In Review
First Week of June 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): We are pleased to notice that our fellow townsman, Dr. E. W. Beebe, is highly
complimented for a valuable paper read before the Illinois Homeopathic Association, during their late
session at Chicago.
130 Years Ago (1883): Farm for Sale. Eighty acres of land on Section 26, town of Magnolia, known as the
Roberts farm; said farm is in good condition; 40 acres new seeding, balance in crops. It is well arranged
for dairying. House and stabling good. Good well of water at the door. Young bearing orchard and small
fruit. Also some cows and yearlings. If this farm is sold $1,600 of purchase money may remain on farm
seven years. J. B. Hartley. Magnolia, Rock Co., Wis.
120 Years Ago (1893): The Review mentioned last week of Mrs. Sereno Graves, of Rutland, being
attacked with paralysis, some days previous. On Thursday of last week she passed hence, services held
at her late residence Saturday, May 3d, sermon by Rev. W. L. Jones, pastor of the Baptist church of this
place. Her age was 77 years. She was a native of New Hampshire, a widow Dudley, coming west in about
1842, having two sons, one having since died, and in 1845 married Mr. Sereno W. Graves, who was also a
widower. She leaves besides her husband, two daughters, Mrs. L. C. Brewer, and Mrs. C. A. Cole.
110 Years Ago (1903): Dr. Chas. M. Smith, Jr., and Miss Jennie A. Frantz were married Wednesday
evening June 3, 1903, at the home of the bride’s parents, by Rev. James Churm. The ceremony was
witnessed by a large circle of relatives and friends. They were attended by Miss Hughes of Chicago and
Dr. Fiebeger of Waterloo. They began housekeeping at once in the Stevens house on S. Madison Street
which had been beautifully furnished for their arrival. Both are well and favorably known and we wish them
a pleasant journey through life together.
100 Years Ago (1913): Someone entered Tom Steele barn between Sunday evening and Monday
morning and took his new Ford automobile. The car was put in the barn at six o’clock Sunday evening and
was not missed until about nine o’clock Monday morning. Tracks were then discovered across the lot.
They were crooked as though the car had been pushed out by hand. No definite clue has been
discovered so far. Bruce Townsend, Pete Libby, Cal Broughton and several others have spent
considerable time north and west of Madison trying to find some trace of the car. A reward of $100 is
offered for the capture of the thieves. The anti-Thief society offers $50 and the other $50 is offered by Mr.
Steele.
90 Years Ago (1923): The reunion and picnic given at Croake’s Corner on Jun 24th will be held on the
lawn of the Frank Dunphy home west of the county line. Dinner will be served cafeteria, and a prize will be
given to the person relating the best tale of happening in the olden days at Croake’s Settlement.
80 Years Ago (1933): A group of approximately 35 Evansville Boy Scouts, accompanied by Scoutmaster
and Mrs. Arthur Devine and Assistant Scoutmaster Walter Spratler, Jr., will leave Sunday afternoon for
their annual week’s outing at the Devine cottages at Lake Kegonsa. The daily camp routine, as
announced by Scoutmaster Devine, includes the bugle call at 6:30 a.m. calisthenics at 6:45, raising the
flag at 7, breakfast at 7:15 and the policing of the camp and hiking at 8 a.m. Following the test work at 9,
the boys will enjoy daily kittenball games at 10 a.m., swimming at 11 and dinner at 12. After a resting
period at 1 p.m., the afternoon programs will includes games at 1:30, test work at 2, kittenball games at 3,
a recreation period at the store at 4, when each scout will be allowed to spend 15 cents, hiking and
swimming at 4:15, a clean-up at 5, and supper at 5:30. Before retiring at 9, the boys will enjoy diversified
evening entertainment, including story telling, reading, games and stunts.
70 Years Ago (1943): Charles Hazlett, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Hazlett, this city, has been engaged as
life guard at Lake Leota for the summer months. He began his duties Sunday and will continue until about
September 1. Lake Leota is a popular resort, during the hot months and local children are fortunate in
having swimming facilities so close at hand.
60 Years Ago (1953): Fourteen boys from the Evansville area will be in attendance at the Tri County
period at the Phantom Lake YMCA camp at which 200 boys will go to camp. Those from Evansville
registered to go include: Don Spooner, Tom Spooner, Barry May, John Thurman, Donovan Every, Steve
Armstrong, Gregory Armstrong, Tom Cain, Steve Rasmussen, Peter Grinstad, Dick Cornwell, Terrance
Reynolds and Charles Peterson. Jay Decker is registered for the camp from Brooklyn.
