The Thorp Courier (Thorp, WI)
June 11, 1997
Transcribed by Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Old Items Taken from The Thorp Courier files of 1897-1922-1947-1972-1987

100 Years Ago (1897)

A portion of the records of the Town of Withee have disappeared.  Eleven pages of proceedings are missing.
 
Will Courter broke his left arm on Tues. by falling from his bicycle. 
 
Eidsvold – We understand that the Northwestern Lumber Co. contemplates advancing the funds to the town for building a turnpike through the northern part of this town to the county line during the summer, so as to better open up their lands to settlement.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Frank E. Colby mourn the death of their baby boy, aged thirteen months.  The little one passed away on Mon. morning.  Measles and pneumonia was the cause of death.
 
Thos. Thompson, an old resident of Withee, died at his home at that place on Thurs. last.  Cancer was the cause of death.
 
75 Years Ago (1922)
 
Field School Corner – Frank Zaborowski had their baby baptized Sun. The little baby was named Margie.
 
L. V. Kaczor has purchased the former Vanderhyden residence from the Bogumill Real Estate Agency and moved into the same last week.
 
Mr. Ashley M. Blank, of Fond du Lac and Miss Alma Klemstein, of McHenry, N.D. were united in marriage at the home of the groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Blank in this village on Wed. May 31, Rev. Elwick performing the ceremony.
 
The marriage of Miss Anna Marie Micke, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anton Micke, and Mr. Joseph Benzschawel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Benzschawel, all of the Town of Worden, took place at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, on Tues. morning, June 6, 1922.
 
The erection of a kraut house, to be used for cutting, curing and canning sauerkraut, is under way at the Big Four Canning Co. plant in this village.  The new building is 66x125 feet in size and a portion of it is to be two stories high and is to be of brick and tile construction.  An addition of an engine and boiler room will also be built.
 
The marriage of Steve Spychaia and Miss Helen Rzetelny, and Steve Pawlak and Miss Mary Rzetelny took place at St. Hedwig’s Church on Mon. morning, June 5th.
 
50 Years Ago (1947)
 
White Birch – Martin Ignasiak died at Milwaukee last week end, was brought home for burial on Mon.  The funeral was Wed. at St. Mary’s Church, Junction. – Mr. and Mrs. Al Frank purchased the former Mike Soda farm from Stanley Cukla.
 
Lone Oak – A baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Baehr, Wed. at the Victory Hospital at Stanley.
 
A son Robert Allen was born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen Hubbard on June 3rd.
 
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Cukla had their infant son, baptized Sun.  They named the little one Robert Stanley.
 
1947 Thorp High School Graduates: Gilbert Asselin, Dorothy Amendt, pearl Barth, John Bernhagen, George Bogumill, Joyce Courter, Anton Depa, Henrietta Filipek, Edward Giwojna, Jack Glasshof, Robert Gulcynski, Mildred Haas, Betty Hansen, Jerry Herman, Julia Jarosz, Rita Kaminski, Winifred lane, Connie Lewandowski, Dolores Maslowski, Conrad Mendalski, Kathryn Navarre, Pauline Neisius, Henry Olejniczak, Joan Papierniak, Gilbert Pitt, Richard Polnaszek, Florian Przybylski, Victory Romanowicz, Gale Schief, Audrey Schultze, Daniel Slupski, Leona Stroinski, Eloise Szerlong, Walter Szpara, Leonard Szymanski, Marion Teclaw, Richard Verkuilen, Clara Mae Western, Thomas Zarada, Julianne Zawacki.
 
Rolling Meadows – The stork was rather busy in our neighborhood last week, as a baby girl was born to Mr. and Mrs. Steve Lato on June 1st and a baby girl also to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pajak on June 7th.
 
Leon Kaczmarek, son of Albert Kaczmarek, Town of Roosevelt, sent a German parachute to his sister, Mrs. Frank Kinas of Thorp recently.  Leon is with the 333rd Engineers in France.  The captured parachute was in good shape and complete with all straps and harness.  He has been overseas for the past 16 months.  Leon also has two other brothers in service, one in France and one in India.  The parachute was on display at the Frank Kinas Club 73 a mile north of Thorp.
 
25 Years Ago (1972)
 
A rural Cadott and former Withee man drowned Sun. while attempting to aid a fisherman who stepped into deep water northeast of Fall Creek.  Dead is William Vetterkind, 35, route 3, Cadott.  Vetterkind was wading in the river with two fishing companions.  One of the men, Harold Smith, of Cadott fell into a hole and called for help.  Vetterkind swam out to Smith but was pulled under by the current.
 
Joseph Keller, 62, passed away Tues. evening June 6th at Stanley.
 
Walter C. Sachs, 74, was struck and killed by a Soo Line freight train at Broadway Street crossing in Stanley about 9:50 a.m. Friday.
 
A baby boy, Scott Robert, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Scott Rusch on May 22nd at Stevens Point.
 
Miss Diane Ostenso, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. R. S. Ostenso, Eau Claire, became the bride of Clark Gordon Paulson, Lowry Air Force Base, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clark Paulson, Thorp on Sat. May 27 at Chapel Height United Methodist Church.
 
Funeral services for William Pawlowicz, 50, Town of Maplehurst were held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Lublin.
 
10 Years Ago (1987)
 
Alma Marie Bujalski, 72, Chippewa Falls, died Thurs. June 4, 1987 at her home.
 
Victoria Jarocki became great grandmother for the 17th time on June 3, 1987 when her granddaughter and husband, Karen and Tom Strewler of Superior became the parents of a son, named Evan Thomas.
 
Katelyn Ashley, daughter of Robert and Pamela Westaby was born May 27, 1987.
 
Gary Troz, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Troz, received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from the U. of Wisconsin-Madison, in graduation ceremonies May 17.
 
Dan and Mary Fagan celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 6, 1987.