Pages from the Past
Posted: Sussex Sun, January 1, 2008
By Fred Keller, Sussex Village Historian
100 years ago – 1908
Charles L. Smith won a judgment of $2,250 in his lawsuit against the Bug Line Railroad for an accident May 17, 1906. A train had hit his buggy at Haylett Crossing in Menomonee Falls (Menomonee Avenue just east of Highway 74). Smith had asked for $5,800 and was disappointed by the lower amount.
50 years ago – 1958
A towering fire at a tallow factory in North Lake could be seen from Sussex.
During the recent Christmas season, farmers, including Lisbon’s Carl Goetz, were out in their fields, plowing under corn stubble.
25 years ago – 1983
Don Holt and his daughter, Diane, considered moving the old Edwards/Egerer home in Sussex from Main Street east to Silver Spring Road.
A Templeton janitor, Wallace Lembke, 62, had been missing since Dec. 14.
A minor train wreck Dec. 30 on Sussex’s Main Street blocked traffic for several hours.
10 years ago – 1998
Lisbon officials said Dave Gettelman would remain on duty as Lisbon police chief until the end of January.
Fortune Magazine named Quad/Graphics one of the 100 best corporations to work for in the United States.
The key to the Pauline Haass estate safe-deposit box, containing stamp and coin collections, was lost.
5 years ago – 2003
The Sussex Sun selected A.J. Morgan its Athlete of the Year for his state wrestling championship in the 160-pound class.
Joe Dundon was a star on the Hamilton High School boys basketball team.
Pages from the Past
Posted: Sussex Sun, January 8, 2008
By Fred Keller, Sussex Village Historian
100 years ago – 1908
Hilda Stacy was granted a divorce by Waukesha Judge Griswold from Fred Stacy Jr. of Lisbon. They had been married since 1904. She was given permission to assume her maiden name, Hilda Ray. A division of property was also approved.
50 years ago – 1958
Roy Evert Jr. surprised his family by arriving home on furlough from Fort Ord in California.
25 years ago – 1983
Judy Wegner filed to run against incumbent Richard Jung for Lisbon town chairman.
Three candidates filed for Sussex village president: incumbent John Tews and challengers Paul Fleischmann and Glen Moody.
Janet Podolske, a former Sussex Robinette cheerleader and 1979 Hamilton graduate and Sussex resident, was engaged to marry Bill Bigus.
Lannon saw no competitive races for the Village Board or anyone challenge incumbent Village President Nick Quartaro.
10 years ago – 1998
The Town of Lisbon clerk was Lauren Pomeroy.
Halquist Stone Co. lost $5,500 worth of metal to a thief.
With 53-degree days, people started washing their cars in January.
The Methodist parsonage on Main Street in Sussex and the Lester Clarey home next door were scheduled for a date with the wrecking ball.
5 years ago – 2003
Three participants of the Ludka basketball era – coach Rich Ludka, player Terry Youngbauer and basketball player/developer/reporter Fred Keller – were honored by a packed house at a Hamilton basketball game and event called “Turn Back the Clock.”
Pages from the Past
Posted: Sussex Sun, January 14, 2008
By Fred Keller, Sussex Village Historian
100 years ago – 1908
Seven-year-old Helen Will, daughter of Mrs. Charles Will of North Lisbon and Hillside roads in Lisbon, died. She was buried in Lisbon Central Cemetery.
50 years ago – 1958
Ruby Waters was named the Sussex Eastern Star Lodge Worthy Matron, and Shelton Boyd the Sussex Ashlar Lodge Worthy Master.
Cpl. Pat Horne left his Lisbon farm parents, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Horne, for Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri after a two-week furlough.
25 years ago – 1983
The Sussex Fire Department answered 336 calls the previous year, 71 fires and the rest rescues.
