Years Gone By in Oconto County: Oct. 9

110 years ago • Oct. 7, 1909 • Oconto Falls Herald

OCONTO FALLS: There are now six automobiles owned in the village of Oconto Falls, as follows: F.J. Kilmer, REO car; Clarence Kilmer, REO runabout; Dr. R.J. Goggins, Ford car; Albert Boyce, REO car; J.J. Hillis, White steamer car; J.H. Delbridge, Merkis touring car; and Herbert Temple, REO runabout.

OCONTO FALLS: Peterson Brothers, hardware dealers, have been overcrowded in their large store for some time past, and had little opportunity for the proper display of their goods. To obviate this they have fitted up the room formerly used as a tinshop, and have removed the partition between that and the store room, thus increasing their floor space by more than 600 square feet.

100 years ago • Oct. 10, 1919 • Farmer Herald

MORGAN: Mary Kolowski, 13, who has been employed at the home of Mrs. Ed Braeger, is charged with an attempt to poison the 4-year-old daughter of Mr. Braeger. The charge was made last week but was adjourned until yesterday to obtain the presence of District Attorney Crawford.

CRIVITZ: Mrs. Jon Anderson, who lives on a farm about four miles from Crivitz, was seriously, if not fatally, injured about two weeks ago as a result of pouring kerosene on the fire in the cook stove. The small blaze in the stove followed the stream of oil into the can, exploding the latter and scattering the burning fluid on the clothing of Mrs. Anderson and on the floor.

90 years ago • Oct. 12, 1929 • Gillett Times

SURING: Important news to old-time fiddlers and old-time music lovers is contained in the announcement that the Order of Foresters have completed arrangements for another old-time fiddler contest and old-time dance to be given at the Opera house at Suring, Oct. 21.

MAPLE VALLEY: WANTED — Live Poultry. We need large quantities of Poultry. Bring them in any time. Write or phone 1411, Lena, Wis. Maple Valley Produce Company.

90 years ago • Oct. 10, 1929 • Oconto Falls Herald

BROOKSIDE: The demise of an early resident of Oconto County occurred Tuesday evening when Mr. Grant Matravers passed away at his home after a lingering illness of two-year duration.

OCONTO FALLS: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Spice of this city celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Oct. 3 at the home on Franklin Avenue.

80 years ago • Oct. 12, 1939 • Oconto Falls Herald

OCONTO FALLS: John Rumpf III, 5-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Rumpf II, was instantly killed Wednesday when he ran off the Washington school grounds at the corner of Union and Adams Streets, evidently into a heavy loaded gravel truck.

MEADOWBROOK: Orville Badora is employed at the Pound Potato House.

GILLETT: Attorney Herbert J. Mueller, formerly of Gillett, has established a law office at 154 Main St., Menasha.

70 years ago • Oct. 6, 1949 • Gillett Times

GILLETT: Tuesday, Sept. 27, marked an important day in the lives of Mr. and Mrs. William VAlley. With their family and relatives, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary.

SURING: Oconto County authorities are investigating the theft of more than $2,000 in cash and checks Sunday from the Suring co-operative.

HICKORY: Hot lunches are now being served at Hickory School with Mrs. H. Spaulding as cook.

60 years ago • Oct. 8, 1959 • Times Herald

PULCIFER: In a special anniversary service on Sept. 27, St. John’s Lutheran Church looked back upon 75 years of blessings.

LENA: A car operated by Jerome Meyer, 31, was damaged to the extent of an estimated $200 Monday when the vehicle struck a heifer on a town of Lena road. Meyer was not injured.

SURING: Jack Schuster, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schuster, is limping around with a cast on his foot. He broke a bone when he tried to leap a ditch.

50 years ago • Oct. 9, 1969 • Times Herald

OCONTO FALLS: Publisher and Mrs. E.J. Shellman were involved in a car accident near Fifield while visiting relatives and friends in Prentice and Park Falls. Mrs. Shellman has fractured her left wrist and hand plus scalp lacerations. The car is a wreck, but the multiple bruises and contusions will heal, so all are very thankful it was no worse.

GILLETT: Nine boats were damaged at the north end of Christy Lake (day before duck hunting season opened) in acts of senseless, destructive vandalism.

40 years ago • Oct. 10, 1979 • Times Herald

OCONTO COUNTY: A 22-year-old Suring man, David Blazek, is in good condition at St. Mary’s Hospital in Green Bay after a two-car collision on County Highway Z in the town of Brazeau.

OCONTO FALLS: Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for Magna Graphics’ $1 million plant expansion project at Falls Industrial Park.

SURING: The Mount Olive Lutheran Church that was built in June 1925 has been moved to a new location in the village of Suring. It was moved over to the property of Dennis Kadlec.

30 years ago • Oct. 11, 1989 • Times Herald

OCONTO FALLS: Augsburg Fortress Publishing, Minneapolis, has just released a book that deals with the issues of depression, stress, finances and failure. The book, “God’s Word of Encouragement: Devotions For Impossible Days,” is written by the Rev. Kevin E. Ruffcorn, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Oconto Falls.

OCONTO FALLS: A remodeled and redecorated Penguin Restaurant has been reopened by new owners Bill and Delores LaBrosse as Scottee’s Family Restaurant.

25 years ago • Oct. 12, 1994 • Times Herald

GILLETT: Wesley Peterson, founder of Gillett Cement Products, firmly believed good foundations make a strong community. As a concrete example of this philosophy, he chose to donate $10,000 to the Gillett Public Library building fund.

OCONTO FALLS: Larry and Janice McGray, owners of the Coachlight Motel, are pleased to announce Marilyn and Elbert Nunnaley as managers of the motel.

SURING: Randy L. Gipp, 38, died at the Shawano Community Hospital, Oct. 5, 1994, after a long illness.

20 years ago • Oct. 6, 1999 • Times Herald

LENA: Bill Tisch bagged a 177-pound, 16½-inch spread, eight-point buck on his land. He is a charter member of the Lena Swamp Quality Deer Management Club.

OCONTO FALLS: Burger King of Oconto Falls donated 500 poms to Oconto Falls, Gillett and Lena cheerleaders for each school’s homecoming festivities.

OCONTO FALLS: Neil and Violet McDermid will celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary on Oct. 7, 1999.

10 years ago • Oct. 7, 2009 • Times Herald

OCONTO COUNTY: Three school districts in the county have declined in enrollment. Suring declined 6 percent, Lena dropped 3 percent and Oconto Falls dipped by 2 percent.

GILLETT: Gillett city clerk/treasurer Kaye Rundquist is retiring from her position Oct. 16 after working for the city since June 2006.

OCONTO FALLS: A 36-year-old Oconto Falls man was charged with possession of a firearm while intoxicated in an incident that triggered a lockdown at Oconto Falls schools Sept. 29. The lockdown was precautionary, and at no time was there a threat to the community at large.