50 Years Ago (1963): Included in the list of graduates from the University of Wisconsin were seven
Evansville students. They are Philip Maas, Mary Lynn Estes, William Harper, Karen Bennett Ketelsen,
Alvin Francis, Paul Brown and James Hart.
40 Years Ago (1973): Since 1966s the Church of Christ Ladies have made 43 quilts. The six quilters are
Alma Janes, Nellie Qualle, Ruby Templeton, Lottie Powles, Belva Dunwell and Clara Breitkreutz. Most of
the work is done at the home of Belva Dunwell where a frame is always set up and any of the women can
come anytime and work. Recently the group gave a demonstration on quilting at the Janesville Y.W.C.A.
30 Years Ago (1983): Varco-Prudent Buildings is again sponsoring a series of radio advertisements
tracing the history of Evansville and its people from 1835 to the present. “Building Things that Last” is the
theme of the professionally designed advertisements that were introduced on local radio stations last
summer. The history of Varco-Pruden Buildings is also highlighted, explaining Clark Prudhon’s arrival from
Fort Atkinson in 1954 and how in 1955, the first metal frames were built. By 1963 the company had grown
to employ 100 people and built the first all steel buildings.
20 Years Ago (1993): Art and Joan Sands have returned from a two week trip to Wales, United Kingdom.
They visited cousins there and other relatives at Yorkshire. They followed the heritage trail at Sharlton,
England, where Joan’s mother was born. The Sands spent two days at the Welsh Game and country
Pursuits Fair at Liandeilo at Dyfed Castle. They report a most interesting time where falconry, coursing,
gun dog demos, parachute display were some of the features.
10 years ago (2003): Randy Keister, Guidance Counselor at Evansville High School is proud to announce
that the Valedictorians for the Class of 2003 are Jonathan Emery and Megan O’Connell. They both have
recorded a 4 point grade average while attending the high school. The Class of 2003 Salutatorian is
Katrina Pitas. She accumulated a 3.995 grade point average.
In Review
Second Week of June 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): Commencement exercises of the Seminary will take place next Friday afternoon at
2 o’clock. Mr. Locke W. Brigham of Union and Miss Laura Haseltine of Evansville will graduate.
130 Years Ago (1883): At the reunion of the 13th Wisconsin Regiment there was a parade to Evans’
Grove followed by a dinner of pork & beans, donuts and hardtack. After the dinner there were speeches,
old war songs, and a ball game. In the evening the men assembled at the GAR hall to continue telling
stories and conduct business. An estimated 4 to 5,000 people were present.
120 Years Ago (1893): Our town is saddened by the untimely death of our old friend, J. Boyd Jones. J.
Boyd Jones was one of 500 employed to remodel the old Ford Theater in Washington and was killed by
the collapse of the building. The three-story building collapsed when the upper story gave way and the
two below followed. Excavating beneath the building may have caused it to collapse. Half an hour before
the telegram announcing his death arrived, his wife had received a letter from him saying that he expected
to be home soon on a vacation. He left three children and had $3,000 life insurance, $2,000 in the
Modern Woodmen and $1,000 in the Northwestern.
110 Years Ago (1903): Libby Bros. asked for a permit to build a store building as follows: length 73 feet
more or less, width 22 feet, two story above basement, veneered front, on the Slawson lot, Main Street; a
permit was granted. Council Meeting June 2. Real estate sales: Sabria Slawson to Elmer H. Libby et al
part lot 5 and 6, block 8, original plat Evansville, $1,500.
[Note: The Libby Bros building was built at 17 West Main Street.]
100 Years Ago (1913): The homecoming banquet of the high school alumni was held in the First Baptist
church. The following were among the old alumni who returned. May be list be longer next year: Mr. C.
W. Merriman, 83-86, Beloit; Idabelle Shurrum Cottrell, 04, Fresno, Cal.; Eva Walker Taylor, Grand
Junction, Colo. Cecil Ware, ’10, Chicago; Edna Lloyd Ellwood, Fairchild; Ray Fessenden, Madison; Etta
Hubbard Smith, Brooklyn; Phoebe Bump Franklin, ’06, Union; Milo Gillies, Beloit; Madeline Antes, ’08,
Linden; Winifred Van Vleck, Edgerton; Nellie Devine, ’12, Oregon; Nellie Meloy, ’12, Janesville; Minnie
Milbrandt, ’12, Janesville; Belle Green, ’12, Eagle.
