Pages From The Past
by Fred H. Keller, as published in the Sussex Sun newspaper
Transcribed by SLAHS volunteer Sarah Pichler, August 2011
Month of April
April 5, 2006
100 years ago-1906
The ladies of Sussex hosted a reception for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Frost, who were moving out of the Sussex-Lisbon area.
The principal of Waukesha High School eliminated evening away games for both boys and girls, because the return time was too long to let them return to school the next day.
50 years ago-1956
The state told the Town of Menomonee and the Sussex-Lisbon community that a new high school would be needed soon.
Three year old Robert Becker, son of Mr and Mrs Norbert Becker of Lannon, sustained only slight injuries after being hit by a gravel trucks rear wheel.
The Rev. Alfred Reimer led St. Albans Parish.
Lannon OKd GI trailers.
25 years ago-1981
The Sussex Fire Department extinguished its second grass fired of the year, behind Bristol Court apartments.
Farmer Ed McLaughlin decided to raise buffalo on his Town Line Road home spread (Whiskey Corners).
10 years ago-1996
The Sussex and Lisbon fire departments were called to the former Our Lady of the Oaks property in Pewaukee to extinguish a massive conflagration.
Hamiltons Gary Amoroso was hired by Pewaukee High School as its new administrator. He had served at Templeton Middle School and for a year as Hamilton High Schools principal.
5 years ago-2001
Vandals torched the 40 year old concession stand at Sussex Village Park.
Eagle Scout candidate Alex Carus of Troop 39 organized an Easter egg hunt in Village Park for the visually impaired.
Sussex celebrated the 25th anniversary of its contract with Waukesha County Sheriffs Department to patrol the village.
April 12, 2006
100 years ago-1906
Mr and Mrs John William Jr of east Delafield bought and moved to the Craven homestead (today the Sussex Senior Center).
North Lisbon Methodist Church on North Lisbon Road was very active.
Florence Connell of Colgate was sick with the measles.
50 years ago-1956
Former Sussex Village President Frank Grogan celebrated his 91st birthday at his home on Silver Spring Drive.
The Sussex VFW sponsored the Sussex Junior Rifle Club. The clubs four highest scorers were Peter Kayser, Peter Nirschl, Jim Jones and Ted Tetzlaff.
Local residents who wanted to have their seed oats cleaned and treated could call Sussex Mills at 2691.
25 years ago-1981
Lannon did not hold an election, because nobody ran against incumbents Nick Quartaro for village president: Claire Thompson, Syd Gissal and Henry Holzem for their seats on the village board; and old standbys Charles DeLany for clerk and Harvey Rossman for treasurer.
Bob Groth and Jim Short Klink ran the Lisbon Piggly Wiggly.
10 years ago-1996
The Town of Lisbon rejected a proposal to put up a gas station on the historic northwest corner of Silver Spring and Town Line roads. Lisbons first settler, Tom Redford, had claimed that corner and built his home, which still stands today, in 1848.
Templeton Middle School Principal Keith Hicklin retired after serving for three years.
5 years ago-2001
Initial steps were taken to form the Sussex-Lisbon Historical Society.
Lisbon resident John Dickman died at age 67.
In a tight election in Lannon, Beverly Felton, Hans Schmitz and Douglas Repta were elected trustees, and Robert Winter was unopposed for the village presidency.
April 19, 2006
100 years ago-1906
The Sussex Shooting Club of Boots, Stier, Elliot, Redford, Weber, Wileden and Knenbach went to West Allis for a match by streetcar from Waukesha. Each team shot at 175 clay pigeons, with West Allis getting 120 and Sussex 155. Boots led Sussex with 18 of 25, while Stier hit 15 of 25.
The Sussex Sewing Circle met at Meta Lingelbachs home on Main Street.
50 years ago-1956
The Sussex VFW Post went all out to raise funds for an operation for 3 year old Michael Wegner, son of Lisbon Farmers Mr and Mrs Ray Wegner.
Lannon opposed a proposed village sewer and water project for the community, believing it too costly.
Members of the Sussex Girls Reserves collected old newspapers and magazines and delivered them to Milwaukee, earning $45 for their efforts.
25 years ago-1981
After bowling many 299 games at Sussex Bowl, Jim Kompis bowled a 300 game and won $300 for it.
The Rev. Charles Verhalen left St. James Catholic Church after nine years as its pastor.
10 years ago-1996
Emil Glodoski served seven years as president of the Sussex-Lisbon Youth Baseball Association. About 400-500 young people played on the associations teams each year.
Two-plus inches of snow fell during school spring break.
The new Pauline Haass Library neared completion.
5 years ago-2001
Waukesha County Sheriffs Department deputies got some unexpected help from a public-spirited citizen who deliberately crashed into a speeding vehicle the officers were chasing.
April 26, 2006
100 years ago-1906
The Republicans held their caucus on a Saturday afternoon at Lisbon Town Hall, and the Democrats followed with their own caucus immediately afterward, also in Lisbon Town Hall.
North Lisbon Methodist Church held a Maple Sugar supper in April at the home of George Jeffery. The public was invited.
50 years ago-1956
The low-mileage 1956 Buick cost $2,295, and 1954 models sold for $1,095 and $1,395.
The president of the Sussex VFW Auxiliary was Mrs. Melvin Horne.
Elizabeth Bogue, a farmers wife on Waukesha Avenue, died at age 59 after a long illness.
Paul Dunn led the Sussex Civil Defense Committee.
25 years ago-1981
Sal Maglio bet on the Sussex municipal election and had to have his mustache cut off to pay for losing.
Some friends of Bob Schlei, who lived on Main Street in Sussex, sneaked onto his land at midnight and cut down a 30-foot tree that he had been procrastinating about cutting down.
10 years ago-1996
Lannon was completing its sewer system, but there was much controversy about the push to put in a municipal water system using the same road cuts.
Carl Trapp donated his 16th pint of blood at the Sussex Blood Bank.
5 years ago-2001
Wisconsin Gov. Scott McCallum wanted to see gas prices remain below their $2-per-gallon high.
Deb DiSandro was a popular columnist for the Sussex Sun.
A new concession stand was constructed at the Sussex Village Park baseball field, replacing the vandal-burned one.