THE TIME MACHINE
From past files of The Star News
10 YEARS AGO
March 15, 2012
Roofs and parking lots in the Medford Area School District are showing wear, but the money to fix them is in short supply. At the district’s finance committee meeting Friday, members discussed the projects and a possible referendum to pay for them. According to schedules prepared by maintenance director Dave Makovsky, the district is looking at $1.21 million for asphalt in parking lots and $500,000 for roofing over the next seven years. The most expensive roof project is coming next year at Stetsonville Elementary, one of two ballasted roofs in the district, at $140,000.
25 YEARS AGO
March 12, 1997
Medford residents will no longer be allowed to plant “trees, shrubs, bushes or any other woody vegetation” in the City’s rights of way. The Common Council passed a new ordinance last week by a 7-0 vote (Alderman Peggy Kraschnewski absent) prohibiting such planting and redefining the Tree Board as the members of the Committee on Public Works.
50 YEARS AGO
March 16, 1972
Wisconsin highway signs will be going “international” starting in 1972, and a number of symbols, such as the one above, (the current DO NOT ENTER sign), will be replacing the now-familiar word message with a 30-inch red circle on a 30-inch white square, with a white five-inch band placed horizontally across the center of the circle. The words “do not enter” appear on the face of the sign in white letters. The symbol dates from the Second Crusade in 1120. The white bar across a red field symbolizes a crusading warrior coverd with blood except where he wore his belt. The coat of arms was so frequently used by the Hapsburg family at entrances to their estates that it assumed the significance of Keep Out.
75 YEARS AGO
March 13, 1947
The Medford city council unanimously approved appropriation of $3,000 from the General Fund for installation of a lighting system for the Medford high school athletic field in a special meeting last Thursday evening. Purchase of material and construction will be made by the Medford Electric Utility. Utility Manager, Art Habeck expects to have the job completed and ready for use at the opening of the football season next fall.
100 YEARS AGO
March 16, 1922
At the special council meeting Tuesday, the city council granted the petition of Whelen Avenue property owners, which asked that street be paved, so the avenue will be included in the 1922 paving program. It had previously been dropped because owners had so petititioned. The strip between the city hall and Henry Hierlmeier’s building also will be paved. Another meeting of the council will be held Tuesday evening to take care of legal matters connected with the propsed paving.
125 YEARS AGO
March 20, 1897
The saw mill of the Medford Manufacturing Co. started up last Wednesday with a full force of men and a large supply of choice logs. Christy Howard handles the lever, Con. Curran manipulates the set works. Albert Boettscher goes through the acrobatic performances on the carriage. Tom Pemberton “rolls on,” Frank Draves does the “tail” sawing, and Charlie Gay files and keeps the saws in order- an all around good crew. The company has purchased considerable over three million feet of logs, and the season’s run will be longer than last year.
