USA > Wisconsin > Langlade County > History of Langlade County, Wisconsin, from U. S. government survey to present time, with biographical sketches > Part 27
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November 10, 1915, the city council purchased a fire truck from the Seagrave Motor Company at a cost of $5,600.00.
The announcement was made on February 17, 1916, that the city was to have a new industry, The Lang- lade Lumber Company. This followed a formal rati- fication of an informal agreement between officials of the concern and the members of the Antigo Com- mercial Club. Mayor Calhoun was made Chairman of a Finance Committee to raise a large sum of money to insure the city that the lumber company would lo- cate here.
March 2, 1916, the city council granted the Board of Education authority to engage an architect and ob- tain plans and specifications for a new high school. The corner stone of the school was laid on July 7, 1916.
April 4, 1916, G. O. Palmiter was against chosen City Clerk by the people, defeating Thomas Daskam.
Five thousand one hundred dollars was paid to the Immel Construction Company of Fond du Lac, this being the first of the payments on the new Antigo High School. The school was dedicated October 19, 1917.
Charles W. Fish was banqueted on November 2, 1916, at which time he announced his intention to erect a modern sawmill in Antigo, the mill to have a capacity of seven million feet annually.
During the Calhoun administration W. J. Gallon was elected first President of the Antigo Association of Commerce, which was organized on April 20, 1917.
Mayor Calhoun resigned in the fall of 1917 and a special primary election was held on November 13, 1917. Four aspirants for the office of Mayor were placed in the field. Mayor Calhoun left soon after for Sheboygan, Wis., to make his home.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF MAYOR JOHN BENISHEK 1917-20.
Four prominent Antigo citizens were placed on the ticket as candidates for Mayor in the special primary election held in the fall of 1917. Munson M. Ross, Antigo's second Mayor, Martin Robrecht, a pioneer
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
citizen and a man who had served in various public capacities for many years, H. F. Morson, a former County Superintendent of Schools, former City At- torney and a prominent member of the Langlade Coun- ty bar, and John Benishek, a well known real estate dealer, who had served on the city council for many years prior to the change from aldermanic to govern- ment by commission, were the candidates. H. F. Morson and John Benishek were chosen at the primary as the candidates to be voted upon at the general election.
The election was close, John Benishek defeating Mr. Morson by one vote.
Mayor Benishek inaugurated a program of economy
JOIN BENISHEK Mayor of Antigo-1917-20.
without parsimony in the conduct of city affairs. His years of experience as a city official gave him a valuable insight to prevalent conditions.
Upon the death of City Attorney F. J. Finucane, Charles Avery, who had been Acting City Attorney for some time, was elected City Attorney. He per- formed a service of great value in that position.
Mayor Benishek spent much of his time as Mayor securing estimates and making plans for a general program of street improvement and paving. Material was secured with difficulty, yet many of the streets were placed in first class condition.
During his administration a resolution was passed whereby all of the principal streets were prepared for paving by getting sewer connections with all build- ings and vacant lots, thus to eliminate the necessity of tearing up a street.
The coal shortage of 1918 was so serious that many Antigo citizens petitioned the Mayor and the city council to establish a municipal coal yard. By pur- chasing coal, direct from the mines, Mayor Benishek's policy saved the city approximately $2,000 each year in fuel alone.
The Antigo Armory, operated by the city, was un-
der the direct management of Mayor Benishek, dur- ing his term. He found that the institution was op- erating at a loss each year. By booking first class shows and under proper management the Armory made money for the city.
During his administration new polling stations were erected in the Third and Fourth Wards.
Three thousand square yards of gravel were laid on Superior Street, Antigo's principal highway. A modern grader for road and street work was purchas- ed and plans for scarifying Fifth Avenue were made.
The sewerage disposal plant was repaired and ex- tensive changes were made in it, with the result that all complaints from Rolling township farmers ceased.