Hamilton wrestlers scored four titles at the Fond du Lac Invitational: Brian John at 105 pounds, Todd Wandsnider at 167 pounds, freshman John Mueller at 98 pounds and junior heavyweight Bob Trapp.
10 years ago – 1998
Brass worth $16,000 was stolen from the AFW Foundry on Good Hope Road in Lannon.
Lisbon prepared to appoint five people to its Police and Fire Commission.
Lannon appointed Carl Bergstrom as a replacement trustee.
Shirley Ravnik was Lannon village president.
5 years ago – 2003
The vacant Lisbon supervisor seat, formerly held by Dan Meissner, was sought by two newcomers: Wendy Landry and Michael Reed.
Wilmer “Willie” Marx, 76, a lifetime Sussex resident, died. He was an outstanding athlete for Sussex sports teams, a village trustee, a Sussex Lions Club president and a mason contractor.
Pages from the Past
Posted: Sussex Sun, January 22, 2008
By Fred Keller, Sussex Village Historian
100 years ago – 1908
The state passed a compulsory education law requiring town children 7 to 14 years old to go to school six months per year, and those in cities eight months. The new law also required children 14 to 16 years old to attend school unless they had permission not to attend from their parents, a judge or a factory inspector.
An annual subscription to the local weekly paper, the Menomonee Falls News, cost $1.50.
50 years ago – 1958
Pvt. Fred Bauer, son of Sussex Postmaster Art Bauer, left Lisbon to return to Fort Carson, Colo.
Ralph Spiegel of Boy Scout Troop 39 in Sussex attended a Scout camp in Long Lake.
Veal rib chops cost 50 cents a pound.
25 years ago – 1983
The first long-term Sussex village administrator, William Ross, who began his term in 1977, resigned to take on the post of administrator of Yankton, S.D.
Hamilton baseball coach Dick Bilda resigned with an 80-37 record and the state championship.
10 years ago – 1998
Jerome “Jerry” Gasper, a twin, died at age 46. He was an outstanding pitcher for his Hamilton team and played for some years on the Sussex Land O’ Lakes team.
The safe-deposit box containing the Pauline Haass stamp and coin collections was opened. Experts said they were worth substantially less than originally appraised.
5 years ago – 2003
Former Hamilton honor student Jan David Fox of Sussex won a scholarship to Cambridge University in England.
Larry Erdmann, developer and owner of Centennial Oaks subdivision, died at age 88.
The Sussex Armory prepared for possible action in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Pages from the Past
Posted: Sussex Sun, January 29, 2008
By Fred Keller, Sussex Village Historian
100 years ago – 1908
King Edward VII continued his reign as sovereign of England and the United Kingdom.
The president of the United States was Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt.
50 years ago – 1958
The Sussex post office moved from the former Marsden-Lee-Schuman building to Main Street and Orchard Drive, the former Corner Fair Convenience Store.
Sussex brothers Richard and David Spiegel were both stationed with the military in Germany – Richard at Heidelberg and David at Goppingen.
Sussex Main Street School hired Eugene Blongia as its next principal.
25 years ago – 1983
Four sheep died in a fire at the Austin Smith property on Hillside Road in Lisbon.
The Sussex Fire Department fought a garage fire on Pembrook Street. Fire Chief George Kaestner estimated the loss at $5,000.
The Hamilton High School basketball team edged Menomonee Falls North, 22-20. Pat Walczak led the Chargers with 12 points.
10 years ago – 1998
Lisbon appointed an interim police chief, Sgt. Ed Kaczkowski, to replace retiring Chief David Gettleman.
One carefully guarded secret of Sussex was sign shop artist Ken “Beanpole” Rappette.
5 years ago – 2003
Gypsy moth infestation was expected in Lisbon’s Thousand Oaks subdivision.
St. James Catholic Church and Willow Spring Learning Center planned to share a parking lot that the church intended to build on an unused school-owned lot.
Halquist Stone’s Dozer Day raised $118,000 for the Hamilton Education Foundation.