn’t done school, the smart aleck Sand Hill kids It was Ed Gein. it. Then, I contributed the story old la- were already enjoying the jokes that dies told me I shouldn’t have written— would sweep the nation. 08-13-07

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A Grieved Community social doings, the births of her grand- men and photographers swarmed into children, the ads of her store. Plainfield fromMilwaukee, Chicago, d Gein still haunts a village that “In July of 1956 we ran her photo and Minneapolis and St. Paul dailies; Asso- no more deserved him than did a little story on her, as our ‘Citizen of ciated and United Press; Time, Life and EDixon, Ill., Plains, Ga., Craw- the Week.’ We recall how pleased she Look magazines; and from radio and ford, Texas, or Mayberry RFD. was at the time...” TV stations. Immediately after the offenses of And the little things: getting the ad A service was set up in the Union November 1957, Plainfield Sun editor from her each Monday morning, dis- Telephone Co. to send photos by tele- Ed Marolla spoke for the “shocked and cussions of public affairs through her phone and the SUN office was used as grieved community that paid its last re- “pointed comments” and her fondness local headquarters by the urban jour- spects to one of their own”: Gein’s last for her firstborn grandson. nals. “Plainfield people got to see how victim, hardware store owner Bernice Mrs. Worden, with her son, Frank, big city reporters go about their work, Worden. “Cast suddenly and reluctantly operated Worden Hardware and Imple- and some of the things they did, people into the national and international spot- ment Co., on one of Plainfield’s main did not like.” light by having one of the worst crimes business corners. The former Bernice Marolla said he spent most of Mon- in history committed in their midst, Conover, born May 9, 1899, at Canton, day afternoon trying to refute rumors as the people of Plainfield went about Ill., came to Plainfield with her parents broadcasting stations all over the Mid- their business and did what had to be at age 12. She and her husband, Leon west insisted lynch mobs were forming. done. To the world outside, she [Mrs. Worden, operated the store from 1920 More reasonably, Plainfield residents, Worden] was but a name to be talked until his 1931 death. still jittery after three years of the Mary of and remembered with horror—to the Following Gein’s arrest, on Sunday Hogan case, “expressed resentment people of her community, a friend and morning, Nov. 17, 1957, the citizens over any thought of not seeing the neighbor whom they had known, liked of Plainfield went tochurch, knowing investigation completely through” and and respected had passed away. there had been a murder, but “without fear that Gein might “get by with an “We here at the SUN office, together knowledge of the horrible details.” insanity charge,” to be out again in a with all the citizens of this area, join in As the story spread in the Sunday couple of years. offering our deepest heartfelt sympathy editions of the larger city papers, said As Mrs. Worden was laid to rest, to the family of Bernice Worden .... Marolla, people in his village were her loved ones gathered at the Goult your sorrow is the community’s own shocked and stunned. Funeral Home and later the Methodist sorrow. They also wondered about Mary church. Mrs. Clifford Tubbs, accom- “The big city dailies, the radio and Hogan who had disappeared three years panied by Mrs. Albert Walter, sang, TV stations, have given you all the previous from her Pine Grove tavern, “Abide With Me,” and “What a Friend details of what has happened—and a lot leaving a similar pool of blood and We Have In Jesus.” of things that never happened. For our evidence of a body being dragged. And Pallbearers were Albert Walter, Jesse part, in this issue, we tried not to tell wasn’t it so that Ed Gein had owned a Wood, Franklin Rothermel, Gyle Ellis, you the story as it was seen by the big bluish truck similar to the green truck Jim Severns and Arden Spees. Inter- city reporters—but as we ourselves saw in the Mary Hogan case? ment was in the Plainfield cemetery it here in Plainfield. After all, the SUN As a bad-enough murder case beside the body of her husband. was Mrs. Worden’s own home paper. evolved into one of the worst-ever We recorded over the years her little crimes in history, said Marolla, news- 08-20-07

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Jesseca Penn Point and Wisconsin Rapids newspapers community of Plainfield for her perma- on numerous occasions. nent home. o what if a little old lady died in In September 1948, it was noted that The same little old lady claimed to Plainfield 50 years ago? Found “Jessica Penn” “of Milwaukee” would have posed for prominent painters and Ssitting in her chair at 7 p.m. by spend the rest of summer and fall with sculptors throughout the United States. neighbors Mrs. Harvey Weymouth and Mrs. Ethel Townes, who had recently “There isn’t an art gallery or well known Mrs. Walter Nelson, who had been kind purchased a home in the village. Jesseca collection in the country that hasn’t enough to call on her each day. So what left Mrs. Townes in December 1948 to something of me,” she told a reporter in if she lived from 1881 until 1957, a return to Milwaukee for the winter. 1949. mere 76 years, and was a member of the In October 1953, one of those gossipy Busts and paintings of the model, it PlainfieldMethodist church? blurbs recorded that Mrs. Van Sant, Mrs. was said, could be found in the Louvre So her name was Jessica but she had Goult and Miss Delana Pratt attended in Paris, the Chicago Institute of Art, taken to spelling it Jesseca. People of Order of the Eastern Star at Milwaukee. the National Art Gallery in Washington, her type did that sort of thing. Jesseca accompanied them and visited D.C., and the Metropolitan Museum of So her last name was Penn and she friends. Shortly after returning from Art in New York. claimed to be descended from William Milwaukee, Mrs. Ray Goult took Jesse- In the Assembly Chamber of the Wis- Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. (Old la- ca to the Wild Rose hospital for a few consin capitol is a 38-feet-wide mural dies take pride in their genealogy.) days of treatments and a check up. by Edwin Howland Blashfield of New A native of Des Moines, Iowa, She continued to receive treatment for York. The painting itself has nothing to Jessica/Jesseca Penn liked Plainfield a heart condition at Wild Rose. In 1956, do with Jesseca Penn. so much that she moved there to spend she was still traveling to Milwaukee to But in the Iowa capitol is another mu- her last nine years living quietly near see “friends.” But then, in the spring of ral, “Westward Ho,” also by Blashfield. the community park. Having retired in 1957, she died and the story of the old Located between the first and second 1933, she came from Milwaukee in May lady’s life seemed written considerably floors, it depicts the migration of early of 1948. “I think Plainfield is a beautiful larger than expected. pioneers. town and I like it here very much,” she There had been a clue eight years ear- Posing in 1905 as the model for the said. lier. A notice for a Plainfield homecom- central figure of Blashfield’s mural was Death was attributed by the physician ing week art contest called for etchings, a little old lady who was young then, at the scene to a heart attack. Jesseca’s pen or pencil drawings, sculpture and Jesseca herself. only survivors were three cousins in dis- wood carving—with a separate division Another famous painter, Robert Henri, tant places. for needlework and taxidermy. “Submit enjoyed as his favorite model, the “Zieg- According to her wishes, there were no entrees to Jessica Penn.” field Follies dancer,” Jesseca Penn, who funeral services. The body was taken by Who the heck was Jessica Penn? was a tall redhead with a thin waist, like the Goult funeral home to Valhalla Cre- From the bright lights of theatrical a couple of his wives. Jesseca told Henri matory in Milwaukee. The ashes were stages in almost all of America, said that she intended to become the greatest interred at Wisconsin Dells rather than newspaper accounts, to the quiet restful- dancer in the world but to Henri the little Plainfield, a good idea, with Ed Gein ness of a small Wisconsin community— old lady, he said, was simply, “one of the scanning the obits. that’s the story of Jesseca Penn, once finest nudes I have ever seen.” Over the years, the old lady made the noted professional dancer and artist’s Plainfield society column in theStevens model, who chose the small Waushara 08-27-07

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Model Extraordinaire Apparently, she married New York and push away—my ambitions made artist Louis Loeb about this time. She me a difficult wife at first.” Remember last week when the little also studied at Chicago musical college But her legal complaint said for eight old lady who died 50 years ago in Plain- and took ballet training. years Evans had pretty much ignored field was revealed as a famous model? In 1905, the Waterloo, Iowa, Times her and that they separated for a year- She was the main figure of the mural in Tribune called her a “Poster girl Sensa- long matrimonial “vacation.” She said the Iowa state capitol, having been cho- tion,” when Jessica, “the girl he made Evans didn’t return to their picturesque sen by artist Blashfield as the prettiest famous,” married the editor of the Des home at Fox Point in Milwaukee County gal in the state. Moines Mail and Times, Ralph W. Ev- for days at a time and said it was none of She was the subject of numerous ans, at St. Joseph, Mich. If Evans’ for- her business where he had been. sculptures. She called herself “Jesseca” mer wife collapsed when told of the Evans followed Jessica to the witness Penn and was called “Jessica,” in a so- wedding, it was in part because she had chair and stated briefly that the property named work by Louis Loeb, painted in introduced the two while still married to settlement as stipulated was agreeable to 1905 when they may have been married. Evans. him. It is part of the collection of the Cleve- The 1910 federal census shows Ralph Jesseca continued to perform after the land Museum of Art. W. Evans, 41, with his wife, Jessica, divorce, spending, for example, the 1928 She was “Jessica Penn in Black and who is listed as 26, though she was actu- season in South Africa with the Padley White Plumes,” 1908, by Robert Henri, ally 29. He was in the printing business Orkransky Russian Ballet. a leader of the Ashcan School in New and she was an actress “out of work” 20 Jesseca’s own act of 14 numbers be- York. It sold for $3.6 million, a record weeks in the past year. gan at the Milwaukee Art Institute and for Henri. She had appeared as a dancer through- played at the Chicago Art Institute. Her She was baby Jessica, born June 1881 out the Midwest, specializing in panto- West Coast tour in 1930 included Los to 23-year-old Iowa native Alice Ayers mimic stories, “the newest thing.” Her Angeles, San Francisco and Portland, Penn. Jessica’s father was 30-year-old rendition of a cabaret dance “was grace- Ore., and Seattle. George W. Penn, a clerk from Pennsyl- fully executed” but “not entirely in ac- In the early ’30s, Jessica, or “Jesseca,” vania, who died the year of Jessica’s cord with the tastes of all in the audi- as she later preferred, began writing birth. ence.” “Pinwheel,” an autobiography which Widowed mother Alice remarried in Yet, she was “the perfect wife” who, in she completed in 1938. Chapters of this 1888 to Charles B. Rounds. In 1900 Al- 1927, clad in grey-brown fall coat and a book were serialized in a Milwaukee ice Rounds and Jessica B. Penn, then black, broad-brimmed hat, “lips quiver- newspaper in 1942. in school, and another daughter, Marie ing and eyes filled with tears,” sued for In the end, she moved to Plainfield, Rounds, lived with Alice’s parents Gio- divorce in Milwaukee, charging Evans where she lived out her last years in rel- vanni and Eliza Ayres in Des Moines. with cruelty. The two had wed, said a atively obscure peace and quiet. Jessica started dance at age 5, much contemporary account, June 18th, 1907. to the objection of her family, and went She said she was “40”; she was 46. 09-03-07 to New York at 16 to work as a model. She still seemed to retain “a deep af- At Miss Elley’s finishing school, she fection for the marriage explained so in studied literature, concert, and “dancing detail in her book which made her popu- culture.” She also was dancing profes- lar as an author.” “We had many stones sionally before she was 18. in our path,” she wrote, “to step over

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Last Civil War Widow of whom Mrs. Lloyd Knuteson was, in of Robert “Strangler Lewis” Friedrich, 1957, living in Wisconsin Rapids. one of the best-known professional he news report was wrong, said •In a story from 1946 that also turned wrestlers in the world. Mrs. Ben Sparks. The last Civil up recently, another local veteran was Another “50 years ago” story from the War veteran’s widow was not T profiled. Back on the job after World summer of 1957 featured Mrs. Proxeda dead. Mrs. Sparks knew that because, she War II was Donald “Red” Blanchard, Oberhuber who was sitting in the family said, she herself was the last Civil War recently discharged from the Army af- auto while her husband Anton hooked a veteran’s widow, reporting in 1957. ter 45 months of service. He returned to boat trailer to the vehicle at water’s edge The husband of Mrs. Ben Spark, whom former employer WFHR and could be in on the north side of Lake Wazeecha. she had married in 1912, oddly enough heard at 11:30 each weekday morning Oberhuber called to his wife to pull was named “Eugene” Sparks. on the Farm and Home hour. the parking brake tighter because the Eugene was a Civil War veteran who While in the service, “Red” spent 1950 model car was slowly slipping died in 1918 at the age of 75 and was most of his time entertaining service- backward. But the parking brake handle buried in Forest Hill Cemetery here. At men. His first assignment was at Fort slipped from her hand releasing entire- the time of their marriage, he was 69, Lewis, Wash., where he was featured ly and the auto plunged into eight feet and Mrs. Sparks-to-be was 19. as comedian on a number of shows. Af- of water with the woman inside. Mrs. Born in Wyoming County, New York, ter 21 months at Fort Lewis, Blanchard Oberhuber escaped through a door and Eugene Sparks had been discharged in was shipped to the Pacific where, for 25 swam to shore. 1865 from the New York Infantry vol- months, he played the comedy lead in The vehicle was recovered after Carl unteers. He settled in Wisconsin and “Stars and Gripes,” one of the largest Sharkey, a city police officer, donned worked in the logging and lumber busi- Army shows organized during the war. his diving gear and attached a cable to ness. According to Mrs. Sparks, her el- “Red” also appeared before GI audienc- the bumper, allowing a wrecker truck to derly first husband had 13 children by es at post theaters and was featured with pull the car out of the lake. On the scene his first marriage (to Lydia Huff 1859- smaller units sent into front lines at gun assisting were officerDave Sharkey and 1903), five of whom were still living in emplacements and field hospitals. He Undersheriff Donald Caylor. 1957. Sometime after the death of Eu- was honorably discharged in December You have read recently in these pages gene, Mrs. Sparks married one of those 1945 at which time he held the rank of about Jesseca Penn, the famed model children, his son, Ben. corporal. who retired to Plainfield. In 1957, a It seems Ben Sparks was born in 1892 •Another 1957 story featured the group of good lookers right here in Riv- and was a year older than his stepmother mother of a celebrity when Mrs. Jacob er City convened for a Daily Tribune become spouse. On the 1900 census, he Friedrich, 79, formerly of Nekoosa, photo. was one of 10 children listed of Eugene died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. High school student models featured and his first wife, Lila (Lydia), who had J. Buckley, Love Street, Wisconsin Rap- in a national advertising program by died in 1895(?). ids. Consoweld Corp. included Nancy Nat- The second Mrs. Sparks, named in Mrs. Friedrichs had been Amelia Guel- wick, Andy Fish and the precocious lad the 1920 census is “Mary.” At that time denzoph, born in Germany In Sheboy- later renowned for thespian activities, Ben was still her stepson; in 1930, she gan Falls, she married Jacob Friedrich in the ever-handsome silver-coiffed and was called “Mayme” and he was listed 1895 and moved to Nekoosa, shortly af- silver-tongued raconteur, Lou Abler. as her stepson. Eugene and Mary, the ter the community was founded. Amelia second Mrs. Sparks, had three children, Gueldenzoph Friedrich was the mother 09-10-07

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Marsh Angels But on Nov. 30, 1957, Franklin Otto, and machinery.” And: “Mr. and Mrs. a New London native, counted Culver’s C,” retired before age 50; the R broth- y late November 1957, some of negative portrayal. “Yes, I live in Plain- ers with an irrigation system and the the crisis had quieted. Edward field, the town that has four churches largest wheel tractor; Mr. M, whose BGein, murderer and grave rob- in which to worship, the town that has Holstein cattle are consistently tops; ber, had been taken to the state prison an advancement association that packs Mr. S, who operates one of the best at Waupun for sanity tests. Plainfield 500 children’s candy bags for Christ- dairy farms in the state; the G ranch’s no longer headlined the nation’s news- mas and sponsors delegates to ‘Trees set of white buildings that would do papers though thousands of “morbidly for Tomorrow’ and many other civic any ranch in the U.S. proud; the S curious” came to gawk at the scenes of improvements. We have a Tri-County ranch with three tractors and a modern crimes. High School with students from the facility; W acres with 2,000 cattle graz- Residents attended Sunday morning regions you talk of. We are proud of the ing; potato fields averaging 400-600 church and mulled over editorials by students even if you call some ‘Marsh bushels to the acre; 700 acres of sweet Gordon Culver, formerly of Wautoma Angels.’ corn grown in the region. and Almond, that had appeared in the Plainfield, said Otto, was the town All cities, said Otto, had their wards New London Press. with an American Legion Post that or river sections that were looked down According to Culver: sponsored Junior Legion ball for 60 upon. “I know that the best farming “Western Waushara county as it melts boys, where the Lions Club worked to sections have once in a while a farmer into the ‘dead heart’ region of Wiscon- give teen age dances, provided an out- that cannot or will not be anything but a sin ... takes on a peculiar, lonely, wild door Christmas tree and gave a yearly detriment. feeling. A feeling of people struggling scholarship to a deserving senior. “It surely looks as if the murderer for subsistence. A feeling that an honest Plainfield, the town with itsVeterans of was destined to stay the way of a thorn living is hard to come by in this throb- Foreign Wars, Advancement Associa- among the rest. He didn’t improve nor bingly poor area... tion, Woman’s Club, church and school care to. “Off principal highways, where a groups and Industrial Development “I don’t blame all the reporters that few respectable farms are seen, there Corp. have used the words drab, desolate, is nothing but marsh and cutover lands And were western Waushara county dark, and wild. A block of solid bloom- and more wilderness and desolation. In farms as run down as Culver described ing roses would never be noticed at a this back country a common term for them? time like this. Reporters had a job to do its inhabitants is ‘Marsh Angels.’ “This is the place where the business in a horrible situation and they did it. “And so, when this murder took place is dependent on the farmers of the area. “I do think this area rates a space for on the border of that netherland, it was If the farms on ‘the border of this neth- a different description. Now it is re- something we’d suspect would take erland’ were either ‘just struggling or grettable that God didn’t give us all a place. People seemed to have a dis- subsistence’ or ‘not coming by an hon- beautiful mansion or a quiet green val- concern about what other people, even est living,’ we would not be in service ley in which to live. What we have here their neighbors do. Their own struggles to this community very long. is ours and we like to think that as a are sufficient for their capacities. And if “I hope the sightseeing groups that whole we aren’t much worse and some something strange and odd takes place, have gone to this area in the last weeks better than others.” it is much more likely to be accepted as have seen the Mr. J farm 80 rods from their business and nobody else’s.” the Gein farm with its new buildings 09-17-07

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Frank Kohnen in the winter he walked across the ice. of other great heroes,” said the edito- He said shoes were not worn on the job rial, “but countless public figures in hen Frank Kohnen retired, in the early days. “Going barefooted all walks of life are too readily forgot- he was the 8th employee of toughened the soles of our feet and no ten.” It was “truly startling” how many WConsolidated Water Power one seemed to have any smashed toes Americans under 40 had never heard of & Paper Co. to have completed 50 in those days.” Charles A. Lindbergh. years of service. Even with the low wages in the According to the Tribune, “people That was 1957 and Kohnen, 66, was early part of the century, Kohnen said, young and slightly old sometimes know one of the farmer/paper mill workers so “People seemed more contented then surprisingly little of the background common here. He also happened to be a than they are now.” in fields they like to think of as their resident of my town of Rudolph neigh- Looking to the future, he was going specialties. One wonders whether the borhood where Third Avenue could to take it easy—gardening, fishing and rock-and-rollers of 1965 will know easily have been named Kohnen Road. hunting—having lived “by the alarm whether the late Tommy Dorsey was a June 5, 1906, two days before his 16th clock” for half a century. trombonist or a pro football player. birthday, Kohnen began his employ- Kohnen and his wife had lived in the “Americans live in a land and time so ment at the 10-year-old Grand Rapids same house across the river from Biron, constantly crowded with fresh experi- Pulp & Paper Co. mill at Biron, to be just south of his boyhood home, for ences ... that the old can be quickly acquired by Consolidated in 1911. about 40 years. His 12 grandchildren, shoved out of sight and memory. The Kohnen said his first job was skinning he said, “are here most of the time.” miracles of electronic science still rolls in the wet machine room for 8.25 Two sons and two daughters, all mar- unfolding are not likely to lessen this cents per hour. With no extra overtime ried, lived in the area. Kenneth, who powerful impact of the immediate. We pay, the day shift operated from 7 a.m. lived just south of his father’s home, can agree that much can be said for a until 6 p.m., six days per week, while and George, Wisconsin Rapids, worked society that seeks out the new, likes to the night shift was 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. at the Biron mill. The daughters were innovate and experiment, can compel At his retirement, Kohnen was Mrs. Bette Sarver, Rudolph, and Mrs. change and then in so many ways adapt machine tender on the No. 2 paper Evelyn Miller, Wisconsin Rapids. to it. Yet we Americans lose many valu- machine at Biron, a position he had But it’s no use talking about the old able lessons for not remembering our held since about 1926. In 1957, No. 2 days because the young fellows only history better.” produced paperboard though it had, in say that those old guys don’t know Historical societies such as our own the early days, made writing paper and what they’re talking about. So Frank South Wood County Historical Corp. newsprint. Kohnen told the Tribune. By contrast, offer an excellent means of pursu- Born in Centralia, Wis., now the west the Daily Tribune of the same month ing one’s interest in the past. “A lot side of Wisconsin Rapids, Kohnen advocated more study of the past. of breath and energy could be saved,” moved with his parents in 1903 to a “We Americans often tend to scoff concluded the 1957 Tribune, “if we town of Rudolph farm that is now the at our European friends for immersing troubled to look back even a couple of Alan and Linda Herzberg residence, themselves so deeply in the stream of decades to see what has been said and 5600 Third Ave. their long history but it might be better done by others.” In the early days, Kohnen rode a if we could manage more than a short bicycle to the Wisconsin River, where dip. We don’t have trouble remember- 09-24-07 he took a rowboat across to the mill; ing Washington, Lincoln and a handful

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Crime Spree ●Root beer stand owned by Russell Also in the summer of 1957, occurred Anunson: vandalism. another amusing incident involving the he “worst generation” outdid ●Martin Helke barn: vandalism. worst generation. themselves fifty years ago. It was (My mother told me that if she heard Depending on the seriousness of the TMay 1957 here in River City, about me being involved in “vandal- crime and whether it takes place in the when a gang of these reprobates, then ism,” that would be the last straw.) day or night, participants are referred to 20ish, now aged 65-74, got themselves ●Heart of Wisconsin Conservation as youths or “boys.” written up in the Daily Tribune: “Impli- League clubhouse in the town of Sara- As reported by Sheriff Tom Forsyth, cate 26 Youths In Series of Crimes.” toga: theft of ten cases of beer. (Stealing two boys took a boat owned by Wilbur The 13 incidents involved vandalism, beer was popular with the worst genera- Winch, 2741 1st St. S., from its mooring breaking and entering and theft in the tion, especially if you were too young to at Nepco Lake. They used the boat that South Wood County area, dating back to buy it legally.) day and then hid it on a wooded bank the previous August. Value of property ●Ross School, town of Saratoga: van- along the lake. damaged or stolen was likely to run as dalism. The following day, two other boys high as $500, according to Sheriff Tom ●Stainbrook Garage, Rt. 3: theft of car found the boat and took their own plea- Forsyth — when 500 smackers could muffler. sure cruise, not knowing the craft had buy 10,000 Baby Ruth candy bars. ●Gerum Meat Market, 251 Oak Street: already been stolen. Winch, who had Of the youths, some were implicated break-in. discovered his boat missing, apprehend- in as many as five cases; 22 were under ●Heart of Wisconsin Sport Show at ed the second pair of thieves. 18; two were 18; one 19 and one 24. Lincoln Fieldhouse: theft of a fishing But one of them fled before police ar- Undersheriff Don Caylor reported he reel and novelty caps. What youth didn’t rived. The boy on the lam later met one had obtained signed statements from 22 love the Sport Show, scene of an indoor of the first two culprits who had stolen of the “youths.” Of the other four, one fish pond with real fish? the boat and now this pair decided to run was in the armed service and three were ●Bull’s Eye Country Club: vandal- away. at Waukesha School for Boys, where ism. They hitchhiked to Plainfield where they had been sent for other offenses. ●Rapids Auto Wrecking, 510 13th St. they took a 1956 model car. A Waushara The numerous pending cases were be- S.: taking an auto and then abandoning County traffic officer spotted them just ing turned over to the district attorney it following a joyride. north of Hancock. and juvenile authorities depending on ●Skyway Ballroom: theft of copper The boys ignored the copper’s signal the ages of the delinquents. The scenes tubing and scrap “from the ruins.” Loot to stop and drove south at high rates of of the crimes: on sale by the three thieves for $40. speed until they crashed into a pole and ●George Schukar cottage, Lake Wazee- After the Skyway, located just north wrecked the car. The boy driving the car cha. Vandalism by three youths, joined of the Tri-City airport, now Alexander received only a bump on the head while by a fourth on a second occasion. This field, burned, I rode my bicycle over the other suffered a broken nose and was was what we called “out to the lake,” from Two Mile Avenue and looked at taken to Wild Rose Hospital, the same summer site of beach parties, boat par- the big black hole into which had fallen hospital that had treated the famous ex- ties, beer parties, parking parties, petting the blackened debris. Onlookers were model Jesseca Penn, recently profiled in parties and general mayhem parties. fixated on the possibility that a safe con- these pages. ●Harold Panter home under construc- taining a lot of cash was in there some- 10-01-07 tion: vandalism. where.

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[email protected] Whoops again. I think Matt Kenadal Subject: RE: How are you? DDDDDDDD, How is my favorite his one’s for [email protected] who succeeded good old Mr “COREY.” Ac- author on earth? Very nice to hear from liked to sign off e-mails with the tually 69 and 70 were the worst years you. Turn down the thermostat. Z key: “ZZZZZZZZ.” From the back to back in history one because of T snow and the other muddy roads which ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ time we met four years ago, glen@wctc. August 15th, 2007 9:01 AM net shared plenty of stories and photos made [them] nearly impassible until Subject: RE: How are you? and a lot more where that came from. June. Hey Z, Our first conversation was about for- By the way I have this serious lung Did you say you are close companion mer Tribune editor Bob Des Jarlais. thing now and maintain that much of of an oxygen tank? Can you converse? The two had not met but through phone it was caused by the fact I had to drive The Jewish researchers want me to ap- conversations made an unforgettable (delivery mail) hundreds of thousands pear in a video to expound on Arpin. connection. What started out well for of miles with my window open on grav- Uncle DDDDDDDDDDD me and [email protected] went bad briefly el roads and stop and start a few million August 15th, 2007 11:30 AM when I headlined his story with a refer- times in the dust. Subject: Re: How are you? ence to the “amnesia” he joked about. Nice shooting the breeze again. I re- Dear Uncle DDD, Outside of the con- Because he remembered the old route ally enjoyed that summer when we did stant need of my oxygen hose I am OK. of Highway 13 running past his family’s all that getting together with you and Let me know if you want some help. rural Arpin farm, [email protected] and I Earle [Garber] Please don’t mention converse around took the search to the map department ZZZ my wife she will slug us both of the Wisconsin Historical Society. January 24, 2007 9:55 PM Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Most perplexing to him was the com- Subject: RE: whoops August 15th, 2007 3:05 PM puter in his basement study. glen@wctc. [D.E.] What’s wrong with your Subject: RE: How are you? net and I struggled with outdated soft- lungs? th I WILL BE AROUND THE NEXT ware to make digital pictures do what January 24 , 2007 10:02 PM FEW AFTERNOONS IF IT WOULD they should. Our big adventures were to Subject: RE: whoops WORK OUT WITH YOU. Let me his Arpin homeland in search of the old In early June I had a case of the worst know Jewish agricultural community and syn- pneumonia you can get…The doctors ZZZZZZZZ agogue. Any farmhouse along the way told my wife and daughter to get the last September 25th, 2007 was a second home to “Z,” longtime ru- rites and obituary for me. I was out of Subject Glen R Zieher 74 ral mailman. it completely for weeks but eventually “Sunday after bravely fighting a de- What I have left from [email protected] got out and am probably going to be on teriorating lung disease for the past 15 are a few undeleted e-mails still in my oxygen the rest of my life. That is not months…” Inbox. real good, but better than the alternative. Subject: Atonement January 24th, 2007 4:51 PM Zzz ZZZZZZZZ Subject: whoops August 03, 2007 11:04 AM Sorry, Ol’ buddy. Wish I had made that D, I was wrong, it was (supt. Of Subject: How are you? visit happen. You were one of my favorites. schools) S G Correy, z How’s my ol’ buddy? I miss the DDDDDDDD January 24th, 2007 7:56 PM ZZZZZZZZZZZZs. Subject: RE: whoops DDDDDDDDDDDD August 10th 2007 11:13 AM 10-08-07

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POW Reunion he went to Cabanatuan, Philippines. self included, “feasted” on the last can Ryan worked on airstrip construction of corned beef, doled out, a spoonful to ifty years ago, four men with and farms until October 1944 when he each man. something in common gathered and his fellow prisoners boarded an Then the Death March to Cabanatuan. Fat Lake Aire supper club, south of ocean liner for Japan. As a prisoner, Guelzow stayed on the Wisconsin Rapids, for an unusual meal. A day out of Manila, the ship was dis- islands two years, working on roads and The centerpiece was a large bowl of rice. abled by American planes. The 1,300 airstrips. He was transferred to Honshu, Dessert was a cake with a Japanese Ris- prisoners still alive had to swim ashore, Japan where he worked in copper mines ing Sun depicted in the frosting. dodging bullets. They were next put another 16 months. The cuisine (accompanied by steak) aboard a freighter which was hit by During captivity, Guelzow’s weight was arranged by Robert Ryan for Clin- American planes off Formosa with an- declined from 185 to 115. “One day, ton Guelzow, Floyd Dotter and Peter other 300 killed and Ryan, among oth- they brought us in from the mines about Karaliunas. ers, wounded. 2 p.m., instead of sundown, and we fig- Host Ryan in 1957 was Wood County All but 450 of the original 1,619 died ured the war was over. The Japs didn’t register of deeds and lived in Wisconsin before reaching Japan. Ryan was one of say anything, but they later told us we Rapids; Guelzow was a partner in Pa- 225 taken to Inchon, Korea, where he didn’t have to salute them or bow to per City Heating Co. of Rapids; Dotter, was liberated by American troops Sept. them any more. That [bowing] was the a Pittsville farmer; and Karaliunas, a 7, 1945. He recuperated in various hos- hardest thing for an American to do.” Blenker tavern operator. pitals before coming home. By the time A B-29 bomber dropped food and What they had in common were mem- of the 1957 Lake Aire reunion, he was candy a few days later and on Sept. 4, ories, according to the Daily Tribune, of married and had one child. 1945, Guelzow took a train for Yoko- malnutrition, associated maladies and Guelzow was a native of Oakfield, hama. Flown back to San Francisco, he shocking brutalities committed on them Fond du Lac County. Wis. He joined was discharged May 11, 1945. and their associates. Two were the coun- the Army in 1941 and was assigned as Following the war, Guelzow worked ty’s only known survivors of the Philip- a light machine gunner in Co. A of the in Fond du Lac as a truck driver and pine “Death March” of April 1942. The 31st Infantry. Christmas 1941, he was took a job with a heating contractor. He others were captured in the Philippines transferred from Manila to Bataan via married a nurse and moved to Wisconsin within the following two months. Corregidor. Rapids where he went into partnership A former Army sergeant, Ryan, then American forces, Guelzow recalled, with Robert Treutel, his brother-in-law, 40, had been elected to office six months were regaining ground on Bataan pen- in Paper City Heating Co. after discharge in May 1946. The Marsh- insula, Philippines, until shortly after I can still hear my parents say, on a field native had enlisted in April 1941 the fall of Singapore, Feb. 15, 1942. But cold winter night, “Better call Guel- and was sent to the Philippines with the Japanese troops led by Gen. Yamashita, zow.” For all those year, he took care of Janesville company of the 192nd Tank “The Tiger of Malaya,” were sent to the our furnace so we could be warm and Bn., a National Guard unit. Philippines “to annihilate our forces” cozy on the home front Ryan’s unit fought the Philippine guer- and the poorly fed and equipped Ameri- rillas from Christmas 1941 until June cans had to surrender April 9. 10-15-07 1942 when they were forced to surren- The last morning before they gave der. After capture, Ryan’s first stop was up, Guelzow recalled, the commanding at Baguio internment camp from which officer and his 16 remaining men, him-

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Sgt. Ryan’s War Flies, he said, were thick at the first died as those in the hold went “half cra- camp; prisoners had to kill 500 before zy” with thirst and hunger. “Even though hen I think back on all this they were allowed to eat a handful of we knew we might be killed, we were I wonder if I actually lived rice. glad that our bombers were giving them through it, it is so unreal.” On the trudge to Cabanatuan camp, so Hell. The American planes bombed and W many prisoners died that they were bur- strafed us all the next day and some of Sgt. Robert Ryan, a former WWII POW was lucky to be alive. His Japa- ied in mass graves along the way. “I no- the men were wounded.” nese guards had been ordered to shoot ticed the bodies they were burying were At night, gasping in the dark for air, their prisoners after hostilities ceased nothing but skin and bones and couldn’t food and water, “we began fighting but instead walked away. have weighed more than 70 pounds. amongst ourselves.” American bombers According to a 1946 Daily Tribune, Later I was to realize why they were in hit again with lethal results. Robert J. Ryan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mi- this condition.” When survivors were told to swim for chael Ryan, 9th Street S., lived through Through woeful sanitary conditions shore, some of the guards fired at them 40 months as a prisoner of war. He had and lack of food, “Many of us got sick, with machine guns. About 1250 made it entered the National Guard in April and the only difference with being taken to shore, where they were packed into 1941 and landed in the Philippines sev- to what they called a hospital was that a tennis court for three more days with en months later and 18 days before the you didn’t have to work.” nothing to eat or drink. Finally put on Japanese struck. After Pearl Harbor, the In part because of language differ- a ship formerly used for transporting American air force in the Philippines ences, abuse worsened as disobedience horses, the prisoners stole bags of feed was practically destroyed and the “Japs” was perceived. “If they started to beat and ate that. The next time American were able to conduct daily bombings. you with hoe handles or gun butts,” said bombers came, Ryan was wounded by On Dec. 22, 1941, the enemy landed and Ryan, “they kept at it until you fell to the shrapnel. Ryan’s outfit was surrounded. ground, then they would kick you with More days without food and water and “Three of us hit for the jungles. It their heavy boots. But, every man, re- only 900 remained to arrive in Japan and took us four days to cross the mountains gardless, got up onto his feet and glared be marched down the streets while civil- and we were feeding on whatever we at their tormentors with a look of defi- ians mocked them. could get, along with the help of some ance. They would keep getting up until Finally, Ryan and his men were taken of the natives. We lived in the hills for they were unconscious. As horrible as it to Korea. When liberated by American several weeks and tried vainly to reach was to watch, it made our hearts swell troops, of 1619 only 230 remained. our troops. In the meantime, we would with pride to see the beaten men get up In 1946, Ryan was on convalescent strike at Jap patrols and withdraw.” time after time through merciless beat- leave with his parents here and would “Finally, after the nips [Japs] forced ings.” report back to a Galesburg, Ill., hospital General Wainright to give in we were For the 1619 prisoners, leaving the for further treatment. ordered to surrender. It took us five days Philippines in December 1944 brought While in captivity, the young man to come out of the jungles.” its own perils. Within minutes of be- who weighed 150 pounds when he en- Ryan said prisoners were well treat- ing herded into the hold of a ship, men listed had lost 63. No wonder he wasn’t ed only long enough to convince more were suffocating; and soon they were sure if he had lived through a war or a Americans and Filipinos to surrender. bombed: by Americans. nightmare. After that failed, “they began to cuff us With no food or water while the ship around for no reasons.” was disabled in Subic Bay, Americans 10-22-07 238 River City Memoirs Ghost

Braves Back Stab He was a shortstop. I was short and had his outstanding hitting and W. Spahn hen the Braves came to Mil- almost an even chance of stopping a won the Cy Young pitching award. waukee in 1953, the little ground ball or a pop fly to the infield. When the Braves won the World Se- people of Wisconsin cele- When the Braves came to Milwaukee, ries over the New York Yankees in W nobody made a fuss about their Native- the seventh game, pitcher Lew Bur- brated. As our heroes rose in the stand- ings the first four years, we fans couldn’t American name. In recent years, I was dette emerged as a singular hero, and have been more pleased. able to explain that maybe the Braves Mathews, Del Crandall, Wes Covington In the glorious summer of ’57, my dad weren’t named for Indians at all. and Bob “Hurricane” Hazle joined him. and I got out of bed just after midnight How could it be or not be? This is A list of the other baseball cards in our and drove to Adams, Wis., where we how: The Braves had moved here from pack might also include: Adcock, Schoe- caught the red-eye. Arriving in Milwau- Boston. Boston was known for a certain ndienst, Mantilla, Bruton, Torre, Pafko, kee early on Sunday morning, we hiked tea party in which avaricious white guys Thomson, McMahon, Pizarro, Jay. big city sidewalks for several hours un- dressed like Indians threw tea in the har- That year and the next, at Grove til we found our way into a Methodist bor. Therefore, the Braves could have school, under teacher Ray Lecy, we church. A “Negro” seated us, which fas- been named after avaricious white guys were occasionally allowed to hear a cinated 12-year-old me because, back in trying to brew up some trouble. snatch of the game on a radio. At noon, Podunk Rapids, there were no African- Probably, like so many of my three- I hurried home for a glimpse of TV with Americans that I knew of. martini anecdotes, it was not true. my mother. Did the usher notice our matching, Way back in 1870, when a one-year- In 1958, the Braves lost the World Se- Hawaiian-style shirts? Decorated with a old team arrived in Boston from Cincin- ries and the slide began. The next year, tropical theme, the fabric hard, synthetic nati, it was called “Red Stockings.” A they tied for first in the National League, and semi-transparent. I was sure it made charter member of the National baseball lost a playoff game and didn’t get into me look like the potbellied little book- league, that team and its descendants the World Series. In 1960, the Braves worm I was. may be the oldest professional team in were in second, and, in 1961, fourth. During the first game of the double- American sports. When, in 1965, the owners of the header, my dad and I had a typical The name continued to evolve: Red Braves tried to bug out to Atlanta, Bud disagreement. He complained that, al- Caps, Beaneaters, Doves, Rustlers, and, Selig, a Milwaukee car salesman and though the Braves won the first game, finally, Braves, in 1912. minority stockholder, sued to block the they should have played better. In my Braves history has it that the name move, arguing that a baseball team owed almost-12 wisdom, I argued he should was chosen because of Boston’s Tam- it to its community to remain loyal. A be glad they won at all. These were my many Hall, a building in which a fra- judge’s injunction kept the Braves in heroes! ternal organization met that adopted town one more year. Outfielder Hank Aaron, as history Native American words and customs. It Then they left. would prove, was the best. Slugger Ed- also became a political machine synony- Something was sour in Cream City. die Mathews, at third base, was most mous with corruption. When Selig in 1970 pilfered the Pilots popular with my peers. Warren Spahn? When the Milwaukee Braves entered from Seattle to become the Brewers, The left-handed pitcher could also hit. the World Series fifty years ago, in Oc- five years had passed without baseball; Every boy wanted a role model and I tober 1957, all was right in America’s for me and some of my generation, it picked Johnny Logan. I liked his name; Dairyland. Not only was the team win- was forever. he wasn’t so tall; and didn’t hit so hard. ning, H. Aaron was the league MVP for 10-29-07

