95 Years Ago – July 18, 1929

D.R. Richardson, pioneer merchant of this city, sold his stock of merchandise on Friday of last week and has now retired from the mercantile business. Mr. Richardson was the oldest merchant in the city, having established his business here shortly after the closing of the store of the John S. Owen Lumber Co., at which place he was manager before going into business for himself.

85 Years Ago – July 20, 1939

Painters this week are completing the painting of the name of the Master Package Corporation on the entire west side of the large warehouse building adjoining the plant proper on the north.

The distinction of being the first farmer in the state of Wisconsin for owning one of the new Farmall-A farm tractors which were announced by the International Harvester Company last Friday is that of Gus Baum, who resides on his farm north of Withee. The purchase was made through the Will Implement Company of Owen, who was the first dealer in the state to have one of the machines.

75 Years Ago – July 21, 1949

Sergeant David G. Stenstrom, nephew of Mr. Einar Finnila of route 1, Owen, has recently been promoted to the grade of sergeant.

65 Years Ago – July 16, 1959

Notice: All business places in the Village of Withee will be closed from the hour of 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, to pay respect to William Veurink who passed away Wednesday morning. By order of the Village President Herman Rabska.

55 Years Ago – July 17, 1969

Jim Hill, son of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Hill, Rt. 2, Owen, a 1969 graduate of W.S.U. Eau Claire, has been accepted into the Peace Corp on June 28. He left for Lincoln University, PA, where he will receive his training before going to the Eastern Caribbean for two years.

45 Years Ago – July 18, 1979

For the second time in less than a month the O-W Area Pharmacy in Withee was broken into by unknown person or persons.

It was a perfect day, as the weatherman cooperated to provide a bright and sunny day for the formal dedication of the Poplar River Watershed project and Sportsman Lake on Saturday afternoon, July 14.

Jim J. Barrett, Route 2, Owen, lost control of his auto one Wednesday evening, and in the process his vehicle entered the ditch, jumped a culvert and then ended up taking a dip in the lake on the west side of County Trunk D, a part of the Poplar River Watershed project, two miles north of Owen.

35 Years Ago – July 20, 1989

On Saturday during Withee Days, the first annual Withee Days Volleyball Tournament was held. The new court located in the Lions Club Park near their tennis court was a project of the Withee Lions Club, the Lutheran Brotherhood Branch #8509, and the O-W Jaycees.

25 Years Ago – July 21, 1999

Village of Curtiss residents will no longer have to worry about a water shortage. On July 12 officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and the Village of Curtiss celebrated the designation of Curtiss as a Water 2000 Community at the Curtiss Village Hall. The Village will receive a total of $1,381,500 in federal grants and loans to finance the construction of a new water system which will serve over 90 residents and other users.

Saturday morning an open house was held at the Meadowview Golf Course to welcome Dr. Barbara Gracz to Owen’s Victory Medical Group.

15 Years Ago – July 22, 2009

Crystal Friedenfels and Dewey Shepherd, both of Withee, announce their engagement. An August 22, 2009 wedding is planned at Friedenfels pond.

A well deserved retirement party was held for veteran 4-H leader, Barb Finkelson. The Woodgrove Workers 4-H Club managed to surprise their former leader after 23 years of volunteer service to the club and community.