In Review
First Week of September 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): About sixty men are making Evansville their head quarters and are running a gravel
train to put the road in first class order for business. The increased business over the road requires strict
attention to the thoroughness.
130 Years Ago (1883): On taking a short ride on the C. & N. W. R. R. to Afton and back, last Saturday, we
saw no place that showed business life until we returned to Evansville, where all was rush and bustle, the
streets lined with teams and people. Evansville has much the appearance of a handsome little city, with its
new manufactories, as you approach from the south by rail, the large smoke-stacks looming up in all their
grandeur. We hope to see the day and think it not far distance, when the entire flat will be covered with large
factories, as a better location can not be found in the state with an inexhaustible supply of water and a level
tract of land where solid foundations are easily obtained, convenient to the railroad, the great inland outlet for
all manufactured articles.
120 Years Ago (1893): A prairie and forest fire caused by the spark from a locomotive, started on Mr. B. W.
Hubbard’s farm two miles northwest of here yesterday afternoon about 2 o’clock and laid waste everything
before it. Mr. Hubbard loses 20 acres of timber, Mr. Shively 20 acres, Mrs. Whaley 20 acres, Mr. Jim
Montgomery, 25 acres and many others lose heavily by the conflagration. There were seven fires between
here and Brooklyn, on that same afternoon, all caused by the same engine. The farmers for miles around
congregated together and fought desperately with the blaze but it was not extinguished until a great deal of
damage had been done.
110 Years Ago (1903): Married at the home of the bride’s parents in Evansville, Edward Elert and Miss Daisy
Hoskins were married by Rev. A. J. Damon, Aug. 27, 1903 at 5 o’clock p.m. The wedding dinner and flowery
decorations were appreciated by the guests consisting of the immediate relatives and a few other friends.
The newly married couple have the best wishes of their many friends. They will reside in Evansville.
100 Years Ago (1913): Miss Adelaide Evans gave a very pretty handkerchief shower for miss Cleve Gillman
on Tuesday evening. About twenty guests were present. The engagement of Miss Hattie Chapin to Mr. Lyle
Richardson of Canada was announced.
90 Years Ago (1923): With their Clydesdale two year old mare, “Fairy Footprint” J. C. Robinson & Son last
week repeated by again winning the sweepstake prize in the Clydesdale class at the State Fair, with the mare
as a two year old. This mare took the same prize last year as a yearling.
80 Years Ago (1933): A Gamble agency store will be formally opened here Saturday in the building formerly
occupied by the Farmers and Merchants State bank which has been entirely redecorated and remodeled in a
great renovation program that has taken three weeks to complete. The store will be owned and operated by
Ray Rosen, Janesville, who has had considerable experience in the mercantile business.
70 Years Ago (1943): Lt. Donald C. Lawry, son of Mrs. Myrtle Lawrey, this city, was one of the hundreds of
youthful American navigation cadets, just back from thrilling graduation flights to their home towns and
principal distant cities, who pinned on their silver wings this week at commencement exercises held
simultaneously at both Hondo and San Marcos, Tex.
60 Years Ago (1953): Miss Donna Hartl, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hartle, 352 Lincoln st., was graduated
from Nurses Training school, St. Mary’s hospital, Madison on Sunday, August 6. She is now employed now
on the nursing staff in the department of surgery.
50 Years Ago (1963): Hugo Edwardo DePedro, Evansville’s first AFS student arrived here a week ago
Saturday night to attend Evansville High School. He was met in Chicago by Mr. and Mrs. Clark Prudhon and
son, George, with whom he will reside during his stay in Evansville.
40 Years Ago (1973): Sandblasting was done last Friday on the United Methodist Church of Evansville.
Exterior and interior repair work is being done. There was wind damage to the exterior during the June 16
storm. Also the exterior masonry and woodwork are badly in need of repair. The work on the interior will not
be started until the work on the outside is completed. The entire cost of the project is expected to be about
$11,500. There will be some insurance forthcoming for the storm damage.
