‘Years Ago’ is a compilation of newsy tidbits as published in the Crawford County Independent & Kickapoo Scout on this week ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty or sixty years ago.
TEN YEARS AGO
AUGUST 26, 2010 – In an article written by Andreas TronsØabout Independent-Scout reporter Emily Schendel, she recalls her first time covering a substantial news event. Editor, Charley Preusser sent Emily on assignment to the scene of the barn fire at the home of Dennis and Donna Bell. Equipped with a camera, Emily took over 500 photographs of the event, one of which earned her a first place award for Spot News Coverage through the Wisconsin Newspaper Association…..Ida Lowe of Gays Mills is pictured with her triplet great-grandchildren in Ankeny, Iowa. Ida is holding Drake Robert Featherstone, Reese Elizabeth Featherstone and Trey Michael Featherstone.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
AUGUST 24, 2000 – Kickapoo Locker of Gays Mills was the recipient of the champion ham award at the Wisconsin State Fair Meat Products Show… New teachers at North Crawford School this year are Becky Johnson, third grade; Kate Drevnick, Spanish; Ron Hanson, science; Martha Buening, math; Karen Brandl, English; Amy Coyler, first grade; and Pete Hady, tech ed… New teachers at Seneca School District this year are Angie Whiteaker, pre-kindergarten; Cathy Kapinus, student teacher; Donna Aspenson, business education; Michael Morris, math intern; Barb Fisher, high school science; and Nicole Rausch, special education… Thanks to the generosity of the family of Elizabeth (Liz) Meier the Gays Mills Library was able to acquire a new computer desk and hutch, and travel books ‘Frommer’s National Parks of the American West’ and ‘Rick Steve’s Europe through the Back Door.’
THIRTY YEARS AGO
AUGUST 30, 1990 – Harley Turk, who taught at the North Clayton School from 1929 to 1942, was surprised by a gift of an attractive etched mirror last week. The mirror was paid for by former students and friends who have fond memories of Harley’s service as teacher… The Gays Mills Apple Queen, Amy Becwar and Apple Princess Sheila Hawkinson, worked for two days in the Wisconsin Apple Growers booth at the State Fair in Milwaukee… Food sales were brisk at the Lions Club Shelter in Soldiers Grove during the hog roast and horse pull sponsored by Tom and Margaret Davidson. The $500 raised will be split between the Solders Grove Fire Department and the North Crawford Rescue Squad in appreciation for the services rendered to the Davidson family… A champagne reception and exhibition of works by Richard Sloan, rural Soldiers Grove, internationally acclaimed wildlife artist, will be held August 31 in Boscobel.
FORTY YEARS AGO
AUGUST 28, 1980 – Labor Day weekend usually finds tobacco farmers in the fields laboring to get their crops harvested. Larry Salmon has a good start on his three-acre crop located across the valley from the new solar village at Soldiers Grove. Larry hands the tobacco to Connie Hoffland who is on the trailer, and Vern Niebuhr is the tractor driver... A spacious new shop building now under construction at Wauzeka is expected to be ready for occupancy by mid September. The structure will house the school’s wood and metal shop facilities, plus two classrooms for agriculture and drafting. The new building, which is located at the right of the present school, will greatly relieve the present congested conditions there, according to Administrator Dave Polashek. Ground was also broken this week for another addition to house two elementary classrooms and a band room in the space between the new shop and the present school…. Of the 2,500 undergraduates enrolled at UW-Madison in the 28 degree programs offered by he College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 40 percent are female, only 20 percent are from farms, and only one student in 10 will go into farming.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
AUGUST 26, 1970 – Registered Jerseys were shown by Diane Campbell, who won a red ribbon with her junior yearling; and Victoria who won a blue ribbon in the same class. They are daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Hallis Campbell, rural Gays Mills… The Crawford County Fair in Gays Mills the past week was number 71 and Mrs. Alta Marston kept her record of never missing a fair since the first one in 1899. Mrs. Marston recalls that one year they took their three-week old baby. She said that she made a bright red polka dot cape for the baby of the only material available in the community. Someone commented that it was too bright a color for an infant and to that Mrs. Marston replied that it was being worn by a very bright baby.
SIXTY YEARS AGO
AUGUST 25, 1960 – The Gays Mills Municipal Swimming Pool has been a busy place this past week as pool manager Robert Martin and his staff wind up this season’s Red Cross swimming classes with tests. This summer, over 250 area youngsters took part in regular swimming classes. An adult class of 15 women also met every Saturday. The average daily attendance at the Gays Mills Pool remained at about 100 each day. The largest number recorded was on August 8 when 233 swimmers and splashers gathered at the favorite cooling-off spot in North Crawford…. The Wisconsin Museum of Medical Progress at Prairie du Chien, the only one of its kind in the nation, will open on September 1. The new historical attraction is being housed in the restored military hospital of Old Fort Crawford. Visitors will see a series of 31 exhibits and displays which tell the story of medical progress particularly as it relates to Wisconsin. Medicine is traced from the period of the Indian through the establishment of the frontier forest forts, the taming of the frontiers, the exciting fur and logging eras and the Civil War years up to the time of the famous ‘horse-and-buggy doctors.’ The exhibits will include artifacts ranging from surgical instruments of the early nineteenth century, record books and diaries of pioneer doctors, and hundreds of photographs.
