Douglas County Past: Superior girl sends pet lion back to zoo; Gordon group builds fire tower

Sep. 23—Sept. 20, 1924

Cottagers at Gordon unite

Cottagers around the lakes in the vicinity of Gordon, Wis., recently formed an organization to be called the Gordon Protective association, the purpose of which will be to eliminate fire hazards in that part of the state. Approximately 40 property owners there have signed up for membership and have elected as their officers C.Z. Luse, chairman, and A.J. Wentzel, secretary.

The first activity of the association is the building of an 80-foot steel fire tower at Gordon to replace the wooden tower only 26 feet high which is at present used as the lookout. The contract has been let, materials are being bought from the Duplex Manufacturing company, and the tower will be manned by employes of the state fire warden's department.

This new organization also expects to provide fire breaks in different places, and distribute signs cautioning automobilists and others to be careful about throwing out lighted cigaret and cigar stubs and about extinguishing all camp fires.

The association has as its slogan "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Brule museum plans readied

BRULE — Plans are underway for the construction this fall of a museum to house displays of relics of pioneers who settled in Douglas and Bayfield counties 50 years ago.

The building will be 30 by 24 feet and will be located on the banks of the Brule river about a block northwest of the Co-op auditorium near here, according to Kalle Aine, Superior secretary of the Northern Wisconsin Pioneer Museum and Historical committee.

Displays in the proposed building will range from farm implements to home utensils and depict what life was like for the early settlers in this region.

Persons who wish to make donations by mail may send them to Arvid Wentela, treasurer, at Brule.

County Farmers' union to meet at South Range

SOUTH RANGE — Members of the Douglas County Farmers' union will hold their third quarterly business meeting on Saturday, September 23 starting at 1 p.m. in the South Range schoolhouse.

Speakers will be George Halonen of the marketing association and Frank Mehtala of Wentworth. Wesley Thompson of Foxboro will conduct a quiz.

Sept. 21, 1939

Cigarets are 15, 12 cents straight here

With the new state cigaret sales tax in effect, a survey by the Telegram reporters of leading Superior stores Thursday revealed that the popular brands are now selling at 15 cents a package straight and the former 10 cent brands are now selling at 12 cents straight.

Sept. 22, 1924

Torrential rains, gale lash Superior

Torrential rains, driven by a 56-mile gale, deluged Superior yesterday afternoon and evening, leaving in their wake broken power wires, shattered plate glass windows, ruined awnings and flooded basements, yet did no serious damage.

During the downpour 4.13 inches of rain, the heaviest fall since the establishment of the weather bureau in the city hall in 1909, cascaded from roofs and porches, according to E.B. Bankse, city engineer.

Sept. 22, 1939

Lion won't eat; Superior girl loses day old "pet"

Luise Cunningham, 1524 Banks avenue, has a "pet" African lion — that is, she did have until the carnivorous animal began pouting and refused to eat.

So she had to bring the lion back to the zoo and his mother after having him for less than a day. When the lion learns all the rudiments of proper eating, then Louise is going to get him back for a "pet."

The adjective "carnivorous," although usually applied to lions, however, can hardly apply to Louise' lion for it was only eight hours old.

It was brought here from the Duluth zoo for Louise as a pet until it grew to about six months old and then it would have been returned.

But he just wouldn't eat so Louise had to bring him back to get some "fetchin' up" before she takes him home again.

And now Louise, accordion to her mother, pines night and day for her lion. She wants one and hopes that in about a week she'll have her wish. As far as Louise knows, she is the only person in Superior to ever have a pet lion.

"When I get him back, the dogs in the neighborhood better watch out," she predicts.

Patzau gains county title

PATZAU — Kenney Bayard hurled the Patzau baseball team to a 9 to 6 victory and the Douglas County Baseball league title Sunday.

He defeated Lake Nebagamon, 9 to 6, on the South Superior grounds, allowing seven scattered hits and fanning 10 men.

Del Arnold led the losers in hitting with two triples, while Day and Goodwin led Patzau with three hits each.

Sept. 23, 1924

Driving to his own wedding, bridegroom hits lad with auto

If Henry J. Ritzman, 1105 Clough avenue, salesman for the Kewell Tea company, ever gets married again he's going to take out accident insurance at least sufficient to cover the day of his wedding.

For yesterday, while motoring to his own wedding, he struck a youngster at Hammond avenue and North Fourteenth street. Things looked gloomy for the about-to-be groom for a minute, and he sped to St. Mary's hospital with the lad.

Here it was determined that the boy was unhurt and he was released even before the hospital attaches learned his name. Mr. Ritzman continued to his wedding and it was accomplished forthwith.

Superior checker sharks win from champ in Duluth

That Superior has some checker players above the average is indicated by the recent contest played in Duluth in which Patrick Moran, Superiorite, was one of the contestants who defeated O.A. Hold, state champion of Minnesota. George Alexander Hunter and J.A. Powell, also both of Superior, played the champion to a draw.

Mr. Moran also defeated the state champion in blindfold play.

Maple young woman is injured in auto crash

Hilda Aho, 18-year-old Maple, Wis. girl was painfully injured last night in an automobile accident occurring at Maple. Details of the accident are lacking, but the young lady was taken to St. Francis hospital this morning and is being attended by Dr. W.H. Zwickey.

Her right cheek was cut and she sustained an injury to her right eye, right elbow and right knee, attaches at the hospital said.

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