Burnside Photos – Trempealeau County Historical Society

**Teckla Weirsgalla and Peter Kloss 1920**

**Downtown Independence store** **2023**

Old 3 Mile bridge—also called Woychik
**bridge** 1913

**Teckla Weirsgalla Kloss and Son Don** 1956

**1919 Marriage of Tom Bautch and**
**Pauline Mlynek,** **Independence**

**Class of 1946 Independence High School**

**Old Elk Creek Creamery building, 2023**

**Kloss Steam Engine breaks thru the bridge,**
**Independence**

Back bricked up door of old pharmacy , Independence

**Cooks for the 1940 Gene Bautch/Rose Kampa wedding. Third lady from top row left is Gertie Woychik, 4th lady is Julia Miemietz Kampa**

**Eagle Bar, Coffee Cup Restaurant, Taco Restaurant 2023**

**Tom Pride with Darrell Pryzbylla Feb 2023 Tom was given an award for his 60 years of service with the ERGC**

**Robert and Tom Bautch, John Mlynek 1918**

**ERGC Ice fishing Contest, Lk Bugle 2023 Mary C Anderson with camera**

**1956 L-R Hardware Store, Lyga’s Store, Fank, Platz Drug, Dress shop?, Runkel’s Hardware, Andre Grocery**

**Three Independence girls, about `9`0 L-R- Agnes Zylla Gruetzel, Tena Reck Smieja, Mary Reck Walek**

**Lonely little house above Travis Valley**

**1911 Choir Picnic near Independence L-R-Tony Sabatta, John Pampuch, Dominick Stencil, Joe Symiczek, Roman Gamroth, Joe Sabatta, Andrew Lib**Mike Maciosek, Louie **Sabatta, Sam Sprach(sp?) In background, Mrs. Ray Lyga Photo from Silesians of Tremp Cty FB page**

**Civilian Conservation Corp Chaviri near**
**Independence 1930’s**

**Independence Wedding Cooks for Joe and Bernice Smick Kulig Oct 1949 Town of Burnside**

L-R Tracy Halama Korpal, Anna Bautch Kpr[a;, Gertrude Smick REck, Valaria Suchla Edjno, Mary Dejno Klonecki, (behind Helen) Monica Pientok Dejno, Helen Smick Rumpel, Eleanor Dejno Tooley, Clara Halama Reck

**1916 Melzarek Furniture and Mortuary**

**Popular dance pavilion later with**
**supper club and bowling alley**

**Story of Markham Castle , Independence**

John Markham, descendent of pioneer
family in Town of Burnside

**Independence City Hall built in 1902**

**1940 Butchering for Gierok/Woychik Wedding left–Rita, Paul, behind him Paul II, Edmund, Paul and Don Woychik**

**Postcard, 1904 Bugle Lake, Independence**

**1956 Barbara Brown, Alice in Dairyland**

**August Weier and Rose Smieja Wedding 1920. August was a WW1 veteran and died in 1927 from poison gas lung damage**

**1966 New parochial school construction, Independence**

**Four generations of the John G Lyga family–Mrs Simon Nogosek,** Eleanor Nogosek, Mrs John Dubiel, Mrs John Lyga,

**1947 Twirlers, Irene Killian, Rita Puchall, Irene Sura and** Bernice Halama

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Sept 2011 big rain/flood , road north of Independence

Funeral for Louis Wiersgalla . He was an MP directing traffic at the crossroads in Cierges, FR when a German artillery shell hit. He died the next day from his wounds. His remains were brought home for reburial at the St Peter and Paul Cemetery in 1922

**1947 St Elizabeth Society luncheon for Harriet Pawlowska**

**Carl Halama and wife 60th wedding anniversary**

**Independence Sauerkraut Festival and queen candidates 1950’s**

**1928 fire in Independence. It is speculated the store was north of the old bank–**

**Peter G Bautch and his mare Silver 1940’s**

August Weier–severely gassed in WW1, died in 1927 from effects of the poison gas

Polly’s Bar/aka Nibbies Demolished in 1978, replaced by apartment building

Independence Creamery and Pietrek’s in 1964

1948 Wi Centennial parade in Whitehall—Independence entry

Thoma Auto Wrecking and Junk Yard north of Independence on Hwy 93 1963

Peter A Sura, USMC 6th Infantry, killed in action July 19, 2018 at the Battle of Vierzy, Chateau Thierry. Son of Peter and Agata.