90 Years Ago (1923): While driving a gravel wagon for contractor Garry on the highway work nine miles
east of Janesville, Harry McKinney, of this city, met a tragic death. The gravel wagon which he was driving
had just been loaded and as he went to pick up his lines, one of them dropped between the horses. Mr.
McKinney in order to get the line climbed down on the wagon tongue. His presence there frightened the
team and he was thrown under the wheels of the heavy loaded wagon, they passing over his stomach,
crushing him internally. He was taken at once to a Janesville hospital and lived until 1 o’clock, conscious to
the last. The deceased is a son of Mr. and Mrs. F. O. McKinney, of this city and was a young man
universally like and respected by all who knew him. Mr. McKinney was married but had no children. The
funeral will take place from the home of his parents on Jackson Street, Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock, burial
being in Maple Hill Cemetery.
80 Years Ago (1933): The Evansville fair grounds has been selected as a site for a federal forestry and
soil erosion camp to be composed of 250 men working in Rock, Dane, and Green counties, according to
official information received here this week. Two state officials from the engineering department at
Madison have been negotiating for the use of the grounds here for some time and have now definitely
decided that Evansville provides the most suitable site for the camp. Lieut. Col. Hatie of Fort Sheridan, Ill.,
was in the city last week inspecting the grounds and completing arrangements for the establishment of the
camp which will be one of ten in the state and the only one in the Rock River valley. The city is charging
no rental for the use of the land. Engineers of the ten Wisconsin camps will go into training next Monday
at the University of Wisconsin and an advance guard will arrive here within the next ten days to make
preparations for the local camp. The camp will be opened by June 20 and will be in operation until Nov. 15.
70 Years Ago (1943): An exhibition in the office of the Evansville Review is an interesting relic of Civil War
Days in the form of a section of a billboard from Monticello. The following inscription is on the board,
“Drafting Notice on the 10th day of November, 1862, there will be drafted in the towns of Adams, 25 men;
Monroe, 26 men; Brooklyn 11 men; Cadiz, 22 men; Washington, 20 men, volunteering is permitted. Every
volunteer will be credited to the town in which he resides. Recruits get $100 bounty and $40 advance
pay. Drafted men get nothing. Recruiting office”. It is now the property of Kenneth Disch, who will sell it
at a reasonable price. .
60 Years Ago (1953): The 107th annual Conference of Wisconsin Methodists, held at Marinette, was
concluded Sunday with the announcement of pastoral assignments by Bishop H. Clifford Northcott,
Madison. Among the changes comes news that Rev. James Saunders will move to the Methodist church in
Stoughton. Rev. John Walker, Wesley United Methodist of Manitowoc, has been assigned to the
Evansville and Orfordville churches.
50 Years Ago (1963): Orval A. Beath, University of Wyoming professor emeritus, spoke recently at a
national conference on the accumulation of toxicity of nitrate in plants. Beath, the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Andrew Beath, was formerly a resident of Evansville. The Beath family lived on Garfield Avenue across
the street from the Catholic church from about 1910 to the 1930s. There were five children in the Beath
family; John, who is now dead; Orval; Sterling who lives in California; Cora, now dead, formerly worked in
the bank; Bina who is Mrs. Charles Buckingham of Greeley, Colo. In addition to his work on nitrate
poisoning in plants, Beath found the cause of selenium poisoning. He has devoted most of his adult life to
studies of poisonous range plants and selenium poisoning and is a recognized authority in the field.
40 Years Ago (1973): A total of 23 scholarships were awarded to 1973 graduates of Evansville High
School at Commencement exercises held Friday night. They included 11 local scholarships totaling
$2,675; four Wisconsin Honor Scholarships and eight new area scholarships. Evansville students won two
of the three scholarships being offered this year by the Rock County Conservation League to students in
rock County who display a keen interest in forestry and plan to major in conservation. The recipients were
Darrell Hamilton and Steve Sanner.
30 Years Ago (1983): The first all-school reunion of the Magnolia Center (Corners) School will be held this
Sunday, June 19 at 12:30 p.m. at the Magnolia Town Hall. All former students, whether graduates or not,
are urged to attend, as well as anyone who ever taught school there. For further information contact
Joyce Woodstock Hansen or Evelyn Hansen Fuchs.