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The Day Daddy Foamed Monday, May 31, 1954, Memorial combed to take out names of informants. at the Mouth Day. At Arlington national cemetery, The incident touched off an angry ex- among “crowds and heat,” my dad held change with Sen McClellen (Dem-Ark) f my dad planned it, we left early: me on his shoulders so I could see the who demanded that the Eisenhower ad- 5:45 a.m., Friday, May 28, 1954, first major figure of our pilgrimage: ministration make known its position on according to my mom’s trip diary, President Eisenhower, who lay a wreath “pilfered” classified information. Ap- I at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. My parently, the committee took a luncheon found last week while sorting through boxes in the barn. That’s when we mother said we “missed him in the car,” recess without digging into the big card- packed into the 1949 Pontiac for a fam- though I insisted I had seen “Ike” wave board box. ily vacation to Washington D.C., where, from the back seat as his vehicle drove Eisenhower called for “less prejudice I now realize, we observed two mortal by. and passion.” enemies of historic stature. If I didn’t Later that day, we went to nearby Mt. “Through knowledge and understand- grasp the significance of the moment, in Vernon, where Mom noted, “Washing- ing we will drive from the temple of fact didn’t remember half of it, maybe it ton must have been very wealthy to own freedom all who seek to establish over was because I was eight-years-old. and run an estate like that.” us thought control—whether they be Surprisingly, neither did I remember We returned tent-side for supper and agents of a foreign state or demagogues that we stopped the first day at a Stough- watched planes fly over Potomac park. thirsty for personal power and public ton property that raised horses, including Apparently someone mixed “Vel” soap notice.” The salvos from McCarthy and a half brother of Trigger, the mount of instead of sugar with Kool-Aid and, Eisenhower soared over my head like my hero, Roy Rogers. “Drove all night, “Daddy foamed at the mouth.” the planes over Potomac park, where we kids real good,” my mother wrote. More crowds and heat June 1 for a had hamburgers for supper. We stayed May 29 at the Colonial tour of the Mall, White House, Lincoln On June 2, Daddy, David and Kathy Motel near Salem, Ohio, where we had Memorial and Congressional Library walked all the way down to the Wash- supper seated around a table cloth on (Gutenberg Bible), followed by din- ington Monument (and all the way up in- the bedroom floor. Worth noting was a ner at Howard Johnson. Daddy locked side) and saw the Star Spangled Banner “television in the room.” My younger the key in the car “but got it open with at the Smithsonian. We had lunch at Rock brother, Gary, slept on a mattress on wire.” Creek Park and “walked and walked and floor. The next day, “saw Sen. McCarthy walked.” Gary chased pigeons. “On Sunday, Daddy woke us up real at ‘hearing.’” That meant I was in the On June 3, we left. Kathy was “a lit- early.” After traveling the newfangled same room as Wisconsin’s Republican tle car sick” on the way to Letchworth Pennsylvania Turnpike, we found our “Tailgunner Joe,” Eisenhower’s adver- State Park, New York, where “David way May 30 to D.C.’s Potomac Park sary and a controversial national figure. fed a raccoon.” After a complete tour of Motor Court, a noisy berth with air- What did I see? Niagara Falls, we drove on, spending a planes and trains “going constantly.” According to the Daily Tribune, about last night at a “dump of a hotel in Mus- “Arrived Sunday about 5, set up tent, that time, attorney and McCarthy right- kegon, Mich.,” prior to taking the ferry looked for groceries, almost everything hand man Roy M. Cohn handed inves- across Lake Michigan. closed except stores in the Negro dis- tigators a mysterious cardboard box We arrived home June 6, having done trict. Got milk and bread for breakfast. of incriminating papers but the sena- it all in just one week. Drove around, Daddy got lost!” tor himself immediately blocked study of the documents until they could be 11-05-07

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The Devil’s Prussian Mother October 1907 La Crosse Tribune was other woman on Rose Street. When she that Helen had to carry her very young also was charged with poking a female aybe you’re not interested in children five miles to the railroad. Her tenant in the eye with the point of an Friedrich Wilhelm and Amalie father had sent money needed to return umbrella in 1915, the courtroom was Fregin Ehrkle, Prussian-im- M to 510 Gould St., La Crosse, where she “drowned in the tumult as each fought migrants to Chaseburg, Vernon County; unsuccessfully pursed a divorce. for supremacy.” they are so deceptively quintessential. On the plus side, there was the Ehrkle In 1913, Ferdinand Ehrkle got 30 days Whether Friedrich lived comfortably Bros. store, selling a fine line of fruit and in jail for beating his wife, Johanna. in Germany on his father’s estate and vegetables at 797 Rose St., La Crosse. Wife and daughter agreed Ehrkle was whether he and Amalie left for America What about Emil Ehrkle, accused of drunk at the time of the assault. in 1870 because his family didn’t ap- stealing tools from the La Crosse thresh- The scene was calmer out by Chase- prove of his marriage are not your con- ing machine company’s plant at which burg in Hamburg township, Vernon cern. Who doesn’t have a baron and a he worked? Ehrkle admitted the charges county, where our Friedrich Ehrkle, a bastard in their genealogy? but suggested he was not to blame, hav- farmer, and Amalie, lived in 1880 with Whereas I have attempted to dig deep ing been intoxicated at the time. Gustav, 9, Alvina, 4, Augusta, 3, and for true facts and no fiction, I have fabri- Then there’s Albert Ehrkle, La Crosse, Emma, 9 months. cated the name, Ehrkle, to protect those a Gund brewery bottling plant employee, At the turn of the 20th Century, not guilty of the worst crimes. who mugged a drunk of pocket change Friedrich still lived in Hamburg town It is apparent that the firstborn child on Main Street late one afternoon. Had with Augusta, Emma, Otto, Eddie, Hen- of the above-mentioned Friedrich and Ehrkle not been so kind-hearted, he ry, Ida and Bertha; but his wife, Amalie, Amalie was Gustav Adam Erdman might have absconded successfully, but had died in 1897. Ehrkle, born in Chaseburg, Wis., in he stopped to throw a half-dollar back There were other children of Friedrich 1871, shortly after his parents’ arrival so the victim could get a room for the and Amalie; Alvina Louise, who got from Prussia, now Germany. night, allowing a good glance before married and had some kids, including Said to be, as an adult, tall, good- Ehrkle ran down Mormon Coulee road. Emma, who lived in Burnett County looking, dark-haired, smart, stubborn Not to mention that it was the third with unmarried brothers Edward and and thrifty, he married Helen, 13 years robbery to happen to the same victim Henry’ younger, around 1903. Poor Helen; she in a short time, all while he was drunk, Some of the children of Friedrich and soon found herself in South Dakota and inspiring him to claim a loss this time Amalie are buried in a Lutheran cem- then divorce court. of $140. A search of his house revealed etery in Vernon County. Among those After their first three children were six cents, a half loaf of rye bread and a interred elsewhere, is Agusta [sic] Wil- born they moved west of Pierre S.D. to quarter pound of lard. helmine, second oldest and oldest girl, prove up a homestead claim, but Gustav When Albert Ehrkle was sentenced to born July 21, 1877. built his family a small shanty and then Green bay reformatory, he left behind She died Dec. 31, 1945, and is buried left them with no money. A neighbor had his wife Agnes, a widow 11 years older in Plainfield, Wis., next to her husband, to supply food. When a son was badly than himself, who had three children of George P. and her unmarried sons with burned, the father, Gustav, refused to her own, plus three with Albert. the family’s familiar names of Henry pay for medical help. Helen summoned Another Ehrkle, Lena, did not leave and Edward. a physician anyway. mayhem to the men. In June 1908, she She is Augusta Gein. To escape, as it was published in an was charged with verbally abusing an- 11-12-07

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Gores the Butcher house, when he was killed by a 2,000- In November 1957, the last Gein, elping kill a beef on Charles volt shock. Co-workers struggled and Edward, was arrested for murders and Street, La Crosse, Julius Wit- failed to save him. A pallbearer was grave robbing of women resembling his tenberg became the victim. As George Gein. mother. He died July 1984 at Mendota H Shortly after the incident, son Ed said Mental Health Institute, Madison. the cow was brought into the killing room, it smelled fresh blood and became later, the Geins moved to Juneau Coun- Among what remains to be explored enraged, breaking the hitching rope and ty. In 1914, they bought the former John is the story of Ed’s father, George Gein. chasing Wittenberg into a corner, then Greenfield farm inWaushara County on According to Ed, George was born in goring and kicking him. the Adams County line for a reported 1873 at Coon Valley, Wis., and was an It happened at the “A. Gein” meat $3,500. Southwest of Plainfield, the “orphan.” In the 1905 census, the place market. Gein place was a mile north of Flyte’s of birth of George’s parents was “not The previous year, the La Crosse Tri- or Hull’s mill, in a rural neighborhood known.” In 1910, his father was docu- bune referred to some “Gein brothers” called Big Roche-a-Cri. The 1920 cen- mented as born in Wisconsin, his moth- who had bought out the Schultz grocery. sus shows: George Gein, 47, a farmer; er in Germany. In 1920: both Wisconsin; The only known Geins around were the son Henry, 19, farm laborer; Edward 1930: both Germany. family of George Gein. Known to be and Augusta, no occupations. A Web site says the name Gein was born in 1873, George P. Gein cannot be In the 1928 Christmas season, “so- originally “Gee” or “Mc Gee” and that, found in any census prior to and includ- ciety” news from Big Roche-a-Cri when Gee or Mc Gee was courting Au- ing 1900. had Henry, 27, and Eddie, 21, visiting gusta, the newlyweds changed the name That was the year he married Augusta, the neighboring J.W. Hull family on a to Gein. Indeed, there is no “Gein” to be most likely at the Chaseburg, Vernon Wednesday evening. found prior to their 1900 marriage. County, Lutheran church. The first of The 1930 census still shows George In 1880, “George Gee” lived with the their two sons, Henry, was born in 1901 and Henry as farmers and Edward T. Dingledine family in Vernon County. or early 1902. with no occupation. Henry worked away He was born in 1873 (same year as Old La Crosse city directories list from the farm, including as a “foreman George Gein), of a Canadian father and George Gein living at 612 Gould St. His of Jamaicans.” a mother from “Hess” (Germany) and jobs included section hand for the Mil- The father, George, a semi-invalid in “adopted.” waukee Road, laborer at Davis, Medary later years, died April 4, 1940, at age In 1900, George Gee, “servant,” con- and Platz tannery and fireman for La 65. tinued to live with the variously-spelled Crosse Gas Co. In May 1944, Henry was burning over Dingledeins, a name that ends like A second son, Edward Theodore Gein, marshland when the fire escaped control “Gein,” which is actually spelled “Gien” was born at La Crosse, on or about Aug. and firefighters were called in. Henry in the 1910 census. 28, 1906. did not return home; a search by lan- There is a word in English: “Gein.” In answer to the 1910 census, George tern light found him dead but he had not Like “geology,” it refers to the earth. said he was a retail dealer of groceries. been burned or obviously injured and the “Gein,” is akin to “humin,” a bitter, Augusta was 32, Henry, 9, and Edward, manner of death remained unresolved. brownish yellow, amorphous substance 3. Not much later, following a couple extracted from vegetable mold and gen- In 1913, August Koch, an employee of strokes and considerable nursing by son erously supplied in a random shovelful the La Crosse Gas & Electric Co., was Eddie, Augusta died, Dec. 31, 1945, at of Waushara County dirt. cleaning a switchboard in the power age 64. 11-19-07 242 River City Memoirs Ghost

Picture Postcard Past plants and insects, mountains and blue pleaded in an open letter for the answer water. to her 11-year-old son’s quest, “Why did retty as a picture. Like the 2007 —Don’t load yourself down with too my daddy have to die?” Central Wisconsin history video many things. Have only such property as Sylvia Goldstein, widow of Mau- by Paul Gross, a sequel to the you really love and use. Have those few rice, who died in WWII wrote that her P things as fine as possible and then cher- 11-year-old son had been waylaid by 2006 version. The all-new production covers a variety of Wisconsin Rapids ish them and care for them lovingly. several boys who insulted, spat, beat scenes as depicted in historical post- —Never, never start a fight. But if and kicked him into the gutter because cards, blended with current photos and someone else does, give ’em back what he was as they sneeringly said, “a Jew.” videos. The show is narrated by South they asked for. “Ironically enough,” said Mrs. Gold- Wood County Historical Corp. president —Never make excuses for yourself. stein, “my son was coming home from a Phil Brown who also provided many of Own up to your mistakes and don’t re- Boy Scout meeting – a meeting at which the postcards. peat them if you can help it. one of the watchwords, I believe is: ‘A Speaking of a picture postcard past, —Think for yourself. Don’t believe scout is reverent, he is reverent toward your own Uncle Dave, the author of what you read, or what other people say others, he is faithful in his religious du- this column, happened to be reading a unless it seems true to you. ties and respects the convictions of oth- Nov. 16, 1949, Milwaukee Journal that —Make plenty of friends but learn ers in matters of custom and religion.” crossed his desk at SWCHC. It included to enjoy yourself alone, too. Don’t ever In Berkeley, Calif., a boy told his a couple stories bound to sober up all count on anyone but yourself. mother the baby sitter had knocked out lovers of homily. —When you’re older, if you have to his tooth, so the mother called the cops. Mrs. Kate Alice Merrel Wells of Ev- go to war, remember it’s better to fight This is what they found: anston, Ill., 29, noted violinist, had a like a man and die, than spend the rest of The sitter had taken the boy home to feeling she was going to die, so she left a your life an invalid, depending on other her parents after he locked her out of the message containing 13 rules to her son, people to take care of you. house, threw her school books out of a Lynn, 10, to guide him through life. —When you’re older, remember sex window, turned off the lights with the These are the rules: is natural and fine if you make it so. master switch, kicked her in the shins —When there is a job to do, do a good Besides these 13 pieces of advice, and, “in general acted like a brat.” job. Never a sloppy one Mother Wells, who had been recently The sitter’s father threatened the boy —Work hard when you work. But divorced from “manufacturer” Stephen- with a cold shower without effect so he play hard too. son Wells, also bequeathed to her son a washed out the boy’s mouth with soap. —When your time is free, explore the shiny new gift: the rifle with which she To the police, the boy admitted he had things you think might be interesting. had committed suicide. She instructed pulled out his own loose tooth and the Follow your curiosities. that it be cleaned immediately, “since it officer concluded that, if anyone was —Be active with your hands and will be Lynn’s. mistreated, it was the baby sitter and her mind; but find plenty of time to observe “It’s new and beautifully accurate. father. how beautiful and strange the world is. Some day he will get a lot of pleasure —Respect your body. Keep it clean out of it.” 11-26-07 and healthy. Along the same line from the same —Never live too far away from out- page comes a tale from Lynn, Mass., doors. From trees and birds, animals and where a “heartbroken war widow”

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RFK @ LHS Remember when Bobby Kennedy brother, 43, wasn’t too young to be came to Lincoln High school? president. Kennedy said that some non- emember Corn Soya? Didn’t Clippings show he traveled through Catholics would vote against “Jack” and think so. In a similar vein, I Wisconsin in late January 1960 because some Catholics for him, but the percent- Rhave traveled the land with a of our important April 5 state primary age voting based on religion would be tale about how I was almost sure I saw election: Massachusetts Senator John small. Then he said something no can- “the president’s brother,” Robert F. Ken- F. Kennedy against Minnesota Senator didate would risk in our present political nedy, at the Lincoln High School field Hubert Humphrey. “If my bother does climate. house but can find no one who shares well here,” RFK predicted, “he’ll get the Kennedy claimed a principal reason that memory. Just like Corn Soya. Democratic Party’s nomination and beat for the high fatality rate among Ameri- I know where I sat and how scared Nixon.” can prisoners during the Korean War I was that principal Aaron Ritchay had Feb. 12, 1960, Daily Tribune: “Stu- was the result of GIs leaving fellow sol- me in mind he said he would jump off dents Hear Talk by Robert Kennedy,” diers behind to die. He said that so many the stage and haul the hapless punk in who “spoke to the Lincoln High School American prisoners collaborated with the white shirt out, in front of the entire student body this morning on his expe- the enemy because the prisoners cared student body (to be heard, I imagined, riences as counsel for the U.S. Senate only for themselves and had no regard banging my head against lockers all the committee investigating labor and man- for religion, country, friends or family. way down the hallway to the office). agement malpractices.” Kennedy had “We must place responsibility for I know where I sat and how intrigued arrived in Wisconsin Rapids by plane, schools, churches, communities and I was by the somewhat frail but fierce landing at Alexander Field shortly be- country above concern with ourselves gent from somewhere else, with a floppy fore 11 a.m. and departing our fair city and our personal security,” he said. In excess of light-colored hair and an eagle soon after his talk at the school. other words, ask (pronounced “ahsk”) beak. It was his voice that intrigued me He was back a few days later. not what your country can do for you most: sharp, light, foreign almost, “Put In the same paper that announced but what you can do for your country. the cah in the barn” and “Cu-ber” for that the Daily Tribune and Radio Station In a parallel event the following Sun- Cuba. Why he was warning us so stern- WFHR had moved into a new build- day, Hubert Humphrey would speak at ly about organized crime in the labor ing, came the account of an improbable a dinner in St. John’s Episcopal church unions? Sunday night when Kennedy spoke to Memorial Hall. To mirror Kennedy’s Probably no coincidence that, a cou- 175 persons gathered for a baked bean beans and franks, one wonders if the ple years later, for my senior Hour Talk, and frankfurter supper at the Moravian menu included staples from Humphrey’s I wrote for information about these same Church hall. home state such as lutefisk, peas and union thugs, Dave Beck, Jimmy Hoffa. A photo taken at the church shows lefse. “Bobby” was attorney general then and RFK having his plate filled with “Bos- At the time, I didn’t care too much someone from his office wrote back. ton baked beans,” in homage to his Mas- for Kennedy or Humphrey. My dad was The subsequent address of mine sachusetts background. solidly in the Nixon camp, and I was too amounted to 40 minutes of my already- Kennedy repeated that “if Jack wins busy with my Corn Soya. distinctive “dry humor” that caused Mr. the Wisconsin primary, he’ll get the Goetzke to nod off but not actually fall nomination,” and again denounced la- 12-10-07 out of his chair. bor racketeering. He was asked if his

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Santa Was My Brother Plainfield home, with all the family in surrounded by well-educated wise men, on the action and a video to record the shepherds and familiar angels who held oungest brother, Kenny, played event. his hand and sang to him. St. Nick. A right jolly elf he But last Monday morning, something After midnight, the phone rang here Ywas, coming up the basement happened. and I sprang from the bed to see what steps at our Two Mile Avenue home, Ken, a baker for the Western Wash- was the matter. A male nurse named wearing a red bathrobe and a basketball ington University food service, was A.J. told me the time was ripe for “har- net for a beard. Ho! Ho! Ho! working when the anti-Claus we call vest.” I could only imagine the scene as Little Kenneth Lee was already bald the Grim Reaper smacked him a good out of the chimney (or elevator) popped in blotches; but that was because my one on his now-bald head. Blood the jolly old elves, in their red bath- dad cut his hair. Though the baby of flooded his brain and he was, for intents robes and basketball nets. Their sacks the family was shy and self-conscious, and purposes, dead. were empty but would soon be bulging. nothing made him happier than hop- It was almost exactly what had hap- A.J. made a list for me and checked ping around the piles of pretty paper by pened to my sister, Kathy, in 1988. The it twice. the Christmas tree, handing out gifts. aftermath also followed a pattern. He wants to give the kidneys? Right. Ken as a young man moved to Somewhat to my surprise, I learned Liver? Yes. Bellingham, Wash., but flew back for that Ken had made a pact with the Grim Pancreas. What’s that? Christmas and funerals He also spent Reaper via the state of Washington Intestines, valves, veins, corneas, three mostly-joyous weeks here each Dept. of Motor Vehicles. Ken would marrow, bones, skin, tissue: yes, take it summer as my brother Gary’s cribbage play St. Nick one last time. He would all. buddy and my co-conspirator. His thick be Santa, Father Christmas and a Salva- Something else? Oh yeah, the less fingers did finer work than I could; his tion Army bell ringer. marketable parts, ethereal appendages strong back did the heavy lifting; and He would be the Fire Department Toy that cannot be boxed up, wrapped and his sharp intelligence sought perfection. Fixup Crew and the party at the Odd hauled away by strangers. Stuff that We bought matching DeWalt cord- Fellows hall. He would be the reformed had already been transplanted. less power drills and he became “Walt” Scrooge tossing turkeys to beggars. In Love? Unquestioned. Dedication? and I, “D. Walt.” A couple months ago, the confusion of metaphors characteris- For sure. before he left for Bellingham, we raised tic of the season, he was the sacrificial Loyalty? Lifelong Packer fan. our DeWalts in triumph, standing on Lamb of God. The gift was himself. Blood, sweat and tears? Affirmative. our masterpiece, a moonlight-viewing On the second night, Tuesday, Ma in Wit, wisdom, goodness and mercy. platform. her Polartec and I in my cap banked the Yup. Generosity? Obviously. Last Monday, we in Rudolph town- fire and settled down for a long mid- Let’s say it’s Christmas Eve and we ship packed up Ken’s package of gifts winter nap in Rudolph township, know- are on the newly-constructed moonlight that he would unwrap one per day with ing our brother was not stirring but viewing platform. Naturally, we are the same patience that allowed him lay in a white-sheeted manger among impatient for the first sight in the west- to sit and wait for his soup or pizza to the blipping monitors, stainless steel ern sky: among the satellites, his aerial cool while others burned their tongues. crosses and Christmas trees of St. Jo- contraption. Good St. Nick, Lamb of Likewise, we knew his packages to seph hospital, Bellingham. The babe of God, flying in tonight. us would be arriving any day, to be the family was now bald-headed, wear- opened on Christmas Eve at Gary’s ing a real beard and a hospital gown, 12-17-07

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Cold Room With forensic zeal and a magnify- and my mother, a chickadee. ing glass, my older, braver, cousin and I wasn’t there the day they carried he room at the crest of the nar- I studied Civil war daguerreotypes and the cardboard box of pictures from the row stairway was always “Aunt Kodaks of would-be Great War saviors cold room. The old folks were taken to TMamie’s.” The flowery wallpa- and more recent World War II soldiers. a nursing home, the residual contents of per and puffy quilts were reserved for There were a few brittle newspaper clip- the house were auctioned and the 80- weekend visits from my mother’s sister, ping and articles from weddings and fu- acre farm sold. My share was $30 which Mildred, who had left home after eighth nerals. We also saw proud immigrants I spent on raspberry bushes like those grade. and farmers by new homes; newlyweds; favored by Grandma. It was her job as housekeeper for a new graduates; and portraits of smart, The old farmhouse now looks like Black Creek, Wis., undertaker that al- hopeful young persons. a movie set about to be engulfed by a lowed her siblings, Florence, Gordon, A favorite image showed a man kneel- creeping suburb. I haven’t looked at the Arline and Willard, to enroll in high ing by a tree while a boy stood and a rooms since the sale in the 1970s. school despite the bankruptcy of their woman sat on a wooden chair. Was he The fourth room of this Christmas farm. praying or had he just planted the tree? Carol is this room, where I now write Mamie was good to us kids too. For The third room of the old farmhouse, and where I have some of the same pho- our drive home, she gave us miniature usually my sister’s for the visit, was tos I looked at half a century ago spread candy bars and for Christmas, a book: warm. Through a floor grate arose com- across a table, to be scanned and pub- “Treasure Island,” “Oliver Twist,” or forting heat, along with the balmy banter lished as a gift to the future. “God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.” of the family’s adults in the dining room Only the same two of us are left to do After Aunt Mamie’s room was the below. The folks at the table downstairs the identification. And Dennis already door, usually closed, of the cold room. were living likenesses of images on the looks older than the bearded patriarchs The dust of the warped floor was sel- cold room photos and, taking a few steps we once wondered about. Grandpa. dom disturbed and the oilcloth window to the future, the likeness of us, though To the ghost photos from the cold room shade never lifted except by ghosts and we would not have believed it. are added more recent snapshots and us, my cousin, Dennis, and I, who sa- The murmur was fueled only by cof- wedding portraits of those whose voices vored a chilly night; because, under the fee, never stronger spirits in this house. heated up the warm room: grandparents, one small bed was a cardboard box of Besides a general leveling of presi- parents, and aunts and uncles. And to adventure to be plundered with the zest dents, kings, popes, preachers, weather them, pictures of us, who were once of Long John Silver. forecasts and government agricultural children eavesdropping from above. Under the bare bulb, we took a death experts, came a roll call of the local Maybe someday other brats will puz- trip past old ghosts in long coffins; other Germanic United Brethren: Wesson, zle over the same pictures on another elders that might or might not be dead; Werner, Kuehne, Mory, Miehlke, Mu- Christmas, just as they are bound to night-gowned wax babies propped like eller, Fischer, Sylvester, Gosse, Tesch, wonder about the mug shot of the hobo dolls on pillows. Dingeldein, Thiel, Schmidt, Engel. with the long stringy hair. Hopefully my Actually, we didn’t see any dead bod- Put together, the voices of my aunts biographer will inform them that I am ies, just photographs of my mother’s and uncles in the warm room under the the spirit of a good old-fashioned River family laid out on the quilt, itself prob- floor combined in a heavenly choir not City Christmas: Uncle Dave. ably pieced together by one or more of to be forgotten. Never mind that my aunt the women pictured. sang like a rooster, my uncle like a mule 12-24-07

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Glory Be she communicated the bad news, the plaid party shirt and, exactly as prom- phone passed to the attending physician ised, the box was found leaning against lory be to Cut Bank, Mont. My who said it was time to find out if Walt my front door in plenty of time. Glory grandpa had traveled to that had authorized organ donation. be to FedEx and I’m not kidding. Garid outpost in 1956 to attend Glory be to the state motor vehicle de- My brother looked good with the De- the death of his cowboy brother, Robert partments that keep track of such figures Walt drill I fitted in his hands to be bur- Engel, 69. More times than one, I have and to a country that would go to that ied with. Glory be to the cordless drill pitied Robert for dying so far from home much trouble transplanting body parts and Keyless Chuck. and pitied too my 73-year-old grandfa- from a dead person to a living one. Glory be to longtime friend and First ther, for, as I imagined, his lonesome The phone was handed on again to English Lutheran pastor Ken Hanson, task, riding back in a frigid baggage car, the next in line, like we did when Walt who orchestrated “the best funeral ever” with his hand steadying the casket of the called on Christmas. This time a nurse at our family church, United Method- brother, as the two rattled toward Wis- from the organ donation agency, Life- ist, where administrator Kathy Duerkop consin. Center Northwest, negotiated to wait for made everything happen smoothly. Glo- Glory be to the Empire Builder, the Walt’s brain to stop flickering so more ry be to her. majestic passenger train from Chicago organs could be available to harvest. And to Vicky Dresser for tasteful gui- to Seattle. A couple years ago, I saw Cut As promised, Ara called at 1:33 a.m., tar and heavenly singing, “Turn Turn Bank slide by my train window on the to tell me the plug had been pulled and Turn”; the “walk with me” song; and “on way to visit my own younger brother in the lights had gone out. The phone rang wings of eagles.” Glory be to the church Bellingham, Wash. Sometimes I won- a few minutes later with an update from ladies and gent who served lunch. dered whether I would be bringing Walt an exultant nurse: “The kidneys look Glory be to Haertel Monuments who back home in a box as my grandfather good.” immediately found a suitable site in had his brother half a century ago. Glory be to the helicopters that took Restlawn Cemetery, not far from our As far as I knew then, 50-year-old and off like you-know-what from the North parents: just like Walt had requested. balding “Walt” was perfectly healthy, Pole with packages eagerly awaited Glory be to the peripherals of death though he was overweight by a bag or throughout the Pacific Northwest. care in America in the 21st Century: two of the poppy seed muffins he baked Glory be to Ritchay funeral home. flowers sent from anywhere; memorials in the Western Washington University I called them next and for nine days, from the Bellingham campus; messages food service kitchen. whatever I wanted or needed, Mike on Voice Mail, condolences on emails. In the end, I didn’t have to make that Ritchay provided. Last week, he would Glory be to Shaw Lee restaurant in trip; America brought him to me. It hap- have written this story for me; tonight, I downtown River City, Walt’s favorite pened by remote control. There was no seem to be on my own. restaurant here, which provided a famil- fuss, no bother, no bureaucratic mumble- Without effort on my part, Mike had iar upper room for family and friends to jumble, no screw-ups and, throughout, I my brother embalmed and flown to gather in the name of Walt, who once was treated like the second husband of Wisconsin. Glory be to the jet plane. uncharacteristically greeted a waitress Ivana Trump. But what was Walt going to wear in the there, “Yakisoba Baby!” It started Dec. 10, 2007, with instant fine cherry-look coffin that symbolized Glory be to Walt and I’m not kidding. American-style communication with St. his woodworking talents? He had been Joseph hospital, Bellingham, via the cell shipped in a hospital gown. 12-31-07 phone of Ara, Walt’s best friend. After From 2,000 miles west, Ara sent his

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Marceil rate real needy from the parasites. faction seemed to reign, he said, which Operate department of education in itself was neither new nor unhealthy, tittering emanated from the hus- composed of state delegates not subsi- “but the accompanying bewilderment is tings, that was no surprise, said dized by federal agencies. alarming to many. Hundreds of people If the Rev. Beauford L. Marceil, of Create World Council of Human Ex- have personally welcomed and endorsed River City’s own St. John’s Episcopal istence. my announcement, and their confidence church. “Everybody thinks it must be a Create non-political “department of prompts me to speak for them. We ask joke if anyone besides some handpicked truthful information.” what has happened to the soul of Amer- politician is a serious candidate for Marceil said he was a citizen but not ica?” president.” Furthermore, Marceil said a racist, a public servant but not a politi- Marceil said he was not impressed he would not be a “noncandidate,” like cian, a taxpayer but not a millionaire. “It with “an Elephant from the same circus Nelson Rockefeller, Bobby Kennedy is a very strange situation when we have as the Donkey, nor do we look with fa- and Pat Paulsen, a television comedian to draft candidates and we have comedi- vor upon Doves and Hawks that roost in from “Laugh In.” ans on the air making a mockery of it.” the same tree. When it takes more than Most of the 75 parishioners present The Oshkosh native, Wausau high $50 million to prove which party will be when Marceil announced his campaign school and Nashotah seminary grad had privileged to lead the country, we begin at the 10:30 a.m. service, Feb. 25, 1968, served Waupaca, Amherst, New Lon- to understand how easy it is to waste bil- did not take him seriously. They thought don, Shawano and Antigo before replac- lions of the taxpayers’ money.” the campaign was “just his way of em- ing the Rev. James M. Johnson here. Four years later, in 1972, Marceil, phasizing certain points he had been While at Waupaca, Marceil had mar- then 62, retired after 28 years as pastor. making.” Some reconsidered when the ried Kathleen Cristy. When they came to “I was ordained to say mass in a Catho- minister distributed campaign literature Rapids in 1944, they had two children, lic-type church. If the church changes proclaiming himself, “common sense Christopher and Christine. to an organization which is more busi- candidate for President of the United More recently, he had been stirred to ness-like, I don’t see the priest in that States,” and setting forth a platform that activism by the book, “The Uncomfort- type of role.” included: able Pew” and had become concerned Marceil and his wife had published Lower voting age to 18. about what he called the “comfortable a booklet on Indian lore and had made Lower social security retirement age pulpit.” four movies with Sunday school classes to 60. (Marceil was 58.) Marceil issued a “pre-election state- and adults of the parish. He also carved Guarantee the privilege of working ment,” in which he said, “I wanted to wood chapel railings and the altar front regardless of age or color. find out if a common little man in this for the church and was past vice presi- Stipulate that the office of President of country can do something more than dent of the South Wood County Histori- the United States be dependent on defi- complain in private about things in gen- cal Corp. nite qualifications such as knowledge of eral which are wrong in our society…I Of his participation in community ac- the Russian language. have left the comfortable pulpit to chal- tivities, Marceil said, “I have tried not to Base tax system on ability to pay rath- lenge the comfortable pew to think and make this a parish in itself but a part of er than “the privilege to earn” in which speak.” the world-wide universe.” the wealthy avoid income tax payments After a month of campaigning, Mar- through loopholes. ceil said much had happened that was 01-07-08 Investigate poverty program to sepa- both confusing and disturbing. Dissatis-

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Clean Gene spring break manned the local McCarthy In questions that followed, Margos office at 625W. Grand Ave. and coordi- Stone, co-chairman of the Wood county ot THAT Sen. McCarthy, the nated canvassers, composed largely of committee backing McCarthy, asked righteous Wisconsin Republican local high school students until the ar- him to explain his Viet Nam views in named Joe who rode phantom N rival of fifty college students fromIowa, more detail. “I think the people here are Communists out on a rail. The OTHER Minnesota, New York and Chicago. very concerned about this,” she said. Sen. McCarthy, the righteous Minnesota The first order of business for McCa- McCarthy answered that he would Democrat named Eugene Joseph, who rthy’s visit was to cancel the scheduled work for a negotiated settlement with a earned his recognition through opposi- talk at Lincoln High school. Second was coalition government that would include tion to a President from his own party, to impress audiences with reverse cha- Viet Cong representatives. If South Viet- Lyndon B. Johnson, and to the Viet Nam risma. At a Mead Inn press conference, namese leaders [our allies] would not war. McCarthy observed, “I have nothing agree, he would order a gradual with- Memoirs readers will recall that, in special to say here today,” and, accord- drawal of American troops and support. 1960, Robert F. Kennedy had cam- ing to the March 26, 1968, Tribune, “the It is an accepted piece of political lore paigned for his brother, John F., at Lin- five-minute exercise bore him out.” that some “hippie” anti-war students got coln high school and the Rapids Mora- McCarthy told reporters traveling “clean” for “Clean Gene,” meaning they vian church. In March 1968, Democratic with him that he differed with the John- exchanged bell-bottoms for khakis, cut candidate for the nomination Eugene son administration on farm programs— their hair and didn’t smoke pot before McCarthy arrived here, thanks to our and dodged a question about alternatives 5 p.m. April 2 Presidential primary election. to the present Vietnam policy. As a graduate student at the conserva- McCarthy was scheduled, as RFK had Saying he would speak further at a tive University of Wyoming in Laramie, been, for an 11 a.m. assembly at Lincoln speech at the Tri-Cities Labor Temple, I was already pretty squared up when High school, followed by a public rally McCarthy averred it was not his boy- my thesis advisor, Ken Craven, com- at the Labor Temple, said Mrs. Marvin hood dream to be president of the Unit- mandeered me and other students for a Bocaner, who was making local ar- ed States, “and I’m a little suspicious of dangerous foray into redneck Cheyenne rangements. The public was then invit- men who had that dream. What we need about fifty miles over the ridge to the ed to a luncheon in the Camelot Room now is a reconciliation in the land… east. of the Mead Inn. After that, McCarthy between young and old, one race and At the Frontier Days rodeo roundup, would move on to Stevens Point State another race, between Congress and the we risked physical retaliation by slip- University. president,” and between “the secretary ping McCarthy literature under cowboy A native of Watkins, Minn., the of state and the foreign relations com- truck windshield wipers. 51-year-old McCarthy had served 10 mittee.” In the end, McCarthy lost the nomina- years in the House of Representatives At the Labor Temple, Milton Sch- tion to Minnesota brother Senator Hu- and was elected U.S. senator in 1958, neider acted as master of ceremonies bert H. Humphrey. HHH lost the gen- to be reelected in 1964 with the larg- and McCarthy was introduced by local eral election to RMN and righteousness est popular majority ever received by a attorney Dennis Conway. About 700 wasn’t what it had been. Democratic candidate in Minnesota. persons, about a third students, heard a McCarthy was known for a youthful 13-minute speech delivered “in a bland 01-14-08 “army” energized by opposition to the manner.” war. A Princeton University student on

249 Ghost River City Memoirs

Cohen to J.R. Ragan for a furniture business. Life in Danger – Ex-mayor Cohen arle Garber’s recent Tribune sto- The Cohen brothers added branch stores Stands a Chance of Being Assassinated ry about his grandfather, Frank in Waupaca, Stanley, Wausau, Merrill, for Deeds of Others.” Leaving his store, Garber, inspires a look at another Rice Lake and Stevens Point. All but Cohen had met a portly German lady E Merrill closed by 1922. who hailed him. “I am going to pull your Jewish immigrant and businessman who made his mark here. At the time of his Cohen, a stockholder in several lead- ears. My taxes are $110 and you did it. death in 1924, ex-mayor J.A. Cohen ing businesses, was also celebrated as a I am a poor woman and how do you ex- was president of the Citizens National community leader. He helped organize pect me to pay so much taxes?” Bank, which he had organized in 1912 the chamber of commerce and, dur- Cohen, who couldn’t get a word in and opened on April Fools Day, 1913  ing WWI, was chairman of the Liberty “edgeway,” found it difficult to convince a bad luck date for the institution that Bond and local Red Cross drives. He her that he had been out of office nearly a would go broke a few years later. was a Mason, Elk, Odd Fellow, Re- year “and she had treed the wrong coon.” According to the April 1922 Daily Tri- bekah, Moose and Republican. A more damaging incident occurred in bune series, “Who’s Who In Wisconsin Perhaps of most interest, Cohen in 1919 when the “prosperous Grand Rap- Rapids,” Joseph Abraham Cohen, son 1912 was elected mayor of Grand Rap- ids merchant” stopped his car on Grand of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Cohen, was born ids by a big majority over three candi- Avenue across from Nash Hardware and Feb. 12, 1869, at “Aleckintz, Province dates, the first to run with opposition and lit a match to see how much gas was in of Berlin.” He attended school at Brody, yet carry every ward. He was reelected his tank. Later that night, Cohen, his Austria, until 12 years of age and then without opposition and served a second face swathed in bandages, was able to went to work as a store clerk. two-year term. attend the (WWI) Victory Loan meeting Brody was a settlement that fell un- Accomplishments during the Cohen to hear attorney John Roberts give him der various regimes, sometimes Polish, administration were: street paving; a tongue-in-cheek credit “for being the and is now in Ukraine. It was a haven in waterworks and sewerage system; a first citizen to be gassed on the Grand the 1880s for Russian Jewish refugees, pumping station on Oak Street; the elec- Rapids front.” many of whom traveled on to the U.S. tric light plant taken over by the city; Five years later, Cohen died but not In 1889, with brothers Max and Na- a fund to build a new City Hall on the without casting a ballot from his Riv- than, Cohen came through New York West Side; and a swimming pool. erview hospital room for a new mayor, City to Milwaukee, Wis., where he Also in 1912, Cohen organized Citi- Otto Roenius. He also left behind a gift clerked for two years in the Steinmeyer zens National Bank, which opened in which arrived the following year: two Co. general store. 1913 in a building that, by the 1922 “monumental” fountains, one for each In 1890, he joined his brothers in a story, was occupied by the Cozy Café. side of the river. Neenah, Wis., “general merchandise In 1916, he erected the bank building Substantial citizen, businessman, mer- business,” arriving in Rapids a year that later became the Wisconsin theater chant, mayor, president of the chamber later, to open “Cohen Bros.’ General lobby. Banking commenced in 1917. of commerce, banker, earnest worker, Merchandise” in the later location of Cohen, who accumulated a substantial “ceaseless plugger for the best interests Beardsley grocery. In 1903, Cohen built fortune, often entertained at his cottage of the city”: the immigrant, Joseph A. a brick building on First Street North. on Lake Biron. Cohen. In 1919, stock was transferred to the The Tribune had a little fun with him Merrill store and the building leased in 1917, with a headline, “Jos. Cohen’s 01-21-08

