MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
JAN. 25, 1922
The bids submitted to the county road and bridge committee for construction of the road south of Viroqua, were opened last Wednesday and revealed the startling fact that concrete could be laid almost as cheaply as bituminous macadam. A petition was immediately circulated in this city and locally in favor of concrete and sent to the state highway commission. Not a person opposed to concrete could be found, and the Censor hopes that the commission will recommend and the committee select that type of road.
The ultra-fashionable Viroqua lady surely got all that was coming to her the other day, when she went into Henry Rogers’ store and asked him for a fashionable skirt. “Yes’m,” says Henry, “How do you want it – too tight or too short.” OFFICE CAT.
JEFFERSON – Irish Ridge – January 22- Oscar Selin is busy getting up a saw-setting and no doubt in the early spring we will hear a saw mill buzzing in the valley.
Our good friend B.T. Jacobson was in today to renew Censor dues. Speaking of the cold snap, he called our attention to the fact that of the 25 days of January so far passed, 13 of them have been below zero. That 13 is an unlucky number to everyone except the coal dealer.
A cup of hot coffee for the worker carrying lunch is a fine thing this weather. The thermos bottle at O.E. Davis’ will keep drinks hot 24 hours in the coldest weather.
Plastering of the lower story of the Masonic temple is completed and the plaster crew are covering the great arched ceiling of the theatre building.
DESOTO – The village dancing club will give a masquerade ball next Friday evening... Early Sunday morning the thermometer registered as low as 20 degrees below zero in some parts of the valley.
JAN. 18, 1922
The workmen on the temple have completed plastering of the lower story, and an artistic job of sand finish it surely is. The massive beams add a distinguished touch. The plastering of the theatre will be next in order. The chains for the canopy are in place and the copper and glass top will soon be on.
FREEMAN – Heald Hollow – January 16 – Quite a number of the farmers in this vicinity delivered their tobacco Monday at DeSoto.
The foreman of the Wisconsin-Minnesota construction crew informs the Censor that juice will flash over the high tension line by Sunday. A day or two more will complete the Viroqua sub-station and a little work remains to be done on the Cashton sub-station. Then the switch will be thrown in and juice from an hydraulic source will feed Viroqua’s lights and motors.
WHEATLAND – Red Mound – January 9 – After three months of drilling Jim Snyder at last has a well with plenty of water. Will Sallander erected his windmill... So much snow fell that even the faithful “Lizzie” stays quietly at home.
WESTBY TIMESES – The Westby city basketball team defeated the city team of Viroqua last Friday night here to the tune of 25 to 17... Geo.S.Byer and Joslyn Running drove by car to Minneapolis on Thursday of last week. Not every year that trip can be made by car at this time of the year. Haven’t heard of anybody starting out this week, tho.
The tobacco warehouse opened here on Tuesday morning with a fill crew of assorters. We understand that some were turned away... Magnus Midtlien is at the head of the sizing department this year.
JAN. 11, 1922
Viroqua and community will be indeed overjoyed to learn that the McIntosh warehouse will open next Monday morning. With third warehouse running, conditions are bound to come back to normal.
The Masonic brethren should remember that the matter of naming the new theatre will come up at the regular meeting next Wednesday evening.
Mississippi Jazz Jugglers at the Opera House Friday night this week.
FRANKLIN – Mason City, January 3 – Weather conditions are ideal. Not much snow and temperature about normal. The famers around here have sold nearly all their hogs and cattle which they wish to dispose of for the winter. The remaining article is the “weed”. The case weather is over, tobacco all stripped and ready for market. Buyers are scurrying around the country and picking up a crop here and there. Prices vary from 20¢ to 25¢ per pound with fillers at 3¢.
Mason City is on the map when it comes to modern improvements.
Reports that chicken thieves have been raiding the hen house at Solfest C. Dregne’s. Who can be so small as to stoop to such a profession?
VIOLA NEWSLETS – The Mound Park store has again changed hands, the deal being completed and invoice taken Monday of this week, Ross Bender having purchased the same from Clarence Mathes.
The farm house of E.A. Rogers at Manning was considerably damaged by fire and water last Sunday morning at an early hour. By the help of neighbors who quickly responded to their call for help the fire was confined to the main part [sic] of the building and the home was not totally destroyed.
JAN. 4, 1922
It will indeed be the best of news to the people of Viroqua and community to know that the Eckhart and Bekkedahl tobacco warehouses will open their doors for the 1922 sorting season next Monday morning.
KICKAPOO SCOUTS – This has been some real winter weather we have had the past week. Christmas morning it was twenty or more degrees below zero and again on Tuesday morning thermometers registered around fifteen below zero. All we lack now to make this a real old fashioned winter is about a foot of snow to make good sleighing.
During the fierce gale Friday evening the fire department was called out to subdue a chimney fire at the residence of Mrs. Minnie Anderson, just south of Main Street Lutheran church. No damage was done. It would surely have been a wild night for a real fire.
Fresh supply of washed egg coal for your kitchen ranges always on hand. No soot and but little ashes. Try it. L.C.Boyle.
It is now Bush & Stout instead of Thompson & Stout, Mr. Thompson having disposed of his interest in the grocery store to Mr. Bush.
To The Milk Buying Public – I will deliver for 10¢ per quart, milk from tuberculin-tested Jersey cows a milk you can bank on to be safe to use and of good quality, never testing lower than 3% and running much higher at times. Nothing but Jersey milk delivered. JERSEY MILK is just another way of saying NONE BETTER. Good wholesome milk is our best food. Are you using enough of it? If you want it phone 28. Number not in directory. Clayton E. Wheeler.