MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
APRIL 27, 1921
“Standing Room Only” was the sign hung out at the Court Room at the Court House Tuesday morning, hundreds assembling to listen to the Sunday movie case. The case against Mr. Brown has attracted as much interest as a murder trial... District Attorney Heinz did the best he could on the unpopular side of the case. Attorney C.J. Smith’s splendid plea of over an hour left nothing to be said on the subject of Sunday observance, and the jury returned the ”not guilty” verdict after a short session. It is hoped this will end the “blue” law agitation in Viroqua for some time.
Paulsen & Moen have received a very favorable report from the sample of ground limestone sent to the University. Prof. Graul, soil expert pronounced it splendid fertilizing material, showing an average test of 91.2.
W.I. Griffin, Jas. Hall and Ed Bender were up from Viola on Business, Monday. They brought the intelligence that a clever piece of detective work had resulted in arrest at Minneapolis of one of the gang of auto bandits who robbed the Dregne Store at Readstown and the Brindley & Kanable store at Viola two weeks ago. The robbery was performed by “junk” men using a Hudson Super-six which was stolen twenty miles this side of Minneapolis.
You have only one button to bother with on our men’s and boys’ Hatch One-button underwear. Stoll & Groves.
The present week has so far been a turbulent one. High winds accompanying rain storms have done some damage to tobacco shed and other outbuildings.
Otto Ristow of Genoa is employed here in erection of new oil tank for county road system.
APRIL 20, 1921
On Sunday afternoon, papers were served on Manager Brown of the Star Theatre because of operation of his picture show on Sunday... The Blue law was probably an expression of the will of the majority when it was passed over a half century ago... If followed this law permits only necessary Sunday activities – and there are mighty few if a strict interpretation is used.
The elimination of Sunday movies is in a sense a discrimination against the farming country around our city... Look over the blocks of cars around the Star Theatre any good Sunday evening if you think this is overdrawn.
With prices of building material back to reasonable level, resumption of normal building activity can be expected this season.
Disagreeable and miserable as the snow fall, wind and freezing weather last Friday and Saturday in this locality, it was as nothing to what happened even 100 miles south of us... cars and trains were completely snowed in. Vernon county apparently did not suffer from the cold. Tobacco beds appear not to have been injured, and only the plum buds were showing at all white, but no enough to be hurt. The weather was really helpful to new seeding.
The new ice plant is progressing nicely, and we hope to be ready, on May 15th to commence delivery of ice to our customers... VIROQUA CRYSTAL ICE CO.
If the party who was seen taking a pair of shoes in front of the Theo. Rudser’s house will replace same no prosecution will be started by the owner.
The new council took up the reins of government... when they met with Engineer Kirchoffer and laid preliminary plans for the paving of Main street.
APRIL 13, 1921
This section of the country experienced its first touch of the crime wave sweeping the country, when between midnight and three o’clock Tuesday morning, auto bandits visited the store of S.T. Dregne at Readstown and Brindley & Kanable at Viola, getting about $600 in merchandise from the former, and eighty Collegian suits and a silk shipment valued at about $4,000 from the latter. The burglars evidently knew the lay of things in good shape, sawing open the doors, lifting the merchandise and making their getaway without being observed.
The Viola store was roped off and a blood hound secured from Mauston. The faithful kioodle trailed the varmints into the street and then stopped in helpless perplexity. Naturally he couldn’t be expected to trail an automobile tire.
Following the conferences with officials of the Wisconsin-Minnesota Light & Power Co. on Monday and Tuesday, Viroqua’s three banks agreed to take equal shares of $25,000 of that company’s bonds in order to make possible the extension of their power line from Sparta to Viroqua, total cost of which will approximate $90,000.
Spring work is opening up. Some seeding has been done in different sections. The ground is in splendid shape; soil very mellow, but a heavy warm rain is needed. Tobacco beds are being placed in readiness.
The new lime rock grinder J.A. Moen purchased from Chas. S. Slack & Co. is going fine. It has good capacity and will turn out a large quantity of ground lime stone to be used on the farms around Viroqua.
We have a large stock of wall paper to select from. O.E. Davis’ drug store.
APRIL 6, 1921
With the advent of good roads and general auto driving, the chronic law breaker is again in evidence. The ever increasing number of machines demands that traffic laws be rigidly enforced, and notice is hereby given that the speeders and those who drive with cutouts open will be arrested and fined. The speed limit in the city is 15 miles per hour, and must be adhered to particularly in the business district. L.M. ROSELAND, Mayor.
Louis Hanson was in from Readstown neighborhood... He tells us that his tobacco shed was moved off its foundation in the storm of a week ago.
We are figuring on starting a wet-wash laundry and wish to know how many customers we could count on. Those interested kindly phone 360A.
The person who found the halter in the street opposite Eckhart’s elevator Saturday morning, will please leave it at the elevator.
Dr. Wm. M. Trowbridge returned Friday from Chicago, bringing back a store of supplementary medical and surgical lore gained by several weeks of post graduate work in that city.
Viroqua school board met Monday night and elected the old instructional force without change. It is not known how many of the teachers will sign up for next year, but all contracts will be signed by the first board meeting in May.
Tuesday was the finest election day in our recollection and the warn sun and fine roads brought out a big vote considering the small number of contests.
Large can sliced pineapple .35; No. 2 Loganberries, fancy .35; No. 2 Strawberries .30; Good Prunes, per pound .10; Still have strawberry preserves at .40; Plum preserves .20. Sweger & Fleming.