20 Years Ago (1993): 19 Evansville High School Students earned scholarships: Heather Weigand, Becki
Wheeler, Theresa Dickert, Colleen Rowley, Laura Benson, Kirstin Rosa, Amy Krajeck, Melissa Whitmore,
Mark Burkhalter, Mike Harnack, Bethany George, Heather Wyse, Jenna Neuenschwander, Matthew Brown,
Brady Bauer, Mike Walker, Robyn Johnson, Shanti Lall, and Stacy Crull
10 years ago (2003): Logan and Seth Fahlgren have donated a United States Flag to Eager Free Public
Library in honor of their uncle, Army Major Marty Kerkenbush, who is currently serving in Iraq. Marty is a
1984 graduate of Evansville Area High School and has been in the military for over 15 years. He has been
in Iraq since April and is the commander of the 54th Medical Battalion that operates several Blackhawk
Helicopter Air Ambulances.
In Review
Third Week of June 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): Mr. Henry Campbell has been confined to his bed a number of days from an attack
of inflammatory rheumatism. He was taken just before the completion of his planting. The members of the
Grange here learning the condition of their unfortunate brother turned out to the number of about thirty,
Wednesday and not only finished up his planting but did an abundance of other work that was suffering
from neglect. It was a good act, for which Mr. Campbell feels truly thankful.
130 Years Ago (1883): Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. I. M. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. N. Winston and
Mrs. Hiram Spencer start for California tomorrow, for a two months pleasure trip, visiting many of the
places of fine scenery of the west. The principal object being to attend the great Masonic gathering at San
Francisco.
120 Years Ago (1893): Baker Co. are running their shops with an increased force, both the wood workers
and the iron. Orders are coming in faster than they, the present help, can work them off.
110 Years Ago (1903): The query before the house now is whether the Grange store and the Libby Bros.
shall erect the front of their new stores on a line with the others in the same block, or come three feet
further in the street. Ask the aldermanic board.
100 Years Ago (1913): There is talk of remodeling the Magee Opera House and use the ground floor for
a theater to seat 700 people, with a balcony. Local investors are wanted. A committee of local citizens
went to see the Apollo Theater in Janesville; F. A. Baker, M. L. Paulson, E. J. Ballard, V. A. Axtell, Geo. L.
Pullen. D. Q. Grabill, Dr. Wilson, Ray Gillman, Nay Gillman, Dr. Smith, R. M. Richmond, J. P. Porter, Rev.
Coon, O. S. Shepard, A. S. Baker, Geo. Magee, J. C. Potter, and Glen Magee.
90 Years Ago (1923): Last Friday morning, Chester Tyler, living east of this city near Fellows station had
the misfortune to have his milk wagon of milk to be hit by a switching engine on the Main street crossing.
Tyler was on the east side of the tracks and there was a switching engine working on those lines. The
brakeman whose duty it was to take charge of the crossing when switching was taking place, signaled the
engineer to back up the train. Tyler mistaking the signal, thinking it meant that the track was clear, started
his team across the tracks and as he was mid-way was hit by the switch engine. Tyler jumped clear of the
wreck and was uninjured. The engine dragged the team for a space of 25 or 30 feet not even putting a
scratch on either horse. The wagon was completely demolished, and milk was strewn all over the tracks,
making it look the part of the Milky Way. The milk cans were soon picked up and those having any milk
were taken over to the Evansville creamery.
80 Years Ago (1933): The Baker Manufacturing company here, which has been operating two days per
week for the past several months, is on a three-day per week schedule, according to an announcement
made by John S. Baker, president. All departments of the plant are in operation except the wood shop and
the gasoline engine and grinding departments. Starting within a few days the galvanizing department will
reopen and will be in full operation every day until all material on hand has been galvanized. In that the
Baker plant has 125 employees on its payroll, the new three-day schedule is expected to help the
unemployment situation here considerably. The working hours in the plant are from 8 a.m. to 12 and from
1 to 5 p.m. The extra working day will furnish 1,000 additional hours of employment in Evansville per week.
70 Years Ago (1943): The playground activities which opened here Monday in the city parks for the
project’s fourth season under the direction of Coach George O’Neil is attracting a large crowd of children
this week. A group of younger children to be known as the “Midgets” are directed in various games and
treasure hunts from 9 to 10:30 a.m. after which those who are interested in swimming will receive
instructions in the water from Charles Hazlett, local lifeguard. The midget group is comprised of Leo
Schumacher, Dean Allen, Donald Doyle, Phil Montgomery, Peck Sperry, John and Barbra Taylor, Joan
Trunkhill, John and Mildred Edwards, Gordon Guse, Irving Bakke, Patrick and Michael Finnane, Dean
Johnson, David and Steven Losey, Melvin Peterson, David Clark, John Bly, Judy and Alice Romstad, Darla
Albright, Bud Hatlevig, Carmen Brunsell, and Francis Estes.
