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 February
February 1, 2006
100 years ago-1906
Wolves destroyed some sheep flocks in Waukesha County. The state and county set a wolf bounty of $45.
50 years ago-1956
William Meissner celebrated his 85th birthday at Stanley Rankins home in Lisbon with 100 people in attendance.
Templeton butcher and longtime Sussex Village President Charles Busse and his wife, Elsie, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
25 years ago-1981
Quad/Graphics purchased 64 acres in Sussex, while the Tombstone frozen pizza plant set up next door on a 5.2 acre plat in the Sussex Industrial Park.
The Sussex Fire Department hosted a benefit dance for the family of former firefighter Michael Franz, who died in December.
Jacque Green, a custodian for 20 years at Hamilton High School died at age 62.
10 years ago-1996
Kelly and Kevin Kroneberg built an 8-foot snowman on Roberta Drive in Lisbon. Forty-seven inches of snow had fallen that winter. A normal winter snowfall was 40 inches.
Seven Sussex residents ran for three trustee positions on the Village Board. One was eliminated by the spring primary vote.
5 years ago- 2001
Veteran Trustee Roger Johnson was reappointed to the Sussex Village Board. He had served five previous terms (10 years) before deciding not to seek re-election in 1990.
The Sussex Senior Center planned a groundbreaking in spring.
Grace Jones died at age 84.
February 8, 2006
100 years ago-1906
Residents of south Lisbon attended the 20-cent supper held at Pewaukee Congregationalist Church, prepared by the Ladies Aid Society.
The last of the toll roads in Waukesha County ceased to exist because the 12-mile stretch from Menomonee Falls to Milwaukee, costing 10 cents a trip, was turned over to the township. It ran parallel to Fond Du Lac Avenue and proceeded through Fussville.
50 years ago-1956
Pfc. Lyle Krueger of Colgate, 23, died from burns he received while serving in Korea. He was two weeks away from rotation to the United States and would would have been discharged in May.
Rudy Dubnicka opened a 120-acre subdivision off Town Line Road with 103 lots in the Plainview Subdivisions development.
25 years ago-1981
A celebration was held for the 53 hostages released by Iran. Many yellow ribbons were displayed.
The Village of Sussex increased it Waukesha County Sheriffs Department commitment from 16 hours per day to 20.
The very first Bald facts was published in the Jan. 27 issue of the Sussex Sun.
10 years ago-1996
Capt. Jeff Weber was named Sussex Fire Department Firefighter of the Year.
Huffy moved a plant into Sussex to make basketball backstops.
Sussex recorded a temperature of 30 degrees below zero, after a previous days reading of 26 below, as recorded at the Sussex Waste water Treatment Plant.
Lannon held an official groundbreaking for its $10.5 million sewer system.
5 years ago-2001
A 30-inch natural-gas pipeline was proposed to pass through Sussex and Lisbon.
Hamilton School District transferred two small parcels of land, one to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church and the other to the Village of Sussex.
Hamilton High School put on the musical play Little Shop of Horrors.
Sussex held a community sled party at Village Park.
February 15, 2006
100 years ago-1906
A cord of oak wood sold for $5.75 delivered. To have it split cost an extra 75 cents.
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Jeffery of north Lisbon attended the Wisconsin Dairymens Association convention in Waukesha.
Albert Greengo, a north Lisbon farmer, attended the fifth annual Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Association in Madison.
50 years ago-1956
Judith Walter of Lannon was a senior in journalism at Marquette University.
Attorney Daniel Greulich coached for the Sussex Land O Lakes basketball team. Members of the defending league champions were Jerry Tetzlaff, Doug Tetzlaff, Donny Weber, Fred Keller, Ronnie Halquist, Wilmer Marx, George Kraemer, Gerald Schlei, and Blaine Fryda. With a 60-50 win over Lake Geneva, the team was 7-2.
25 years ago-1981
The Sussex VFW hosted its fourth annual state championship Tiddly Winks Tournament. VFW State Commissioner Archie Johnson presided.
The Sussex Fire Department went to amber wagons.
The cost of a nickel candy bar was up to 25 cents.
More than 500 people attended the Michael Franz memorial dance, and more than 1,000 tickets were sold.
10 years ago-1996
Hamilton won the Parkland wrestling championship with grapplers Joel Heckenkamp, Tony Graziano, Jason Kopp, Paul and Doug Hackbarth, Vince Graziano and Jeremy Pinter.
Gary Amoroso, Hamiltons director of educational services, was one of six finalists for the Pewaukee High School superintendent position.
5 years ago-2001
A citizens group formed to fight the proposed Guardian Pipeline (a 30-inch-diameter gas line) through Sussex and Lisbon.
Lannon was expecting a big change in Village Board membership, but gave a vote of confidence to its police chief, Mark Flessert.
The Hamilton High School boys basketball team knocked off Marquette High School, 62-59, on the latters home court.
February 22, 2006
100 years ago-1906
Frank Askew was the Wisconsin Central Railroad agent in Templeton.
The children of Preston and Rose Rosier on Maple Avenue were suffering from the mumps.
The University of Wisconsin faculty asked the universitys president to recommend a two-year suspension of football in the nine team Midwest university conference.
50 years ago-1956
Waukesha High beat Shorewood High in a basketball game. Ronnie Schlei of Sussex scored 19 points, including the last-second shot that won the game.
Lisbon Chairman Paul Pichler reacted negatively to the new Sussex ordinance that put controls on quarries and gravel pits in Lisbon within four miles of the Sussex border.
25 years ago-1981
Candidates vying for the one at-large Hamilton District School Board seat were Violet Pfennig, Keith Koenigs, Betty Squires, Carolyn Limjoco, Richard Friedken and Mary Torrez.
The four candidates running for Lisbons No. 2 Town Board seat were Bart Gaffney, Joe Marchese, Robert Fittshur and Chuck Schuldt.
The Sussex Robinettes Baton Corp performed at the Kentucky Derby.
10 years ago-1996
Hamilton High School put on the play, The Three Musketeers.
Wrestlers Joel Heckenkamp, Tony and Vince Graziano and Doug and Paul Hackbarth made it to the state meet.
Four-year varsity football player and heavyweight wrestler Jason Kopp won a football scholarship to North Dakota State.
5 years ago-2001
Sussex village historian Fred Keller offered his collection of local memorabilia, begun in 1946, to the community if a historical society would be started.
Construction of the new 600-seat St. Johns Lutheran Church in Lannon would be started.
Brandon Zodows 19-6 record led the Hamilton wrestling team.