30 Years Ago (1983): the 1983 Varsity Football Team includes Jay Hrdlicka, Dwight Redders, Tom Zilliox,
Mark Heritage, Mike Hermanson, Steve Krumwiede, Jeff Mavis, Steve Crans, Butch Koch, Josh Dunphy, Tom
Madsen, Steve Hipke, Phil Updike, David Rinehardt, Jeff Elmer, Wayne Steinhoff, David Woolever, Joel
Heinemann, John Spanton, Jon Waller, Jamie Cornwell, Tim Hoesly, Ken Ripp, Mark Merrill, Greg Peckham,
Paul Page, Kurt Pierce, Karl Allen, Rick U’Ren, Ted Flesch, Joe Flood, Karl Guernsey, Brad Patterson,
Randy Gilbertson, Joe Rohloff.
20 Years Ago (1993): Four Evansville homes and a local church will open their doors for this year’s Historic
House Tour scheduled for Sept. 26. Tour participants include Prentice and DeEtte Eager, Bill and Thea
Brunsell, Karen and Doug Zweizig, Laura and Ron Vanderstelt and the First Baptist Church. This year’s tour
spans nearly a century of history, from a Queen Anne built in 1894 to a contemporary home built in 1993.
10 years ago (2003): Evansville Community School District Board Members approved the 2003-2005
economic teacher contract settlement. That settlement includes a 4.31% increase the first year and a 4.5%
increase the second year. The bargaining committee consisted of Dennis Hughes, Georgia Duerst Lahti,
Heidi Carvin, Deb Olsen, Larry Stussey, Julie Creek Hessler, Gail Gunther and Capital area Uniserve South
Union Representative Mallory Keener. Nine negotiation meetings were held, many of them were spent
dealing with the 40 lay-off notices that were issued in April, all of which were later rescinded.
In Review
Second Week of September 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): At present there is not an available vacant tenement in Evansville. The spontaneous
addition of about 75 railroad laborers to our population makes tenements scarce.
130 Years Ago (1883): Peter Deremer is the lucky man, who, while plowing in his field, found a large piece of
copper ore, weighing 3 lbs. He says it appears to be pure copper.
120 Years Ago (1893): Another serious accident caused by a sled corn cutter happened early this A. M. the
victim being Mr. Lew Franklin, of Union. In some way his foot struck a stub of corn stalk, which threw his foot
in front of the knife, and before the horses could be stopped the knife had cut clear to the bone. He was
brought to Evansville, where Dr. Colony and Evans Sr., dressed the wound. The sufferings of the man while
having his wound dressed were terrible, it being necessary to put five stitches in the heel.
110 Years Ago (1903): Messrs. Frank Broughton, Henry Hamilton, A. C. Gray, Wm. Austin and son Than
returned on Sunday morning from their western trip; they were well pleased with the country they went to see,
and they took up claims in Montana, with the exception of A. C. Gray and Henry Hamilton. The excursion to
Montana on the 15th is postponed to the 22nd. When Mr. Broughton will accompany another expedition to
that country and would like to have all of those who wish to go at this time hand in their names to him as soon
as possible. Leo Campbell and Fred and Hans Peterson were of the party who went on the 8th as well as
those mentioned.
100 Years Ago (1913): The annual reunion of the Francis family was held yesterday afternoon in the Martin
Croak grove near the county line. At noon about seventy-five sat down to a delicious picnic dinner. Those
present were Mrs. Charles Ware and family; Ed Hyne and family; Bert Reese and family; Arthur Jones and
family; Frank Francis and family; Walter Williams and family and Arthur Francis of Janesville; Spencer Francis
and family of Oregon; Alvin Francis and family; James Francis and family; Will Brewer and family, all of Attica;
Harry Atherton and family; Jean Griffin and family; Morris Murray and family; George Francis and family; Will
Williams and family; John Patchen and family; Everett Williams and family; Walter Jones and family; Mrs.
Arford Lewis and family; Charles Francis and family; Mrs. Mary Ann Francis, and Will Francis, all of Albany.
