Compiled by Joseph Back 10 Years Ago PRESCOTT JOURNAL October 7, 2010

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “They seemed interested but only if the City of Prescott supported the project.”

Sally West, on possible involvement in senior housing by Pierce County Economic Development.

Group wants housing for seniors Survey indicates there is a community need, old hospital site is eyed by Crystal Setzer Could a senior housing complex be coming to Prescott?

A group of local seniors are hoping so, and they are studying conversion of former Croixdale Hospital at 445 Court St.

Salley West, an organizer of the Coalition on Senior Housing, would like to see the Croixdale Hospital building renovated to become a Senior Center and the site for senior housing.

According to Ms. West, the Seniors Gathering Council is working to address two issues: The need for a senior center in Prescott, and the development of middle-income senior housing. The Triangle Park Project has been proposed as a solution to both problems. Utilizing a building, four units of accessible housing would be built as two one-story duplexes, one at either end of a new driveway running parallel to the building.

The balance of the lower level would be developed as a senior center, which would include a kitchen. The parking lot would be moved to the remaining largely triangular site. The concept calls for landscaping, garages, and two accessible duplex units to be built so as to screen and separate the existing building from the park and provide pleasant views from the adjoining streets. The exterior of the building would be “greened” to make it more compatible with the neighborhood.

“Let’s be safe out there!”

by Kathleen Vinehout, Wisconsin State Senator “A crop in the field is not a crop in the barn,” I told my nonfarmer friend – it was just a day before the most recent storms when my friend marveled at the 7 foot high corn.

The corn is now in a flooded field and it may be weeks before it can be harvested.

Even non-farmers know the vagaries of weather keep the best of farmers up at night. With so much at stake there is no more stressful time than harvest season. And this season’s stress is compounded with recent storms.

40 Years Ago PRESCOTT JOURNAL September 25, 1980

Trains obstructing crossing draws fire from city council Prescott has one road connecting the waterfront area of the city with the rest of town. Unfortunately, the road, Front Street, is also on the main line of the Burlington Northern.

Many people in town have a “train story”: how they were held up at the crossing. The train stories are growing in frequency and are reaching the proportion as to come to the notice of the city council.

In an effort to see if some solutions to the problem of trains blocking the crossing can’t be worked out, Mayor Dean Hauschildt invited Burlington Northern to send a representative to the Sept. 16 meeting.

Jerry Doughman, assistant superintendent of BN, and with his office in La Crosse, came to the meeting, to answer questions and try to seek some relief of the block crossing problems.

Mayor Hauschildt noted that the problems with trains is that they seem to be longer, come with greater frequency, and are stopped more often, causing traffic delays. “What can be done?” he asked Doughman.

Doughman said he checked last year, and there were 27 to 30 trains a day coming through here. He said this year there is an average of 22 to 26 trains a day through Prescott, actually less than in 1979. He said 2.8 coal trains now pass here weekly, added since last year.

Doughman said the maintenance program has a bearing on train traffic. He said 300,000 ties have been replaced in the La Crosse division, and which tends to back up trains. There have been two or three derailments in Prescott just off the bridge, another BN concern and which has resulted in a five mile an hour speed limit until there is an alignment change. The former was 10 miles per hour.

1916 council faced off with railroad Why can’t trains that stop on the crossing for a considerable length of time be fined? Is a question that comes up every time the crossing problem is discussed.

“Well, for one thing, how can I find out the engine number when the engine is in Oak Grove Heights and the caboose is way over in Minnesota?”, Prescott police chief Myron Dehning says when he’s asked.

There is a Wisconsin statute, 192.292 dealing with trains obstructing crossings…(along with a city ordinanace)…It’s also interesting to note that many years ago, in 1916, the city council granted Burlington Northern permission to build a box or undercrossing of concrete, with the provision that “the undercrossing is at all times to be kept open to the full 12 feet wide and 10 feet high on the inside (by the railroad)…

55 Years Ago THE PIERCE COUNTY HERALD September 23, 1965

1965 EHS HOMECOMING ROYALTY (photo) l to r,: Attendant Roxanne Gardas and escort Barry Place; Queen Pat Dougherty and King Bob Lansing; attendant Nancy Klecker and escort Ron Knutson. Miss Dougherty was crowned Thursday by EHS football coach Gary Burke at the bonfire. The sextet (group of six) is shown after the crowning at the homecoming dance.–Action photo.

