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2006 Augusta Wisconsin Sesquicentennial
Remembering the
1956
Centennial Year History of
Augusta Wisconsin - 50 Years later
An Augusta Wisconsin Class of 1955 - 1956 (Link)
The Dells Mill School (a one room school house - Grades 1 through 8)
Remembering Augusta
Wisconsin as it was in 1956. Small
town America in the 1950's, the middle of the 20th Century
Augusta Wisconsin, along with rest
of the US, struggled through its pioneer days, the civil war and it's aftermath, the First World War,
and then later a very mean Depression, and an even meaner World War Two.
There were relatively few extended easy times during Augusta's maturity.
Only in the late 1890's to about the 1910's and during the Roaring 1920's
were there consistent peace, prosperity and the good life.
The 1950's brought an extended
period of the good life to America. Augusta Wisconsin and all of the
US experienced the growth of the middle class and the democratization that
such wealth and rights give- see note at the end of this article.
Here are rememberings and changes in small town life and Augusta, as remembered by this
site's author.
The population of Augusta
Wisconsin has stayed almost constant from the 1870's through 2006. In
the population in 1870 it was about 1,200, in 2006 it was about 1,400.
What life was like in 1956:
Country phone service in
1956 in Augusta Wisconsin.
- The phone line was a party line.
Everyone on the party would hear any phone ring on the Party
- Telephone service was extremely
local. Our local number was 4F2 - the phone would ring four long rings and two short rings - if that sequence was heard in your
home, it would mean the call was for you.
- Your party line neighbors would hear
all rings; if their number was 4F3, as in 4 long rings and 3 short rights,
we could hear the rings too
- Phones had no dial tone.
To call a neighbor on your party line, you would just ring their number.
- Reaching friends on
other party lines required operator assistance. The operator was
summoned by one long ring and you would ask for the other party by name.
- Neighbors could pick up the phone and
eavesdrop on any and all calls on the party line. They would hear
your ring to the operator too.
- There were few area codes;
long distance phone calls were rare and expensive, people
calling in would have to ask for a party in Augusta Wisconsin by their
name.
- There was no direct
dialing. You had to go through the operator. Making a long
distance call in 1956 could take 20 minutes or more to connect. In
2006 it is almost impossible or expensive to reach an
'operator'.
- I
remember my family calling to relatives with emergency information in Long
Island New York and being charged at $11 or $12 a minute - a 3 minute call
was $33 to $40 - over $200.00
in 2006 dollars. A call from Wisconsin to Long Island New York in
2006 can be free or up to $1.00 depending on which type of telephone
service and plan you use.
- Direct Dial phones came
to Augusta in the early 1960's. At first private lines were a very
expensive option but the party line direct dial phones only rang for
your number. You party line neighbors did not know when you were making
or receiving a call but they still could hear your conversations if they
picked up the phone. In 2006, all lines are private.
Remembering society in Downtown Augusta Wisconsin
- The Augusta Movie Theatre was
located at the site what is now the Augusta City Hall, next to the old
Farmer's Bar (now the Hitching Post gift shop). The original building was razed. Like in the rest of
America, attending Movies was THE recreation in the 1940's and 1950's
see note at the end of this article
- The Augusta movie theatre opened and closed several times
during the 1960's and 70's. During the 60's it was reinvented; in
addition to movies it served fast food including recreation options
such as pin ball machines It offered recreation and food during the day,
before and after movies, and recent movies at night and during matinees
on Saturday and Sunday.
- The Augusta City Hall was at the
site that now includes part of the Augusta Wisconsin Library
- Free Movies in the open
air were offered on Friday Nights during the summertime next to the then
City Hall, under the shadow of the
old
Augusta Water Tower. Favorites were
old Laurel and Hardy and Tarzan movies
- Stores would be open
until 9:00 pm on Friday nights to accommodate the farmer's families
needs
- A prime social activity
for area farmers on Friday nights was to drive to town, park on Lincoln
("main street") and talk, gossip and watch what was going on in the
'city'.
- There was a
"competition" for the key parking spaces on Lincoln Street, a one block
long business district. Some families almost always got there
earlier in the day and always seemed to have the best spots. If a
regular attending family was not at their spot, others would gossip if
something was wrong in that Augusta Family.
- It was common for the
men to head to one of the bars for beer and to play cards or shoot pool.
The women would shop, set in their cars and gossip. Youth would head to
the free movie or winter high school activities in Augusta Wisconsin.
- Since the town was
supported by area farmers, this social activity would end before 10 pm so
that the farmers could rise early the next day to attend to their
business.
- Businesses were not open
late on Saturday, some closed by 1pm, since Sunday was a church day and the residents needed
to be up for early services.
