HISTORY

Days Gone By: Feb. 14, 2013

10 YEARS AGO, FEB. 13, 2003 In downtown business news, former UW all-American “Woody” Fangmeier opened Innate Chiropractic at 650 S. Main St.; Scott Reuter’s “No Job Too Small” STR Construction got its start, Jerae and husband Pete Hanson were bringing the bar business back to the old Corner Saloon spot at 126-128 N. Main St., most recently housing “The Booth” a youth center now to be called “The Hoosegow;” St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity received a $6,000 grant from Edina Realty Foundation; and Cellular One at 209 N. Main Street offered 3,600 minutes a month for $24.99 plus a free Nokia 5165 cell phone with a one or two year contract. The plan also included 600 anytime minutes, free unlimited mobile-to-mobile, and free nationwide long distance.

By Pat Hunter, archivist , February 18, 2013

Days Gone By: Feb. 8, 1996

Editor’s Note: The winter of 1996 was a particularly grueling one for River Falls. Schools had been closed several times due to rain, snow and ice storms blanketing the region in January, motorists were stranded, road crews worked around the clock, ditches were full of snow so there was nowhere for more to go, and in the latest cold snap, residents were without power — even gas pipes broke. The following are recollections printed in the River Falls Journal during that time. Two new weather records were reached when the mercury hit 32-below one night and 35-degrees below two days later on Friday, Feb. 2.

By Pat Hunter, archivist , February 07, 2013

Woodworking: This last goodbye a reminder of many teachable and some very funny moments

One of the great things about funerals is that when you attend them, you find out all kinds of good stuff about the deceased that you never knew before.

By Dave Wood, columnist , February 07, 2013

Civil War exhibit offers glimpse of history

The River Falls Public Library’s gallery held an opening reception Feb. 3 for its Civil War, which coincides with the reading of Michael Shaara’s book “The Killer Angels” during the citywide River Falls Reads program running through March 10.

February 05, 2013

Days Gone By: Jan. 31, 2013

10 YEARS AGO, FEB. 6, 2003 In local business news, John “Doc” Berggren passed his veterinary business at 1055 E. Cascade Ave., to Dick Jones-Witthuhn, who will be moving his Kinni Croix Veterinary Hospital there; Joe Karras started Karras & Associates, a remodeling business, at 215 N. Second Street; River Falls Chamber of Commerce was settling into its new location at 214 N. Main St.; and Express Loans opened shop at 703 N. Main Street.

By Pat Hunter, archivist , February 01, 2013

Days Gone By: Miss River Falls 1963

In the winter of 1963 Miss River Falls Pam Armbruster was to visit the St. Paul Winter Carnival. The daughter of Mrs. Priscilla Armbruster of River Falls, she is a freshman at Wisconsin State College here.

January 31, 2013

Octagon House Museum opens for Hot Air Affair tours

The Octagon House Museum will be open for guided tours on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the annual Hot Air Affair.

January 27, 2013

Days Gone By: Jan. 24, 2013

20 YEARS AGO, JAN. 28, 1993 A rain-ice storm hit the area last Wednesday afternoon bringing traffic to a stop, turning pavements into ice and using more than three times the amount of salt generally needed. School District Transportation Supervisor Ron Weishaar said 18 school buses either got stuck or the drivers decided against further travel, staying put until county or town salt trucks came to help. In some cases parents were called and asked to fetch their children at the locations where the buses were marooned. Area residents pitched in and offered blankets, magazines and food to the drivers.

By Pat Hunter, archivist , January 24, 2013

Days Gone By: Oak Knoll

Pauly Cudd, everyone’s favorite glassblower, business owner, and former champion on the gridiron and wrestling mat, is now wrestling with renovating old houses. He’s well into a total renovation of the former Ames house at 615 Oak Knoll Ave.

By Pat Hunter, archivist , January 17, 2013

Breakfast begets unity, peace

The 2013 commemorative breakfast honoring the life and works of Martin Luther King, Jr., takes place 7-9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21, in the fellowship hall of St. Bridget Catholic Church, 211 E. Division St., and carries an education-related title and theme, “Education, the Fierce Urgency of Now.”

January 16, 2013

UW-River Falls digital history archive to be featured on Spectrum West

The “History of UW-River Falls,” a new public, digital archive will be featured on Spectrum West this Friday, Jan. 18 at 5 p.m. on 88.3 WHWC/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7 WRFW/River Falls.

January 15, 2013

War stories wanted; local, national efforts run on parallel track

A small news tip to the Journal led to a discovery: The American Legion wants veterans’ war stories.

By Debbie Griffin , January 14, 2013

Days Gone By: Letters from children

10 YEARS AGO, DEC. 26, 2002 Editor’s Note: Each year River Falls third graders are asked to answer a holiday question. In 2002 they were asked what they would do if Harry Potter came for the holidays or how would they design a new outfit for Santa.

By Pat Hunter, archivist , December 28, 2012

Book group makes historic choice

So many things seemed to come together to make “The Killer Angels” the right choice:

By Phil Pfuehler , December 26, 2012

Motorcycles deck out the library

“That's a Fine MotorBike,” an exhibit of fine, vintage, rare and custom motorcycles, opened Dec. 16 at the River Falls Public Library, 140 Union St. and runs through Jan. 27.

December 21, 2012