Pages from the Past
Posted: Living Sussex Sun, October 6, 2009
By Fred Keller, Sussex Village Historian
100 years ago – 1909
The first harvest of sugar beets in Lisbon was collected and delivered to the Menomonee Falls Sugar Beet Factory.
The Flanagan, Schroeder & Co. General Store in Lannon displayed a complete fall stock of goods and advertised that they paid good money for local produce.
50 years ago – 1959
A $240,000 building program to build a new grade school in Sussex was approved. The 12-room school would be located in either downtown Sussex adjacent to the Sussex Main Street School or on Maple Avenue. The committee consisted of Ray Podolske, John Emde, Ray Schroeder, Chris Berchem, Gene Hess, Robert Stier, Jerry Braeger and Tom Knoebel.
25 years ago – 1984
The Sussex Robinettes Drum, Bugle and Baton Corps performed at the Nov. 22 Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia. Germaine Christiansen was the director of the corps, started in the 1960s.
Sussex model and Hamilton graduate Nancy Umhoefer was selected as a “super finalist” for the Teen Magazine 1984 Great Model Search.
10 years ago – 1999
Glass block windows were installed in the 1937-built Sussex Community Hall to save heat and discourage vandalism.
The new soccer fields and goals were dedicated at Armory Park.
The Hamilton football team rallied from a 10-0 deficit to beat Menomonee Falls 18-10 to go to 4-1 for the season.
5 years ago – 2004
The Sussex Village Board honored resigned Sussex Administrator Chris Swartz at an Oct. 28 meeting. The interim replacement was his assistant, Jeremy Smith. Swartz had been in Sussex for over 14 years.
Halquist Stone Co. celebrated 75 years of business.
Pages from the Past October 14, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
The Lisbon Watson and Will Holstein-Freisan Stock Farm on North Lisbon Road, (Mail Route 18), offered fine breeding bull calves for sale.
Harvey Jeffery married Louise Hartkopf in a big wedding in Lisbon. The Rev. C. A. Tuttle, a pastor at the North Lisbon Methodist Church performed the ceremony.
50 years ago – 1959
St. James Catholic Church taught eight school grades with three nuns and three lay persons, with a total attendance of 288 students – an increase of 23 from the previous year. Former Lannon resident Sister Mary Denis was the principal. Divided into six classrooms, the class breakdown was: 47 students in first grade; 45 students in second grade; 37 students in third grade; 35 students in fourth grade; 30 students in fifth grade; 36 students in sixth grade; 28 students in seventh grade; and 30 students in eighth grade.
25 years ago – 1984
Scott Tetzlaff hit a league-leading .478 for the Sussex Land O’ Lakes baseball team.
An original teacher at Hamilton High School was inducted into the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Athletic Hall of Fame. He was a lineman on the Stevens Point football team.
10 years ago – 1999
Casey’s custard shop opened in Lannon.
Lisbon inquired about a possible merger with Merton, but was turned down.
The average price for self-service gasoline was at a 3-year high, at $1.31 a gallon.
Sussex’s Sean Congdon was stationed in Kosovo.
5 years ago – 2004
There was an expected 80 percent area turnout for the presidential election of George Bush against John Kerry.
Tom Schwarz and Melissa Tetzlaff were the homecoming king and queen at Hamilton High School.
Pages from the Past October 21, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
A new directory telephone book was prepared for Menomonee Falls, Pewaukee, Merton, Lisbon (Sussex) and Lannon. The directory stated that Sunday calls would have an extra charge.
Lannon pioneer Thomas Gill, age 93, died Oct. 8 in his homestead. He was born in 1816 in Ireland and came to the Lannon area in 1847. He was buried in St. James Catholic Cemetery.
50 years ago – 1959
Milwaukee Gaslight asked the State of Wisconsin and Lannon to accept its plan to install 17,000 feet of gas distribution lines in Lannon.
Swiss cheese cost 55 cents a pound.
Cora Wendt of Sussex died at age 76. She was the mother of Ray Wendt and was a past matron (leader) of the Sussex Eastern Star.
25 years ago – 1984
The Sussex Nutritional Site at the Orchard Drive School was 4 years old.
Suggested names for the new Lisbon mega park off Lake Five Road included Manke, Jung or Woodland Oaks.
Rose Hill Cemetery looked for new leadership and possibly a new owner.
A new golf course on Silver Spring Drive, east of Town Line Road, was contemplated. It was the former Neidhoefer-McLaughlin land.
10 years ago – 1999
The Hamilton football team carved out a 14-7 win over Brookfield East to win the homecoming game. A Dan Bretl to Luke Plese pass play, covering 43 yards, happened with 19 seconds left, securing the victory.
5 years ago – 2004
Vicki Braden abruptly resigned from the Sussex Village Board after she won her fourth term in April. The reason was rumored to be in connection with the Tammy Rocker controversy at the Sussex Community Center.
Pages from the Past October 28, 2009
100 years ago – 1909
A train on the Bug Line Railroad carrying crushed rock from Lannon spooked a horse in Menomonee Falls, and only heroic efforts saved the horse and the passenger.
Wedding invitations were sent out for the Lannon wedding of Margaret Gilfoyle and Gustav Semrow.
Arthur Schaeffer became employed by the Lannon Gastru Bakery.
50 years ago – 1959
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Jeffery celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at a party at the Sussex Methodist Church hall.
Registration opened for fall dance classes at the Sussex Community Hall. Children in the classes would be taught ballet, tap and tumbling by Mrs. Bernice Gollwitzer.
25 years ago – 1984
Terry Gissal was awarded the new snow removal contract in Lannon.
Hamilton High School considered hiring a lobbyist to fight Milwaukee’s busing and integration plan.
Hamilton homecoming king and queen were Dave Wnuk and Sue Findler.
Tina Ruppenthal took third place for Hamilton in the Braveland Conference girls cross country meet.
10 years ago – 1999
A dedicated group fought the expansion of Highway 164 through west Sussex and beyond. Lisbon threatened to sue Sussex if it annexed 89 acres on Highways 164 and K (the Tikalsky property).
Hamilton boys cross country runner Paul Gutmann placed 19th in the WIAA Division I sectional.
5 years ago – 2004
Harry Bielinski of Bielinski Homes said the old Mammoth Springs Canning Co. site development was behind schedule. Demolition of the remaining structures was scheduled for the following spring.
Roger and Jenny Racer celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.