MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
JUNE 30, 1920
Ristow and the road committee were at Genoa Friday, and surveyed and purchased the right of way on the Venner hill on the Viroqua-Genoa road. This will complete the hill construction, one of the biggest and finest jobs of heavy grading in the county. About six more patrolmen are needed in the county.
The Viroqua Egg Market is paying 37¢ per dozen for eggs this week, and will pay better if the market will permit. Take your eggs to the Williams building.
STODDERD – June 23 – A large celebration is planned for July 5th. Among the main attractions are N.L. Moll aviator of LaCrosse who will give an exhibition in his Curtiss plane and Westby’s 30 piece band and two good ball games... Anton Lee has opened an ice cream parlor and lunch room in his building near the Burlington depot.
On a wide road near Springville, Sunday evening, some unprincipled road-hog with a big car forced Hal Smith into the ditch and side swiped his Ford, damaging it and bruising the party.
You can get chocolate, strawberry, grape nut and New York ice cream by the dish or in bulk every day at Geo. Pennell’s restaurant.
H.H. Rabbitt and crew are making some improvements in and about the court house and jail, and also repairing the sidewalk on Decker St. along the county property.
The town of Viroqua will soon be without an official home, and the board intimates that unless the city co-operates with them in finding a new one they will pull stakes and move to Westby.
JUNE 23, 1920
Several thunderstorms accompanied by hail have caused considerable damage to corn and tobacco in different sections of Vernon county. Dell, Newton, Cashton, Pleasant Ridge just south of Viroqua, and other localities report hail... The cool weather will do wonders for grain and hay, which was heading out rather short.
AUTOMOBILISTS, STOP!
Then go to Edward Harrington’s jewelry store and buy a pair of auto goggles. Take care of your eyes. You have only one pair.
Farmers’ Equity has commenced construction of a 30x40 warehouse at Hillsboro near the depot. It will be a tile block building.
Artesian water supply at DeSoto has been extended up the main street, a hydraulic ram forcing the water up the street from the well.
The heavy rain of last week took out the dam at LaFarge as usual, and caused high water all down the valley, in addition to leaving LaFarge lightless and powerless.
Wm. Crume’s heart is gladdened in the receipt by the town of Franklin of an Austin Giant grader on Tuesday. He informs us that twenty-six miles of highway have been graded by the little machine they have been using.
Jack Henry is moving his laundry business into the Roman building just north of Browns’ music store. As soon as proper alterations are made in the building vacated by him, it will be occupied by the Vernon County Censor office as a permanent home. Our patrons and subscribers may expect to find us in our building north of Mullens’ grocery within a month.
Chester Malosh of Forest caught a 19-inch trout, weighing 2 ½ pounds, near Trippeville.
JUNE 16, 1920
Geo. Griffin has decided to continue his cream station in the same building with the Viroqua Egg market. He has also installed an ice box and will retail sweet cream. He will be open to receive cream every Saturday night and invites the farmers to bring him their cream at all times.
While Jos. Sanford family were at breakfast at Viola, lightning followed down the chimney into the room where they were sitting, but they were uninjured.
The severe rains of the past week are making scores of Viroqua people hope for a quick installation of our sewerage system in order that connection may be made with basements suffering from too much water in the boat.
STODDARD – June 12 – There was one of the largest gatherings here last Sunday that has been for some time to witness the Ball game between Stoddard, Chaseburg and Genoa and also to see Norman Moll and his Aeroplane. Several went up in it and seemed to have had a good time.
The town boards of Forest and Whitestown recently dissolved Chyenne School district No. 6 town of Forest and attached its territory to that of the adjoining districts of Salem, Fairview, Pepper and Eastman... the enrollment for the past year was around fifteen. The average daily attendance was about seven.
This section has experienced eight days of most extreme weather... Tuesday last week the mercury commenced to mount and until late Sunday night the weather was as torrid as we ever want to see... Sunday night a heavy storm covered this part of the state, and was followed by most severe local thunderstorms almost continuously until Wednesday night.
JUNE 9, 1920
Both the federal prohibition amendment and the enforcement act passed by congress were held constitutional by the supreme court.
Ladies inexpensive all-silk hose, colors black and white, only $4.50 per pair. Rogers.
The sewer construction crew have had to resort blasting in order to get through the hard rock in front of the Hotel Fortney.
When you bring your eggs and poultry to the Viroqua egg market, plan to take home your oyster shells, chicken feed, salt and binder twine.
Mayor Roseland has started an energetic campaign to clean up the bad spots of the city’s morals. For the past month he and his helpers have been busy night and day gathering evidence against liquor violations and more serious offenses.
Four who have been imbibing too freely of lemon extract have been hauled into court and made to pay stiff fines.
A couple of decidedly unsavory characters coming here from near Readstown, were ordered to move on without delay... Another couple were discovered at the cemetery under incriminating circumstances and the man ordered to leave town at once. He tarried not.
With the hot days and warm rains of the past week, crops and vegetation is taking on wonderful growth in the endeavor to make up for a late spring... the good weather is offset by the vicious work of a new-fashioned small dark cutworm. In some instances entire fields of corn have been taken, and the damage is serious and exasperating. Tobacco beds are coming on fine... but growers generally are delaying as much as possible to escape the cut worm.
JUNE 2, 1920
Editor Goldsmith has purchased of Lucius Favor the substantial brick building now occupied by the laundry, with the intention of moving the Vernon County Censor office to that location.
Steady employment for both men and women. Wages for men from 35 to 45 cents per hour; women from 25 to 35 cents per hour. Make application to Carnation Milk Products Co., Richland Center, Wis.
Snatching victory out of defeat in one of the most spectacular slugging matches ever played on the local grounds, Viroqua’s premier ball team fought its way into the lead and nosed out Lansing’s strong team Decoration afternoon by an 8 to 6 score. It was a slugfest right, with a goodly number of boneheads and ragged plays.
Every indication that the greatest acreage of tobacco grown in the county will be produced this season.
Cashton has a co-operative store, financed by farmers of that section. It is the old John Cramer stand.
June 8th, at LaFarge, a special village election will be held to vote upon the issuance of $10,000 bonds for construction of a new bridge to span the Kickapoo river on the west limits of the village.
The old sheep sheds at the fair grounds will be torn down and in their place 280 feet of cattle sheds will be erected a mark of the waning sheep industry.
Hillsboro Sentry reports that L.J. Welch, road foreman on county work near Dilly, was in town looking for men and teams. He offers $6 per day for man and team board and hay furnished, or $8 per day without board and hay.