MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
DEC. 31, 1924
Regardless of the bitter cold weather the Viroqua Community Club Christmas tree festival was a most enjoyable event especially for the kiddies.
Owing to the breakdown of the engine, the morning Milwaukee train did not arrive until the middle of this afternoon... The icy roads of the past three weeks have been responsible for a large number of auto accidents most of them not serious... A few days ago Mr. Prindle, driving the Interstate truck, met a Ford on a hill close to Bloomingdale. Neither could get out of the track, and in the melee the Ford was overturned and the occupants somewhat injured.
DEC. 24, 1924
With the approach of January 1st, it commences to look as if the Viroqua post office will be sheltered in its new home in the Odd Fellow building by that time, as per schedule. The new heating plant, the last word in heating equipment, was turned on today and is working, to perfection. The postoffice fixtures also came in this morning. An installation man will arrive on Friday, and unless something unforeseen should happen, the postoffice will be doing business in the new stand on January 1st.
WESTBY CITY NEWS
On Wednesday night the Westby Girls’ 1st Basket Ball team played the Girls’ 2nd team with a score of 10 to 7 in favor of the 1st team... Westby community had its first Community Christmas tree on Tuesday evening December 23... The children gathered at the old school house and headed by the band marched down town to the Christmas tree...where the program was rendered.
DEC. 17, 1924
The Viroqua Public Schools held an open house last Wednesday... The new high school building was an attraction to many people, who made a visit of inspection in the afternoon for the first time... Our new school building which was dedicated in the evening, is a model for convenience and modern equipment.
WHITE WAY GOING AGAIN
After many months of darkness on Main Street, our people were overjoyed to witness the turning on of the juice and the old-time illumination last Friday evening. The addition of the new posts and consequent extension of the lighting system, a little in all directions gives our business district an imposing appearance and we can well be proud of the system.
In one of the fastest basket ball games ever seen on the local court Viroqua defeated Prairie du Chien by a score of 9 to 7.
WESTBY CITY NEWS
On Last Thursday afternoon at the new high school building scaffolding broke and three brick-layers Ed Sylvester of Galesville, Mr. Hunter of Minneapolis and Mr. Hans Evenson of this city, together with a big stone ledge, were hurled through the air striking the steel girders below. The two first were unconscious when picked up, having received bruises and cuts about the head while Mr. Evenson landing on top of the others, was practically unhurt.
BROOKVILLE SCHOOL
The school and Community Club are preparing a splendid program for Christmas... Our school attendance has not been as good as usual due to sickness... Jess Deaver was rather unfortunate Sunday evening when someone broke the lock on the meat house and got away with half a hog. Jess says he would like to have the same fellow come back and get the other half.
DEC. 10, 1924
Nash dealer Ole Jackson went to Milwaukee Wednesday and drove back with one of the New glass enclosed Nash cars. It is certainly a classy car and at a moderate price.
Readstown, December 8 – Saturday evening December 13, the fire company will put on a benefit show, and an oyster supper. During the supper hour the floor will be cleared for dancing and card playing. The proceeds of the evening will be used in purchasing an electric siren... Some tobacco was taken down in this vicinity the latter part of last week, we having been handed a few days of case weather.
HARMONY, Pleasant Ridge, December 7 – Farmers here on the Ridge have been talking of having a filling station at the top of the hill near the Clawson school as so many of the big trucks have run out of gas and gotton stalled there lately... Plenty of snow on this Ridge now, so we’ll have to haul out the old bob sled and store the Fords.
LEPKE SCHOOL – Winter has begun in earnest. First a miniature ice storm made its appearance and now a beautiful white blanket has covered the earth... Red and green chains, bells and holly wreaths give a seasonal atmosphere to the room... A hot lunch equipment has been ordered. As soon as it arrives a hot dish of some kind will be served to the pupils every noon... Pupils and teacher enjoy coasting down the hills around the school house. It is a great winter sport.
FREEMAN –Ferryville, December 8 – On Saturday morning a heavy fog settled itself around the tobacco sheds of the farmers and they were all dancing and prancing to get the weed off the poles again after its three months of vacation. Now for Christmas pass time.
DEC. 3, 1924
STODDARD SCHOOL
Patriotic programs were given by the various rooms on Armistice Day at eleven o’clock. At 11:30 the rooms joined a parade and marched down main street. On their return they all joined in singing of America... The various rooms are preparing a Thanksgiving program to be given at the next meeting of the P.T.A. November 26th.
A packed house greeted Ben Brown’s fine show at the Temple the evening before Thanksgiving – and perhaps with their eyes also on the Thanksgiving eats he was offering as prizes... In addition each child having paid a half fare to enter the theatre received a bar of candy as they passed out... Mrs. John Brown was the lucky winner of a turkey at the Temple Theatre... The next day she...took the turkey to a family gathering at the home of W.S. Melvin on Salem Ridge. There the bird was roasted and 40 relatives got a portion for afternoon lunch. Nine chickens had also been prepared for dinner.
An enjoyable shoe social, at which about 200 were present, was held by the Royal Neighbor lodge last Tuesday evening. The length of shoes was measured and the owners paid two cents per inch.
You will never realize how much you can get for small money in the way of fine Christmas gifts, until you visit our 50¢ counter and our two $1.00 counters. K.N.Larson, Jeweler.