60 Years Ago (1953): Mr. Ralph Brzezinski appeared before the City Council and requested that water be
extended from South Fourth Street on Liberty Street to his property line and thence north over a new
proposed street which he offered to donate the land for. This request was for the purpose of furnishing
water to a new addition which is being started in the Hungerford Addition. There seemed to be a
difference of opinion on this matter, as the Water and Light Department stated that it was going to cost
some $7,800 and that this was chargeable to the property owners. This was questioned by some of the
Council members due to the fact that no other property owners had ever paid for water rights. Mr. Lee of
the Water and Light Department was not present at the time and the matter was left open.
50 Years Ago (1963): Golf course enthusiasts began seeing their dreams take shape as large
earthmoving equipment moved into Evansville this past week. The N & L construction company of Polo, Ill.,
is in charge of forging a nine-hole golf course out of the rolling land north of the city which was purchased
from Glenn Morrison. Bob Brunsvold is president of the Golf Association.
40 Years Ago (1973): Twenty-one boys tried out for the VFW Teener Ball Team last week. The 13, 14
and 15 year-olds will play in the 17-team Southern league. Evansville’s team will compete against teams
from Footville, Orfordville, Brodhead, Oregon and McFarland. Daryl Fuchs, a baseball player for the UW,
will coach the team. Thomas Kerkenbush will serve as team manager.
30 Years Ago (1983): At the Council meeting Tuesday night of last week, Mayor Pam Wilson made it
official that Evansville is the “Soybean Capitol of the State” when she signed the proclamation witnessed
by Alvin Francis, Bonnie Switalski, Chamber of Commerce president; Marvin Langeteig, Chairman of the
Soy Bean committee in Evansville and Vince Drendel. Both Francis and Drendel are top soy bean
producers in the state and for the past two years they have kept the honor in Evansville.
20 Years Ago (1993): On June 10, Gov. Tommy Thompson presented awards made at the Wisconsin
Development Finance Board meeting. Varco-Pruden, Evansville, was among the 12, and received a
$106,281 grant. Over the past three years, the firm has been developing integrated computer systems,
and will install new rolling equipment. The company will train 265 current and six new workers on the new
machines. Varco-Pruden produces metal buildings and frames, fabricating over 56,000 tons of steel and
generating over $62 million in annual sales at the Evansville plant.
10 years ago (2003): A total of 439 students from across Wisconsin have been selected to participate in
the Wisconsin School music Association 2003 High School State Honors music Project. Chosen from
Evansville High School was Margaret Callahan who plays the French horn. They will meet at UW-Green
Bay June 21-28 for a music camp. More than 2,180 students in grades 9, 10 and 11 auditioned for the
439 positions.
In Review
Fourth Week of June 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): The soda fountains of Griswold, Griffin and Richardson, are held in full blast this
hot weather. For a choice, cool drink, try them all.
130 Years Ago (1883): Mr. John Devereux informs us that milk fever is making sad havoc among the cows
in this vicinity, proving fatal in every instance. Mr. James Montgomery, Mr. A. Bennett, Gene Bullard, John
Devereux, and several others have lost a valuable cow each.
120 Years Ago (1893): Henry Campbell, wife and daughter Pearl, and Mrs. I. A. Hoxie left for Chicago,
Monday morning. Mrs. Campbell will take charge of the Wisconsin Horticultural exhibits, relieving
Secretary Benjamin Hoxie a few days.
110 Years Ago (1903): Of the many couples who first started out life in the vicinity of Cooksville and are
still living in a happy old age are Mr. and Mrs. Richard Houfe, who located there in 1849, now residents of
the town of Fulton, aged 82 and 79 respectively, and who will in December next celebrate their 60th
anniversary of a happy wedded life; Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Stoneburner, aged 73 and 67 located in 1854, with
49 years of married life and Mr. And Mrs. G. E. Newman aged 79 each, located in 1850 with 54 years of
married life to their credit. These three couples were the only ones of the many whom kind providence
had left not separated.
100 Years Ago (1913): Early Tuesday morning the members of the local Woman’s Relief Corps, laden
with well-filled baskets, left this city by autos, busses and carriages for Lake Kegonsa, having accepted an
invitation from their sister member, Mrs. John T. Lemmel, to spend the day as her guests at her two pretty
cottages. Upon arriving at the lake, the guests were welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Lemmel, who turned their
summer homes, lawns, boats, bathing suits, fishing tackle, etc., over to the ladies, and the few gentlemen
escorts, and to say that the ladies had a splendid time is putting it very mild. Many of the ladies who
enjoyed walking, visited other camps on the lake, but several preferred bathing and swimming, and spent
considerable time in the water.