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1980 Further, a photo studio and darkroom, National Bank on the southwest corner and the “backshop” where the next issue and Church’s Drugs, where I picked hat day in history. was laid out and prepped for printing. up prescriptions, and back toward the That day in January 1980 when That day in history, 28 years ago, it bridge, the former Quick Lunch, then TUncle Dave came to work at the was a novelty for me to be downtown the former Mecca saloon, the Lunch Daily Tribune. again. A few of the business places were Box, the Wisconsin Theater in its seedier After a dozen years in the pedagogical the same as I remembered but just as manifestation, showing X-rated fare and trades, I had returned to my home town many had changed. If I took the riverside selling videos and Siebers’ restaurant, and the journal I had been reading all my walk, I passed, not necessarily in this or- an impecunious journalist’s rapture, of- literate life. I wanted to find out what it der, Emmons’ office supply store, Norm- fering two eggs any style, hash browns was like to be a real writer. ington’s cleaners and the old Tribune and coffee or tea for 99 cents. That day in history was a busy one at building recalled vividly by coworkers The entire east block at 111 West the Daily Tribune. On the first floor re- LaVerne Keller and John Thompson. To Grand was taken up by Montgomery sided the classified and business offices the east was the great mass of the Grand Ward general merchandise. of the Trib and the studio and offices of Avenue bridge. That day in history was Paper City Radio Station WFHR, call-lettered for Across the Avenue on the “north” was a at its peak, humming along like a big founder William F. Huffman, Sr. Here, one-story version of the adjacent Mead- roll of Consolith fine printing paper, its local personality Arnie Strope ran his Witter landmark, the River Block, about growth rings ever thicker, richer, slicker. popular coffee klatsch program, in- to be replaced. Here was former jewelry Our town was the coated enamel paper variably sending neophytes to Neipp’s store, former Fey photo studio and what capital of the world. Consequently, the Hardware for Whink or chastising elder- had been the old library branch. In the brain trust of the leading producer of the ly housewives for trying to give away Mead-Witter block was the restaurant world’s best paper occupied its World dead cats. that had been Wilpolt’s, taking on one Headquarters a block away from West At first-floor rear, the big Goss press of its subsequent identities, “Locos Her- Grand Avenue. was operated by Bruce Leberg, a gruff manos.” Sometimes I stopped at Rapids In the main office, attached to the mill bear at work but a generous, gentle San- Bakery for date bars, seldom at Abel’s were the personnel and records offices. ta on his own time. The second floor was Men’s Wear and at Newton’s Women’s An old stone building in a park-like set- shared by the newsroom and advertising Apparel only to see my then-new friend, ting was reserved for company leaders. departments. The former was overseen Ellen Sabetta, SWCHC curator. Recognizing me as one of the Con- by editor Joe Karius from an office win- On the corner storefront in 1980, the solidated brotherhood, Public Affairs dow and by Bob Des Jarlais from his former Woolworth’s site, was the Coast director Daniel P. Meyer escorted me city editor desk. to Coast hardware store. Then Johnson from office to office, to meet and greet The advertising department surround- Hill’s, the crown jewel of Grand Av- each dark-suited board member, officer ed the closed door of publisher-owner enue: a department store in the old style, or vice president and to shake the hand William F. Huffman, Jr. When I want- complete with mezzanines and in 1980 of chairman George Mead II himself. ed to communicate with him, I slipped home to a jewelry store, beauty salon, With the exception of me, everybody notes under the door. Toward the back gift store and sporting goods in the base- seemed to be doing pretty well that day of the building was a small room with ment, where the grocery had been. in history. an already outdated teletype machine. That day in history, there was the First 01-28-08

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1970 Restaurants Charlie Brown. (Smoky Joe’s Corner) pizza and piano n 1970, pizza was almost univer- •Millie’s Cafe on West Grand: “We bar, owner Warren Winkler. sally popular here, served mainly by are small but O-My,” new ownership •Fine Lunch Cafe: 531 Hooker St. locally-owned restaurants; but fast of mother-daughter Edith and Mary across from Consoweld Corp. Mrs. Mel- I Haske. vin Ponczoch serving “everything from food chains had recently inserted big wing tips in the door. So it was shown •Sugar Bowl, 170 Second St. S: 49 soup to nuts.” 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., having by a Daily Tribune dining guide found years of coffee, candy and “Instant Ra- baked 30 loaves of bread. Operating in a bin of old papers. dar Cooking,” owner Tom Poulos and nearby as Little Pink Restaurant in 2008 Beginning in the district explored two employee Jimmy Drivas. [Closed by 2009]. weeks ago, which can be called “Down- •The Mead Inn: English elegance in •Parmeter’s Chicken Hut: 1920 Wylie town,” were the following restaurants: the Camelot Room and Pub with ale by St., Ila Parmeter’s “good home cook- •Sieber’s, formerly Art’s, 221 W. the yard. Dining in South Pacific room. ing.” Grand, where Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Still operating. •Al & Hazel’s: Al and Hazel Jaecks Sieber offered coffee and “good food.” •Michael’s Cocktail Lounge owned on Highway 54 east: chop suey, chicken Patrick had been hospitalized following by Belle and Harley Brown. Now Hol- chowder and homemade soups. a “freak accident” and his 15 employees lyrock’s. •Ketchum’s Edgetown Supper club: carried on a business open 24 hours a Meanwhile, Eighth Street rising: “where good friends meet just over the day Wednesday through Saturday. •Stafford’s Restaurant, 325 Eighth St. West Grand Avenue viaduct.” •Quick Lunch, 243 W. Grand: also S.: fountain service, homemade rolls, •The Ridges Inn & Country club: open 24-hours with counter service “on bread and pies, recently purchased by open even after golf season for a “man- a budget price basis,” Mr. and Mrs. John Mrs. Robert (Edna) Holtz. sized cocktail,” “famous salad bar” and Tishin, owners. •The Hot Shop: in IGA Foodliner. dinner. Parties in the Tiger Den. Contin- •The Country Inn (now Shaw Lee): •The Terrace: “Zakons 70” and go-go ues to operate in 2008. The former Wilpolt’s, operated by Mau- girls, owned by drummer Gerry Irwin Two relatively new establishments in rice Mathews, with beer available and a and wife . 1970 served as hamburger harbingers menu tailored to the office worker, trav- •Pasquale’s: “Have a pizza with Pat” of a future in which restaurants would eler and family, “a mecca for the later (Foti) Pasquale. Not much changed in be extensions of regional or national afternoon Coke gang and West Side cof- 2008. chains. fee break groups.” •The Wilberns: “gay, crowded, in- •Robby’s, 1751 Eighth St. S.: a Mc- •Woolworth’s: the dime store lunch timate,” cocktails and food, cranberry Donald’s-style hamburger stand. “Have counter managed by Dorothy Wirtz. bread a trademark, owned by Tom and you tried a Zinger. Only 50 cents. You’ll The then-current feature, a thick 40-cent Josephine Wilbern since 1952. be glad you did.” malt. •Portesi Fine Foods: Mr. and Mrs. •Pizza Hut, 1841 Eighth St. S.: The •The Brig: fine dining in the Hotel Mario Portesi’s pizza and drunken Rapids Pizza Hut was the ninth in Wis- Dixon at West Grand and Fourth Av- chicken, son Syl, new manager. Contin- consin opened by Green Bay Packer Bob enue, “a favorite rendezvous for after ues in 2008. Long, who had also starred at Wichita game gatherings.” •Ebbe’s Lake Aire: “where you get a State in the Kansas city that was world •The Place: “After dining,” go-go lot more for driving a little farther” (past headquarters of Pizza Hut. girls’ galore at 621 W. Grand, managed Nepco Lake). Continues in 2008. by Charlie Spencer, better known as •Wink’s Alamo: Highways 13 and 73 02-11-08 252 River City Memoirs Ghost

Squares Were Cubes Gilbert said teen-agers doted on being indicated she was going steady. Hence, ike most of my generation, I was different from both children and adults what we called, “penny loafers.” a follower of fashion. As a Two so they adopted fashions, hobbies and In Indiana, a boy hung the scarf or Mile outsider at the fringes of a language all their own, e.g., brightly- muffler of his steady from the rearview L colored “chignon” hairpieces. “It looks mirror of his hot rod. She made a recip- town, I modeled after the cool kids who lived up by Grove school. But I guess ghastly but at least it draws the looks,” rocal show of affection by wearing his the local hepcats weren’t as cutting edge said one enthusiast. “People think you football or basketball sweater. as I thought. Evidently, according to got splashed going under a painter’s To the emblems, we might add “letter “50-years-ago” perusing of the Daily scaffold.” jacket” and “class ring.” Tribune, none of it was original. Levis and dungarees were fading To Gilbert, teen-aged jargon seemed For instance, when high school boys from the scene among the “hip (i.e. cul- to be in decline as far as originality was like me embellished what band direc- turally integrated teen-agers)” in favor concerned. “Hip,” “cool,” “Daddy-o,” tor Roger Hornig called “greaseball” of Bermuda shorts, straight skirts, pale “most” and like expressions from the haircuts with blonde streaks, we were pink lipsticks, Shetland sweaters, wool world of jazz still held a place in teen following a fad, a few years late. My socks, raccoon coats, crewneck jerseys, conversation but the “bopsters” were own “do” included a frontal double dip, khaki slacks and car coats. New were giving way to the “Madison Avenue bleached on both sides and curling to- pearl studs inserted in ear lobes. speech-makers” advertising crowd, said ward the middle like pop idol Fabian’s. Boys wore charcoal-grey slacks, bola Gilbert, with such expressions as, “that’s Pal Dave Hanson favored a Kennedy ties, V-neck sweaters over white T shirts, the way the mop flops” and, “that’s the flip with his bleached forelocks. brightly flowered vests, loud argyle way the cookie crumbles.” “Teen-age fads flare and fade,” said socks and large cuff links. Crazy hats: About the only new teen-age word Eugene Gilbert, president of the Gilbert golf caps, deep sea fishing caps, natty Gilbert encountered was “rauncy,” Youth Research Co. Already in 1957, fedoras with long bright feathers, pork- (raunchy), meaning bad to rotten in the two-tone hairdos were “back in style,” pie hats turned up newspaper reporter East and, “unaccountably,” good to very as “bobby soxers” replaced many of style, beanies equipped with pinwheels, good in the Southwest. the boyish Italian haircuts and ponytail Scotch tams and French berets. A “square” was the lowest form of styles of a year or so previous. Come to think of it, that would be the adolescent life “because he isn’t hip, the Gilbert learned that raccoon coats crazy hats at Penney’s that classmate equivalent of hep a decade ago.” The were coming back, while “sloppy Joe Darwin Hodgson and I bought, proba- square had degenerated into a “cube,” sweaters” were on the way out. “Despite bly my favorite ever, a felt fedora with a indicating he was more hopelessly out these capers,” he said, “this year’s high feather. All the happening guys at Grove of date than a square. Teachers and par- schooler will be neater, dressier than last school had similar hats. ents, Gilbert said, would be happy to year’s model.” Boys and girls indicated they were go- know that “this year” only a cube would “Some adults no doubt will be upset ing steady by exchanging school rings, be found wearing blue jeans and sloppy by these youthful methods of gaining pins, fraternity buttons, identification shirts and sweaters in the classroom. attention but they ought to think back tags and bracelets. In Ohio, he said, if The “hip” kid would be nicely and to their own college and high school a girl sported a penny between the laces smartly dressed – after having parked his days when swallowing gold fish, wear- and tongue of her moccasins, it meant or her raccoon coat in the cloakroom. ing lumberjack shirts and doing the big she was without a date. If she sported apple were the rage.” a nickel she already had a date; a dime 02-18-08

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Abattoir The mayor who followed the previ- “The most modern, small abattoir in ously-mentioned Fred Whitrock in of- Wisconsin,” employed the “latest meth- oor guy thought it was the rest fice also died in 1957: W.T. Nobles, 70, ods and emphasized sanitary condi- room; but it was the door to the attorney since 1926 and hizzoner for tions.” Animals were delivered to pens basement of a “West Side busi- P seven terms, 1934 to 1948, who died at at the rear of plant and, when their num- ness establishment” and down he tum- his home at 220 Clark St. ber was up, led up a gangplank into the bled, eleven steps. City ambulance The funeral was at Our Lady Queen main building’s “live holding pen.” transported him to Riverview hospital of Heaven Catholic Church, Rev. Joseph A step down into the “knocking pen,” where he died of a head injury. Tetzlaff officiating, with interment in and the animal was stunned by a needle The December 1957 victim: Fred J. Calvary Cemetery. fired from a gun. A quick trip of a lever Whitrock, 66, 130 18th Ave. S., one-term Nobles had held the office of mayor and focus of attention rolled onto the “kill Rapids mayor 1932-34, also alderman longer than any other in the city’s histo- floor” where it transformed from ani- for the 6th and 7th wards. ry. Born in Centralia, April 16, 1887, the mal to carcass. After the blood drained, Rev. William Lange presided over the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Nobles the carcass was placed on a “skinning funeral at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lu- had also served 11 years as an alderman cradle,” where its hide and viscera were theran Church; burial was at Forest Hill and one term as Wood County clerk. removed. An automatic “beef lander” Cemetery. Nobles would have known the previ- picked up the good part which was cut Whitrock was born in the town of Sen- ously-mentioned Frank Steib; Nobles in half by a “beef-splitting saw” in about eca, April 18, 1891, son of Mr. and Mrs. was president of the Water & Light Com- a minute, in comparison with the old Matt J. Whitrock. He married Eleanora mission for 15 years, 1936 to 1951. hand-saw method which required some Engel, Sept. 24, 1914 (no relation to Though he didn’t work for the city 20 minutes. Uncle Dave). like the three persons mentioned so The halves of the carcass were then Whitrock had been employed since far, circumstances surrounding another sent to a the chill room via a track rail 1940 as an operator at the city’s sewage 1957 death bring a whiff of the world attached to the 16-foot high ceiling, and treatment plant. to come. transferred to the “aging cooler.” The Also in late 1957, another city em- A 58-year-old male, to be unnamed, process was completed with the actual ployee of note came to attention: man- was found by employees in a room of a cutting up of the carcasses in the butch- ager 1937-1952 of the municipal Water butchering plant he had recently opened, ering room into the more appealing & Light Dept., Frank Steib. He had died deceased by what coroner Dr. Norbert steaks, ribs and roasts. Oct. 14, 1956, at age 81 and his estate Arendt termed a self-inflicted gunshot The above procedure was used for was probated in 1957. wound from a .22 caliber rifle. beef and lamb. Hogs were picked up by Steib had operated a drug store here In business here since 1941, the former a hoist to be bled and then rolled into a and held a position in the purchasing Illinois resident and his wife planned to scalding tank in which 98-percent of the department of the Consolidated paper operate their meat processing plant in hair was removed in a minute and a half. company. He left an estate valued at conjunction with a frozen food locker Using modern methods like this, two $782,000, mostly in the form of 18,104 plant in Wisconsin Rapids. What the Tri- men could send eight 200-pound hogs shares of Consolidated Water Power & bune called a “slaughtering plant,” had to the chill room per hour. Paper Co stock, to which Steib’s daugh- begun operations in the fall of 1957 just ter, Mrs. Carol M. Daly 550 8th Ave. S. south of Highway 54 east of the city. 02-25-08 was principal heir.

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1957 Strike was that the strike was a sorry waste. papermakers going without hundreds of Idled had been 1,125 papermakers, 185 thousands of dollars in wages that would ack in the day, workers were union office workers who didn’t cross not soon, if ever, be recovered. choosers not beggars. Not so the picket lines and over 1,200 non- “Some of the papermakers say they Blong ago in this accomplished strikers sent home for lack of work. That won a moral victory. Perhaps that is town in this great rust belt of this indus- was out of a total Consolidated employ- so but evidence of even that is hard to trious nation, employees organized into ment of 4,300. find.” vast, powerful and often corrupt unions Wages lost to strikers and others idled Consolidated lost about $4 million that were a match for the companies by the walkout were estimated by the in gross sales dollars. Non-strikers and they worked for. When the workers in company to total about $900,000. Com- others idled by the strike also lost hun- unions found conditions not to their lik- pany spokesmen had calculated daily dreds of thousands of dollars in wages. ing, sometimes they refused en masse to payrolls at $35,000 in the Wisconsin And some merchants had a real reason appear on line until their demands were Rapids and Biron mills; $7,500 at Ste- to complain about the lack of business. met. That meant a “strike.” vens Point and Whiting; and $4,500 at On the bright side and deserving men- A Daily Tribune headline from Oct. 9, Appleton. To arrive at the total, overtime tion, said the Tribune, was the gentle- 1957, revealed: “Paper Machines Start was added and the whole multiplied by manly conduct of company and union, as 20-Day Walkout at Consolidated the loss of 18 running days. expressed in a simple way through Ends.” With the shutting down of the five a conversation that took place on a It was back to work at the big Consoli- mills, paper and board unmade and un- Wednesday in late 1957. dated Water Power & Paper Co. mill in shipped by the company amounted to Man in store—“What did you paper- downtown Wisconsin Rapids and at the 19,500 tons. Consoweld and Ahdawag- makers get?” other CWP&PCo. divisions: Biron, Ste- am divisions operated at a normal rate Papermaker—“I got to go back to vens Point and Wisconsin River (Whit- because they did not employ members work.” ing). The Consolidated Appleton pulp of the papermakers union. “Well we all have a touch of poetry mill was to be in full operation also. Although contractual relations with in our souls and it’s wonderful to hear Representatives of the Federal Me- trade unions had been established by the great paper machines roaring again,” diation and Conciliation Services had Consolidated in 1919, the only previ- said the Tribune, “as they pour the com- helped bring together the United Pa- ous strike occurred in September 1956 munity’s life blood into the arteries of permakers and Paperworkers Union when machinists and pipefitters walked the nation’s commerce.” and arranged for the final negotiations, out for two weeks. One of the Consolidated employees bringing to an end the second and most According to the Tribune of Oct. 8, was my father, not a “papermaker” per serious strike in Consolidated history. 1957, the ending of this second, three- se but a welder and Machinists union The Tribune counted six international week, strike lifted a burden from the officer who was discomfited by the unions in action, representing 70 per minds and hearts of River City. “After conflict. While Dad was briefly unem- cent of the company’s union employees. what was the most serious and least un- ployed, our neighbor, John Murgatroyd, Members of the papermakers union rep- derstood strike in company and commu- hired him and we went out to cut brush resented 30 per cent of the union popu- nity history, it is difficult to know who in the creek bed that was to become the lation. won what.” Ridges golf course. The general gist of the Tribune story, Losses, on the other hand, recounted as it would be whenever the Tribune the Tribune, included those of striking 03-03-08 viewed social or economic disruption, 255 Ghost River City Memoirs

Sputnik information on Laika’s bodily reactions hold it back with the twine. Later, the as the half-ton Sputnik sped around at teacher said, we would make a stronger ooking at the sky would never altitudes of 1,000 miles. fuel, and might even try to launch the be the same. On a starry eve, But the radio transmitters went dead rocket.” Lprobably late autumn 1957, on after a week or so “as expected,” claimed Fourteen members of the class were our Two Mile Avenue lawn, my nuclear the Russians. Tass, the soviet news agen- gathered around the teacher, Garland family formed a tableau that was mim- cy said that “the program of scientific Foster, on the school grounds when Fos- icked across the nation. Mom, Dad and research as planned through the second ter struck a match to the opening at one kids wanted to see the famous IFO and, Sputnik has been fulfilled completely.” end of the rocket; but the match went out. according to my recollection, we suc- The dog was dead. The next time he tried, the rocket fizzed ceeded, following a tiny, blinking dot The Italian Communist newspaper a second and then exploded. Pieces of that made its way across the sky. Sput- said, “Laika will never return to earth.” iron went in all directions. What was left nik! She had been “put to sleep by a strong of the roller skate was blown about 20 “Sputnik,” the Russian coinage that narcotic contained in the last bit of food feet away. The 40-year-old teacher and a brought about beatnik, peacenik, nud- to avoid its suffering prolonged agony.” former employee of the Atomic Energy nik, refusenik and niknak, signified the No. Laika died a few hours after launch Commission research center at Los Ala- earth’s first man-made satellite and cir- from stress and overheating. mos N.M. were killed. cled some 560 miles “out in space,” ac- In December 1957, America’s first Reminds me of my own attempts to cording to the 1957 Daily Tribune. statellite-launching vehicle, Vanguard, achieve jet propulsion. My cousin, Den- Launched by multiple-stage rockets on lost “chamber pressure” in the first stage, nis, had perfected a fuel: gunpowder October 4, the instrument-laden globe fell back on the stand, toppled over to- made from sulfur, saltpeter and charcoal was only 23 inches in diameter and ward the water and exploded, bursting from which he made little firecrackers weighed 185 pounds. Soon followed the into fire. The American attempt to put that actually exploded. “dramatic claim” that Russia had beaten a 3-pound test sphere into orbit was a Without parental approval, I secretly the United States in the “satellite race,” dismal, embarrassing failure that led to mixed the ingredients in our breezeway, soon to be known as the “space race.” widespread panic about the condition of including charcoal from the fireplace. The Russian news agency, Tass, said American education, as pundits won- Then I filled an empty CO-2 cartridge this firstSputnik could be observed with dered, “Why Johnny can’t shoot rockets and tied it to a plastic model car, perhaps simple optical instruments in the eve- into space.” a Cadillac convertible. ning or early morning. “Artificial earth Johnny gave it a shot. In Floydada Lighting a trail of gunpowder that led satellites will pave the way for space (Home of the Whirlwinds), Texas, a to the business end of the “rocket,” I travel and it seems that the present gen- chemistry class was busy trying to as- stood back to watch. eration will witness how the freed and semble their own earth orbiter. Flames shot out the back with a fierce conscious labor of the people of the new A student said, “We had mixed to- whistle, the cartridge heated up and the socialist society turns into reality the gether carbon, potassium chlorate and little car melted into a blob. Fizzlenik. most bold dreams of mankind.” sulphur and placed it inside this one- If it’s any consolation, no animals Russia’s second space satellite was foot-long piece of pipe. The ends were were harmed in the experiment. launched November 3. In it was a small capped with a hole in one end. mongrel dog named Laika. The idea was “We had twine tied to the rocket, which 03-10-08 that the Russians would receive radioed was on a roller skate, and had planned to

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1957 Misc. It seems an acquaintance, J.J. Norm- For the original opening in November, ington, told them a tale about an injured a caravan was led by Michigan Gov. G. mog. Fifty years ago, right here hunting companion gashed in the leg by Mennen Williams. Last summer, with in River City. A blanket of smut the antlers of a wounded elk. “Very ex- Hugh and Carol Midor, my family hap- across the city’s northwest side, citing. Also very phony, but we didn’t pened to be at the same bridge on the S th within a half-hour causing four traffic know at the time that the injured man day of its 50 anniversary, noted by a accidents with damage to 10 vehicles had accidentally bumped into a broken parade of antique autos mimicking the and three persons. Smoke from smol- tree branch.” 1957 fete. dering debris at a Consolidated Water The false story, groused the editorial, ●Another story with reverberations: th Power & Paper Co. dump near the 5 had been carried into over 27,000 central from Saigon, then the capital of South Ave. and Nash road intersection com- Wisconsin homes by Rapids, Marshfield Viet Nam, where time bombs shattered bined with heavy ground fog between and Point newspapers. the United States Information Service th 17 Avenue and Highway 34. ●“Integration” of schools was a topic library and injured 13 US soldiers in a th Accordingly, on 4 Avenue North, under local discussion. The term referred sudden outburst of anti-Americanism— a car struck the rear of a pickup. Five to annexation by Wisconsin Rapids of by radical ideologues the US referred to minutes later at the same location, four adjoining and nearby districts: Joint No. as Communists. vehicles collided bumper to bumper, the 2, town of Grand Rapids and village of ●And a story headlined, “What’s be- lead car leaving the scene. In the 1500 Port Edwards (Two Mile and Grove); hind the trumped up threat of war in the block of Bonow Avenue, a car struck No. 3, town of Hanson (Bean); and No. Mideast?” the rear of another and ten minutes later 2, town of Saratoga. “Sober thinking men in many places two more southbound vehicles collided Integration of Biron-Children’s are deeply puzzled. What is it really all nearby. Choice, which had voted against annex- about?” The immediate focus was the ●A drug was developed in 1957 that ation, was denied. Syrian-Turkish border. a lot of us are taking fifty years later: City school board president John US experts assumed the Soviets were chlorothiazide to relieve hypertension. Crook argued that it was not “cricket” alarming the Arab world and “the globe” ●The Christmas season featured a photo to bring in districts not contiguous to the with threats and then would move in of John Billings, still a premier resource city and spoke in favor of “over-all inte- the opposite direction and become “the for historians here. At the time, he was gration” rather than a hit or miss pattern. great preservator of the peace.” foreman of mail at the Wisconsin Rap- Gilbert Endrizzi and Mrs. S.G. Corey With the Soviets backing Syria, we ids Post office, shown by the Tribune spoke for annexation of Two Mile and would stand at Turkey’s side in event of inspecting a pile of 2,000 pieces of un- Grove, which were being taxed to ca- attack by Syria and would strike Russia deliverable Christmas mail, mainly due pacity, they said. in retaliation. to incomplete addresses. ●Farther from home, also in late 1957, While the issue was being talked out, Envelopes, said the Tribune, were ex- the famous Mackinac bridge linking up- the danger lessened, said the Tribune, amined and valuables sent to the district per and lower Michigan was opened. that “trigger-happy men intoxicated with dead letter office in Wausau to be auc- My own River City Memoirs V con- their own falsehoods” would “touch tioned off. Letters “without value” were cludes with a photo of my sister, Kathy, off a fateful burst of fire in the Middle burned. and my young self, looking toward that East.” ●In an editorial, an abashed Tribune same bridge while it was under con- combined confession with accusation. struction. 03-17-08

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I Believe You Maybe the final soliloquy was, as also Grim Natwick, I honor the Towers gang reported, “I love you, but I am alone.” with nicknames. ther guys, they like big fires. I remember my dad’s last words, be- Dr. Mango Van Rasp (Joe Boero), They like trucks with big fore he entered the hospice, where his physician; Hank Stir (Henry Bruse), air- tires. They like movies with lots O end was markedly un-gentle, “I know waves technician and urban cattleman; of killin’. They don’t like… who you are.” He meant me. Hugh Midor (Hugh Mechesney), recent- “Bob Dylan!” Dad’s last project was to build the ad- ly retired 4th grade teacher. That’s what we say in our song. But dition to my house now referred to as Peppy Johnson (Thomas D. Stern), who are we? “the Towers” and where the guys get to- retired Wood County veterans officer; We’re the guys from Mid-State “Po- gether. MSPT was founded circa 1990 Senator Lawton (William Lawlor), etry” Towers. “Listen how we work for or so as a Guinness-drinking society, but UWSP English professor; Justin Case hours, writing poems about the flow- Guinness isn’t what it used to be, so we (Don Isherwood), Plover potato grower. ers.” don’t brag about it as much. J.J. (Jeffrey Johannes), art teacher, And so, with that frivolously evoca- The name was not my creation, rather LHS; Scooch (Don Romundson), at- tive invocation, we bid hasta la vista the 1970s inspiration of Bison Hepcat torney; Col. Goc (Michael Goc), prop. to some of you other guys, because we (Michael Balisle). His “towers” are a with Bubbles de la Touche of New Past have mentioned “poetry” and other guys feature of the landmark Kuhl house that Press; Himself O’Day (Tim O’Day), don’t it. They might name their own kids anchors Main Street in Stevens Point. NewPage oiler. Dylan but they don’t like Bob or Bob’s The name MSPT purposefully echoes Davíd de los Angeles (Uncle Dave), lyrical namesake, Dylan Thomas, the and antidotes “MSTC,” Mid-State Tech- multiple factotum. chubby Welsh drunk who uttered with nical College, with which I am also as- Members emeritus are William some eloquence, “Don’t go gentle into sociated. One is devoted to usefulness L.M.H. Clark, Mark Scarborough, Pete that good night; rage rage against the and the other to uselessness, not to men- Frank, Matt Welter, Bruce Dethlefsen. dying of the light.” tion outright folly. My daughter, Angelica, is the only fe- Thomas, during his American forays, It is from Bison that I also took the male contributor, other than my wife, stayed at the Chelsea Hotel in Manhat- name for a literary journal: Hepcat’s Re- who provides the chocolate chip cook- tan, aka MSPT-Metro. About 15 years venge. ies. later, Bob Dylan wrote “Sad Eyed Lady You don’t have to drink to be one of Which brings me to my real reason of the Lowlands” in the Chelsea, or so the guys but you have to write. MSPT is for writing this. You and yours are in- he said in a song. first and foremost a literary society, wel- vited to join “the guys” at McMillan li- Dylan Thomas’ favorite pastime coming any genre. My own challenge is brary Thursday evening, 7 p.m., as part was drinking himself to death. His last to compose a new song per meeting. of the coffeehouse series. words have been quoted as, “I’ve had As time goes by, purposes change. The Guinness will not be available at 18 straight whiskeys. I think that is a Like the IOOF of my dad’s genera- the library but, yes, you are invited to record.” His last words have also been tion, MSPT functions in part as a burial join the guys at the Grand Avenue Tav- said to have been, “After 39 years, this society. At a recent funeral, Towers ern to share a pitcher of the good stuff. is all I’ve done.” Or, were they uttered guys made up a large proportion of the Just don’t pull a Dylan Thomas and to Liz Reitell, his lover? She said his mourners. end up in Riverview with a tourniquet sudden illness wasn’t so bad and Dylan Like my blood brother, President around your liver. said, “Yes, I believe you.” George W. Bush and the guy who named 03-24-08

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World War II tary and thus, unreachable, untouchable 80s now) the standard question “What and in mortal danger. On the home did you do during the war?” I had ot the best of times; not the front, never mind shortages, blackouts already talked it over with my parents worst of times. These are and rationing, it was the worst of times. and numerous other relatives. mediocre times. For the civi- Tonight, at McMillan Memorial This week, my ex-MSTC student, N Library, I’ll be pulling what some call Marge Hamm, a youngish member of lization at large these are not times of unusual prosperity nor are they times of a Tom Brokaw by practicing some pun- the WWII generation, brought to the universal poverty. These are not times ditry on the greatest generation. SWCHC Museum a set of letters she of peace nor do most of us feel the ef- First, let me tell you what part I had, as a 15-year-old, received from a fects of a faraway conflict. played in the greatest drama of our soldier she had written to. It reminded By contrast, the World War II years time. On Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, 1945, me that, while my college class was were the worst of times for many U.S. “atom” bombs were dropped on Naga- busy with their papers, I was reading soldiers and residents and, surprisingly, saki and Hiroshima. When Joe Kosek the collection of letters my mother had the best of times for some. arrived in Japan, he viewed the results. kept. In his public television series that Me? At that time, immediately pre- For letter writing, it was the second- was also aired at McMillan Memorial ceding the Japanese surrender Aug. 15, best of times, after the Civil War, which Library Fine Arts Center, documentary I lived in Riverview Hospital. Burns had previously documented. In filmmakerKen Burns has shown how, When I was a couple days old, I was order to fill out the Burns series and for the soldier, the war could be ghast- brought home to a second-floor apart- to complement the reminiscences of ly, and, for those at home, a litany of ment behind the present St. Lawrence Joe Kosek, McCabe asked me, as city loneliness, anxiety and loss. School. Mom said she had to crawl historian, to say a few words about life Last Monday, in connection with over because there wasn’t enough room on the Home Front. that program, I listened as Joe Kosek to walk around the bed. I later learned In 1999, I published a book, The brought a personal note to the series it had been a hot miserable summer for Home Front: River City Memoirs VI. A as he told what he saw as a Marine my mother, having moved from Mani- major portion of RCM VI consists of a corporal in combat when the best of towoc, known for its cool breezes. timeline I began in 1989, chronicling times meant dining well in exotic New My dad was working for the Gar- events of 50 years earlier. That was Zealand; but soon came the worst of ber salvage and supply firm here. He 1939, when German armies blasted off times on body-strewn beaches and in had earlier flunked his draft physical their version of shock and awe. jungles where snipers who had been a couple times, joined the State Guard Tonight, at 7 p.m., at McMillan Me- shot in trees hung by their ropes like and spent much of the war at the Mani- morial Library, I will tell you what hap- strange fruit. Kosek and his men were towoc shipyards, welding submarines. pened right here in River City during taking back from the suicidal Japanese It was in the 1970s that, as an Eng- World War II, and how it was the best the islands of the south Pacific:Tarawa, lish instructor at Stevens Point college, and worst of times. Okinawa, Saipan. I realized the parents of my students After Kosek’s remarks, library di- would, after that year, no longer be of 03-31-08 rector Ron McCabe told me about his the World War II generation. For their grandmother, who had six stars in her semester project, I had the class (in window, one for each son in the mili- their 50s now) ask their parents (in their

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War Contracts kitchen equipment. “Preway” subcon- had found it in a mess hall tracted with Ahdawagam Paper Prod- Western Condensary. The Vesper week ago, at McMillan library, ucts Co. and Central Electric Service plant produced milk sugar used in pro- I was talking about the home Co. for machinery of parts. duction of penicillin, the new wonder Afront during World War II Employment would increase to over drug. but spent so much time making jokes 1,000 of which a large number were Nekoosa Foundry and Machine about my new cell phone, I left out a women. All employees had been fin- Works. Nekoosa Foundry president lot of important information. gerprinted and given courses on pre- M.J. Power said the next year would In 1940, as war approached, the cen- vention of sabotage. bring disappointments and sorrow to tral Wisconsin economy and communi- Ahdawagam Paper Products Co. man; but from an employment point ty were already on the rise. Wisconsin The cardboard core factory and sub- of view it was the best of times. Rapids showed the second-largest per- sidiary of Consolidated Water Power More than $1 million in war con- centage of population increase among & Paper Co. made: shipping contain- tracts were filled by the company, said Wisconsin cities during the previous ers for batteries used by the signal Ted Olson, vice president, including decade, from 8,726 to 11,416, a 30% corps; tubes to protect shells; boxes products for shipyards in Massachu- increase. for shipping repair parts for tanks and setts, Manitowoc, Sturgeon Bay and George Mead I of Consolidated Wa- guns; and boxes for food, ammunition Milwaukee. ter Power & Paper Co told the Daily and supplies. It had converted from making pa- Tribune that “our business is in no way In late 1942, paper manufactured by per and pulp mill machinery to mak- influenced by the defense program of Consolidated was being tested by Ah- ing covers, brackets and valves for the national government. We are a dawagam as a base for a plastic ma- destroyer escorts and submarines, normal industrial community and, as terial that would equal aluminum in for diesel engines, pumps and gener- such, we have never suffered from the strength and could replace scarce met- ators—and equipment used to make same influences which bring the ex- als in plane and glider construction. atomic bombs. tremes to communities elsewhere.” McDonnell Aircraft Corp. had begun “Some of the equipment we made Half true. Some of the local compa- experimental production of airplane for the atomic bomb factories was very nies that joined the war effort: parts from the material which could be touchy,” Olson explained to the Tribune. Harvard Clothing, a subsidiary of molded or shaped like plywood, was “A lot of the parts we made had to be L.L. Rosenthal of Chicago. The entire resistant to moisture, stable at high precision-tooled as exacting as watch factory was converted to the defense and low temperatures and resistant to parts. We knew we were working on effort and more than 175,000 army denting or splintering when pierced by something secretive but had no idea that overcoats and blouses produced. Bolts bullets. we were instrumental in making parts of cloth were received from the gov-  Nekoosa Edwards Paper Co. Made for factories making atomic bombs that ernment, cut into patterns and direct- wrappings for bandages and other ma- were loosed on Japan and brought the ed to one of many sewing machines terials. war to a sudden end.” staffed by women. Sampson Canning Co. Employees Prentiss Wabers Products Co. In had received a letter from Cornelius 04-07-08 1942, the first war contract for the Manning, stationed in Italy, written on stove maker included bombs, detona- a label from a large can of Sampson’s tor fuses (for anti-tank mines) and field Heart of Wisconsin green beans. He

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WWII-II supposed to pay for these guards? Police chief Rudy Exner reported ju- mong my late brother’s effects Former world heavyweight wrestling veniles had been stealing cars for joy was the book, Inside the Third champion Ed “Strangler” Lewis was the rides while the owners attended movies, Reich, by Albert Speer, Hitler’s firstNekoosa man to register in the gen- returning the vehicles before the show A eral registration of men 45-63 years of was over. During a civil defense black- architect in which Speer remarked that, although he was trained only as an ar- age. There was almost no chance that he out, Exner took in the view from on top chitect, he was inexplicably promoted would go. the roof of the Consolidated sulfite mill. to minister of armaments; so were other Bob Newman of Biron wrote to In August 1943, Tri City airport would amateurs such as Hitler himself raised to Roosevelt saying he wanted to fight for be used as an Army training base, ac- their levels of incompetence. In this way, his country but was rejected. Bob was cording to Tech. Sgt. H.G. Collman, who the Nazi regime that appeared invulner- only 14. said Wisconsin Rapids was the friendli- able was, in Speer’s depiction, destined Only nine of 32 selectees for the sec- est community he had ever been in. to crumble, rot and roll away. ond March quota of south Wood county In 1944, a state regional planning re- The opposite was true here. We ap- were accepted. The others failed their port suggested the local airport be ex- peared unprepared but soon rose to the physicals. panded after the war; a joint Marshfield, challenge. Americans soon became in- The first volunteer to report to the Rapids and Stevens Point airport was volved in a common cause. blood-typing center in the former A&P considered a bad idea. Symptomatically, as the 1940s dawned, store on West Grand Avenue was Con- Republican Presidential primary can- our schools delayed opening because of solidated executive, Stanton W. Mead. didate Wendell Willkie spoke to 4,300 an infantile paralysis epidemic: polio, in In 1942, three brothers and sisters aged at the field house. He was endorsed by itself a unifier. Even the President of the 11, 8 and 7 drowned below the Consoli- George W. Mead I, who served Willkie United States was not immune. dated dam. They had been left home breakfast on Belle Isle. There were plenty of “snafus,” at war untended while the father worked at the In 1945, some workers were sick of and home. The first casualty of the mo- new defense plant, Badger Ordnance, in sacrificing for the war effort. AtHarvard bilization came in 1940 when the mo- the Baraboo Hills. clothing, a Rapids subsidiary of L.L. torcycle of Pvt. Donald Henry of Rapids Meanwhile, Hollywood stars Edward Rosenthal, Chicago, 140 left their jobs was struck by a drunk driver. Arnold and Frances Dee appeared at a demanding minimum wage. And who was that tall man with fenc- war bond rally at Witter field. Housewives and farmers were busy ing scars on his left cheek who boarded In 1943, there were scrap drives and at the community canning center, many a train for Milwaukee? Rudolf Karl Wil- Red Cross projects making garments for putting up food to be sent overseas: helm Weiler, 34, a research chemist at refugees and soldier kits. Householders chicken, olives, peanut butter, cake, po- Nekoosa Edwards had been a member removed labels, cleaned and flattened tato chips and cookies. of the Nazi Party and didn’t want to be cans, and placed them in curbside con- Some of the “catsup” was recognized labeled a spy so he unsuccessfully tried tainer for recycling. School children as bourbon. One lady canned and sent to to join the US Army. gathered milkweed for filling life jack- her overseas son his gold wristwatch. Due to threat of sabotage, state author- ets and aviator suits. ities ordered 24-hour guarding of Tri- Women filled positions formerly held 04-21-08 City airport (Alexander Field). So came by men, at Griffith state nursery, paper the argument between Wisconsin Rapids mills and railroads. Jamaicans also har- and the Town of Grand Rapids: who was vested farm crops and cranberries.

