In Review
First Week of August 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): Messrs. Stevens, Johnson & Co., bought Monday of Mr. Green and Barlett, farmers
of Dayton, 19,020 pounds live hogs, paying 4 cents a pound, netting to the sellers, $760.80. The average
weight was 250 lbs.
130 Years Ago (1883): A very pleasant affair occurred at Mr. Clint Schofield’s last Friday afternoon. About
200 guests assembled at his residence in the form of a joint picnic of two school districts, one known as the
Emery Dist., the other as the Patterson Dist. Mr. Schofield living about half-way between the two, his
residence was a very appropriate place for them to join in a grand picnic; besides, Clint and his wife are two
of the most jovial and good-natured people living.
120 Years Ago (1893): Farmers are falling into the farm naming idea and W. Hubbard has christened his
farm “Maplewood”. Henry Campbell’s is “Maple Lawn”.
110 Years Ago (1903): Thursday was the ideal day for the laying of the corner stone of the Baptist
church. At 2 o’clock p.m. the Baker Military Band, consisting of about 30 members, played a welcoming
piece. Rev. J. W. Hoag, resident pastor announced the program. The corner stone was raised from the
ground by a derrick, very nicely arranged and placed in position under the direction of Mr. C. Snashall, in
behalf of the building committee. A box constructed of copper about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide and
deep was produced and Miss Maggie Gillies read over a long list of articles, consisting of the history of the
church, its numerous officers, different societies, and things of importance which had transpired in
connection with the church.
100 Years Ago (1913): Miss Madge Tomlin is working in the office of the D. E. Wood Butter Co.
90 Years Ago (1923): While working in company with Earl Gibbs on the new power line between the D. E.
Wood plant and the Garden Canning Co., plant, Monday afternoon, Roy Lee, of this city, in some way
touched a charged wire and was instantly killed. His partner, Mr. Gibbs, who was on the ground, sprang at
once to his rescue and cut the wire, letting him drop to the ground, a distance of fifteen feet. Drs. Guilfoyle
and Helgesen were at once summoned and every known aid given to bring him back to life, with no avail.
80 Years Ago (1933): With a company of 200 ex-service men at work every day since its arrival last week,
the construction and improvement program at the Civilian Conservation camp at the fair grounds is rapidly
nearly completion. A crew of 106 men started work on flood control and soil erosion projects in Porter and
Fulton townships. Projects started Wednesday were at the J. E. Sayre, Mrs. Frank Pease, Lloyd Porter, T.
S. Stearns, and Ed Ford farms in Porter township and at the T. S. Bigger and W. C. Scofield farms in the
town of Fulton.
70 Years Ago (1943): Mrs. W. S. Gollmar, this city, has received word from her son, Walter, who is an
overseas army camp that he has been promoted from the rank of private to that of private first class. Pfc.
Gollmar was inducted into the army last fall and was stationed in a Texas camp for several months before
being transferred overseas. He was employed at the Parker Pen plant in Janesville before entering the
service.
60 Years Ago (1953): School District 10, the doughnut shaped district in the towns of Magnolia and Union
that completely surrounds the city of Evansville, voted 9-2 to petition or annexation to the Evansville school
district Monday night. The next action necessary to effect the consolidation of the two districts will be for
the Magnolia and Union town boards to meet with the Evansville city council to present their petition to join
their school district with the city’s.
50 Years Ago (1963): Evansville’s third big fire in the past few months occurred at 6:30 p.m. Saturday
when Green bros. grain drying and storage house on East Main Street was totally destroyed by flames
which reached the height of 35 feet and were visible for miles in every direction. The building contained
6,000 bushels of soybeans belong to the Commodity Credit Corp. a Federal corporation of which Green
Bros. is a member, and about 10,000 bushels of shell corn belonging to Green Bros.
40 Years Ago (1973): Dean George, Jr., Rick McCoy and George Andrew, all of Evansville, were among
the 66 from the state who spent three weeks abroad and returned home Saturday. They traveled under
the Goodwill People to People Travel Program. All were Wisconsin agricultural youths and FFA youths.
The group visited Brussels, Belgium; and Amsterdam and Rotterdam in the Netherlands; London, England;
Rome, Italy; Zurich Switzerland; Vienna, Austria; Prague, Czechoslovakia; and East and West Berlin,
Germany.