90 Years Ago (1923): On Wednesday, August first, the 1923 Rock County Fair will throw open its gates to
the public. B. T. Green, Supt of the Cattle division of the Rock County Fair, is making a special effort to
get the boys and girls in the different clubs of Rock County to exhibit at the Evansville Fair. Every boy and
Girl who exhibits at the fair will receive a slip of paper showing them the nature of the prize and to whom to
apply in order to receive it. The merchants of Evansville are cooperating in this special prize list and the
boys and girls will not be disappointed with what they get. If enough boys and girls enter their animals at
the Rock County Fair, a special tent has been promised by the Secretary, Dr. C. S. Ware.
80 Years Ago (1933): The Baker Manufacturing company here went on a four-day working schedule
Monday and is now operating on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The plant has been in
operation three days per week and prior to that time was on a two-day per week schedule with the office
open three days.
70 Years Ago (1943): Mr. and Mrs. Sever Hatlevig, East Main street, this city, announce the engagement
of their daughter, Miss Lola Hatlveig to William Erbs, son of Mrs. Belle Erbs, Evansville. Mr. Erbs is in the
coast guard and is a machinist mate, second class. He is in training in northern Wisconsin. No date has
been set for the wedding.
60 Years Ago (1953): Eat and Run. When you are rushed for time and have to eat quickly or when you
need sandwiches for a picnic—call in your order and it will be ready when you drive up. Phone 199-W.
Enjoy A. & W. Root Beer at your picnic or in your home. Bring your own container and we will serve you
promptly. Quart, 20 cents; ½ gallon, 35 cents; gallon, 65 cents. Our menu includes hot dogs, barbecues,
cheeseburgers, hamburgers, French fries. Open 2 p.m. daily, noon, Sunday. Hornes’s A. & W. Root Beer
Stand.
50 Years Ago (1963): Two local teachers have been awarded grants for study this summer. Thomas
Kerkenbush was one of the 50 chosen from 400 applicants for a National Science Foundation grant for
eight weeks of study including courses in biology, chemistry, geology, botany, zoology, physics,
mathematics and general science at the State University of South Dakota at Vermillion. William Kober,
biology teacher in the high school for five years was awarded a six weeks grant by the National Science
foundation for studies in ecology and Limnology at St. Mary’s College, Winona, Minn.
40 Years Ago (1973): The Wisconsin Telephone Company was busy repairing cables, replacing poles
and reconnecting service lines to homes after the storm last Saturday. The Evansville crew was assisted
in the cleanup by 4 installer-repairmen crews from Madison, 2 construction crews from Janesville, 1 cable
repairman from Watertown and another cable repairman from Janesville. The crews worked an average of
13 ½ hours a day and by last Friday afternoon the storm damage sustained to area telephone service was
repaired. The storm tore about one-fourth of the roof off Evansville High School’s gymnasium and water
seeped into the gymnasium and warped the floor.
30 Years Ago (1983): Visitors at the recent open house of the Evansville Wastewater Treatment Facility
were surprised to see so many innovative ideas incorporated into the new facility. Mayor Pam Wilson
announced at the last City Council meeting that Evansville may be in line for an additional grant of $4,500
due to the plant being an innovative model in the state. City Council members and Lee Maxwell, who
operates the plant every day, conducted tours and point out the features. The compressors that aerate
the lagoons and the solar heating system were two of the interesting areas.
20 Years Ago (1993): Mr. and Mrs. Tom Wilbur, Ron and Wendy drove to South Dakota where they spent
a week visiting the Badlands, Black Hills, Deadwood and Custer State Park, which is beautiful. They saw a
buffalo in the middle of the road. They visited Kevin Kosner’s Casino and saw costumes from his movies
including “Dances with Wolves” and they also so a wonderful Sioux Indian museum.
10 years ago (2003): On Monday, June 30, Gordon and Margaret Brigham, will walk out of the Evansville
Ace Hardware at 7 East Main Street, and no longer be the owners. They will be handing the keys to the
business on July 1, 2003 to Dave Warner, owner of the Milton Ace hardware, who has purchased the
business. Thirty three years ago, the Brighams purchased the store, when it was Coast to Coast, owned
by Roy Thayer and located on West Main Street.