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Witter Farm daughter Hazel with games, refresh- The offering of 67 building lots in the ments, candy and a cake. “Witter farm subdivision” owned by nions? The humble herbs don’t That year, city officials discussed a brothers-in-law “Messrs. Isaac P. Witter fit the image of self-described continuation of “the street across the and George W. Mead” came from Kel- OQuality Row “capitalist” J.D. Witter farm” but the matter was shelved logg brothers lumber company in 1935. Witter. But yes, the Consolidated found- when Isaac Witter consented to plat the Four years later, Kellogg offered for er, financier and lawyer was an onion property in the near future and connect sale one large barn, one small barn and man. His grandfather was a farmer; so Elm and Witter streets. one combination corn crib and shed on too his father; and he was a farmer. Not In May 1923, an auction of personal the same property. The last hurrah as a surprising that Witter sent a carload property on the farm was the first step farm came in 1943, during World War or two of crops to market. And that he toward opening the 80 rather boggy II. Martin C. Jacobson, secretary of the owned a farm; but on Third Street? acres, “extending down close to the Wisconsin Rapids Building and Loan Picturing J.D.’s son, Episcopalian heart of the city.” The Witter farm, it association and member of the south banker Isaac, with manure on his spit- was noted, was part of the Neeves addi- Wood county Victory garden commit- shines, is a challenge. Though he owned tion, a large part of which had been plat- tee said 29 acres of the Witter property the farm, Isaac paid someone to manage ted by George Neeves, who owned and south of Chestnut street had been made it. What better way in the pre-supermar- operated a sawmill near Belle Island be- available to be turned into individual ket era to get milk, eggs and bacon? hind what was in 1923 the T.W. Brazeau plots. Sponsored by the Kiwanis club, J.D.’s widow (Isaac’s mother) lived residence. 60 gardens were allotted. on the west side of Third Street South. Advertised were: 15 head of high grade In spring of 1944, Consolidated Wa- In 1906 an “old” house and barn were Holstein and Guernsey “milch” cows; a ter Power & Paper Co. employees who moved from the east side of Third to team of work horses; a silo; a John Deere wished to have gardens and did not have make room for a new wood and stucco breaking plow; two two-seated buggies room were furnished a plot on the Witter house for Mrs. Witter. Her son, Isaac, with rubber tires; one covered carriage; farm. Taking part were about 800 em- meanwhile, planned to remodel the old one single buggy; one two-seated milk ployees of the Wisconsin Rapids divi- homestead for himself and his wife, wagon with platform spring; two farm sion, 300 in Biron, 150 in Appleton and Charlotte. Instead, he tore it down and wagons; two sets of sleighs; one set of 150 in Stevens Point. built, in 1907, what is now the South work harness and other personal prop- Among the curiosities of Phil Brown’s Wood County Historical Corp. Muse- erty. Den of Antiquity is a preliminary plat um. The following year, 1924, the Tribune of the 1926 Witter farm as it was about Among items Isaac purchased (for suggested part of the Witter farm “tract” to be divided into streets and lots. Thus, $427) were a team of horses from Paul be flooded for an ice rink. By the end the property, between Third Street South Musch. His manager, Morris Smith, also of 1929, the “cut off” street “back of” and “the bluff” were made available for bought a couple full blooded Holsteins the Witter farm had been graded but not Assumption high school, the First Meth- in Sherry. named. odist and First English Lutheran church- In 1917, manager Frank Morrical of- When the then-new Lincoln high es and lots of families who don’t mind fered the 9-room Witter farm house on school was being constructed in 1931, living amongst the faint whiff of J.D. Elm Street for rent as a duplex with dirt fill was spread “at the end of the Witter’s onions. “Two lots for gardens.” In 1921, Mrs. new road across the old Witter farm 05-05-08 th Morrical threw a 15 birthday party for from Elm Street.”

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Half-Century of Schooling from LHS in 1964, the former Wood worker’s family culture and of local county spelling bee winner was a schools. How did we fare in the thin air eems to me I cried all the way. National Merit Scholar and co-LHS of higher education? Despite the company of my fifth- valedictorian. Among the four in my generation, we Sgrade mentor, Paul Murgatroyd, I A brother came along five years later count four masters degrees among three was scared to death. than me. He enjoyed school and be- persons and for the fourth a bachelor’s In 1951, at age six, I matriculated came a varsity wrestler on one of Lewie degree. In the second generation, each with great reluctance at the four- Benitz’ early teams. Another, youngest of the two older daughters have also classroom “state graded” Two Mile brother, never outgrew his shyness and garnered masters degrees. school, then at the corner of Two Mile suffered through it all. For both obvious and perverse rea- Avenue and Highway 13, about a half By the time the last of my siblings sons, I have often been proud of being mile walk from my home, at which I graduated from Lincoln in 1973, our “from” Wisconsin Rapids and Lincoln wished I could have stayed forever in Engels had attended local schools for high school and never felt a scholarly my mother’s arms. 22 years. Then, the next generation. disadvantage moving to the next level Actually, the Two Mile building used My first daughter started kindergarten of the Ivory Tower, whether it be Two five rooms for educational purposes, if at Woodside in 1978 and I got to know Mile to Grove, Grove to Lincoln, Lin- you counted the basement all-purpose “our” neighborhood school pretty well coln to UWSP or UWSP to Wyoming, area being used for Paul’s class due to again. Mrs. Reichert was more than for example. the effects of an influx of young fami- happy to have me sit in kindergarten The graduation of my third and last lies like ours to Grand Rapids town- classes with both my first and second daughter this year brings the tradi- ship. daughters. tion to an end. Her career in the local I said “Good-bye Two Mile” after From 1978-1994, the two girls racked schools, especially at Lincoln under the four years under Mrs. Schmidt and in up 16 more years for our family in Rap- disciplined encouragement of retir- 1959 graduated from principal Palmer ids schools: at Woodside, East Jr. High, ing principal Gus Mancuso, has been Budahl’s Grove school, also then a ru- Assumption high school and Lincoln, productive, although she is more than ral graded institution. Ours was the last reaching 39 years for the family. ready to move on to the University of eighth grade class at Grove. The next My third daughter started kindergar- Wisconsin-Madison. year, my sister’s was the first eighth- ten in 1995 at Rudolph elementary (on Her story, one of 444 stories in the grade class to graduate from Woodside. Knowledge Avenue) where my wife class of 2008 and for me, the last chap- Twelve years after I entered Two Mile became the school librarian. ter of an era. School, I graduated from “old” Lincoln Daughter three moved on to West Jr. high school, now East Junior High. High and the now-venerable but then 05-19-08 During my checkered career in the hal- “new Lincoln.” She graduates this year lowed halls, beginning under legendary and that ends it. principal Aaron Ritchay, I learned a few Adding her 13 years, I count seven things and had a lot of fun. graduates of Lincoln and a collective My sister started at Two Mile a year 52 years that a member of my family after me, to begin what was (with the has been enrolled in a Wisconsin Rap- exception of sports) a more distin- ids school. guished career. Upon her graduation We were typical products of a mill

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Memorial Surprise Where did he want to be buried, I been administered by a cerebral hemor- asked Walt — in his beauty-filled Bell- rhage. In the hippie days, Walt and I had ot until I saw the flags did I re- ingham, Wash., or here, next to the more often joked about “finding your spot,” alize it was Friday of Memorial boring borough of his birth? “As close as described in the adventures of Car- Day weekend. In my private N as possible to Mom and Dad,” he said. los Castaneda and his mentor, don Juan. River City, it had been an ordinary eve- On his September 2007 visit, Walt re- I was surprised to find that Walt’s spot ning as my wife and I navigated the riv- vealed for the first time that he planned was here in Restlawn. er road upstream from Biron to Anchor to buy a house near mine for his retire- I was surprised on Memorial Day Bay Bar & Grill. As I ordered the usual ment years. “Do you realize how many Friday to think that underfoot was the Goodhue’s Finest, others marked the oc- years from now that is?” I said to my smartly-crafted wooden coffin Walt had casion with a fish fry. much younger brother. “Do you really occupied at the Methodist church and On the return trip, I took Huffman think I’ll live that long?” at Ritchay funeral home, where I had Road south. Past the cranberry bogs, at I had not planned on this Memorial placed the DeWalt drill in his hand. It Highway 54, I saw something I hadn’t Friday to find myself driving around the would sustain him in the afterlife as well expected: the flags of Restlawn Memo- next loop into the more tranquil acreage as jars of dried kumquats fed the dead rial Park cemetery. Likewise, my (lack of the cemetery away from the highway pharoahs of Egypt. of) plans hadn’t included turning into and to find myself stopping the car. On Memorial Day, my dad used to the cemetery and taking the loop past To my surprise, I was surprised again. drive us out to the Seymour, Wis., cem- my parents’ modest gray granite stone, “It’s Walt,” my wife said, as we looked etery to pause at the graves of his dead engraved with the Germanic, “Engel.” at a grave site not yet identified. Actual- brother, mother, neighbors, and of Rob- For myself, I would have chosen the his- ly, she said, referring to the rectangle of ert, the tumbleweed uncle who had been toric green pastures of Forest Hill. But golden sand and straw that encouraged shipped back from the wild west on the Restlawn became “our” cemetery in the new leaves of grass already green: “It’s same tracks as Walt. Robert’s spot was 1960s, when forward-looking citizens of Ken,” using my brother’s real name. silent, mossy and mysterious. a certain age purchased their own lots. I called him “Walt” and he called me It was only Friday but at Restlawn Platted near the Plover potato planta- “DeWalt,” after the yellow-plastic elec- other kin of other brothers were already tions, Restlawn is a utilitarian facility: tric-powered tools of that name I bought arriving in the Memorial ritual I had by flat, plain, practical and attached toa him as thank you tokens. We especial- chance joined. four-lane highway. It is graced by a ly liked the DeWalt drill that offered a I wondered if any of them heard what view of no mountains, oceans, streams, “keyless chuck.” I heard, the sound of a small electric harbors, historic structures or other sce- When I had last driven through Rest- motor below. I don’t want to frighten nic complements. lawn, a hard sheet of snow and ice cov- any precocious youngsters who might My own plot-to-be and that of my wife ered graves that had been filled over the be reading this, so I will admit I only came courtesy of my dad and is located winter. When I actually stood on the imagined it, as I imagined myself call- “around there somewhere.” spot, under a canopy in cold December ing, “Walt!” and hearing what we had Not a regular visitor, I had nevertheless 2007, it was for that part of a funeral ser- made a familiar response. come often to Restlawn to bury friends vice that comes before lunch. “DeWalt!” and relatives or in the company of my Pastor and family friend Ken Hanson brother, Walt, who, during his annual prayed with us that day. Walt rested si- 06-02-08 visits brought flowers he had picked. lently nearby, eternal slumber having

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Field House Great Depression but River City was en- community leaders, including William joying an expansive moment with what F. Huffman, publisher of the Daily Tri- here is a reason the generic big was then, at 162, the largest senior class bune, who may be the author, on May box that passes for the “new” in history. 26, 1931, of a highly affirmative edito- Lincoln gym doesn’t excite me T When the Field House and new Lin- rial. and fellow members of the worst gen- coln High School was dedicated by “This magnificent building, contain- eration. For graduation 1963, we had Mayor George W. Mead, it was the larg- ing all the latest equipment and educa- the Lincoln Field House. Finding that est and best of its kind outside of Madi- tional features and marvelous new field so many of the kielbasa we sliced in the son and the crowning achievement of house, constitutes a community asset past were big bologna, we wonder if the Mead’s administration. which excels any other in the history of Field House stands up to the taste test. Number one citizen George W. Mead the city. Possessed of beautiful homes, In 1963, the Field House and high I had been elected mayor in 1926 for churches, public buildings and efficient, school counted 31 years of history, lore the first of three terms. In 1928, he was well-designed and constructed industrial and legend, only a couple more than the appointed a regent of the University of plants, there remained only the erection present high school gym. Other than a Wisconsin-Madison and ran unsuccess- of this beautiful and most efficient high modest antiquity, what made the origi- fully for the Republican nomination for school plant to round out the community nal more than a run of mill jock shop? U.S. Senate. possessions and services. The building A few concrete examples come to In 1929, a committee recommended is a monument to the community which mind: balconies that ran the length of hiring Childs & Smith of Chicago as it serves. It stands for the faith of our both sides of the interior; a dirt track that architects, planning that the building be citizens in our city and is a pledge to the emitted an earthy musk underneath can- for a junior-senior high school and that coming generation that it shall receive vas; and a stage at one end big enough it be constructed adjacent to the “old” at the hands of the city the finest edu- for intramural basketball games and Lincoln, which was the result. cational facilities within command of a noon-hour dances. Appearing for the May 26, 1931, dedi- city of this size or even larger. The Field House, which we called cation were the Lincoln high school band “No community two to three times the “the gym,” was revered as host to events and the UW-Madison concert band. Mrs. size of this could do more. None had of community importance, such as bas- J.D. (Priscilla, wife of “young Jere”) done more for its school children than ketball tournaments, Harlem Globetrot- Witter, president of the Presto club, add- we have.” ters, Sport Shows, Home Shows, Stunt ed piano solos. The editorial credited Mead and the Nights, big band shows and political ap- The family affair continued with city administration but emphasized that pearances that included the likes of Rob- George Mead’s brother-in-law and the project was the product of coopera- ert F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon. Jere’s father, Isaac P. Witter, a class of tion and inspiration among the com- On the dark side, like most gymnasi- 1891 alumnus of the local high school, munity involving: the school board; ums, the joint was bad-mouthed for bad then named Howe. board president I.E. Wilcox; Guy Nash, lighting, poor acoustics and uncomfort- A University of Southern California chairman of the special committee, and able seating. professor delivered the main address his committeemen; architects Childs & The class of 1931 was the first to hold and LHS student MacKinnon Lansd- Smith; and general contractor Frank J. graduating exercises in the Field House owne added remarks. Mead also spoke, Henry. although it had actually attended the on “school and community.” The Field House; you had to love it. still-standing “Old Lincoln” next door. Mead was joined in his efforts by 06-16-08 The world at large was just into the 265 Ghost River City Memoirs

Papermaker Blues Co., Nekoosa, (later merged with Port). Poland, Germany and Scandinavia. In 1903, Consolidated Water Power & We in mid-Wis still have plenty of ob well done. The last 13 bricklayers Paper Co. finally built its world head- trees but the labor is no longer immi- lay down their trowels, punched out quarters at Grand Rapids. grant nor cheap and someone has taken one last time and drew their wages. Soon, the Nekoosa Papers Co. joined the river out of River City. Water power J the Edwards firm and a bright new of- doesn’t matter so much any more. A happy crew, according to a reporter, more so because “the best of feelings fice building was added for bright new What about the descendants of those between employer and employee had executives and Port Edwards became early European immigrants who so of- existed during the whole progress of the the White City, by reputation the richest ten prefer to be close to family? When work.” little village in the state. So many mil- the gold mine closes, what happens to The occasion was completion of brick lionaires per capita! the miners? work on the pulp and paper mill of the For the more typical sons and daugh- Grandchildren Tyler and Ashley, like John Edwards Mfg. Co., Port Edwards, ters of employees, it was a 112-year fam- Ole and Lena, the great-great-grandpar- Wis., in November 1896. Soon the big ily tradition to “get in the mill.” Once ents before them, must follow the mon- wheels would be turn turn turning: two “in,” you were, for better or worse, mar- ey; because money makes the global paper machines, grinders, wet machines, ried to a lifetime job. economy turn turn turn. The same glob- wood room, beater room, boiler house, What happened? al CEO that sees us as the third world machine room, engine room, finishing After a while the orb of fortune turned riverside village. room and machine shop. and turned again as fortune spun off from Consider a random sample of global- Prior to the Port Edwards paper com- the “hardest working” Fox and Wiscon- isms: “Morgan Stanley Private Equity plex, a big sawmill on the site had been sin rivers. “Our” companies were sold Asia has combined with Shinhan Pri- owned by W.A. Scott, Chicago, and to and/or bought by big conglomerates vate Equity to acquire the South Korean L.M. Alexander, Port Edwards. But the from other states and big conglomerates subsidiary of Norway-based paper com- big white pines had been cut by the Gay from other countries and by big con- pany Norske Skogindustrier for 3.2bn Nineties and there wasn’t much to saw. glomerates that were other countries. Norwegian kroner (€400m).” When Scott retired, Alexander joined Friday was to be the last day and by Do you like the “zero sum game,” John McNaughton of Appleton, Wis. now, Monday, June 29, 2008, the big where some gotta win, some gotta lose? (an investor in Nekoosa Paper Co.) and wheels ground to a halt and the Port mill If a mill opens in Puerto Nuevo, one Frank Garrison of the South Centralia is shut down, perhaps forever. closes in Port Edwards, according to mill, to erect “mammoth pulp and paper What happened? plan, for the global exec. mills” on “one of the best water powers The paper mills were built here in Closer to home, at the end, it was a on the river.” “the Pinery” to take advantage of a gold job well done. The last 13 papermakers The new Port mill was part of a boom mine of natural resources: trees not suit- laid down their knives, punched out one that would define the River Cities for able for lumber; water and water power last time and compared health insurance generations: at South Centralia, the first that was among the best anywhere; and options­. The big wheels had moved of- paper mill on the Wisconsin (and the cheap, hardworking, non-union immi- fices to Canada and opened a gold mine first to go); the 1896 Grand Rapids pulp grant labor. It was the global economy down in that South Korean town, to and paper company mill at Biron (later of the 19th and 20th Centuries and the paraphrase the bard, where the workers part of Consolidated); and “mammoth workers were following the money, work almost for nothing. sulphite mills” added to Nekoosa Paper from French Canada, England, Ireland, 06-30-08 266 River City Memoirs Ghost

Judge Connor world-wide influenza epidemic only Escrow, in Wisconsin.” the week before his death; but he had According to the “Badger,” Connor, ho knew we had an old-time been struck down long ago. “When “A justice with grave justices shall sit. judge named “Craig”? He is still young in life Craig P. Connor was He praises their wisdom; they admire Wnotable because his portrait visited by an illness which left him his wit.” was discovered this year to be the only with severe physical handicap forcing Connor started a law practice in Wau- one missing from the pantheon of cir- him to spend the balance of his life in a sau that later took him back home in cuit court judges at the courthouse. wheel chair.” That illness was infantile 1915 to Auburndale, where he special- Though his name was unusual here, paralysis—polio. ized in probate matters and operated a it was a long time favorite in Scotland, Connor had been appointed by Gov- business in real estate and insurance. ancestral home of Craig’s family, the ernor Blaine to fill the unexpired term He was village president and village Connors. He was the son of Robert and of W. J. Conway. He was elected to the clerk. Robert’s second wife, Rebecca Waite judgeship at a special election in April In 1920, Craig, 32, lived with his Connor, a native of Canada. Robert 1925. Connor, “a judge of the short- brother, Reuben, 40, Reuben’s family, and his brothers, John and James, had comings of frail human life, marked his and a hired girl, Matilda Dillinger, 22. founded the village of Auburndale and entire career in office by his patience “His political trend is Republican, but a lumbering dynasty along with it. and tolerance toward the unfortunates he is not a strong party man, voting Born July 15, 1887, Craig Prentice who were brought to him to have judg- independently whenever he sees good Connor was 29 years old when he ment rendered.” reason.” registered for selective service. It was As a youngster, Connor had attended Connor’s continued illness caused 1916 and the U.S. was about to be school in Marshfield. He was president indefinite postponement of the term of drawn into World War I. Not likely that of the 1907 senior class and toastmaster county court. Although having suffered the blond, brown-eyed, single, short for an annual banquet honoring seniors: from “an affliction of several weeks’ and stout Craig Connor would be a sol- “The responses were exceptionably duration,” he was not thought to be dier soon. The Auburndale resident was able, each prefaced with a pointed allu- seriously ill. a paralyzed “invalid.” sion from the toastmaster.” Craig Connor was survived by his He only lived another 12 years, dying The 1910 U.S. census for Auburndale wife, the former Marie Schill of Au- Sept. 27, 1928, at age 41. shows Craig’s mother, Rebecca, 52, as burndale. He had four sisters and four A Daily Tribune obituary said County head of the family. Ruth, a sister at- brothers who would achieve a great Judge Connor died at his 323 Drake tending Normal school, was the same deal of success in the world of big Street home, Wisconsin Rapids, after age as Craig, who was enrolled in law trees and kitchen cabinets: Reuben of a brief illness with influenza, which school. Another brother, Wallace, was Auburndale, W.D. of Marshfield and resulted in congestion of the lungs. “A in military school. Robert of Ironwood, Mich. generous judge himself, Craig P. Con- At the University of Wisconsin, Craig nor has gone to face the Great Judge Connor appeared in the 1913 “Badger” 07-14-08 whom we all must some day face to bearing the nicknames of “Sinkers” and have our merits and shortcomings “Ralph.” He had participated in Philo- passed upon.” mathian (debate), Freshman Blow-out Connor had held court a few days and Sophomore Semi-public Interna- earlier but had become a victim of a tional Club. His thesis was “Deeds in

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Educate Your Brains Evening school in September 1905 experience. “They know what business was pitched to “those employed during men want.” sed primarily to disguise the day and who desire to increase their Tuition for six months was $40. The Christmas presents, there was usefulness and earning power by ac- school was promoted and endorsed by nothing my mother took more U quiring a practical business education. the City Council and Business Men’s pride in than her shorthand. And her Many successful men and women owe Association of Grand Rapids, also by session at Oshkosh Business College their success to the training received in A. Decker in his 1907 “Along the Wis- where she learned it. As the daughter of evening school.” consin River” booklet. hardscrabble dairy farmers, any other College classes taught the same skills The largest enrollment in history, institute of higher learning was out of my mother had specialized in: Pen- said Decker, had moved into “large the question. She borrowed enough for manship, Spelling, Business Arithme- and commodious quarters” in a new Oshkosh from her dad who probably tic, Rapid Calculation, Bookkeeping, brick building on the East Side. The borrowed it somewhere else. Because Shorthand, Typewriting, Letterpress staff of three included Hayward, “an of business school, Mom was later able Copying and Manifolding (making experienced commercial and shorthand to become a part-time bookkeeper here copies). Plain Business Writing was a teacher,” Ira Wood, “the thoroughly for Haney Drugs, the Methodist church specialty. qualified and painstaking assistant in and Ridges golf course. Can you paddle your own canoe? So the Commercial department and Miss Would you believe we also had a inquired a Business College ad in the Mabel Hamilton, English and short- business college right here in River Daily Tribune. Competition for “honor- hand teacher.” City? able positions” was stronger every year I don’t know what happened to the In charge was “Prof.” Earl L. Hay- and the Business Course or The Course business college but it, a business itself, ward, previously an instructor at Ste- in Shorthand and Typewriting would be probably went broke. Hayward seems vens Point Business College. He had the ticket to a “good paying position.” to have moved on to a teaching job at moved to Rapids when he became head Getting and keeping students for the Lincoln high school. In 1930 he was in bookkeeper in the Oberbeck Mfg. Co., college was competitive with so many Chicago, an “investment salesman.” a furniture factory. similar enterprises in the vicinity. In 1936, Hayward and the missus, After a year at Oberbeck, Hayward In August 1905, Hayward accompa- came up from Oak Park, Ill., to visit her founded the Rapids institute. Also nied Frank Hamilton, “the Hancock father, F.C. Wood. involved was “Prof.” W.W. Williams of jeweler,” on Hamilton’s regular trip Hayward died Sept. 26, 1965, at Ra- Appleton, who supervised the January to Coloma, “soliciting students for the cine. He was 88. 1905 opening in the “old city hall or Grand Rapids Business College, of Footnote to history: the SWCHC library building.” which he is proprietor.” Museum last week received a shoe Both a night and day school would be “Educate Your Brains,” urged the worn by Emily Mead at her marriage to conducted and the elementary branches college in 1907. “Get a salary-earning Henry Baldwin. By coincidence, Hay- of English taught, the latter to be the education. Then you will have some- ward and his daughter Viola, in 1928, same course taught at the School of thing to sell for which there always will visited with Dr. and Mrs. E.J. Clarke Commerce at Lawrence University, be A LARGE DEMAND.” The Grand here and attended the very same Mead- Appleton, Wis. Williams would be Rapids ad promised splendid new Baldwin wedding. dropping by every two weeks to super- equipment, excellent location, pleasant 07-28-08 vise. rooms and teachers with actual business

268 River City Memoirs Ghost

Dutch Mill A June 1937 list of applications for tery). Born in Colby, Wis., he had been liquor licenses included “Bouton and employed by Preway Inc. for 28 years ill the gentlemen who picked Gee” at 231 Second St. S. and Walter and ran Dutch Mill for six years, retiring up the silver ZIPPO LIGHT- Walloch (or “Wallock”) for 131 Third in 1971. WER with initials J.S.H. at Ave. S. Another burglary meant $175 taken Dutch Mill Tavern between 6 and 6:30 A 1937 city directory named the “Lit- from the cash register and the thief sen- Thursday evening please return same tle Dutch Mill” at 131 Third. The 1941 tenced by Fred A. Fink to two years in and collect $5.00 reward from Jack version calls it “Dutch Mill,” owned by the State Reformatory, Green Bay. It Stinchfield at General Mills. It’s a war Walter Wallock. was followed by a similar conviction of momento.” Running a bar means a series of un- another burglar in 1973. Stinchfield’s cigarette lighter was fortunate incidents in your vicinity for In November 1975, a 34-year-old likely a “memento” of World War II; the which the newspaper will mention you Rapids man was arrested at 12:34 a.m. ad was in the Daily Tribune of Sept. 9, from time to time. and charged with disorderly conduct for 1946, a little more than a year after the In July 1943, Joe Jefferson, 28, a “col- swearing at officers who were called to surrender of Japan. ored carnival worker who gave Min- remove him from the tavern. Whoever walked off with the Zippo neapolis as his home,” was sentenced In the summer of 1976, Michael, a no- could return it to the 131 3rd Ave. S. lo- in Justice Jacobson’s court to a week in table early rock and roller, was appre- cation in 1946 of the Dutch Mill, later county jail, having created a disturbance hended and returned to Norwood Health the address of Buzz’s Bar. Now it identi- at the Dutch Mill at 7:15 on a Sunday Center, Marshfield. A couple decades fies a vacant building. night, strongly resisting efforts of police later, the Dutch Mill was Buzz’s and Buzz’s Bar has had two locations. At to place him in the squad car. Michael was temporarily unshackled its later spot at 131 Third, its predeces- On Jan. 9, 1953, Paul Cockerell, op- again, lookin’ cowboy good, and shar- sor was the Dutch Mill Tavern. I recall erator of the tavern, was charged with ing a drunken version of the life-gone- making an informal survey of Rapids having in his possession “a refilled con- wrong song. I’m glad I was there to hear bars in the 1960s and finding the Mill a tainer which had previously been used it. typical neighborhood joint. for intoxicating liquor,” perhaps now In 1934, it was open for good times. holding a diluted beverage of lesser 08-11-08 A “Hallowe’en Party” offered music, value. confetti and novelties: “eats and mixed In May 1956, smoke filled the Dutch drinks our specialty.” The location, Mill. A (coal?) stoker hadn’t been filled, “Next to Palace Theatre,” placed it in allowing smoke to filter out through the the West Side entertainment district. “feeder worm gear mechanism.” In Au- “WHOOPEE!” gust 1969, city police investigated a bur- A “big” New Year’s Eve party with glary reported by owner Irv Baumgart, more fine eats, good music, “mixed in which $120 was stolen, entry gained drinks of all kinds properly made” end- the usual way, by breaking a rear win- ed 1934 with a bang. dow. In January 1935, 30 friends gathered Ervin Baumgart died at age 60 in 1972 at the Dutch Mill in honor of Miss Lucy of a heart attack (funeral at St. Lawrence Kohnen, a bride-to-be. Catholic and burial in Calvary Ceme-

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Buzz’s by my ’57 Ford Batmobile (so banged manski building, a former grocery store, up the handles had to be tied together and celebrated with an ad in the Nov. ou made it seem like a church, across the front seat to keep the doors 26, 1960, Tribune: “Get Acquainted my dad said, not as a compli- shut). with the Owner of Wisconsin Rapid’s ment. My July 1, 1982, rhapso- Y On busy summer nights, Buzz some- Newest Tavern…Buzz’s Bar, 440 West dy in the Daily Tribune had celebrated times asked me to tend bar. In winter, Grand Avenue. Buzz is always happy to a unique Buzz’s Bar reunion at Robin- when I was hard up for cash at Point welcome all his friends, new and old, at son Park, in honor of owners Buzz and college, I could drive down to Buzz’s any time. Stop in tonight for that bever- Lucille “Sis” Bouton and attended by and borrow $10. Not only did he ask no age of your choice.” hundreds of the little Buzzes that had questions, but Buzz never complained “We were in there 12 ½ years,” Sis bellied up to the beer-only bar on West that I took the money and went back to said, “And then we went out of business Grand Avenue. Point to spend it. for a while.” The shot of Buzz and Sis I snapped In 1998, Sis told me how Buzz had After the semi-retirement of Buzz and that day hung on the wall of “new come up from Peoria, Ill., and she had Sis, old Buzz’s became the Cell Block Buzz’s” for a long time. Another photo come down from Arpin, meeting in bar for a short time, owned by George in the Tribune, showed my friend, James Rapids. Buzz was working at his broth- Dallman. C. Nuhlicek, a former Buzz’s bartender, er Red’s Dixie Bar. Their first date was For six years, Sis and Buzz worked var- perched on a bar stool borrowed from dancing at the Venetian tavern. ious jobs until, in 1978, they bought the new Buzz’s on the site of old Buzz’s in They were married Jan.19, 1939, and Dutch Mill Tavern and called it Buzz’s. front of present City Hall. during World War II lived in Manitowoc The new place was not a beer bar but New Buzz’s was a friend-and-family while Buzz worked at the submarine a traditional “liquor bar” and lunch spot bar in which all the Boutons would be shipyards, as my father had. featuring, most recently, soup by Cheryl seen occasionally, including daugh- Back in Rapids, the Boutons rented O’Keefe, and the award-winning Buzz ters Marcia, Kathleen and Janice. The the Ranch House root beer stand at 151 Burger. recently-retired (2008) “Young Buzz,” Seventh Ave., “behind the Hiawatha When Farnum “Buzz” Bouton died in a.k.a. “Old Geno,” was in the single tavern.” In a Daily Tribune for 1953 1986, his wife, Sis, and son, Gene, car- digits when big brother Farnum Jr. put appeared a Christmas wish from the ried on until this summer. in his stint behind the old bar, playing Ranch House, “courtesy Buzz, Sis and Other notable personages tending bar sheephead and ignoring customers. the staff.” at both the old and new Buzz’s were my My first visit to Buzz’s came on Aug. The Tribune also noted the 1954 pur- classmates, Craig Skibba and George 12, 1963, the night I “turned 18.” As I chase by “Mr. and Mrs. Farnum Bou- Zimmerman slamming the dice box downed several “Bud taps” on a stulti- ton, former operators of Buzz’s Ranch from hot summer nights in 1960s to win- fying Monday night, I wondered where House Drive-In” of the Red Ball Café, ter Thursdays in the New Millennium. the action was. I had almost fallen asleep 147 Fourth Ave. N., from Mrs. William Another buddy and bartender, Bruce with my head on the bar when Old Buzz Obermeier. Zanow, used to close up Buzz’s with a himself, Farnum Sr., said, if I was so In 1960, said Sis, “Buzz went over command that seems pretty apt then and tired I should go home. to see if he could get a beer license and now. “You don’t have to go home,” he But the joint, much livelier in my mill got one right away.” That allowed sale liked to say, “but you can’t stay here.” working years, became my home away of beer only, to anyone over 18. The from home. You could tell I was there Boutons rented and converted the Ro- 08-25-08

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Wrong George Mead bankruptcy. Then, according to a 1952 W.F. Thiele, W.E. Beadle, Fred Fisher, account, came expanding opportuni- Henry Hahner, Otto Mittelsteadt, Albert ho would have thought there ties in newsprint and a need to preserve Zager, F.A. Drumb and Earl McCourt, was a wrong George Mead? Canadian timberland from competition, many chosen by Walter L. Mead, per- WA few years ago, I investi- causing another wave of mill building. sonnel manager of Consolidated. gated the historical museum of Thunder Then there’s the story of Real The plan was that finished paper rolls Bay, Ontario, in search of clues relat- George, a.k.a. George W. Mead, “Wis- would be transported to a proposed ing to George W. Mead I and his fabled consin” Mead, to distinguish him from warehouse on the lake front and be Canadian paper mill. Ohio Mead. transferred to ships during navigation Because I set up the meeting in By chance, former resident Jim Nat- season and to railway cars in winter. advance, the curator retrieved several wick recently provided the SWCHC Upon its construction, Consolidated boxes of documents that seemed to be Museum with the scrapbook of Clar- bragged up the Thunder Bay mill as an what I was looking for: George Mead, ence E. Jackson, former mill manager “institution standing proudly” within paper mill, Thunder Bay (city resulting at Wisconsin Rapids Division. Jack- the big Consolidated organization. And from the 1970 joining of Fort William son’s own account said the first entry of it fulfilled the “governing thought” of and Port Arthur). But as I poked around Consolidated into Thunder Bay came the Consolidated ideal, to do all things in files and folders, nothing looked in 1922 with the purchase of Kaminis- well. familiar. tiquia Pulp and Paper, meant to supply Despite all that, only a year after Yes, the papers showed, Fort Wil- ground wood for paper mills at Wiscon- Consolidated built the Thunder Bay liam Paper Company Limited began sin Rapids and Biron. mill, they sold it, to the same Abitibi producing paper in 1923 at what is now In 1924, “Thunder Bay Pulp & Paper that had bought the Mission mill from Thunder Bay. Yes, the papers showed, Co.” was further expanded and the tug the other Mead. It was said that the George Mead built the Fort William “Butterfield” employed to tow two for- resulting capital carried Consolidated Paper Co. mill and George Mead, of mer car ferries filled with pulp across through the Depression. course, happened to be the name of the Lake Superior to Ashland. Back in Wisconsin Rapids at the cusp leading industrialist and citizen of our The paper mill came thanks to a huge of the New Millennium, George W. “River City.” timber grant from the Canadian govern- Mead’s Consolidated sold its properties But in the museum documents I ment, said Jackson, making it possible to the Finnish/Swedish multi-national found the wrong George Mead and for Consolidated Water Power & Paper Stora Enso Oyj which sold to NewPage the wrong River City. Not G.W. Mead Co. to manufacture newsprint paper in Corp. of Ohio. but G.H. Mead; not Consolidated but Port Arthur, beginning in 1927. Jackson NewPage happens to be a continua- Mead Pulp and Paper Co. and Man- was appointed to supervise the opera- tion in complex form of the company agement Engineering and Developing tion. of guess who? George H. Mead, the (M.E.A.D.) of Chillicothe, Ohio, USA. In a familiar ritual, the Port Arthur same Wrong Mead who confused the In 1928, this Wrong George firm citizenry fell all over themselves kiss- curator and me by building a paper mill was taken over by the ever-expanding ing up to the foreigners (us!) and pass- in Thunder Bay in the 1920s. Canadian conglomerate Abitibi Power ing favo(u)rable by-laws, “evidence of That’s how, in a quirk of history, and Paper Company Limited. During a sincere Canadian welcome.” George Mead owns Consolidated again, the 1930s, production fluctuated due to Some of the Rapids employees in- sort of. world conditions and some paper mills volved in the Thunder Bay project were 09-08-08 shut down. Even Abitibi struggled with 271 Ghost River City Memoirs

Bast Washes from Maverick annuated gunslinger limping away: a owner, chose secession and the confed- wounded bear … or a ground squirrel eracy. He negotiated with U.S. Army ootball Saturday 2002. After the … or a maverick. General David E. Twiggs for peaceful last of a short line of buyers drift- It started with Samuel Augustus Mav- surrender of Federal garrisons in Texas. ed away with autographed copies F erick, born 1803 in South Carolina. He It was the same Twiggs who, in 1829, of Worth the Fighting For: A Memoir, graduated from Yale, went into business, with the help of Lt. Jefferson Davis, we had Prairie Lights, the independent studied law, ran his father’s plantation. had built Ft. Winnebago at Portage and Iowa City bookstore, to ourselves. In 1835, Maverick began buying large confiscated the shingles of trespasser Me and the author, an old war hero, tracts of land in Texas with which he be- and pinery lumberman Daniel Whitney U.S. senator and failed presidential can- came closely identified. He signed the on the Yellow River to preserve Indian didate, who sat alone at a small table in Texas declaration of independence and land. the back corner of a back room, concen- became mayor of San Antonio where his After the Civil War, Maverick helped trating on a paper-wrapped sandwich. He son was the first Anglo-American to be John H. Reagan organize the Texas sipped from a paper cup and frequently born. Democratic Party. He was rewarded wiped his puffy, scarred face. This was Maverick left the Alamo just before with the naming of Maverick County, my only opportunity, so I broke in with it was over-run by Mexican soldiers Texas. a bit of lame information: “I’m from and Maverick’s friends inside perished. Sam Maverick wasn’t much interested Wisconsin.” Similarly, in 1839, he left a surveying in cattle raising and, after a couple year, The author set aside his lunch and camp just before a Comanche massacre sold his large herd to Toutant Beaure- accepted the book I handed to him for that led him to join the militia. gard, who rounded up all the stray un- signing, and said, conclusively, “Russ In 1842, Mexico sent troops into Texas branded calves he could find, including Feingold, he’s an honest man.” The and Maverick joined Texas army troops. a large number belonging to other ranch- Democrat from the Dairy State and the After San Antonio was forced to surren- ers and branded them for himself. The author had been yoked for history in the der, Maverick and others were captured newly-tattooed bovines were known as “Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of and forced to march into Mexico, where “Maverick’s,” and although Sam left the 2002.” they slept in manure-filled sheep pens business, Texas cowboys continued to I nodded while he signed Worth the and were chained together for hard labor use his name for loose cattle. Gradually Fighting For with what looked like, “T. while receiving almost no food. the term was enlarged to include “any- Dxve wun bast washes. John McCue.” On behalf of the company, Maverick one who could not be trusted to remain It was meant to be, “John McCain.” complained to the Mexican captors and on his group” or “someone who exhibits His work done, the author made his was rewarded with solitary confine- a streak of stubborn independence.” way unbothered out into the Iowa Oc- ment. While imprisoned in 1843, he was In Iowa City, the author of “A Mem- tober homecoming football weekend. elected to the Texas congress. Maverick oir” indeed seemed a bit stubborn as he Across S. Dubuque Street, students was offered freedom several times if he trudged the lonesome prairies in football spilled themselves and their beers from would publicly support Mexico’s claim season, his POW suffering over, his pol- a college bar, yelling, jumping around, to Texas but refused, saying he regarded iticking days seemingly past, his battles as “McCue” had in his own youth. lying as a crime, “and one which I can- fought and mostly lost, hoping perhaps But there was no party that day in not commit even to secure my release.” that it was all worth fighting for. Iowa for the author. No handlers, no en- With the onset of the War Between tourage, no press, no body guards; there the States, Maverick, a sometimes slave 09-22-08 was no secret service. Just a lone super- 272 River City Memoirs Ghost