30 Years Ago (1983): The citizens of Evansville were treated to a sight of a 1907 steam locomotive as it
made a short stop enroute to North Freedom. The locomotive was leased by the Northwestern Railroad
from the North Freedom Mid-Continent RR Museum. Gary Selk, Division traveling Engineer, was the
engineer for the train. The engine was pulling six cars and two diesels and had been in Iowa giving 17,000
people rides.
20 Years Ago (1993): Heather Weigand, daughter of Ray and Mary Weigand, Evansville will reign over the
1993 Rock County 4-H Fair. Heather, 1993 graduate of Evansville High School, is a 10th year member of
the Evansville 4-H Club. Her projects have included Swine, Home Environment, Youth Leadership, Floral,
Veterinary Science, Clothing, Foods and Visual Arts. She has served as Rock County’s representative to
the Southern District 4-H Leader’s Council and has served her club as an officer and a junior leader.
10 years ago (2003): This year’s Rock Co. 4-H Queen title was given to 11 year Magnolia 4-H member
Michelle Bader. Michelle is a 2003 Evansville High School graduate and the daughter of Calvin and Deb
Bader. Michelle was quoted as saying, “I love 4-H and this just tops off my whole career!” Ending her 4-H
career as Queen seems to be a fine way to spend the time before going on to college at UW Platteville to
major in Agricultural Education.
In Review
Second Week of August 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): Mrs. Stephen Baker left for Sioux Falls, Dakota, last week, with the hope that the
salubrious climate of that region might have a beneficial effect upon her low state of health.
130 Years Ago (1883): Mrs. Walter Pierce, of Dakota, on her way east, stopped at Union. She reports
crops in Dakota looking finely.
120 Years Ago (1893): Arthur, the 14-year old son of Clint Moore, who lives in West Magnolia, was thrown
from a horse Friday morning and sustained a fracture of the skull. Dr. Smith was called and thinks he shall
succeed in restoring the boy, although the wound is a critical one.
110 Years Ago (1903): The Baker Mfg. Co. are shipping two car load of windmills to Australia; only think of
it, articles manufactured in this little city to furnish such great foreign markets.
100 Years Ago (1913): The Brooks Stock Company numbering fifteen people will appear at the opera
house during fair week, starting Monday, Aug. 18. The company comes with the stamp of success upon it
in the last season played all the principal cities in the Midwest and recently a long season of stock at
Milwaukee.
90 Years Ago (1923): The six large cement coal bins which are being erected by Fred Brunsell are nearing
completion. In the center of the six silo looking bins will be a large pit, over which will be run the track which
brings the coal into the yard. The coal will be dumped from hopper bottomed cars direct into a carrier
hopper, which when full, lifts up to a track, like the track in a hay barn, being switched to any bin being
filled, carrying at each trip 2500 pounds. This hopper bin then lowers into the bin to the bottom or to the
level of the coal, where it is dumped easily so that all shattering or breaking of the coal is eliminated. At the
bottom of each bin there is a chute, where the coal runs by gravity into the delivery wagons.
80 Years Ago (1933): At a business men’s mass meeting held here in the city hall a group of approximately
100 Evansville merchants unanimously agreed that by the last day of August they would be either operating
their establishments on a blanket code as prescribed by President Roosevelt in his National Recovery act,
or on a special code for their particular line of business. Gas retailers adopted a code regarding working
hours, opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 9 p.m. seven days per week. It was signed by Frank Maxwell, L. L.
Thompson, A. M. Winn, Selmar Jordahl, Fred Kleinsmith, H. H. Loomis, L. W. Heffel, H. L. Main, J. S.
Gibson, H. Walton, John Feldt, Glenn Morrison, Charles Rasmussen, Perry Burnett, Arthur Cain, and H. C.
Inman.
70 Years Ago (1943): A crew of nearly one hundred men and women will resume work here early next
week at the local canning plant of the Columbus Foods corporation which will start packing some 500 acres
of corn under cultivation in this locality. Corn was packed here in 1940 for the first time since 1937,
although the early and late varieties of peas have been canned every season. A large percentage of the
bumper crop of early and late peas has been sold to the government and will be consumed by men in the
service of the United States armed forces.
60 Years Ago (1953): In honor of the 60th wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Roberts, open
house will be held at the St. John’s Lutheran parish house on Sunday, Aug. 16. The former Miss May Belle
Weary and Clarence M. Roberts were married by the Rev. A. J. Delano at Edgerton on August 18, 1893.
They have five children, Mrs. George Olsen, Mrs. Wilbur Decker, Kennard, and Lee, all of Evansville, and
Chester, Beloit; 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
50 Years Ago (1963): The former Congregational parsonage and later parish house is being moved this
week from the church yard on Church Street to a lot on S. Second Street recently purchased by H. F.
