‘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
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 – A residential fire occurred shortly after 1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 along County N in the Town of Sterling near Purdy, approximately 10 miles west of Viroqua. A residence and garage owned by Carol and Gary Teadt is believed to be a total loss. They were awakened by their dog and able to evacuate the home safely… The Soldiers Grove Class of 1941 Reunion was held recently at the Soldiers Grove American Legion Hall and was well attended. Members of the class at the reunion were Buel Swiggum, Orla Jones Simons, Justin Drake, Maxine Moore, Hazel Dull, Imogene Ehorn, Regina Johnson, Ruth Peterson, Eugene P. Morgan, Dollie Coleman, Carlyle Sherry, Harold Dull, Lola Fern Ethridge, Alfred Olson and Hallie Roth.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 23, 1999 – Faye George, 84, of Soldiers Grove, rode a motorcycle to the United Methodist Church service last Sunday. Mason Zajicek, owner and driver, said Faye hops on and off like a person half her age…Clem Wall of rural Fennimore hit the garden jackpot this growing season with a giant tomato weighing in at two pounds and four ounces… Mrs. Barbara Duke’s sixth grade reading class at North Crawford has been reading about medieval times. The students had a contest to make catapults as they learned about the way castles were attacked during those times. The competition was held outside last Friday. Daniel O’Donnell was the winner for the longest throw by his creation.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 28, 1989 – Army National Guard Private 1stClass David W. Gibbs has completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. He is the son of Sarah and John Gibbs of Gays Mills and a 1988 graduate of North Crawford High School…There were 32 players in the statewide horseshoe tournament held Sunday at Applefest. Winners: 1stplace Norm Mauthe and LaVern Edge of Platteville; 2ndplace Bob Jackson and Faith Jackson, Baraboo; 3rdplace Tom Doering, Lavalle, and Vern Thompson, Waunakee. Winners of the Crawford County Horseshoe Tournament held Saturday behind Robert E’s Barber Shop in Gays Mills were: 1stplace Maurice Sanborn, Gays Mills; 2ndplace Dennis Tanne, Prairie du Chien; 3rdplace Don Stovey, Bell Center.
FORTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 27, 1979 – Diane Davenport, John Gordinier and Denise Davenport are pictured with trophies won recently by the North Crawford High School marching band. They traveled to Platteville September 8 and took second place at the Dairy Days Parade. On September 22, the marching Trojans participated in the Viola Horse and Colt Show Parade, taking another second place trophy. The band is going to march at the Oktoberfest on September 29. They are working hard in order to bring home the fist place trophy… Luke and Evelyn Sherwood, the parade marshals at Applefest, rode through the parade in a boat.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 25, 1969 – The 1969-70 Apple Queen Contestants: Nancy Olson, Pam Byl, Deanna Buroker, Linda Latham, Martha Lysne and Debbie VanDyke…. Post Master Denison watches the progress of the Soldiers Grove Post Office’s new look. Workmen from Hansen and Flesch started work bright and early Monday morning. The crew included Mike McCormick, Dean Hansen and Basil Montgomery.
SIXTY YEARS AGO
SEPTEMBER 24, 1959 – With the switchover to automatic dial phones September 20, the area around Mt. Zion will lose the friendly voice of ‘central’ Mrs. Nora Bailey. Electrical gadgets in a small white building in the village will take over the work of Mrs. Bailey, who for eight years has maintained a 24-hour daily vigil at the small switchboard in the house she occupies. She stated that she dreaded to hear the loud clang of her ‘night bell’ because calls, which awakened her in the wee hours, were usually for emergencies such as accidents or sickness. Mrs. Gus Wanek, a neighbor lady across the road, usually came over to help out when Mrs. Bailey wanted to be away for a time. Mrs. Bailey plans to move to Gays Mills to take an operator’s company exchange in that village. Her daughter, Donna, 21, is already working at the exchange. The two will share rooms over the telephone office in Gays Mills.