Documenting the Columbian It’s a way of life I got a glimpse of in strictly business. You come to work, the 1960s when I finished an appren- they push a button, they’d start you. ick Goldamer. First, birdbaths. ticeship on a paper machine. The pay When you were done work in the af- Pedestals from the old Grand was $2.22 per hour, which was the best ternoon, they pushed a button and you DAvenue Bridge (1922-1986) to in town. would stop.” which he added molded-concrete sau- When he started in 1970, Goldamer Goldamer doesn’t see as clear a cers, sold successfully as a fund raiser said, he was receiving $2.37 an hour. future for the industry here as the past for the cause of historical preservation. When he left the Port mill last summer, that provided his livelihood and that of Now, Goldamer and Port Edwards he was making $28.03 an hour. most of central Wisconsin. “That’s an- historian J. Marshall Buehler have The mill had a different feel in the other problem. When the mills take an made available a CD composed of early days, Goldamer said. Perhaps it old machine out and, instead of scrap- video Goldamer shot when he worked was the legacy of the affable John E. ping it, they turn around and sell it. So at the now-dormant Port paper mill Alexander, who died in 1963. Alexan- what they do is ship it over to Japan or (formerly owned by Nekoosa Papers der was the grandson of John Edwards ship it over to Thailand or South Amer- Inc. and most lately by Domtar of Mon- Jr., resident founder of Port Edwards. ica or China and they set the machines treal, Quebec). “When I first started there in 1970, at up and they put the people to work and In the “Port mill,” he worked on and holidays, the management from the they probably pay them 50 cents an documented the celebrated “Columbi- main office would actually come down hour and then they ship the paper back an” paper machine, which spun its final and shake your hand and wish you a lot to the United States and what is it do- web on the “perfect-running” day when of luck. Merry Christmas and Happy ing? his partner, Ed Hasenhorl, relieved Thanksgiving, whatever, and ask how “My job. That’s what’s happening. Goldamer and shut down the machine everything was. The head management It’s sad to see.” at 8:05 p.m., June 26, 2008. was very concerned about you; they Fortunately for students of papermak- The Columbian was so-named be- took care of you like you were some- ing history, Goldamer had the foresight cause it had been displayed and oper- body. Gerry Veneman would come to capture and preserve not only a chap- ated at the 1893 Columbian Exposition down and shake your hand. Sam Casey ter in his own work history but that of in Chicago and the machine was pur- would come down. They’d all greet one of the machines that pioneered the chased by the Nekoosa Paper Co. for its you.” greatest of Wisconsin River industries. new mill at Nekoosa. As ownership drifted further from As he had numerous times in the home, the inevitable impersonality set 10-06-08 1980s, when we discussed bridges and in. “Georgia Pacific was not as good as birdbaths, Goldamer stopped by the Nekoosa Papers because Nekoosa Pa- South Wood County Historical Mu- pers had still been family owned. GNN seum recently and told me about his [Great Northern Nekoosa], it was kind papermaking years. of a partnership but it was still family; Like generations of paper machine it was still connected. But when GP operators, he had started as fifth hand came in, then we started seeing less and worked up through fourth hand, and less from the management and third hand, back tender and machine then when Domtar first walked in, it tender over a total of 38 years. was pretty good but at the end, it was

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Hard Times On Grand any more.” who were going to leave town because But Consolidated head George W. there weren’t jobs. An Army veteran at ou know the story, or you think Mead II, according to Granger, had Brauer’s clothing store, where Parrott you do. How it had once been, grown up in Rapids and loved the city worked, told Granger this is a great town Yas journalist Bill Granger said, and its people. He told Granger that, to grow up in and a great town to grow a city of industry, conservatism, com- yes, the paper industry was in a reces- old in but “There’s nothing in between placency, full employment, lunch buck- sion and that, by necessity, overtime had and I’m leaving the first chance I get.” ets and good beer. been cut, men were laid off and some Father Andrew Karoblis of SS. Peter Maybe the beer wasn’t all that good were retired early. and Paul: “I told people here for two but if you drank enough of it, it got bet- Rapids mayor Donald Penza, in the years times won’t always be good and ter. And maybe it wasn’t the 1990s that middle of a second term, said, “We’ve now it’s come. The whole life of this were so industrious, conservative and got a downtown that is in trouble and town centers around the mills and they complacent; but the 1950s. now we’ve got the layoffs at the mills. made the mills their god. This is a closed And maybe the point of view wasn’t We’re gonna lose those families and town. There are small societies in it. I now but March 1971, when former resi- we need them and it comes as a shock am trying to prepare the people for the dent Granger characterized our River here.” day when Negroes move here to this City for the Chicago Sun-Times as “Mi- Jack Griffith, Consoweld employee town.” crocosm, U.S.A.” “The trouble with and bartender at the Hiawatha bar, said At the Elks club, district attorney Wisconsin Rapids…is the same trouble he, a WWII vet, had supported the then- Harold La Chapelle said he would wel- you find everywhere else: war, poverty, ongoing Viet Nam war but had turned come more blacks in the area. He also drugs, dissatisfied teenagers and social against it because we had never intend- said pollution had been abated. “Hell, I change. But for this central Wisconsin ed to win. As for the social revolution, swim in the river now, it’s been cleaned paper-mill town, all these problems are maybe the Communists were behind it up that much, but I wouldn’t have 20 new—and very frightening… but, mused Griffith, “I know they aren’t years ago. “Ecology has become a familiar word wasting their time on a little town like “The mills have been good for this there now, and they say some high school Rapids.” town, there’s jobs here, this is a good kids have discovered pot. The first “You see a kid with long hair or he don’t place to live and bring up a family. Kids teachers’ strike has come and gone, law want to work, well, he just has come out saying now that they want to move away and order is an issue, the young long for of the Army and you got to give him from town –well, when I was growing the excitement of a city, the paper mill time to find himself. Some people forget up, we said the same things. And we is laying off workers. And the people it was that way for us when we got out did move and when we got a family, we of Wisconsin Rapids are disturbed and of service, too.” In regard to the politi- moved back to town.” wondering where it’s all going to end.” cal situation, Griffith said, “I still can’t After all, Granger said, change is not The previous autumn, the first of 245 understand how a man can be a family all bad. As a case in point, he noted that were laid off “at Consolidated,” reaching man and go to church and be a working a police sergeant thought there was “less nearly a tenth of the work force. In an man and be a Republican.” window peepin’”—since the topless increasingly anti-pollution atmosphere, His wife, Theresa, retorted, “Jack! Re- places went in. Daily Tribune editor Joe Karius averred, publicans go to church, too.” 10-20-08 “You’ll find Consolidated doesn’t have Cliff Parrott, forced into early retire- a lot of people coming to their defense ment, said he felt sorry for younger men

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Politics 1958 Already the 1960 Presidential elec- Tribune from Belle Isle, responding to tion was a hot topic. Incumbent Vice Nash’s complaints about some “spuri- years ago, my mother-in- President Richard M. Nixon was (with ous literature” that “none of us good Re- law’s Marshfield high school president and general Dwight D. Eisen- publicans ever heard of.” pal was well on his way to 50 hower out of the race), the one to beat The Republicans, she said, put out becoming one of the most influential for the Republican nomination. There their own literature, “telling of the ac- politicians from central Wisconsin. He was going to be fierce competition for complishment of 20 years of good gov- is Melvin R. Laird, former Congress- the Democratic slot now that victory ernment. We have facts to rely on, and man, secretary of defense and still a was possible. a record of honesty and efficiency that prominent figure here and in Washing- The early favorite, as the Tribune saw needs no embellishments of the imagi- ton D.C. Her name was Kathryn Ken- it, was Sen. John F. Kennedy of Mas- nation. ney, a school teacher to be. sachusetts. “Ever since his gracious, “Not so the Democratic Party. We Re- In October 1958, the Republican sportsmanlike acceptance of defeat publicans often run into wild pamphlets member of the House of Representatives for the vice presidential nomination in and even books, written and peddled by told the 1,100 students of Lincoln High 1956, he has been in tremendous de- our opposition. One famous book mak- School here that he favored lowering the mand everywhere,” said the Tribune. ing almost insane accusations was defi- voting age to 18: “Young people today “Shrewd observers in Washington say nitely presented to us by the Democratic have the education and maturity to make he had markedly added to his stature by Party. Two years ago, a horrid pamphlet adequate decisions regarding the people his Senate performance in recent years. was circulated by a Democratic candi- who represent them.” Laird also said he He has his critics, especially among cer- date about one of our major candidates. favored grants and fellowships for edu- tain militant liberals. Reservations are “Hamilton Roddis is a generous and a cation rather than loans. “We have had a heard expressed because he is a Catho- very valued citizen. The attempt to con- student loan program here in Wisconsin lic. But none of this seems to lessen his nect him with scurrilous publicity is in- for over 20 years, but it has been used basic position materially … He stirs ex- excusable. His company provides jobs very little.” citement wherever he goes among his and a happy, prosperous life for many Ina non-Presidential year, on the bal- fellow Democrats and beyond.” families in Marshfield and others all lot, besides Laird, were: for governor, While Laird appeared here, Philleo over the nation. (Republican) Vernon W. Thomson vs. Nash, of Rapids, Democratic nominee “If the Democrats win an election by (Democrat) Gaylord A. Nelson; lieu- for lieutenant, governor, was in Laird’s condemning the leaders of industry with tenant governor, Warren P. Knowles vs. Marshfield, speaking to a government that sneer in their voices, there will be Philleo Nash of Wisconsin Rapids; U.S. class at Columbus high school. Nash no industry in Wisconsin or in any other Senator, Roland J. Steinle vs. William praised the class members for their in- state. Nor will there be the jobs, and the Proxmire; and a host of local candidates terest in practical politics and said that, stores, and the farmer’s markets, and tall with familiar names, including Arthur frequently, “young people are more ide- the prosperity that is dependent upon it. J. Crowns, Jr., Arthur H Treutel, Adrian alistic than their parents, and therefore it “Wake up, citizens! Fight prejudice G. Elvod, Harold E. Fitzgerald, Byron is doubly rewarding to see a high school and unfairness where it really is—in the T. Adams, Thomas H. Forsyth, Jasper C. government class match its idealism Democratic Party.” Johnson, Morgan L. Midthun, Robert P. with practical experience.” Signed, “Emily M[ead]. Baldwin.” Bender, Robert J. Ryan and Thomas J. A political figure in Rapids, who did Ruesch. not run for office, wrote to the Daily 11-03-08

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Age of Light we’ve got this guy out there now who among the seemingly all-Obama audi- is redefining the nature of politics from ence: Pennsylvania! Ohio! o you, I am best known as the ground up: Barack Obama. Am I For the encore, probably having “Uncle Dave.” When I cross hopeful? Yes, I’m hopeful that things learned during the break that Obama Tthe Minnesota line, I become, might change. Some things are going to had won, Dylan played “Like a Rolling “Dave Dylan.” That’s because, in 1997, have to.” Stone” and then turned to the expect- I published a book about Hibbing, Despite his reluctance to take sides in ant audience and spoke for the first Minn., and its prodigal son Bob Dylan. politics, Dylan, of Jewish heritage, has time that night. Introducing his guitar- As you know, “Dylan” is neither always had an affinity for the African- ist and fellow Minnesotan, he said, mine nor the “real” name of the cele- American people and culture, begin- “Tony Garnier ... over there wearing his brated sexagenarian troubadour, Robert ning in Hibbing with a black DJ in Obama button; Tony thinks it’s gonna Allen Zimmerman. We both have a lot nearby Chisholm, calling himself “Jim be an Age of Light. Well, I was born in of fun with our new names. Dandy” and, at Bob’s bourgeois home, 1941. That was the year they bombed Election night 2008, “Dave Dylan” a late night radio full of the blues. By Pearl Harbor. Been living in darkness journeyed to spend an evening with 1960, Bob had become a critic of racial ever since. Looks like that’s all gonna Bob, at Northrop Auditorium on the inequality, mainly through “protest” change now.” University of Minnesota campus, the songs. His girlfriends and wives were Then came the familiar finale, same institution Bob had dropped out often African-American and so is a “Blowin’ in the Wind,” asking, more of without graduating. child or two. aptly than usual, “How many years Here we were in the belly of the For his part, the President-elect has must some people exist before they’re beast: a campus in Minnesota, home counted about 30 Dylan songs on his allowed to be free?” of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party, iPod, the favorite in the season past As the house lights went up, the of Walter Mondale, Hubert Humphrey, being “Maggie’s Farm,” an inventory crowd “just went nuts” as it moved Paul Wellstone, Jesse Ventura, “Red” of the members of Maggie’s family the through a lobby where a wall-size Lewis, thousands of ungovernable singer is not going to “work for.” screen projected election results. Finns and Communist party stalwart, Back in his “finger pointin’” days, Outside, the exhilarated descendents Gus Hall. Bob also wrote, “The Times They of Scandinavian sod busters jumped But the Bob Dylan of “Gotta Serve Are A-Changin’” and “Blowin’ in the around to a tribal drum beat. It felt like Somebody” is no liberal. As he told Wind,” the latter a favorite of dilet- times a-changin’ for sure. Babes danc- Jann Wenner of Rolling Stone maga- tantes, more-so than Dylanologists. ing in the woods and somewhere in the zine, “I don’t expect politicians to solve It so happened that, four years ago, Minnesota night, Al Franken, waiting anybody’s problems.” also on election night, I attended Bob’s to find out if his ship too had come in. Wenner: “Who is going to solve concert while the votes were being them?” counted. In the Oshkosh state college 11-17-08 Dylan: “Our own selves ... The world gym, he did not mention the election or owes us nothing, each and every one anything else and only later did I find of us, the world owes us not one single out Pres. Bush had won reelection. By thing. Politicians or whoever.” contrast, in 2008, the concert hall was He seemed to have made an excep- flickering with a thousand online cell tion in June 2008, when Bob said, “But phones as the latest news passed swiftly

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Teens Kept Knickers Up Bronx (the den of iniquity), Gilbert necked with other fellows and—sur- concluded that “teeners” often set prisingly—80 percent would marry a f you’re old enough to remember themselves stiffer standards than their girl who has petted with other boys and goiter pills, you might agree with elders. The interviewees seemed to 54 percent would marry a girl who has IMrs. Whitehouse that Sodom has agree that kissing “and even necking” gone further than petting.” come to Gomorrah and traded ballroom were all right for those “going steady.” The girls were stricter, said Gilbert. dancing for pole dancing. But most took a dim view of “petting,” All said they would marry a boy who An actress portrayed Mrs. W. recently even for steady sweethearts. had kissed other girls and 93 percent on the British Broadcasting Co. via “Necking” was considered to be said they would marry “a fellow who Wisconsin Public TV.—as an English limited to caresses from the neck up had necked a bit.” But only 63 percent housewife with cat glasses and hair of although there was considerable over- said they would marry a boy who had steel wool. According to her, the BBC lapping, said Gilbert, between that term petted with other girls and only half of the early 1960s promoted disbelief, and petting. “Petting” then, we have to said they would marry someone who doubt, dirt, promiscuity, infidelity and guess, would be caresses from the neck had gone beyond petting. drinking instead of faith in God. In down, some of which was referred to as Only 18 percent of the teens said a the production, barbarians outside the “heavy petting.” boy should never go any further than courthouse chanted, “We want sex!” Only 11 percent of the girls and 20 a good night kiss on a date. Necking As a hereditary prude, I was sym- percent of the boys said petting was on a date was okayed by 65 percent of pathetic with the moral crusader until acceptable and only half would approve the girls and 72 percent of the boys, she focused on a song by those be- it, even for engaged couples. Almost all although most added that the couple loved mop tops, the Beatles, “I Am the are against “anything more intimate” should “really like each other.” Ap- Walrus,” and the line, “Boy, you been before marriage. proval of necking rose to 75 percent a naughty girl you let your knickers Boys took a more “happy-go-lucky” from both boys and girls for steady down.” approach though a majority agreed with daters. Fifty years ago, Nov. 30, 1958, dur- the girls that a fellow ought not try to Alas, Mrs. Whitehouse was right. The ing Mrs. W.’s era, appeared a column in kiss a girl on the first date. decline of Western Civilization was in the Daily Tribune by regular contribu- Two-thirds of teens questioned de- full force a few years after Gilbert’s tor Eugene Gilbert of Gilbert Youth clared the same rules about necking and interview. Man, you should have seen Research Co. Gilbert said he asked 600 petting should apply to both boys and them kicking Edgar Allan Poe. It began boys and 600 girls: girls; though many spoke for the double with the BBC and segued into Semo- “Should a boy try to kiss a girl on standard in which girls had the most to lina Pilchard climbing up the Eiffel the first date? Should a girl let a boy lose (their “reputation”). “A boy will Tower and elementary penguin singing kiss her on the first date? Do you think try for as much as he thinks he can get, Hare Krishna. “I am the eggman, they that the same rules about necking and but it is up to the girl to stop.” are the eggmen, I am the walrus. petting should apply to boys and girls? “A girl can always refuse if she’s “Goo Goo G’joob, Goo-Goo Goo Do most of the boys and girls in your not interested,” said “Fred French” of G’joob. school agree with your opinions about Brooklyn, NY. “Goo Goo G’joob, Goo- Goo Goo necking and petting?” “All the boys said they would marry G’joob.” Although the answers seemed to a girl who had kissed other boys; 98 come mainly from Brooklyn and the percent would marry a girl who has 12-01-08

277 Ghost River City Memoirs

A Ken Thing Death swooped down, and it was over Santa as we insist she do. Christmas, be- and everything was sewed up neatly; cause Dad, dead these many years, stirs the ooking for my car in the vast but what is messy and vague and disap- oyster stew after the candlelight services parking lot outside Riverview pointing is that a year goes by and Ken at the Methodist church, wearing that LHospital, near the more modest is still dead. Years go by and all the dead funny apron, embellished with a picture building in which I was born, I caught are still dead: Mom and Dad, my sis- of a doofus and something about “Hon- the scent of something exotic yet famil- ter Kathy, and all the aunts and uncles ey.” iar. Burnt flesh; and I realized it was my and Grandpa and Grandma. All still Christmas, because we sing carols to own. dead. our childless neighbors on Two Mile Just the day before, my daughter had That’s why there is Christmas, because Avenue, Bert and Norman Butz. Dead asked, “When are you going to have that of the loved ones that die from the little but not still, they welcome us with Ken thing removed?” things, the pimples and Ken things, and tears. The Ken thing, a lesion on my upper the big melanomas and aneurisms and Christmas, because on the longest lip, fortunately disguised by facial hair myocardial infarctions. Christmas, be- and coldest night, halfway between and shaded by a generous nose, had been cause being “still dead” is, in the words midnight and the allowed wake-up of deftly seared off by a soldering iron. of the eminently “fustrated” Mike Mc- 6 a.m., I summon my dead sister to Not pretty, the “Ken thing” when it Carthy, “unacceptable.” We need to go creep through the still house. Moonlight was my brother Ken’s own thing, look- back and look at the films. beams through the picture window of the ing like an inchworm popping up on the Christmas, because the old Ger- pine-scented living room; the Bible lies rim of his nostril for a better look around. mans I always conjure up this time where Mom left it; the tree is decked in si- But it could have and should have been of year, many of them related to me, lent glory; and the plate of crumbs prove a lifesaver. Had he screwed up his cour- rise up to murmur, “Stille Nacht” at the promise of the season. age to have the thing snipped, Ken might the old EUB church in the family home But listen up hozers, that is not the have been scarfed up by the medical sys- town. Christmas, because something whole story of Christmas this year. Af- tem and saved from the “massive” brain has to be done about it, about Grandpa, ter the first story, the one you just read, bleed that killed him at age 52. That was one of the old Germans dead 40 years was finished, Dec. 11, 2008, a year after Dec. 10, 2007. but not still. For me, on Christmas and the date on my brother’s death certifi- I was in the same SWCHC Museum every day, he rises in the still dark to cate, I picked up something shiny from office, where I am writing this, when milk the dozen or so cows and fill the our own living room floor—in the house the first phone call came from St. Jo- mangers with silage, the sweet smell and home that Ken had done so much to seph’s Hospital, Bellingham, Wash. The soon replaced by a better one: fresh- help build, maintain and embellish. last call roused me at home in bed, frosted rolls Grandma bakes in the wood It was a still-brilliant 2007 quarter before midnight, Dec. 11, Belling- stove, waiting for David, Kathy, Gary, dollar coin emblazoned with a leaping ham time, and early Dec. 12 here. Ken and the other grandchildren to ar- salmon from “the Evergreen state,” the They had kept him alive long enough rive. state of Washington. to make his organs available; but now, Christmas, because Mom, dead a de- “Where did that come from?” I said. the physician said, the time had come to cade, reads in her quiet way from the “It’s Ken,” my wife said. “Just “harvest.” New Testament about what the wise the kind of thing he would do.” He wanted to pull the plug. Because it men, shepherds and angels did, and was my day to play God, I said OK. sets out a plate of Christmas cookies for 12-15-08 278 River City Memoirs Ghost

Cyber-Christmas “Baker, (Libbie) undertaker res 538 ●The grand opening of the Grand Ninth St N.” Rapids Variety Store in the Pomainville ey, hot stuff! Wanna chat? “Baker, Geo W Sr (Lizzie) undertaker Building, opposite the Witter Hotel on The invitation came with an 542 Baker St” First Street. Hanimated photo of a cute gal in ●On eBay from “Quaintcards,” Mont- CRASH. bra and panties lying on a bed and typ- gomery Village, Md., “Grand Rapids, Hitting a key to accomplish an un- ing a letter to me. Hot stuff! Trekking Wis., downtown 1908 large photo.” related task, my computer went black; the World Wide Web in search of local View of West Grand faces the bridge, so I had to begin again with my cyber- history. showing shoppers, dogs, etc., at $9.99 Christmas perambulations: Chihuahua When I typed in the phrase, “Christ- plus shipping. pups ready for Christmas! And that is mas ‘Grand Rapids,’” the former name ●Again, eBay: 14 items for Grand now, so check it out. of our fair city, the first site to pop up was Rapids offered by “uffdahh,” but 13 ●“Internet service prices and rates ­­“Meet Grand Rapids Asian Singles.” come from Grand Rapids, Mich. One quotes in Grand Rapids Commercial Here I was on a global network nego- is a 1912 postcard of our Dixon hotel, telecommunication on my Christmas tiating a global society. But it’s not just a showing two horses and a buggy in front card list.” Very now. global society out there; same, right here of the stairwell down to the Brig . ●Then. Outagamie county “WIGen- at home. Consider my neighbors. They CRASH. Web,” for genealogists, from the Kau- are (or their antecedents were) German, The history train derailed when I acci- kauna Times. “Misses Eva and Lottie Swiss, Polish, Swedish, French-Canadi- dentally closed the entire Google search KNICKERBOCKER returned Saturday an, Hmong and Native-American. engine. After that, I had to start with a from a week’s visit at Grand Rapids, A sample of what else came up: new search. There were 631 results. Wisconsin.” ●From the Wisconsin Rapids Area ●Dec. 22, 2008, a very contemporary ●Then. Passage from a book, “History Convention & Visitors Bureau: “Experi- concern regarding Biron and Grand of Michigan,” about a Grand Rapids ence a variety of local colors and flavors Rapids holiday recycling and garbage Jeweler who moved on to Menomonie, by getting out and exploring the area’s pickup. Mich. – George A. Woodford. parks, town squares, and welcoming at- ●An antiquated thought from the Wis- ●Now. A resolution of the town board mospheres.” consin Valley Leader, Dec. 14, 1905: that they might elect to provide special ●Next, Babcock, “a small residential “Only Eight More Shopping Days Be- pickups for Christmas trees. community with rural aspects,” where fore Christmas Hurrah – Johnson Hill ●Then. “GEORGE H. ALBEE cem- the local Ocean Spray cranberry pro- Company Department Store.” Or not etery #44.” Website for “Obituaries of cessing plant reminds us of Cape Cod antiquated; some propaganda never gets Manitowoc county.” From Der Nord origins and which sends our product far old. Westen, 26 Nov. 1908: a former resident into the wider world. ●Grand Rapids Tribune, Dec. 14, “of our city,” a traveling representative ●The next entry came from the 1913- 1916: “Xmas” specials from the Nash for the Plumb Nelson Co., Albee died at 14 Grand Rapids Directory: “Go to grocery store until Christmas on such his residence in Grand Rapids, Wis. BAKER & SON for Christmas presents. good ol’ fashioned fare as cranberries, ●Then —or now. “Russian brides want Nothing better appreciated as a pres- peanuts, oranges, raisins, nuts, candy, to meet Grand Rapids men.” ent than a fancy piece of furniture.” Or popcorn balls, apples, pickles, olives, Hey, Hot Stuff! a well-polished casket as the directory candied pineapple, cherries, citron and Hey, yourself. showed: cigars. 12-29-08

279 Ghost River City Memoirs

Advancement Association 233 Amundson, Mr. and Mrs. Howard 62 Arpin, E.P. Jr. 69 A.F. Billmeyer & Son 11, 36, 37, 100 Amundson, Mrs. Fern 167 Arpin, John 215 Index Ahdawagam 7, 11, 39, 132, 154, Anchorage 142 Arpin [township] 79 161, 176, 226, 255, 260 Anderson 75 Artifacts 2, 73, 83, 90, 92, 105, Numbers Ahdawagam Paper Products Co. Anderson, David 128 118, 120, 122, 125, 128, 176, 260 Anderson, Glenn 86 137 1st Street 197 Airport Avenue 135, 197 Anderson, Harris and Delbert 75 Art’s [restaurant] 174, 252 2nd Street 12, 47, 62, 114, 157, Akey, Cleve 98 Anderson, Kenneth 91 Arts, Gordy 13 166, 208 Akron, Ohio 212 Anderson, Lannie 151 Aschbrenner, Linda 118 3rd Avenue S. 63 Alaska 42, 142 Anderson, Rodney 18, 109 Aschenbrenner, Bill 63 3rd Street 7, 44, 48, 63, 86, 102, Alban, James S. 181 Anderson’s bakery 63 Ashcan School 231 157, 179 Albany 82 Anderson’s Drug 59, 75 Ashenbrenner, Pfc. Richard J. 10 4th Avenue 63, 75, 112, 197, 257 Albee, George H. 279 Anderson, William F. 15 Ashland 120 4th Street 173 Alberta 163 Andrae, Max 107 Ashland County, Wis. 125, 212 5th Ave 213, 257 Alexander Field 212, 244, 261 Andrejewski, Frank 101 Assembly of God Gospel Taber- 6th Street 63, 197 Alexander high school 22 Andrejewski, Joseph 101 nacle 11 8th 63 Alexander House 21, 212 Ann Mary Pitsch school 190, 195 Assumption high school 4, 19, 68, 8th Avenue 205, 254 Alexander, John 27, 39, 43 Anoszko, John 46 70, 100, 101, 118, 127, 146, 8th Street 8, 27, 30, 31, 38, 42, 49. Alexander, John E. 11, 26, 64, Antigo 248 149, 150, 156, 194, 262, 62, 63, 76, 81, 85, 111, 112, 208, 273 Anunson, Russell 235 263 126, 161, 174, 205, 206, Alexander, L.M 107 A&P 75, 119, 261 Atlanta 78, 239 208, 212, 279 Alexander, L.M. 26, 27, 140, 161, Apple Street 139, 170 Atom bomb 47 9th Avenue 197 204, 266 Appleton 18, 39, 40, 46, 90, 111, Atomic Energy Commission 256 9th Street 32, 76, 98, 238 Al & Hazel’s Bar 59, 252 115, 120, 146, 158, 204, Atwood, Fayth 143 10th Avenue 78, 166 Alice’s Restaurant 71 205, 255, 262, 266, 268 Atwood, Mrs. W.L. 129 10th Street 8, 146, 215 All-American Indians 156 Appleton Republican 40 Auburndale 79, 136, 140, 211, 17th Street 195 Allegany 158, 164 Aquinas, La Crosse 100, 194 267 18th Avenue 254 Allen County Public Library 118 Ara [Taylor Alexander] 247 Auburndale [township] 79 19th Street 195 Allworden, Sharon 95 Arena, Wis. 201 Auto Electric 63 32nd Division 64 Almond 145, 164, 233 Arendt, Dr. Norbert 254 Ava Gardner 3 48th Street, 8 Along the Wisconsin River 268 Arendt, Kathy 245 Avon [street] 205 1957 Misc. 257 Alton 223 Arendt, Norm 48 Ayers, Alice 231 Alvarez, Julia 29 Arizona 50 Ayres, Giovanni and Eliza 231 A Amann, Charles M. 78 Arlington national cemetery 240 B Aaron, Hank 239 Ameche, Alan (The Horse) 65 Armory, Memorial 8, 19, 89, 109, 163 Abbotsford 220 Amendment, 18th 108 Armory, National Guard 44 Babcock 23, 137, 211, 279 Abel, D.F. 64 American Association of Univer- Armstrong, Louis 178 Babinski 101 Abel, Frank 75, 134 sity Women 127, 146 Arndt, Mrs. A.A. 129 Bablitch, Robert A. 10 Abel, Frank D. 180 American Carbonic 118, 161 Arndt, Walter 213 Bach, Jerry 70 Abel’s Clothes Shop 75 American Legion Drum and Bugle Arneson, Ole 9 Bachman, Cary 156 Abel’s Men’s Wear 251 Corps 89 Arnold, Edward 261 Backstrom, Alma and Arvid 92 Abitibi Power and Paper Company American Legion hall 33 Arpin 4, 22, 23, 37, 65, 69, 79, 87, Backus, O.A. 65 Limited 271 American Legion Post 233 93, 105, 111, 139, 150, 198, Badger Bar 62 Abler, Lou 232 Amherst 212, 224, 248 215, 220, 236, 270 Badger Books 123 Adams 239 Amherst College 210, 212 Arpin American Legion 105 Badger Girls’ State 7 Adams, Byron T. 275 Ammann, C.A. 16 Arpin-Brazeau 87 Badger Ordnance 261 Adams County 65, 242 Amundson, A.J. 176 Arpin Elks 105 Baguio internment camp 237 Adams, Marian 216 Amundson, Albert.J. 177 Arpin, E.P. 65 Bailey’s Harbor 221 280 River City Memoirs Ghost

Baker 279 Beadle, Eudora 143 Bennett, Ralph C. 203 204, 220, 234, 250, 255, Baker, David 72 Beadle, Warren E. 143, 167 Benson, Carl 25 257, 261, 262, 264, 266, Baker Drive 63 Beadle, W.E. 271 Bentley, Alvin M. 71 271, 279 Baker Drive IGA 75 Beamish 109 Benton Harbor 115, 124 Biron Community Hall 143 Baker, Geo. Jr (Libbie) 279 Bean [school] 203 Bentzler, Jerome 205 Biron Division [Consolidated] 132 Baker, Geo. W. Sr (Lizzie) 279 Bean’s grocery store 83 Benz, William 16 Biron, Francis 32, 36, 220 Baker, Miss Fannie 182 Beardsley, Edward 113 Berard, Charles “Squirt” 63 Biron, G.S. 158 Baker, Royal 95 Beardsley, Mrs. 113 Berg, Arthur E., sheriff 53, 58, Biron, Laura 32 BAKER & SON 279 Beatles 277 103, 104, 162 Biron [name] 198 Baker Street 11, 42, 49, 63, 92, Beatniks 3, 256 Bergen 140 Biron News 143 151, 208, 215, 279 Beatz, Gus 143 Berg, Mrs. Arthur 208 Biron [school] 190 Baldwin, Emily Mead 23, 41, Beaver 227 Berkeley 243 Biron War Service Club 143 149, 275 Beaver Island 227 Berklund 96 Bissig Bros. 172 Baldwin, Henry 41, 80, 92, 149, Beaver Island museum 227 Berlin 47, 116, 162, 250 Black Creek 148, 246 268 Beaverville 224, 227 Bessey, Jack and Eleanor 85 Blackjack 48 Baldwin, Sherri 150 Becker 109 Bethany Lutheran church 13 Black River Falls 215 Balisle, Michael 258 Becker, Ernie 73 Bethke Chevrolet and Olds 63 Blaine, Governor 267 Balthis, Mrs. Lester 89 Becker Jr., Henry 32 Betty Boop 142, 191, 214, 226 Blaine, John J. 113 Baltimore 10, 59, 156, 194, 209 Beckmann, William “Bill” 20, 95, Bever, A.B. 175 Blanchard, Donald “Red” 232 Baltimore Bullets 156 131 Bevins, Mrs. 216 Blashfield 231 Banana band 89 Beckmann, William R. 160 Beyerle, Charles 220 Blashfield, Edwin Howland 230 Bancroft 5, 42, 104, 162 Bee Bee 4, 5, 95, 131, 160 Bidwell, Marjorie 95 Blei, Norbert 51, 207 Bandelin Hotel 170 Beell, Fred 146 Big Bull 164 Blenker 159 Banks, Cliff and Orchestra 178 Beetles, European elm bark 213 Big Bull Falls 164, 199 Blenkers TV 63 Banks [street] 141 Behrend, Lawrence 15 Big Eau Pleine 114 Block, Charlie 156 Baraboo 18, 23, 25, 261 Beichl, Bruce 19 Big Kahuna 4, 26, 48, 50, 72 Bloody Run 47 Barber Shop quartet 84 Belgium 117 Big Roche-a-Cri 242 Bloomer Memorial hospital 195 Bar, Johnny & Ruby’s 62 Bell 96 Billings, John 98, 125, 126, 257 Blowin’ in the Wind 276 Barker, Hartley 23 Bell, Anne 116 Billmeyer 61 Blue Denim Boys 90 Barnes Candy Kitchen 113 Bell, Chester 43 Billmeyer, A. F. 11, 36, 37, 63, Board of Education 17, 193, 195 Barnet, E.G. 65 Bell, Chet 131 65, 100 Bocaner, Mrs. Marvin 249 Barnett, Andy 118 Belle Island 262 Billmeyer, Carl 37, 63, 65, 100 Bodette, George 63 Barrett 96 Belle Isle 140, 261, 275 Billmeyer, Carl J. 194 Bodette, “Sam” 143 Barrette, Leo J. 9, 16, 85, 92 Bellingham, Wash. 82, 245, 247, Billmeyer, C.J. 208 Boehme, Dick 62 Bartelt 109 264, 278 Billmeyer, Dave 65 Boehme, William H. (“Spider”) Bartkowski, Stan 171 Bell, Steve 131 Billmeyer, Frank 65 62, 64, 65, 156 Bassler, Jerry 32 Bell [telephone] 166 Billmeyer, Harold 63, 65 Boero, Joe 258 Bassuener, Alan 151 Bel-Mead Hotel 15 Billmeyer, Harold D. 10 Boles, Mrs. Sam 211 Bates, Clara “Cad” 52, 53, 60, 61 Belmont 164 Billmeyer, Jack 11 Boll, Arthur 52, 60 Bates, Mr. and Mrs. Eli 52 Belvidere 164 Billmeyer, Paul 63, 65 Boll, Arthur M. 10 Bates, William 52 Bender brothers 62 Billmeyer, Rod 63, 65 Boll, Sheriff 61 Baton Rouge 225 Bender, Robert P. 275 Billmeyer Super Service 63 Bonow Avenue 257 Battery C 53 Benitz, Joyce 152, 153 Bill’s Billiards 62, 208 Bonow, William 15, 40 Battle of the Bulge 117 Benitz, Lewie 152, 153, 263 Binger, Winifred 59 Bonow, Wm. 40 Bauer, L.A. 195 Benitz, Scott 152, 153 Biot, Patricia 80 Boop, Betty 142, 191, 214, 226 Bauman, Louis A. 220 Bennett, Chuck 87 Biron 5, 13, 16, 19, 32, 36, 42, 43, Bors, Joseph A. 150 Baumgart, Ervin 269 Bennett, Dr. Glenn 32 46, 87, 125, 132, 143, 144, Borth, Vern 50 Baumgart, Irv 269 Bennett, L.J. 65 158, 161, 167, 198, 200, Bossert, Earl 166

281 Ghost River City Memoirs

Boston 58, 92, 172, 178, 224, 239, Brandt, Dorothy 143 Budahl, Palmer 135, 263 Camp Peterson 76, 80 244 Brandt, Tunis and Dewey 17 Budzinski, Alex 146 Canada 13, 26, 28, 72, 125, 136, Botkin 5, 217, 222, 223 Brasted, Fred 211 Buehler, J. Marshall 27, 65, 107, 139, 172, 189, 198, 220, Botkin, A.C. 222 Brauer, Betsy 108, 128 167, 273 266, 267 Botkin, Alexander Campbell “Pip” Brauer’s clothing store 159, 274 Buehler’s 27 Canning, Jas. 158 222, 223 Braun, Farmer 56 Bukowski 96 Cantin, Lois 127 Botkin, Alexander Sr. 223 Braves 239 Bull Falls 181 Canton 229 Botkin, Bonnie 223 Braves, Milwaukee 239 Bulls Eye 90, 92 Card 137 Botkin, “Bott” 222 Brawley, Abraham 199 Bull’s Eye Country Club 92, 235 Carden 198 Botkin, Capt. W.W. 217 Brazeau 96 Bump, Alba F. 180 Carlson, Lawrence 131 Botkin, Colonel 217 Brazeau, Mrs. and Mr. Stephen 215 Bunde, Herbert A. 10, 60, 61, 180, Carrel, Lawrence and Audrey 85 Botkin, Pip 222 Brazeau, Nicholas J. 2, 30 228 Cary [township] 79 Botkins 5, 217, 222, 223, 225 Brazeau, Richard S. 140, 146 Burdette, Lew 239 Case, Justin 258 Botkin, Sinclair 223 Brazeau, Stephen 203 Burial Hill 224 Casey, Norman 116 Botkin, Sinclair Walker 223 Brazeau, Theodore W. 10, 30, 33, Burlington 52 Casey, Sam 273 Botkin, S.W. 222 150, 167, 180, 187, 212, Burns, Ken 259 Casper, Henry and Anna 83 Botkin Tripp hall 217, 223 215, 262 Burns, Mary 51 Castaneda, Carlos 264 Botkin, William Wallace “Bot” Breckinridge, John C. 209 Burt 96 Castle Rock 14, 29, 198 217, 223 Bredow, Ed 43 Buseum 4, 117 Castle Rock Lake 14 Botkin, W.W. 217, 222 Brehmer, Debra 50 Business and Professional Wom- Castro, Fidel 71 Bot, Old 223 Bremmer, Karl 63 en’s Club 45 Cate, George Washington 181 Boucher, Nettalie 23 Brennan 96 Business Men’s Association 268 Cate, Judge 181 Boulder Junction 138 Brennan, Earl 177 Buss, Tom 79 Cate, Judge George W. 164 Bourassa, Judith 227 Brewster, Don 9, 18, 19, 109 Butterfield 120, 271 Cate, Mr. (George?) 199 Bouton and Gee 269 Brewster, Harold 18 Butz, Bert and Norman 278 Catholic Catholic church, S.S. Bouton, Carl “Red” 115 Briere, Charles E. 113 Butzes 107 Peter & Paul 47 Bouton, Farnum “Buzz” 115, 270 Briere, Chas. 158 Buzza, Scot 127 Catholic Knights and Foresters Bouton, Farnum Jr. 270 Brig 5, 59, 62, 65, 87, 156, 157, Buzz’s Bar 269, 270 220 Bouton, Gene 270 252, 279 Buzz’s Ranch House Drive-In 270 Catholics 11, 19, 27, 28, 29, 32, Bouton, Janice 270 Britain 183, 202 36, 37, 40, 47, 51, 59, 60, Bouton, Kathleen 270 Broadway [street] 141 C 83, 84, 93, 96, 100, 101, Bouton, Marcia 270 Brokaw, Tom 259 Cabanatuan 237, 238 103, 108, 110, 125, 134, Bouton, Red 62, 63 Brookfield/Leonardsville 224 Cable, Dick 9, 18, 156 155, 159, 161, 169, 180, Bouton, “Sis” 270 Brookfield township 224 Cad’s Place 60 194, 206, 220, 221, 227, Bowen’s Restaurant 59 Brostowicz, Peter 101 Cad’s Tavern 52 244, 248, 254, 269, 275 Bowlmor 87 Brown, Belle and Harley 252 Cajanus, Engineer 95 Catlin, Judge 181 Boyceville 152 Brown, Charlie 252 California 44, 69, 137, 142, 164, Cavanaugh, Kath 194 Boyle, Hal 8, 10, 23, 39 Brown, Phil 87, 159, 243, 262 177, 178, 191, 207, 210, Cavanaugh, Katie 127 Boy Scout Camp 76 Bruce 154 243, 265 Caves 107 Boy Scouts 14, 76, 80, 89, 121, Brundage, E.B. 158 Calkins, Frank W. 72, 176 Caylor, Donald 58, 61, 104, 232 125, 136, 138, 150, 165, Brundage, Jack 225 Calkins, Vida 72, 76 Caylor, Undersheriff Don 235 174, 218, 243 Brundidge, Linda 150 Calvary cemetery 220, 221, 254, CCC 171 Boy Scouts Drum and Bugle Bruse, Henry 258 269 Cell Block bar 270 Corps. 89 Bryan, William Jennings 33 Camelot Room and Pub 252 Centennial 5, 166, 183 Boys School at Waukesha 173 Buckley-Baldwin Post No. 2534 Cameron [township] 79 Centennial Edition 183 B.P.O.E. 64 VFW 51, 180 Campbell, Gary 152 Center Street 141 Bradbury, Ray 103 Buckley, Mrs. J. 232 Camp City Point 171 Central Electric Service Co 260 Brahmsteadt, Frederick 64 Buck Night 3 Camp Petenwell 171 Central Home Improvements 51 282 River City Memoirs Ghost

