MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
MAR 28, 1923
Next Sunday is Easter – the great day of the Christian church – the day of the Risen Christ – and if ever there is a time when every one of our people should attend church it is THIS day... It is earnestly hoped that the chilly weather with which we have suffered during March will give way to springtime warmth for Easter Sunday.
Merchant J.H. Quick of Viroqua is undergoing treatment at St. Mary’s hospital in Madison. Last Saturday he submitted to a lumbar puncture for examination of spinal and brain fluid.
The chemical analysis of water from the new city well shows it up most favorably in comparison with water from the old wells. In fact the solids, and particularly soap consuming solids, are so reduced that it is classified as soft water.
COUNTY NORMAL NOTES
Plans were made to carry on the rural practice work during the present week; but owing to the condition of the roads, this was impossible. It is hoped that this work can be done during the third week in April. About thirty rural schools will be selected and each senior will spend a week observing and teaching on one of them.
Owing to the ever increasing number of bank burglaries all over our country it has become necessary for all banks to protect themselves against the yeggmen. Last week the Farmers & Merchants State bank of Stoddard Wis. Installed the latest and most approved typed of burglar alarm system on the market.
MAR 21, 1923
The Viroq1ua City Council has voted to build a new fire station... That old shack of a fire house has certainly outlived its usefulness. It is not only old and inadequate in size but constitutes a real menace to the new truck... a $10,000 investment is too valuable not to be protected.
The new structure will be 30x40 feet, full cemented basement, two stories above the ground... The completed cost of the building will be about $6,000. The old fire house will be wrecked, the good lumber used in the construction of the new station and the new building erected upon the site of the old one.
Ice cream and fresh oysters always on hand. We want you to come in for your lunches and meals. We know you will be satisfied. Snearley’s Restaurant in the old Censor office building.
Viroqua is experiencing something of a diphtheria scare. As is usual in such cases the reports and rumors are grossly exaggerated. At the present time there are at the very most not over three cases in the city, while there were wild rumors to the effect that there are forty or fifty cases... The situation is not alarming in the least.
They say there is nothing new under the sun... last Saturday when M.D. Ames came in with a piece of hen fruit the like of which we had never seen or heard of before. The egg was large, measuring seven inches in circumference and four and a half inches from tip to tip. Large, double-yolked eggs are fairly common, but this one was different. Inside of the large egg was a second egg, perfectly formed, hard shelled, and almost normal size. Both eggs had yolks, whites and shells.
MAR 14, 1923
Once more along with the coming of the robins and pussywillows, the political pot commences to boil – but this spring it appear to be a very modest simmering, for contests are few.
Over one hundred million pounds of butter were manufactured in Wisconsin last year. Think of that! It surely seems unbelievable, until one stops to think that over one million pounds of it were made right here in our own big creamery.
Merchant J.H. Quick came down from Sparta hospital and spent a few days of rest at home... Mr. Quick is being treated at Sparta, and will go to Madison to be under the care of specialists for several weeks. His friends hope that he will experience early and complete recovery, and will soon be back in his business place as of yore.
Just received a shipment of fine separable soft shirt cuff buttons. These buttons will not come apart until you pull the clasp, thus doing away with the risk of losing them. Come in and see them Ed. Harrington.
AROUND THE COUNTY
Viroqua, March 13 – On account of so much snow and drifted roads, we have had no mail here for two days... The tobacco in and around this community has about all been delivered, and we are glad to see it go.
WHEATLAND – Saving wood is the order of the day these days... Willis Houston is drilling a well for Will Johnson... Considerable credit is due Genevieve Tenney who is attending school in DeSoto and rides a horse to and from home.
Don’t blame the Censor or the mail carriers if your mail or Censor is late this week. The boys had extreme difficulty in making their routes today, some not making all of their routes, and the strong wind and snow as we go to press is a pretty good sign that there will be nothing moving tomorrow – trains, route carriers or anybody else.
MAR 7, 1923
On Friday morning a telegram from the Salvation Army Rescue Mission at Minneapolis came to the family of Merchant John Quick of this city bringing the tidings that Mr. Quick had been picked up in a half demented condition on the streets and was being cared for at the mission. Mrs. Quick immediately left for Minneapolis. This brings to a close an agonizing period of suspense to the family since his disappearance five weeks ago...
... a resolution was passed by the Common Council for the City of Viroqua, ordering certain streets to be improved with a permanent pavement, cub and gutter, to wit: East Decker Street from Main Street to Wisconsin Ave; East Eve north to Railroad Ave; Railroad Ave, East to the right of way of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co.
Sidney Higgins of Liberty Pole informs us that his neighbor, Will Mills, bought a sack of grit for his chickens, but it turned out to be nothing but ice cream salt, and 48 of his hens died from eating it.
March first surely came in like a lamb – a warm spring day that was filled with sunshine and the wonderful charm of nearly spring. And the weather has been fairly mild since with the exception of one snappy six degree below morning.
The Censor has received from Congressman J.D. Beck a mailsack full of packages of flower seeds. These seeds are free to anyone who wishes to come to the Censor office and ask for a package.
Prairie du Chien, Wis – Koch Bros. made two fish hauls under the ice near Ferryville which resulted in a catch weighing 25,000 pounds, most of which was carp and buffalo.