Peter A Sura –the American Legion Post Sura Wiersgalla #186 named for Peter

Blacksmith Shop 1926 Ole Huff, A Filla, Ole Hanson at Anvil. Rear-John Gamroth, John and Peter Pampuch

Wreaths Across America St Peter and Paul Cemetery Dec 2018–a wreath was placed on the grave of each veteran.

Wreaths Across American sponsored by Sura Wiersgalla American Legion Post #186 Dec 2018

Martin Wiemer sold furniture and home supplies, was the funeral director and for many years County Coroner

**ELK CREEK SCHOOL, ELK CREEK, ON HWY 93 ON EAST SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY** 1963

ELK ROD AND GUN CLUB ICE FISHING CONTEST 1964

1928 8th Grade for Monica Woycik who attended Wickham Valley School

**Martin Borst Namesake of Borst Valley Early settler, buried** in Hale Wegner Cemetery

Kathy Zeiglin, Jescey Thompson, Kiera Kjos, Vaida Goplin 2017

Mike Lyga and the Veteran’s Museum in the Independence High School

Kids’ Fishing Contest , Bugle Lake, Independence 2017

St Peter and Paul about 1910. The old parochial school is on the far left, the steeple poking up from the trees is the original schoolhouse.

Ft Peter Rombalski’s First Mass May 22 1932 Niece Margaret Rombalski with pillow, Helen Rombalski on his left, on far left Peter Kulig and ____Pyka. Ft Rombalski (Rabalsky) was one of 15 children born to Frank and Catherine (Roskosz) Rombalski

SSPP from the southwest side, around 1920

Photo of workmen and priests shows old parochial school in the left background

Cripps School- 1959—Back-L-R ___Cilley, ___Smieja, Ruth Smieja, ___Gruentzal, ___? Middle- ___Dumbeck, Berniece Smick, Bernard Halama ____? Front- Theresa Smieja, Dejno Twins, John Dejno, ___Burt, Vernon Anderson, Joan Burt

Elk Crk 1956 — High water–Bugle Lake Dam Independence 4.4.1956

St Peter and Paul (800x571) — St Peter and Paul sanctuary decorated for Christmas 2015

elk 1940 — Elk Creek School Founded 1870-closed 1940 Photo from 1930s

elk cr 1936 — 1936 Elk Creek School Students

Halama (415x640) — H C Halama late 1940s

Indep Long Jumper 2015 (435x640) — Andrew Grulkowski, Independence HS 2015

Cripps (320x238) — Cripps School Jan 2015 After the school closed the Town of Burnside added on to it and used it for many years. Located north of Independence on Hwy 93

Prom Court 2015 Independence HS–Brennan Christianson, Henry Pfaff, Jordan Speltz, Steve Gamroth, Sophia Woychik, Cheyenne Loewenhagen, Morgan Speltz, GinaGamroth, Tessa Bragger

Football Inde vs Whitehall 2015 (800x730) — Isaac Pape and Jackson Standafer 2015 football

Poultry show (458x640) — 1913 Poultry Show held in Independence

poultry sho w2 (414x640) — Poultry show 1913

markham J A (431x640) — J A Markham 1913

elk crk 1930 — Ad from 1930 county plat book

Indep ads 1913 (430x640) — Independence Business ads 1913

Icefish whole (800x761) — ERGC Fishing Contest 2016

photo (4) — July 2014 Old span bridge is replaced during Hwy 93 road construction

photo (5) — July 2014 Road construction on corner of Hwy 121 and 93 junction. Old gas station/Kevin Benning business is removed

Ada Markham took over the Independence newspaper after the death of her husband. Note the presence of either a big cat or small fluffy dog on her desk.

indee baseb — Top-1939 Independence American Legion Team. They went to state but lost in semifinals. Front L-R-Rudy Smieja, Bill Andre, Saul Isaacs, Ray Reck, Lyman Call, Millard Fellenz, Roman Sobotta Back-Pete Misch, Everett Blaha, Ralph Klimek, Ed Resler, Geo Isaacs, Marcel Marsolek, Norris Olson
Bottom photo-Indee Old Timers-Front L-R Ray Hagen, Helmer Neperud, Alan Briggs Edmundson, ernie Fremstad, Len Ellison, Al Windjue, Back row-Cliff Bautch, Ray Reck, Ralph Sygulla, Fred Gardner, Ken Swenson, Don Warner, Merton Hagen, coach De Bow, Peanuts hagen

