Bayfield County Journal
Bayfield County Journal Memories Column


Zoe von Ende Lappin, granddaughter of P.J. Savage, editor of the Iron River PIONEER from 1898 to 1952, has obtained permission for us to post the Memories and Yesteryear columns that are printed weekly in the Bayfield COUNTY JOURNAL, successor� to the PIONEER and other newspapers in the county. The COUNTY JOURNAL announced the upcoming Web postings in its Dec. 3O, 1999, edition with the headline, "Genealogy columns to appear on the web".

I would like to thank Eric Sharp, Editor of the Bayfield County Journal for his willingness to work with us in our genealogical search. We look forward to the wonderful articles that will appear here. Thank you also to Zoe von Ende Lappin for all her work and the hours of typing.

The County Journal, published in Washburn, WI, July 22, 1999

No Washburn Yesteryear column.

Iron River Memories

Beverlee Thivierge

Reprinted from the Iron River Pioneer, July 24, 1941

Maune Helgren, aged 25 years, son of Oscar Helgren, Town of Oulu, died suddenly at home last Tuesday evening. Maune had worked in the fields that day, which was one of the hottest of the summer, but at supper he appeared in good condition. After supper he worked for an hour repairing farm machinery and when he decided to call it a day, he laid down on a couch for a rest. It was while he was reclining there that he was seized with the heart attack that caused his death within a few minutes. When Dr. Johnson arrived, Maune had been for a half hour or so. This young man was one of the best known and highly respected young men in the Town of Oulu, and his� unexpected death was a shock to all his relatives and friends. Besides his father, Maune is survived by three brothers, Aale, George and Wayne, all of Detroit.

Born -- To Mr. and Mrs. Art Wigren of Orienta, a son, July 10th. To Mr. and Mrs. Ira Phillips, a son, July 20th. To Mr. and Mrs. Loche Lund, a daughter, July 21st.

Mr. and Mrs. Hobart Thiese returned to their home in Detroit after spending a month here. They came up to attend the funeral of Mr. Thiese�s sister, Mrs. Theodore F. Mackmiller, and remained over to attend the wedding of his grand-nephew, Theodore F. Callahan, which occurred in Duluth on the previous Saturday.

Oscar Frankie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Frankie, Town of Tripp, was home on a 10 day furlough from Ft. Benning, Ga., where he is with the Second Armored Division.

George Costello, who left for military training last week,� has been heard from and he is now located at Camp Walters, Tex. -- a nice place to be in the winter time.

By E.F. Daniels -- Today, July 24th, is the 49th anniversary of the burning of Iron River. On July 24, 1892, a fire broke out at the Eau Claire House on South Main. There was no fire protection whatever, and no one had insurance. � A strong wind was blowing from the south, and the whole town was wiped out with the exception of four buildings, three of which are still in existence. It had taken six month to build Iron River, and it had been totally destroyed by fire in 45 minutes. A cloudburst followed the fire that night, and many people nearly drowned while standing out in the storm. Women and children were offered shelter and protection in large �sporting� houses near town, the �girls� giving up their rooms and a goodly share of their clothing to those whom they spoke of as �decent women.� There was no food in town the next morning and telegraph communications were destroyed when the depot burned. Every businessman was broke; all he (NOTE: apparently referring to the writer, E.F. Daniels) had left was a bit of scorched earth 25x130 feet in size. There are only a few of the old-timers left.

July 23, 1959

Mr. and Mrs. Horvath and sons of Fullerton, Calif., [left] a week ago after visiting a week with Mrs. Horvath�s mother (Helen), Mrs. Theresa Farnady. (NOTE: Mrs. Horvath�s first name apparently is Helen.)

Army recruit Joseph J. Sajdak Jr., 23, whose parents live in Iron River, recently was assigned to the 57th Artillery in Chicago. Sajdak is a rocket launcher crewman in the Artillery�s Battery C. He entered the Army in April 1959 and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Sajdak is a 1954 graduate of Iron River High School.
(NOTE: Arithmetic doesn't work in this next item. If he was born in 1889, he'd have been 69 or 70 at death. But this is the way it was written; unknown if original or copied version is wrong. And it's impossible to know where the error is -- age or death date. ZL)

������� Vaso M. Grandish, 79, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles Diamon Jr. Born April 22, 1889 in Yugoslavia, he came to the States in 1905 to Ford City, Pa., and moved to his farm in Herbster in 1922. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline, in 1952, and a son, George, in 1956. Surviving area a son, Peter, of Ozona, Fla.; five daughters, Mrs. Dale Burnside, Mrs. Roy Strand, Mrs. Lloyd Cox, Mrs. Robert Kirk, and Mrs. Chas. Diamon; 17 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Services were held Wednesday at St. Francis Xavier Church in Herbster, with Rev. Fr. Joseph Kleinheinz officiating.

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Sand enjoyed their 22nd wedding anniversary dinner at Vacha�s Restaurant Wednesday evening, July 15th. The delicious chicken dinner was compliments of Vacha�s, a prize won by Mrs. Sand at the Firemen�s July 4th Benefit celebration.

Barbara Willoughby, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Willoughby, celebrated her 10th birthday. Her guests were: Emily DeNagel, Becky Vojacek, Carrie and Linda Tanula, Sharon Moran, Wendy Wallin, Mrs. Dick Mockler and sons, Pat, Mike and Rick of Hayward; Grandma Willoughby of Cable; Mr. and Mrs. Gene Willoughby and daughters, Sandra and Wendy of Ashland; and Wesley Willoughby of Wentworth.

Born to Mr. and Mrs. William Keuchler Jr., a son, July 26th. paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. William Keuchler Sr. of Herbster; and maternal grandmother [is] Mrs. Dan Smith, also of Herbster.

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