In Review
First Week of February 1870-2000
140 Years Ago (1870): If our friend who feels so much aggrieved at the conduct of one of our lady teachers, will
practice what he preaches to her, and economize his breath, he may be able to apply it to a better purpose.
130 Years Ago (1880): George F. Wolff and George E. Cramer: Here we are, Wolff & Cramer, practical painters,
sign writers, grainers and fresco artists. Do their work with the brush and camels hair pencil, not with their mouths;
carriages, wagons, etc., painted as they should be. They do not work for fun, but as cheap as good work can be
done. Try them, over Baker’s Blacksmith Shop, Evansville, Wisconsin. George E. Cramer is prepared to give
private lessons in penmanship. He uses the popular system which is not the old Spencerian, either in principles or
movement. If you desire lessons, leave your orders at the Post Office and he will call on you.
120 Years Ago (1890): Winship and Smith were busy the forepart of the week cutting and hauling ice, first putting
300 tons into Mr. Pratt’s fruit house and then 160 tons in the Ellis’ buttery. There was a good deal of activity on
the pond last Thursday. Eight teams hauling, and some seven or eight men were marking off new fields, others
cutting up long strips into convenient blocks for hauling and others with long pikes were pushing the ice to the
loading chute and up the incline into the wagons. The ice is about one foot thick and most of it is passably good.
110 Years Ago (1900): The Free Library spirit is sweeping over our land. Carnegie is donating thousands of
dollars; the Iowa legislature is creating a state library commission; and Evansville is expending a $1,500
subscription and at the same time raising more funds. Three of her eminent sons, Prof. Charles R. Van Hise, Hon.
Robert M. La Follette, and Hon. W. Burr Jones have consented to give a course of lectures donating the total
proceeds to the library. Prof. Charles Van Hise is a geologist of national reputation. Do not fail to hear his
illustrated lecture on “the Changing Land.” Magee’s Opera House, Saturday, Feb. 13. Admission 25 cents.
Proceeds for Free Library. If Profs. Van Hise, Jones and La Follette pay their own expenses to aid our library
movement, are we not under obligations to give each one a large audience?
100 Years Ago (1910): John Sperry has purchased part of the B. W. Hubbard farm, and Lloyd Hubbard and wife
will occupy the same after the first of March.
90 Years Ago (1920): Clyde Heffel has purchased the Harry Pease farm on the northeast side of town.
80 Years Ago (1930): A deal was closed this week whereby Miss Theresa Erickson purchased the Magee Beauty
shop, 7 ½ East Main Street from Mrs. Charlotte Magee who recently purchased the Marinello shop from Mrs.
Charles Heil in Monroe. Miss Erickson, who has been employed as operator in the local shop for the past year,
takes possession this week. The Magee Beauty Shop was damaged to the extent of about $300 at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday when a kerosene heater exploded and started a blaze. Had it not been for the prompt response of the city
fire department and the efficiency of the local firemen it is believed that the flames would have swept through the
entire Economy block. Following the explosion, the flames spread like a flash to the rafters and floor below having
done considerable damage by the time the fire trucks arrived.
70 Years Ago (1940): Located three miles northwest of Evansville is the 218-acre farm of Peter Templeton who
was honored at the University of Wisconsin Monday night for his outstanding agricultural accomplishments.
Templeton, prominent Evansville farmer and horse breeder was among three rural women and two farm leaders
honored Monday night during the Farm and Home Week program at the University of Wisconsin. Templeton
received the award from Dean Chris L. Christensen, head of the College of Agriculture: “Because of his breadth of
vision, his careful judgment in farm management, his skill in livestock breeding, and his unswerving devotion to
right principles.”
60 Years Ago (1950): John I. Scott, former editor of the Evansville Review, died at 12:40 a.m. today in Mercy
Hospital in Janesville, following a long illness. Mr. Scott was born in the city of St. Louis, March 21, 1863. On
November 13, 1888, he was united in marriage to Miss Lena Farwell of Osborne, Kansas. Mr. Scott came to
Wisconsin in 1913, and was editor of the Athens, Wisconsin Record for several years, coming to Evansville in 1917
to accept the editorship of the Evansville Review, which he conducted for 12 years and was associated with the
editorial staff until the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have served as custodians of Leota Park for the past
15 years.
50 Years Ago (1960): Only a handful of interested voters attended the special school district meeting Monday
night. The group passed, unanimously a resolution to designate the fairgrounds as the site for Evansville’s
needed new school, and discussed the proposed building and building costs for about an hour.
