MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
AUG. 25. 1926
This week witnessed the beginning of the tobacco harvest, several crops getting the axe on Monday. Next week will be the period of heaviest harvesting.
Three weeks ago, outlooks for a normal tobacco crop were most discouraging. Then came abundant moisture with warm weather, and the major portion of one of the finest crops Vernon has ever raised will be safely in the sheds... Practically all of the good crops have been contracted for. Prices range from 25¢ to 30¢ per pound – a few of the choicest crops commanding the top figure.
The Flying Circus exhibits here next Sunday afternoon... It is an expert assemblage of airplane pilots and racing car drivers, wing-walkers, etc... Be at the Viroqua Fair Grounds next Sunday afternoon and see the motor car races, auto polo, stunt flying, wing-walking, parachute drop from speeding plane, etc...the admission fee of 60 cents.
Drs. Marshall & Marshall, Chiropractors, have sold their practice here to Drs. Palmer & Palmer, of LaCrosse, and they will leave the first of September to travel for a year...on account of Mr. Marshall’s health.
Redmound, August 23 – A few in this vicinity took in the excursion on the Steamer Capitol, as it went to LaCrosse, also the moonlight excursion the same evening... When the weather permits, threshing is being rapidly done... A rain, accompanied by some hail, swept over this place, doing some damage to tobacco.
AUG. 18, 1926
Vernon’s big agricultural event commences to loom up, only six weeks away. Lay your plans to help make it the biggest and the best ever. The date is Sept. 28, 29, 30, Oct. 1
There will be three days Gospel conference, beginning, Friday at 10:30 a.m. Three sessions daily including Sunday... The ladies will serve free luncheon at noon in the tent, all are welcome.
Don’t overlook the Victor Record Sale. Hundreds of popular 75 cent records. Three for $1.00 Brown’s Music Store.
Viola, Aug. 15 – A benefit dance was given Wednesday night, Aug 11th for Dean Shepard in the new barn he is building on his farm west of town. His barn was destroyed by fire a few months ago... Orvus Myers killed a large rattlesnake on the C.A. Smith hill. It was three and one-half feet long and had seven rattles and a button. Rattlesnakes seem to be more common in this vicinity than usual.
Weather conditions were fine last Friday night and the band concert drew a fair sized crowd.
The Viroqua Public Library which has been closed for the past week while being redecorated, will be open to the public on Friday afternoon, Aug. 20.
Help will be appreciated at the American cemetery on Asbury Ridge on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 21. All come. Please bring tools to work with. Don’t forget the date and time.
WANTED! WANTED!
The names of those people in this city who will room and board Normal school students, or have rooms to rent for light housekeeping, or who wish to take a girl and allow her to work for board in full or in part. Kindly inform J.H. Wheelock, if you want to take one or more students.
AUG. 11, 1926
The Viroqua School Board wishes to receive bids for the unloading of coal and placing in the bins at the school houses. Bids to be by the ton. Contractor must stand all demurrage charges. Send sealed bids to C.F. Dahl, Viroqua.
The “Round-the-World” Buick...arrived in the city on Monday, and was the center of interest until it left for Prairie du Chien on Tuesday. Mechanically, the car was very little different than any standard Buick to be seen upon the streets anywhere, except that it was a right-hand drive, to comply with European regulations, but the inscriptions which covered it left no doubt as to the extent of its wanderings...hundreds of names covered it... Up to this date the car has covered more than 266,000 miles. It has been driven by hundreds of different drivers, over every possible variety of road...
Viroqua enjoyed an impromptu musical event Sunday evening at 11 o’clock, when one of the Lutheran choirs of LaCrosse stopped on the street and rendered four fine selections. They had just rendered a concert at Mt. Sterling and were on their way home.
The best known writer of band music among folks of this section is Ed Chennett. The city band will play Chennett’s latest work, at the concert Friday night.
Readstown, Aug. 7 – After being closed about two months, the new opera house was opened last Saturday night to a record attendance... A new screen has been added, additional machines and equipment installed….[a] marked improvement that has been made in appearance and visibility of productions.
AUG. 4, 1926
On last Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it did very little in this neck of the woods except rain. Oh, what a rain it was... During the three days, about four inches of rain fell – and not a drop ran away. The thirsty soil drank up all of it. It has been a blessing to all crops... The weather has continued hot and sultry since, and growing conditions are perfect for corn and tobacco.
After three days of soaking rain, a car could travel any of the oiled streets without chains. No mud, no ruts, no bunting of the streets after the rain, and no dust. Yes, verily oil is worth all it costs – and then some.
The pavement dance staged on Main Street by the American Legion boys last Wednesday evening was successful, the boys making enough money to pay the deficit on the last dance and also, add a few dollars to the building fund.
Readstown, August 2 – Quite a number from this village attended the Chautauqua at Viroqua last week... Mr. and Mrs. Willard Hall drove to Milwaukee last Tuesday where they purchased pictures for the Opera House in this village. The Opera House has been entirely redecorated, new equipment installed and they will open to the public Saturday, August 7.
Springville, July 27 – Farmers are busy haying and harvesting. Everybody is wishing for more rain altho we have had a few showers... Many tourists pass through our burg these days.
The Mississippi river at Winona last Thursday was at its lowest stage in history when official figures showed that it was .02 of a foot below the low water mark established in 1861. The steamer Capital, from St. Louis, bound for Wabasha to take out a load of excursionists was marooned on a sand bar 12 miles north of Prairie du Chien.