Rhinelander Reflections

Editor’s Note: In a new, periodical feature, the Northwoods River News presents “Rhinelander Reflections,” which will takes a look back at stories that made headlines of our paper, formerly known as the Rhinelander Daily News, in 1925, 1950, 1975 and 2000. We hope you enjoy this look back at our past.

100 YEARS AGO

BEER RUNNER UNDER ARREST — Guy Mulfair Taken Into Custody today at Antigo Enroute to Rhinelander

Published: Sept. 21, 1925

Guy Mulfair’s craving for speed caused many a parched throat in Rhinelander to stay parched over the week-end.  For Guy, running real beer to this city, was picked up by a speed cop in Antigo for exceeding the speed limit of 15 miles an hour.

An Antigo dispatch telling of the arrest follows:

“If Guy Mulfair had driven his automobile at the rate of 15 miles per hour going through this city Friday afternoon the supply of real beer at Rhinelander might have been increased by several kegs, but Mulfair drove too fast and attracted the attention of Speed Officer Frank Shebuski. The speed cop took Mulfair in tow and escorted him to the police station, where a glance into the rear seat of the enclosed car he drove disclosed the kegs.

“The kegs were unloaded from the automobile and piled in the police station awaiting the outcome of a chemical analysis being made by Phil Fehlandt, head of the department of chemistry at the high school. The chemist’s report was returned and disclosed the information that the ‘near-beer’ contained an average of 5 1/4 per cent alcohol.

“Mulfair was arraigned before Judge A. N. Whiting and charged with transporting intoxicating beverages.  He plead guilty and was bound over to the upper branch of municipal court to be sentenced on Monday.  Bonds were fixed at $1,000, and Mulfair notified friends at Rhinelander of his plight.

“Mulfair, it is said, was en route from Shawano to Rhinelander when his trip was interrupted by the speed cop.”

75 YEARS AGO 

Paper Mill Men Open Meeting on Sulphite Pollution

Published: Sept. 21, 1950

Top scientists of Wisconsin’s sulphite pulp mills gathered here today for a three-day meeting at Pinewood Lodge to check up on the industry’s progress in reducing stream pollution. They are attending the 45th regular quarterly session of the technical committee of the Sulphite Pulp Manufacturers’ Research League, the organization through which mills in this state carry on a cooperative research program with the aim of finding ways to clean up sulphite pollution.

The group is composed of the technical directors of 14 companies that make sulphite pulp. Its business during these three days will include review of the varied research and development programs conducted by its staff of 15 in the Appleton laboratories and pilot plants, by its Rhinelander staff members at the yeast plant and by cooperating outside research groups. The research league finances a substantial grant to the Institute of Paper Chemistry for organic research in lignin chemistry and four other university research grants at the Universities of Wisconsin, Minnesota, New Hampshire and Michigan State College.

Besides general research on the reduction of spent sulphite liquor pollution, specific activities under review will include research in the fields of yeast production and utilization, evaporation and burning of spent liquor and development of improved methods for application of road binder. Latest developments in process and production techniques will be inspected in the Lake States Yeast plant where dried Torula yeast for animal and poultry feeds is made from spent sulphite.

Besides the 14 technical directors, those attending the meeting include: J. M. Holderby of the Rhinelander Paper Company, former coordinator of the league, Averill J. Wiley, technical director, and Groff Collett, business manager of the league.

In attendance as the representative of the Rhinelander Paper Company is Dr. Karl W. Fries, technical director of the Rhinelander firm.

50 YEARS AGO

Mini-Museums at Pioneer Park Friday

Published: Sept. 24, 1975

Four mini-museums showing artifacts and other material of the American Armed Forces will roll into Rhinelander Friday for day long viewing in Pioneer Park.

The museums are housed in vans and are part of the Armed Forces Bicentennial Exhibit currently touring the nation, said Mrs. Lelah Bruso, chairman of the Rhinelander Bicentennial program.

Mrs. Bruso said the exhibits will open on a note of welcome from area representatives, including presentation of the Colors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Rhinelander High School band is scheduled to play and Rhinelander’s Ambassadors of Goodwill from the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce will be on hand to extend greetings. Mrs. Bruso said the exhibits will be opened at 10 a.m. They are slated to remain open until 8 p.m.

The caravan has been prepared by the Department of Defense and will utilize multi-media materials and military artifacts.

The Army, Marine Corps and Navy vans are walk-through type museums while the Air Force features a mini-theater. The Army van describes the Army’s contributions in six areas, including exploration and contribution to the nation.

The Marine van depicts the “Heritage of the Corps”, in five sections beginning with the Revolutionary War through the Marine Corps of today.

The Navy van portrays the Navy’s history and includes displays on some of the Navy’s technical advancements. The van also features a small radar unit mounted on the front of the van.

A 16-minute slide presentation on the history of flight is featured in the Air Force van. Each van is manned by three servicemen and a noncommissioned officer is in charge of each caravan. The vans will tour the 50 states through December of 1976 with the caravan visiting hundreds of small towns and cities. The program is free of charge.

25 YEARS AGO

Menards completes land buy for Rhinelander store

Published: Sept. 23, 2000

After months of rumors and legal delays, it’s finally official: Menards, the home-improvement retailer, is coming to Rhinelander.

“Menards has officially taken ownership,” said Pete Tenderholt of Caldwell Banker Mulled Inc., who brokered the $2.65 million transaction with former owner Marplex Inc.

Menards, which is based in Eau Claire, is eager to break ground soon for a 160,000-square-foot Superstore on the 30-acre site, located at 2221 N. Stevens St., Tenderholt said. Completion of the store would be about 10 months from groundbreaking, or sometime next summer.

“They will be using less than half the acreage, with the rest earmarked for other commercial endeavors,” he added. Tenderholt said it was too early to say what other businesses would be joining Menards.

Tenderholt said nearly $200,000 of the $2.65 million sale price is escrowed for sewer hookup and related infrastructure improvements. About $19,000 has already been paid to the city for engineering work in connection with the private sewer project. “The city has no interest in this, and it was very disappointing,” Tenderholt said.

Plans call for Musson Brothers to haul out a pile of contaminated dirt, wood and debris at the north end of the proposed construction site.

Tenderholt, who owns the Rusty Nail restaurant next door to the future Menards, said he’s excited about economic shot in the arm the north end of the city will receive. “This is going to be huge and probably double the traffic in the area,” he said.

Marplex, which previously operated a lumber mill and pallet-making business at the site, filed for Chapter 11 protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Oct. 5, 1999. Since then, it has been selling off assets under supervision of the bankruptcy court.

Founded in 1960, the Menards chain has stores in nine upper Midwest states, including 25 stores in Wisconsin. Menards officials could not be reached for comment today.