Pages from the Past
Posted: Living Sussex Sun, June 3, 2009
By Fred Keller, Sussex Village Historian
Pages from the Past June 3, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
L. E. Thompson, was killed near the Merton grain elevator while hunting gophers. His gun discharged, shooting him in the back of his head, while he was climbing over a fence. His body was discovered about a half-hour later.
Patrick Carberry of Town Line Road was more than 100 years old.
50 years ago – 1959
Pan-ready chicken stewers cost 25 cents a pound at the A&P, Wisconsin’s biggest grocery chain.
A year-round three-bedroom home at Lake Keesus was advertised for $10,950.
A two-bedroom apartment in Menomonee Falls rented for $85 a month.
25 years ago – 1984
The 45-year-old Sussex Lions Club elected Harry Hinchcliffe president.
Rudy Dubnicka was elected to the Milwaukee Bowling Hall of Fame.
Hamilton High School graduated 320 seniors this month.
Robert Jovanovich planned to build a 36-unit multifamily complex west of Sussex’s Main Street shopping district after winning Village Board approval on a narrow 4-3 vote.
10 years ago – 1999
Hamilton High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian were Justin Cassidy and David Foxe, respectively.
Jenny Prochazka broke school and conference records, winning both the discus and shot-put in girls track.
5 years ago – 2004
The Hamilton High School Leo (young Lions) Club helped the Sussex-Lisbon Area Historical Society set up for its annual rummage-sale fundraiser on Main Street.
The king and queen of the Hamilton junior prom were Junior Turner and Emily Gebhardt.
A ginkgo tree was planted in Sussex’s Madeline Park as a memorial to Theresa Semrad.
Pages from the Past June 10, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
William Brown died June 10 and was buried at St. Alban’s Cemetery. He was born June 21, 1829, in England. His wife Sarah preceded him in death in 1901.
Thomas McCarty of Lannon recovered from the illness that laid him low last summer.
50 years ago – 1959
Vandals broke into Lisbon Town Hall and smashed hundreds of house numbers and brackets for the new “N-W” grid-address numbers.
Paul Pickler was elected Lisbon Town Chairman.
25 years ago – 1984
The Sussex VFW named Robert Gurrath its commander.
Hamilton graduate Karen Miklautsch earned a pharmacy degree at UW-Madison.
St James Catholic Church reactivated its grade school.
Luke Kolbeck, Dan Wittig, Rick Sackett and Don Resch qualified for the WIAA state track meet’s 400-meter relay.
10 years ago – 1999
Sussex and Lisbon began work on a border agreement.
Sussex began the process of establishing a farmers’ market at the Civic Center.
June Prag turned 90. She lived the previous 68 years on Town Line Road.
5 years ago – 2004
A fire hit Hamilton High School’s woodshop paint booth.
Lisbon officials defended the $150,000 land purchase for the town’s new fire station.
Rainfall for May measured 11.8 inches.
Pages from the Past June 17, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
James Butler, the ax murderer who killed his wife July 5, 1897, on Good Hope Road in Lisbon and served a life term at Waupun, wrote his relatives in Lisbon asking their help in his appeal for a pardon, but they repudiated him.
50 years ago – 1959
Sussex planned a park improvement community project for its new 78-acre Village Park.
Elmwood Avenue residents staged their fifth annual street picnic on the nearby Main Street School grounds.
25 years ago – 1984
Dave Pfeifer signed on to replace Mike Hyland as the Hamilton girls basketball coach. He had coached the junior varsity team to a 14-1 record the previous year.
Someone stole 300 sticks of dynamite from a Halquist locker.
Hamilton grad Mary Helinski (class of 1980) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and was commissioned an ensign.
10 years ago – 1999
Sussex considered shutting down the troublesome Club Avalon.
Ray and Evie Semrow celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.
Judy Casper was named director of the Sussex Food Pantry.
Hamilton sophomore Jenny Prohazka won the state championship with a record shotput throw.
5 years ago – 2004
Hamilton’s Kellyn Johnson qualified for both the 800- and 1600-meter runs at the state track meet.
Cody Lierm Miles qualified for the boys 1600-meter run.
Sussex Piggly Wiggly staged a grand opening under new owners Matt and Karen Jones.
Pages from the Past June 24, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
Gold-bearing quartz rock (with some silver and lead) was discovered about 8 miles north of Hurley, prompting a small gold rush in Northern Wisconsin.
Former President Theodore Roosevelt shot three lions on a safari in Africa.
50 years ago – 1959
According to Sussex Park Board member Don Gill, about 200 people volunteered for the first Village Park cleanup party. Podolske Hardware, Evert Farm Store, Mark Masonary, Club Mi Del, Semrow Beer Depot, Malsch Furniture, IGA Foodliner, Zimmerman Food Store, Gen. Store and Braeger’s Meat Market donated materials and refreshments.
25 years ago – 1984
Templeton Middle School graduated 348 students.
Rich Ludka resigned as a Hamilton basketball coach and teacher, ending his career with a 200-67 record in 13 years. Four of his teams went to state, and three won Braveland championships.
10 years ago – 1999
Paul Newman was elected president of the Sussex Lions Club.
Hamilton High School graduated 263 seniors.
The Firewood Factory worked on getting Sussex officials’ approval for a facility on Waukesha Avenue.
The Lisbon Fire Department bought a new ambulance for $95,000, replacing a 1982 model.
5 years ago – 2004
Hamilton’s Kellyn Johnson won the state 1,600-meter run and came in second in the 3,200.
The Waukesha Family YMCA decided to build a new facility in Sussex along or near Highway 164.
Payne & Dolan planned to mine the gravel at a site on Plainview Road west of Hillside Road.