90 Years Ago (1923): Some mothers were disappointed, others were very happy when on last Friday
evening the pictures of the prettiest, cutest and healthiest baby was put on the screen. Mr. and Mrs. Ace
Fellows won first prize with a group picture of their children, Miriam, Jerome and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Croak received second prizes on their baby girl, Miss Constance.
80 Years Ago (1933): Company 1680, Civilian Conservation Corps, Camp Evansville is now complete. The
fine arts building has been transformed into a mess hall, kitchen and recreation room. New floors and roof
have been installed and a nice coat of white paint has been put on the interior of the building.
70 Years Ago (1943): Capt. Helen Elizabeth Tait, Evansville, was one of 11 members of the Women’s Army
Auxiliary Corps to become an officer of the Army, WAC component, at impressive ceremonies at Fort
Douglas, Utah.
60 Years Ago (1953): Neighbors pitched in the past two Saturdays to help Hans Norby get his tobacco in
after he broke his arm. Mrs. and Mrs. Ben Larson, Bob Bullard, Joe Tait, Gordon Stark, Chris Nelson, Mr.
and Mrs. Albert Stark and daughter Christine, Linda Norby, Mrs. Howard Norby, Mrs. Hans Norby, Chris
Larson, Lawrence Julseth, Jacob Larson, Howard Norby, “Red” Lawrence and Jim Schwartzlow were part of
the work crew.
50 Years Ago (1963): In a meeting of the School Board on Monday night the board agreed to hire Peters
and Martinsons, Madison architects to design the new elementary school here if a bond issue for building is
approved at a referendum on Nov. 12. In the planning stages is an eight room classroom school including an
all purpose room to be built on the northeast section of the exiting new high school site.
40 Years Ago (1973): Mayor Wilson Brown and First Ward Alderman Merlin Reese met with a group of about
15 Fifth Street property owners for an informal discussion of annexing property in that area to the city. The
mayor explained the advantages available to the property owners when they become residents of the city
some of which are city water, sewer, garbage, etc. The following have made application at this time: Mr. and
Mrs. Jens Norum, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Marenes, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Gehrke, and
Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Smelcer. It is hoped that others in the area will request annexation at an early date.
30 Years Ago (1983): Through the dedicated efforts of the Evansville Sports Booster Club and other
supportive citizens, Evansville High School will play its first football game on the new high school athletic field
on Friday September 16, 1983 at 7:30 p.m.
20 Years Ago (1993): Stoughton Trailers was given help in seeking up to $9 million in revenue bonds by the
Evansville Common Council. Tony Kraujalis, city attorney, said the passage of a bond resolution will allow
Stoughton trailers “to obtain certain borrowing by the use of the good name of the community. I’m satisfied
that there’s no risk to the City of Evansville whatsoever.” A representative of Stoughton trailers appeared at
the meeting, and told the Council that his company won’t necessarily borrow up to the $9 million limit.
10 years ago (2003): Cottage Grove Cooperative, Cottage Grove and Union Cooperative Association,
Evansville, will become Landmark Services Cooperative, Oct. 1. The merger was approved Aug. 14 with a
70% approval vote by membership from both farm supply cooperatives. Landmark Cooperatives’ services
revolve around its four core product areas; agronomy, energy, feed and grain; other services include
convenience stores, tire shops, and a heating and air conditioning business. The company with more than
360 employees in several locations will headquarter at Cottage Grove. Larry Swalheim will assume the role of
CEO on Oct. 1. Maynard Rauk, current General Manager at Union Cooperative will serve in a management
role in the new organization.
In Review
Third Week of September 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): Among the exhibitions at the Southern Wisconsin Fair, from Evansville, we noticed
Mrs. R. W. Johnson, a choice article of vinegar; Mrs. K. F. Randolph, hearth rug; Mrs. D. L. Mills, embroidery
on linen, netted work, linen cloth, bread, rusks, jellies, 4 kinds of jam; also several varieties of drummondii
and other flowers. Mrs. J. R. West, wife of Postmaster West, won the first premium for the best display in
quality and variety of cut flowers, 474 varieties; of asters 77 varieties; Japan pinks, 80 varieties. We think
which is a pretty good show for an amateur florist.
