MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
MAY 26, 1926
Road construction work in Vernon county is on in full blast and in consequence we have the detours with us. Commissioner Ristow and his crew placed signs this morning detouring all traffic on 41 and 11 from Viroqua to Genoa and up to LaCrosse on 35... This work will occasion some inconvenience to the traveling public, but won’t it be a grand and glorious feeling when the job is finished and we are out of the mud!
As Memorial Day this year falls on Sunday, the event will be observed by a union service of the Viroqua churches at the Temple theatre, Sunday morning at the usual hour of worship – eleven o’clock... On Monday morning, the regular Memorial program will be carried out...all business places in the city will be closed from ten o’clock in the morning until three in the afternoon.
Try the new strawberry and raspberry rouge at O.E. Davis’ Drug Store.
Sparks from the chimney set fire to the shingle roof at the Hal Smith residence at noon on Saturday. The blaze was extinguished by the firemen, using the Censor editor’s garden hose which fortunately happened to be hooked up at the time. The damage was enough so that neighbor Smith found it necessary to reshingle.
A tourist car housed in Jackson’s Garage on Tuesday evening which we think breaks the records for long-distance tourist travel through this section. The car belonged to an Army officer stationed in the Island of Haiti, and he was on a touring trip with Montana as his destination.
MAY 19, 1926
BIGGEST TENT SHOW IN STATE
Frank Rusk is now at the fair grounds getting his big tent and all his trucks ready for the summer season. Frank had been showing in Minnesota all winter and has had two shows. Business has been good for him. He is driving a seven passenger Marmon car. He has 14 people and is carrying a band and orchestra. This is the first show out of Viroqua and the biggest tent show in the state.
We hope he will open his show in this city. It will be a big treat for everyone.
County Agent E. Schelling was at Retreat Saturday to help organize the boys’ and girls’ clubs.
Genoa, May 16 – Miss Iva Powell closed her school at Riverside the past week... A poultry show was held in Monti’s hall Friday morning... Miss Dorothy Foster closed her school Saturday, with a picnic.
Westby, May 17 – Our band boys returned home on Saturday from the Annual Band Tournament held at Green Bay on Friday and Saturday. The Westby Public Schools Band was awarded first place in Class B, bringing the silver loving cup and $85 in cash for the school and a gold medal for each member of the band.
Red Mound, May 17 –A much needed rain came to this vicinity Thursday... Plum and apple trees are in full bloom, and here’s hoping there will be no frost to kill the fruit.
Springville, May 18 – Our merchant Pearl Hughes, is building a garage and storage room back of the store, also has put in a new gasoline pump.
MAY 12, 1926
Bright and early tomorrow (Thursday) morning the Viroqua and Westby School bands leave for the state contest at Green Bay.
Use nitrite of soda on your tobacco beds. O.E. Davis’ Drug Store.
The streets of the city on Saturday were thronged with parents of the young people of the county who were taking the final exams held at the county normal. These young people will enter the ninth grade here and at other points.
Having purchased the furniture stock of J.L. Bean, I have moved the same to the first building east of the First National Bank, formerly occupied by Olson Harness Shop, where I will appreciate your business. JACOB SOVOE.
Stoddard May 10 – The interior of the M.E. church is being redecorated... The first tourists of the season to camp at the Vernon County park No. 1, at Riverside were three cars of tourists from Jefferson City, Mo., on Thursday.
WESTBY CITY NEWS
On Saturday morning several of our business men upon entering their place of business discovered that burglars had paid them a visit during the night. As everyone takes the money to the bank daily, no large sums were taken. The greatest damage done was at Carl Jefson & Son, Meat Market, where the cash register had been broken open and $25 taken. As much of this was in pennies a bag of salt and a bag of pepper had been emptied in which to carry the coins.
MAY 5, 1926
We have recently added a Funeral Car to our undertaking equipment: thus insuring you more satisfactory and efficient service. M.C. OLSON, STEENBURG & CO., Retreat, Wis.
On Thursday, April 29, at noon, at the home of Mrs. Minnie Draper, mother of the bride, in Bangor, occurred the wedding of her eldest daughter, Blance M. Draper, to Editor H.E, Goldsmith of the Vernon County Censor.
Mr. Goldsmith was born and reared in Boscobel, coming to Viroqua as a printer on the Censor force in 1907. Two years later he became foreman of the Censor, and since 1920 has been its editor.
Miss Draper was born on a farm near Bangor...graduate of the LaCrosse Hospital... Miss Draper’s fourteen years of public ministry in the exacting and responsible hospital positions have drawn heavily upon her health, and her wedding was hastened by the need for a complete rest and the healing influence of an outdoor life.
A good cigar for 5¢ at O.E. Davis’ Drug Store.
Viola, May 1 – The Junior Prom occurred Friday evening, April 30, at the Opera House and was a very successful affair. About 300 invitations were issued... Trout fishing opened today. Drs. Weber, Von Ruden and Don Lloyd were the first to follow Camp Creek with hook and line. About 2:30 AM they went fishing and succeeded in securing nine speckled beauties.
A farmer near here sheared his flock of sheep last week. The cold weather and rain followed and as the sheep were unprotected, many of them died and the loss was a very heavy one.