VETERANS OF WWI TO MEET Veterans of WWI Barracks and Auxiliary will hold their regular meeting Tuesday evening Sept. 28, at 8:00 p.m. at the Legion Hall.

70 Years Ago THE REPORTER September 21, 1950

See Here – – by diz boles An extra point attempt by Art Jevert that hit the left side of the crossbar and bounced back onto the field, robbed the River Falls “Falcons” of a victory at Ramer Field Saturday night in the season’s opener. As it was, the Falcons had to be content with a 6 to 6 tie with Augsburg.

Although the Falcon pass defense was very stiff against the Auggies, they relaxed for just one play, and that was enough to gain the Auggies a tie.

85 Years Ago THE ELLSWORTH RECORD Volume XXXXII, Number 37

September 19, 1935 Married Neufeldt—Schmidt A very pretty wedding took place at 3 o’clock Sunday afternoon at the Alfred Neufeldt home, Town of Ellsworth, when Miss Elaine Neufeldt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Aldred Neufeldt, and Howard Schmidt, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Schmidt of Milwaukee, were united in marriage by Rev. P. Lindh of the Swedish Mission church. Forty persons were present. The bride wore a flat crepe traveling gown of rust color with hat to match and carried a bouquet of white asters. She was accompanied by Miss Susan Kullman of this place. Miss Kullman was attired in a traveling gown of dark green with hat to match and carried a bouquet of mixed flowers. Both the bridegroom and his attendant, Swen Neufeldt, a brother of the bride, were dressed in the conventional dark blue.

A buffet luncheon was served at the finish of the ceremony after which the couple left immediately for their home in St. Paul.

100 Years Ago PRESCOTT TRIBUNE September 16, 1920

Prescott Will Have the New Bridge!

The certainty of the new Prescott Bridge is more assured each day.

When the residents across the river in Minnesota are asking for shares in it, it seems to us that the people of Prescott and vicinity should get busy and help push the sales.

Only a limited number of shares remain, before the necessary amount to incorporate, will be sold. But that does not mean that anyone should fail to help the push the sales. It is not well to be overconfident, nor do we believe in new activity. It’s the “keeping at it” that will win out…

115 Years Ago RIVER FALLS JOURNAL September 28, 1905

The commissioner of internal revenue rules that many patent medicine firms must take out a liquor license, as their medicines are composed largely of distilled spirits.

It is suggested by a Polk county newspaper that the civil war veterans of the county organize with the intention of making arrangements for everyone to go to the National Encampment at Minneapolis next year. All the counties of Nor Northern Wisconsin ought to arrange.

130 Years Ago PIERCE COUNTY HERALD September 10, 1890

ONO Locals Miss Ida Jennings started for Salt Lake City, Utah last week.

Miss Helen Van has purchased a pony.

Miss Angie Miller is spending a few weeks with relatives in this place. CLIFTON Locals Our schools are commencing.

A Mr. Brown lectured at our church last week. Subject: Temperance.

George Walter is selling out and preparing to move away.

Miss Tozer, of River Falls, is teaching the fall term at Pierce Valley.

160 Years Ago PRESCOTT TRANSCRIPT September 22, 1860

(hand pointer) Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson, having been applied to throw some light on the character of the fusion electoral ticket of New York, is said to have answered characteristically: “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” Why does a sailor know there is a man in the moon? Because he has been to sea.

Little eyes observe: ‘Papa, why don’t they give the telegraph wires a dose of rum?’ ‘Why my child?’ ‘Cause the papers say they’re out of order, and mamma always takes rum when she’s out of order.’