Yesterday In and Around Marshfield: June 22-28

Yesterday In and Around Marshfield: June 22-28

25 YEARS AGO:  Marshfield Clinic honored Frederick J. “Fritz” Wenzel with the unveiling of a bronze bust to be displayed in the Laird Center. A Marshfield native, Wenzel joined the clinic in 1953 as director of laboratories and became executive director of the Marshfield Medical Research Foundation in 1965. He earned national recognition for research on Farmer’s Lung and Maple Bark disease, in collaboration with Dr. Dean Emanuel, who commissioned the bust with his wife, Lorrie. From 1976-93, Wenzel led the clinic through major milestones, including establishing Security Health Plan and converting the clinic to nonprofit status. Speaker Robert F. Froehlke praised him as a leader, diplomat and, above all, a true friend.

50 YEARS AGO: Pvt. Allen Polster, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Polster, 1012 S. Oak Ave., participated in a special ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, June 14, celebrating the Army’s 200th birthday. | Three years ago Forward Communications, the News-Herald’s parent corporation, inaugurated a policy calling for mandatory retirement of employees (including executives) at age 65, effective July 1, 1975. As a result, four veterans of News-Herald service will retire Tuesday. A fifth who would not be affected by the policy until 1979, decided on early retirement at the same time. The four being mandatorily retired are E. W. Heller, Floyd Tuchscher, Orville Quirt and Mrs. Myron Larson, with Kenneth Olstinski taking early retirement. The service of the five totals 160 years.

75 YEARS AGO: A band of gypsies who wanted to “settle down” in Marshfield on Sunday were encouraged to wend their nomadic way. Local police discovered the caravan encamped near Art’s Service garage immediately south of the city limits. Under the guidance of County Traffic Officer Kenneth Pucker they were moved unwillingly westward on Highway 10.

100 YEARS AGO: It was announced that the butchers of the city are planning to install a full line of groceries and inaugurate delivery services on July 1, with three deliveries a day, at 8 and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It was also stated that a preliminary step has been taken in a movement to organize a co-operative buying organization of butchers and grocers of the city.

Source: North Wood County Historical Society