40 Years Ago (1970): Featured at the regular Eastern Star Meeting in the Masonic Temple will be the celebration
of the chapter’s 78th birthday. Among the older organizations in the city, the chapter received its charter here in
February 1892 and was the 29th chapter organized in the state. There were 33 charter members, all of whom are
deceased.
30 Years Ago (1980): Vaughn Lewis of 354 N. Madison Street, agreed to be a write-in candidate in the April
election for the two-year term for third ward alderman to replace Robert O. Brunsell. No candidate had filed for the
post by the Jan. 2 deadline to be on the April ballot. Lewis 66, was employed at GMAD in Janesville for 36 ½
years. He and his wife, Alberta, who is receptionist for the Janesville Gazette, have a married son, Gary Lewis.
20 Years Ago (1990): A vicious snow storm, raging up from the southwest on Thursday of last week, dropped
some six to eight inches of snow on the Evansville area. Strong winds along with the snow wreaked havoc with the
roads, with drifting making some roads impassable. Evansville schools were open in the morning, but at 11:30
were declared closed due to the weather conditions. However when Ringhand Bus owners attempted to take the
children home in the country, they found they could not get through and thus brought the children back to the
schools. During the afternoon some of the children went home with friends in the city and awaited a pickup from
parents. The storm eventually died down in mid afternoon and efforts were made to make the roads passable so
that parents could pick up their children.
10 years ago (2000): Dr. Gary Albrecht, Evansville’s Superintendent of Schools, made a recommendation to the
School board, that a pre-referendum agreement be made with Bray and Associates Architectural firm at Monday
night’s special school board meeting. Five of the six school board members agreed that Bray and Associates
would give the best value.
In Review
Second Week of February 1870-2000
140 Years Ago (1870): A couple of wild cats were shot within a few miles of this village, Wednesday last.
130 Years Ago (1880): There will be a St. Valentine’s Masquerade Ball at Grange Hall, on Friday evening, Feb.
13th. Music: Prof. J. M. Smith’s famous Quadrille Band of Janesville. Supper at the Central House, 75 cents per
couple. Room Directors: C. A. Hollister, Elmer Bullard, Spencer Ide, and M. Broderick. A grand time is expected.
C. A. Hollister will furnish masks for all who leave orders at his store. Masks will be removed promptly at 12 o’clock.
120 Years Ago (1890): The farmers met again Saturday afternoon, heard reports of canvassers, talked up the
matter of cheese and butter making, and adjourned to Monday afternoon to prepare articles of incorporation. The
following were appointed committee on charter: Add. Patterson, Jas. Montgomery, Martin Dixon, John Tullar, W. H.
H. Johnson.
110 Years Ago (1900): Upon last Saturday night the Baker Manufacturing Company called its employees together
at five o’clock and for the second time in its history distributed a certain percent of the next profits of the year to
each employee. Last year aside from his weekly wages each employee received 10 percent of his year’s earnings
and the highest amount paid to any one man was eighty dollars. This year each employee was given aside from
his wages 60 percent of his year’s earnings, the high amount paid to any one man was $498.45 while the average
paid was $245.79.
100 Years Ago (1910): C. J. Pearsall, son Clifford and Ace and Roy Fellows went to Chicago this morning to
attend the automobile show. They were joined at Beloit by Robert Pearsall.
90 Years Ago (1920): The World Wide Guild of the Baptist Church met Monday evening at the home of Mrs. H. O.
Meyers. Twenty-three were present. Mrs. J. W. Ballard read us some letters from our missionary, Mrs. Eileen
Beath from China, about the country and their work in the Mission School.
80 Years Ago (1930): Ben Doty, Beloit steeplejack, is at work here this week repairing the 75 foot stack at the city
public schools, the 100 foot stack at the power house, and the 125 foot stack at the plant of the Baker
Manufacturing company. He has been pointing up the stacks and placing steel bands around the top.
70 Years Ago (1940): A check for $12 to aid the hundreds of thousands of Finnish women and children and sick
and aged civilians who have been driven from their homes in the devastated war area of Europe went forward from
Evansville this morning to Ex-Governor Walter J. Kohler, who is serving as state chairman of the national
campaign. Public-spirited Evansville citizens contributing to the city’s Finnish relief fund were Warren Rodd $5, B.
F. Mapes $1, H. A. Knapp $1, Mrs. Stella Chase $2, Miss Ruth Chase $1, and the Rev. T. C. Nagler $2.
60 Years Ago (1950): Mrs. Orlin Holm general PTA program chairman has the following to say about the next PTA
meeting. The group will present a variety show in the school auditorium at 8 p.m. next Thursday, February 16.
