The Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI)
January 2, 2008
Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Old Items Taken from The Thorp Courier files of 1908-1933-1958-1983-1998

100 Years Ago (1908)

Stanley Sunbeams – Mrs. Wm. Denney of Cloquet, MN, is here on a visit and brings cheering news of the prosperity and welfare of a colony of Stanleyites located at that place.

Several inches of snow have fallen during the past week but not sufficient to make sleighing and wheels are still being used.

38 stations on the Wisconsin Central Railway are without telegraphic communication with the outside world today because of the whims of some smart railroad and telegraph officials who are trying to make the 8-hour law for telegraph operators appear obnoxious to the people.  Thorp is numbered among the stations cut out on Jan. 1 when the new law took effect.

75 Years Ago (1933)

The new American Legion Club House of Cecil Tormey Post No. 118 of Thorp is completed.  The building is 30 ft. by 60 ft. in size, with full basement and every bit of space both in the main hall and basement will be utilized.

The Security State Bank of Colby will take over the assets and business of the recently closed Abbotsford bank.

Geo. E. Broughton, substitute carrier, who has been serving the patrons of Stanley Route 2 since Dec. 1, has been succeeded by auxiliary carrier Jas. E. Cahill who will operate this route until May 1.

50 Years Ago (1958)

Rev. and Mrs. Cecil Ward of Surrey, England are expected to their pastoral duties here in January.  Rev. Ward and his wife have been in their native England since last July when he was granted a six-month leave of absence from the
Methodist parishes he serves at Stanley, Thorp and Withee.

The appointment of Assembly of Corwin C. Guell, Thorp, to the Legislature Council’s Committee on Urban Expansion Problems was announced recently. 

25 Years Ago (1983)

A change in the method of accounting and billing for hot lunches at the Thorp Elementary School was approved at the December Board of Education meeting.  Beginning on January 18 all students will be required to use lunch tickets instead of the present practice of charging their meals.

Taking the helm of the Char Lounge on January 1, 1983 from the previous owners are Carol and Chuck Northway.

The new proprietors of the Cardinal Bowl in Thorp are Elaine and Ted Suda.  The new owners took ownership from Ed and Charlotte Polnaszek on November 29, 1982.

Real Estate Prices: 1 ½ story, 3 bedroom, large garage, Thorp, $32,500; 1 bedroom home, Thorp, $12,000; duplex with 1-car attached garage, Thorp, $55,000.

10 Years Ago (1998)

School property taxes for 1997 will rise 2.4% to $2.59 billion statewide, compared to a 16.4% drop last December.

Wisconsin governor, Tommy G. Thompson, has proclaimed January 1998 the 1997 Census of Agriculture Month.

After 27 years of dairy farming, Jim Hackbarth of Thorp, decided to hit the books at Northcentral Technical College, Wausau, instead of heading to the fields.