- Businesses were closed
on Sunday because it was the Church Day. City ordnances required
that stores and bars be closed
Remembering Augusta Wisconsin
Holidays in 1956
- In Augusta Wisconsin and
the United States there were no designated Monday Holidays other
than Labor Day - most Federal holidays were on specific dates. For example, Memorial Day was
on May 30th - PERIOD. It did not become a 'last Monday in May'
holiday until 1968 when a number of legal holiday dates were changed to
Mondays by
Federal law
- World War II (World War
Two) was a very recent memory. Augusta Wisconsin held a glorious
parade honoring World War veterans and heroes for all wars on May 30th,
with the parade ending in a solemn ceremony for the fallen at East Lawn
Cemetery
- Augusta families would
participate in the parade and solemn honors at East Lawn cemetery, after which they would head
for the bars or family reunions to celebrate family and life. (To
the bars excepting when the holiday fell on a Sunday)
- Armistice day was
November 11th. The holiday had its origin from the signing of the
armistice on November 11 in 1919 when World War I ended (World War One, or the 1st World War,
also known as the Great War). It officially became Veteran's Day in 1954.
It was a day to wave flags
but not a day to take off of
work. The nation still celebrates Veteran's Day on November 11.
- There were 2 President's
days in 1956 - Lincoln's Birthday on February 12th and Washington's
Birthday on February 22nd. Both days were holidays but they
were not recognized for time off by all the states. In 2006
there is one Federal President's Day Holiday, yet a number of states still have off
two President's
Days; one for Washington's Birthday (the Monday Holiday) AND a separate
day (Feb 12) for Lincoln's Birthday. 1956 Augusta
Wisconsin recognized the two days of a time of honor but a time to work
too.
- Martin Luther King day
on the 3rd Monday in January is a national holiday in 2006. The
modern civil rights movement was in its infancy in 1956 and most of
Augusta was not aware of it, and of course
the holiday did not exist. The first national Martin Luther
King Holiday was celebrated January 20, 1986
Other
1956 facts and remembrances.
- The national hourly
minimum wage was increased from $.75 to $1.00 on March 1, 1956.
The national minimum wage in 2006 was $5.15. It would be about
$7.50 if it were adjusted for inflation to equal the 1956 buying power.
Wisconsin's minimum wage became $6.50 an hour on June 1, 2006
- The First Class Postage
Rate was 3 cents (about 23 cents in 2006 dollars) - 2 ¢ for a Post Card. In 2006 the First Class Rate
increased from 37 cents to 39 cents - The Post Card rate increased from
23 to 24 ¢
- The price of gas
was about 30 cents a gallon in 1956 but could be as low as 21 to 25 cents. In 2006 the price varied but
averaged about $2.20 a gallon - exactly as it should be by inflation
rate for the 30 cent price.
- A 14" black and white
table top television was about $130 in 1956 - equivalent to about $975
in 2006. Console TV's were much more. Color television was just reaching the market - a 21"
table top set was $500 - with a mostly round picture and questionable
color quality ($3800 in 2006 dollars ) Color TV's were useless because
no color programs were broadcast in color locally - color broadcasts did
no become common until the late 1960's.
- Comic books were 10
cents and a favorite kids entertainment (75 cents in 2006 dollars).
In 2006 they are $3.00 to $4.00
- Augusta had 1 policeman
in 1956, commonly known as "Pinky Englesby". In 2006 Augusta has
4. The change was required by legislative lobbying to better
protect small towns and to increase enforcement employment
- Sandy Hill Road was a
location for 'necking' with your high school sweetheart, there were only
1 or 2 houses on the road. In 2006 Sandy Hill drive is a suburban
type residential neighborhood, far too populated for 'necking'.
1956 Entertainment in
Rural America and Rural Augusta Wisconsin
- Radio was the primary
means of "home entertainment". Radio dramas, comedy and variety
shows were in the mix. I remember my favorites being The Roy
Rogers and The Lone Ranger shows. The family would
gather around the radio as though it were a fireplace of warmth. I
often listened to the radio dramas with my family and my Grandfather.
- Television in 1956
Augusta was still a very new device and not many had it. WEAU TV
in Eau Claire Wisconsin, with the first sign-on on December 17th in 1953 as an NBC
station. In 1956 it had a weak signal and it was the only
television station and network that could be received in Augusta well. A
rooftop antenna was required to receive the station. Nationally
the top shows were The Lucy Show, and The Ed Sullivan
Show on CBS. Most of the Augusta area could not receive these
networks in 1956. The top rated 1956 show on NBC was The Perry Como
Show.
