95 Years Ago – January 23, 1930

1. Laine, on Tuesday entered into a contract to become the Willys-Overland dealer in this city, and is now making preparations for the arrival of a shipment of this popular make of automobile.

Monday morning the sawmill of the John S. Owen Lumber Co., began the cut of logs for this season, and immediately put to work a great many men. Only a day crew is being employed and the logs are being received here daily from the jobbers at Jump River and Exeland.

85 Years Ago – January 25, 1940

The Danish Brotherhood and Sisterhood lodges of Withee will give their annual mask ball at Dana Hall in Withee, Saturday evening, January 27, to which the public is invited to attend. Good music has been secured and a light plate lunch will be served.

Fire early Saturday evening did damage of about $500 to the Tiedeman restaurant building on Central Avenue. The fire was discovered by attendants at the Cities Service Oil Station, when flames were seen shooting up the walls of the kitchen. Considerable loss of dishes and furniture was had as well as numerous items of clothing belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Tiedeman.

75 Years Ago – January 26, 1950

Joseph Kasper Probst, a resident of this community for 54 years and an employee of the John S. Owen Lumber Company, for 53 years, died at the home of his daughter in Stevens Point, Friday, January 20. His remains were returned to Owen for burial.

Fire Chief Harry Dempsey submitted the annual report of fire runs made during the past year which revealed that the volunteer company responded to a total of 18 calls.

H.F. Buehrens, of the Buehrens Manufacturing Company, Dorchester, has announced that the company’s metal working plant will be moved to Colby in the spring.

65 Years Ago – January 28, 1960

While working in the plant at Western Condensing last Thursday Sidney Sorenson lost the little finger on his hand when it became caught in a wrench. He had been working at the plant since being discharged recently from the service and intended to leave there within the next week to resume his studies at Wisconsin State College at Eau Claire.

Eight persons have been subpoenaed to testify at a John Doe hearing into possible misuse of funds within the Taylor County Highway Department District Attorney Ray Scott disclosed Tuesday. Scott said the probe will cover a period from August 15, 1954, through December 3, 1959. Scott said he is “pretty sure” that all of the money obtained through sale of material and supplies has not been entered in the Highway Department accounts.

55 Years Ago – January 22, 1970

At the annual meeting of the Owen-Curtiss State Bank Tuesday night, Jerry Pugh was voted to the board of directors. He joined the firm December 1 when he was named Executive Vice President.

45 Years Ago – January 24, 1980

Patricia K. Steiner, 23-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Steiner, UW-River Falls student, placed first in auditions sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera National Council held on Saturday and Sunday, January 19 and 20 at Northrup Auditorium at the University of Minnesota campus in the Twin Cities.

35 Years Ago – January 25, 1990

There are new faces at Geri’s Café in Owen. Larry and Judy Butler and Dan and Gail Martinez took over ownership of the restaurant, now known as Kristie’s Café, on Monday, January 15, 1990.

25 Years Ago – January 26, 2000

A number of years ago Mrs. Bertha Bulgrin gifted the city with a 1907 black and white photo of Owen. Mrs. Bulgrin wanted the framed picture placed where it would be most visible to the citizens of Owen, so it was seen at the Owen-Withee Family Clinic. The clinic changed in name and ownership in the summer of 1999. The picture was then moved to the Owen Public Library. Another of the 1907 photos is on display at Owen’s City Hall. There is speculation there were as many as six photos, also that they were taken from the nearby water tower.

15 Years Ago – January 27, 2010

Foster Will celebrated his birthday with his coffee clutch friends at Cozy Corner Café. He turned 98.