Central Hotel 81 Cheyenne 249 Civil War 5, 79, 88, 181, 209, Commercial Expansion Corp. 206 Centralia 5, 33, 59, 72, 79, 136, Chicago 11, 13, 15, 17, 21, 30, 39, 223, 225, 232, 259, 272 Commercial Hotel 14 141, 158, 182, 183, 184, 42, 56, 59, 81, 83, 92, 104, Clark 96 Committee on Human Rights 47 187, 188, 203, 204, 209, 107, 111, 120, 122, 124, Clark, C.H. 72 Communist party 10, 276 211, 234, 254, 266 126, 145, 156, 158, 159, Clark County 136 Community Methodist Church 27 Centralia Enterprise 72, 158 161, 191, 204, 214, 221, Clarke, Dr. and Mrs. E.J. 268 Community State Bank 63 Centralia high school 33, 188 223, 226, 229, 230, 231, Clark, Mrs. E.J. 129 Compton, F.E. 30 Centralia & Northern Railway 158 247, 249, 260, 261, 265, Clark & Scott 155, 189, 193 Compton, Miss L. 184 Centralia Pulp & Water Power Co. 266, 268, 273, 274 Clark & Scott sawmill 155 Concord 224 211, 158 Chicago Art Institute 191 Clark & Scott school 193 Coney Island bar 219 Central Intelligence Bureau 185 Chicago Cardinals 11 Clark’s Super Gas Station 63 Congregational church 76, 92, Central Labor union 45, 176, 177 Chicago Institute of Art 230 Clark Street 64, 254 114, 119, 125, 218 Central State College 105, 151 Chicago Tribune 126 Clark, State Sen. W.W. 180 Congregational Sunday School Central [street] 141 Chichonel 110 Clark, William L.M.H. 258 160 Central Wisconsin Cultural Center Chicken Hut 59 Clark, W.W. 10, 58 Connecticut 217 42, 62 Children’s Choice school 5, 8, Clausen, Ray 152 Connor, Craig Prentice 267 Central Wisconsin Home Builders 112, 190, 200, 203, 257 Clausen, R.E. 103, 195 Connor, Gordon 138 Assoc. 90 Childs & Smith 30, 31, 265 Cleveland, Mrs. Herb 129 Connor, Helen 136 Central Wisconsin Sunday 108 Chillicothe 191 Cleveland Museum of Art 231 Connor, James 267 Cepek 152 Chilsen, Walter J. 94 Cleveland, President Grover 209 Connor, John 267 Chadbourne Hall 46 Chilton 158, 188 Cleveland [street] 141 Connor, Rebecca Waite 267 Chadwick, Charles James, Jr. 115 China 10, 34, 273 Clifton 221 Connor, Reuben 149, 267 Chadwick, Dorothy Rember 119 Chippewa Falls 78, 153 Clintonville 85, 131 Connor, Robert 267 Chadwick, Jake 115, 119 Christensen, Donna 150 Closuit 198 Connor, Ruth 267 Chadwick, Pat 119 Christmas 4, 5, 12, 13, 23, 31, 34, Clyde Avenue 8, 11, 54, 85, 102, 168 Connor, Wallace 267 Chamberlain, Califern 78 36, 37, 43, 44, 59, 60, 61, Coach 59 Connor, W.D. 267 Chamberlain, Charley 33 62, 74, 76, 92, 97, 101, 104, Coast to Coast hardware 159 Connor, W.D. and Huldah Mary- Chamberlin, Dr. Regis 102 116, 142, 144, 145, 147, Cobleskill 224 Belle “Mame” 136 Chamber of Commerce 133, 187 148, 165, 171, 193, 195, Cochran, William H. 215 Connor wood products 136 Chambers, E.I. 58 196, 200, 214, 220, 233, Cockerell, Paul 269 Conover, Bernice 229 Chambers, E.L. 213 237, 242, 245, 246, 247, Coen, Hyman 204 Consolidated 4, 8, 14, 15, 17, 21, Chambers, Emeline 7 257, 268, 270, 273, 278, Cohn, Roy M. 240 23, 31, 34, 39, 42, 44, 58, Chambers, Larry 80 279 Colby 220 63, 64, 69, 70, 77, 78, 84, Channel 7 118 Christy Service 63 Cole, Ralph 14, 15, 64, 106, 107 85, 86, 92, 99, 107, 112, Chapman, John A. 33 Chrystal-Saratoga Telephone Co. Cole, “Roger” 107 113, 114, 115, 119, 120, Charcoal Grill. 174 65, 166 Colgate University 154 121, 122, 125, 126, 129, Charlevoix 227 Church’s drug store 22, 251 Collar, Elmer 124 132, 136, 140, 146, 150, Chase 64, 166 Cicero 145 College Street 141 161, 165, 168, 197, 204, Chaseburg 242 Cincinnati public library 118 Collman, Harold 90 210, 218, 234, 251, 254, Chatter Bar 81 Cincinnati Symphony 22 Collman, Tech. Sgt. H.G. 261 255, 257, 260, 261, 262, Chatterbox restaurant 25 Circus World museum 25 Coloma 268 266, 271, 274 Cheatle, Clarence 95, 197 Ciszewski 101 Colonial Ballroom 178 Consolidated [gas] 63 Chebanse 221 Cities Service Oil Co. 78 Colorado 172 Consolidated’s Civic Foundation 58 Chelsea Hotel 258 City Council 69, 121, 268 Columbian 273 Consolidated Water Power & Pa- Chequamegon 196 City Hall 62, 63, 64, 65, 80, 86, Columbian Exposition 273 per Co. 14, 17, 39, 44, 58, Chestnut Street 47, 78, 100, 141, 99, 121, 160, 206, 250, 270 Columbia [school] 211 64, 84, 86, 107, 112, 113, 194, 262 City Point 5, 171, 172 Columbus [Marshfield] high 114, 122, 146, 150, 161, Chevrette, Russell 205 Civilian Conservation Corps, 171 school 100, 275 197, 204, 234, 255, 257,

283 Ghost River City Memoirs

260, 262, 266, 271 rado 79 Daly, Mike 18, 19, 156 Dennis 256 Consolith 64, 251 Cranmoor [township] 79 Daly, Mrs. Carol M. 254 Denniston, Dave 200 Consoweld 39, 62, 64, 92, 132, Craven, Ken 249 Daly Opera House 23 Den of Antiquity 159, 262 161, 232, 252, 255, 274 Crawford, John S. 180 Daly, Pat 9 Densmore, Cynthia [Daly] 185 Conway 96 Crescent [school] 203 Daly, Percifer Charles 185 Denver 172 Conway, Dennis 249 Cristy, Kathleen 248 Daly & Sampson 158 Denver Co-operative Building and Conway, Judge Byron B. 9, 53, 103 Crockett, Davy 128, 160 Daly’s ice 161 Loan Association 188 Conway, Patrick 169 Crook, Jack 18, 109 Daly’s jewelry 43 De Pere 11 Conway, W. J. 267 Crook, John 257 Daly [street] 141 Depression 26, 31, 92, 119, 122, Coon, Elaine 150 Crown Point, Indiana 119, 145 Daly, Tyne 185 148, 149, 161, 177, 226, Coon Valley 242 Crowns, A.J. 22, 102 Damon, Hugh 150 265, 271 Coopers Corners 46 Crowns, Arthur J. 275 Dancy Drainage District 140 Derleth, August , 40 Cooper, T.J. 187, 203 Crowns, Arthur J. Jr. 180 Dandy, Jim 276 Dern, Anton 107 Copps, Bill 138 Crowns Speedway 51, 59, 146 Daniels, Lester P. 14 De Rouchey, D.M. 200 Corey, Lucy 164 Cub Scouting 160 Dassow, Elmer 83 Des Jarlais 50 Corey, Mr. or Mrs. 200 Cultural Center 39, 42, 62 Daube, Paul H. 39 Des Jarlais, Amy 50 Corey, Mrs. S.G. 257 Culver, Gordon 233 David Harold’s 62 Des Jarlais, Bob 51, 72, 168, 236, Cornell College 185 Cumberland, Geo. 143 David, Rev. A.J. 220 251 Correy, S.G. 236 Cummings, George 145 David, Rev A.T. 101 Des Jarlais, Julie 50 Corrigan, Edwin B. 146 Cunat, Joseph 17 Davis 242 Des Jarlais, Renee 50 Corriveau 198 Curran, Mary 145 Davis, Clifford 71 Des Jarlais, Robert 50 Corriveau, George 204 Curtis, Orlando 201 Davis, Dick 128 Des Jarlais, Rose Mary 50 Cotey 198 Cut Bank, Mont. 247 Davis, Hannah 184 Des Jarlais, Sophia 72 Cottage Grove [street] 141 Cwiklow, Mary Ann 128 Davis, Jefferson 199 Des Moines 147, 230, 231 Country Inn 252 CW Transport 76 Davis, Larry 146 Desper, Ron 42 County, Community Foundation of Czehno, Jackie 25 Davis, Jefferson 69, 272 Dethlefsen, Bruce 258 South Wood 218 Davis, Nona 73 Devil’s Lake 25 County Market 62 D Davis restaurant 59, 157 DeWalt 245, 247, 264 County Trunk D 104 Dad [Donald Engel] 258, 278 DDT 213 Dewey [street] 141 Courthouse 34, 50, 61, 87, 108, Daily Globe 51 Death march 237 Dexter 79, 182 119, 135, 180, 205, 208, Dairybelt School 150 Debus, Elmer 65 Dhein, Mr. and Mrs. Larry 62 267, 277 Dairyman’s State bank 23 Decker, A. 268 Dickerman, Gilbert K. 40, 212 Court House [street] 141 Dakins, Gordon 128 Decker, Donna 118 Dickerman, Kent 218 CPI 21, 70 Dakota Holy Cross 221 Dee, Frances 261 Dickinson, Emily 224 Cramer, Kelli 127 Dallman, Elaine 150 Deer Lodge 223 Diebels Food Shop 63 Cranberries 40, 41, 63, 79, 84, 87, Daly 96 De Guere, Mrs. L.A. 129 Diedrich Knickerbocker Lifetime 125, 133, 137, 143, 149, Daly Avenue 62, 150 DeKarske, Walter 143 Achievement Plaque 99 161, 171, 211-216, 252, Daly, David 185 DelaCruz, Scott 127 Dillinger, Matilda 267 261, 264, 279 Daly Drug & Jewelry 23 Delanglade, Louise 227 Dingeldein 246 Cranberry Growers, Inc. 84 Daly drug store 43, 113, 150, 159 de la Touche, Bubbles 258 Dingledine 242 Cranberry Street 72, 141, 211 Daly, Ellen Tyne 185 Delavan 78 Dingman, Elmer 146 Cranboree 4, 12, 26, 33, 58, 84, Daly, Ethelbert Hogan 185 Dellsbob, Hawthorne 227 Disney, Walt 142, 226 87, 89, 133, 150 Daly, James 5, 185, 186 de los Angeles, Davíd 258 District No. 4 school 200 Cranboree, National 33, 58, 84, Daly, James Firman 185 Delta Boys 90 Dittmann, Herb 218 89, 133 Daly, James Timothy 185 Demitz, Mrs. Henry 129 Dix, Dale 152 Cranboree, National, Queen 89 Daly, John E. 23 Dempze, Wayne 87 Dix, Dean 151 Cranmoor 2, 79, 87, 161 Daly, Mary Ellen 185, 186 Denis 198 Dixie Bar 62, 270 Cranmoor: The Cranberry Eldo- Daly, Mary Glynn 185 Denis drug store 43 Dixon hotel 62, 64, 65, 87, 252, 284 River City Memoirs Ghost

279 D. Walt. 245 Ehrkle 241 Engel 246 Dixon Hotel Tap Room and Brig Dylan, Bob 50, 51, 55, 111, 258, Ehrkle, Agnes 241 Engel, Angelica 258, 263 59, 62 276 Ehrkle, Albert 241 Engel, Arline “Sally” 165, 246 D&M Beauty Shop 75 Dylan, Dave 55 Ehrkle, Alvina Louise 241 Engel, Dennis 246 Dockendorff, Carl 37, 206 Dyracuse Mound 9 Ehrkle, Amalie Fregin 241 Engel, Don 85 Dockendorff, Rev. Carl J. 194 Ehrkle, Bertha 241 Engel, Donald A. 165 Dodge County 189 E Ehrkle, Eddie 241 Engel, Don and Sally 85 Dodgers 38, 124 Eagles Ballroom 90 Ehrkle, Edward 241 Engel, Dunlap 227 Doleysh Bros. Orchestra 89 Eagles club 90 Ehrkle, Emil 241 Engel, Earl 148 Domino’s Pizza. 63 Easter, Kathryn 77 Ehrkle, Ferdinand 241 Engel, Eleanora 254 Domtar 26, 273 Eastern Star 230 Ehrkle, Friedrich Wilhelm 241 Engel, Elissa [daughter] 263 Donneley, Charles 30 East Grand Avenue 14, 166, 194, 197 Ehrkle, Gustav Adam Erdman 241 Engel Fellowship Lodge 121 Door County 207 East Junior high 7, 19, 84, 100, Ehrkle, Helen 241 Engel, Florence 148, 246 Dorney, Miss Sadie 129 135, 187, 188, 190, 263 Eight Corners 24, 203 Engel, Fred 148 Dorshorst, Bill 155 Eastling, Wendell and Lois 57 Eight Corners grocery 24 Engel, Gary 85, 245, 263, 278 Dotter, Floyd 237 East Side 8, 12, 19, 25, 31, 36, Eighth Avenue 141 Engel, Grace 148 Doudville 215 60, 89, 101, 111, 119, 126, Eighth Street 137, 150, 206, 252 Engel, Hebert 227 Dougherty, Miss. 182 150, 157, 159, 195, 197, Einstein, Albert 130 Engel, Jessica [daughter] Douglas 50 208, 268 Eisenhower, Dwight D. 275 Engel, Kathryn 85 Douglas, AZ 72 East Side Lutheran 19 Eisenhower, President 89, 91, Engel, Kathy 55, 165, 216, 240, Douglas, Lizzie 211 Eatmor Products Co. 84, 161 146, 240 245 Douglass, Christopher 164 Eau Claire 18, 113, 152, 153 Eisenhower, President Dwight D. Engel, Kathy [Arendt] 257, 263, Douglas, Stephen A. 88 Eau Claire college 152, 153 192, 202 278 Dove, John 8, 62 Eau Galle 220 Eldorado 87 Engel, Ken 8, 50, 69, 82, 151, Dove, John Sr. 62 Eau Pleine 140 Eleventh [avenue] 141 152, 245, 247, 249, 259, Dove, Ruby 62 Ebbe, Harlow 62 Elks club 68, 89, 91, 92, 114, 146, 264, 278 Doyle, James 58 Ebbe, Roger 62 174, 218, 219, 274 Engel, Kenneth Lee 85, 245 Drake Street 267 Ebbe’s Lake Aire 252 Elks Lodge No. 693 89 Engel, Mary 110 Dramatic Club 7 Ebbe’s Motor Haven 62 Elksquire 4, 64 Engel, Philip 196, 247 Dresser, Vicky 247 Eberius, Linda 60 Ellie 96 Engel, Ralph 110, 148 Dreyfus, Lee Sherman 111 Eberius, Mrs. Louise 53 Ellis, Albert G. 201 Engel, Ralph David 54 Drivas, Jimmy 62, 159, 252 Ebsen, Mike 13, 14 Ellis, Don 144 Engel, Robert 247, 264 Drumb, F.A. 271 Eckardt, Mrs. Henrietta 208 Ellis, E. W. 33 Engel, Roy 148 Du Bay 14, 44, 120, 140 Eckhardt, Harriet 42 Ellis, Gyle 229 Engel, Wallace 148 Du Bay, Lake 44 Edgetown supper club 64, 103, 252 Ellis, J.O. 64 Engel, Wilmer 148 Dubuque 124, 194, 201, 272 Edgetown Tavern 62 Ellis, Joann 150 England 116, 143, 144, 164, 169, Duchow, Lawrence 90 Edison school 31, 112 Elm Street 119, 141, 262 195, 196, 207, 266 Duck Creek 220 Edison, Thomas A. 112 Elsi Schultzenheim 90 Enkro, Bernie 68 Dudgeon, Edith 216 Edminster 182 Elvod, Adrian G. 275 Enkro, Jennifer 68 Dudley, Richard D. 94 Edmonds, Chris 11 Emerson, John 62 Enkro, Lafe 68 Duerkop, Kathy 247 Edmonton 163 Emerson school 112, 119, 173 Erhkle, Agusta Wilhelmine 241 Duhm, Al 151 Edson 224 Emery, J.Q. 187 Erhkle, Emma 241 Duluth 50, 70, 120 Edson, Peter 41 Emmons 251 Erhkle, Gustav 241 Dundas 155 Edwards-Alexander Memorial Empire Builder 247 Erhkle, Henry 241 Dunn’s grocery story 83 Park 27 Empire State Building 82 Erhkle, Ida 241 Dutch elm disease 213 Edwards, John 140 Endrizzi 96, 107 Erhkle, Johanna 241 Dutch Mill 269, 270 Edwards, John Jr., 26, 273 Endrizzi, Gilbert 257 Erhkle, Otto 241 Dutruit marsh 211 Eggan, Ben 81 Endrizzi water wheel 8 Erickson, Hal 185

285 Ghost River City Memoirs

Esselman, Jim 122 Fezziwig 96 Flynn, Raymond H. 180 Freeport, Ill. 88 Estreen, Dan 205 Field Artillery Battalion, 126th 53 Flyte’s 242 Free Verse magazine 118 EUB church 278 Fieldhouse 46 Fond du Lac 14, 199, 237 Fremont, Major-General 209 Evans, Ralph W. 231 Field House 149, 265 Food Tree 137 French 5, 36, 37, 82, 124, 141, Evanston, Ill. 151, 243 Fifth Avenue 211 Foote, William J. 204 166, 169, 194, 198, 202, Everest, D.C. 149 Fine Lunch Cafe 252 Ford, Guy Stanton 30 214, 220, 221, 224, 227, Everest, D.C. [school] 151 Fink, Fred A. 269 Forest Hill cemetery 34, 168, 232, 253, 266, 277, 279 Evergreen Acres Nursery 105 Finley 17 254, 264 French-Canadian 279 Evergreens 217 Finns 120 Forsyth, Thomas H. 208, 235, 275 French-Canadians, names 220 Evinrude Motors 160 Finstad, Jens 120 Forsyth, Tom, undersheriff 52 French, Jim 124 Exeter 182 Finucan, Rev James P. 194 Fort Lewis 232 French [street] 141 Exner, Bob 160 Fire 221 Fort Wayne 118 Frenchtown 164 Exner, Capt. Frank 160 First Avenue 118, 141, 211, 218 Fort William 271 Freund, Clara 83 Exner, Chief 103 First Bond & Mortgage Co. 75 Fort William Paper Co. mill 271 Freund, Vincent 83 Exner, R.J. 22, 33, 80, 95, 103 First Congregational 47 Fort William Paper Company Friedrich, Amelia Gueldenzoph 232 Exner, Rudy 19, 157, 174, 179, First English Lutheran church 12, Limited 271 Friedrich, Jacob 232 219, 261 197, 247, 262 Fort Winnebago 69, 198 Friedrich, Mrs. Jacob 232 First Methodist church 47, 66, Foster, Bud 19 Friedrich, Robert “Strangler F 184, 262 Foster, Garland 256 Lewis” 232 Factory [street] 141 First National Bank 22, 75, 78, Foti, Pat 252 Friendly Fountain 3, 7, 48, 59, 62, Fairway brand groceries 119 84, 150, 198, 211, 251 Foundries, Benbow 197 168, 174 Falk 109 First St. Market & Grill 63 Four Mile 47 Fritsche, Nick 189 Falkowski, Clint 64 First Street 77, 108, 141, 142, Four Mile Creek 80, 200, 215, Fritz and Pete’s 62 Fallon, George H. 71 158, 250, 279 225 Fritz Haefner barber shop 75 Family Resource Center 165 Fischer 96, 246 Fourth Avenue 125, 252, 270 Fritz & Pete’s Billiard Hall 75 Fargo, N.D. 78 Fischer, Emil 17 Four Wheel Drive 85 Fritzsinger, Jack 131 Farmers & Merchants State Bank Fischer, Mrs. William A. 211 Fox Point 231 Froehlke, Bob 149 16, 23, 78 Fischer’s Cycle 139 Fox River 19, 46, 56 From the Ground Up 71, 74, 80, Farmkid 123 Fischer’s Dairy 48 Fraling, Father Theodore 101 111, 137 Farrish, Don 126 Fisher, (Wilbur) 63 France 117, 144, 158, 183, 189, Front [street] 141 Farrish, Donald and Marion 92 Fish, Andy 232 221 Frost Watch tavern 137 Farrish, John 92, 158, 167 Fisher, E.H. 213 Francisco Leon 110 Ft. Bragg 144 Farrish, Miss Jessie 129 Fisher, Fred 271 Franken, Al 276 Ft. Winnebago 272 Farrish, Mrs. Estella 167 Fisher, Kenneth 32 Frank Garber industrial supply 85 Fuhs restaurant coffee shop 27 Fat Memoirs 64 Fisher, W.J. 88 Frank Garber plumbing and weld- F.W. Woolworth Co. 75 Fitzgerald, Harold E. 275 ing supply company 8 Favre, Brett 99 G FBI 41 Fitzpatrick 137 Frank Gill Paint Co. 17 Feifarek, Alfred 205 Five Mile 47 Frank Gill Paint factory 11 GAA 7 Feingold, Russ 272 Five Mile school 211 Frank Henry’s Economy Lumber Galena 199 Feldman, Father Joseph 101 Flanigan, Mrs. John 203 Supply 47 Galesburg, Ill. 238 Feldner, Vernon W. 23 Flatt, June 75 Franklin [street] 141 Gallas, Peter 171 Feldt, Rev. Milton C. 103 Fleischer, Max 226 Frank, Pete 258 Gamble’s hardware 159 Felker 149 Fletcher, Isabel Eleanor 44 Frechette, Caroline Nash 125 Garber, Earle 121, 236 Fellows, William 181 Florence 97 Frechette, George 94, 125 Garber salvage and supply 259 Felts, Craig 50 Florida 43, 90, 124, 136, 142, Frechette, Jake 63 Frank Garber industrial supply 85 Fey, Frank R. , 40 165, 207, 210 Frechette, ‘Ma’ 63 Frank Garber plumbing and weld- Fey, M.R. 23 Flower, H.B. 65, 166 Frederick 75 ing supply company 8 Fey photo 251 Floydada 256 Freedom Trail 224 Gardner, Ava 3 286 River City Memoirs Ghost

Gardner, Geo. R. 158 Giddings [street] 141 Goose’s Pub 62 132, 261 Gardner, George R. 158 Gilbert 96 Gopher Elks Drum and Bugle Grand Rapids Variety Store 279 Garfield Street 197 Gilbert, Eugene 253, 277 Corps of St. Paul 89 Granger, Bill 274 G.A.R. hall 11 Gilbert, Nancy 216 Goska 109 Grant School 96, 190 Garmaker, Dick 156 Gill, Doug “Boola” 9, 18, 109, Gosse 246 Grant [Ullyses] 209 Garnier, Tony 276 156 Gottschalk, Jon 87, 128 Graves, Bill 77 Garrels, Agda 25 Gille, C. W. 37, 103, 180 Gottschalk, Mrs. A.F. (Mabel) Gray, Tom 81 Garrison, Frank 266 Gille, Msgr. C.W. 103 175, 177 Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. 75 Garrison-Handy 102 Gill, Jack 197 Gottschalk’s Grocery 63 Great Lakes Naval Training station 210 Garrison, R.E. 65 Gill, Frank Paint Co. 11, 17, 20 Goult funeral home 229, 230 Great Northern-Nekoosa Corp. 26, Garrison & Worthington 72 Gilman 196, 221 Goult, Mrs. 230 90, 273 Garry Moore 49 Gilman Bowl 196 Grace, aunt 97 Green Bay 11, 17, 22, 43, 50, 58, Gaynor, Judge J.A. 187, 220 Girl Scouts 119 Grace, Miss 182 60, 63, 69, 72, 78, 85, 94, Gaynor Park 187 Give Us Barabbas 185 Graesser, Ken 151 101, 111, 119, 126, 148, Gazeley, J.E. and Don 8 Gladstone 205 Graham, Benny 90 155, 158, 183, 198, 201, Gee, George 242 Glebke, Henry 200 Grand Avenue 3, 7, 10, 12, 14, 205, 220, 221, 227, 252, Gein, Augusta 241, 242 Glebke, John 200 20, 24, 25, 31, 38, 46, 62, 269 Gein, Ed 61, 228, 229, 230 Glenn, E.G. 65 63, 70, 71, 74, 77, 80, 81, Green Bay depot 63, 158 Gein, Edward 233, 241 [email protected] 236 87, 100, 111-113, 121, 126, Green Bay Packers 11 Gein, Edward Theodore 242 Gleue’s shoe store 159 127, 141, 150, 152, 161, Green Bay railroad tracks 119 Gein farm 233 Glick’s bait shop 174 166, 168, 170, 178, 194, Green Bay reformatory 58, 241 Gein, George P. 241, 242 Glidden 10 197, 210, 211, 219, 250- Greeneway, Dick 51 Gein, Henry 241, 242 Gloden, Wilfred 33 252, 258, 261, 270, 273 Greenfield, John farm 242 Gein meat market 242 Glodowski, Mel 50 Grand Avenue Tap 81, 170 Green Valley 140 Gellerman 109 Goc, Michael 107, 258 Grand Avenue Tavern 7, 219, 258 Gregg, Glenn and Jeff 108 Gemberling, Mrs. Hazel 146, 167 Goc, Mike 79 Grandfather Bull 164 Greyy, Peter 127 Gene Autry Show 89 Goerke Park 59 Grand Grill 59 Griffith Avenue 42, 76 General Electric, Schenectady 142 Goetszke, Robert 160 Grandma & Grandpa 196 Griffith, Jack 274 General Mills 269 Goetzke, Mr. 244 Grand Marais 120 Griffith state nursery 261 Gennaro 96 Goetz, Rev. L.H. 208 Grandma [Sylvester] 278 Griffith, Theresa 274 Georgetown Day School 41 Goggins, Barney 95 Grandpa 206, 246 Grignon, Amable 161, 227 Georgia 78 Gokey, Joseph 189 Grand Rapids Asian Singles 279 Grignon, Hippolyte (Paul) 227 Georgia-Pacific 26, 54, 273 Goldamer, Dick 273 Grand Rapids Brewery 161 Grignon, Judith 227 Gerber Products Co. 76 Goldberg, Mr. 200 Grand Rapids Business College Grignon, Pierre 227 Germanson, George 211 Golden Eagle 59 268 Grill, Anchor Bay Bar & 264 Germanson, Goodman 211 Golden Gate 59, 62, 90 Grand Rapids Cigar Co. 161 Grimes, William S. 80 Germany 4, 13, 83, 117, 130, 145, Golden Gate Supper Club 59 Grand Rapids Combination Wagon Gringle, Rob 49 159, 172, 202, 232, 241, Golden Gloves 9, 171 Co. 161 Gringle, Robert 128 242, 266, 279 Goldstein, Sylvia 243 Grand Rapids Creamery Co. 161 Groesbeck, Prof. C.S. 188 Gernetzke, Howard 94 Gollmar, Robert H. 228 Grand Rapids Directory 279 Gronski, Edward 96 Gerum Meat Market 235 Goodhue’s Finest 161 Grand Rapids Foundry Co. 215 Gronski, James 96 Getzin, Bob 63 Goodman, Sara 211 Grand Rapids Furniture Co. 158 Gronski, John 96 G., Harlo 145 Goodness, Joel 127 Grand Rapids Milling Co. 161, Gronski, Kathy 96 Ghost 3, 16, 246 Goodrich, Dr. J.K. 134 215 Gronski, Kenneth 96 Ghost of Myself 3 Good Samaritan nursing home 25 Grand Rapids Pulp & Paper Co Gronski, Robert 96 Ghosts 3, 21, 246 Good Shepherd 97 mill at Biron 234 Grosklaus, Betty 143 Gibson, Charles 82 Goodwill 165 Grand Rapids Sash & Door Co. 161 Grosklaus, James 59 Gibson, George 115 Goodyear Rubber company 212 Grand Rapids, town 11, 33, 79, 84, Grosklaus, Jim 18, 65

287 Ghost River City Memoirs

Gross Bros. trucking 156 Hamann, Al 52 Hayward, Alice 7 Hickory Pit 173 Gross Brothers 92 Hamerstrom, Fran 118 Hayward, “Prof.” Earl L. 268 Hideaway supper club 14 Gross Common Carriers Inc 59 Hamerstrom, Frederick and Fran 105 Hayward, Viola 268 Hierl, Gerald W. 40, 53 Grossklaus, Jim 109 Hamilton, Frank 268 Hazell, Sally 167 Hierl, Margaret 115, 119 Gross, Louis and Quesnal 11 Hamilton, Mabel 268 Hazel [street] 141 High Forest 221 Gross, Mrs. Laurel 103 Hamm, Marge 113, 259 Heartbreak Ridge 35 High [street] 141 Gross, Paul 4, 25, 42, 118, 143, Hamm, Mrs. J. 158 Heart of Wisconsin Conservation Highway 13 3, 19, 46, 49, 62, 81, 159, 243 Hancock 107, 172, 224, 235, 268 league 22 86, 128, 146, 174, 178, 212, Grotto 155 Hancock, Frank 172 Heart of Wisconsin Conservation 236, 263 Grotto Shrine 93 Handy and Garrison 102 League clubhouse 235 Highway 13 “outdoor” 49 Ground Zero 82 Handy, Bill 160 Heart of Wisconsin beans 260 Highway 34 38, 57, 146, 207, 257 Grove and Two Mile School Forest 135 Handy, Dr. George 8, 59, 65 Heart of Wisconsin Retail Food Highway 54 16, 56, 62, 173, 195, Grove School 4, 8, 68, 104, 112, Handy, W.C. 191 Dealers 206 210, 252, 254, 264 135, 141, 145, 162, 173, Haney’s drug store 174, 268 Heart of Wisconsin Sport Show Highway 73 33, 212 174, 190, 219, 224, 228, Hanifin, Margaret 203 19, 235 Highways 73 and 13 81 229, 239, 253, 257, 263 Hanneman, Ben 22, 193, 200 Heart O’ Wisconsin Genealogical Hiles, George 79, 217 Gruber, Gerry 160 Hanneman, James 11 Society 118 Hillcrest Plaza 106 Gruber, Jonathan 206 Hanneman, Mike 95 Heath, Charles 212 Hill, David 199 Guarantee Hardware 63 Hansen township 79, 203 Hebert, J.O. 189 Hill, George M. 141 Gueldenzoph, Amelia 232 Hanson 96 Heilman, Bill 176 Hill Street 47 Guelzow, Clinton 237 Hanson, Dave 253 Heilman, Mrs. G.L. 195 Hinchey, Bridget 169 Gumbel, Bryant 82 Hanson, Ed 18, 19, 21, 65, 109 Heilman’s 89 Hinsdale 72 Gumz, Flores 118 Hanson, Ken 247, 264 Heiser, Edgar W. 22 Hiroshima 259 Gund brewery 241 Hanson, Kenneth 247 Heiting, Wilhelmina 155 Historical museum 7, 271 Gunning 137 Hanson, Ronnie 63 Helke, Carol 216 Historic Point Basse, Inc. 90 Gurtler, Charles 109 Harcinski, Estelle 77 Helke, Clara 200 History of Northern Wisconsin 184 Gurtler, Charley 18, 19 Hardware Mutuals 150 Helke, Ellsworth 166 Hitler 116, 143, 261 Gurtler, Charlie 9, 65 Harelson, James K. 94 Helke, Martin 235 Hittner, Michael 106 Gurtler, Tom 65 Harlem Globetrotters 265 Hemmersbach Motors 70 Hi-way 51 outdoor theater 46 Guthrie, Arlo 71 Harring, Roger 152 Henri, Robert 230, 231 Hmong 279 Harris, Mr. 72 Henry, Frank H. 11 Ho Chunk 198 H Harrison, George 65 Henry, Frank, Lumber Supply 47 Hodags 154 Hackenschmidt, George 68 Harstad’s Shoe Store 75 Henry, Frank J. 37, 166, 205, 206, Hoffman, Esther 216 Haefner, Mrs. 63 Hartsough, Doc 83 265 Hofschild, Gilbert 162 Haertel, Fred 187 Harvard 39, 84, 91, 161, 261 Henry, Mrs. Howard (Laura) 81 Hogan, Mary 4, 5, 104, 145, 228, Haertel Monuments 247 Harvard Clothes Inc. 39, 260 Henry, Pvt. Donald 261 229 Haertel, Mrs. June Lee 150 Harvey, Dr. Thomas S. 130 Hepcat, Bison 258 Hokah 221 Haessly, Donna Schelvan 12 Hasbrouck, J.B. 184, 198 Hepcat’s Revenge 258 Holland 5, 155 Haferman, Mrs. William T. 51 Hasenhorl, Ed 273 Hernandez, Ramon 96 Hollanders 155 Hafermann, Twyla 127 Haske, Edith and Mary 252 Herschleb Ice Cream 23 Hollandtown 155 Haferman, Pfc. Neal W. 10, 51 Hattlestad, Norris 152 Herschleb’s 49, 51 Hollyrock’s tavern 157, 252 Haferman, William 10 Hawley, L.M. 217 Herschleb, Walter 62 Hollywood 5, 33, 186, 226, 261 Hagen 96 Hayden, Henry 215 Herzberg, Al 79 Holtz, Mrs. Robert (Edna) 252 Hagen, Joe G. 12 Hayden murder 215 Herzberg, Alan and Linda 234 Holy Rosary 29, 100, 101 Hahner, Henry 271 Haydock, Eddie 143 Hewitt Machines 156 Home for the Aged Cemetery 32 Halder 118 Hayes, Helen 185 Hewitt, Mrs. Louise 173 Home Shows 265 Halleck, Gen. Henry 209 Hay Springs 155 Hiawatha bar 62, 270, 274 Hooper, Ben 129 Halverson, Kathleen 32 Hayward. 96 Hibbing, Minn. 50, 111, 276 Hooper, Jessie Annette Jack 129 288 River City Memoirs Ghost

Hooper, Mrs. Benjamin 129 Humphrey, Hubert H. 249 272 Jagodzinski, John 101 Hopa Tree Festival 127 Hungerman, Daniel 206 Iowa City 272 Jail 208 Hopkins 205 Hunter, Dick 212 Iowa state capitol 231 Jake’s Cities Service Station 63 Hopkinton 224 Huntington Park 177 Ireland 169, 266 Jamaicans 242 Hops 211 Hurlburt, Rev. 198 Irish 37, 125, 137, 169, 189 Japan 10, 34, 35, 105, 237, 238, George Horn’s hardware 83 Hurlbut, Ken 151 Iron Curtain 28, 47 259, 260, 269, 273 Hornigold, Alfred “Duke” 68 Hurlbut, Rev. J.S. 184 Ironside, Larry 152 Japanese Gardens 165 Hornigold, Lillian 34 Hurley 107 Ironwood, Mich. 51, 211, 267 Jasperson, C.A. 167 Hornig, Roger 19, 253 Hurley, Dr. P. 72 Irving school 112, 126, 187, 190 Jasperson, Newell and Helen 87 Hotel Dixon 156 Hurst, Anthony 137 Irv Lutz & the Florida Five 90 Jay, John 68 Hotel Mead 22, 33, 39, 45, 59, Hurst, Emmett 120 Irwin, David 181 Jefferson, Joe 269 111, 121, 150, 166, 218 Hurst, Helen “Nellie” 137 Irwin, Gerry 135, 252 Jefferson St. Patrick. 221 Hotel Northland 22 Hurst, Mary Smith 137 Irwin, Pattie 252 Jeffrey, John J. 10 Hotel Witter 14, 15, 33 Husting, Frank 189 Isherwood, Donald Justin 14, 107, Jenny Bull 164 Hot Shop 252 Husting, Leo F. 189 123, 258 Jens, Barry 157 Hougen, Donn 8, 15, 26, 166, Husting, Marie 189 Isherwood Road 123 Jensen, Ben F. 71 180, 193, 200, 208 Husting, Paul B. 189 Island, The 119 Jensen, Delbert L. 78 Hougen, Mrs. Edward 175 Italy 22, 147, 260 Jensen, Marjorie 58 Hougen, Mrs. Edward (Claradona) 177 I Iverson, Ina 195 Jensen, Roberta 216 Household Finance Corp. 204 Ida’s 63 Ives, Lovell 90 Jerrold’s Clothing Store 204 House of David team 115, 124 Ideal theatre 23, 129 Ives, Wally 90, 138 Jesseca Penn 5, 230, 232, 235 Housten, Roberta 78 IGA Foodliner 204, 252 Ives, Wally & the Jolly Dutchmen Jessica Penn in Black and White Houston 221 Illinois 58, 88, 91, 107, 115, 119, 90 Plumes 231 Houston, Bill and Sam 62 122, 124, 136, 145, 147, Iwerks, Ub 226 Jevnick, (Art) 63 Houston, Jimmy 62 151, 164, 183, 197, 204, Iwo Jima 10 Jevnick’s Standard Service 63 Houston [street] 141 Jewett, Z.K. 172 213, 223, 224, 227, 229, J Howe 4, 7, 23, 30, 31, 45, 65, 112, 254, 270 Jewish agricultural community 125, 126, 142, 146, 167, Immanuel Lutheran 95, 127, 180, Jackson 72 236 184, 187, 190, 195, 215, 208 Jackson, Bill 64 J.J. 258 219, 265 Immel, Adjutant General Ralph 210 Jackson, Clarence E. 122, 204, Joe Arnold barber shop 75 Howe grade school 23, 31 Inchon 237 271 Joe’s 137 Howe high school 215 Indiana 118, 145 Jackson, Gale 84, 88, 112, 141 Joe’s coffee shop 127 Howe school 4, 7, 30, 31, 45, 112, Indian Crossing Casino 90 Jackson & Garrison 72 Joe’s Place 71, 72, 74, 80 125, 126, 142, 146, 167, Indian Jeff 4, 69 Jackson, Henry W. 72 Johannes, Jeffrey 258 184, 195 Indian Land Field Agent 65 Jackson, Herb 151 John Daly Drug store 23 Hribernik, Fritz 75 Indians [Native Americans] 39, Jackson, Jane 20 John Edwards High School 101 Hudson Sales & Service 63 65, 72, 148, 154, 156, 211, Jackson, M.H. 65 John Edwards Manufacturing Co. Huff, Lydia 232 215, 223, 239 Jackson Street 64 26 Huffman, Bill Jr. 20, 48 Indian Service 65 Jackson Street bridge 121, 133, John Edwards Mfg. Co 266 Huffman, Bill Sr. 20, 149 Indian Trail 84, 161 146, 150, 211 Johnny Kuenn’s ABC Bar 62 Huffman Road 264 Indochina 202 Jackson, Sylvester 171 Johnny’s Bar & Grill 59, 62 Huffman, William F. 28, 50, 94, Industrial Development Corp 233 Jacobs, Carl 149 Johnny’s Rapids Inn 27 143, 251, 265 Institute of Paper Chemistry 204 Jacobson, Fred 11 Johns, Bill 43 Huffman, William F. Jr. 28, 50, Integration of schools 257 Jacobson, Martin C. 262 Johnson Hill’s 22, 42, 43, 89, 95, 251 IOOF 258 Jacobson, Naomi 106 111, 150, 161, 174, 251, Hull, J.W. 242 Iowa 43, 45, 52, 60, 71, 72, 93, Jaecks, Al and Hazel 252 279 Hull’s mill 242 100, 117, 124, 147, 163, Jaecks, Dorothy 75 Johnson, Jasper C. 10, 275 Hulme, Doctor 73, 102 185, 194, 230, 231, 249, Jagodzinski, Emery 86 Johnson, Lyndon B. 192, 202, 249

