MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
MAY 28, 1924
The Censor is issued this week under difficulties. For the past quarter of a century the Censor’s big newspaper press has labored away with mighty little mechanical attention. The last few years it has commenced to show decided signs of old age and approaching physical breakdown. On Monday morning this week, Jack Burgess, veteran press mechanic who has doctored sick printing presses from Maine to California commenced the rebuilding of the old press. Mr. Burgess is a specialist in his line, and expects to have the press in shape to give many more years of service. Meanwhile the Censor is getting its presswork done between spasms of drilling, boring adjusting, and tearing down and building up of the old machine.
In a baseball contest that was anybody’s game until the eighth inning, LaFarge defeated Bud by a 5 to 2 score at the Viroqua Fair grounds last Sunday afternoon... The pitching on both sides was nearly even... LaFarge played errorless ball...considering the strong wind with which the players had to contend.
Things are commencing to look like fair time at the Vernon Fair Grounds. President Minshall has been fussing around making flower beds, and otherwise improving the appearance of things – and the racers are here. Fifteen head of racing horses are now in training on our track.
Readstown, May 26 – Merchants Hamilton & Roberts of Arena were here Thursday to identify goods stolen from their store last Monday night. A car was driven to this village containing goods taken from their store and peddled in this town Tuesday. The thieves left the town Tuesday evening leaving the car... The value of the goods stolen amounted to over $1000 and a filing system containing $4000 worthy of credit accounts... The car, supposed to be a stolen car, was taken to Arena...
MAY 21, 1924
The Perfect Oil Co. has broken ground for their second station in this city [Viroqua], on the vacant lot across from Stewart Implement Co., purchased by them last fall... The new station will be similar in appearance and design to their other station, but there will be added conveniences such as ladies’ rest rooms. The pumps will be motor driven – the first of this expensive type to be installed in this city.
Viola, May 19 – The severe wind of Sunday was followed by a cold wave and Monday morning the Kickapoo Valley experienced quite a snow storm, which, however, did little harm, as the snow melted as soon as it fell. Everyone covered the blooming strawberry beds. You can never tell the most unlikely is more likely then the most likeliest is the weather fore cast this spring.
Sparta Floral Co. will be at O. Otteson’s store Wednesday, May 28, with all kinds of plants for bedding, window boxes, urns and baskets. Also vegetable plants.
Last Thursday, May 8, was citizenship bay at the Court House, when a party of nine people were admitted into full citizenship of the good old U.S.A.
Stoddard, May 17 – Postmistress Olga M. Peterson, made a tour of inspection over routes one and two last week and was highly pleased to find nearly all mail boxes painted and repaired according to specifications.
Springville, May 20 – Chas Rumsey had the misfortune to have a cow killed last night by an automobile striking her.
MAY 14, 1924
CLEAN-UP
From May 15, To May 25, 1924
Ten (10) days is ample time to give everyone a chance to clean up all rubbish and ashes from the cellar, back yard and general surroundings. This includes everybody. There will be no exception...all manure around livery barns and in the back alley must be hauled away. During the summer months the manure must be put in covered boxes and hauled away at least once a week... Board of Health.
Readstown, May 12 – A consignment of brook trout was received at this station last Tuesday evening from the federal hatching and were placed in the various streams in this vicinity... The village officials have purchased a two tank truck chemical fire extinguisher. Also have placed seven new benches in the park which adds a great deal to its appearance... Preparations are being made to erect polls [sic] on Wisconsin street for installing the white way.
Hot weather will soon be here now and the old hot range will be the thing of the past. Why not put in a nice new Bon Ani oil stove for the wife this summer. The whole house will be cool then. The Farmers Store Surenson & Thompson.
West Prairie, May 12 – An industrious crowd of men and women met at the cemetery last Tuesday and went at cleaning and improving the place in earnest. The fence on the east was moved in order to add more burial ground, and the road banks on the north and west were graded down so as to give better parking space for automobiles. Thirty five evergreen trees have been planted this spring, and also several vines for the arch over the entrance...
MAY 7, 1924
On Saturday of last week, Buick Dealer, C.M. Clark made delivery of four Buick cars – the largest day’s business he has enjoyed in the history of the Clark Garage. One car was also delivered on Wednesday and three on Sunday – the total money value of the cars running close to $20,000.
The Normal Training School Board has engaged Prof. J.H. Wheelock of Medford, as principal of the Vernon County Normal School...
Westby, May 6 – The Luther league of Our Savior’s church held an apron sale and an old-fashioned Norwegian supper in the church basement on Saturday. There were a large number of aprons sold and a fish pond and candy booth were also features of the event. The supper was a treat to all especially the Norwegians. Following is the menu: Rommegrod, dried beef, flat bread, lefse, meat rolls, roast pork, potato salad, jello, ressettes sand bakkels, and fatti mand bakkels, coffee.
Mr. Sam Strait, a blacksmith from Readstown was killed in an automobile accident near the Manning bridge Friday morning. He had crossed the bridge and in coming over the railroad crossing must have lost control of his car and went over a bank into a slough and being pinned under the car was seriously injured and probably drowned.
Bud wins opening game from Westby, score 9 to 4... Morrison pitched a very nice game, errors beginning in all of Westby’s scores... Buds old standbys showed lack of practice as they displayed nothing like their old form, but they expect to remedy this at once.
Special new stock 1st tubes at $1.50 while they last. Ford Garage.