The Variety show includes the talents of local people. Some of the features are square dancing, readings, skits,
and a one-act comedy. John Kennedy is master of ceremonies; Mrs. Clyde Fisher, program chairman and Miss
Gladys Peterson, ticket sales chairman.
50 Years Ago (1960): About 85 people, mostly members of the Evansville, Brooklyn, and Footville Fire
Departments were entertained by union Mutual Insurance Company here Monday night. Ray Ryan and Charles
Maas, of Union Mutual, praised the firemen for the work they were doing, and both expressed their company’s
desire to cooperate in cutting fire losses.
40 Years Ago (1970): The State of Wisconsin has installed a breathalyzer in City Hall. Three Evansville patrolmen
have returned from a school in Janesville where they qualified to operate the device, which tests alcoholic content
of the breath. Patrolmen who will operate the machine are Robert Hallmark, Charles Babler and Robert Albright.
30 Years Ago (1980): Harlan Steindl has announced that he will be a third-ward write-in candidate for alderman
for the April election. Steindl states that many residents have urged him to run. He was formerly a city councilman,
having served the city for 4 ½ years. He will oppose Vaughn Lewis, who announced recently he was a write-in
candidate also.
20 Years Ago (1990): Blair Thomas Wheeler received the Eagle Scout Award, the highest award in Scouting, on
Sunday, December 3, 1989 in a Court of Awards Ceremony at the Congregational United Church of Christ in
Evansville. He is the son of Burt and Donna Wheeler. Blair is a member of Troup 514 which is sponsored by the
Evansville Lions Club. Jay Gitchel presented the award. Scoutmaster Rod Courtier and members of the Troop
514 participated in the ceremony. Blair’s Eagle Project consisted of planning, organizing, and overseeing the
completion of cleaning and painting the fire hydrants in Evansville.
10 years ago (2000): At Monday night’s school board meeting, Dr. Gary Albrecht, District Administrator,
presented a time line for the 2000 school building referendum. With a tentative Tuesday, May 23rd referendum
date, the time line provides for a continuation of the meetings aimed at selecting the best referendum building
plan. A Master Plan Design Committee is being formed to provide a mechanism for school personnel and
community members to meet and work cooperatively with the architect and the school administration to develop
and validate a long-range curriculum and facilities plan for approval by the School Board.
In Review
Third Week of February 1870-2000
140 Years Ago (1870): The members of the spirited Lyceum have had their pictures taken in their sleighs in
bannered procession, in front of their hall on Madison Street. After the operation was successfully performed, they
started for a sleigh ride. [Note: the Lyceum used the old 2-room frame school house that stood on the grounds of
today’s City Hall. The building was also the Village of Evansville and Town of Union meeting hall.]
130 Years Ago (1880): Married at the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. T. Chapin, on the 5th inst. By Rev. E.
Robinson, Eugene L. Bullard and Celia A. Chapin, both of Union. Nice sample of wedding cake sent to the Review
office.
120 Years Ago (1890): The mill property at Cooksville was sold at auction on Wednesday. Mr. Lloyd of Janesville
being the purchaser. $500 was the price paid.
110 Years Ago (1900): Mr. Edward Ford, a prosperous farmer in the town of Porter, delivered 12 loads of ’99
tobacco at Ollie Colony’s warehouse in this city, last Monday and received for it the handsome sum of $1,600.
100 Years Ago (1910): The old Spanish letter swindle is still being worked, it seems. A citizen of Evansville
recently received one of these letters containing the same old story. The writer pretending to be a banker
imprisoned in Madrid and offering $160,000 in return for aid in recovering his property of $480,000 which he has in
America, also that of his “darling daughter.” The scheme this time did not work, however, as Evansville
businessmen are too wise to get “stung” by such a swindle.
90 Years Ago (1920): The Evansville Players were forced to postpone their production of “Why Smith Left Home”
indefinitely, due to the illness at the last moment of Mrs. Fred Brunsell, who was cast for the part of the leading
lady. To say that Evansville theater goers were disappointed is not being able to see the Evansville Players in
their latest farce comedy is putting it mildly. Tickets may be redeemed at the Pioneer Drug Store.
80 Years Ago (1930): Don Bestor, former Evansville resident and nationally known orchestra leader, was on the
air at 11 p.m. Thursday from station KDKA, Pittsburgh, and was heard by many local radio fans. Mr. Bestor is a
son of Mrs. C. E. Bestor, 114 South Third Street, and a brother of Miss Helen Bestor of the same address. Mr.
