News From This Week’s Past: Dec. 8 – 15

All items are from the Door County Library’s newspaper archives, and they appear in the same form as they were first published, including misspellings and grammatical errors.

Weekly Expositor Independent,

December 3, 1880

While Messrs. Tellif Haines and Paul Lavassor were cutter riding on the ice yesterday afternoon, the horse became frightened, and the cutter upset. The horse dashed on, and plunged into open water near Scofield & Co.’s dock – the horse and cutter going under the ice. Up to early this (Friday) morning, neither horse nor cutter had been fished out. This loss is a heavy one to Mr. L.

The Republican,

December 4, 1890

The ice became strong enough on the little lake on Monday night so that on Tuesday morning the boys were able to skate on it. It does not have to be very thick, however, before the kids are out on it, and the only reason no accidents happen to them is because the water is so shallow that it would be a hard job for anyone to drown himself if he tried, the greater part of the contents of the lake being mud. A great many of the boys break through every year, but the only result is a boot full of mud and a mighty chilly kid.

Door County Democrat,

December 1, 1900

Fined Fifty Dollars.

The first arrest made for violating the game laws during the past deer season was made Monday by game warden Gus. Pfeifer, the offender being Nicolas Bley, of Jacksonport. The charge upon which Nic. was arrested was with killing deer without first taking out the necessary license. He was arraigned before justice of the peace Jacob Dehos, plead guilty to the charge and was given the minimum fine of $50, besides the cost, which he paid.

Mr. Bley said he had arranged with a certain party to procure his license for him at the county seat, but who neglected to do so for several days. In the meantime, or on Nov. 13th he shot a deer, and later bagged another. A license to hunt was not in his possession until the 16th inst.

Door County Democrat,

December 4, 1908

WILL MANUFACTURE HANDLES

Pankratz Saw Mill Used to Manufacture Handles.

The Wis. Handle Co. is the name of a company which will manufacture broom handles and handles of all kinds in this city. The Pankratz saw mill has been remodeled and equipped for the purpose and will start up about January 1st. The company is now in the market for all kinds of maple logs and it is expected that a large supply can be procured here in Door county.

Door County News,

December 6, 1917

WITH OUR SOLDIERS

Given A Sumptuous Feed

That the Door county contingent at Camp Custer fared better on Thanksgiving than they would had they been at home, in at least 95 per cent of the cases, we have no hesitancy in stating, after perusing the menu card that has been handed us by a relative of one of the fortunate soldiers.

Just take a glance over it and see if you will not agree that our soldiers are not starving:  cream of celery soup; sliced pickles; celery; roast turkey; oyster dressing; cranberry sauce; roast veal; brown gravy; mashed potatoes; candied sweet potatoes; sugar corn; French peas; piccalilli salad; mayonnaise dressing; plum pudding and maple sauce; jelly cake; chocolate cake; pumpkin pie; mince pie; apples; bananas; cheese; salted almonds; assorted nuts; coffee; cocoa; cigars; cigarettes.

The “big feed” was the topic of conversation for several days after Thanksgiving. Every man was more than pleased with the manner in which they had been served by Uncle Sam. It was a feast that they will long remember.

Door County News,

December 4, 1924

K.K.K. BURNS CROSS

Fiery Emblem Startles Residents of Fourth Ward on Friday Night.

For the second time the Knights of Ku Klux Klan burned a cross in this ward.

The last occasion was Friday night of last week. It was about 10:30 o’clock when residents in the vicinity of lower Prospect street discovered the fiery emblem, which had been erected at a spot near the bay shore and set on fire.

Who the parties were that put it there is of course not known. An auto truck was seen in the vicinity a short time before but no attention was paid to it.

What the burning of the cross signifies is also somewhat of a mystery. Some claim that it signifies the addition of a certain number of members to the order. What progress is being made in the organization is not known and since the meetings held here and in Fish Creek there has been little or no discussion of the subject.

Door County News,

December 1, 1938

WILLIAM JESS, PROMINENT WASHINGTON ISLAND RESIDENT, DIES AT GREEN BAY

HELD TOWN CHMN. OFFICE 27 YEARS

William Jess, 69, prominent resident of Washington Island, and one of Door county’s most widely known and highly respected citizens, passed away at a Green Bay hospital Saturday evening. Death was the result of a rare malady known as Buerger disease, and ended an illness of seven months direction. A week previous to death Mr. Jess submitted to the amputation of a leg. He never rallied from the shock and grew steadily weaker until the end came Saturday.

He was largely active in the organization of the Washington Island Telephone company at about the turn of the century and has served as its secretary and manager since its organization. He served his township as chairman for a period of 27 years; was clerk of the Washington Island school for 35 years; postmaster for 15 years, and secretary of the Washington Town Insurance co. for 38 years.