The storm sewer from Minola Street to the sand pit, east of the fair grounds, (purchased by the city during the Benishek administration) was completed.
Mayor Benishek served as Mayor for two and one- fourth years. He became a candidate for re-election in 1920 and made his campaign upon his previous record. The campaign was one of the most interest- ing of recent elections. He was defeated by but two votes.
THE ADMINISTRATION OF MAYOR CHARLES J. HANZEL 1920-22.
On February 20, 1920, Charles J. Hanzel, an An- tigo business man, announced his candidacy for May- or of Antigo. The six years of government by com- mission (1914-20) had produced three Mayors, Dr. I. D. Steffen, C. Fred Calhoun, and John Benishek.
CHARI ES J. HANZEL Elected Mayor of Antigo for term 1920-26.
Dr. Fred Kestly was placed in the field by a gather- ing of citizens who met at the Elks' Club January 21, 1920. Dr. Kestly later withdrew from the race.
Mayor Benishek, who had made an efficient public servant, announced his candidacy for re-election Jan- uary 31, 1920. This made it a race between Mayor
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Benishek, who made his previous record the issue, and Charles J. Hanzel, who made the race on a plat- form of lower taxation and better streets.
When the votes were counted it was discovered that it was a tie and would have to be decided by lot. Mr. Hanzel won. Mayor Benishek demanded a recount, which showed the correct vote to be 641 to 639, Hanzel winning by two votes. Thus Hanzel was twice declar- ed Mayor of Antigo in two days.
During the summer of 1920 important street im- provements were made in Antigo. Fifth Avenue and the Westrumite paving on Clermont Street were re- paired at once. A new gyratory stone crusher was purchased to replace the old stone crusher which had been in service since 1907.
May 4, 1920, Attorney R. C. Dempsey was chosen City Attorney, G. O. Palmiter, City Clerk and Vice- Mayor, and Frank Dvorak, City Treasurer. Lyman A. Steffen was made City Physician and City Health Officer. T. T. McGillan and M. T. Canfield were made members of the Park and Cemetery Board. All banks of the city were made city depositories. During the same month nine new wells were completed and add- ed to the municipal water works.
An extensive program of water main and sewer construction was carried out. During 1920 and 1921 thirteen thousand feet of water mains were laid. Dur- ing the same time one mile of sanitary sewers were laid annually. Two miles of storm sewers were laid under the supervision of Harry W. Jackson, Superin- tendent of the Water Department. during this admin- istration.
June, 1920, an audit of the city's books was made by an auditor from the Wisconsin Tax Commission at the request of the city, to give the public a state- ment as to the actual financial condition of the city.
In November, 1921, in accordance with a plank in his platform a
promise to the electorate, Mayor Hanzel selected his unofficial Advisory Board. The twelve citizens chosen were A. K. Potter, Francis Brush, R. J. McQuillan, Peter J. Dunn, Al. Duchac, Wm. H. Wol- pert, John Hessel, W. W. Smith, O. P. Walch, Walter Daskam, Edward McCandless, and James A. Cody. The first meeting of the Advisory Board was held on May 6, 1921.
An outstanding event in the administration was the fight for the ornamental lighting of Fifth Avenue.
The proposed white way was endorsed by the Advis- ory Board on August 8, 1921. The contract, calling for 46 single standards, with one light, was awarded to the Freeman-Sweet Company of Chicago, Ill., on September 27, 1921, for $9,210. Fifth Avenue was lighted with the white way for the first time at eight o'clock, Saturday evening, December 10, 1921. The lights were turned on by little Elizabeth Berner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred L. Berner.
