MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
DEC. 26, 1923
Readstown, December 24 – The train service on the Kickapoo road has been so changed that the freight comes up only every other day, Monday, Wednesday and Friday... Readstown High School basket ball team defeated the Seneca team last Wednesday evening, the score being 16-0... For the first time in the history of the Rural Route system the carriers were given the privilege of enjoying Christmas at their homes, there being no service in the United States on that day.
This section of the state experienced a beautiful spell of case weather over the week end – heavy fog accompanied with high temperature that permeated the hanging leaf good and thoroughly, except in a few cases where the fog did not quite penetrate to the tops of the sheds. Farmers have not been slow to improve the opportunity, and, taking down of the weed has been general, with stripping going on full blast.
As the Censor goes to press a second period of case has descended upon us, and this will not only take care of the remaining portion of the hanging crop but facilitate stripping as well.
The motto of the Wisconsin Highway commission “Serve the Traffic,” has developed a decision to change the highway markers from telephone and telegraph poles to a position close to the path of vehicles... The signs will be placed as close to the vehicle path as practicable, to be the more easily observed and read by moving traffic.
Surely the spirit of Christ hovered very near to the City of Viroqua for a little while Christmas eve when more than a thousand kiddies formed a line and marched past the big and beautiful Community Tree on Viroqua’s Main Street.
DEC. 19, 1923
COON VALLEY SUFFERS DISASTROUS FIRE
Coon Valley is without electric lights and a mill, as the result of a fire which on Monday night destroyed the plant at the west end of the village.
The fire broke out on the third floor of the mill between 5 and 6 o’clock and spread rapidly through the building, the interior of which is largely of frame constructio [sic]. The mill and adjoining electric light plant were destroyed. Villagers turned out en masse to fight the fire, but were unable to make much headway... The loss is about $18,000 partially covered by insurance. The cause of the fire is unknown.
Had the wind been from the west the entire village might have been destroyed by the fire. Fortunately the embers were carried away from the Main street, where the business district is located.
Try our salted in the shell peanuts the only place in town you can get them National Café, under First National Bank.
A GOOD BOY WANTED
No, it isn’t a Christmas story or ad. We know that all boys are good boys around Christmas time. But the Censor wants to employ a good boy to learn the business. No boosers [sic], cigarette fiends, or loafers need apply. We want a boy of fair education good habits and morals, and not afraid of work.
Many Viroqua people took advantage of the fine weather last Saturday afternoon and motored to LaCrosse. The roads were never better at this time of the year and the day was ideal. Sunday and Monday had a repetition of the same kind of weather.
DEC. 12, 1923
It comes to the attention of the Censor editor that an infant industry has sprung up in the city of Viroqua... Theo. H. Brown, former resident of this city, has perfected a patent on a broom that looks to us like the real article. It is rubber set, internally bound broom and surely is a perfect article. His product so interested Attorney H.P. Proctor of this city that he went into partnership with Mr. Brown, and the two of them now have a factory established in the old laundry building across from the Coleman Lumber Yard.
Two automobile accidents, involving five cars, occurred in Viroqua Saturday evening last week. Carl Olson, driving a Chevrolet, was driving west on east Decker St. Wm. Clark’s car was parked at the curb in front of his home, and just below was Orville Pellet’s car... Mr. Olson crashed into both cars and all three autos were quite badly damaged. A little later in the evening, on South Main street, Mike Hanson collided with a car... The cars were somewhat damaged but none of the occupants injured.
Readstown, December 10 – A basket ball game between the LaFarge and Readstown High School teams was played at Readstown Opera House, Wednesday evening, the score being 11-13 in favor of LaFarge... Justice John Crook was quite busy taking care of numerous cases, the charges being mostly for intoxication...
Ontario, December 10 – We have a new fire escape on our school house now... The young people have enjoyed skating on the pond this past week... There will be moving pictures in the Brush Creek Hall, December 11 to 17.
There is nothing that takes the place of a nice doll as a present for a little girl. Genuine kid body sleeping dolls, 20 inches high, $2.00 at O.E. Davis’ Drug Store.
DEC. 5, 1923
Last Friday afternoon, while flying to this city from LaCrosse, in the plane which Bernard purchased several weeks ago from Jack Schmidt of Minneapolis, B.E. Root and his brother-in-law, Nathan McLees, crashed to earth five miles north of this city. The machine took a nose dive, neither of the boys being able to account for the same, and was practically demolished by the impact. Bernard sustained cuts and bruises, and Nathan suffered cuts, bruises, and a fractured jaw. That both of them were not killed is nothing short of miracle.
ROBBERIES AT CASHTON
Robbers invaded the village of Cashton sometime Monday night, entered four places, and made way with from $1500 to $2000 in money and merchandise. The depot was broken into and a little cash secured, some cash was taken from the Klinkner pool room, several flashlights from Green’s Hardware Store.
The heaviest loss occurred at the Farmers Store, where as nearly as can be figured, merchandise and cash to the amount of $1,000 was secured by the robbers.
Victory – November 26 – Last Thursday night about 2:30 a.m. a message came from LaCrosse to the section foreman, Will Johnson, that the fast train, No. 49, had hit an object of some kind at the Bad Ax crossing as there was blood on the engine. The engineer was unable to know just what the object was, but fearing it might have been a man, ordered Mr. Johnson to go and search the track. They were unable to find anything except the tracks of a man and a woman. The next day, Mr. Tabert, road master, came down and another search was made, but as yet they have been unable to discover what it was.