MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
NOV. 26, 1919
Chilly.
From the postal department at Washington comes the order discontinuing service indefinitely on rural mail route number two, out of Viroqua, the command going into effect on December first. The department offers as reason for the suspension that one-half or about twelve miles covered on the route the roads are so fearfully neglected that it is next to impossible to secure a driver who will continue... The four towns through which this route extends – Jefferson, Sterling, Franklin and Viroqua... were advised of the conditions and probable result. No substantial action appears to have been made... Persons affected by this order will of necessity get their mail on other routes or from the office at Viroqua. It is hoped the cause for the deplorable order will soon be removed.
People of the Kickapoo Valley now have to content themselves with one train a day. The passenger which left here at 10 a.m. and returned at 6 p.m. was taken off, on account of the strike of coal miners and consequent shortage of coal. How long this will last cannot be foretold but it is hoped that the train will be put back on before long. –LaFarge Enterprise.
Armour’s or Quaker oat meal 32¢ per large package at Roman’s Grocery.
Ben Brown expects his new sign to arrive in a short time. It will be an attractive one at the Star.
Injured while shoeing a mule at the Weavil shop, John Engeline is obliged to get around on crutches.
The bank of Viroqua has just installed a second burglar and fire proof safe in the bank vault, giving the force and customers more space.
NOV. 19, 1919
Board members were entertained at the palatial new training school by the faculty and students, affording opportunity for the county fathers to see just what was produced by the building committee which had the whole project in hand.
One of the most important and very commendable things that the board has so far done is to appropriate a sum sufficient to liquidate the indebtedness of the Vernon County Agricultural Society grounds, $6,000... This contribution will square indebtedness of the society and leave a balance of about $1,500 for improvement on grounds, after the funds due from the state are received.
Always obliging to their trade, Sweger & Fleming drove 140 miles into Minnesota to get honey for their customers, the local supply being exhausted.
The Ford garage people tell that they have broken the record for machine sales in winter season. Within the past the days they took orders for twenty-two autos, mostly touring cars, and they expect to have them on hand for delivery within a fortnight.
E.P. Kellogg of Kickapoo Center, was with town folks for an hour, yesterday. He reports manufacturing of a large quantity of sorghum sirup [sic] this season, which is a welcome commodity in the market of limited sweets.
C.M. Clark received and has installed the plate glass in the front of his mammoth garage. Interior finishings are delayed by cold wave, especially the concrete.
Jack Johnson and Orbin Anderson departed for Detroit, Michigan, to drive home a couple of Dodge automobiles.
New red and navy flannel middys at M.J. Felix’.
NOV. 12, 1919
Get your snow shovel.
Great “case” weather.
There has not been the animation of late in the tobacco... Buying has proceeded, however, and those best prepared to judge tell the Censor that fully three-fourths of the county acreage has been sold. Prices appear to have been maintained around the 30 to 35 standard.
Postmaster Coffland informs us that under the new law, the salaries of rural carriers have all been advanced $200 per year. With this boost carriers at Viroqua postoffice will hereafter receive from $1712 to $1796 per year, and this figure should be sufficient to attract good efficient men to the service throughout the county with a corresponding improvement in mail facilities.
Herb Morrison experienced a near accident while out hunting. As he was crawling through a wire fence the shot gun he carried discharged, bursting and blowing off about a foot of the muzzle.
The village board is determined to stop speeding within the city limits and will employ traffic cops to watch for speeders. There will be no favors shown and the first party violating the traffic ordinances will be prosecuted. – Hillsboro Sentry.
Workmen are progressing nicely in preparing Edward Lind’s building for occupancy, and Harrington’s jewelry store and Ed’s repair shop will soon be located therein.
Young winter, an inch of snow falling during this morning, and it’s chilly, too.
Wisconsin tobacco pays more per acre than that of any other state.
HARMONY – Hanson Ridge – Farmers on this ridge are very industriously trying to see how much plowing Mr. Weatherman will allow them to finish.
NOV. 5, 1919
November.
Two months more of 1919.
While J.M. Hay was removing a load of household goods to Sparta his store at Ross was broken into. There was about $200 worth of groceries left in the building besides fixtures and household goods. The goods had been sold to Mr. Jo. Randles of Liberty, but not yet removed. If burglary was the object, the extent will not be known until the invoices are gone over. – Viola News.
BUD, November 3 – A few Halloween stunts were pulled off in this community. People were surprised to find some of their cows harnessed the next morning.
Ed Larson of Soldiers Grove has purchased the Dodge hotel of that place for the purpose of conducting an up-to-date place. Consideration $14,000.
Quite a large crowd was present at the wrestling match at the opera house to witness the bout between Jack Hagensick of this place and Charley Miller of Sioux City, Iowa. Jack won the match in two falls. The first required fifty-eight minutes to determine who was the best man. – Viola News.
Pretty good angury [?] for winter – wild geese have been flying southward in great numbers.
John M. Tainter and Walter Scott have been doing the carpenter and masonry work on a barn for E.J. Riley and sons near Liberty Pole. It is 30x60 size.
Next Tuesday, November 11, is the first anniversary of Armistice Day one of the greatest anniversaries for history.
Remember Fisher & Griffin have moved the Poultry and Egg Market to the Williams’ feed store building. Increased business made it necessary for them to have more room and better quarters.