100 Years Ago

Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:

SEPT. 29, 1926

How times have changed, that the sight of a prairie chicken in Viroqua should be the subject of news comment. Forty years ago prairie chicken were plentiful in Vernon county – now they have dwindled down to a couple of small flocks, occasionally seen and causing much comment.

One of Viroqua’s oldest and most historic buildings known as the Beehive – is going the way of all things physical. The structure, now owned by L.C. Boyle, has outlived its usefulness... This building was constructed before the Civil War, standing on the cite [sic] now occupied by Peterson’s black smith shop. It was used for educational purposes, being one of Viroqua’s first schools.

St. Louis and New York have spiked down the pennant in their respective base ball leagues... This is the first pennant which St. Louis has won since 1888...

Office of County Superintendent

A large amount of material from the schools has been coming into the office for the exhibit at the County Fair... The new school building in Salem district, town of Forest, is now almost completed.

Retreat, Sept. 27 – Jack frost spread well his white mantle over Nature’s green, Sunday morning... Quite a number of our citizens attended the LaCrosse fair and reported fair crowds considering the bad weather.

Another event in the booze business of the week is finding of four cans of booze hidden under a culvert between the city and Viola. Evidently some moonshiners expected to make it to Viola fair. The weather man, however, supplied so much moisture that no other kind was needed, and Sheriff Olson took the stuff found in charge – Richland Democrat.

SEPT. 22, 1926

There is rejoicing in the hearts of the tobacco farmers of Vernon County, for as the Censor goes to press ninety per cent of the crop is safely in the shed – and no frost in sight... Corn, too, is a prime crop. Practically all of it is now ready for the silo – and there is every prospect of plenty of hard corn. A week of warm dry weather would put practically the whole crop into the hard corn class.

The Florida hurricane swept communities [Miami area] facing a death list upwards of 400 persons... The Red Cross here sent $50 from the general fund and $100 more, which was voted by the City Council for the relief work in Florida.

The building activities on Viroqua’s Main Street this summer have surely resulted in a muchly improved business section.

The most important change in point of size is the fine structure being erected by Fred Eckhart & Co. and L.C. Boyle to take the place of the buildings destroyed by fire during the winter. The two buildings are uniform in appearance and most pleasing... The lower of the Eckhart building will be occupied by one of the chain of Schultz Bros’ stores of Chicago – a Dollar Store... F.M. Townsend will occupy the lower floor of the Boyle building.

Tailor Lund’s new building is near completion. It is a substantial one story brick building on the site of the old wooden store.

Kueber & Son have completed the lowering and repairing of their building, and the same is now being stuccoed. A one-story brick structure has been built to the south of it, with full basement under both buildings. They will rent the two-story building, and occupy the new building.

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