School Days 1938 - 1940
nila
The 1920 Census finds Nila, her mother Cora and Cora's husband Lessley living at 415 E. Second St South in Centralia, IL. (Line 48 of the 1920 Census) The house is located across an access alley to the First Christian Church behind 419 E. Second St South.
After the death of Lessley Cobb in 1922, Cora Cobb and her adopted daughter Nila moved from southern Illinois to Kilbourn City, Wisconsin. There, Cora married Leigh F. Thompson in 1923. It's not certain if Cora knew Leigh before moving to Kilbourn and is a subject of current research. I have located the family in the 1930 Census where Nila was listed a Louise N. Thompson. Leigh is listed as a watchman at a lumber yard. (See Line 29, 1930 Census) There is no address listed as they were located in rural Delton Township. Cora and Leigh disappear on the 1940 Census, but Nila is listed residing in Wisconsin Dells.
Nila attended grade school and high school and graduated in 1938 from the Wisconsin Dells High School. The picture below is from before 1931 as Wisconsin Dells was known as Kilbourn City at that time. Nila's class was pretty small by today's standards. I've tried to locate her yearbook to no avail. Times were still pretty tight in 1938 and the school may not have been able to produce one.
The graduation announcement is from the local newspaper, Wisconsin Dells Events, May 29, 1938.
1920 Census - Centralia, IL
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1930 Census - Delton Township, WI
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Kibourn City High School (Left) and Grade School - 1920. The High School was razed in the 60's and the grade school moved to another location. The Public Library sits on this parcel today.
After signing a new recording contract with RCA Victor Shaw chose "Begin the Beguine" to be the first of six tunes he would record with his new 14 piece band at this, his first recording session with RCA. The session was held at RCA's "Studio 2" on East 24th Street in New York on July 24, 1938.[4] Until then, Shaw's band had been having a tough time finding an identity and maintaining its existence without having had any popular hits of significance; his previous recording contract with Brunswick had lapsed at the end of 1937 without being renewed.
It wasreleased on the "B" side of the record "Indian Love Call", issued by Bluebird Records as catalog number B-7746 B. "Begin the Beguine" became a best-selling record in 1938, peaking at no. 3, skyrocketing Shaw and his band to fame and popularity. The recording became one of the most famous and popular anthems of the entire Swing Era.
1940 Census - Wisconsin Dells, WI
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Nila, it seems, went right to work. I was only able to find one job she held after graduating. The 1940 Census record shows her as the housemaid at the Kilbourn Inn Hotel located then at 724 Superior Street, downtown Dells. It is interesting to note that a bricklayer with an 8th grade education made 4 times what she, a woman, with a high school education made.
A Little History of the Kilbourn Inn Hotel
Here is an article [2] from 2010 that was published in the Wisconsin Dells Events titled "For Generations, Andrew Watermans Run Dells Hotels." There is also a link to an interesting oral history by Inez Waterman Thompson [3]the matriarch of the Waterman family. It speaks of the family owned and operated hotel and life in Kilbourn City. This is the same Waterman family which began Noah's Ark Amusement park. It is known today as one of the main modern attractions that helped make The Dells a family vacation destination. It is unclear if there was any connection between Inez and Cora's husband, Leigh. This is a topic of research as well. The hotel no longer stands. The parcel is where the Bank of Wisconsin Dells now resides, between Washington Street and WI-23.
In 1938, there were no electronic social media platforms that we 'enjoy' today but, that didn't mean that the community didn't know what you were up to. Your comings and goings were newsworthy! If you were anyone of import, you better believe your name would be in the paper at one time or another. This clipping may be more about Cora (Mrs. L. Thompson) than Nila, but we'll never know for sure.
Wisconsin Dells Events, Feb 1, 1940
While we are talking about Dells history, here is a short but informative article about the famous boat tours which has drawn people to the natural wonders of the area for well over a century. I would like to direct your attention to The Olson Boat Company that owned a pavilion on the corner of Broadway and Eddy Streets which served as a roller rink in the later 30's.
