Press

Press - Fire District Looks to Village for Land Purchase Okay

Andrew Hogan, Clerk (4/2009-4/2011) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:45:13 GMT

-- Newspaper clipping --
Press-Star
Friday, September 13, 2002 - Front Page & page 10
by Sheli Strunc
(Posted with permission from the Press-Star, a division of Journal Community Publishing Group)

Fire District Looks to Village for Land Purchase Okay

Members of the Hortonville-Hortonia Fire District were present during a Committee of the Whole meeting held at the Hortonville Village Hall recently.

The Fire District is interested in purchasing 5-acres of land on Cty. TT in the Town of Hortonia for the future construction of a new fire hall. The land is presently owned by
Lavern Steinberg, and has Village of Hortonville sewer and water running parallel to the property.

Dennis Clegg, representative for Hortonia Fire District told board members they are looking for an okay on the land located on TT. "I know there's been talk on other locations, but the guys on the Department think this is it," he said.

Steinberg has offered the property at a price of $45,000. "This could take care of all our needs," said Dave Dorn, Fire Chief.

"Why would you need to purchase five acres?" asked Dick Hunt, village board member.

"We need the acres for future growth," said Dave Dorn, Fire Chief.

"Give us the equipment and the space we need to do our job," said Kevin Bolssen, Hortonia Town Chairman and volunteer firefighter. "We're bumper to bumper in that garage. We need this, It's build-build-build around here and we're going to have to have the means to keep up with the growth."

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you want to use our water, you'll have to pay," said Joan Dockter, Village of Hortonville board member. "According to village ordinance, when you hook onto the water and sewer there's going to be a fee of $73,000 for the assessment that wasn't paid by Steinberg," she continued.

"Hortonia has 48% of this district and Hortonville holds the other 52%. Why would you want to charge your own fire district for hookup of water and sewer?" asked Bolssen.

"We borrowed against this assessment," said Dick Hunt, village board member. "In effect, if we don't charge for it, the residents are going to end up paying for it."

"Once that land is sold, who ever purchases it, is going to have to pay that assessment in order to hook on to that system," said Dockter.

"We've learned that an appropriate fee for annexation would be between $1,200 to $1,500," said Bolssen. "The amount you are requesting is too high."

"We just can't give it to you," said Hunt.

"Do you agree we need a new fire building and other administrative buildings as well?" asked Tom Olk, village board member. "Why put up one building now when we're looking to build a new police department, administrative building and library. We don't just need a fire hall, we need other administrative buildings as well. We should be thinking of a project that can house more than just one."

"I'd like to see the village board give its okay to purchase this land," said Lee Marks, firefighter.

"They can buy the land," said Roger Retzlaff, village board president, "we'll just work the rest out at a later meeting."

"If they purchase the land before the water issue is decided, that is just setting us up for more problems in the future," said Dockter.

"If they are only purchasing five acres, they would only have to pay for that portion of the annexation," said Olk. "We're going to need some time to get ahold of our attorney. There are some legal issues here that will need to be worked out," he continued. "We'll set up another meeting in about two weeks."

The next meeting was set for Wednesday, September 18 at 6:30p.m.

Press - Cyclone deposits Berlin's River by Hortonia's Town Hall

Andrew Hogan, Clerk (4/2009-4/2011) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:46:41 GMT

-- Newspaper clipping --
source unknown
date unknown
author unknown

Cyclone deposits Berlin's River by Hortonia's Town Hall

A Cyclone in Berlin, Wisconsin sucked Berlin's River dry and deposited the water in front of Hortonia's Town Hall on Election Day in April 1955.

Pictured are:
Jess Lathrop - Highway Comm.
Gerhard Ruhsam - Chr. & Co. Bd.
Lorenz Morack - Town Supervisor
Louis Lathrop -Town Supervisor
Myrtle Sambs - Town Clerk

Press - Voters turn out in numbers

Andrew Hogan, Clerk (4/2009-4/2011) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:16:37 GMT

-- Newspaper clipping --
Press-Star
Thursday, November 9, 2006
by John Faucher
(Posted with permission from the Press-Star, a division of Journal Community Publishing Group)

Voters Turn Out In Numbers

Forty-year veteran poll worker Adeline Marks of Hortonia, smiled as she placed voting ticket number 528 on the registry Tuesday night. It was an 81 percent turnout for the small rural town, and another exercise of freedom in the history books.

Neighboring towns and villages also experienced a high voter turnout. Hortonville Village Clerk Lynn K. Mischker reported the village experienced their best ever mid-term election turnout with 1062 ballots cast. Mark Green received 571 votes and Jim Doyle received 455. Nelson Elsman of the Wisconsin Green Party received (25) votes in Hortonville. In the U.S. Congress race, voters chose John Gard (554), over Steve Kagen (472). The 40th District Assembly race was closer with Republican Candidate Kevin Petersen receiving 580 votes and Democrat Dan Naylor receiving 508.

