Pages from the Past
Posted: Living Sussex Sun, August 5, 2009
By Fred Keller, Sussex Village Historian
100 years ago – 1909
The lawn social held at the Flanagan lawn in Lannon was a big success, despite the threatening weather.
The A. Miller Tavern announced a Saturday evening dance at the Lannon establishment.
The City of Milwaukee ordered $80,000 of crushed rock from Lannon quarries.
50 years ago – 1959
The Sussex Village Board approved a $150 request for village auxiliary police equipment for civil defense.
At the Sussex playground activities, Thomas Schuldt was the first place winner of “costumes designed at the park” by boys.
Lannon firefighters saved the George Kalmbach home, as they put out a fire at the home one mile south of the village.
25 years ago – 1984
Mike Bub replaced Rich Ludka as the Hamilton varsity basketball coach.
Seventy people staged a surprise 90th birthday party for Frances Pucek.
At the annual St. James Church picnic, Leo Wolf had a four-hour binge as the auctioneer of donated items.
The Fryda farm had 25 Jersey cows at the Wisconsin State Fair cattle show.
10 years ago – 1999
Jerry Gasper was inducted into the Sussex Land O’ Lakes Baseball Hall of Fame.
A 1-mile asphalt walking trail was installed from Maple Avenue’s Mapleway Park to Waukesha Avenue.
St. James dedicated its new $4.3 million church on Town Line Road.
5 years ago – 2004
Joshua Schwitz of Sussex and Boy Scout Troop 95 was raised to the highest scouting honor, Eagle Scout, on his 15th birthday.
The Sussex Village Board cleared the way to have a Walgreens drugstore built in Sussex.
Pages from the Past August 12, 2009
Posted: Aug. 11, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
Nellie Gill of Lannon was sick with typhoid fever, but improved.
A big deal in Lannon was the night showing of a movie picture.
For entertainment, Lannon scheduled a wrestling match between a Milwaukee wrestler and a local Lannon boy.
50 years ago – 1959
Sussex (10-6) and Lannon (11-5) were in the thick of the Land O’ Lakes baseball division chase.
The annual children’s parade was scheduled to wind up the summer program for the Sussex playground.
The Sussex Methodist Church staged its annual picnic at Harry Devine’s property on Lake Five.
25 years ago – 1984
Lannon discussed changing the clerk-treasurer position from elective to appointed, as it contemplated the imminent resignation of Charles DeLany, who held the clerk position for 34 years.
Tombstone Pizza completed construction of its 65,000 square foot manufacturing plant in the Sussex Industrial Park.
10 years ago – 1999
Vi Pfennig was the president of the Sussex Village Senior Citizens Advisory Committee.
Tommy Tradewell of Sussex was elected as VFW state commander.
Lannon and the Lannon Lions Club dedicated a Joecks Field playground in honor of the late Fritz Miller.
The new Woodside School was dedicated on Aug. 17.
5 years ago – 2004
The Sussex Fire Department had a unique member, Sussex resident and FBI intelligence agent Leslie Larson.
The Sussex Lisbon Area Historical Society had a sneak preview of its museum opening in the former 1910-built North Western Railroad Depot in downtown Sussex.
July records showed that only 0.75 inches of rain fell during the month.
Pages from the Past August 19, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
The North Western Railroad looked into making spur lines into the local quarries of Lannon.
Sugar beet raisers had a huge picnic at Lake Five’s hotel picnic grounds, and later a blacksmith’s picnic was held there.
Bakelite was introduced as a new plastic by Belgian-born U.S. citizen Leo H. Baekeland.
50 years ago – 1959
In an effort to prepare for anticipated growth, Sussex adopted zoning and subdivision laws.
In Land O’ Lakes baseball, third-place Sussex (11-6) buried Brown Deer (16-0) when Arnie Lemke and Jerry Tetzlaff got three hits each. Tetzlaff also got the pitching shutout and Doug Tetzlaff scored four times without getting a hit.
25 years ago – 1984
Vincent Alioto, 19, was arrested at the Lisbon Alioto Restaurant when he tried to sell cocaine to an undercover Milwaukee police officer.
Former Sussex trustee Bob O’Laughlin, 51, pleaded no contest and was convicted of stealing $171,000 from a West Allis couple.
10 years ago – 1999
Patty Konkol resigned from the presidency of the Lisbon Police and Fire Commission, claiming that the commission did not receive the proper respect it deserved.
The estimated 1999 population of Sussex is 7,870, up 2,831 from the 1990 census.
5 years ago – 2004
Jan and Ken Gutbrod took over the leadership of the annual local library summer ice cream social. A record 1,400 dishes of ice cream were served.
Lannon asked Menomonee Falls to cede the developing Schneider Field to Lannon
Pages from the Past August 26, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
A young girl, Evelyn Pearl Riessing, daughter of Herbert and Charlotte Riessing, died Aug. 27. She had been born 58 days earlier on June 30. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.
A Lannon citizen was swindled by a gypsy woman, who relieved him of nearly $6. Sheriff Deputy Turner was called and the money was returned, and he warned local people to be careful in dealing with gypsies.
50 years ago – 1959
The Sussex Fire Department asked the village to help them buy a used panel truck for an emergency ambulance (their first one). Cost was estimated at $1,500.
The village, which owned the former 1866-built Lisbon Town Hall, rejected putting money into repairing it. Trustee Roy Evert said, “It has no foundation, no footings, it’s cracked in the four corners and the roof leaks.”
25 years ago – 1984
Scott Weinandt obtained his Eagle Scout ranking in Boy Scouts.
Former Sussex fireman Glen Wildish died at age 60. His family went back in Sussex-Lisbon history for more than 100 years.
Delays set back the formal opening of the Bug Line nature trail on the old local Milwaukee railroad spur line through Lannon, Lisbon and Sussex.
10 years ago – 1999
Pam Nettesheim was the Dozer Day co-chairman.
Local residents planned a rally to oppose the railroad yard that was planned for Duplainville Road and Highway K. The Lisbon Town Board had previously voted 4-1 against it.
5 years ago – 2004
The Town of Lisbon discussed if the chief of police should be required to be a resident or live within 20 miles of the town.
Sussex looked into cost-effective blending of water to get in compliance for radium in the municipal water system.