Jesse Jensen, an Altoona icon, is virtually unknown to current residents of this community. The scholastic pattern that he established continues to have consequence to all students now enrolled in Altoona public schools. Without “Jess,” there is a great likelihood that there would be no such system. Read the rest of this entry »
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As my cousin Doris Rulien said in her article in the previous Altoona Star, our grandparents, Knute and Bertha Thompson, moved to Altoona in 1887. Since they were some of Altoona’s earliest citizens, I had also been working on a story about them. However, Doris said it all much better than I could. I would like to add a few thoughts, though, and some of my own memories.
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Above, Doris Rulien’s grandmother Brita Thompson and other family members pose in their potato field, which was located east of County Road A in Altoona. The photo was taken in the early 1900s.
My grandparents, Knute Thompson and Brita (Bertha) Iverson, were married in Our Savior Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. They moved to Altoona in 1887.
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Grandma, when I was a child, it was such great fun to run to your house. While we didn’t talk very much, I learned a lot just by watching you.
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By Marvel Newton, Local Contributor
Altoona has long been known for its sandy soil and abundance of sand burrs or cockle burrs. The burrs were often referred to as porcupine eggs. To avoid briars in your fingers, it was well to wet your finger tips thoroughly before trying to pull off the burrs clinging to your shoe strings. Ouch! My grandpa’s farm had plenty of them.
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What began as a simple idea to put on a picnic for roughly 3,000 troops undergoing pre-deployment training at Fort McCoy has drawn support and encouragement from dozens of VFW members across Wisconsin, including several members of the Altoona VFW.
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My homestead was demolished on Thursday, August 14. Born in Altoona in July 1941, I spent all my growing-up years in that home at 719 3rd Street West.
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On Tuesday, August 19, members of the Altoona Fire Department enjoyed a game of basketball - while wearing their breathing equipment - at Altoona’s 10th Street Park. The practice, which occurs once every few years, promotes air conservation, trust in the equipment, and teamwork.
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On Tuesday, August 19, Altoona resident Jim Crandall received a surprise visit from two fellow Vietnam War veterans, Minnesota resident Carroll Suckstorff and California resident Tom Garcia. Crandall has not seen them together in 41 years.
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The Altoona VFW spent the weekend of Saturday, August 2 selling brats and other summer foods out of Festival Foods’ Brat Stand. Proceeds will benefit the organization.
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Kelly and Jim Turner of Altoona announce the engagement of their daughter, Amanda Turner, to Sean Sellergren, son of Linda Stone and Mark Sellergren of Wheeling, Ill.
Amanda graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a degree in Communications & Public Relations. She works at Integrated Merchandising Systems in Morton Grove, Ill., as a Senior Account Executive in Marketing.
Sean graduated from the High-Tech Institute in Phoenix, Ariz., with a degree in Electronics. He works at DLS Electronic Systems in Wheeling, Ill., as an EMC Test Engineer.
An October 11 wedding is planned at Peace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, with a reception at the Ramada Inn & Convention Center.
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