Voters in Hortonia also reflected their republican loyalty. Three hundred-seven votes went to Mark Green and 198 votes went to Jim Doyle. Voters also selected Republican John Gard (294) over Steve Kagen (216). In the 40th District Assembly race, voters selected Republican Kevin Petersen (315) over Democrat Dan Naylor (173).

Voters in Hortonia favored the death penalty 321 to 178, and the majority of voters were also in favor of the marriage amendment 397 to 117. Voters in Hortonville were also in favor of the marriage amendment casting 733 votes for the amendment and 294 votes against. Village residents also were in favor of the advisory vote on the death penalty 642 votes to 371.

In the Outagamie County Sheriff's race Brad Gehring defeated Travis Thyssen 674 to 341 in Hortonville, and 365 to 138 in Hortonia.

Voter turnout was also exceptionally high in New London. Clerk-Treasurer Jim Villiesse reported over 65% turnout already by early evening on Tuesday. Results were still not tabulated by press time at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT voter tickets adorn the desk of Adeline Marks and Alice Lathrop (l. to r.) in the Town of Hortonia Tuesday night. Both Marks and Lathrop have over 40 years experience working at the polls. Eighty-one percent of registered voters in the town showed up for the recent mid-term election.

Press - Building Relationships Throughout the Community

Andrew Hogan, Clerk (4/2009-4/2011) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:52:32 GMT

-- Newspaper clipping --
Press-Star / FOCUS HORTONVILLE
Friday, September 14, 2001 - page 5
by Sheli Strunc
(Posted with permission from the Press-Star, a division of Journal Community Publishing Group)

Building Relationships Throughout the Community

Four young men in the "About Face" program at Rawhide, recently helped in the repainting of the Hortonia Town Hall.

According to Kevin Bolssen, Hortonia Town Chairman, the Town Hall is over 100 years old. "The boys have accomplished a long term service to the community by helping to scrape and repaint the Town Hall, they will be able to come back years from now, and say, 'I did that."

The program is about teaching life and occupational skills as well as giving back to the community. "We are a service core program with a military influence," said Cpt. Earl Schmoll, project coordinator. Schmoll has been serving with the Army for the past 12 years.

"I like getting jobs like this one. The boys are learning a skill and it benefits the community at the same time." said Schmoll.

The "About Face" program consists of two houses within Rawhide where the boys are active in the program. Working in area communities for two weeks and going to school the other two weeks.

Bolssen seen the need for the old building and contacted Rawhide, asking if they would be interested in repainting the Town Hall as weIl as trimming the bushes, and cleaning up the area.

"It's a win-win situation," he said. "The boys are donating their service to the community, and they are learning skills that will be beneficial to them," Bolssen said. "And, they did a very good job."

Press - Volunteers fought farm and village fires since 1873

Andrew Hogan, Clerk (4/2009-4/2011) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:29:54 GMT

-- Newspaper clipping --
New London Buyers' Guide/Hortonville Centennial / Press-Star
August 16, 1994 - page 2
no byline listed, presumed by Leona Mech
(Posted with permission from the Press-Star/Buyers' Guide a division of Journal Community Publishing Group)

Volunteers fought farm and village fires since 1873

Since 1873, Hortonville [the Township - on April 10, 1895 Hortonville was incorporated, thus dividing the Township land into the Town of Hortonia and the Village of Hortonville] has had a volunteer fire department, but for its first half century, people weren't the only volunteers

The fire engine was horse drawn, but the city did not keep a team of horses for that specific purpose. So when the fire bell was rung to call the volunteers, any team of horses on Main St. was liable to find itself hitched to the engine and whisked away to a fire.

The Hortonville businessmen purchased the village's first fire department and Dite Collar was named the department's first fire chief.

It was equipped with an 8-man hand pumper and water was used from Black Otter pond or hauled in barrels and other containers.

Besides Chief Collar some of the village's first firemen were August Schultz, Mike Ritger, Wenzel Gitter, Fred Herbst, John Hagen, Chris Hagen, Webb Collar and John Klein.

In 1881, village residents donated their own time to build the village's combined fire department and village hall, that was used till the new fire hall was built.

One of the fires fought by the early department was in the 1880's on the south side of Main St. It burned a shoe store and barbershop, along with a residence behind one of the stores, all belonging to Ottamar Buchman.

Firemen and citizens were able to save other businesses by using wet blankets besides the pumper and a bucket brigade.

In 1914, the Catholic church steeple in Stephensville was struck by lightning and the Hortonville fire department was called to assist when the local residents couldn't reach the blaze. The fire was finally extinguished, but the only way to quench the flames was from inside the church shooting the water directly up into the steeple.

The village purchased the department from the businessmen in 1916. In 1925, the horses on Main St. were finally given a rest, as the city purchased a four-wheel drive fire engine. At the same time, it purchased a fire siren to replace the bell that had called the firemen for so long.