Among other achievements of the Hanzel admin- istration thus far have been the creation of a Poor Commission in Antigo. Mrs. H. V. Mills was select- ed Poor Commissioner in December, 1921; the addi- tion of one man on the police force, the establish- ment of a desk sergeant, which was approved by the Police and Fire Commission in November, 1920; the licensing of all Antigo liveries, according to an ordi- nance passed on June 16, 1920; the great July 4th, 1920, celebration, in which Mayor Hanzel unveiled a bronze tablet at the Antigo Armory; extensive im- provements in the City Hall; passed resolution,
January 12, 1921, whereby a new fire department will be constructed, the present one to be turned into a rest room, in accordance with state law; laid thirty thousand feet of curb and gutter in 1921-22, or more curb and gutter in the city than any other admin- istration, and, among other things, assumed care of the old cemetery on April 19, 1922.
At a meeting of the Association of Commerce April 19, 1922, the paving of Fifth Avenue was endors- ed. The next day the Advisory Board of the Mayor unanimously endorsed the proposed paving of Fifth Avenue.
The contract for the paving of Fifth Avenue from Superior Street to Lincoln Street, Edison Street from Sixth Avenue to Fourth Avenue, Clermont Street from Seventh to Fourth Avenue, and Superior Street from Sixth to Fifth Avenue, was awarded to the F. P. Coughlin Co., Chicago, Ill., at approximately $81,000. This is the most extensive program of street improve- ment inaugurated in Antigo.
Mayor Hanzel became a Democrat candidate for Congress from the Ninth Congressional District, his announcement being made on April 22, 1922. He is the second Antigo man to be nominated for that office from this district, the other being Hon. Thomas W. Lynch, who was elected in 1892, the first Democrat ever accorded that honor in the Ninth Wisconsin Dis- trict.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXVI. Newspapers of New and Langlade Counties
New County Republican of 1879-First Publication-Langlade Republican-Woodland Homes- The Weekly News Item-Langlade County Special-The Pioneer-The Antigo Forward-The Antigo Herold-Antigo Republican-The Antigo Journal-Antigo Daily Journal-Farmers Journal-The Antigo Banner-Antigo Herald-Newspaper Changes-Press Associations- School Publications-Directories.
The first attempt to publish a newspaper of the pres- ent type was made in 1615. Seven years later The Weekly News was started in England. The first American newspaper was issued in Massachusetts in 1690 and was called "Publick Occurrences." It dis- pleased the government and was supressed. The first Wisconsin newspaper, "The Intelligencer" was issued from Green Bay in 1833.
The first newspaper established in Langlade (New) County was in 1879 and was called the New County Republican. The first issue appeared January 3, 1880. George Ratcliffe, owner and editor, came to Antigo from Clintonville, where he had edited The Clinton- ville Herald.
When the legislature changed the name of New County to Langlade County the paper became The Langlade Republican. In 1884, The Langlade Re- publican was changed to The Forward with the issue of August 14th. George Ratcliffe was then editor, Gus Lind was the publisher and Ira C. Edwards was business manager. In 1886, The Forward was taken over by C. A. Martin, a brother of Attorney J. E. Mar- tin of Antigo. The same year John A. Ogden pur- chased The Forward from C. A. Martin and changed the name to
THE ANTIGO REPUBLICAN.
John A. Ogden edited The Antigo Republican until August, 1899, when he sold the plant and paper to C. O. Marsh. Mr. Marsh published and edited the An- tigo Republican until 1906, when it was sold to a cor- poration called the Republican Publishing Company. During that time it was managed by Messrs. Hopkins and Loper, C. A. Stedman and John T. Brown. In 1912, The Republican Publishing Company sold the paper to Berner Brothers Publishing Company, owners of the Antigo Daily Journal. The Antigo Republican was then discontinued. Thus ended the career of the first newspaper that sought the home of the pioneer by path, trail and blazed guide lines, telling them of the great strides of the future.
THE ANTIGO PIONEER.
The Antigo Pioneer, established May 8, 1884, was published every Thursday. The Pioneer was publish- ed by Henry Berner, Sr., and edited by Hugo Grosser, who came here from Manitowoc. The Pioneer was a German language weekly, five column quarto, half
patent. It was moved to Shawano before the end of 1884 and continued to be published there under a new name. The Pioneer was Democrat in politics.
