Douglas County Past: Class action suit filed over benzene spill; dog saves owner from fire
Jul. 16—July 15, 1947
Children of St. Joseph's set for two week's lake outing
A new chapter in life will be opened for 75 children of the St. Joseph's orphan home when they leave Wednesday for a two weeks outing at the Pigeon Lake organization camp, five miles west of Drummond. The camp, owned by the government, is in Chequamegon National Forest.
There the children, under the guidance of 15 sisters of the home, three counselors, a nurse, the Rev. Fr. Leo Block, director, and the Rev. Fr. Joseph Fischer, Milwaukee, author of the Catholic Manuel for Boy Scouts of America, will participate in boating, swimming, fishing, hiking, as well as games of all sorts and all around camping sports.
First edition of playground paper off press
A staff of boys and girls is hard at work getting out a small news sheet for all children taking part in recreational activities in various parts of the city. The first edition of the paper was distributed Monday.
Members of the staff are Alice LePage, editor-in-chief for girls; Bill Byrnes, editor-in-chief for boys; Barbara Andrews, assistant editor for girls; Micky Hodgis, boys assistant editor; circulation, Audrey Riggs and Junio Bukowski; special reporters, Catherine Piper and Donald Smith; business managers, Georgia Johnson, Eddie Lindegren and Steve Edelstein; messenger, Bud Connell.
The publication has been temporarily named "Playground."
July 15, 1992
Five seek sheriff's post
Three of five candidates who filed for the post of Douglas County sheriff by the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline will square off in a Sept. 8 primary election.
Incumbent Sheriff Marvin Arneson faces a primary challenge from his predecessor, Richard A. Lindberg, and from Deputy Amund Ole Lear, the men he defeated to win his first term two years ago. All are Democrats.
The winner in the primary moves on to the Nov. 3 general election to take on Republican Alex Kotter Jr. and Independent William P. Benjamin. Kotter is a Superior Police Department detective and former candidate for sheriff and Benjamin is Superior's poundmaster and a member of the Sheriff's Emergency Patrol.
Man's best friend proves it again
A Superior man reportedly has his dog to thank for escaping a fire which heavily damaged his home at 409 Ogden Ave. early Tuesday.
Henry Stolbrand told firefighters responding to a 2:29 a.m. alarm that his dog nudged his arm and awakened him as flames spread through the home. The pet also escaped unharmed.
Damage has been estimated at about $5,000 and fire rigs remained on the scene until about 3:56 a.m., a Superior Fire Department spokesman said.
July 16, 1947
Superior girl contestant for "Miss America" honors
A former Superior Central High School and Superior State College student, Miss Jo Ann Carolyn Amorde, 20, will vie with others from the nation for "Miss America" honors at the Seaside contest in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Miss Amorde will represent the city of Roseburg, Oregon, having won the title of "Miss Roseburg" at a beauty and talent contest sponsored by the Roseburg Lions club. She is the daughter of Archie Amorde, formerly of Superior and South Range, and the granddaughter of Andrew Kronberg, 1711 Susquehanna Avenue.
Described as "a gorgeous slim blonde with sparkling blue eyes," Miss Amorde is an emergency teacher of music, physical education and science at Sutherlin, Oregon.
July 17, 1992
Class action lawsuit filed against BN, tank car owner and chemical manufacturer
Thousands of people who fled a cloud of toxic chemicals last month following a train derailment are entitled to compensation for their financial losses, injuries or inconvenience, a class-action lawsuit says.
The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Douglas County Circuit Court on behalf of five plaintiffs: Simko Superior Ltd., a Superior scrap metal recycler; Joseph and Tammy Johnson, who reside within two blocks of the train derailment; Paul Reder, whose home is adjacent to the spill site, and Cheryl Balcer, who was evacuated as a result of the spill. All seek unspecified damages that exceed $50,000.
More than 30,000 gallons of benzene and other petroleum additives spilled into the Nemadji River about seven miles from Allouez Bay, evaporated and formed a giant vapor plume that blew over Superior, portions of Douglas County and portions of Duluth.
The June 30 accident forced evacuation of about 24,000 residents of the Twin Ports region. Hospitals treated at least 48 people for respiratory problems, dizziness and other ailments not believed to be permanent.
U.S. 53 widening work to begin
Grading work for the construction of two additional lanes of U.S. Highway 53 between Hawthorne to Solon Springs will begin next week.
Additional work to widen the two-lane segment between Trego and Solon Springs will be completed during a four-year-period.
"This is exciting news for the people of northern Wisconsin. A safe and efficient four-lane expressway on Highway 53 is the key to continued economic growth in this part of the state," Gov. Tommy Thompson said in a news release.
July 18, 1947
Old passenger coach serves as office quarters for N.P. freight business
With many miles on rail to her credit, a little weather-bitten, but still able to serve a purpose, an old Northern Pacific Railroad coach has been "sidetracked" into acting as a temporary office building at 2026 Winter Street. From this small antiquated "office on wheels" a staff of men and women now carry on the Northern Pacific's freight business in Superior.
The air condition is effected by open windows. The heating plant, when in use, is a crude coal stove in the rear and an old depot clock at the end of the coach keeps business operating on time as usual. Bouquets of flowers, furnished by the women, pretty up the desks.
It all happened when Elmer Hard, general agent for the Northern Pacific, decided that he'd like to have his force in other quarters while the office was being remodeled.
July 18, 1992
$1 million Baptist church to be built in Billings Park
Bob Sexton has single-handedly been cutting willow brush from three to four hours a day for more than a month, beginning early this spring. Where does he find all this brush in the city limits of Superior?
The 12 1/2 -acre site is the future home of Ogden Avenue Baptist Church at the intersection of Belknap Street and New York Avenue in Billings Park, where members of the congregation are preparing to break ground next spring for a $1 million facility capable of seating 600.
Parking at the current church, located at 20th Street and Ogden Avenue, is a problem, admitted Bill Bartel, associate pastor at the church since September of 1991. But a bigger problem is lack of space. Even though two separate services are being held, they are both overcrowded.
Articles and pictures courtesy of retired librarian Judy Aunet with Superior Public Library.
