09/22/2026
Kilbourn Klippings
September 23, 2026
100 years ago
September 23, 1926
An item from the Deer River, Minnesota News would indicate some of the tourists who pass through here appreciate and think they are being treated all right. Arnold Wright and family returned Friday from a trip to the east, they were in auto accident near Kilbourn that delayed them 3 days. While driving 2 miles west of Kilbourn August 29th, the Wright car was struck by another car and badly damaged. The driver of the other car did not stop to learn what damage he had done, but his license number was obtained by members of the car following the Wright's. Mr Wright took his car back to Kilbourn and had it repaired at his own expense. The Wright's speak in the highest terms of the treatment accounted them by Civil Authorities and Citizens of Kilbourn. Chief of Police Willard took them to his home, where they stayed the two days they were delayed while the car was repaired by the Colby-Greenwood company at prices that were entirely reasonable. Many individual citizens interested themselves in the accident and pledged assistance towards seeing full Justice is secured for the damages.
The southern Wisconsin Power and Light Company are again making an offer to the City of Kilbourn for the purchase of the local plant. At a recent meeting of the city council Mr Landt, the local representative of the company appeared before the city council and put up a proposition to purchase the plant. The price offered in this offer was $60,000.
A golf tournament will be at the Berry golf grounds, next Monday. The tournament will be under the direction of Mr Connor, Mr McGovern and Mr Dyer. Mr Connor will not play in the tournament. The entrance fee is $2. All golfers in this locality are invited to take part in the tournament.
The first game of the football season will be played by the local high schools on Saturday, when the Mauston boys will come here to play a game. The game will be played at Van Hill grounds and the public is invited to turn out and root for the locals and cheer them on to victory!
In local news; Miss Josephine Arntz has gone to Milwaukee where she will attend the normal. Miss Lorraine Hendrickson is attending normal school at Superior. Miss Mary Baggot has gone to Winona where she will attend school during the winter. Miss Anna Wimmer has accepted a position in Madison and left recently to take up her work. Ralph O'Neill who is teaching in the public schools at Neillsville left recently for that place to take up his work again.
New Funeral Coach and Ambulance at the Galitz Garage. Calls answered at any time, also doing a general auto livery business, washing and greasing cars, and will keep automobiles for storage. Arthur F Galitz Garage on Oak Street telephone number 11. Kilbourn, Wisconsin
75 years ago
September 27, 1951
The Cancer Committee of Wisconsin Dells announces with pleasure that a total of $112.09 has been collected from the cans left in business places during the summer. The following collected the largest amounts: Ryan's Restaurant, Sand Bar, Monks Bar, Dells Grill, Normandy Bar, Thompson's Restaurant, McClyman Hardware, Bennett Studio, Curtis Tavern, and Borcher's Souvenirs.
The Dells 11 posted its third straight win by defeating Westfield 27-6, the game was played in a drizzling rain which made the field slippery. The aggressive defensive line play of Herb Bloomer and Ed Baggot was particularly noticeable with each breaking through at times to destroy plays before they got started against Westfield. Last Sunday the entire Dells football squad was treated to a show by Don Deakin. The squad wishes to thank him for the fine afternoon of entertainment.
The legion auxiliary held their first meeting of the season last week when new officers were installed by one of the past presidents, Mrs Julia Lee. The new officers are as follow: Mrs Allen Dearborn President, Mrs Hans Helland Vice President, Mrs Thomas Chris Jr Second Vice President, Mrs Louis Johnson Treasurer, Mrs Robert Nowakowski Secretary, and Mrs Carl Slocum Historian.
It will be 60 years since a group of members peacefully withdrew from the Newport congregation and started their own congregation. This group became known as the upper Newport Church or New Haven Congregation, the church was erected on the county line of Adams and Columbia county. This is about 5 miles east of Wisconsin Dells. The anniversary service will be conducted at 10:30 next Sunday with the Reverend Otto Messerschmidt from the Town of Springville delivering the sermon. To answer inquiries: no meal will be served.
The Class Elections are over for another year. After a very spirited campaign, the following were elected: Freshman Richard Holt, Peter Blatchley, Helene Luettgerodt, Jeanette McClyman; Sophomore: Darrel Broker, Joel Gotthardt, Suzie Foster and Amber Christianson: Junior: Don Lorenzen, John Shumway, Lorraine Traxler and Arlyle Steinhorst; and Senior: Ed Baggot, Pat Gavinski, Patsy Martin and Rodger Peterson. Their offices are president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, respectively.
Miss Bernadine Miner, daughter of Mr and Mrs George Miner and Roger Tallmadge son of Mr and Mrs Everett Tallmadge of Milwaukee were married in Milwaukee on September 8th. The bride has been employed the past several seasons in the Dells Park Trading Post and Mr Talmage worked here on the river.
