The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-11
Days of Long Ago
Brought to Mind

There is nothing left to indicate
the location of the old fair grounds in
| the Milford road, which departed this
| life over the bankrupt road in the
early SOS. 1t was called the Central
Wisconsin Agricultural and Mechan-
ical association, a high sounding
title. Jonas Sleeper, S. G. Roper, S. E.
and others were the principal officials
| Captain Jack was one of the famous
trOtters Of that period and George
| Evans white horse held the palm in
the running races. The late f. p.
Brook was the last secretary of the
fair.
of forty years ago or more may be
cited Billy May, one time yardmaster
in Watertown, Bill Usher and Henry
| Urtubees. The latter, we understand
is still alive, and Billy May is residing
at La Crosse. Then came later addi-
tons to the ranks-Joe Usher, who
was killed at WatertOwn Junction,
Billy Lawton, Jack Sweeney, Billy
Hagerty, Jack ONeill, Luke Donegan
Joe Emerson, Crawford Wilbur,
George Nellins, Henry Fitzgerald
Dudley Fitzgerald Mike McQueeney
Art Moulding, James Tremaine, Jack
lOMalley, John Usher.
Among the pioneer railroad men
hn hnonrnn ciO hni
residence in Watertown, is A. J
Earling, for many years president OF
the Milwaukee. Earling learned Oper-
ating at the Junction in WatertOwn
half a century ago or more, and mar
ried a WatertCwn girl, Miss PEBBLES
That was the time when the tide of i'm
migration was at it's full and Mime
from the North Western road to Min
nesOta points.
Speaking of Earling reminds me OF
a story told by the late Denny Griffin
who was quite wit. After the big
snow storm of March, 1881, Griffin
and bunch of men were engaged IL
tertown. When they reached Colum.
: bus there was no room in the hotels
but Griffin was equal to the emer.
gency. He went to the register anG
wrote "a. j. Earling and Assistant
In a few minutes the landlord looked
him up and informed him that ht
could have his bed for the night
r which he gratefully accepted Sc
much for a name
: Speaking of the old fair grounds
reminds me that one used to swal
low great deal of discomfort an(
, about quart of dust enroute to an(
from the grounds in the carryalls O.
those days when the dust was up tt
the hubs. There was a near riot or
one of the caravansaries drawn b.
, Barney Gardeners 'camels" when hi
picked up Charlie Pettibone on thu
3 road. Charlie lived at Juneau at tina
a time and with his wife came down tt
see the big fair. When he got into thu
bus he put his arm around one of thu
) women nearest him and gave her
= | L
J old fool" she cried. Instantly Their,
was an uproar and threats of violence
until Petibone inquired when had i
become a crime to kiss ones owl
wife That ended the fracas and thu
: love making as we'll
Many years ago Fred Misegades
| Wofo cfr
rendezvous for many of philosoph
ical turn Of mind, and one could heal
discussed within it's walls politics
+. religion or the weather. Many tales
are told of it's happenings. One day
Martin H. Curley, pioneer tailor
was guest, and Hon. Daniel Hall, q
prominent attorney, passed along
from rainstorm. Mr. Curley haG
placed his own umbrella in the cor
ner and while his back was turned
the umbrella was partially filled with
: sawdust. The storm not abating, and
Attorney Hall being in hurry, Mr.
Curley volunteered to take him as
far as his office. He grabbed the UNI
| "a NAA"~ e@Aio WhCu OuCSIuc IuG uOOl
raised it and opened it up and they
both were treated to a shower Of saw.
dust. What the owner of the umbrella
remarked would not look we'll in
print, but those inside added to the
ludlcrous situation by mirthful peals
Of laughter.
Years ago when o. l.. FOrkenbridge
was running work train and Ted
kusel was breaking for him, one OF
the men on the road was Billy Nc
Ardle. 1t had been raining pretty
steadily and McArdle went to Mike
Began's store and purchased a rain
coat Began had but one left, a fit for
DR.. Spaulding, and when Billy put i,
on next day at Reeseville where the
crew was working, it trailed on the
ground. That night he took it back to
Began, who told McArdle it was the
only one he had. However, he had
him stand on a cracker box and with
a shears cut off foot or two. That
helped matters some but the coat
soon began to fray into whip lashes
and the Wearer went to Began again
with the complaint that the coat was
useless. Never mind, Billy" said
Began, II saved the piece l cut off