95 Years Ago – February 27, 1930
In the passing of Daniel Webster Merriman, aged 85 years, one of the two remaining Civil War veterans of this community, departed from the ranks of life and is now numbered with those who have gone before.
85 Years Ago – February 29, 1940
Two Owen youths, Donald Fellbaum, 14, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Fellbaum, and Elroy Bauer, 11, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.O. Bauer, are now again safe at home after thinking that the ways of life would be easy to conquer when they ran away last Thursday morning. The youths had left their respective homes in the morning for school and after attending school for the first couple of periods left and boarded a freight train headed for Chicago.
75 Years Ago – March 2, 1950
On February 7, 1950, the Griebenow Company marked its 47th anniversary in the hardware, furniture, farm implement, plumbing, heating and funeral business. This business is one of the oldest retail establishments in Central Wisconsin.
The committee in charge of the Thorp Winter Ice Carnival, postponed the event to this coming Saturday. They stated their reason for the delay was because of the many holes made in the ice by children. The rink will be flooded again this week and all preparations will be made for Saturday.
65 Years Ago – March 3, 1960
Plans for the “Grand Opening” of the new Gamble Store which opened it’s doors last Friday have been made for the 11th and 12th of March. The store is owned by Jim Dodmead.
Nell Haire, chief operator at the Owen exchange of the General Telephone Company, has retired after 35 years of service with the firm. A week ago Sunday more than 100 of her friends recognized the long faithful and courteous service she rendered the community throughout the years.
55 Years Ago – February 26, 1970
It’s a race against time now as the annual Car Dip contest, sponsored by the Owen Kiwanis Club, is underway. Time is a big factor as the winner of the contest is usually determined not only by the day, but hour, minute and second of when the car now seen on the Mill Pond ice, breaks through and records the time on a time-clock.
45 Years Ago – February 28, 1980
The O-W IGA Foodliner was broken into and an undetermined amount of paper currency and $150 in half dollars was stolen during the early morning hours of Monday, February 25, 1980. The break-in and robbery was discovered by Jack Jalling, assistant manager of the Foodliner grocery store at 6:40 a.m., when he arrived for work. Upon entering the front door, and coming around to the office, he discovered the safe open, and cash drawers and bank deposit pouches lying around on the floor in front of the safe.
John W. Eloranta, Rt. 1, Owen, is among seven graduate students continuing participation in the Domestic Mining and Mineral Fuel Conservation Fellowship this semester at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
35 Years Ago – March 1, 1990
Harriet Laube, President of the Owen-Withee Board of Education was invited by Superintendent of Public Instruction Herbert Grover to be part of a DPI onsite team to review the Teacher Education Program at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
25 Years Ago – March 1, 2000
Harald V. Christensen celebrates another milestone in his life. On February 3, 1930, Harald was raised to a 3rd Degree Mason and has been a member of the Owen Masonic Lodge #317 ever since. This achievement of belonging to any organization for 70 years in itself is remarkable.
Sandi K. Maguire and Arthur Petke III exchanged marriage vows on January 8, 2000, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Longwood.
15 Years Ago – March 3, 2010
Darrell and Chauncey Marrier have a passion and that passion is doing good things for good people. They are always hard at work raising funds for the resurrection of St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church at Thorp. A large portion of that hard work paid off last week when the 1907 Catholic Church got a new roof.
Over a dozen softball players and fans gathered recently in Atwood to celebrate the upcoming softball season. A friendly five-on-five game was held on the unplowed field, making for an entertaining day. The Grove Athletic Field, the current home of Atwood Softball, will be celebrating its 35th year in its present location.