50 years ago
September 23, 1976
Lake Delton Pollice Chief Fred Bayer issued a warning Wednesday to persons causing damage to motel signs and property along the Lake Delton strip. Vandalism which causes more than $1,000 in damages is a felony charge. And those charged subject to a fine of up to $1,000 or 5 years prison sentence or both.
Traditionally, in its spectacular 10-year history brings out the very best of everything, including the weather. The 1976 version was no different. Except for the weather Sunday for the gigantic 115 unit parade which was filled with rain. Estimates placed the thrones at between 25 and 30,000 people. The cost of the parade this year was about $5,000. "It was worth every penny. I've never experienced such cooperation and a willingness to help." Parade Chairman Bob Gussel remarked. Participants and onlookers enjoyed the rain as much as the parade. There were 20 some bands and musical groups which thrilled the thousands of spectators from start to finish. Food stands did a typical Wo-Zha-Wa business all three days. The Rotary barbecue was a complete sellout, The Kiwanis Chic-Pic sold more than 1 000 servings of chicken, despite Sunday's rain. The Jaycees broke all records with their brat and corn sales. Wo-Zha-Wa Chairman Bud Gussel commented, "We're already making plans for the 1977 event." Gussell said that 20% of the net profit made by each participating organization goes into the general fund, to cover the cost of putting on the festival.
A goal of $9,327.87 has been approved by the Wisconsin Dells United Fund board of directors to be raised during the 1976-77 campaign. The figure is $421.29 higher than last year.
A son was born to Mr and Mrs Michael Brandt in the Baraboo Hospital.
Last week's winners in the Dells Eents football contest: First place Jean Heitman, Second place Reuben Thundercloud.
Freshman quarterback Jeff Buss, Wisconsin Dells, fired a pair of touchdown passes Sunday afternoon to lead the University of Wisconsin's Varsity reserves to a 28-7 victory over their counterparts of Northwestern. On the day, Buss was five of seven passes for 157 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
"The hitters always win." Those were Coach Fred Kuhl's words immediately following his squads 28-0 whitewash job on a fine Sparta football team. "There's a low point in every game," Kuhl said, "at Sparta it was the injuries to two kids, Mark Frazier and Jack Buswell of Sparta. I don't like to see that he continued it hurts Sparta and the conference as well as to lose fine ball players like that." Kuhl said, however, "that everything was above board and the films bear this out. It was good, clean, hard football- it's just unfortunate that they were injured."
Wisconsin Dells volleyball teams had a mixed bag this past week as the boys volleyball team beat Reedsburg and the girls lost their match to Reedsburg.
25 years ago
September 19, 2001
A weekend fire caused panic to the Grand Marquis Hotel in Lake Delton, where a woman broke her leg jumping from a second story window. According to Delton Ambulance Chief Lynn Steyer, 210 patrons were in the hotel when the fire broke out. The fire began in room 203 said Delton Fire Department Chief Andy Schultz "a couple in the room we're having a romantic night and lit some candles. The candles fell off a nightstand and started the bed on fire. Schultz said he contacted the Baraboo and Kilbourn Fire Departments for mutual aid.
Last Friday the Kilbourn Fire Department partnered with Sports Impressions to print a patriotically colored USA t-shirt featuring the slogan "We will recover- respond- rebuild" they plan to sell the t-shirts for $10 a piece during the Wo-Zha-Wa Festival with all proceeds going to the orphans and widows fund of the fire department of New York. The T-shirt fundraiser appeared that hearts of Festival goers were still with the victims of the terrorist attacks. All in all more than $36,000 was raised over the weekend. Sports Impressions covered the cost of printing 500 shirts insuring a straight contribution of $5,000 to the fund if all the shirts were sold and they were, within 2 hours!
On November 9th and 10th Wisconsin Dells High School will perform the musical "Give My Regards to Broadway" members of the cast include Rebecca Rochelle, Brett Schwartzer, Mike Gawel, Drew Davis, Josh Thompson, Lena Spargo, Tia Marshall, Colleen Brown Olivia Szparski, Sierra Peterson, Maggie Davis, Becky Westphall and Kari Dougherty. The play is directed by Carl Sirotzki. Musical director is Brad Burrill, and the producer is Greg Arps.
Dan and Donna DeFosse of Wisconsin Dells announced the engagement of their daughter Julie to Ryan Ennis son of Steve and Peggy Ennis of Wisconsin Dells. Ryan and Julie are both 1994 Wisconsin Dells graduates. Julie is currently a 7th grade teacher in Adams Friendship. Ryan received his electrical journeyman degree in 2000 and is currently employed as an electrician at Gaffney Electric.
$5,000 was raised through the T-shirt sales for Camp Wawbeek featuring the parade Marshalls Betty Walch and Wally Wimann.
An exciting 21 to 20 victory in overtime at Marshall on the nation's "Day of Mourning" gave the locals a huge morale boost as it heads into the conference season. Randy Ketlhut's extra point in overtime was the difference maker in the victory over Marshall. Ketlhut's boot has now won two games in four starts for the Chiefs this season.