289 Ghost River City Memoirs

Johnson, Nels 170 179 Kent State University 118 Knedle, Matt 200 Johnson, Peppy 258 Kenyon, Jesse A. 211 Knickerbocker, Diedrich 99 Johnson, Ray 42, 43 K Kenyon, Sara 211 Knickerbocker, Misses Eva and Johnson, Rev. James M. 248 Kahoun, Jack 143, 144 Keough, Jim 211 Lottie 279 Johnson Street 63, 141 Kahoun, Robert 144 Kerouac, Jack 224 Knickers 277 Jole, Kathryn 88 Kahuna, Mr. 168 Kerrin’s Candy Store 59 Knoll, Harold 126 Joliet 115, 119 Kahuna, Robert 55 Ketchum’s coal 161 Knostenbergs, Janis (John) 12, 13 Jolly Hour Club 200 Kaiser 170 Ketchum’s Edgetown Supper club 252 Knowledge Avenue 193, 263 Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence 62 Kaministiquia Pulp and Paper 271 Keuntjes, Earl and Evie 62 Knowles, Warren P. 275 Jones, Randal G. 186 Kammerer, Miss Kate 129 Keysavings bank 63 Knowlton township 140 Jones v. Daly 186 Kanieski, Colleen Kohler 61 Kibby, Sue M. 11 Knudsen, Carl C. 10, 31, 40, 41, Jones, W.T. 204 Kanieski, Edward 9, 52, 61 Kickland, Gary 219 44, 45, 47, 58, 64, 84 Joplin 115 Kanieski, Edward F. 53, 60 Kilbourn City 201 Knudsen, C.C. 12, 15, 19, 38, 146 Joslin, Betty 62 Kanieski, Mildred 61 Kiley, Moses E. 32 Knuteson, Lloyd 22, 232 Judd, Stoddard 199 Kankakee 227 Kimberly, Leon F. 44 Knuteson, Mrs. Lloyd 232 Judnick, Joe 115, 119 Kansas 130 Kingdon, Anna Carol 218 Knuth, Clarence 81 Jump River 196 Karalunias, Peter 237 Kingdon, John 179 Knuth, Don 62, 81 Junction City 101, 114 Kardach, Cable and John 18 Kingdon, Rev. Robert W. 76, 119 Knuth, Donald 8 Juneau, Adell 189 Karius, Joseph 50, 51, 55, 106, Kingdon, Robert M. 47 Knutson, Jeri 128 Juneau, Andrew 189 251, 274 King, Doris 118 Koch, August 242 Juneau, Angeline 189 Karoblis, Father Andrew 274 King Henry’s Trading Post 63 Kohler, Gov. Walter J. Jr. 91 Juneau, Charlotte 189 Kaudy Manufacturing Co. 158 Kinsman, Karen 150 Kohnen, Frank 234 Juneau, Claphas 189 Kaukauna 155 Kirby, Francis 205 Kohnen, Kenneth 234 Juneau, Clifford 189 Kauth, Lee 7 Kirchner, Charles 46 Kohnen, Lawrence 143 Juneau county 14, 28, 29, 44, 242 Keating, David 54, 85 Kirtland 224 Kohnen, Lucy 269 Juneau, Delia 189 Keating, Diane 85 Kiwanis club 33, 262 Kohnen Road 234 Juneau, Eugene A. and family 189 Keating, Duane 121 Klandrud, Carl 154 Kolstad 109 Juneau, Frank and family 189 Keating, Duane and Eileen 85 Klappa boys 126 Konietzki, Ed and Syl 63 Juneau, Margaret [Fritsche] 189 Keating, Eileen 85, 121 Klappa, Edward 159 Konietzki, Sylvester 63 Juneau, Howard 189 Keating, Scott 85 Klappa, Gale 159 Konopacki 64 Juneau, Joseph 189 Keating, Sherry 85 Klappa, Harry , 40 Korczk, Rev. James 101 Juneau, Josette Vieau 189 Kedrowski, Raymond B. 22 Klappa, Harry R. , 40 Korczyk 101 Juneau, Katharine 189 Keeler, Lucy 195 Klappa, Martha 159 Korea 4, 10, 13, 15, 22, 23, 29, Juneau, Margaret and family 189 Kefauver, Sen. 103 Klawitter’s (Elmer) meat market 83 34, 35, 38, 44, 46, 48, 51, Juneau, Mary 189 Keller, LaVerne E. 99, 251 Klemecki, Rev. 101 91, 132, 142, 168, 202, 237, Juneau, Narcese 189 Kelley, Harold R. Grocery 63 Klement’s Red Owl Agency 27 238, 244, 266 Juneau, Narcissus 189 Kellner 52, 61, 63, 81, 118, 166, 174 Kleppe, Ken 50 Korean conflict 22, 29, 132, 142 Juneau, Paul 189 Kellner Exchange 166 Kleppin, Edward 62 Korean war 10, 13, 15, 35, 48, 91, Juneau, Solomon 189 Kellogg, Charles and Elbert 205 Kleppin, Leo 62 244 Juneau, Stella 189 Kellogg, James 212 Klimek 101 Kortkamp, Linda 200 Jung, Dick 11 Kenadal, Matt 236 Klinger, Lloyd 80 Kose, Joe 259 Jungwirth, Helen 109 Kennedy, President John F. 219 Klismet’s Toyland 75 Kraft mill 122 Junior and His Jolly Do-Boys 128 Kennedy, Robert F. 244, 249, 265 Klondike Days 121 Kramer, Mr. and Mrs. Harvey 162 Junior Historical Society 167 Kennedy, Sen. John F. 275 Kluck, Ernest 58 Krapfel, Vinson 14 Junior Legion ball 233 Kenney, Bill 138 Kluge, Mildred [aunt] 148 Krause, Chet 149 Justeson, Mayor 95 Kenney, Kathryn 107, 138, 275 Klumb, Beth 17 Krause, Mrs. John (Catherine) Justeson, Nels 205 Kenny’s Grill 59 Knauer, Bernard 151 160 Justeson, Nels M. 10, 146, 150, Ken Thing 278 Knauer, Coach 174 Krista Enterprises 78 290 River City Memoirs Ghost

Kroger store 62 La (Green) Baye 227 LaVigne, E. 187 88, 89, 92, 100, 109, 119, Krogulski 101 Laird 105 Lawless, R.J. 45 126, 127, 141-144, 149- Krohn & Berard Funeral Home 52 Laird, Connor 149 Lawlor, William 258 157, 160, 168, 170, 173, Krohn, Don 18, 20, 21, 28, 137 Laird, Dick 149 Lawrence 163 174, 176, 177, 179, 182, Krohn, Donald 128 Laird, Helen 55, 136 Lawrence College 18, 46, 47, 151, 185, 187, 188, 190, 195, Kroll, Reine 62 Laird, Helen Connor 136 204 199, 212, 215, 216, 219, Kromer, L. 184 Laird, Mel 136, 138 Lawrence University 118, 268 226, 234, 235, 240, 244, Kromer, Lemuel 198 Laird, Melvin R. 47, 55, 58, 91, Law [street] 141 249, 262, 263, 265, 268, Kronholm, Arvid 216 105, 136, 138, 149, 150, Lawton, Senator 258 275 Kronstedt road 139 180, 275 League Against Nuclear Dangers Lincoln, Abraham 69 Krueger, Wilbur 200 Laird, Melvin R., Center 136 106 Lincoln Fieldhouse 89 Kruger-Walrath Corp. 208 Laird, Melvin Robert 91 League of Women Voters 129 Lincoln High School 7, 8, 42, 44, Kruger, William 17 Laird, M.L. Sr. 47 Leberg, Bruce 251 59, 65, 100, 150-152, 154, Krumrei, Emil “Al” 131 Laird, Sen. Melvin R. 47 Lebron, Lolita 71 160, 190, 195, 215, 244, Kubisiak, James, mayor 9, 99, 163 Lake Aire 59, 62, 150, 237, 252 Lecy, Ray 112, 135, 239 265, 275 Kubisiak, Van 9, 62 Lake Camelot 26 Leder, Mr. and Mrs. William 208 Lincoln Lights 7 Kubisiak, Van C. 10 Lake Superior 120 Leder, Peter 146 Lincoln [street] 141 Kuechle, Carol 208 Lake Van Kuren 17 Leist, Margaret 80 Lincoln [township] 79 Kuechle, Rev. E.G. 180 Lake Wazeecha 11, 32, 47, 51, Leist, Margaret L. 74 Lindstrom, Agnes 25 Kuehne 246 128, 173, 232, 235 L.E. Jensen garage 78 Lindstrom, Carl 24 Kuenn, Dixie Ann Sarchet 89 Lake Winnebago 148 Le May 198 Lindstrom, Reuben 24, 25 Kuenn, Harvey 89 La Marr, Grace 30 Lemley, C.D. 187 Linzmaier, Rosalia and Louis 159 Kuenn, Johnny 62 Lamb, Darwin 80 Lemley, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. O. 72 Lions Club 233 Kuhl house 258 Lambeau, E.L. “Curly” 11 Lena 241 Lions Club Minstrel Show 8 Kulas, Gregory 146 Lamb, Karen 72 Lengowski, Sigismund 28 Lipke, Martin 133, 167 Kumm, Mrs. 68 Lamb, Karen and Darwin 76 Lenk 96 Liska, Joseph Jr. 131 Kundiger, Larry 95 Lampman, Lida 24 Lennon, John 65 Little Bull 164 Kundinger, Mrs. Lawrence 95 Lance’s 62 Lensmire, Warren 146 Little Chute 155 Kurtz, Edward P. 22 Landowski, Joe 20 Leopold, Max 22 Little Eau Pleine 4, 114, 140 Kutchera, Ralph 78 Landry 198 L’Erable 221 Little Joe’s bar 219 Kyler, Sid 94 Landry, Howard J. 10, 23 Leroux 198 Little Pink Restaurant 252 Landry, Lt. Howard J. 10 Lesarge 137 Little Theatre 127 L Lane 181 Lester, Seymour 104, 145, 228 Litzer, Don 69, 107, 118 Labor Temple 59, 62, 249 Lane, Carmen 90 Letchworth State Park 240 Litzer, Sarah 118 Labor Temple Bar 62 Langdon Street 46 Levi, James H. 145 L.L. Rosenthal & Co. 39 LaBreche 198 Lange, Rev. William 254 Levy, Steven 130 Local 94 15, 45 Lac du Flambeau 171 Langer, Franklin 9 Lewis, Ed “Strangler” 68, 261 Local 610 of the American Federa- La Chapelle, Harold “Butch” 68, Lansdowne, Lt. Cmdr. Zachary Lewis, Jerry 3 tion of Musicians 133 219, 274 186 Leyte 159 Local History On-Line 69 La Crescent 221 Lansdowne, MacKinnon 186, 265 LHS 5, 7, 9, 19, 49, 65, 78, 150, Locher, Fred 39 La Crosse 29, 36, 37, 52, 100, Laramie 249 154, 157, 176, 187, 195, Locos Hermanos 251 101, 163, 194, 201, 241, Lars and the Lizards 118 244, 258, 263, 265 Lodge No. 693 64 242 Larson, Earl 42 LHS, Miss 7 Lodi 25 La Crosse Aquinas 100 Lathrope, H.L. 92 LifeCenter Northwest 247 Loeb, Louis 231 LaCrosse Central 154 Latin Company 158 Life magazine 126 Logan, Johnny 239 La Crosse Gas Co. 242 Latter Day Saints 227 Lincoln 4, 7-9, 16, 18, 19-21, 30, Lone Birch school 57, 112, 161, 193 La Follette, Robert 91 La Vigne 198 31, 34, 35, 42-44, 46, 51, Lone Maple school 83 La Grange [street] 141 La Vigne, Bessie 200, 203 59, 63, 65, 68, 69, 75, 79, Lone Pine [school] 203

291 Ghost River City Memoirs

Long, Bob 252 Lyon, Reuben 215 Marathon paper company 149 Mary’s Tavern 145 Longbody, John 120 Lyon [street] 141 Marceau 198 Masefield, John 195 Long, David 56 Marceil, Christine 248 M*A*S*H* 34 Long Island 69 M Marceil, Christopher 248 Mason City 163 Longview 46 Macaroni, P.P. 217 Marceil, Rev. Beauford L 248 Mason, Jim 92, 115, 119, 128 Longview, Wash 46 MacArthur, Douglas 34 Marcoux, George 177 Mason, Lloyd 119 Long, Wallace 203 MacDonald, Jeanette 226 Margeson, Johnnie 77 Mason, Lloyd and Dorothy 92 Loop, Pamelia 164 Mackinac bridge 227, 257 Margeson, Lloyd 22 Mason, Pat 128 Loras College 194 Mackinac Island 227 Maria high school 100 Massachusetts 72, 158, 212, 224, 243 Lorbecki, Nick 162 MacKinnon, Ellen 186 Marian the Librarian 163 Mather 171, 172 Lorbecki, Susan 162 MacKinnon, Falkland 186 Marine Reserve Flying Corps 212 Mathews, Eddie 239 Lords 211 Madeline, Rev. Mother 100 Marinette 220, 221 Mathews, James 142 Los Alamos N.M. 256 Mader, Bob 9, 18 Marinette Catholic Central high Mathews, Maurice 252 Los Angeles 33, 185, 210, 231 Mader, Bobby 19 school 221 Matthews, Gerald 142 Louisiana 225 Mader, John 18 Market Square 182 Mauston 14, 100 Louisville 163 Madison 13, 15, 18, 21, 24, 25, Marks, Jamie 21 Mauston Madonna 100 Lovejoy, Rev E.P. 223 43, 46, 52, 53, 58, 60, 61, Marlotte, Bill 115 Maverick, Samuel Augustus 272 Lovellette, Clyde 156 75, 82, 84, 87, 89, 91, 109, Marlow, James 38 Maybee, Orrin 199 Love, Peter 69 112, 115, 118, 134, 136, Marmurowicz 101 Mayo clinic 16, 221 Lovesee, Le Roy 146 141, 148, 152, 156, 164, Marmurowicz, Florian A. 36 Mayor’s Committee on Human Love Street 8, 11, 232 167, 172, 181, 185, 189, Marolla, Ed 145, 228, 229 Rights 38, 47 Lowell 23, 31, 44, 112, 119, 127, 199, 210, 217, 222, 223, Marquette University 150 Maysville 136 158, 176, 187, 188, 211, 228, 242, 253, 263, 265 Marshall Plan 15 Mayville 189 218, 224 Madison Scouts 89 Marshall-Wells self-service hard- Mazur, Rose 159 Lowell school 23, 112, 127, 176, Madison [street] 141 ware 206 McCabe, Ron 96, 259 188, 190, 218 Madsen, Arthur 176 Marshfield 4, 32, 33, 43, 53, 55, McCain, John 272 Lucas, Kelly 218 Madsen, Sally 75 58, 65, 79, 90, 91, 92, 94, McCamley, Hugh and Mary 211 Luedtke Acres 8 Magnuson case 215 100, 107, 129, 134, 136, McCamley, Mrs. Peter 203 Lugowski 101 Magnuson, John 33, 215 138, 146, 148, 149, 150, McCarthy, Eugene Joseph 249 Lukaszewski, Clarence 103, 179 Maine 72 158, 171, 179, 180, 183, McCarthy hearings 48 Lutheran church 242 Main Street 42, 55, 97, 141, 155, 188, 212, 237, 257, 261, McCarthyism 40 Lutz, Andrew 108 164, 241, 258 267, 269, 275 McCarthy, Joseph R. 40, 41, 58 Lutz, Babe 63 Maire, Marvin 174 Marshfield Civil Air Patrol band 180 McCarthy, Mike 278 Lutz, David 108 Malicke, Jacqueline 32 Marshfield Clinic 136 McCarthy, Sen. 240 Lutz, Irv & the Florida Five 90 Malicke, Marilyn “Peewee” 32 Marshfield Columbus 100 McCarthy, Sen. Joe 249 Lutz, Jacob 108 Mamie, Aunt 246 Marshfield [township] 79 McClellan [township] 79 Lutz, Jacob & Bro. 158 Mancuso, Gus 187, 263 Marsh, The 87 McClellen, Sen. 240 Lutz, Jake 108 Manders, Carol 150 Martin 63 McComb, Alfred C. 211 Lux, Anna Marie 50 Manders, Phil 11, 19, 109, 150, Martin, Casey 118 McCourt 96 Luxembourg 220 151 Martin, Mr. 184 McCourt, Earl 271 Luzenski, Bob 62 Manhattan 82 Martin, M.W. 187 McCourt, Jim 64 Lyle’s Venetian Tavern 59 Manitowoc 3, 107, 259, 260, 270, Martin (& Peters store) 63 McDermid, Miss 200 Lynch, Edward 211 279 Martin, Slater 156 McDonald, Grace 52 Lynn 243 Manning, Cornelius 260 Martin, Stratton 204 McDonald, Jack 138 Lynn Creek 47 Maple [street] 141 Marvin, Lee 186 McDonnell Aircraft Corp. 260 Lyonnais 198 Marathon 114, 154 Marx, Benjamin 176 McFarland, Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Lyon, Nathaniel 209 Marathon City high school 118 Marx, Bob 152 E. 72 Lyon park 22 Marathon county 107, 140 Maryheart, Pittsville 100 McFarland, R.E. 187 292 River City Memoirs Ghost

McFay, William 184 87, 102, 111, 119, 121, 127, Meyer, Daniel P. 21, 107, 251 86, 89, 90, 94, 100, 101, McGavick, Bishop Alexander J. 136, 140, 149, 167, 249, Michael’s Cocktail Lounge 252 105, 111, 114, 118, 140, 101 251 Michigan 51, 115, 124, 205, 240, 279 141, 144, 150, 160, 174, Mc Gee 242 Mead, Walter 92, 120, 122 Middlecamp, George and His 185, 186, 189, 201, 206, McGlynn, Dan 151 Mead, Walter L. 146, 271 Troubadors 178 222, 223, 229-231, 239, McGulpin house 227 Mead Wildlife area 140 Middle East 202, 257 242, 243, 250, 260, 261 McKechnie, Helen 216 Mead-Witter 251 Midget, The 59, 62 Milwaukee Avenue 141 McKeel, Phillip 137 Mead-Witter block 22, 75, 167, Midor, Hugh 258 Milwaukee Road 60, 89, 242 McKercher, Dan 167 251 Midor, Hugh and Carol 227, 257 Milwaukee Sentinel 28, 50, 189, McKercher Milling Co. 176 Mead-Witter building 62, 70, 71, Mid-State Poetry Towers 3, 118, 222 McKinley [street] 141 102, 111, 127 123, 258 Milwaukee Street 141 McMillan 96 Mead-Witter Properties 47 Mid-State Poetry Towers-Plover 123 Mineral Point, Wis. 201 McMillan Coffeehouse 118 Mecca saloon 251 Mid-State Technical College 258 Minneapolis 24, 78, 137, 156, McMillan Memorial Library 38, Mechesney, Hugh 258 Midthun, A.J. 146 157, 167, 189, 223, 229, 39, 48, 69, 86, 96, 107, 118, Medary and Platz tannery 242 Midthun, Morgan L. 80, 275 269 137, 141, 163, 216, 258, Medford 154, 196 Mieczkowski 101 Minnesota 2, 30, 45, 70, 111, 120, 259, 260 Medical Center 185 Miehlke 246 122, 156, 205, 207, 220, McMillan Memorial Library Web site Medved, Joseph 145 Mielcarek, Nancy 128 221, 228, 244, 249, 276 48 Meier, Tom 118 Miers, Mike 128 Miracle Mile 111, 112 McNaughton, John 266 Meils, Cathy 127 Mikan, George 156 Miss America 89 Mead 96 Melville, Ray J. 78 Mikkelsen, Vern 156 Miss Elley’s finishing school 231 Mead-Baldwin wedding 268 Memorial Armory 8 Milady’s Beauty Shop 204 Mississippi Valley League 115 Mead, Charles 187 Memorial Day 5, 117, 118, 131, Military 13, 34, 42, 44, 59, 92, Missouri 115, 120 Mead, Dorothy 127 168, 240, 264 105, 141, 142, 143, 171, Miss Wisconsin Rapids 127 Mead, Emily 268 Menasha 69, 109, 148, 156, 165 181, 183, 202, 209, 225, Miss Wisconsin River 150 Mead family 92, 136, 149 Mencel, Chick 156 259, 267 Mitchell, George W. 181 Mead, George 15, 107, 122, 140, Mencken, H. L. 10 Milladore 79, 83, 140, 159, 219 Mitchell, Billy 186 149, 218, 251, 260, 265, Mendota 164 Milladore [township] 79 Mitchell, George W. 181 271 Mendota Mental Health Institute 242 Millay, Edna St. Vincent 7 Mittelsteadt, Otto 271 Mead, George, reservoir 140 Mendota mental hospital 228 Millay, “Vincent” 9 Mlsna, James 16 Mead, George I 107 Mengel, F.F. 176, 177 Mill Creek 164 Moberg, Irving 43 Mead, George W. 14, 15, 23, 30, Menomonie 18, 109, 152, 279 Mill Creek [township] 79 Mobil Service 63 44, 84, 86, 92, 113, 114, Menz, Irene 10 Miller 96 Molepske, Clarence and Helen 3 118, 119, 122, 129, 140, Mercer 71 Miller, Art 170 Clarence Molepski 171 204, 261, 262, 265, 271, Merchandise Center 49 Miller, August C. 9 Molepski, Eddie 143 274 Merrick, Miss Alice 203 Miller family 63 Moline Plowboys 115 Mead, Gilbert 218 Merrill 65, 94, 152, 164, 179, 250 Miller, Fred and Wilhelmina 170 Moll, Mrs.Gilbert 200 Mead, G.W. 112, 161, 271 Metcalf, A. Rounds 205 Miller, Henry 170 Mom [Arline Sylvester Engel] Mead Inn 249, 252 Metcalf lumber yard 205 Miller, Larry 31 165, 278 Meadows, The 59 Metcalf, Rounds 131 Miller, Mrs. A.G. 129 Mondeaux flowage 196 Mead Pulp and Paper Co. 271 Methodist 25, 26, 27, 56, 66, 95, Miller, Mrs. Evelyn 234 Monson, George 131 Mead, Ruth 119 97, 121, 153, 165, 184, 229, Miller, Mr. “Wild Bill” 219 Monson, Jack 112 Mead school 112, 190 230, 239, 247, 262, 264, Miller’s Grocery 63 Monson place 57 Mead, Stanton W. 15, 39, 64, 84, 268, 278 Miller, Wm. L. , 40 Montana 223 99, 101, 120, 125, 127, 140, Methodist church 56, 66, 95, 97, Millie’s Cafe 252 Montgomery Ward 20, 70, 168, 204, 208, 210, 218, 261 121, 153, 229, 230, 239, Milwaukee 4, 11, 19, 21, 24, 27, 204, 251 Mead Street 47, 141 264, 268, 278 28, 32, 36, 37, 40, 41, 43, Montpelier 181 Mead, the 22, 62, 70, 71, 75, 84, Metropolitan Museum of Art 230 50, 56, 59, 60, 64, 75, 84, Montreal 13, 221, 227, 273

293 Ghost River City Memoirs

Montz, Diane 50 Murtfeldt, L.W. 204 National Cranboree 33, 58, 84, 208, 210, 232, 260, 261, Moody, Raymond 16 Musch, Paul 262 89, 133 266, 273 Moore, E.L. 212 Music Man 163 National Cranboree Queen 89 Nekoosa-Edwards Foundation 208 Moore, Garry 48 Muskegon 240 National Guard 44, 53, 237, 238 Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co. 11, Moravian church 11, 244, 249 National Guard, Stevens Point 53 39, 51, 58, 59, 107, 128, Morfit, J. Garrison 49 N National Home for soldiers at 132, 140, 161 Morgan, Dennis 33 Nabbefeldt, Lyle 197 Milwaukee 223 Nekoosa Foundry and Machine Morgan, Wilbur 212 Nagasaki 259 National Honor Society 7 Works 260 Morin, Richard 206 Naked Maja, The 3 Native-American 279 Nekoosa Lumbering Co. 201 Morland, Helen 157 Narlock, Thomas J. 70 Nature of Door 207 Nekoosa-Port Edwards State Bank 27 Mormon Coulee road 241 Nash and Podvin law office 7 Natwick, Grim 142, 186, 191, Nelson, Denny 152 Morner, Stanley 33 Nash block 204 214, 216, 226, 258 Nelson, Gaylord A. 275 Morrical, Frank 262 Nash, Charles 125 Natwick, Jim 271 Nelson, Julius 81 Morrical, Hazel 262 Nash, Charles M. 204 Natwick, Jimmy 160 Nelson, Max T. 84 Morrow, Inez 195 Nash, Dobber 125 Natwick, Mildred 186 Nelson, Mrs. Walter 230 Morrow, Paul 156 Nash, Dr. Jay B. 46 Natwick, Mrs. J.W. 226 Nelson, Wallace 65 Mortenson, Mrs. O.N. 129 Nash, Ed 125 Natwick, Myron “Grim” 214 Nepco 4, 8, 11, 16, 21, 26, 27, 39, Mortimer, Nancy 74 Nash, Edith 118 Natwick school 203 59, 62, 64, 77, 107, 114, Mortimer, Sandra Kay 216 Nashes 125 Naudet, Jules and Gedeon 82 128, 131, 148, 161, 171, Morton, Dave 51 Nash, Frank 125 Nazis, 40, 117, 261 212, 235, 252 Mory 246 Nash, George 125, 204 Neale, Mary Ellen 177 Nepco Airways 77 Mosquitos 213 Nash, Guy 125, 175, 176, 210, Nebraska 136, 155 Nepco Lake 8, 11, 16, 62, 64, 128, Mother of God 28, 100 265 Necedah 4, 17, 28, 29, 32, 59 131, 148, 171, 235, 252 Mott Food & Produce Co. 58 Nash Hardware 204, 250 Necedah Creamery 17 Nepco Lake power station 8 MSPT 207, 258 Nash, James 167 Neenah 58, 69, 156, 250 NEPCO NEWS 21 MSPT-DC 207 Nash, Jean 40, 41, 125, 210, 212 Neeves addition 262 Nepco School of Flying 212 MSTC 258, 259 Nash, J.L. 125 Neeves, George 262 Neuman, Alfred E. 103 Mt. Pleasant Cemetery 25 Nash, Joe 125 Nehring, Fred 170 Nevada 47 Mt. Vernon 185, 240 Nash, Lawrence 125 Nehring, Hattie 170 New Jersey 130 Mueller 246 Nash, Lawrence M. 125 Nehring, Henry 139 New Lisbon 72 Mueller, Emil 11, 16 Nash, L.M. 141, 204 Nehring, Henry “Hank” 5, 139, New London 248 Mullen, Mrs. C.G. 204 Nash, Neil 125, 204, 208 170 Newman, Bob 261 Mullen, Mrs. George 125 Nashotah seminary 248 Nehring, Lydia 170 Newman, Carl 98 Mullen, Rev. Thomas E. 101 Nash, Philleo , 40, 41, 125, 149, Nehring, Walter 170 Newman, Wausau 100 Muller, Paul 213 210, 212, 275 Neillsville 149, 178 New Market 209 Mulzer, Capt. Leslie 77 Nash, Ray 125 Neipp’s 206, 251 New Millennium 3, 56, 270, 271 Mulzer, Major 161 Nash Road 146, 257 Neises, Edward 159 New Orleans 225 Mulzer, Major L.G. 212 Nash, T.E. 87, 107, 125, 209, 210 Neises’ shoe store 159 NewPage 258 Murgatroyd 8, 31, 54, 87, 107, Nash, Thomas 210 Neitzel brothers 62 New Past Press 79, 258 135, 207, 255, 263 Nash, Thomas E. 125, 158 Neitzel, Oscar 212 Newton’s 4, 74, 75, 80, 251 Murgatroyd, Auril 87 Nash, Tom 125, 212 Nekoosa 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, Newton’s Women’s Apparel 74 Murgatroyd, David 54 Nash, T.W. 211 21-27, 33, 38, 39, 43, 51, New York 9, 25, 40, 41, 46, 54, Murgatroyd, John 87, 207, 255 Nash, Will 125 58, 59, 64, 65, 68-70, 87, 58, 79, 82, 107, 124, 125, Murgatroyd, Paul 31, 135, 263 Nasonville 211 90, 100, 101, 107, 111, 114, 130, 138, 147, 154, 164, Murray, Reid F. 47 National Academy of Design 191, 125, 126, 128, 129, 132, 169, 185, 191, 199, 209, Murtfeldt, Harold 122 226 139, 140, 150, 156, 159, 210, 215, 217, 226, 230, Murtfeldt, Helen 122 National Archives 13 161, 164, 166, 170, 178, 231, 232, 239, 240, 249, Murtfeldt, Larry 120, 122 National Art Gallery 230 195, 198, 199, 201, 204, 250 294 River City Memoirs Ghost

NEW YORK 82 Nyack 185 Ontario 100, 120, 130, 204, 271 Parmeter’s Chicken Hut 252 New York City 209 Nystrom, Walter 8 Onyx 166 Parrott, Cliff 274 New York Life 138 Opelousas [La.] 225 Parzy, Joe and Irma 62, 64 New Zealand 259 O Orcutt 96 Parzy, Sylvester 64 Niagara Falls 13, 240 Oakdale 89 Oregon 46, 123 Pascoe, T.A. 167 Nichols, Louis 94 Oakfield 237 Orlando, Fla. 89 Pasquale’s 252 Nicolet Bay 207 Oakland 137 Oshkosh 51, 59, 115, 129, 161, Paterick, Maynard 63 Nieman, Herbert 63 Oak Road 57 248, 268, 276 Patton, George 116 Nieman’s 63, 139 Oak Street 14, 121, 125, 141, 157, Oshkosh Business College 268 Patzer, Bob 75 Nieman’s DX Service 63 159, 184, 200, 212, 235, 250 Oshkosh state college 276 Patzer, Julia “Susie” 81 Nimtz, J.J. 205 Obama 276 Otto, Carl 20, 149, 167 Patzer, Mrs. Robert 81 Ninth Avenue 108, 141, 150, 218 Oberbeck furniture 161 Co., Otto, C. E. 38 Paulson, Richard 10 Ninth St 77, 279 Oberbeck, Gerhardt 22 Otto, Earl 143 Paulus, Prof. G.W. 188 Niobrara river 155 Oberbeck Mfg. 268 Otto, Franklin 233 Paynes 211 Nixon, President 35, 133 Oberhuber, Mrs. Proxeda 232 Our Lady of Fatima 28 Payne, Todd 113 Nixon, President Richard M. 136, Obermeier, Mrs. William 270 Our Lady of Lourdes 221 Pearl Harbor 38, 44, 149, 238, 275 Obermeier, William 53, 58 Our Lady Queen of Heaven 36, 276 Nixon, Richard M. 249, 265 Obey, Dave 136 100, 101, 194, 254 Pear [street] 195 Nixon, Vice President Richard Obey, David 55 Owen 78, 196 Peaslee, James 128 149 O’Brien 96 Owens, Madalene 216 Pea Wagon Incident 138 Nobles 96 Peckham, Pee Wee 49, 135, 151 Ocean Spray 87, 279 P Nobles, Mr. and Mrs. Charles L O’Connell, Father James F. 100 Peckham Road 16 254 Oconomowoc 92 Paap, Lorena 20 Peck, Louis 145 Nobles, Phil 143 Oconto 16, 107, 194, 221 Pacelli 100 Pelton, John 50 Nobles, William 200 O’Day, Himself 258 Packers 11, 17, 55, 59, 94, 97, Penney, James Cash 12 Nobles, William T. 166 O’Day, Jere 146 107, 118, 245, 252 Penney’s 12, 43, 159, 168, 253 Nobles, W.T. 254 O’Day, Tim 258 Padags, A.E. 210 Penn, George W. 231 Nordlee, David 54 Odd Fellows 165, 250 Padley Orkransky Russian Ballet 231 Penn, “Jesseca” 231 Nordlee, Norman and Beverly 85 Odd Fellows lodge 121 Pagel shoe store 83 Penn, Jesseca 5, 230, 232, 235 Nordley, Norm 95 Odegard, Carl 177 Palace 36, 39, 42, 46, 62, 63, 101, Penn, Jessica 230 Normal Demonstration School 16 Odegard, Earl 64 128, 154, 174, 208, 269 Penn, Jessica B. 231 Norman, Alan 146 O’Dell, Lester 17 Palmer, Vi 159 Penn Station 82 Normandy 144 Oestreich, Wayne 18, 65, 109, 156 Panama Canal Zone 210 Pennsylvania 198 North Africa 117 Ohio 107, 118, 224, 240 Panter, Harold 235 Pennsylvania Turnpike 240 North Carolina 110 O’Keefe, Cheryl 270 Paperboard 68, 132 Pensacola 124, 210 North County park 51 Okinawa 10, 149, 259 Paperboard Products Division 132 Penza, Donald 70, 274 Northern Steel Castings 108 Oklahoma City 115 Paper City Heating Co. 237 Peoria 115, 270 North Hibbing 111 O’Konski, Rep. 71 Paper Inn 27, 59 Pepin 198 North Korea 10, 34 Old Empire tavern 108 Parilli, Babe 59 Pepin, Mrs. Kate J. 129 North Korean People’s Army 34 Old Timers Reunion 89 Pariseau, C.E. 158 Peplinski, Antoinette 150 North Rapids 111 Oligney, Jim 127 Park Avenue 141 Performing Arts Center 39 Northrop Auditorium 276 Oliver, Lawrence 20 Parker, Fess 128 Pernin, Rev. P. 101, 220, 221, 224, Notre Dame Sisters of Milwaukee 101 Oliver Street 108 Parker, Prof. W.D. 188 227 Nowak, Tom 108 Olson, Bob 18, 109 Park Falls 170 Perrodin, Susan 216 NRA gun safety course 49 Olson, Ted 127, 260 Park Street 141 Perry, Calvin J. 103 Nuhlicek, James C. 270 Omaha 24, 136 “Parkway” clothes 158 Perry, Mame 23 Nuhlicek, Jim 82, 224 O’Neill, Rev. C.A. 52 Parmeter, Ila 252 Perry’s Sport Shop 3, 95 N.Y. 142, 164, 224 One Mile Creek 27, 207 Parmeter, Leanne “Sis” 89 Peshtigo, Wis. 221

295 Ghost River City Memoirs

Petenwell 14, 17, 29, 32, 120, 171 Pleasant View 193 Port Edwards 13, 20, 21, 22, 26, Productolith 64 Peters, Albert 155 Pleasant View school 96, 193, 203 27, 32, 42, 47, 51, 64, 81, Prohibition 44, 83, 147, 158 Peters, Anthony 155 Please Pass the Roses 61 90, 95, 100, 101, 104, 107, Proxmire, Bill 107 Peters Grocery 49, 63 Plover 14, 38, 46, 107, 111, 123, 114, 125, 129, 132, 140, Proxmire, William 58, 91, 131, 275 Peters, Henry 155 157, 164, 166, 181, 184, 158, 161, 164, 166, 167, Pub 252 Peters, Joseph 155 219, 258, 264 173, 200, 212, 257, 266, Puerto Ricans 71 Peters, Julius 173 Plover Road 166 273 Puerto Rico 71 Peters, Leon 155 Plowman, Dennis 64 Port Edwards’ Community Church 47 Pulaski 146 Peters, Minerva 155 Plumb Nelson Co. 279 Portesi Fine Foods 252 Pupols, Arnold 12 Peters, Minnie 155 Plum City 220 Portesi, Mr. and Mrs. Mario 252 Pupols, John 13 Peterson, George H. Sr. 206 Plum [street] 195 Portesi, Syl 252 Purdy, Corydon T. 30, 215 Peterson, Russell A. 9, 76, 77, 80 Plymouth 224 Portland, Ore. 231 Purdy, Ira 198 Peterson’s Grocery 206 Pohl garage 145 Potomac Park Motor Court 240 Peters, Peter 155 Point Basse 21, 69, 90, 161, 164, Potter Bros. 87 Q Petta, Marylyn 200 199, 201 Potter, John 22, 53 Quality Row 262 Philippine “Death March” 237 Point Boss 199 Potter, John M. 10, 52, 60, 204 Queenie 68 Philippines. 237 Point college 3, 111, 219, 259, Potter, Roy 149 Queen of the Holy Rosary Media- Philleo, H.B. 217 270 Poulos, Tom 42, 46, 159, 252 trix of Peace Shrine 29 Phipps, Alvin 52, 60 Poland 266 Poulos, Mabel Reber 62 Quick Lunch 80, 168, 251, 252 Pierre S.D. 241 Polansky, Carl 63 POW 4, 5, 27, 117, 237, 238, 272 Quiz Bowl 118 Pietch and Richmond 158 Polansky Service Station 63 Power, M.J. 260 Pilgrim 224 Polish 279 Powers Bluff county park 11, 16 R Piltz Avenue 142 Polish Catholics 11, 101 Powers, L.P. 217 Pine Grove 104, 145, 162, 173, 229 Polish ethnicity 101 Powers, Miss 184 Raasch, Jerry 11, 18, 109 Pine Grove in Seneca 173 Polonia 60 Powers, Mr. 182 Rablin, Elizabeth 158 Pinery 72, 164, 181, 199, 201, Pomainville 198 POWs 116, 117 Rablin, John 184 211, 266 Pomainville, Ann 7 Prairie du Chien 69, 183 Rablin [street] 141 Pine [street] 141 Pomainville Building 279 Prairie Lights bookstore 272 Radomski, Edith 81 Pioneer [school] 203 Pomainville, Doc 102 Prange’s department store 43 Radomski, William A. 81 Pirate, Grove School 135 Pomainville, Dr. F.X. 167 Pratt, Leo 65 Radomski, William J. 81 Pitsch School 190 Pomainville, Dr. Harold 52 Pratt, Miss Delana 230 Raiders 5, 9, 18, 59, 65, 109, 151, Pitsch, Ann Mary 112, 195 Pomainville, Dr. L.C. 167 Pratt, Paul A. 58 154 Pitsch, Miss Ann 195 Pomainville, F. 158 Pratt, Robert 137 Ranch House root beer stand 270 Pittsville 22, 29, 100, 105, 150, Pomainville, F.J. 65 Prebbanow, Lt. James G. 10 Randolph 177 180, 237 Pomainville, F. X. 30, 40, 167 Prebbanow, William 75 Rapids Auto Wrecking 235 Pittsville High School 150 Pomainville, Harold 65 Precious, Harry 22, 134 Rapids Beverage Co. 8 Pittsville Maryheart 100 Pomainville, Judge E.N. 210 Prentiss Wabers 17, 23, 39, 84 Rapids Invitational meet 46 Pizza Hut 252 Pomainville, Leland 65 Prentiss Wabers Products Co. 84, 260 Rapids Lumber and Supply Co. P.J. Jacobs High School 89 Ponczoch, Mrs. Melvin 252 Prentiss-Wabers Stove Company 158 89 Place, The 252 poor farm cemetery 137 Presley, Elvis 178 Rapids Mall 48, 62, 63, 74 Plahmer, Clarence 160 Pors, Charles M. 180 Presto club 265 Rapids-Point game 157 Plainfield 22, 105, 145, 228, 229, Portage 14, 50, 52, 60, 69, 81, Preway 39, 64, 81, 84, 115, 132, Rapids Pulse 50 230, 231, 232, 233, 235, 101, 104, 107, 114, 140, 161, 260, 269 Rapids Shell 63 241, 242, 245 141, 145, 164, 181, 184, Princeton 130 Rapids state highway commission Plainfield cemetery 229 198, 199, 201, 223, 227, Princeton Theological Seminary office 39 Plainfield Methodist church 230 228, 272 136 Rapids Theater 3, 46 Planer, Tod 57 Portage [street] 141 Princeton University 249 Rapids Zephyr Services 197 Plank Hill school 173 Port Arthur, Ontario 120, 204, 271 Prochnow drug store 145 Rasmussen 96