THE WEEKLY NEWS ITEM.
The Weekly News Item was established by Arthur B. and Paul J. Millard, August 12, 1882. They came to Antigo from Wausau. The paper was located orig- inally on Fifth Avenue near the railroad track (M. L. S. & W.) in a small building, previously used by Peter Dolan, saloonkeeper. The News Item later moved in- to the Spencer House building, the present site of the Hill building, intersection of Fifth Avenue and Edison Street. It was next located in the second story of the structure now occupied by the H. A. Kohl Hardware Company on Superior Street.
In 1884, The Millard Brothers moved to their own building erected on Superior street (now the Mrs. A. R. Winter buildirg). The paper occupied that loca- tion until 1898, when it was then sold jointly to John A. Ogden, owner of The Artigo Republican and W. H. Dawley, then proprietor of The Langlade County Spe- cial. The Special assumed the good will of The News Item. A division of the material and machinery was made by the two papers. Paul J. Millard severed his connections with the News Item when he was appoint- ed Postmaster in 1893.
When the News Item was taken over by Mr. Dawley it was published from the Fidelity Bank Building (then known as Dawley Building) and for many years up to 1918 it was issued from that place. It was then mov- ed to 521 Clermont Street, where it is still issued. W. H. Dawley is sole proprietor and editor.
THE JOURNAL-WEEKLY-DAILY.
In September, 1898, J. H. Fitzgibbons moved to Antigo from Neenah and started publishing a weekly Democratic paper, called The Journal, in the basement of the First National Bank building. It was not suc- cessful and was taken over by George W. Hill. Fitz- gibbons moved to Mattoon, Wis. It was purchased in 1901 by Berner Brothers who returned to Antigo from Columbia County, where they operated a news- paper plant, and moved from the First National Bank building to the Journal building on Superior street. It was edited weekly until Sept. 18, 1904, when the first issue of The Antigo Daily Journal, Langlade County's - first and only permanent daily newspaper, appeared.
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
Fred L. Berner is Editor, Earl S. Holman, City Editor, Henry Berner is Business Manager and Otto F. Berner is Advertising Manager of the Antigo Daily Journal. Berner Brothers also publish two weekly papers, The Farmers Journal and The Antigo Journal. The Jour- nal is Republican in politics.
FIRST DAILY ISSUED.
The first daily newspaper issued in Langlade Coun- ty was during the 14th Wisconsin Regiment re-union at Antigo in June, 1902. The Berner Brothers Pub- lishing Company issued the Journal daily for three days in recognition of the event.
"OUR PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS."
March 1, 1887, a Catholic Journal, eight pages, all home print, was inaugurated at Phlox, Norwood town- ship by Rev. Father Philip St. Louis. It was named "Our Parochial Schools." Its service to the communi- ty was such that it soon ceased to be a school paper and became instead a community newspaper. It was originally published monthly, then semi-monthly. Father St. Louis changed the name in 1890, after its growth from the denomination to the broader non- sectarian field to The Langlade County Special.
THE LANGLADE COUNTY SPECIAL.
The Langlade County Special was originally owned by Father Philip St. Louis of Phlox, who had as an associate John Menting. In 1891, John Menting, Thomas W. Hogan, Sam Leslie and Thomas Ward pur- chased the Special and its good will from Father St. Louis. In the year previous, 1890, The Special was moved to Antigo from Phlox, locating on the site of the Neff-Roberts building. It was later moved to the Lynch building, now the site of Nolte's Shoe Store. In 1892, W. H. Dawley, purchased Thomas Hogan's in- terest and he forwith published The Special until August 13, 1898, when it was merged with The Week- ly News Item.
THE ANTIGO HEROLD.