Bestor and his orchestra were among the first prize winners in a popularity contest for artists and announcers of
KDKA. He entertained the other winners last Thursday night at the William Penn Hotel where his orchestra has
been playing since last May.
70 Years Ago (1940): The Union Cooperative Association, which operates gasoline and oil stations in Brooklyn
and Evansville did an annual gross business of $94,888 last year, an increase of 27 percent over 1938. The
financial report at the co-op’s annual meeting was presented by Carl Spersrud, co-operative manager. The
meeting was attended by more than 300 members. Spersrud said the association’s annual business has risen
from a total of $21,144 in 1935. The co-op did not open its Brooklyn station until November 1939.
60 Years Ago (1950): Features of the PTA Founders’ Day Variety Show include barbershop harmony by the K. P.
quartet and the Village Limits, a reading by Mrs. Charles Shelby; tap dancing and choral work by members of the
Leota School; music by the Floyd Krause family; accordion music by Cathrine Franklin; and songs by six-year-old
Sharon Krause, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orrie Krause, accompanied on the accordions by Janice Abey and Doris
Gransee. The money earned will be used locally for donations and scholarships.
50 Years Ago (1960): One senior at Evansville High School has been named a finalist in the 1959-60 competition
of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation program and has been awarded a Certificate of Merit, according to
Principal J. C. McKenna. Sheila W. Sorkin has received the certificate which attests to her high academic promise.
40 Years Ago (1970): Five candidates filed papers for the three school board vacancies: Dr. Henry Youngman,
Erwin Zweifel, Kenneth Rabideau, David Fellows and Robert C. Kelley. Kelley and Fellows filed for re-election.
30 Years Ago (1980): Aaron Hedgecock and Harold Hartwich, Evansville High School students have drawn murals
before and Pam Wilson, second ward councilwoman and teacher in the high school, suggested they do one for the
council room at the city hall. They have studied photographs of Evansville structures as well as those which have
been demolished. They are drawing sketches for the city hall mural, which has been approved by the City Council.
20 Years Ago (1990): UW-Whitewater has released the names of some 1,735 undergraduate students who were
named to the honor roll for academic achievements for the fall semesters of the 1989-90 school year. Among
those named were the following from this area: Jan E. Bue, Jennifer Dunphy, Susan Shotliff, Jon D. Sieg, Kim M.
Spanton, Rebecca L. Sterk, Jon K. Waller and Russell C. Youngman of Evansville.
10 years ago (2000): Brenda Berg announced that seven J. C. McKenna Middle School 8th grade chorus
members were picked to participate in the American Choral Director’s Association 2000 convention in Madison on
March 1-3. They were chosen from almost 500 students throughout the six-state region. The students selected
are Brookes Baumberger, Andy Magee, Brittany Emrick, Britta Hegge, Erin Ellison, Elena Lahti, and Saroi
Faulkner. Each of the singers submitted an audition tape consisting of a folk song and one verse of America, both
songs acappella.
In Review
Fourth Week of February 1870-2000
140 Years Ago (1870): Great interest is manifested in the meetings now in progress in the M. E. Church. At the
present time about 47 have professed conversion.
130 Years Ago (1880): Theodore Robinson writes to his parents that he enjoys better health in New York, where
he now is, than he did here. Sea breezes agree with him.
120 Years Ago (1890): At a meeting of the Trotting Park Association in the Central House Saturday Night, Mr.
McEwen made a proposition to the Association that he would properly fence his track, put up a shingled roof stand
and a number of box stalls and put his track in first rate shape for $400. The proposition was accepted. France
Boyce, of Brooklyn, being present was called upon to state some of the conditions of the association joining the
Trotter’s Circuit which included an area of six towns, which would give Evansville two trots from noted horses,
during the season. Newton Kendall, C. E. Lee and Henry Campbell were appointed a committee to investigate
matters of a charter.
110 Years Ago (1900): Misses Maggie Gillies and Edna Biglow left Tuesday morning for New Orleans to attend the
Mardi Gras. They will be gone about three weeks and will visit several points of interest in the sunny south.
100 Years Ago (1910): With this week’s issue the Review sends forth to its subscribers all over the country the
1910 illustrated Industrial Prospectus of this city. The work has a double duty to perform and is also of dual origin.