130 Years Ago (1883): Mr. John Hollingsworth, of Union, who was in the employ of the Lehman Bros. at the
Furniture Factory accidently got his left hand against a buzz saw, almost severing the second and third
fingers and badly lacerating all the rest including the thumb. He was taken to Dr. J. M. Evans’ office where his
hand was properly bandaged and dressed. The doctor thinks he will be able to save his fingers, but
undoubtedly two of them will always remain stiff. He was taken to his home by Wm. Hubbard who was in town
with his team.
120 Years Ago (1893): A new mandolin club has been formed with the following players: W. C. Lawton, W.
G. Taggart, mandolins; Dr. G. F. Spencer, George Wiggins, Ray Doolittle, guitars. The club intends to
practice some very fine selections and will be ready to play at parties, entertainments, etc, whenever
requested.
110 Years Ago (1903): About seven o’clock last Monday morning fire broke out in the residence of Al. Smith
on North Madison street. The rear portion was entirely consumed, but the main portion of the house was
saved. As the waterworks do not extend to that part of the city, our old steam engine was put into operation.
The firemen did exceptionally well in saving the main part of the building, as the fire was well under headway
before they could begin operation, and just as they began throwing water a south bound train ran over the
hose, cutting it in two, which caused considerable delay in replacing the hose. Other trains were held at the
crossing until the fire was under control. It was supposed the fire originated in the roof from an overheated
chimney. Mr. Smith carried insurance.
100 Years Ago (1913): I will sell at public sale at my home on Liberty Street, Saturday, Sept. 20 at one o’
clock sharp, all my household goods consisting of coal heater, range, gasoline stove, secretary, beds, tables,
chairs and many other articles. Mrs. J. S. Powles.
90 Years Ago (1923): Lloyd Hubbard, who with Robert Hubbard, is in Montana getting several thousand
sheep ready for shipment to Evansville, writes home that he visited while at Miles City with the family of Ervin
Winters, formerly of this city.
80 Years Ago (1933): William H. Holtzclaw, one of the leading educators in the state of Mississippi, discussed
his work as principal of Utica Institute at a public meeting held here Friday afternoon in the home of Miss
Ludington, 16 North Second street. Preceding the address, Miss Ludington, a former instructor at the Utica
institute, played a group of records recorded by the Utica Jubilee Singers who have presented programs here
in the past years.
70 Years Ago (1943): Mr. and Mrs. William Bone, who own and operate the Leota School for Girls on South
first street and now have 70 girls enrolled for the school year, have rented the Biglow and Roderick building
on East Main Street for a recreation hall. Mr. Bone, plans to purchase a piano and Victrola to provide music
for dancing. He is also arranging for the playing of games including badminton, ping pong, basketball and
volleyball. The recreation parlors are being arranged for the Leota girls. It will not be a public hall.
60 Years Ago (1953): Ninety Grange members, their families and friends attended the Waucoma Grange
Booster night program held Tuesday evening. Guest speaker of the evening, Mr. Donald McDowell, director
of the Wisconsin State Department of Agriculture, gave a very interesting address on the present trends in
agriculture. Other numbers on the program included a presentation of the flag by Ardell Page, with music by
Ruth Ellen Spersrud; piano solos by Bill Knapp; group singing; and a human pipe organ presented by John
Willoughby, Jane and Ruth Ellen Spersrud, Virginia and Elaine Schneeberger, Helen Turner, Ardell Page and
Candace Bradley.
50 Years Ago (1963): The rehearsals for “Everyone Loves Opal”, Evansville Community Theater’s fall play to
be presented Oct. 27 and 28 are now in their fourth week under the direction of Mark Bruce. The cast
includes Mrs. Peter Hamacher, Mrs. Phil Erpenbach, William Amundson, Cyrus Chapin, Donald Maas and
Frank Gildner.
