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Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
JULY 29, 1925
THE BIGGEST STILL YET
Sheriff Knudson, Undersheriff Larson, Deputy Robinson and District Attorney Moen located on Goose Island in the Mississippi about ten days ago, the biggest moonshine outfit they have yet discovered. By a clever ruse, Sheriff Knudson and his men found the approximate location of the still and by careful search discovered the 250 gallon still, the monster-cooler, 25 mash barrels and the other parts of the outfit cleverly concealed in different places on the island... The heart breaking job was conveying the stuff from the island to Stoddard and they were about all in from the hard labor. Not being able to get a truck to bring it to Viroqua they stored it in a coal shed in the lumber yard under lock and key Saturday night. They intended to bring it here Monday morning, but sometime during Sunday night the outfit took unto itself wings and flew, much to the chagrin of the officers, owever [sic], they are quite confident of its whereabouts, and are waiting for sufficient proof to positively establish the guilt in the theft.
This is surely a wonderful year for corn. Fred Knower brought in a stalk of Gopher Lender this week that measured over eleven feet. This corn was planted one kernel to the hill, and each hill has three or four stalks with [sic] an ear on every stalk.
Readstown, July 27 – A crew of men are in this village repainting the bridge over the Kickapoo river... The Readstown bakery opened up for business last Saturday... The Inter-State Oil Company is having their station located in this village pebble-dashed.
You can’t fatten your hogs if they have worms. Give them Dr. Hess’ worm powder and see them grow. O.E. Davis’ Drug Store.
JULY 22, 1925
Sunday morning’s storm was one of the heaviest of the year and the rain did serious damage to roads and growing crops in the low lands. Good hard roads have in places been washed out half way across, and every hill and ravine is a rock pile, making the work of maintenance by the patrolmen very hard indeed... The Kickapoo river was on a real rampage Sunday, the fourth or fifth time it has flooded this year.
But bad as was the damage from heavy rain, the severe hail storm which accompanied it was much worse. Commencing at a point near the Round Prairie school house the hail swept a path of varying width southeast through Vernon and Richland counties...
Notice From Creamery
With the excessive heat and large volume of business we handle, we are asking co-operation of our patrons, in making a few suggestions if you will follow them as near as you can; it will mean a great deal to your institution, in saving of power and handling the business.
Cool your cream as soon as separated by setting in cooling tank and stirring a few minutes...
Cream cans should be covered to keep out of sun. Patrons having a long way to haul should put a wet blanket over cans first, and a dry one on top, to keep cool.
We find that a great deal of cream is from 70 to 80 degrees when we get it which means we have to cool it down to 46.
If your test is from 28 to 30, cream will keep sweet longer than low test will.
Try to deliver cream by 2 o’clock and by noon on Sunday,,,,
P.J. McHenry, Buttermaker, L. Thompson, Sec. & Treas.
JULY 15, 1925
Not in a quarter of a century, barring perhaps the year 1918, has crop prospects been so promising in this section. The past six weeks of weather has been almost ideal, and all growing htings [sic] have responded in amazing manner. The only crop below normal is hay, and that but slightly short, and the high quality will make up for that.
We wonder what congressman will say to their constituents about the $2,500 increase in salary voted themselves. This makes their salary $10,000 per year... When they have a chance to get their hands into the public till, most congressmen, be they progressive or otherwise, do not generally pull it out empty – Richland Observer.
Park concerts are popular these days. Try one Friday night. You will enjoy the Park and the music.
Work will be started next year by the state highway commission to make all state trunk highways a continuous speedway through all sections of Wisconsin.
Wisconsin has many miles of good trunk highways but there are still gaps on the system where autoists must bump over inferior roads before they can again connect up with good thoroughfares.
During the severe storm Monday night, lightning wrought a serious loss on the Gabriel Roisland farm on Seas Branch. His combination barn, tobacco shed and garage was struck and totally consumed by fire... The structure was practically new, having been built five years ago to replace one destroyed by fire at that time.
JULY 8, 1925
4TH A DECIDED SUCCESS AT VIROQUA
The big celebration is over, and we believe that all who attended will agree that it was one of the nicest events ever staged in our city... It was a most ideal day... Fully five thousand people witnessed the events of morning and afternoon, and it is conservatively estimated that ten thousand people witnessed the marvelous display of fireworks... Probably the most thrilling event of the day was the double parachute drop put on by Sgt. Jack Cope from the Laird Swallow plane[from] Moline, Illinois... The amateur derby races were well-filled, fast, exciting... The time in the finals was 28 seconds and the race was won by H.D. Calhoon of Ontario...
The Censor reaches its readers a day late this week, due to the burning out of the heating elements on the electric melting pot on the Linotype machine, necessitating a phone call to Chicago, a night trip to Sparta by car, and some unseasonable hours of labor for Electrician H.H. Seiler.
Co. A, 107th Engineers, Viroqua’s National Guard Company, will leave for Camp Douglas Saturday morning for the annual encampment of Wisconsin state troops. Elaborate preparations are being made by the guard to entertain the civilian visitors on Governor’s day...special fares are provided on all railroads and automobiles will be met by guard members and free parking space provided...
This morning Oscar Thureen of the firm of Lind & Thureen purchased the interest of Mr. Ed Lind in their shoe business.
Wednesday night’s severe rain storm raised havoc with the LaCrosse & Southeastern. From the foot of the Westby hill to Stoddard numerous washouts occurred, and it will be three or four days before trains can be operated over the line.
JULY 1, 1925
VIROQUA ALL SET FOR THE BIG FOURTH
Will Be Most Spectacular Event Ever Staged In This City
Money Spent Lavishly For Concessions
Long Parade of Floats at 10; Ball Game, Horse Races, Other Attractions
Nothing is creating more enthusiasm or comment than the running races. Twelve “jumpers” have entered to date. Readstown is represented by the Heal horse which is being backed against the entire field by local sports... Ben Endicott, who has been sizing up all the entries, says he has found big races of this kind are mighty uncertain and most any horse may win... Features of the parade will be the big jubilee float of the Creamery Co. in honor of its record breaking records of this year... Capt. Wood announced Monday evening that his unit of the state guard will participate in the parade... The five hundred dollar fire-works display will take place at the fair grounds... Admission charge of 50¢ for adults and 25¢ for children will be made at the fair ground entrance...
We have a nice line of fire works for the Fourth. Let us sell you the noise. The Farmers Store, Surenson & Thompson.
West Prairie, June 28 – Nearly everyone is through setting tobacco... Ed Chose and Sidney Ramsett have been repairing the telephone line to Viroqua.
The Viroqua Tourist camp is receiving a good many out-of-town visitors every week... Since the 1925 season started, 228 people have enrolled in the register... Not near all the tourists leave their names on the register.