Inde HS Reunion 2015 (800x679) — Independence HS 45th Class Reunion 2015

indee ads (640x268) — Ads from 1914 Plat Book 2009 Kids Fishing Contest in front of City Hall

2009 Kids Cont (800x594) — Ads from 1914 Plat Book 2009 Kids Fishing Contest in front of City Hall

2009 Bugle Lk view east (800x472) — 2009 Bugle Lk view east

2006 Bugle lake (800x602) — 2006 Dale Miemiietz in Bugle Lake quagmire

1930 Dam Repair (800x549) — 1930 Dam Repair

Sunday sch 1979 (800x396) — Lutheran Sunday School kids 1979

Ladies Aid 1980 — Lutheran Ladies Aid 1979

new church-Ind. — Independence Lutheran church 1979

Ind Lutheran church 1905 (800x572) — Norwegian Lutheran Church 1900 Note Independence Public School on the left

early ladies — Lutheran Ladies 1880s Mrs Ever Anderson, Mrs Ole Marveson, Mrs Bennet Anderson, Mrs Tom Jackson, Mrs ___Jackson, Mrs Lars Kelly, Mrs Ole Nelson, Mrs Ed Larson, Mrs Syver, Mrs Amundson

Confirmands 1920s (668x800) — Lutheran Confirmands 1920, 23, 24

old lake 1881 (540x339) — 1881 pen and ink drawing of Independence. At this time Bugle Lake was almost 90 acres in size.

Independence Ladies — June 1896 Independence Young Ladies

Louis Slabik engine.jpg — Louis Slabik engin

Independence 1900 — Railroad Street 1900 looking east

Independence 1940 at intersection of CR Q and Hwy 93 view west

Independence High water — High Water in Independence 1906 looking west into town. The grain elevators in the background on the right are the site of the telephone office and lumber yard,(2014)

girls team 2014 (640x528) — girls team 2014, Coach Kale Kowahl

2005 View of City Hall and park from Bugle lake

2009 kids' fishing contest — 2009 Kids Fishing Contest

2010 fishing contest — 2010 Kids Fishing Contest on banks by bridge

2010 Kids Fishing Contest Fishboard Independence

Kids Fishing Contest 2010 L-R Bob Pietrek, Al Suchla,__, Ottie Baecker

Independence aerial shot 2002, Bugle Lake upper right

George Markham Family ( original white settlers of Independence)

Old Independence School–1-12 grades Approx 1915

.jpeg — Markham Farm with octagon house, Ronceval, in mid rear

Markham Castle-Ronceval 1890s. On hill northeast of independence, torn down in 1930’s

**Homecoming Court 1960s Bob Maule, Darlene Dejno, Perry Pietrek**

**Oldest building in Independence moved from New City in 1877–formerly the Thalacker Bait and Garden Store 2021**

**ERGC dedication of streambank restoration honoring the late James Helgeson**

**Club Midway under construction , 1930’s**

**Peter and Catherine Mlynek Wedding Day 1913**

**1909 Barn Raising at Mike Skroch farm in Wickham Valley**

**1940 Cooks at the Monica Mish/Dominic Sylla wedding reception at the John and Julia Sygulla farm front-Martina Sosalla, _____ Back- Sarah Sygulla, Julia Sygulla, Lucy Mish**

**Hyacinth and Susanna Woychik Kulig Golden Wedding Anniversary front, back row Gertrude, ____, Paul, John**

**Wickham Valley School kids in front of the school and Pete Pason’s “bus”** Back L-r

R Marion Woychik, Berniece Sonsalla, Delores Wozney, Helen Bautch John and Ernest Sonsalla, _____, Laverne Sura Middle-Beatrice Sonsalla, ____Woychik, ____, Jim Wozney, ____Woychik Front- Bernadine Kampa, Joan Bautch, ____Wozney, Rosaline Puchalla, _____, Grace Kampa Photo Vitus Kampa