Brunsell. Mr. Brunsell will finance the building of an addition to the west side of the church which will
provide modern Sunday school rooms to be used in place of the parish house.
40 Years Ago (1973): Maria Consuelo Tejada Castro will be arriving soon from Arequipa, Peru, when she
comes to Evansville to live with the Al Hipke family in Evansville. Maria wants to learn as much as possible
about the North American people and their cultures, so an interesting school year is ahead for her.
30 Years Ago (1983): About 65 people gathered at the park Thursday, August 4 for the Grange Store
Employees Second Annual Picnic. Jean Helgesen, one of the picnic organizers, along with Evelyn Fuchs,
was the Mistress of Ceremonies. Rollie Worthing of Beloit received the prize for coming the farthest. He
had worked in the groceries. Bill Schuster received the prize for working at the store for the longest period
of time which was 27 years. Lillian Morrison had the rules for the clerks in 1927 that was read by Marian
Gallman.
20 Years Ago (1993): The Varco-Pruden team responsible for producing the steel components for the
forthcoming Stoughton Trailers building which is being erected on Hwy 14 east of Evansville are Owen
Amann, vice president and general manager; Cory Stoner, senior detailer; Brian Jensen, senior order
processor; John Stark, team leader; Craig Hanson, design engineer, Ken Fuchs, checker and Mike
Borchardt. Helgesen Excavating is doing the preparation work. It is anticipated that the concrete will be
poured August 23 and the building will be started the end of August.
10 years ago (2003): On the south, the north side and east sides of town the much waited for population
sign revisions have finally been completed. Evansville officially has grown to a city of a 4039 populace.
Give those responsible for the job a hand. This includes all who have moved to our community who added
to the 2000 census.
In Review
Third Week of August 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): Mrs. Brink who occupied tenements over W. P. & Co’s. store, lies dangerously
sick. She was attacked about a week ago, with cholera morbus, which soon set in to fever. Her friends
have but little hopes of her recovery. Mrs. Eager and Mrs. Smith set out Monday to make some charitable
collections for her destitute family, and we were told, succeeded remarkably well, several young men giving
as high as two dollars each. They are a worthy but needy family.
130 Years Ago (1883): Mr. James Sonn’s little six-year-old daughter, was run over by a bicycle yesterday,
and quite badly injured. It is unknown who the rider of the bicycle was, as he left the little girl to care for
herself, who was picked up and taken home. We hope that it will require but few such accidents to call the
attention of our village board to this matter, as there has considerable complaint of this kind reached us.
Not only are children endangered upon our walks, but grown people, especially ladies, when the wind is
blowing the leaves of the shade trees so they are unable to hear distinctly.
120 Years Ago (1893): Another batch of tramps infested the town last week. Hungry? Of course, they are
always hungry. In attempting to board a freight, one luckless fellow run his head against a rod, that hurled
him prostrate to the ground. He was stunned by the fall but not badly hurt.
110 Years Ago (1903): The fine weather the past week has helped the buildings in progress of
construction wonderfully. The brick wall of the new Grange store is well under way; the Libby Bros. have
their building about ready for plastering, and the Baptist church is about ready for the brick work.
100 Years Ago (1913): An examination will be held at the post office in this city for the position of clerk-
carrier. The examination is open to all male persons between the ages of 18 and 45 years, applicants not
to be less than 5 feet 4 inches in height and 126 pounds in weight.
90 Years Ago (1923): Tourist registering at the Evansville Park Camp for the week ending August 18 2343
from Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and included Joseph Merscot, treasurer, West Chicago
Park Commission and family and George W. Hogan, railroad adjuster for the C. M. & St. P., and family.
There were as follows: cars, 57; men, 75; women, 61; girls, 21; boys, 12; Total 169.
80 Years Ago (1933): Company 1680, Citizens Conservation Corps, arrived in Evansville via the
Northwestern line at 5:30 a.m. yesterday establishing its permanent camp at the fairgrounds here. The
company came from Camp Custer, Michigan, where it had been assembled, equipped, and organized.
Headed by Major Joseph L. Phillips, cavalry officer of the regular army, the company marched four abreast
from the Northwestern station here. The company comprises exactly 200 men, all citizens of Wisconsin and
all veterans of the World War. The larger part of them were members of the Wisconsin Brigade, 32nd
Division.
