Down the Decades

140 years ago

In 1884: The Liberty Pole, 100 feet high, was successfully raised July 3. — The Marshal of the Day in this village on the Fourth of July was an ex-Confederate soldier with an excellent record. — There are reports that diphtheria is raging in Dallas. — There are 297 schoolchildren in the village, according to the census.

120 years ago

In 1904: J. Wells put a new launch on the lake Thursday. — Ole Oshod’s team ran from Main Street toward the lake Wednesday, colliding with a tree. — Women are needed as voters because they are a class with special rights to protect and special wrongs to remedy. — All crops except corn are said to be looking good.

100 years ago

In 1924: Airmail service brought letters to Rice Lake from San Francisco in only two days. — Rice Lake used to be ridiculed for its wide streets, but they come in handy now that car traffic is brisk. — Work has begun by the city on lighting from Main Street to Wilson Avenue.

80 years ago

In 1944: A.M. Fengler was installed as president of the Rotary Club. — An exhibit of captured German equipment will be shown here next week. — Lt. Paul Benson, formerly of Rice Lake, was killed in action over Germany on June 22.

60 years ago

In 1964: A new driver training course was set up at the Rice Lake High School. — The PCA, Land Bank is having an open house Friday. — Cameron’s graduating Class of 1939 is having a reunion July 4. — The city’s vocational school is requesting a new addition because of increased enrollment.

40 years ago

In 1984: This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Lumberjack Championships, the largest in the world, to be held at Hayward. — A runaway car smashed into the Dallas Fire Hall when its driver slipped it into reverse and backed across Main Street from a gas station. — Dedication of the new $1.3 million dam at Rice Lake is Thursday evening.

20 years ago

In 2004: John Kerry’s visit Friday isn’t the first time a presidential candidate finalist stopped in Rice Lake, although it’s been more than 40 years since presidential candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy campaigned here. — Chibardun Telephone Cooperative plans to build a new facility on a 30-acre parcel in Cameron and move its headquarters there from Dallas.

10 years ago

In 2014: The Barron County Junior Livestock Show is observing its 50th year with a celebration at the Rice Lake Hockey Arena. — Cam and Deb Goertzen of Barron are growing a family business with their hydroponic tomatoes and cucumbers.