- WEAU's TV broadcast
tower was in Eau Claire Wisconsin, directly behind the TV station. Its
broadcast range was just barely enough to reach Augusta Wisconsin, 20
miles away. That tower was upgraded to a 1000 feet tower in 1956 making it easier to receive in
Augusta. In the 1966, a much taller, about 2000 feet, and more powerful
tower was built near Fairchild, Wisconsin giving good reception to all of the
Augusta Wisconsin area.
- Howard (the hat) Trickey
was the favorite weatherman with his trademark hats and comic sketchings.
- "Sheriff" Bob Dawson was a local kids hero. The
"Sheriff Bob" Program had local elementary school and kids organizations
like 4-H clubs as guests on the live program.
|
Sheriff Bob Dawson |
You can see a 3
Part Video Documentary about one of Augusta' Wisconsin's 1956
local superheros Sheriff Bob on YouTube
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 |
|
|
"Sheriff Bob" on WEAU
TV-13 in Eau Claire,
Wisconsin. Directed by Bill Olson for Chippewa Valley Community
Television. |
- The average movie ticket
price in 1956 was 35 cents at
the Augusta Theatre, and 25 cents for kids. The 3 top grossing
movies in 1956 were Guys and Dolls, The King and I and
Trapeze. (The Ten Commandments was released in October 1956
but it did become the top movie until 1957). The top movies were
not shown in small town America, including Augusta, Wisconsin until up
to a year after they had been shown in larger cities. The
inflation price to 2006 would make an adult ticket about $2.70. When The
Ten Commandments was shown in the area, it was a major social and
cultural event and worth a family's full car trip to Eau Claire to see
it. This special event had 65 cent adult admission
- The baseball major
league Braves Baseball Team moved from Boston to Milwaukee in the 1953
season. In 1956 bubble gum card collecting was the rage for kids
as the Milwaukee Braves headed for the World Series Championship in
1957 (Beating the New York Yankees). A pack of cards including the bubble gum was 5 cents. Hank Aaron was becoming a state hero, having started his
professional baseball career for the minor league Eau Claire Braves in 1952. A statue is erected in Eau Claire at the baseball
stadium in Carson Park commemorating Hank Aaron's contribution to
baseball and to the Eau Claire Wisconsin area.
- In 1956, an upper grandstand ticket for the Milwaukee Braves was $1.35
($1.85 for lower grandstand) at Milwaukee County Stadium.
The Braves team moved to Atlanta in 1966 and was replaced as the
Milwaukee Brewers when the Seattle Mariners team moved to Wisconsin in
1969. In 2006 a comparable ticket at Milwaukee's Miller Park: $10 (for
'specials'), $14 ('normal'), $20 ('marquee dates'). The inflation
rate would make the $1.35 ticket about $10.
- Rock and Roll topped hit
charts in 1956 for the first time. Elvis Presley's Don't Be
Cruel and Hound Dog were the 2 top hits in 1956
Elvis had 5 of the top 20 songs in 1956. Elvis made his national
appearance on the Ed Sullivan show on September 6, 1956 but most of
Augusta Wisconsin did not see it because the CBS Television Network
could not be received by residents
Remembered Business Changes 1956 to 2006 - Changes of Centennial Book Advertising
and other Businesses
from 1956 to now
|
Augusta Auto Company, Gas
and new GM Cars |
1915 to about 1970's
when it moved |
Was at the current location of John's I.G.A. parking lot at 100
North Spring, the old Lincoln street address became a Spring Street
Address. Augusta Auto facilities were
moved to the west end of town near the West Lawn Cemetery and became Ralph Brewer's Auto - it is now
changed |
|
Ben Franklin Variety store |
1940's to about 1970's |
Part of the current True
Value Hardware; it was in the same
building. It was merged into one store when it became True Value
Hardware |
|
Korth's I.G.A |
1940's to about 1970's |
Initially known just as Korth's Supermarket; then as Korth's I.G.A. The I.G.A. Super Market,
was located at the what is now part of the True Value Hardware at 128
West Lincoln Street.
Korths I.G.A |
|
Stringer's Department Store, |
1923 to 1960's |
later
named as A. C. Works, it is now the location of the Woodshed , Home of
the Amish, at 105 West Lincoln Street |
|
V. L. Dickinsen |
1919 - now |
became
Dickenson Insurance & Real Estate |
|
Anderson Funeral Home |
1954 - now |
still exits |
|
Justesen Sisters |
1911 - 1950's |
a
millinery shop, is closed, it was on the south side of stone street.
