Dan Loonstra DunnCountyNews
Oxen Visit North - Sven and Ole, a matched pair of oxen, drew the attention of students at North Elementary School during the lunch hour break last Wednesday. The oxen are owned by Orville Johnson, Rt. 6, Menomonie. Johnson reports he purchased the oxen, which weigh about a ton apiece, in Iowa and plans to enter them in area parades this summer. - Staff Photo by Dan Loonstra (May 25, 1977 Dunn County News)
RECALLS EARLY DAYS
When John Felland on route 8 arrived from Norway in 1880 he stopped off at Menomonie to get work. He became an employee of the Knapp, Stout & Co., one of a crew of 1,300. After a time be tried his hand at farming under Jens Holstein, father of Jim Holstein. John was married with a family, his wages were but $14 a month, but he managed to save enough to make a payment on a forty-acre tract he now lives on. He soon bought out a neighbor, who could not make his payments. Downsville was headquarters for the Fellands when a store had to be reached. An example of the thrift practiced in the ‘80s was shown when Felland heard that flour was to raise in price, at Downsville, he bought 400 pounds, carrying some home and the balance was transported by oxen. If Felland remembers correctly, there were 33 saloons in Menomonie when he arrived so the 27 taverns of today in the city don’t sound so many to John. – May 2, 1935 Dunn County News
POPULAR CONCERT BY BIG ORCHESTRA
A popular concert will be given Sunday afternoon at 3:15 at the Memorial by a large orchestra representing the combined talent of the school and city musicians. This will be the largest orchestra ever gathered together consisting of local musicians. Following will be the instrumentation: 6 first violins, 7 second violins, 1 viola, 2 trombones, 3 clarinets, 2 cellos, 3 basses, 2 flutes, 4 cornets, piano and drums. Twenty-five cents will be charged at the box office for adults and fifteen cents will be charged for children below the High school. The money taken in will go toward paying for band and orchestra music. – May 9, 1912 Dunn County News
HEAVY FROST
On last Sunday and Monday nights we had frosts sufficiently heavy to fill all the requirements of cold weather in March, and which made big fire and thick clothing much more desirable than the “spring breezes” out of doors. The early corn and the most tender kinds of vegetables, got a set back from which they will scarcely recover. It is apprehended that the berries, the only kind of fruit that our part of the country produces in abundance, are seriously injured, if not totally destroyed. That would be heavy inconvenience to many frugal housekeepers. But it might cause a fall in the price of sugar, which would be some small recompense for the loss of preserves. – May 24, 1862 Dunn County News
A WELL ASSORTED MENAGERIE
The building of carousals is an industry of no mean proportions that is being built up by Henry Schmidt of this city. A good many of them have been constructed by him in the past, but none of them were so elaborate and handsome as two that he now has nearly completed, which were built to order. One of them is very large and requires a six-horse power Shipman Petroleum engine to operate it. Instead of the conventional fiery and untamed wooden horses on which the eager young man and his best girl may ride, there is a well assorted menagerie of elephants, lions, tigers, etc., and an enchanting array of chariots and ships of state, in white and gold. The second one is like unto it, only smaller. Both are supplied with music by grand hand organs imported from Germany especially for Mr. Schmidt by 0.G. Losby, the well-known merchant of this city, at a cost of $700 and $500 respectively. The organs have been on exhibition at Losby’s store for several weeks. – May 25, 1894 Dunn County News
SOLDIER BOYS IN NEW GARB TODAY
The members of Company H will be clothed in new uniforms today. As they keep step to the martial strain of the band at the head of the Memorial Day parade they will make a smart appearance. They will fall in line at the armory about one o’clock, march to the Memorial and from there to Riverside park will act as escorts of the G.A.R. The new garb is blue, trimmed with light blue cord and is dressy. – May 30, 1907 Dunn County News
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