70 Years Ago (1943): Mr. and Mrs. Earl Knappenberger received a typed card Friday from their son,
Ralph, 23, a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippines, the first word they have received from him since
his capture. Knappenberger enlisted Feb. 3, 1941 in the coast guard and was sent to San Francisco and
later to Angel Island. From there he was assigned to Corregidor before the outbreak of the war.
60 Years Ago (1953): St. Paul church religious vacation school closed Saturday after a two week session
conducted by Sisters Paulus and Josephita of Green Bay and Sister Mary Bethany, Bloomington, Ill.
Children who received their first Holy Communion on August 15 were David Erpenbach, Barbara Kimberly,
Eugene Montgomery, Patricia Mosher, Earl Page, Joan Palmer, James Petterson, Elizabeth Popanz, Roger
Strickert, Janet Swanson, Karen Rasmussen and Richard Tullis.
50 Years Ago (1963): Two Evansville men suffered broken bones in separate accidents recently. O. E.
Petterson, who was installing a furnace in a new home in Oregon, broke his left arm and left ankle when he
fell. Since the basement stairs were not completed, planks were being used to walk on and Petterson fell
when a plank broke. He was taken to Stoughton Hospital. Kenneth R. Ellis, Evansville mailman who was on
vacation, fell from a ladder while painting his house and suffered a broken arm. He too was taken to
Stoughton Hospital.
40 Years Ago (1973): At the July 10, 1973 Common Council meeting, Mayor Brown brought two problems
regarding Varco-Pruden to the attention of the Council. The speed and noise of trucks in the
neighborhood of the factory was first. The second was the problem created by flooding during high water
as a result of the bridge at the factory across Allen’s Creek. Considerable discussion followed.
30 Years Ago (1983): City Council members heard some good news on Tuesday night of last week when
Park Board Chairman Ron Pierce announced that Varco-Pruden of Evansville will construct a 10 x 24 ft.
metal building in the park for the purpose of storing equipment. The building will be constructed on land,
where there presently are five cabins now in a state of disrepair, which formerly were used for scout day
camps. The Evansville Historic Preservation Commission has toured the five cabins and determined that
the farthest building to the east, the one with the concrete front porch, should be retained and the others
demolished. However, they suggest that the site of the building to the west be used for either a gazebo or
band shell.
20 Years Ago (1993): New High School staff members include Ms. Jennifer Townswick, vocal music at both
the elementary and high school on a part-time basis; Mr. Doug Zblewski, instrumental music at the middle
school and high school; Andrew Lehman, physical education at the high school on a part time basis. He will
also serve as assistant high school wrestling coach. Marsha Dobbs will have increased hours at the
“Success Unlimited” coordinator. This successful program is designed to help students who are in danger
of not fulfilling credits for graduation. She will also continue as the JTPA and Education for Employment
coordinator.
10 years ago (2003): High school principal Dick Feutz resigned effective July 11. Dick Lovett has been
hired as the interim principal for one year. Dick Lovett’s nine year’s experience as a high school principal,
his three year’s directing the North Central Association Wisconsin office, and his background in distance
learning should help move our high school forward in its beautiful new facility.
In Review
Fourth Week of August 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): The public schools of Evansville will begin on the 1st Monday, being the 1st day of
September. Mr. M. A. Burnham, A. M., Principal; Miss Orissa Taggart, First Intermediate Department; Miss
Elvira Gillman, Second Intermediate; Miss Celina West, Primary. The entire old board of teachers is
engaged for the present year, which speaks well for their qualifications.
130 Years Ago (1883): Mr. Del Bullard cut nineteen acres of oats for Jessie Aller, with a McCormick
harvester in ten hours and Messrs. Van Wormer and Daniels bound the same.
120 Years Ago (1893): Mr. L. M. Mygatt died at his home on Main Street on Saturday Aug. 26, 1893, after
a long lingering illness at the age of 62 years. His funeral will be held at the house on Monday Aug. 28,
1893 at 4 p.m. The Masonic Knight Templars will take charge of the remains which will be shipped to his
parental home at Coxsochie, N. Y., for final interment.
110 Years Ago (1903): John Butts died at the home of his son-in-law, Wm. Reese, on the prairie, Saturday,
Aug. 22, 1903. The deceased was one of the early settlers at what has always since been known as Butts
Corners, about two and one-half miles northwest of this city where he followed the occupation of a
blacksmith and farming for many years and from this source became widely known throughout this country.
He has been in poor health for several years. Mrs. Geo. C. Taggart of this city is one of his daughters.