It was a fading industry even in 1956. The site became Metz TV
shop within the years following its closing |
|
C. E. Seif's Sons Farm Implements |
1937 - 1970's |
Located
at the Corner of Stone Street and Buckman Street, it is now a warehouse for the Woodshed |
|
Harden's Red Owl Food Market |
1954 - 1970's |
is now closed and was at a location on the south side of Lincoln
Street |
|
Swartz Shell Service |
1945 - 1970's |
is now a
vacant lot at the southeast corner of Lincoln and Stone Street |
|
Coles Standard Service |
1938 - 1980's |
is now reconstructed and an Express Mart
and Quickstop at the corner of Bills Street
and Lincoln - Highway 27 / Highway 12 intersection at 719 W Lincoln
Street |
|
Metz's Motor Court |
1951 - now |
The
Metz Motel is
now Al's Pioneer Motel at 606 East Lincoln Street. Bill Metz
later opened an Television and record store in 'downtown' Augusta on
the south side of the street |
|
Nu-Cafe - Fred Kawell |
1948 - now
|
is now
the Hungry Hunter Cafe at the same location of 125 West Lincoln Street. |
|
Augusta Flour and Feed Co |
1941 - now |
was
located on Railway Street in 1956 (see
Augusta Street Map); then to a location
on Lincoln Street - it is now on Buckman Street between Spring and Stone
streets |
|
Erickson's Gamble Store |
1948 - now |
then
Skomo's Gambles is now the V&S Variety at 109 West Lincoln Street |
|
Zemple's Confectionary |
1940 - 1957 |
The candy,
magazine, tobacco
store became a Laundromat some time after Zemple's retirement; until the early 2000's, and is now
closed |
Other
Business Changes remembered
|
Kohnke's Meat Market |
|
now Frase's at 136
South Stone Street |
|
Augusta Canned Foods
|
|
cannery
became Bush Brothers at 600 S Highway Street Augsuta, Wisconsin |
|
Peoples State Bank |
|
located
on the south side of Lincoln street became Unity Bank at the corner of
Lincoln and Spring Street. In 1956, the current bank site was
occupied by 2 homes. The bank was on the south side of the
street in 1956. It later moved to a new building across the
street (the current City Hall location). A second bank, Bank of Augusta now serves
the area |
| The Farmers Bar |
|
next to John's I.G.A
is now a gift shop, the Hitching Post |
|
Thode's Hardware |
|
became Thode's Antiques
which was closed in 2005 or early 2006. In the
1950's part of the building store front became Thode's Drug Store |
|
Wally Shong's Drugstore |
|
120 West Lincoln
Street, was owned by Wally Shong, even though by 2006 the original
owner and the store's namesake is deceased |
|
Fairchild Auto Supply |
|
Now the Ball Game bar |
| West Side Grocery |
|
The was
a tiny store, smaller then a two car garage, less then a block from the
Augusta High School (near the location that became the Community Center) on Main Street.
It was known affectionately known as "the little store", Its livelihood was that is
was open late daily, before any of today's 'convenience' stores existed. It also served
Augusta School students at lunch time and after school with snacks, junk food,
and a few school supplies |
|
The Riverside Bar, Augusta
Wi |
|
The Riverside was located at Highway
27 and the Eau Claire River bridge, now the location of Riverside
Junction Rentals. In addition to it being a bar, it offered a
"convenience store" selection of basic household groceries and
needs. The convenience store would be opened for you as long as the bar was
open. The Riverside bar burned down, circa 2000, and now is replaced in
function by the
Woodland Country Store, also known
as Woodland Crossing, convenience store on the opposite
side of the Eau Claire River |
|
The Rodell Tavern, Rodell,
WI |
|
In addition to
libations, the tavern offered
convenience groceries and household items near the corner of County
Trunk V and Highway 12, between Fall Creek and Augusta. The Bar is gone
and it is now a residence located on what is now
called Rodell Road. You can read more about Rodell by
clicking here |
|
The Farmer's Store
department stores |
|
Were in Eau
Claire, Osseo Wisconsin and Fairchild Wisconsin, a tiny chain of
general / department stores. These stores served local
residents at a time when traveling to regional shopping cities such as Eau
Claire was uncommon, expensive and inconvenient. |
|
The Black Bear Restaurant |
|
The Blackbear
Restaurant at the location of the Eau Claire River and Highway
27 exists today as it did in 1956. During the 1950's
it offered motel rooms - loging is now offered by the Woodland Country Store
next to the restaurant. |
| Klatt's Bar |
|
Klatt's is located at what
is Feske Road and Highway 27 just a few yards from Eau Claire
County V and the Augusta Wisconsin Dells Mill and Museum. The bar was remodeled and
expanded during the 1970's. Doris Klatt became the 'gossip'
columnist for the Augusta Area Times (formerly the Augusta Union)
when she retired until her death in 2001. It was called the
Gateway Bar, Sue's (Mama Sue's) Bar and other names in the interim - its current name is
Tim and Peggy's Pitt Stop Pub
715-286-2666
This venerable eating
and drinking spot has been continually in business even through
today. Stop by and say hello |
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