While that siren was replaced in 1953 the old fire bell still stands ready to ring out its call, if a power failure should silence the village's siren.

In 1932, the Hortonville Rural Fire Department was formed to serve the townships of Ellington, Greenville, Hortonia and the village of Hortonville. Harris Hauk was named its first fire chief and he held that position till 1950.

Today, 22 volunteers man the equipment in the village, while another 21 from Ellington and 16 from Hortonia are on call for rural fires.

The equipment has been continually updated and added to. Today the department has three trucks, two tankers and a pumper. Another truck is presently on order.

Today, Robert Rindt is the fire chief. He is a barber, and along with all the other firemen, carries on the tradition of the volunteer firefighter. Ed Dorn is the chief engineer and treasurer while Ray Weiland is assistant chief, Ron Korth is president, and Melvin Pankow is the secretary.

PHOTO: An old Hortonville fire engine in 1925.

Press - Hortonia to Celebrate Centennial

Andrew Hogan, Clerk (4/2009-4/2011) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:08:20 GMT

-- Newspaper clipping --
Press-Star / Hortonville Star
Friday, May 31, 1996
by Diane Baumgart
(Posted with permission from the Press-Star, a division of Journal Community Publishing Group)

Hortonia to Celebrate Centennial

Hortonia Town Hall is 100 years old. On Sunday, June 9, a Centennial Celebration will be held beginning at 11 a.m. at the Town Hall, located on Hwy. 45 and Cty. T.

Land for the one room Town Hall was bought on May 29, 1896 from H. G. Hough for $25. The facility was constructed in the fall of that year at a total cost of $420.50. The stove and pipes cost $15.80 and are still used today to heat the building. Lamps and oil cost $2.60 and a dozen chairs $5.

The history of the Town of Hortonia begins in 1848 when Alonzo E. Horton purchased 160 acres of land at 70 cents per acre. The township was organized on the first Tuesday of April 1850 and Jophfus Wakefield was appointed superintendent. In 1853 the land was divided and reorganized into the Town of Hortonia and Town of Dale.

The first meeting of the newly organized Town of Hortonia was held on April 4, 1854. The town chairman was Horatio B. Sanborn. Eli E. Leach and Nicholos Mullet were inspectors and Moses Allen was clerk with Orrin Poole, assistant clerk. [ !! CLICK HERE !! for a history of our Fire Department ]

Forty years later the Village of Hortonville was incorporated. Property was divided between the two local governments with final settlement satisfied on April 10, 1895. Valuation of the town was set at $209,930, with the village set at $162,431.

In letters that went out to current residents of Hortonia, in anticipation of the Centennial Celebration, it says that "Here is democracy at its finest; practiced today just as it was when the town hall was built in 1896. There's the pot bellied stove in the middle of the floor to keep one side of the attending residents warm in the winter; the wooden chairs and benches that have seen many a bottom over a century of use, the narrow voting stalls with half curtains made by a generous town resident and of course, the outdoor privy for both summer and winter.

"It's here that any resident attending the monthly town hall meeting gets to express his/her opinion on the state of the township and actually gets to bring up and vote on town issues at the annual town meeting. It's where neighbor meets neighbor and differences sometime get ironed out It's where spring planting is discussed and zoning rules come into being; where refuse collection and the state of a neighbor's health and how to help that person all come together."

It's government in its most basic form. So while the celebration of the Town Hall is one to be remembered, it is the concept behind that hall that is to be treasured.

Hortonia Town Hall Centennial Celebration
Sunday, June 9, 1996 Hortonia Town Hall Hwy. 45 and Cty. T
11 a.m. Flag Raising
12 p.m. Pot luck Meal (please bring a dish to pass) Hamburgers, wieners, sausage, buns and chips provided.
1-3 p.m. Children Games, Baby Cakes the Clown, Horse drawn wagon rides
2 p.m. Pie Judging Contest - Enter your favorite pie.
Other events: Small animal petting zoo, Music provided. Old Farm Machinery display, Old Photo Display, History of Township
If possible, wear 1896 attire.

Press - Hortonia: Another Year Gone By

Andrew Hogan, Clerk (4/2009-4/2011) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:03:54 GMT

-- Newspaper clipping --
Press-Star FOCUS/HORTONVILLE
Friday, January 31, 2003 - page 5
by John Faucher
(Posted with permission from the Press-Star/Buyers' Guide a division of Journal Community Publishing Group)

Hortonia: Another Year Gone By
Town of Hortonia Political Events of 2002 Recapped

THE HORTONIA TOWN HALL- still equiped with the ol' wood stove in the middle of the meeting room, and an out house in the back. The Town Hall received its first telephone line in April of 2002. John Faucher photo

"Board Meetings are held every 1st Tuesday at 8p.m. in the Historic Hortonia Town Hall where history and democracy meet," said Town Chairman Kevin Bolson.