105 Years Ago – February 10, 1921
Train service on the old F.&N.E. railway was resumed Wednesday, the Central Wisconsin Railway company running its first train into the city, they being the successors to the old Foster interests in the railroad.
95 Years Ago – February 5, 1931
The mask ball given by the Danish Brotherhood of Withee last Saturday proved a big success. More than 60 couples were masked and over 300 spectator tickets were sold.
The Owen Fair Store was closed to the public at noon today after its contents had been sold at sheriff’s sale to Ben Seeman of Athens. A new manager has been at the store for the past week and the store will remain closed until February 9, when it will be opened again under the ownership of Mr. Seeman, unless other arrangements are made later. There are a number who wish to purchase the stock and enter business in this location and it is possible that a sale will be completed within the next few days.
Elmer Williams left Tuesday for Milwaukee where he is attending a reunion of the survivors of the Tuscania, which is being held in that city this week. Thirteen years ago, the Tuscania was sunk by a German submarine in the north channel between Ireland and Scotland and 200 American soldiers perished in the waters. On the ill-fated boat were three Owen men, Elmer Williams, Edward Potter and Newell Craid and Arthur Miller and Arthur Hansen of Withee. All of these local men were among those rescued.
85 Years Ago – February 6, 1941
A fire call was made shortly after noon on Tuesday when Edward Bergstrum accidentally ignited a carload of gasoline while attempting to couple pipes together for unloading purposes. The railroad car loaded with the gasoline was sitting on the siding alongside of the Texaco tanks and a spark caused by the pipes coming into contact ignited the car.
75 Years Ago – February 8, 1951
A serious property loss was averted Thursday night when a smell of smoke was detected at about 9 p.m. in the office of the Badger Shooter’s Supply building. Investigation revealed that a blaze had started in the flooring under a heating register. The assumption of Mr. Bulgrin is that someone had unthinkingly tossed a cigarette butt onto the floor as they entered the office lobby. It rolled under the register and started to burn in the flooring that had rotted out by water dripping from the register.
65 Years Ago – February 9, 1961
On Sunday afternoon, February 12, at 3:00 p.m. there will be a special service in the Owen Alliance Church as the congregation dedicates their new parsonage. The parsonage will be open for inspection following the service and refreshments will be served in the basement of the church.
55 Years Ago – February 11, 1971
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mattson, Owen announce the engagement of their daughter, Rhonda, to Robert Buss, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Buss, of Owen. A June 1 wedding is being planned.
45 Years Ago – February 5, 1981
Gordon and Kathy Niemi, Withee, are now the new owners of Hardware Specialty in Withee. They purchased the store from Tony Jensen.
Henry M. Wollum, 95, died on Thursday, January 29 at the Thorp Care Center. He came to Owen in 1914 and was manager of E.J. Faudril Canning Co., which later became the Owen Canning Company. He operated that corporation and was later manager for Master Package Corporation before he became the owner of the Owen Canning Company which he operated until 1956 when the business was no longer profitable and it was closed.
35 Years Ago – February 7, 1991
The Badger State Winter Games Torch Run passed through Owen and Withee last Tuesday, January 29. About 60 snowmobilers joined in to follow the head snowmobile which carried Paul Stasek and Eddie Wendt, torch carriers.
The Cloverbelt Conference wrestling tournament was held at Stanley-Boyd High School last Saturday. Twelve schools took part in the tournament. In the heavyweight championship match, Mike Renderman went up against Osseo-Fairchild-Augusta and came away with an exciting 12-11 decision.
25 Years Ago – February 7, 2001
Tom Burr of rural Withee, will make his way as an H.R.T. Force Team member (Humanitarian Relief Task Force) to the recent earthquake ravaged country of El Salvador.
Hilda Bowen, 86, and Les Bowen, 85, both of Curtiss, were recognized with special plaques from Representative Scott Suder and the Wisconsin State Assembly on their recent birthdays.
15 Years Ago – February 9, 2011
Twenty coyote on a pole is what you will see at the Dennis and Sheila Bakke country home—20 coyote as well as two fox and as many raccoon. Hunting down the coyote and fox is winter recreation for these local hunters.