40 Years Ago (1973): The Templeton reunion was held Sunday in the Brooklyn community building. The first
cousins in attendance were Carol Weber, Ardis Zwicky, Carol Zimmerman, Jean Chapin, Janet Templeton,
Shirley Moore, Ken Templeton, Ron Templeton, Tom Templeton, Isabelle O’Brien, Rick Templeton, Merlin
Templeton, Betty Willing, and Margaret Rufi.
30 Years Ago (1983): Longtime landmarks are being removed from the park, making room for a donated
metal building constructed by Varco-Prudent of Evansville. Many people remember the little cabins, when
they provided sleeping and overnight tourist accommodations. Mrs. Peter Schlueter remembers for she and
her late husband were responsible for moving them to the park. The cabins, except for the octagon shaped
one with a small porch were built by Charlie Rasmussen, who had the cabins just south of the present gas
station on Hwy 14, north of the city. Rasmussen sold the cabins to the Schlueters. Bob Antes arranged with
the city to allow the cabins to be placed in the park. The cabins were not equipped with running water or
other facilities and merely provided a gas plate for making coffee for breakfast or a cold supper at night.
Dinner at noon was eaten out. Water for washing had to be carried from what is now the Scout House, which
was the bath house. The lake and beauty of the park made up for any lack of comforts.
20 Years Ago (1993): The wet summer of 1993 has claimed yet another victim. Moisture has held up
completion of the new gym at the high school and middle school, which in turn has delayed the use of that
facility by the public. Superintendent Tom Benzinger said that the gym floor cannot be laid until its cement
foundation dries out.
10 years ago (2003): Thursday evening a grand recognition event was held to honor all those in the
Evansville Community who go beyond their own needs and wants to help others. Evansville Community
Partnership sponsored and hosted the event, “Just Desserts.” Those recognized with a “Scoop of Thanks”
were Terri Roessler, Gordon and Margaret Brigham, Beverly Kileen, Kitty VerKuilen, Ruth Ann Montgomery,
Pat Kuelz, Geri Knapp, Jean and Jim Kopecky, Thea Brunsell, Janice Anderson, Sharon Hubbard, Betsy
Ahner, Jay Killeen, Dale Schulz, Andy Graham, Steve Parks, Dennis Hughes, Prent Eager, Alan Eager, Roger
Roth, Greg Ardisson, Duke Farnsworth, Jeff Farnsworth, Lauren Scott and Julie Redders.
In Review
Fourth Week of September 1873-2003
140 Years Ago (1873): One of the cheapest gotten up and most perfect and simple in its operation, for an
automatic gate, is one opening into the lane on the premises of Henry Spencer. It is the invention and sole
construction of Dr. Beebe. It is opened and shut by a person sitting in a carriage, simply by pulling a cord
that depends from an arm of a post, at the approaches on either side. It is simple and is not liable to get out
of order, and when shut is perfectly secure. [Note: Henry Spencer lived at 128 West Main. Dr. Beebe was
his son-in-law.]
130 Years Ago (1883): Mr. James Powles assumes the position of foreman in the Match factory with
becoming dignity. He is well liked by the employees, especially the girls. They are manufacturing a much
larger quantity of matches per day than ever before, and of a first class quality. The same quantity of
matches which cost $5.75 before the Evansville Match factory started, now cost by $2.40 the combination
having cut down about one-half during the past week.
120 Years Ago (1893): Senator Pettigrew of South Dakota has introduced a bill to Congress to appropriate
$15,000 to the widow of J. Boyd Jones of this city, one of the victims of the Ford theater disaster. Senator
Pettigrew was a schoolmate of Mr. Jones, who left a large family which had been entirely dependent on him
for support.
110 Years Ago (1903): Claude Weaver, the three year old son of Charles Weaver, of Magnolia, met a
terrible death last Friday afternoon, Sept. 18, by being burned in a barn that was set on fire by himself and a
neighbor playmate. The two little boys were playing in the barn and in some way secured some matches
which they were lighting about the barn and set it afire. One little fellow managed to escape, but the Weaver
boy was suffocated by the smoke and was unable to get out. The mother was formerly Nellie Janes, of this
city and the sympathy of the community is with the parents and four brothers.
