MENU100 Years Ago
Life in Viroqua from the Vernon County Censor:
OCT. 21, 1925
We seem to be paying dearly for the fine summer and late frost. During the past week the temperature has hovered consistently near or below he freezing mark and skies overcast and spitting snow. Indeed, the past thirty days have seemed more like November and early December than September and early October.
The Viroqua Public Library has received during the past week a number of new books, including Mark Twain’s Autobiography in two volumes. This book is a stream of interesting anecdotes, humorous and serious...expressions of opinion on every sort of topic...
M.A. Drake, proprietor of the Fargo cheese factory, has sold the same to Wm. W. Wotochek...an experienced man in the business.
Red Mound, October 8 – A crew of men are repairing the telephone line through here. Inclement weather kept some away from the Community Fair at Retreat. A crew of men with a covered wagon and several horses passed through here Friday, their ambitions was strong to “swap horses” with some one but no one responded in this neck of the woods.
Pleasant Ridge, October 19 – It keeps Ole Swenson busy these days dragging the roads. It is bad weather to keep the roads in good shape... Lew Clements is busy at present getting his new barn finished and ready for winter. It will be a fine improvement to his farm.
Now is the time to buy your winter supply of underwear, blankets, cotton bats, outing flannel etc. You can be supplied at S.T. Dregne’s, Readstown, Wis.
OCT. 14, 1925
A period of real squaw winter struck this section last Thursday night and Friday, when the temperature dropped to below the freezing point during the night and an inch or two of snow fell.
107TH ENGINEER NOTES
The boxing program for November 9th is rapidly nearing completion and it looks as though we are going to have a splendid entertainment. The officers are in communication with outside talent and if these men can be brought together, Viroqua fight fans will see one of the best matches that it is possible to put on in the Armory. The whole show will be free to everyone...
Bernard Johnson returned Thursday from a business trip to Chicago where he purchased new fall and winter merchandise for the firm of Ellefson & Johnson.
Viola, October 12 – A break in the city water main near the Methodist parsonage, caused the business part of the town to be without water Monday night. The break was repaired Tuesday morning... Alonzo Green, residing south of town, had the misfortune of having a hay rack fall upon his left arm, breaking both bones of the forearm, just above the wrist.
In many home there is more value in canned fruits, vegetables and fuel in their basements than there is total insurance on household goods...
Fix up those broken windows before winter. We have a complete stock of glass and putty. O.E. Davis, Drug Store.
OCT. 7, 1925
Smoke is pouring from every chimney the last few days with the mercury dropping down toward the freezing point. Last night a thin sheet of ice formed on the water and this morning a few flakes of snow fell – grim reminder that we are in the midst of autumn and winter is just around the corner.
The Viroqua School Band has been honored by being invited to play a concert at the opening of the Teachers’ Convention of the Western District of Wisconsin.
RAIN MARS VERNON FAIR
In point of attendance it fell short of the last few years due to persistent devilishness on the part of the weather. The management estimates that gate receipts were about a thousand dollars short of last year... It looks as if the 1925 fair would be just about an even break financially.
The big white bus that ran from LaCrosse to Viroqua via Cashton during the last four or five months, was destroyed by fire on the LaCrosse hill Monday afternoon enroute to LaCrosse. When the blaze was first noticed by the driver it was issuing from under the foot boards. He stopped the machine, but had no water or extinguisher, so was powerless to save the car... The car was insured – Cashton Record.
We don’t believe that the Vernon fair has ever been favored with a more exciting race meet than at this year’s fair – and the races were fast, too, considering how heavy was the track from rain.
The Midway had the edge on anything we have seen at our fair. With a Ferris wheel, Merry-go-round, Merry Mixup, Athletic show, Vaudeville and Movie, and a veritable profusion of entertainment and refreshment stands, it certainly satisfied the crowd.