The Antigo Herold, a German language publication, was published first in October, 1888, by Edward Goe- bel. Mr. Goebel came to Antigo from Appleton, where he had edited the Appleton Weiker. The Herold was published continually by Mr. Goebel until Decem- ber 5, 1919, when the name and good will of The Herold together with the mailing list was sold to the Langlade Printing Company. Mr. Goebel then began editing The Antigo Banner, serving the same sub- scribers as did The Herold. The Antigo Banner is still edited weekly in the German language. Both The Herold and The Banner are Democratic.
THE ANTIGO HERALD.
The Antigo Herald, as an English language publica- tion, was launched December 5, 1919. The Antigo
Herold, German language wekly; was purchased by W. F. Kasson and Will C. Brawley, proprietors of The Langlade Printing Company. The Herald is a six column well edited paper published every Friday. Will C. Brawley is editor. It is located in the Lang- lade Bank building. The Herald is Democratic in politics. A job department is operated in connection with the paper.
ANTIGO HIGH SCHOOL PAPERS.
Three Antigo High School papers have been known to exist. The first, "The Antigo High School Mer- cury" was published in 1896 and continued until 1898. It was a monthly publication.
The Scrap Heap was first edited by the class of 1915, during the year 1914. It continued to be pub- lished by the Junior Class each year until 1918, when it was abandoned. It started out as a monthly but was afterwards published twice a month.
The Astonisher, high school paper, made its first ap- pearance in May, 1921, and is published by the stu- dents of all classes in high school.
"THE GRADUATE" -- ANNUAL.
"The Graduate," annual published review of high school activities, is the product of the Senior Class. The first Graduate was published in 1909.
CITY AND COUNTY ADVERTISING.
The City of Antigo has been advertised frequently in well edited pamphlets and folders, the last of which was published in 1922. County progress was featur- ed also.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS.
Antigo is the publishing location of The Beaver, of- ficial organ of the Beavers Reserve Fund Fraternity, The Clippings, house organ of the Langlade Lumber Company land department, the Langlade County Nor- mal bulletin and the Outlook, Episcopalian pamphlet. The Antigo Publishing Company, for years managed by the late Rev. A. Grimm, publish booklets and pamphlets in German.
"WOODLAND HOMES."
In January, 1884, F. A. Deleglise and W. W. Hutch- inson, prominent early pioneers and real estate dealers, began publishing a pamphlet boosting Antigo. It was called Woodland Homes. Its foreign circulation was extensive.
FIRST CITY DIRECTORY.
The first City Directory was published in Antigo by the Inter-state Directory Company. The directory contained approximately fourteen hundred names. It appeared in 1898. Fred L. Berner and Frank Doner were the canvassers who gathered the data. The last
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HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
city and county directory was published in 1920. It contained approximately ten thousand names.
A NEWSPAPER OUTRAGE.
On January 19, 1899, the mechanical departments of the Antigo Republican, The Herold and the News Item were broken into and type was piled up in a promiscu- ous and chaotic state. Forms, jobs and advertise- ments were "pi heaped." The Herold, where the cur- rent edition was ready for mailing, was thrown into Springbrook. The motive or the culprits were nev- er apprehended. The papers charged the Journal, ri- val publication, then owned by J. H. Fitzgibbons, and some of The Journal's "close friends" as the instiga- tors of the deed.
GERMAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.
The Wisconsin German Press Association convened in Antigo Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 19, 20 and 21, 1892. The following is a brief outline of the program : Reception at the trains; meetings at Marmes' Hall; Address of Welcome by Mayor C. F. Smith; Response by President A. Wittman of the As- sociation. This was followed by a social meeting. Saturday, the German editors inspected the mills and business districts, journeyed to the Eau Claire River (not in automobiles) and on Sunday, the day was spent at Sylvian Lake, now known as Mueller's Lake.
THE WISCONSIN PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1885-1921.
