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Echos of the Past for September 12
Old Fennimore Main Street
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO (1919)—Rev. G. Gunsten, pastor of the Lutheran churches at Castle Rock, Homer, and Boscobel, has accepted a call to Madison, Minn. —If the siren, the city fire whistle, blows unexpectedly at the noon hour Wednesday, it will not be for a fire unless the whistling is greatly prolonged, but to notify everybody of the noon day intermission. The whistle will be blown regularly hereafter at noon.
    NINETY YEARS AGO (1929)—By a nearly unanimous vote, 131 to 4, the stockholders of the Fennimore Telephone Co. at a meeting held at the city hall Saturday afternoon, voted to maintain their present organization and against selling any of the stock.
    EIGHTY YEARS AGO (1939)—The fire siren which has served to summon the Fennimore volunteer firemen to fires and near fires for the past 23 years finally developed symptoms of old age and a different one was installed last Thursday. Two score years seems to be the average allotted span of years for such an appliance, according to electricians so this one had been operating for three years on “borrowed time.” The original had been installed in 1916 at a cost of $300. —Marion Evangelical Church celebrated its 40th anniversary on Sept. 3.
    SEVENTY YEARS AGO (1949)—The Home Appliance Store of Fennimore will scatter leaflets from an airplane after school hours on Friday. In area communities, there will be a few leaflets with special merchandise certificates good for valuable prizes. School children are urged to be on the lookout for the plane and the leaflets.
    SIXTY YEARS AGO (1959)—Sept. 7, 1959, marked another milestone in the career of Dr. A. H. Truitt, Sr., Fennimore chiropractor. On that date he completed 45 years of faithful practice in Grant County. —The 60th anniversary of the founding of Immanuel Evangelical and Reformed Church (United Church of Christ) of Marion township will be celebrated at a day of special services on Sunday, Sept. 20.
     FIFTY YEARS AGO (1969)—The Fennimore Butter & Cheese Factory in Fennimore recently completed the installation of facilities for handling Grade A milk. “This is the only plant in Grant County providing facilities for Grade A milk in addition to Grade B, which is used in the manufacturing of butter and cheese,” reported Steve Bahl, owner. —The Yard and Yarn Shop, with Mrs. Herman Stout and Mrs. Darrell Smith as co-owners and operators, is now officially open.
    FORTY YEARS AGO (1979)—Members of the Boscobel city council visited their Fennimore colleagues Monday evening to ask the aldermen for their support, monetary and otherwise, of the Boscobel airport. Bob Bottger and John Ducharme made a short presentation detailing the airport’s service area, its problems and hopes for the future. Both noted that the emergency situation, repair of the main runway to keep the facility open, has almost been taken care of. The problem now is to establish the framework and funding for an area wide commission to take over the airport’s operation. Although apparently in agreement with the Boscobel group;s ideas, the Fennimore council explained it was not prepared to make a financial commitment until formation of the city’s 1980 budget.
     THIRTY YEARS AGO (1989)—The Butcher Shop of Fennimore earned national acclaim for its winning entries in the American Cured Meat Championships held in Des Moines, Iowa. Rick and Shelli McLimans, representing The Butcher Shop of Fennimore, won three awards at the national show. The awards are Reserved Champion, Cooked Summer Sausage; Grand Champion, Country Bacon; and Grand Champion, Cooked Ring Bologna.
    TWENTY YEARS AGO (1999)—James Schneider, the Executive Director of the Grant County Economic Development Corporation for the past 12 years, has tendered his resignation effective Friday, Oct. 15 He has accepted a position as marketing director for Prism Corp. in Kieler. —The Ruchti Family of Fennimore was recognized at the Wisconsin State Fair for their Century Farm. Receiving the award at the fair Greg and Linda Ruchti and Arline and Glen Ruchti.
    TEN YEARS AGO (2009)—A registered nurse, mother of two, partner in a dairy farm, and 22-year volunteer emergency medical technician is the 2009 recipient of the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Community Service Award. Barbara Kroll, who has worked as a nurse clinician at UW Hospital and Clinics since 2003, was presented the award by hospital President and CEO Donna Katen-Bahensky.