20 years ago December 19, 2002 As I See It! By Joe Fazendin Lutefisk Lament ’Twas the day before Christmas with all things a bustle, As mama got set for the Christmas Eve Tussle. Aunt, uncles, and cousins would soon be arriving With stomachs all ready for Christmas Eve dining. While I sat alone with a feeling of dread As visions of Lutefisk danced in my head. The thought of the smell made me eyeballs start burning The thought of the taste set my stomach to churning For I’m “one of those” who good Swede’s rebuff A Scandinavian boy who can’t stand the stuff. Each year, however, I played at the game, To spare Mama and Papa the undying shame. I must bear up bravely, I can’t take the risk, Of relatives knowing I HATE LUTEFISK! I know they would spurn me, my parents withheld, If the unthinkable truth they were told. Then out in the yard I heard such a clatter I jumped up to see what was the matter. There in the snow, all in a jumble, Three of my uncles had taken a tumble. My Aunts, as usual gave them what for, And they soon were up and through the door. Then with talk and more cheer, an hour was passed As Mama finished the Christmas repast. From out in the kitchen an odor came stealing That fairly set my senses to reeling. The smell of Lutefisk creeping down the hall, And wilted a plant, in a pot, on the wall. The other reacted as though they were smitten, While the aroma laid low my small, helpless kitten. Uncles Oscar and Lars said, “O that smells yummy” and Kermit’s eyes glittered while he patted his tummy. The scent skipped off the ceiling and bounced off the door, And the bird in the cuckoo clock fell on the floor, Mama announced dinner by ringing a bell, They rushed to the table with a whoop and a yell. I lifted my eyes to heaven and signed, And a rose on the wallpaper withered and died. With leaden legs I found my chair, And sat in silence with unseeing stareJanuary 2, 2002As I See It! by Joe Fazendin (Comes to realize few in the office had tried lutefisk) Recipes and general information on lutefisk can be found at www.olsenfish.com/ scandinavian-food-products/ lutefisk/. 30 years ago December 24, 1992 Live Nativity Scene presented by Faith Free Sunday Love Lights Shine Brightly on trees in Hospital Park 40 years ago December 23, 1982 People warned to keep off ice on Chapman Lake The city of Stanley has issued a warning to all area residents to keep off the ice on Chapman Lake. Mayor Les Janisewski said that because of the fluctuating water level of the lake (due to the dam problems) no one should venture onto the ice. This includes skaters, snowmobilers and ice fishermen. The ice could crack at any time. A skating pond will be provided for the youth on Gilman Street, south of the old canning company. The pond should be completed later next week. 50 years ago December 28, 1972 The SBHS Oriole On Monday, December 18, some of the FHA* girls went to the Sunset Homes to host a Christmas party for the people who live there. They are entertained by a few members of the band who played some Christmas carols which were sung. Other activities included games such as Bingo. *Now known as the FCCLA. 60 years ago December 27, 1962 Girl Still in Coma From Asphyxiation A Stanley girl is in critical condition at Luther Hospital At Eau Claire after being overcome by carbon monoxide gas early Monday morning. She remains in a coma from the effects of the poisonous exhaust gas which took the life of her companion, age 20 of Eau Claire. Temperature recorded at 30 below, an official cold spell by Wisconsin standards. 70 years ago December 25, 1952 The Orange and Black Birthdays around Christmas George Thiel, Charles Dircks, Carol Junker, Solveig Mason, John Holewinski, Donald White, Glen Gruber, Wayne Lauer, Shirley Radke, Murelyn Baertlein, Robert Valk, Dolores William,Darwin Dahm 80 years ago December 25, 1942 Facts* Fancy* Fun By the Stroller Here is a letter received by Santa Claus at Ontario, California: “Dear Santa: I am a little girl 18 years old. I want 20 gallons of gasoline, four new tires, and a Second Lieutenant.” Weddings! Julia Emerson of Cadott to George Heian of the Stanley Country at Our Savior’s Lutheran parsonage Dec. 22. Alice Mae Bucholz, to Raymond Peterson (both of Stanley) at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Eau Claire. Bernice Thorpe to Ralph Andress on Dec. 19 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison Irene Acker of Stanley to Corporal Carl Kiser of Walkerton, Indiana The War Labor Board has ruled that Santa Claus will not be subject to wage and hour restrictions of the War Labor Board (more true history at www.stnicholascenter.org) 90 years ago December 16, 1932 Orange and Black The Life and Strife of Stanley High The Tattlers Broadcast “Statie” (John Isaacs) “This is station NUTZ broadcasting on a frequency of 300 bicycles and twenty trikes, Phillip LaBlanc announcing. The first number tonight brought to you through the courtesy of the Stanley Bakery , is Kate Smith, amply impersonated by Berghild Weeks, who will not make another attempt at getting “The Moon Over the Mountain”…Folks, this concludes the first local attempt at television made by Station NUTZ with Phillip LaBlanc presiding at the ‘mike.’ W. A. Beaumont dead. William Arthur Beaumont was born December 24, 1853 at Arena, Dane Co., Wis., and was married at the same place November 10, 1873 to Miss Anna C. Anderson of Dodgeville, Wis. In November 1887 he moved his family to Stanley where he resided until the fall of 1906 when he went to Missoula, Montana to visit his daughter, Mrs. H. H. Mohr, and he remained there until his death. On Thursday morning, April 8, he was injured while at work in a saw mill at Lothrop, Montana, and was taken to the resident of his daughter at Missoula, where, after lingering one week he passed away at 7:40 o’ clock in the evening of April 15, 1909. Find A Grave Memorial ID 84530946.