Douglas County Past: 'The Gumps' cartoonist hurt in crash

Sep. 24—Sept. 22, 1933

Boys are making Paul Bunyan look sick

Remember Paul Bunyan?

The mustached man mountain of the pine tree country with the seven league boots and the big ox, Babe, who could pull the kinks out of a river?

Well, he's back again, in spirit and in flesh. Just drop down to the civilian conservation corps camp on the Little Brule if you don't believe it. The works of old Paul and his shanty gang are paling to insignificance beside the monumental achievements of these boys. A hundred and sixty of 'em, including officers, all members of Company 629, have been brushing the sweat out of their eyes for three months and the Brule country is beginning to look like a picnicker's paradise.

Sept. 22, 1958

Fire sweeps sports store

Fire department investigators and juvenile officers began an extensive search Monday morning to find the children who allegedly caused a $50,000 blaze that swept through four downtown buildings Sunday afternoon, according to fire department spokesmen.

Five firemen were injured while fighting the fire and a Superior woman, Mrs. Amy Fortune, 78, of 1811 Belknap St., suffered a minor heart attack when the roof over her head began to smolder.

Fire chief Albert Gee stated that investigation has so far disclosed the fire began between two buildings, 1817 and 1815 on Belknap Street at about 4:15 p.m. Sunday. Children playing with matches there apparently built a fire beneath an oil tank, he said. The wooden stand supporting the tank caught fire, and finally the oil itself erupted into flames.

Police probe blasts as 2 are injured

Police Monday were attempting to determine what type of object it was that exploded while being played with by a nine year old boy, one of two hospitalized because of separate blasts Sunday.

Eddie Gallagher, 9, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Gallagher, 2019 Garfield Ave., Superior, was playing with the object in the home when it exploded.

Gerald Johnson, 12, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leonard J. Johnson, 5604 Cumming Ave., is in St. Joseph Hospital in fair condition after a railroad blasting cap went off in his hand.

The father of the Gallagher boy said his son had an object that looked like a condenser from a radio and had attached it to a railroad lantern battery when it exploded. He said the boy had found the object outside. The Gallagher boy is in good condition at St. Joseph Hospital.

According to police the Johnson boy and two companions, William Anderson, 13, 5615 Hammond Ave. and Robert Hood, 16, 5623 Hammond Ave., were unwrapping the dynamite cap when it went off. It was one of a number found by the boys two months ago, according to police.

Sept. 24, 1958

Meet the principal

Louis J. Thompson, native of Earl, Wis., is principal of the Lincoln and Howe Schools. With his wife, Ruth, and three-year-old son Kenneth Gary, he resides at 1312 N. 17th St.

Thompson began his education in a rural grade school at Earl, and was graduated with the Class of 1940 from Spooner High School.

After working two years as a hardware clerk in Spooner, he entered the service and during World War II served 3 1/2 years in the Army Air Corps and with the Eighth Air Force in England.

He is now in his second year as principal of Howe and Lincoln.

Sept. 25, 1933

Harman to turn pro

Gordon Harman, Superior's Northwest Golden Gloves welterweight boxing champion plans to turn pro this winter. He is working for the highway department and is in excellent shape for return to the wars. His plans for his professional campaign have not been definitely made, but he will probably start in Duluth.

Sid Smith, creator of Andy Gump, hurt in crash near Four Corners

Sidney Smith, creator of "The Gumps," comic strip, found himself reclining in a bed at the Androy hotel Sunday morning nursing a bulbous black eye.

The injured optic was his only souvenir of an accident Saturday night when his expensive automobile went out of control and rolled over on highway No. 53 near the Four Corners.

The cartoonist was on a fishing trip.

"I heard the wonderful stories about the muskie fishing around here," he said. "I never have been in Superior before."

Although his accident has left him with a bad eye and dizziness, Mr. Smith was cheerful about the whole thing. The car was not badly smashed but the fishing trip may be off.

"I do not feel so hot about fishing now. The accident last night took all the fishing out of me," he laughed.

Sept. 25, 1958

Meet the principal

Sister M. Suzanne Walz, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration from St. Rose Convent, La Crosse, has been principal of Cathedral High School since 1956.

Sister Suzanne received her teachers' certificate at Platteville State Teachers College before entering the convent. She taught grade schools for four years in Sparta and Greenwood, Wis. and for 10 years taught high school, English and drama at DePadua, Ashland; Cathedral, Superior, and Marycliff, Spokane, Wash.

Poplar students honor Bong in birthday program

POPLAR — Elementary school students here held a birthday program on Monday in memory of the late Major Richard I. Bong, World War II pilot ace, after whom the school receives its name.

Speeches were prepared and delivered by the following students:

Rosemary Roulston, seventh grade, spoke to the group on Major Richard I. Bong's personal and military attributes, under the direction of Chris S. Ballas.

Judy Detterling, sixth grade, spoke to the group on the Bong Memorial School construction program, under the direction of LeRoy Lepasti.

Kay Kent, fourth grade, recited a poem, "A Song for Our Flag." A choral reading, "My Town," was given by the fifth grade class. Both were under the direction of Miss Elsie Holm.

The entire third grade prepared a skit on the Bong Memorial Forest, under the direction of Mrs. John Lundberg.

Tri-Lakes Club (Amnicon, Dowling, Lyman) is formed

The Tri-Lakes Civic Club (Amnicon, Dowling and Lyman) is making a concerted effort for full-strength membership, to maintain civic improvements for the area. Mrs. Paul Thompson, chairman of the membership drive, asks that any interested resident or property owner in the tri-lakes area, who has not been contacted, phone her at Export 2-3735.

A very full year is anticipated by the newly organized club. Formerly by having membership from Amnicon and Dowling lakes, the group in its new form includes Lyman Lake. James Ramsey is president. Scotty McGregor, entertainment chairman, promises many social activities during the ensuing year, both for children and adults.

Officers of the club along with Ramsey are: Vice president, John Dodd; secretary, Verna Minor; treasurer, B.D. Ramsey. The board of directors is composed of Peter Johnson, Millard Berg, Herbert Peterson, Jack Clark, Howard Oliphant, George Ellis, Ben Gallinger, Clarence Erickson and Arthur Cirilli.

Up and down the street

Fish and shrimp are popular fare at the Mars Drive-in in Superior, Wisconsin, according to an article in the national magazine called Diner Drive-In.

The local drive-in, owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Hanford Olson, received a full page spread. According to the magazine article, a new menu item that is bringing customers back again and again from throughout the city is "21 Shrimp In A Basket." The Mars buys frozen breaded shrimp packed 21 to a small plastic basket. This specialty is fried to order by dumping the frozen shrimp into the deep fryer, then simply putting the fried shrimp back into the same basket along with French fries. The entire story and photo layout concerns seafood ideas from Mars.

Articles and pictures courtesy of retired librarian Judy Aunet with Superior Public Library.