MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
NOV. 29, 1922
It has been a long time since any event in Viroqua has evoked quite so much interest as did the locating of a site for Viroqua’s new high school building. The presence of 329 voters at the special meeting Monday evening indicative of the interest...the discussion simmered down to the two best sites – the block east of the school grounds, and the location near the park... One ballot was taken in writing, the vote standing: East site 187, Park site 132... Following this it was unanimously voted not to wreck the old brick school building, as had been proposed.
Mr. Olson told us something concerning Grandpa Graham of Coon Valley which we had not heard before. Mr. Graham’s father established the first mill at Springville in 1848, the first pair of burrs being brought there from St. Louis by ox team. The particular brand of flour which they manufactured became known by the name of the makers – Graham flour. To this day it is still known as Graham flour the country over, so Vernon County may claim the proud distinction of having given the name to the world.
Farmers, when in town with stock and produce get a nice warm dunner [sic] at The Eat Shop, for 35¢. Your patronage is appreciated.
Friday this week. Family night at the Temple Theatre. 55¢ for your family.
NOV. 22, 1922
Robinson Brothers have sold their brick building and blacksmith shop to Victor Jacobson, taking in exchange Mr. Jacobson’s farm in Franklin town.
Sterley May has gone into partnership with Mr. Jacobson, and they have opened up a modern auto repair and blacksmith shop in the building purchased by Victor.
Patrons of the Temple Theatre enjoyed a rare treat Tuesday evening when George O. Stoffer of LaCrosse, industrial engineer and radio manufacturer, exhibited one of his outfits on the stage and demonstrated the same during the evening. The concert was practically continuous up to nearly eleven o’clock, embracing nearly everything from classical music to jazz, bedtime stories, addresses, etc. Stations were picked up from Los Angeles to New York.
GUARD UNIT HAS NEW HOME AND OFFICERS
Alderman E.C. Helgeson will be the new head of the unit... Second Lieutenant Wood has been promoted to First Lieutenant... With the change of officers has come a change in the home of the company, the equipment having been transferred to the basement of the Odd Fellows building... We understand that $25,000 will hardly cover the cost of all the equipment which is supposed to go with the outfit.
Parties wishing weaving done should attend to it at once, as I have started to weave and will continue to April 1. I furnish both white and colored warp. Mrs. Josiah Thompson, Liberty Pole.
Carpenter Fredrick of Chaseburg has just completed some fine farm buildings on Sever Talley’s big farm... The completion of these buildings will be fittingly celebrated by a big dance in the large barn Saturday night this week.
NOV. 15, 1922
LaFarge suffered a disastrous fire loss attended with great inconvenience to the village on Sunday night, when the old Seeleyburg grist mill and the electric light plant were totally consumed by fire. The fire originated in the mill, supposed to have been caused by a short circuit in the electric wiring. The Seeleyburg mill is one of the old landmarks of LaFarge section.
Ed Lind has added a fine piece of machinery to his shoe shop – a Champion stitcher.
This Shop Will Make You GIVE THANKS by announcing that we have not raised the price of meat as have many shops at this time, but are still selling at the very low prices we have been charging all summer. The following prices are not special but the same old low prices we have had. They will save you money. Beef Steak, per lb. $.20; Beef Roast $.15; Soup Meat $.10; Pork Sausage $.15; Hamburger $.15; Wiener’s, any kind or size $.20; Pork Steak $.22. Highest cash prices paid for Hides and Fresh Eggs. SATHER’S MEAT MARKET.
Although 1918 War Savings Stamps do not mature until January 1st, 1923, Postmaster Coffland announces that he will accept them on and after November 15th in exchange for the new 4% Treasury Savings Certificate.
Every 1918 Stamp - presented now will be accepted at its maturity value of five dollars if used as part payment for one or more new certificates, dated January 1, 1923.
DeSoto, November 13 – The new cement bridge south of town has been inspected by the Crawford county board and together with the new road, now nearing completion, will be ready for travel next week.
NOV. 8, 1922
DeSoto, November 6 – Our principal, Mrs. Carter, informs us that in connection with the health crusade being carried on in our schools a state health instructor will give parents and everyone interested in the general health of the school, a talk on health and hygiene.
Charlie Shannon is here from LaCrosse supervising the shipping of the big packing purchased from the local famers pool. It will require twenty-five cars to hold the crop and it is being shipped to Portage by the General Cigar Co... The Censor was unable to learn just the exact amount of money involved in the transaction, but roughly speaking it will run about $160,000 – a very tidy sum indeed in this time of tightness of money.
A much needed rain fell here but not enough to wet the ground for plowing.
The City Council Doings – It was moved by Alderman M.A. Smith and seconded by Alderman John Stewart, that the communication from Parkinson & Dockendoff be referred to their bill for plans and specifications for City Hospital to the Park Commission. All voted aye.
The race track on Vernon’s fair grounds was built over thirty years ago. While it has been kept in fair repair during that time yet no major improvement has been made upon it, and the natural use and erosion by rain and wind has narrowed it and in many places worn it down to stone... The track will be widened to its original measurement – fifty feet on the stretch and forty feet elsewhere.
NOV. 1, 1922
Health Officer M. Surenson has received from the State Laboratory an analysis of water from the new well which is most favorable. The bacterial count per cubic centimeter is 20, which is very low...we as a city can thank ourselves that once again our city has a source of water supply which is unbounded and free from pollution.
Ladies wool hose, brown heather from $1.00 to $1.75. Silk and wool hose, $2.00, $2.25 and $3.00. Ladies black wool hose, 50¢. Rogers.
It will be good news to the traveling public to know that the new pavement south of the city has been partly opened to traffic. You can now drive on it from the south end, at the forks of Nos. 11 and 27, up to where the Pleasant Ridge road enters the state highway from the east – a distance of about two miles. The construction crews are grading the shoulders of the pavement on the northern end of the job, and the pavement will all be thrown open for travel within three weeks.
The Censor shop was handed a real package of grief Wednesday morning when the high line between Sparta and LaCrosse got a kink in it and we were without juice until noon... No light to work by, no power to run our presses no power to run out Linotype no heat to melt the linotype metal – the Censor force just naturally folded its hands until after dinner. Rather exasperating on press day!
Frank Minshall dropped on Monday and informed us that five years ago on the 29th of October, he enjoyed a very fine sleigh ride, and there was nearly a foot of snow on the ground.