The Wisconsin Press Association visited Antigo and Langlade County, first in 1885, also in 1888, and again in 1921. They gathered here on Aug. 13, 1885. Many of the editors present then were either at that time well known figures in Wisconsin and the nation or became prominent afterward. Chase S. Osborn, then editor
of the Florence Mining News, was in Antigo. He lat-
er became Governor of Michigan. Wm. "Bill" Nye, W. C. Hoard, one time Wisconsin Governor, Col. J. A. Watrous, of the old Iron Brigade, Hon. Frank Leland, Sam Ryan, Hon. E. Hurlbut, J. C. Bartholf and others were present. Mayor Thomas W. Lynch welcomed the editors to the little city. J. C. Lewis, George Rat- cliffe, Millard Brothers, were Antigo leaders, who took part in the entertainment.
The praise and publicity given Antigo, then a little city of less than three thousand, did much to aid its fu- ture progress.
Thirty six years later the Wisconsin Press Associa- tion again visited Antigo, July 26, 1921. The party arrived here from Laona, Wis., July 25, 1921. The following day a program was given at Elcho, Wis., and at the Antigo Armory. Charles W. Fish, Elcho lum- berman feted the editors at Muskie Inn, E!cho, Wis. A wonderful opportunity to view the developed and raw resources of the county was given the visitors. A program presided over by Judge Arthur Goodrick was given in the Antigo Armory in the evening. J. R. McQuillan and L. A. Maier were General Chairman and Secretary of the reception committee. John A. Kuyper, President of the Association, responded to the address of welcome by Mayor Charles J. Hanzel. Toasts were given by: Walter Gallon, President of the Association of Commerce; Will C. Brawley, of The Antigo Herald; Bert E. Walters of the Reedsburg Times; D. C. Menefee of the Vilas County Review; Louis H. Zimmerman, Secretary of the Wisconsin Press; Fred L. Berner of the Antigo Daily Journal; Robert M. Dessureau of The Antigo Herald; Merlin Hull, ex-Secretary of State; Henry C. Campbell, of the Milwaukee Journal; Dr. I. D. Steffen, ex-Mayor of Antigo. Louis A. Maier introduced the "Antigo Mushroom" typical oldtime weekly newspaper, copy for which was "set up" on the Armory rostrum during the banquet. The meeting at Antigo ended a week motor excursion through northern Wisconsin.
HISTORY OF LANGLADE COUNTY.
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CHAPTER XXVII. The Antigo Post Office
First Established-Early Receipts-First Postmaster-Rural Routes-Old Locations-Postal Sav- ings Banks-Postmasters-New Post Office.
Mail was carried through Eastern Langlade County over the old Lake Superior Trail twenty years before the location of the first Post Office. This was long be- fore Langlade County was organized as the County of New, and when it was a vast wilderness stretching north to Lac Vieux Desert, and the State Line region known as part of Oconto County. Before the govern- ment survey in 1860, there was a mail station in section 17, Township 33, Range 13 East, of the present limits of Langlade County. This statement is substan- tiated by the U. S. field notes of Langlade County.
Building, now known as the Fidelity Bank Building on Fifth Avenue, W. H. Dawley, acting as Postmaster from August 20, 1885 to August 17, 1889. In 1889, the Post Office was moved to the same frame building as used in 1885, W. H. Blinn, acting as Postmaster from August, 1889 to April 23, 1893. The Post Office re- mained there until 1897, when it was moved to the frame structure south of the Fidelity Bank Building on the west side of Clermont Street. From April 24, 1893 to June 30, 1897, P. J. Millard acted as Postmas- ter. P. J. Millard was succeeded by Fred W. Kiefer.
THE ANTIGO POST OFFICE Erected in 1915 at a cost of $60,000.00.
The first Post Office was established in the old log store of Neils Anderson, three years after the arrival of F. A. Deleglise in Antigo. The system of caring for mail then was much different than it is today, when Postmaster, Postal Clerk, Rural Carriers, City Carriers, Parcel Post Departments, Money Order Departments, Postal Savings Departments and Stamp Departments labor incessantly from day to day.
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