YESTERDAY’S NEWS
MARCH 10, 2020
AMERY FREE PRESS
7
www.theameryfreepress.com
Pioneer Series - 1910
are slated for the fastest 20 cars qualifying.
Chester W. Tanner, Clayton Chester W. Tanner, son of Rev. Francis B. Tanner a Free Will Baptist minister, was born at Berry, Orleans County, New York, March 9, 1831. He came to Wisconsin first in 1858. From there he moved to Kansas and then to Pennsylvania in which states he lived until June 4, 1870 when he returned to Wisconsin and settled in Polk County in the town of Clayton where he has lived continuously ever since, having been overseer of highways, Justice of the Peace and a member of the school board at various times during his residence there. Mr. Tanner built the first house erected in Clayton. He married Mary L. Holland in New York on January 23, 1853. Six children were born to this union. Mr. Tanner’s son, Judson C. was the first child born in the town of Clayton.
W. D. Thompson, Amery William D. Thompson was born at Orland, Maine, April 29, 1840. He was married to Mrs. S. A. Crowley in 1860. In April 1861 he Yesterday’s enlisted in Co. B. Sixth News Maine Vol. Diane Stangl and served his country until August 15, 1864. The Sixth Maine was one of the regiments, which composed the famous Army of the Potomac and Mr. Thompson took part in every battle engaged in by them. After being mustered out in 1864 he returned to Ellsworth, Me., where he lived about one year, coming to Wisconsin in 1865 and settling in the town of Lincoln where he took a homestead in 1866, living continuously in the town of Lincoln and village of Amery ever since. Mrs. Thompson died May 4, 1898 and was buried in the Volga cemetery. Mr. Thompson was engaged in lumbering and farming while in Lincoln and after moving into Amery conducted a livery stable for eight years, having built one of the first buildings on main street at the corner where C. Petersen & Co’s store now stands.
Burman & Dalberg Expand Burman & Dalberg last week purchased the hardware stock of the Amery Mercantile Co., who have decided to confine themselves to dry goods, groceries and clothing. Messrs. Burman and Dalberg and their wonderful success in the hardware business are too well known to require an introduction. Their motto of “Honesty, Quality and Service,” to which they religiously conform, has built up an enormous business, and we hope for them years of even greater success.
Helpful Hints from 1935 In cutting angel food cake, dip
55 Years Ago March 18, 1965 Car Chase Ends After Driver Blows a Tire
1975 Warriors become regional champs It was one happy group of Warriors that posed with the regional trophy they won at the River Falls regional tournament back on March 8, 1975. Amery downed New Richmond in the finals 69-64. Pictured kneeling from left: Rick Foy, Tom Waggoner, Kevin Schwoch, Jay Wittstock and Jay Monson. Standing from left: Bruce Maxon, Larry Carlson, Todd Rogers, Brian Zinn, Al Rudd, Brad Sauve, Jeff Claussen and Coach Steve Wilhelm.
the knife in cold water before slicing each piece so that the cake will not stick to the knife and become hard to handle.
80 Years Ago March 14, 1940 Unlucky Number For Motorists Wednesday, March 13, was an unlucky “13” for Amery people who planned to go somewhere. Winter’s late thrust on this community came Tuesday night and was intensified during the early hours of Wednesday and all day, as the season’s worst snowstorm struck here. Amery felt the brunt of the Midwest storm, which was general over the northern states from the Rockies to Lake Michigan. The Soo Line trains went through on time Wednesday and so did the Greyhound bus which, of course, kept on the main roads. No school buses went out, however, as side-roads would be impassable. Principal Daryl Lien explained that school doors are kept open on such mornings as Wednesday, because many of the town grade and high school students who do come to school must be given a place to come in and dry out and get warm, especially the children from across the river and from the borders of the city. Mr. Lien notified parents of kindergarten children who braved the storm, that they arrived at school all right. A few Amery motorists, especially the physicians, kept their cars on the street and were able to get out Wednesday morning, but all others were snowbound, except via their feet.
