Pages from the Past
Posted: Living Sussex Sun, February 1, 2011
By Fred Keller, Sussex Village Historian
Pages from the Past February 2, 2011
100 years ago – Feb. 2, 1911
A week ago, the switch engine on the Bug Line Railroad jumped the track in downtown Menomonee Falls causing train schedules in Lannon and Sussex to get jumbled.
The law to close taverns at 11 p.m. will be enforced.
50 years ago – Feb. 2, 1961
Former Sussex resident and descendent from a pioneer family, Eugene Elliot, died in Waukesha at age 80. The Elliot and Cooling families were the 1843 co-founders of Sussex.
Former Sussex Fire Chief Roy Stier is now the Sussex Village President.
A 5-pound bag of popcorn ready for popping, costs 69 cents.
25 years ago – Feb. 2, 1986
Lisbon may get a library after former Lisbon farm resident Pauline Haass left her estate to the town to build one. It is estimated that the net worth of the estate is $500,000.
Art Wilden, a longtime heavy equipment operator and truck driver for Halquist has died at age 89.
The Sussex Library in the former Orchard Drive school is expanding from four to six rooms after more than five years of operation.
10 years ago – Feb. 2, 2001
The Town of Lisbon announced that it will circulate a petition to incorporate as a village.
Roger Johnson has been appointed as interim trustee to fill a vacancy on the Sussex Village Board. He previously served five terms as an elected trustee.
Sussex expects to break ground on a senior citizen center soon. It will also serve as a community center.
Five years ago – Feb. 2, 2006
Sussex officials are defending the recent activation of Main Street bump outs.
The Village of Sussex has started construction of a federally aided $48,000 bridge over Sussex Creek that connects to the Associated Bank parking lot.
Pages from the Past February 9, 2011
100 years ago – Feb. 9, 1911
The Rev. Paul E. Scheidel is the pastor of both St. Dominic’s in Marcy and St. James near Lannon.
A robin is spotted in the middle of winter in Menomonee Falls.
In a special election, Robert M. LaFollett was re-elected as the Wisconsin State Senator for Washington, D.C..
August Lemke’s hen house in Lannon was raided. He lost 75 chickens in one night.
50 years ago – Feb. 9, 1961
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Hanrahan of North Lisbon Road attended Marquette University capping ceremonies of their daughter, Jean Hanrahan. She is a sophomore in nursing at Marquette University.
Maude Kraetsch, who lives on a dairy farm just north of the new Sussex Village Park is home after breaking her arm.
Civil Defense classes are being offered.
25 years ago – Feb. 9, 1986
Flags in Sussex, Lisbon and Lannon are at half-staff after the space launch killed seven astronauts including teacher Christa McAuliffe.
Boy Scout Troop 95 is moving thousands of books to the new added rooms of the Sussex Library. Scout Mike Egle organized it as his Eagle Scout project.
10 years ago – Feb. 9, 2001
Grace Jones, a 63-year member of the Sussex Eastern Star has died at age 84.
People are talking about the Mark Chumura trial. A local consensus reports that there is lack of evidence and a not guilty verdict is justified.
Hamilton present the play, “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Five years ago – Feb. 9, 2006
The Lannon Elementary School will host a first to fifth grade Chess Club. It will sponsor three levels of play.
The Hamilton girls basketball team won 48-33 over Brookfield East with Katherine Mess totaling 14 points and Stephanie Rossman with 10.
Pages from the Past February 16, 2011
100 years ago – Feb. 16, 1911
After a rash of chicken thief mischief, local farmers were warned to protect their hen houses. On the market was an electric alarm system that is silent to the thief but heard in the hen house. Rural people were warned to watch for prowlers and other suspicious characters.
At Union Church in Lannon there was a lantern light display show of a trip through China called “The Opium Trade” and “Houseboat Down Yangste.” Eighty views cost 10 cents.
50 years ago – Feb. 16, 1961
The life expectancy of a newborn baby in 1961 was 69 years. A baby born in 1900 had a life expectancy of only 47 years.
Wauwatosa High School stated that it would refuse to take Butler High School students. The Hamilton School District had started to build a high school and was expected to take Butler students when it opened in September 1962.
25 years ago – Feb. 16, 1986
Twenty-five teams signed up for the ninth annual Sussex VFW state championship tiddlywinks tournament.
The Lannon Lions Club staged its annual deer supper. Club President was Bruce Ernst.
Lisbon Police Chief Dave Gettelman will receive $10 per hour up from $8.75.
10 years ago – Feb. 16, 2001
Josh Pinter, a Hamilton freshman, won the Greater Metro Conference championship wrestling at 103 pounds. He had a 23-2 record.
The Towns of Lisbon and Merton were discussing a border agreement between two communities.
Greg Zyla of Sussex had competed for 18 years in the annual Sussex State Championship Tiddly Winks Tournament.
The Hamilton School Board will have a primary election as the at large position has attracted three candidates: Michael Remmel, Tammy Rocker and Jerry Schmitz.
Five years ago – Feb. 16, 2006
Gov. Jim Doyle paid a visit to the Sussex Quad/Graphics plant.
The 30th annual Tiddly Winks State Championship Tournament was staged by the Sussex VFW.
The police chief of the Town of Lisbon is Terry Martorano.
The Town of Lisbon needed mutual aid from Merton, Sussex, Menomonee Falls and Lannon Fire Departments to fight a major fire in the Russel Haupt home on Good Hope Road.
Pages from the Past February 23, 2011
100 years ago – Feb. 23, 1911
A terrible train accident on the Bug Line occurred west of Lisbon as William Busse was walking to Templeton following the track east. A train came up behind him and blew its horn to no avail. The train hit and killed Busse. The engineer was not in the cab at the time of impact.
50 years ago – Feb. 23, 1961
At the Sussex Fire Department’s annual meeting Robert Stier was elected chief over 10-year veteran Roy Evert. Other posts either appointed or elected were: Ray Schroeder, First Assistant Chief; Evert, Second Assistant Chief, Charles Youngbauer, Secretary; Norman Steffan and George Semrow, stewards and Paul Cain and Joe Mudlitz as Captains.
A total of $317.03 was collected in Sussex for the March of Dimes.
25 years ago – Feb. 23, 1986
Sussex may get a new post office and move off Main Street.
Syd Gissal, a 38-year member of the Lannon Fire Department, was elected chief. He is the third Gissal to be chief of the department. Gary Georgenson was chosen to serve as a captain.
The 1986 Hamilton wrestling team is the conference champion. They won the conference tournament with 198.5 points while Menomonee Falls earned second with 129.
10 years ago – Feb. 23, 2001
The Village of Sussex and Town of Lisbon have been contacted by Fred Keller who is offering to donate his local history collection that dates back to 1946.
St. John’s Lutheran of Lannon had a parishioner’s tour of its new 28,000-square-foot church.
Five years ago – Feb. 23, 2006
Pat Wierl, the former long-time Lisbon Town Clerk was killed by a passing train on Feb. 12. One-hundred-and-seven attended the annual Sussex Fire Department Founder’s banquet.
The Sussex Lions Club annual 5K fun run will be discontinued at Lions Daze after 25 years.