Winnowings

10 Years Ago

April 7, 2014

A full page advertisement on the back of this issue states the 2014 Great Sun Prairie Easter Egg Hunt will take place Saturday, April 19 at 12:30 p.m. sharp in lower Angell Park. This event was sponsored by the Sun Prairie Lions Club, the Sun Prairie Star and Advertiser, the Colonial Club, and Angell Park Speedway. Over 3,000 eggs have been planted and the Easter Bunny made a special appearance.

The Hometown News LP team has put together its annual Spring Home and Garden section to get the home improvement creative juices following.

Prairie Heritage Quilters held its 40th annual quilt show and competition March 30 through April 1 at Saint Albert’s Catholic Church. Two hundred quilts were on display for the public to view. Nancy Acker, of Brodhead, won Best of Show for her bed quilt, “Woodland Creatures.”

The editor says that last week’s April Fools front page false stories has been a Sun Prairie Star tradition since April of 1989.

Scott Johnson and Gary Praznik aim to open Water Tower Chophouse in the former Herreman’s supper club space at 109 W. Main Street on or before Mother’s Day weekend, according to building owner and downtown developer David Baehr. (In 2018, this space was damaged due to the natural gas explosion and in 2024 holds an apartment building.)

25 Years Ago

April 8, 1999

Pictured in this issue, Sun Prairie Civic Theatre members practice the opening number for West Side Story. The cast is under the direction of experienced veteran Bobby Castello assisted by Lory Spear, who also plays Sister Gladhand.

The Sun Prairie Library Board and the Friends of the Sun Prairie Public Library recently put the finishing touches on a plan to open the new Sun Prairie Public Library on Linnerud Drive May 16. On May 15, a special preview gala for all levels of contributors is planned in appreciation of those who have given to the library fund drive.

Reservations are already being accepted for 48 plots in Sun Prairie’s first ever Community Garden, to be located east of the new Sun Prairie Public Library on Linnerud Drive. The 18-by-23 foot plots for the project will be open between April 15 and May 15 and cost $20 each, with fees paid through the Sun Prairie Parks & Recreation office.

The new head coach for the Sun Prairie High School girls track team is Betsy Butler. An assistant to Dan Kissling the last two years, Butler was promoted to head coach after Kissling took a job teaching in the Stoughton school district.

50 Years Ago

April 11, 1974

There are still “ifs” before the differences between the teachers and the school board regarding their new contract will be settled.

The Chamber of Commerce decided to charge for parking and limit the amount of corn to be given away at the Corn Festival this summer.

The high school concert choir will begin a Western United States tour on April 15. The tour will include a visit to the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs.

The high school band returned from a successful trip in Florida.

Members of the American Legion Post here are planning to enlarge their building.

Mrs. June Egstad was the regional winner of the Just Speak Up Contest.

A feature article tells of the Foster Grandparent Program as presented at the Colonial Club recently.

WEDDING: Toni Annette Short and Thomas Thorland, March 9.

DEATH: Ernest Hillenbrand, 74, April 4.

75 Years Ago

April 7, 1949

Nine children will be confirmed at Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church on Palm Sunday. Four of the nine children are from the Redeemer Lutheran Congregation in Cottage Grove, also served by Pastor William Wiedenmeyer.

Mary Ann Kripps will reign as queen of the annual Junior Prom on April 22. She will be escorted by the prom king, Richard Faust.

L.A. Stohl was elected president of the village in Tuesday’s election when 843 ballots were cast and he received 541 votes.

New village trustees are Reinhold Klein, A.J. Thomas and Theodore Tuschen. Andrew Scheurell won the post of supervisor by two votes. Edward Walker was elected town chair of the Township of Sun Prairie. Gilbert E. Derr was unopposed as chair of the Township of Bristol.

Sixty-nine pupils of the county will compete here in the spelling bee on April 9.

A summary of Mrs. R.C. Birkinbine’s European tour as presented at the Twentieth Century Club appears in this issue. She was surprised to see the farms which she visited in Germany were completely without machinery and the homes with no conveniences.

BIRTH: A girl to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Yelk, March 31.

75 Years Ago

April 10, 1924

George Krueger has gone back to farm life again. Last week he moved from the village to the Droster farm in the Town of Burke.

The Rev. Herman Meyer, of Dresden, Germany, will speak in the German M.E. church Friday evening. He will speak on conditions in Germany at the present time.

The Gypsy Rover, the operetta presented Wednesday by the high school students, was a huge success.

Eggs are taken in trade at Hillenbrand’s Clothing Store.

An illustrated lecture on the Passion Play will be presented at Sacred Hearts Catholic Church on April 14.

A Hard Time Dance will be given at the city hall under the auspices of the local Legion Post on Friday night, April 25. Two prizes will be awarded, one to the most poorly dressed woman and another to the shabbiest dressed gent.

Notice is given of the annual spring clean-up. Rubbish will be hauled away free, beginning Monday, April 14, if placed on streets in boxes or barrels…Rubbish will not be taken away if piled on the ground. — By Order of the Village Board.

DEATH: Oliver Van Sant, 85, April 4.

100 Years Ago

April 6, 1899

School opened again today for the spring term.

Easter was observed by all the churches here on Sunday.

Fred Wolf has rented his blacksmith shop on Main Street to Peter Motl.

The crowd that attended the moving picture entertainment last Friday evening was somewhat small, yet the show went on. A phonograph filled the time between the pictures with songs and musical selections.

Rev. F.E. Lyon delivered his farewell sermon last Sunday evening to his congregation. He has occupied the Congregational pulpit here the last two years, but now resigns to accept the work in the Health Propaganda.

The waterworks question was decided with 93 votes for it and 43 against. The waterworks plant is not to exceed the cost of $12,500.

A small building with about 600 pounds of tobacco on the E.E. Willmarth farm was destroyed by fire last Thursday evening.

Peter Oehrlein was elected chair of the Town of Bristol. In the Town of Sun Prairie, C.J. Schadel was elected chair.

WEDDING: Alice Sabin and E.C. Dodge, April 4.