296 River City Memoirs Ghost

Rasmussen, Al 49 Rialto Theatre 26 Robby’s 252 Rucinski, David 81 Rasmussen, Arthur 177 Richardt, Roland 94 Roberts, John 151 Rucinski, Harry 8 Rasmussen, Doc 68 Richfield 79, 92 Roberts, Kenneth A. 71 Rude, Julius 144 Rasmussen, John 200 Richfield [township] 79 Robinson Park 128, 270 Ruder, Don 59 Raubal, Joseph 193 Richter, Sarge 77 Rocheleau, Maggie 189 Ruder, Herb 9 Reaper, Grim 245 Rickoff, Fred 200 Rochester 16, 221 Rudolph 2, 4, 5, 9, 16, 23, 36, 37, Reber, Mabel [Poulos] 62 Ridges 76, 80, 252, 255, 268 Rockefeller Plaza 82 38, 42, 53, 57, 62, 78, 79, Red Ball Café 270 Ridges golf course 76, 80, 255, Rockford 122, 164 82, 83, 93, 96, 100, 101, Red Cross 28, 44, 116, 162, 250, 261 268 Rock [township] 79 106, 107, 111, 112, 125, Red Cross, South Wood County 44 Ridges Inn & Country club 252 Roddis, Ellen 138 127, 137, 146, 155, 168, Reddick, Sandy 150 Ridgeway 221 Roddis, Hamilton 275 169, 173, 182, 189, 190, Reddin Road 146, 193 Ridikalas Daze 43 Roddis plywood 92, 138 193, 215, 216, 221, 234, Reding, Rev. William 220 Riemer, Clarence 49 Rodencal, John 131 245, 263 Reding, William 37, 220 Ringling, Al 23 Rod’s tavern 63 Rudolph lion 9 Red Owl 5, 27, 205, 208 Ripon College 204 Rogers Cinema 23, 42, 62, 63, Rudolph school 106, 190 Red Raiders 5, 9, 18, 19, 59, 65, Ristow, Charmaine 160 129 Ruesch, Thomas J. 275 68, 109, 151, 154, 156 Ritchay 109 Rogers, Lt. Col. Glenn 10 Rusch, Clara 78 Red Raiders, Chenango Valley 154 Ritchay, A.A. 160, 176 Rogers, Roy 240 Rushford 221 Red Saeger’s Orchestra 128 Ritchay, Aaron 19, 109, 119, 151, Rokus, Marilyn 128 Russia 10, 28, 34, 202, 256, 257 Red’s Dixie Bar 270 177, 187, 244, 263 Rollin’ Dough pizza 63 Ryan, Robert 237 Red Stockings 239 Ritchay funeral home 247, 264 Rolsma, John 22 Ryan, Robert J. 10, 238, 275 Reeves, Bill 151 Ritchay, Jim 11, 156 Romanski building 270 Ryan, Sgt. Robert 238 Regalia, Inez 137 Ritchay, Jimmy 9, 18, 109 Romanski, Joe and Ann 62 Ryan, William L. 202 Rehfeldt, Donald 59, 156, 193 Ritchay, John 11 Romanski, Leonard 113 Reichert, Mrs. 263 Ritchie, Mary Y. 40, 177 Romanski’s 170 S Reidels [orchestra] 83 Ritzinger, Miss Wallie 59 Rombalski 101 Sabetta 96 Reiland, Donald E. 58 River Block 70, 251 Romundson, Don 258 Sabetta, Ellen 7, 74, 75, 251 Reiland-Pontiac 208 River Cities 163 Ron McCabe 118 Sabota, T. 63 Reimer, Jim 18 River City Band 163 Ronnie’s Wadhams Service 63 Sabota, Teofel 63 Reinholt, Arthur 22 River City Mall 163 Ronzani, Gene 11, 17 Sacred Heart 100, 101 Reinicke, Ken 151 River City Memoirs 3 Roosevelt Street 141, 197 Sacred Heart of Jesus 101 Reitell, Liz 258 River City Memoirs III 64 Rosandick, Louis 57 Saeger, Jim 151 Reliable Auto Body 63 River City Shopper 163 Rose and Roy’s root beer 42 Saeger, Marlene 128 Rember, Dorothy 115, 119 River City, Things Called 163 Rosebush, Mrs. Franz 129 Safe-Way Bus Transit 63 Rember, Ole 64 River Falls Teachers’ College 154 Rosenthal, L.L. 260, 261 St. John Baptiste society 220 Remington 79, 137 River Jug 59 Rosholt, Malcolm 107, 149 Saint Nick 12 Remington, H. W. 137 Riverside Bar 3 Ross, “Duke” 163 Saint Peter & Paul school 161 Remington [township] 79 Riverside Drive 209 Ross School 173, 235 Saipan 10, 259 Restlawn Memorial Park Cem- Riverside Park 26 Rotary 15, 22, 33, 45, 47, 92, 131 Sakalosky, Pete 75, 115 etery 264 Riverview Expressway 63 Rothermel, Franklin 229 Salem 240 Retzlaff 96 Riverview hospital 8, 44, 65, 70, Rounds, Alice 231 Sally Sanger 150 Retzlaff, James A. 172 83, 84, 102, 134, 139, 212, Rounds, Charles B. 231 Salomon, Mr. 182 Reuben 4, 24, 25, 50, 139, 149, 219, 250, 254, 258, 259, Rounds, Marie 231 Salter, Stella 216 215, 267 278 Rowland, Gene A. 195 Salvation Army 162 Rezin 63 Riverwood Lane 146, 219 Rowland, Myrtle 203 Sampson, A.B. 198 Rheel, Dale 19, 152 Riverwood Roundtable 118 Royal Academy in Vienna 226 Sampson Canning Co. 73, 84, 260 Rhinelander 15, 18, 94, 154 Roach, Miss May 146 Roy, Mrs. Angeline 129 Sampson, H.A. 108 R.I. 224 Road Kings 157 Ruby Avenue 62 Sampson, Henry 198

297 Ghost River City Memoirs

Sampson, Jim 73 Schnabel, John 176 65, 69, 73, 74, 77, 79, 81, Siewert, Johnny 63 Sampson, Ray 73, 74, 108 Schnabel, John E. 175 83, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 100, Siewert, Val 63 Sampson’s 4, 73, 74, 108, 111, 260 Schnabel’s, Rapids Furniture 20 103, 104, 105, 107, 108, Sigel 5, 24, 25, 37, 79, 81, 96, Sampsons 211 Schneider, Gloria 40, 41 113, 117-120, 122, 125, 100, 101, 203, 209 Sampson Street 135, 141, 206 Schneider, Jerry 95 128, 129, 133-136, 146, Sigel, Franz 209 San Antonio, Texas 128 Schneider, Milton 40, 249 149, 150, 159, 161, 162, Sigel [township] 79 Sand Hill 8, 32, 62, 135, 203, 219, 228 Schneider, Peter 32 166, 167, 169, 173, 177, Silka, Hank 142 Sandman drug store 27 Schneider, Rev. L. F. 8, 146 180-184, 187, 189, 197- Silk Hat Harry 226 Sandrin, John 115 Schoharie 224 200, 203, 207, 208, 209, Simkins, Jean 216 Sands, John 162 School Board 151 210, 211-222, 226, 234, Simonis, Andy 106 Sands Knitting Mills 162 Schooley, 151 235, 237, 243, 248, 254, Sisco, George, barber shop 27 San Francisco 44, 137, 231, 237 Schreiber, Marty 70 258, 262, 273 Sisley 96 Sanger, Mrs. Len 131 Schroeder, Clara 78 Seventh Avenue 141, 270 Sisley, Jan 127 Santa 5, 12, 13, 36, 60, 61, 128, Schroeder, Ernest A. 78 Seventh Street 150 Sisson, Ben D. 150 147, 148, 178, 186, 245, Schroeder’s variety store 159 Severns, Jim 229 Sister Marie 100 251, 278 Schroeder Trucking Co 78 Seward [street] 141 Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi Santa Cruz 178 Schroeder, Wm. 176 Seymour 56, 57, 104, 110, 145, 100, 101 Saratoga 9, 25, 33, 53, 65, 79, Schuetz, Pat 115 148, 168, 228, 264 Sister Vincent de Paul 194 166, 173, 182, 194, 211, Schukar, George 235 Seymour Dairy Queen 56 Six Fat Dutchmen 90 235, 257 Schulter, Hank 64 Shambeau, Bud 85 Sixteenth Street 141 Sarchet, Dixie Ann 89 Schultz grocery 242 Shanagolden 2, 10, 125, 212, 228 Skibba, Craig 128, 270 Sarver, Mrs. Bette 234 Schultz, Tony 64 Sharkey, Carl 232 Skoog, Whitey 156 Saugatuck 162 Schwendinger, principal 96 Sharkey, Dave 58, 104, 232 Skunk Hill 105 Saunders, Jerry 77 Scooch 258 Sharkey, David 22 Sky Club 59 Save More 206 Scott 96 Shawano 248 Skyway 62, 90, 142, 178, 197, Scarborough, Mark 7, 107, 118, Scott, Lyle 137 Shaw Lee 247, 252 235 227, 258 Scott, W.A. 266 Shaw, Miss 187 Skyway Ballroom 62, 235 Schauer, Violet 51 Searles, C. A. , 40 Shaw Rapids 164 Sleepy Hollow 224 Schecter, Harold 228 Searles, Clarence 87 Shearier, Bernard 195 Smith, Buffalo Bob 49 Scheffer, Fred 200 Searles, Mrs. 184 Sheboygan 14, 199, 205, 232 Smith, Floyd 19, 31, 177 Schereck, William J. 167 Seattle 7, 231, 239, 247 Sheboygan Falls 232 Smith, Franklin 8 Schill, Marie 267 Seckatary Hawkins 142 Shelfhout, Joseph F. 29 Smith, George H. 199 Schleich, Harriet [Timm]. Second St. 252, 269 Shepard 109 Smith, Joseph 227 See (Timm), Harriet Schle- Second Street 101, 141, 150, 159 Sherman, Bill 64 Smith, Kathlene 96 ich Second Street North 101 Sherman, Earl 176, 177 Smith, Lilas 69 Schley [street] 141 Secretary of Defense 136 Sherman, Henry 145 Smith, Mary Ann 137 Schmeekle, Fred 105 Sedevie, Charles and Kathy 62 Sherman [street] 141 Smith, Patrick 137 Schmeekle Reserve 105 Seehafer, Gene 15 Sherry 51, 79, 83, 85, 262 Smoky Joe’s Corner 19, 20, 81, Schmeling, Max 116 Segrist, Marty 20 Sherry [township] 79 252 Schmidt 96, 246 Seifert, Jerome 203 Shiloh 181 Smoky Joe’s Corners 43, 46 Schmidt, (Adolph) 63 Selig, Bud 239 hingles 184, 198, 201, 272 Smullen, George 25 Schmidt brewery 108 Seneca 79, 137, 141, 173, 182, 254 Shorewood 18 Smullen, J.J. 65 Schmidt, Cleora 56 Seneca Road 137 Showers, Dean 18, 59 Snow White 191, 226 Schmidt, Leon Jr. 31, 95 Seneca [street] 141 Shugart, Louis 174 Snyder, Clayton and Winifred 62 Schmidt, Mrs. 263 Sesquicentennial [sesquicenten- Sickles, Joan 150 Snyder, Dorlese 74 Schmidt, Nancy 150 nial dates] 2, 7, 8, 11, 13, Sieber, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick 252 Snyder, Fred and Joe 211 Schmidt, Winfred 56 21-23, 27, 32, 34, 37-39, Sieber’s 252 Snyder, George 212 Schnabel, Donald 126 44, 47, 50-52, 58, 60, 64, Siebers’ restaurant, 251 Snyder, George and Clark 211

298 River City Memoirs Ghost

Snyder school 203 Sport Show 8, 19, 235, 265 Stevenson 182 St. Mary’s school 100 Soap Box Derby 128 Springfield 145 Stevens, Phineas 164 St. Michael’s hospital 162 Solarus 166 Springfield [township] 79 Stevens Point 9-11, 14, 18, 46, 53, St. Norbert college 11 Soo Line railroad 212 Spring Lake 193 55, 57, 59, 60, 78, 89, 90- Stone, Margos 249 South Carolina 122 Spring Lake school 24, 203 92, 96, 100, 108, 111, 113, Stone, Richard T. 34 South Centralia 59 Spring Valley 220 123, 134, 136, 145, 146, Stora Enso 13, 84, 119, 271 South Dakota 241 Sprise, W. A. 38 149-152, 156, 157, 162, Stora Enso Oyj 271 South Hibbing 111 Spruce [street] 141 164, 177, 179, 181, 184, Stout college 152 South Korea 10, 34, 35 Sputnik 256 197, 199, 201, 220, 230, St. Paul’s chapel [Manhattan] 82 South Pacific room 150, 252 Square Bar 62 249, 250, 255, 258, 259, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran South Wilmington 115 S&S clothing company 158 261, 262, 268 Church 254 South Wood County Historical Stevens Point Business College 268 St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 51 Corp. 2, 7, 8, 27, 39, 69, SS. Peter & Paul 11, 19, 36, 37, Stevens Point college 259 St. Peter & Paul 126 73, 74, 77, 83, 86, 90, 92, 40, 47, 91, 100, 101, 103, Stevens Point Daily Journal 123 St. Peter & Paul church 126 105, 107, 117, 118, 120, 108, 180, 194, 220, 221, Stevens Point Panthers 9 St. Philip’s 96, 101, 127 122, 125, 128, 159, 167, 227, 274 Stevens Rapids 111 St. Philip’s Catholic School 96 208, 210, 212, 214, 215, SSPP 101, 194, 220 Stewart, Kay 107 St. Philomena’s 93, 100, 101, 168, 216, 226, 234, 243, 248, Staeck, Esther 200 Stewart, Mike 42 221 262 Stafford’s Restaurant 252 Stewart, Prof. 182 Stratford Merchants 156 South Wood County Historical Stahl, Frank 122 Stewart’s grocery 174 Stratton 109 Museum 125, 273 Stahl, Helen 120, 122 Stewartsville 221 Straub, Dr. Orville 54 South Wood County Historical Stainbrook Garage 235 St. Francis of Assisi parish 28 Strike, 1957 255 Society 167 St. Alexander Catholic 27 Stimac, Russ 33 Strong, George W. 201 Spafford, S.A. 158 St. Alexander’s 100, 101 Stinchfield, Jack 269 Strong, Moses M. 201 Spahn, Warren 239 Strang, James J. 227 Stir, Hank 258 Strong, Nelson 181, 198 Spain 71, 183 Stanke, Joe 16 St. James 100, 227 Strongs Prairie cemetery 17 Spam 98 Stanton W. Mead Education and St. John’s Episcopal church 248 Stunt Night 265 Spanish-American war 47 Visitor Center 140 St. John’s Episcopal church Me- Sturgeon Bay 85, 260 Sparger, Max 153 Stark, Hube 77 morial Hall 244 Sturtz, Howie 178 Sparhawk., Chuck 63 Stark, John 23 St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran St. Vincent Catholic parish 51 Sparhawk, Tom 63 Starks, Mrs. 119 Church 118 St. Vincent de Paul 5, 194 Sparhawk Trucking and Esquire Starr, Frank 33 St. John “the Baptiste” 220 St. Vincent De Paul 29 Muffler 63 State League 51 St. Joseph hospice 165 St. Vincent Millay, Edna 7 Sparks, Barbara 150 State Reformatory 269 St. Joseph’s Academy for Girls 100 Subic Bay 238 Sparks, Ben 232 St. Bridget, Simpson 221 St. Joseph’s Catholic school 194 Suffern. N.Y. 185 Sparks, Eugene 232 St. Clare’s orphanage 60 St. Joseph’s church 221 Suffrage 129 Sparks, Mary 232 Steckler, Marlys 48 St. Joseph’s hospital 32, 278 Sugar Bowl restaurant 3, 42, 43, Sparks, Mayme 232 Steege, Reinhart 33 St. Killian’s Catholic school 159 48, 59, 62, 70, 159, 168, Sparks, Mrs. Ben 232 Stehle, Rev. James 101, 220 St. Lawrence 8, 11, 36, 91, 100, 252 Specht, Albert J. 53 Stehle, Rev. Nicholas 101 101, 194, 259, 269 Sullivan, Arthur 137 Speer, Albert 261 Steib, Frank 254 St. Lawrence School 8, 259 Sullivan, Billy and Pat 9 Spees, Arden 229 Steiner, Ed 63 St. Louis 72, 120, 164, 181, 191, Sullivan, Harold “Honey Boy” 9 Spees, Charles 160 Steinle, Roland J. 275 199, 201, 204, 209, 211, Sullivan, John 137 Speltz music 90 Stenerson, Mary Ann 128 221 Sullivan, Kathleen 32 Spence, R. 158 Stern, Thomas D. 13, 258 St. Luke’s Lutheran 8, 81, 146 Summers, Jimmy 115 Spencer, Charlie 252 Stevens, Chester D. 164 St Luke’s Lutheran church 146, 208 Sunday hours 206 Sphagnum moss 172 Stevens, George 164 St. Mary’s 36, 100, 101, 194, 221 Sunrise Rotary 92 Splitt, Pat 135 Stevens, George W. 199 St. Mary’s hospital 221 Sunrise Tavern 59

299 Ghost River City Memoirs

Super Wash 63 69, 128, 208, 214, 216 Tigerton 46 Tubbs, Mrs. Clifford 229 Suphite & Paper Mill 45 Teas, Dwight H. 208 (Timm), Harriet Schleich 127 Turley, Emma and Ella 211 Swampscott 224 Tefault, Elzore 189 Timm, Mr. 200 Turner, Carl 150 Swamp Valley 27 Teiman, Elizabeth 211 Tishin, Mr. and Mrs. John 252 Turner, Jack 18 Swarick, Chester 62 Ten Mile 47 Title 3 Turner, Mrs. Ralph 200 Swarick, Chet 81 Ten Mile Creek 9, 79, 211 T-M Bar 59 Turner [school] 203 Swarick, Frank 62, 81 Tenney, J.E. 171 Tomah 23, 211 Tustin 170 Swarick, George 81 Tennyson 208 Tomahawk 18 Tuszka, Dick 156 Swarick, Kate 81 Tenpas 96 Tom Taylor history book 216 Twentieth Avenue 141 Swarick’s 59, 62 Tenth Avenue 141 Torino 115 Twiggs, David, General 272 Swartz, Charles 152 Terrace, The 252 Tork, Audrey 89 Twin City Brewery 108 SWCHC 2, 3, 5, 7, 83, 121, 125, Terrio, Helen 195 Tork, Mr. and Mrs. Walter 89 Two Mile 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 17, 26, 167, 212, 243, 251, 259, Territorial prison 223 Torresani, J.A. 19, 46, 176 27, 31, 48, 49, 54, 65, 68, 271, 278 Terry Andrae Park 165 Torresani, Jack 18 72, 76, 81, 85, 87, 107, 110, SWCHC Museum 3, 83, 121, 212, Terwilliger, Wayne 124 Tosch, Frank 16 112, 121, 128, 135, 165, 259, 271, 278 Tesch 246 Toto 127 168, 206, 212, 235, 245, SWCHS 167 Teske, Clarence 15, 146 Tourist Park 197 253, 256, 257, 263, 278 Swedes 120 Teske, David 90 Tournament of Champions 89 Two Mile Avenue 6, 11, 26, 48, Swedish 279 Tess, Deputy Earl 104 Townes, Mrs. Ethel 230 54, 65, 72, 76, 81, 87, 107, Swimming pool 26, 27, 32, 45, Tessmer, Sgt.August Jr. 10 Township Avenue 121, 150 110, 112, 121, 128, 135, 58, 63, 73, 108, 111, 119, Tetzlaff, Rev. Joseph 254 Traverse City 162 168, 206, 212, 235, 245, 143, 144, 146, 197, 208, Texas 107, 110, 128, 148, 192, Treacy, Bishop J.P. 100 256, 263, 278 215, 250 202, 209, 228, 229, 256, Treacy, John 28 Two Mile school 3, 49, 68, 81, Swiss 279 272 Treacy, John P. 36, 194 112, 135, 190, 212, 263, Sycamore [street] 141 Thanksgiving 17, 87, 161, 273 Treacy, Rev. 100 Two Rivers 22 Sylvester 246 Thedens, Dorothy 95 Trees for Tomorrow 233 Sylvester, Gordon 148, 246 Thefault, Elziver 189 Treinen 79 U Sylvester, Willard 148, 246 Theresa, Wis. 189 Treutel, Art 41 U-Haul 63 Thiele, Bill 120, 271 Treutel, Arthur H 275 T Ulm 130 Thiele, W.F. 44 Treutel, Robert 237 Uncalled Four Plus Two 90 Tailgunner Joe , 40, 240 Thiele, William 31, 44 Trewyn, Mrs. V.C. 98 Uncle Dave 3, 207, 243, 246, 251, Tain, Bob 160 Thiele, William F. 177 Tri-Cities 23, 166, 171, 249 254, 258, 276, 308 Tangled Web 61 Third Avenue 11, 101, 185, 211, Tri-Cities Boxing club 171 Unferth, Don 21 Tarawa 259 234, 269 Tri-Cities Labor Temple 249 Union School 5, 182, 184, 187 T.A. Taylor 69, 167 Third Street 15, 23, 33, 69, 72, Tri-City 132 Union Telephone Co. 229 Tate, Tom 19 73, 74, 76, 83, 92, 105, 125, Tri-City airport 27, 210, 235, 261 United Brethren 97, 246 Taylor, Asa “Tom” 69 126, 208, 212, 214, 216, Tri-City area 10, 132, 166 United Methodist 247 Taylor book 69 219, 226, 262 Tri-City Catholic high school 36, 100 United Nations 10, 34, 38 Taylor County 136 Thomas, Dylan 258 Tri-City golf course 92 United Papermakers and Paper- Taylor, General 199 Thompson, Harold, sheriff, 104 Trier, John 11 workers Union 255 Taylor’s “Historical Wisconsin Thompson, Harold 145 Triggs, Rev. Alpheus W. 47 United States 8, 15, 47, 88, 92, Rapids 2nd Vol.” 69 Thompson., John 251 Triggs, Rev. A.W. 200 129, 172, 181, 183, 185, Taylor, Tom 158, 184, 216 Thomson newspaper chain 50 Trinity Lutheran 27 201, 202, 209, 221, 230, Taylor, William J. , 40 Thomson, Vernon W. 275 Troop 72 80 248, 249, 256, 257, 261, Taylor, W.J. 167, 175, 176 Thorp 196 Trowbridge, Mrs. Leslie 95 273 T.B. Scott 23, 59, 69, 128, 208, Three Kings Day 13 Truman, Harry S, President 10, Unity church 188 214, 216 Thunder Bay 120, 271 34, 91 University Hospital 61, 134 T.B. Scott Public Library 23, 59, Thunder Bay mill 271 Trummer, Pete 139 University Hospital, Madison 61 300 River City Memoirs Ghost

University of Illinois 151 Verstegen, George 155 Walker, Jim 137 WBAY-TV 89, 205 University of Minnesota 30, 70, Verstegen, John 155 Walker, Pam 39, 118 WCTC 5, 65, 166 156, 276 Verstegen, William 155 Wallace, E.J. 75 Weaver, Granny 143 University of Southern California Vesper 5, 20, 22, 23, 37, 39, 42, Wallner, Joe and Alice 71, 111 Webster [street] 141 265 73, 79, 83, 101, 105, 106, Walloch building 62 Wefel, Sharon 32 University of Wisconsin 9, 15, 18, 112, 139, 174, 193, 203, Walloch, Walter 269 Wefel, Skip 7, 127 19, 22, 44, 46, 56, 59, 89, 260 Wallock, Walter 269 Wefel, Susan 146, 167 136, 142, 144, 156, 172, Vesper Brick Yard 203 Wal-Mart 76, 77, 111, 205 Wefel, Walter 58 190, 212, 213, 222, 223, Vesper [school] 190 Walrath, Ted 62, 174 Weiler, Rudolf Karl Wilhelm 261 263, 265, 267 Veterans of Foreign Wars 51, 233 Walrath, Theodore 208 Welch, Julian T. 113 Uptown Bar 21 Veterans Park 159 Walsh, Miss Fern 129 Wells, John T. 86 US Bank 63 VFW 128, 150 Walter, Albert 229 Wells, Mrs. Kate Alice Merrel 243 U.S. Bureau of Reclamation 39 Vickers, Raymond 176 Walter, Mrs. Albert 229 Wells, State Superintendent 188 U.S. colleges 3 Vicksburg 225 Walt [Ken Engel] 128, 142, 226, Wells, Stephenson 243 Utegaard, Isabel “Bo” 47 Vic’s Little Band 197 245, 247, 264 Welter, Matt 258 Utegaard, John 44 Victory garden 262 Walton, Isaak 172 Weltman, Henry 63 Utegaard, Rolf 44, 47 Vidal 109 War Between the States 69, 272 Welton, Theodore 200 Utegaard, Thomas 44 Vidal, Fred 143 Warner, John 184 Werder, Claude 50 Utegaard, Tom 64 Vieau, Andrew Sr. 189 War of 1812 227 Werner 246 UW 9, 59, 65, 152, 156, 223, 265 Vienna Academy of Fine Arts 191 Washington 46, 232, 278 Wesson 246 UW-Madison 217 Viet Nam 136, 192, 249, 257, 274 Washington D.C. 150, 240 Western Condensary 260 UWSP 105, 258, 263 Vilas, William F. 87, 223 Washington [school] 190 Western Union Telegraph Co. 75 Vincent de Paul 194 Washington Street 150 Western Washington University V Vine street 210 Washington University 120 245, 247 Valley conference 9, 18 Vine Street 72, 138, 141 Wasser, “Hank” 226 Westfall, Hank 87 Vallin, Cloyd, Fire Chief 157 Virgin Mary 28, 32 Wasson 96 Westfall, Marilyn 142 Van Buren [street] 141 Vos, Marvin 102 Water & Light Department 51 West Grand Avenue 3, 10, 22, 24, Van de Loop, Gerardus 155 Voss, H. H. 23 Waterloo 231 25, 46, 62, 63, 68, 71, 75, Van de Loop, Maria-Anna 155 Vruwink, Ed 25 Waterman, Vilas 104, 145, 162 80, 87, 89, 112, 113, 141, Water Street 141 152, 170, 204, 205, 208, Father Van den Broeck 36, 155 W Van den Broek, T.J. 220 WATK 94 211, 215, 249, 251, 252, Van Dyken, Bret 109 WAFs 185 Watkins 249 261, 270, 279 Van Hoof 59 Wagner, Father 174 Waukesha 18, 60, 173, 182, 235 West Grand I.G.A. 68 Van Hoof, Fred 28, 29 Wagner, Hans 64 Waukesha School for Boys 60, 235 West Jr. High 107, 263 Van Hoof, Mary Ann 28 Wagner, P. J. 36, 101 Waupaca 65, 90, 150, 151, 248, 250 Westminster Presbyterian, Omaha 136 Van Hoof, Mary Anna 32 Wagner, Rev. Philip J. 83, 93, 155 Waupun 9, 46, 53, 60, 61, 113, West Side 8. 11, 16, 22, 31, 36, Van Rasp, Dr. Mango 258 Wainright, General 238 145, 233 37, 49, 51, 60, 62, 63, 72, Van Sant, Mrs. 230 Wakely, Bob 161, 199, 223 Wausau 11, 24, 25, 51, 55, 79, 94, 81, 101, 111, 112, 119, 122, Van Sever, Rev. August 101 Wakely house 21 100, 111, 113, 136, 140, 126, 128, 141, 146, 150, Van Wormer, Dave 46, 50, 55 Wakely Inn 90 157, 164, 178, 179, 194, 187, 188, 194, 195, 197, Varga, Joseph 206 Wakely Inn Preservation 90 199, 201, 205, 206, 222, 211, 215, 218, 234, 250, Varney, George 203 Wakely, Otis 198 248, 250, 257, 267 252, 254, 262, 269 Veneman, Gerry 273 Wakely, Robert 164, 181, 198, Wausau Newman 100 West Side Civic Assn. 146 Veolia 166 199, 201 Waushara 228, 230, 233, 235, 242 West Side Lutheran 51 Verjinski, Ron 151 Wakely Winter Feast 106 Wautoma 233 West Side Market Square 62 Vermont 181, 201 Walden Pond 224 Wauwatosa East 154 Westward Ho 230 Vernon County 241, 242 Walker, Califern 78 Waxhaw 110 West Zumbro 221 Verstegen, Arnold 155 Walker, Harry W. 78 WBAY 89, 94, 205 Weyerhauser 92

301 Ghost River City Memoirs

Weymouth, Mrs. Harvey 230 Wilpolt, Ramona Panter 75 Wisconsin [street] 141 Wolcott Garage & Auto Wreck- WFHR 19, 20, 21, 94, 96, 109, Wilpolt’s 3, 48, 59, 75, 251, 252 Wisconsin Supreme Court 61 ing 63 204, 211, 232, 244, 251 Wilson, Bill 96 Wisconsin theatre 42 Wolcott, Morris 63 WFHR transmitter 211 Wilson, Mortimer 113 Wisconsin Valley Creamery Co. Wolcott, Morris A. 9 WFRV 94 Wilson’s Creek 209 58 Wolfe, Terry, Realty 81 W.F. Warsinske repair garage 8 Wilson, Woodrow 136 Wisconsin Valley Dairy Products Woman’s Club 233 Wheelan, Ed. 158 Wiltrout, Ralph S. 64 Co. 58 Women’s Clubs 136 Wheir, Joe , 40, 41 Winch, Wilbur 235 Wisconsin Valley Improvement Wood 114 White City 26, 27, 266 Winden, Julius 177 Co 140 Wood Avenue 8, 146 White City Store 27 Winden, Mr. 175 Wisconsin Valley Indoor Track 46 Wood Block 166 Whitehorn, Doc 83 Winkler, Warren 252 Wisconsin Valley Leader 279 Wood Co. Bank 222 Whitehouse, Mrs. 277 Wink’s Alamo 252 Witchita 130 Wood County 2, 7, 8, 11, 13, White, Mabel 203 Winn and Murgatroyd Realtors 8 Witt, Cpl. Harold 64 21-23, 27, 32, 34, 37-39, White Sox 16, 21, 38, 84 Winnebago Indians 65, 198 Wittenberg, Art 95 44, 47, 50-52, 58, 60, 64, Whitewater 78 Winnebago State Hospital 59, 60 Wittenberg, Arthur 32 65, 69, 73, 74, 77, 79, 81, Whiting 204 Winn, Lela 87 Wittenberg, Charles 151 83, 84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 100, Whitney, Daniel 69, 72, 198, 201, Winona, Minn. 90 Wittenberg, Julius 242 103-105, 107, 108, 113, 272 Winter, Mrs. Cliff 160 Wittenberg school 173 117-120, 122, 125, 128, Whitney, David R. 198 Wipperman, Charles and Herman Witter 96 129, 133, 134, 136, 146, Whitney, Dr. Geo. W. 72 158 Witter athletic field 9 149, 150, 159, 161, 162, Whitney Rapids 69, 201 Wipperman, Chas. 158 Witter Athletic Field 51, 103 166, 167, 169, 173, 177, Whitney’s Rapids 198 Wippermann, Chas. 158 Witter, Bud 205 180-184, 187, 189, 197- Whitrock, Fred J. 254 Wipperman, Ronald 116 Witter, Charlotte 262 200, 203, 207, 208-222, Whitrock, Mr. and Mrs. Matt J. Wirtz, Dorothy 252 Witter, Dr. George F. 136 226, 234, 235, 237, 243, 254 Wisconsin conservation commission 11 Witter farm 47, 224, 262 248, 254, 258, 262, 273 Whitrock, Mrs. M.C. 129 Wisconsin Conservation League 46 Witter Field 16, 58, 63, 89, 115, Wood County Conservation league Whitrock pharmacy 75 Wisconsin Point 111 124, 126, 184, 261 11 Whittlesey, Sherman 87 Wisconsin Power & Light Co. 106 Witter, G.F. 182 Wood County draft board 47 WIAA 18, 19, 151 Wisconsin Public TV 277 Witter, Harold 224 Wood County Grocery Co. 197 Wicklund, Arnold 18 Wisconsin Rapids Area Conven- Witter Hill 224 Wood County Home for the Aged Wilbern’s 62, 87, 252 tion & Visitors Bureau 279 Witter Hotel 19, 92, 113, 161, 8, 32 Wilbern, Tom and Josephine 252 Wisconsin Rapids city band 90 211, 279 Wood County Infirmary 211 Wilcox, I.E. 265 Wisconsin Rapids City Council 69 Witter, Isaac 84, 210, 262 Wood County parks 11, 16 Wild Rose 145, 230, 235 Wisconsin Rapids Division 132 Witter, Isaac P. 265 Wood County teachers college Wild Rose hospital 230 Wisconsin Rapids Drapery Co. 150 Witter, J.D. 129, 158, 262 161 Wiley, Sen. 202 Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools 7, 30 Witter, Jere 4, 77, 195, 210, 212, Wood County Telephone Co. 64, Wiley, U.S. Sen. Alexander 58, Wisconsin Rapids Senators 124 265 166 202 Wisconsin River Division 204 Witter, Jere D. 211 Wood, F.J. 158 Williams, Burt 64 Wisconsin River Power Co. 14 Witter, Josiah 224 Woodford, George A. 279 Williams, Geo. L. 158 Wisconsin Sphagnum Moss Co. Witter, Mr. and Mrs. I.P. 210 Wood, Geo. N. 158 Williams, Griff 89 172, 176 Witter, Mrs. Isaac P. (Charlotte) Wood, Ira 268 Williams, G. Mennen, Gov. 257 Wisconsin State College 150 129 Wood, Jesse 229 Williams, Oliver 20 Wisconsin State Cranberry Grow- Witter, Mrs. J.D. 262 Wood, Joseph 23, 184 Williams, Oliver D. 160 ers Association 87 Witter, Priscilla 265 Woodland Drive 206 Williams, “Prof.” W.W. 268 Wisconsin State Dental society 32 Witter [street] 141 Wood, Matilda 184 Willkie, Wendell 261 Wisconsin State School for the Witter Vocational School 100 Woodruff [lumber] 83 Willson, Meredith 163 Deaf 78 Wittman, Harold 76 Wood’s Addition 184 Wilpolt, Harry 75 Wisconsin State University 96 Wix, Jerry 106 Woodside 112, 127, 190, 263

302 River City Memoirs Ghost

Wood [township] 79 197, 235, 265 Yale University 91 Zieher, Jean 105 Wood, Walter L. 212 Worth, Bob 90 Yancey, Karen 207 Zieher, Margaret 83 Woolf, Michael 64 Worthington, R.C. 187 Yellow River 17, 29, 69, 272 Zieher, Nick 83 Woolworth’s 34, 75, 174, 251, Worth the Fighting For: A Memoir YMCA 43, 92, 138, 163, 208 Zieher, Otto 105, 149 252 272 Young, Donald R. 23 Zieher’s tavern 83 Worden, Bernice 229 Worzalla’s tavern 61 Young, Sandy 118, 216 Zimdars-Swartz, Sandra L. 29 Worden, Frank 229 Wrightstown 155 Your Record Shop 49 Zimmerman, Bob 55 Worden Hardware and Implement WSAU 4, 94, 186 Yucca Flat 47 Zimmerman, Dave 55 Co. 229 Wulf, Pfc. John R. 51 Zimmerman, Edith 81 Worden, Leon 229 WWI 44, 78, 250 Z Zimmerman, Fred R. 10 World Series 239 Wyatt, George 181 Zager, Albert 271 Zimmerman, George 14, 48, 68, World Trade Center 82 Translators, Wycliffe Bible 110 Zakons 70 252 128, 270 World War I 24, 35, 44, 81, 136, Wylie St 150, 252 Zamzow, Mrs. Neil 162 Zimmerman, Lawrence 116, 117 139, 226, 267 Wyoming County 232 Zanow, Bruce 87, 128, 270 Zimmerman, Robert Allen 276 World War II 8, 10, 13, 22, 26, Wyoming, University of 249 Zarins, Janis 12 Zoque 110 31, 34, 47, 64, 78, 85, 91, Zoque New Testament 110 X Zellmer, A. W. 38, 88, 128 92, 105, 107, 112, 142-144, Ziegler, Bernie 19, 64 Zuege, Herb 95 149, 159, 166, 172, 185, Xmas 147, 279 Ziegler, B.T. 133, 179, 205 Zurfluh, Jackie 13 232, 238, 243, 246, 259, Ziegler Insurance 75 Zurfluh, Lyle 13 260-262, 269, 270, 274 Y Zieher, Glen 105, 149 Zurfluh, Roland H. 13 Worst generation 3, 174, 178, 179, Yale 272 Zieher, Glen R 236

303 Ghost RiverRiver CityCity MemoirsMemoirs By the Ghost of Dave

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2006 2002 2004

1997 304 2009 1999 1991 River City Memoirs VII Ghost of Myself

Stories from the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune 1998-2008

Bibliophile Edition

Dave Engel