100 Years Ago (1913): The newly remodeled St. Paul’s church was dedicated on Sunday morning. His
Grace, the most Reverend Archbishop of Milwaukee, began the solemn service of dedication. The
members of St. Paul’s now have one of the most modern and up-to-date equipped churches in the state. A
new altar, beautifully decorated in white and gold adds beauty and solemnity to the interior. The newest
idea in electric lighting, the indirect, has given to the beautiful interior a softness and charm not otherwise
obtainable. A new bell adds much to the many other musical bells that set aside the Sunday as a day apart
and call the faithful to the worship of God.
90 Years Ago (1923): On August 30th, at 2 o’clock at the Oregon cemetery the Masons will honor the
memory of Nathaniel Ames, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who was buried with Masonic honors,
Sunday, August 30th, 1863. The Masons will gather at Oregon with Union Lodge, No. 32, of Evansville, of
which Nathaniel Ames was a member at the time of his death.
80 Years Ago (1933): The local conservation corps unit is working on many projects within 15 miles of
Evansville. On the T. S. Biggar farm in Fulton township, a head flume with two wing dams has been
completed and labeled with the state and federal markings. In a number of cases where barrel conduits are
being laid to carry water through soil-saving dams, the work has progressed to the extent that elbows have
been poured and construction on risers has been started. On the Lloyd Porter farm some striking finished
diversion dams can be seen which are caring for a water shed of 88 acres. The largest barrel conduit so
far laid is being placed on this farm.
70 Years Ago (1943): The city public schools will open Tuesday, September 7, with an enrollment of
approximately 1,000 high and grade school students. The boarding schools including the Wyler School for
Boys, the Leota School for Girls, the Badger School for Boys and the Millard Home School will also open
their year’s activities at the same time. The pupils of the latter school will attend classes at the public school
60 Years Ago (1953): Bob Olson has leased the former Taplin market, which he has been recently
operating with Lloyd Taplin. Formerly with Kroger, Carr, and IGA stores here, and with the Heffel Chevrolet
Sales, Olson plans to continue the sale of quality meats and groceries at the market and the free delivery
service. Olson is a veteran of World War II and the Korean War as an air force bombardier.
50 Years Ago (1963): A new business has opened its doors on Main Street in Evansville. A new
recreational center to be known as The Rec Room has opened at 14 East Main St. in the vacant building
between Kaltenborn’s Photo Studio and Straka Jewelry. The new business, designed as a recreational
facility for both youths and adults has four new regulation size pool tables, a complete snack bar, a juke box
and games. It will be operated by James Bush of Monona village in Madison, who also operates a similar
business known as the Panther’s Den in Oregon, Wisconsin.
40 Years Ago (1973): A countywide library system was adopted by Rock County Board Supervisors last
Thursday by a vote of 21 to 18. The program which will enable county residents to borrow books and other
library materials from libraries in the county will be implemented in 1974. The system will utilize state funds,
plus a county library tax of 9 cents per $1,000 equalized valuation to be levied against the 20 townships
and Footville. The seven cities, Evansville, Beloit, Clinton, Edgerton, Janesville, Milton and Orfordville,
which already support libraries, will be exempt from the tax. The public libraries will keep their local
autonomy and boards. A separate federated board will oversee the county system.
30 Years Ago (1983): On Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, at least 70 units will be part of a parade beginning
at 10:30. The parade includes four marching bands with the Evansville High School Band leading the
parade. The other bands will be the Green Beret, Janesville Fife and Drum Corp and Flynn’s Bag Pipe
Band of Brodhead. The Evansville Booster Club is sponsoring the Labor Day events, starting Sept. 3 with
the Men’s and Women’s Softball Tournament.
20 Years Ago (1993): Double street lights have been installed on the corners of Main and Madison
Streets. The one on the northeast corner was donated by the people of Varco-Pruden Buildings. The
other on the southwest corner was donated by Baker Manufacturing Co. and its employees, original
supplier of electricity to the Evansville from 1887 to 1901. A special recognition meeting will be held august
26 at 8 p.m. in the Grange Mall building.
10 years ago (2003): Five loyal Evansville Community School District teachers will not be returning to
Evansville schools this fall due to their retirements. Mr. Gary Burkhalter, Mr. Gary Hoff, Mr. Michael Loftus,
Mr. John O’Connell and Mrs. Barbara Willoughby have combined total of many, many years teaching in the
Evansville Community School district. Their dedication to the district is commendable.