100 Years Ago (1913): While driving from Madison to Evansville last Friday evening Mr. H. H. Hile’s Moline
auto caught fire and was entirely destroyed. Mr. Hile was driving alone when he first noticed the fire. He did
all in his power to extinguish the blaze, but to no avail. The origin of the fire could not be definitely
determined but was probably due to a back fire through the carburetor. The fire was so hot that even part of
the glass in the wind shield was melted.
90 Years Ago (1923): W. E. Green, of the Baker Company is not given to telling fishy stories; but this week
he springs a fishy story about Monitor engines catching fish at Lake Koshkonog. The best of it is that the
story is true, as the fisherman, who are seining that lake for carp and rough fish, have recently purchased
four Monitor engines which they use to run the drums which bring the immense nets to shore, sometimes
loaded with hundreds of pounds of fish.
80 Years Ago (1933): The Evansville Beauty Shoppe in the Economy building, which has been closed for the
past three weeks, will reopen Friday under the management of Mrs. Mayme Erstad, Madison. Mrs. Erstad is a
graduate of the Lawrence Academy of Beauty Culture at Minneapolis and for the past year has served as
supervisor and instructor in beauty culture at the Duncan academy in Madison.
70 Years Ago (1943): Fred Miller, who for the past several years has owned and operated a grocery store
and meat market at 137 East Main street, has decided to close his business and retire. The decision was
reached after Mr. Miller had experienced considerable difficulty in securing help in the store. Mr. Miller said,
“On April 25, 1935, I opened the grocery part of the store (he had been previously selling meat) with $120
worth of stock, and a few years later we sold as much as $500 worth of stock in one day.”
60 Years Ago (1953): Local post office employees, who for many years have been delivering parcel post
packages by pushing a cart from one end of Evansville to another, were cheered last Friday when a nearly
new post office panel truck was delivered here, following many requests from the local office for such a
vehicle. Postmaster Roy Record, much cheered by his office’s new acquisition say the post office boys who
have spent hundreds of hours through the years shoving the old push cart through the heat in the summer
and snows of the winters here agreed that this takes the local post office one more step away from the horse
and buggy days.
50 Years Ago (1963): Evansville High School Class officers were named: Senior Class Officers, John Ehle,
President; Pat Reese, Vice President; Rhonda Thompson, Secretary; Susan Odegaard, Treasurer. Junior
Class Officers are Terry Collins, President; Bob Dammen, Vice President; Greg Lundey, Secretary; Thom
Waeffler, Treasurer. Sophomore Class Officers are Don Nelson, President; Ginny Ellis, Vice President;
Lowell Hanson, Secretary; Nancy Huseth, Treasurer. Freshman Class Officers are Lowell Crocker, President;
Diane Leeder, vice President; Diana May, Secretary; Allan Hurst, Treasurer.
40 Years Ago (1973): Yvonne Meichtry and Kathy Spanton, two Evansville girls who are presently students
at the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater and are members of the University band there, will be in Chicago
this coming weekend playing with the band at the Vikings-Bear game.
30 Years Ago (1983): The Evansville High School A Cappela Choir has been selected along with three other
high school choirs to sing with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in two performances Wednesday, March
28, 1984. A tape of the choir was submitted by their director, Marie Radcliffe, last April. Evansville was the
first choice of the judges. Other schools selected were Grafton, Port Washington, and Oak Creek.
20 Years Ago (1993): John and Anne Edwards and Russ and Betty Jeske have returned from a week’s
motorcycle trip to Branson, MO. They enjoyed the Down Home Country, Box Car Willie and Roy Clark
Shows. They viewed the “Shepherd of the Hills’ play and visited Table Rock Dam and Eureka Springs.
10 years ago (2003): Earning degrees at UW-Whitewater this spring are: Jillian Mauerman, Albany, Kay
Gustrowsky, Brooklyn, Emily Alling, Kathryn Beal, Crystal Hughes, Erica Miller and Carrie Schultz, Evansville.