70 Years Ago March 9, 1950 Winter Make Bid to Return Tuesday
What has been termed by some as the “severest blizzard in years” struck this community Tuesday afternoon and continued throughout the night to once more block most land travel in this section of Wisconsin. While some residents of this area will have a hard time believing this, Wisconsin has not been officially included in the states suffering from the storm. Apparently, just the outer fringe of the state bore the brunt of the late winter heating. Beginning Tuesday with .45 inches of rain and thawing temperatures the spring caught cold soon after noon and proceeded to pelt the area with snow. Snow began much earlier just a few miles to the north according to people traveling through that area. Fortunately, the rain turned to snow suddenly, with no sleet reported in this area. In view of the accompanying gale, any sleet would have caused severe power and telephone line damage. For the first time in a number of years, one Amery school bus was unable to complete its route for the day with many of the children being housed with residents in Amery. Bus No. 1, driven by Gene Thompson, was forced to cancel its last trip of the day when mechanical trouble delayed his departure on his second load. Traveling a northerly route, Gene’s bus ordinarily carried about 30 students. All busses left earlier than usual to complete their routes when it became apparent that the long-heralded blizzard would strike this community. The storm followed three days of thaw, which began with a warm up Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday found temperatures rising to a new yearly high of 43 above on Sunday.
65 Years Ago March 10, 1955 Coffee, Cigarettes at Low Prices Ridiculously low prices in Milwaukee were felt in Polk County this week when Jerome L. Masko, 29, and two “fences” for stolen goods were arrested. The two Milwaukeeans were hauled into court when they were arrested on suspicion after selling cigarettes for $1.25 per carton and coffee for 50¢ per pound. Masko was caught in flight following a burglary in Waushara County. Sheriff James Moore last week traveled to Wautoma to question Masko and he readily admitted three break-ins in this county. All told the yegg admitted to over 30 break-ins during this crime spree. Among places that he admitted breaking into were the Williams Shopping Center at Range last August 6. Included in this loot were many items of merchandise and coffee. Two Frederic burglaries were also solved via the confession route when he admitted breaking into the Foodland Store and the Coop store over the Labor Day weekend last fall. In these two thefts, he secured over $1,200, coffee, cigarettes and other merchandise. Admitting that he worked with another man at the time of the county break-ins, Masko confessed innocence as to the identity of the man. He claimed that he only knew him as “Ernie” after traveling with him for three months. Whether or not he will be arraigned in Polk County for punishment depends upon the convictions down-state.
Stock Car Races on North Twin Stock cars with “lugged tires” will race on North Twin Lake in Amery on March 13. A womans’s race is planned for intermission. Six feature races
What appeared to be a minor speeding ticket turned into a chase that ended with a six-man team necessary to subdue the law violator last Thursday night. Amery officers will long remember the incident for Officer Gary Bottolfson has a missing tooth and Officer Robert Shirley, a bruised cheek from being kicked by the recalcitrant driver. A young man from Clayton was observed speeding early in the evening by Officer Bottolfson and the officer stopped the young man and gave him a verbal warning. About 11:15, he observed the driver heading away from Wayne’s Café and down highway F at unreasonable speeds and followed him. When the driver stopped to let a passenger alight, Officer Bottolfson got out of his car and proceeded toward the parked vehicle. Zoom…and the race was on. Officer Bottolfson called Officer Shirley when it appeared that he would be delayed in his return to the city as he continued down county trunk F to Clear Lake. In the meantime, he had recruited the aid of the Clear Lake Officer who attempted to stop the fast moving vehicle at the junction of F and 63 but to no avail. The fleeing car turned south on 63 and went the distance to highway 64 at speeds up to 110 miles per hour. At highway 64, he turned west and continued the mad dash, driving with his lights off at times with two cars in pursuit. At highway 46, he turned back towards Amery and the cops attempted to block him in Deer Park but he continued to threaten them as he swayed from side to side. But fate took a hand in the affair. About two miles south of Amery, his car blew a tire and came to rest without damage. Still belligerent, the young man locked all the doors and proceeded to close the windows as the officers approached. Officer Bottolfson managed to get his finger into a narrow crack remaining and told the young man that he would rip the window out if he didn’t unlock the door. It became necessary to take out the window. By this time, the Polk County patrol with Officers Earl Clark and Merle Beedle were at the scene plus Officer Shirley. Six men scuffled with the young man before he could be subdued with handcuffs. On his way to the ARVM Hospital, he came to and fought again, necessitating additional restraints being applied by the officers. At the hospital, he was given medication and placed in bed overnight. In court the next day, he pleaded guilty and was fined $100 for resisting arrest, $100 for reckless driving and lost is driver’s license for 60 days.
