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In Review
First Week of April 1878-1998
140 Years Ago (1868): Brick Yard. Workmen are already engaged leveling off the ground and making preparations for going into the brick business as early as the season will permit. The yard is located upon lands owned by Mr. Fish and formerly used for this purpose. Jacob West and Son, and M. H. Fish, are proprietors and intend to make it a permanent business. Note: The Fish farm, owned by Alfred C. Fish, father of Marcus Fish, was located north of Evansville. The Fish home, a brick residence on the east side of North Union Street, is made of Evansville manufactured brick. A photo of the house can be found at http://www.evansvillehistory.net/1898EvansvilleDirectory.html
130 Years Ago (1878): Mr. Elmer Bullard has sold his “Morrow” farm to Mr. Thorp of Union for $1,500, cash. He afterwards bought his father’s farm—Stillman Bullard, Esq.—for $700. Mr. Bullard expects to spend the most of his time this summer, visiting.
120 Years Ago (1888): Our people are tearing down their yard fences more and more every season as they become old and rotten, thus opening their premises to the common, but as cows and cattle are not permitted on the streets, there is no uneasiness from midnight intrusion of Old Crumple. It looks more congenial and social than when each neighbor is separated by a high palisade. The trees that were thought pretty and nice when small, have grown to stately pines and maples and their large branches almost entwining over the roofs of some dwellings completely shutting out the warm sunlight of spring; many of these are being removed and we must say improves the appearance of our fine residences.
110 Years Ago (1898): Free Public Library. Rooms in Adams Block south of Pioneer Drug Store. Open from four o’clock till seven every afternoon except Sunday. Mrs. L. A. Wilder, Librarian. [Note: The Adams Block was divided and moved to make way for the Thompson Ford Garage 16 South Madison Street. Half of the Adams Block is now on Maple Street, south of the Care Closet.]
100 Years Ago (1908): M. L. Ewing, M. D., Homeopathic Physician and Surgeon. Adam’s Block, opposite the M. E. Church. Office hours: 1 to 5 p.m. and nights. Country calls promptly attended. Phone 57-3. [Note: Mary L. Ewing was the first woman to practice medicine in Evansville.]
90 Years Ago (1918): I. S. Brink recently sold his farm north of Evansville to Glen and Roy Peach, of Edgerton, the consideration being $23,000. The place having been rented for this year, the new owners will not take possession until next year.
80 Years Ago (1928): City Council Minutes of April 3, 1928: Motion passed that the recommendation of the Water and Light Commission under date of April 2nd, regarding extension of Rural Electric Service to Messers. W. J. Ahara, C. B. Devine, A. O. Furseth, B. Wilhelm, Chas. Gibson, F. Croak, E. E. Fraser, and others be ratified and that the Mayor and City Clerk be and are hereby instructed to sign such contracts as named in the above recommendation, and as per instruction received from the Railroad Commission. [Note: These farms were located in the southeast corner of Union township and the northeast corner of Magnolia township.]
70 Years Ago (1938): Coach George O’Neil’s championship high school hoopsters, who completed their season with top ranking standings in the Rock River Valley league, the Stoughton Class B tournament, and the Monroe regional meet, and who are now vying for honors at the state finals in Madison, will play Cumberland at 3 p.m. today in the University of Wisconsin field house for the consolation championship of the class B division. The local preps were eliminated from the championship flight in their opening game Tuesday night with Shawano. Evansville, however, advanced to the consolation final Wednesday morning by taking an overtime game 24 to 23 from Fort Atkinson in which tilt a free toss by Don Rosen in the extra minutes gave the Blues the one point margin. Although Evansville trailed throughout the Fort Atkinson battle, a field goal by [Jack] McKenna tied the score in the last minutes of play and the overtime toss by Rosen assured the victory. Don Rosen led the scoring with ten points and co-captains Bernie Golz and Ted Thompson, stood out for Evansville. The defeat was the first in 20 games this season for the O’Neil men.
60 Years Ago (1948): Two Evansville men are seeking to be chosen mayor by Evansville citizens at the annual spring election to be held in the city hall next Tuesday. They are Ben T. Green, present mayor and A. M. Winn, who served as the city’s head officer several years ago. There is also a contest in the first ward where Raymond Knapp, the present alderman is being opposed by W. E. Brown. E. J. Gibbs, is the only candidate in the second ward, and Leonard R. Finn, present incumbent in the third ward is unopposed for re-election. Other incumbents this year are B. R. Ellis, city clerk; Miss Dorothy Richmond, treasurer; Phil T. Smith, assessor and Earle Hart, justice of the peace.
50 Years Ago (1958): In the spring election here Tuesday, Evansville voters named Elizabeth Gray, Kenneth A. Ellis and John Wilde to the school board and re-elected Mayor Bruce Townsend and current aldermen, and voted to instruct the council to pass an ordinance making it unlawful to let dogs run at large. Mrs. Gray, running for re-election, led the field of seven candidates for the three school board posts to be filled. Council Finance Chairman, Walter Spratler, Jr., won comfortably over former Water and Light Dept. Head Huey Lee in the race for the first ward alderman. In the second ward, Alderman Norman Bone, running unopposed got 151 votes and in the third ward, Alderman Leonard Finn, unopposed got 94. The referendum on tying up dogs at all times of the year passed by a 400 to 133 margin. The referendum instructs the council to pass an ordinance making it mandatory that all dogs be either confined, or on a suitable leash, at all times.
40 Years Ago (1968): A huge turnout of 1,117 voters filled the ballot boxes in Evansville Tuesday. In the mayoral contest Mayor Ida T. Conroy edged out Wilson L. Brown by 607 to 507 votes. The referendum on widening East Main Street brought out a resounding ‘no’ votes as the final tally showed 315 ‘yes’ and 780 ‘no’. Richard Eager won over Albert Winn for the County Supervisor post; for aldermen; Merlin Reese, first ward; Keith Williams, second ward; Francis Erbs, third ward; and Paul P. Pullen for municipal justice.
30 Years Ago (1978): The Evansville Middle School students will be having a fund drive starting April 14 to raise money for a memorial to J. C. McKenna. McKenna, for whom the school is named, was a superintendent for the Evansville school system for many years. Sales of candy bars will continue for 11 days as the students attempt to raise $800 for the proposed project. Featured on the plaque will be a relief portrait of Mr. McKenna done by Richard Krake of the High School art department along with help from the Baker Manufacturing Company.
20 Years Ago (1988): A few long time residents of Evansville gathered recently at the railroad depot and reminisced and exchanged stories about the good old days, when Evansville was a hub of activity. Memories were rekindled as they viewed what remains of the depot today. Much is missing, but these citizens were able to tell exactly where things used to be. Roger Berg, realtor, has purchased the depot, planning to restore it to a useful function. Thus, interest in the history of the station has been revived and thanks to the memory of these gentlemen, history will live on. Participants were Ray Knapp, Leonard P. Eager, Sr., Burton Janes, John Montgomery and Roy Sarow.
10 years ago (1998): Senior Officer Art Phillips, a lifelong Evansville resident, was appointed by Chief Scott McElroy and approved by the Public Safety Committee last Thursday to become Lieutenant of the Evansville Police Department. The new position had been authorized by the Common Council two weeks ago. Phillips got the nod of an advisory committee of three and Chief Scott McElroy for the promotion.