The Review would point out that this sixteen-page Prospectus was printed in the office of the Review. The new
Commercial Club of Evansville has officially recognized the work. Practically every business institution and
individual merchant and professional man in the city of Evansville took space in the edition and made it possible to
publish. The Commercial Club has undertaken to send out the prospectus to the investors of the country. He will
surely be stirred by the “Trumpet Call” of this model municipality. [The Prospectus is online in the Evansville
Digitization Project http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/WI.IllustratedPro1910 and in bound copy at the Eager
Free Public Library.]
90 Years Ago (1920): Mrs. Mary Ellen Courtier, aged 83 died Tuesday afternoon after an illness of two months.
She leaves three sons, Burr, L. B., and Clyde, also several grandchildren. Funeral services were held Wednesday
afternoon, at the Clyde Courtier home, Rev. A. W. Stevens of the Baptist Church conducted the services.
80 Years Ago (1930): Charles Maloy, 213 West Liberty Street, has gone into partnership with Frank Brigham in
the livestock business here. Mr. Brigham was formerly with Luchsinger and Stevens. Fred Luchsinger has gone
into partnership with Rodd and Miles in the livestock business here, according to an announcement made this
week by Fred Rodd. The firm has chosen Footville as a new shipping point and will ship from there on Thursday of
every week.
70 Years Ago (1940): Peter A. Finstad, 35, former high school coach and night police officer and southern
Wisconsin’s most outstanding baseball enthusiast, died Friday in the Wisconsin General Hospital, Madison,
following a lingering illness of several months from Hodgkin’s disease. Funeral services were held here Sunday in
the new high school auditorium which was filled to capacity. Mr. Finstad was married to Miss Leone Lemke, Aug.
29, 1930. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, Norma and Carol; his father Nels Finstad, Mason; two sisters,
Mrs. Allen Nelson, Mason, and Miss Marie Sandstrom, Washington D. C.; and three brothers, Helmer Finstad,
Washburn; Oscar Finstad, Mason and Frank Finstad, Ashland.
60 Years Ago (1950): Following the storm of last week Monday, the city snow plow and workers were out early
opening up the streets in the city. The following figures and statistics show the amount of work that was
accomplished in a short time. Four men with two trucks and tractors and loaders worked 27 hours at a cost of
$3.95 per hour with a total of $106.65. The cost of the gas and oil was $30. There were 270 loads of snow hauled
off the streets, a total of 1,620 cubic yards. The work was done on Main Street from First to Union, on Madison
Street, from Church to Mill, one-half block on Maple Avenue and on Railroad Streets.
50 Years Ago (1960): Another school district joined the Evansville district this week, when District No. 1, Cainville,
in Center township, came into the local district by action of the township boards and Evansville Council. The
Cainville school has about two dozen pupils and the district has an equalized valuation of $589,100. The Drew
district, which attached to the local district earlier, had about 20 children at that time and an equalized valuation of
$448,800.
40 Years Ago (1970): The local basketball team got a rousing welcome back into Evansville last Friday night as
word of their winning the Central Title spread. They were escorted into town by the police car and the fire engines
as well as tooted in by all the spectators cars which followed. Evansville ended with a 16-2 overall record. Their
final league play standing was 9-1.
30 Years Ago (1980): A priority list of proposed cuts compiled by the budget review committee and presented to
the school board last week Thursday night, drew considerable discussion at a special meeting of the school board
Tuesday night. The majority of the complaints voiced by some of the more than 80 persons in attendance
centered around proposed athletic cuts, including two the board chose to add, dropping a wrestling and a
basketball coach. The cuts included dropping golf, cross country, girls and boys tennis, middle school
cheerleading, an assistant athletic director, assistant track coach, two football coaches, the intramural program
and weight lifting, but adding 7th and 8th grade wrestling.
20 Years Ago (1990): Juna Nimz, representing the Generic Band, was crowned Snowball Queen last Saturday
night at the annual event held at the Red Barn in Evansville. The dance is sponsored by the EMT’s and proceeds
go towards the purchase of new equipment for use by residents. Some 350 were in attendance and it was one of
the bigger crowds they have seen.
10 years ago (2000): Evansville’s McDonalds/Amoco Grand Opening will be held Thursday, Feb. 24 thru Sunday,
Feb. 27.
For more information about Evansville’s history go to www.evansvillehistory.net
Watch for a new book in the Arcadia Publishing series, Evansville, Then and Now, Ruth Ann Montgomery, author
and John Ehle, “Now” photographer, to be published later this year. The book will include more than 160
photographs of Evansville buildings and street scenes from the early 1900s to the present.