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), 106 minutes, D: Michael Curtiz, William Keighley
One of the best of Hollywood's swashbuckler adventure films, and one of star Errol Flynn's best portrayals. With many remakes too numerous to mention - and mostly inferior. This was the most expensive Warner Bros. film to date at $2 million, but it turned out to be the studio's biggest money-maker in 1939. It was the second of eight films to pair Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland. The legendary and infamous hero of Sherwood Forest Robin Hood/Sir Robin of Locksley (Errol Flynn), with his 'merrymen', who robs from the rich and gives to the poor.
He woos Maid Marian (or Lady Marion Fitzwalter) (Olivia de Havilland) who rides Roy Rogers' future horse Trigger, and confronts his Norman adversaries: evil Prince John (Claude Rains) and his ruthless henchman Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Basil Rathbone), who attempt to take over England and oppress the Saxon masses during King Richard's (Ian Hunter) absence. With beautiful Technicolor sets, pageantry and costumes, dashing sword fighting, music by Oscar-winning Erich Wolfgang Korngold, lively characters, sparkling dialogue, and exciting action.
Source: [4]
meanwhile, in arkdale
Carl
Alvin Enerson and Geneva Sikes were married on November 24, 1920 in Pueblo, Colorado. Two years later, in October 1922, Carl came along and then 7 years later, his sister Shirley. By the 1930 Census, they all were living in Strongs Prairie, just west of Arkdale, WI. Twenty-five miles straight south on Highway 13 would take you directly to Kilbourn City. Kilbourn City was the booming metroplis compared to rural Arkdale. There were jobs, entertainment and a burgeoning tourist industry.
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This is the 2 Story Wooden Grade School - 1930's. Carl most certainly attended grade school here. The school remained on this site until 1958.
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Construction of the Adams-Friendship High School, 1928. The high school was probably built around the same time as the two-story grade school. Adams was growing despite the Depression.
This is the one-story Wooden Grade School, Adams, WI circa 1912. 1912 was the year that the railroad finally came to Adams. It is possible Carl may have spent at least one year at this school
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Adams-Friendship High School
Carl graduated Adams-Friendship High School in 1940 along with a huge graduating class of 57 Seniors during a combined graduation. Carl graduated with Leon Holm his fourth cousin and Anna Gurine Oleston his second cousin.
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Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune - Mary 29, 1940
Carl's activities were pretty well documented too.
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune Jun 10, 1940
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune Jun 24, 1940
I heartily doubt that Carl's father (known to me as Grandpa) ever said,
"Carl, get out and get a job!"
Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune Jul 9, 1940
Although I haven't been able to find a great deal of information on where Carl worked. I am sure it didn't take him long to find work after graduation. Kilbourn City, now known as The Dells, was experiencing significant growth as a tourist destination. There certainly were jobs to be had. The Separation Qualification Record Carl completed when he was discharged from the Army indicates he worked as a Sales Clerk from 1941-1943.
Despite and probably in spite of the Great Depression, Carl was driven and had designs on school in the Fall. As I heard so many times and have lived my life by, "you gotta go where the jobs are at" is exactly what Carl did.
The Sunday visits are interesting to note. Was he visiting with Nila or just getting out of Arkdale for a while?
It seems Carl may have gone back and forth from Arkdale to work at his job(s) in the Dells. Nila would recall that he would hitch-hike up and down Highway 13 to visit her. I imagine he did the same to get to and from work.
At least 50 miles.
Round Trip.
Every Day.
Yep, that's Carl.
He may have stayed in the Dells during the week too, only going home to Arkdale on the weekends.
That would explain the laundry bag in the story below.
How the dells boat tours may have affected my life
Research indicates Carl and Nila may have met at an arcade in downtown Wisconsin Dells. As they were young, had very little money and in all their lives I have never found them to be frivilous in lifestyle, what better place than an arcade. Such a place existed at Olson's Boat Pavilion. From the above article and found here in case you missed it, Olson's Boat Company was one of the preeminent boat tour operators of The Dells. The Olson family has been active in the tourist industry for years. Boat tours of course had long been a huge draw for visitors and are a foundation to the tourist industry there. The pavilion was located in the heart of downtown on the corner of Eddy and Broadway. It was a magnet for youngsters to gravitate, congregate and have a little fun. Operated as the central location for boat tours as well as an arcade, snack stand and since the previous summer, a roller rink, it was a likely location for Carl and Nila to meet. The fact it was in operation the summer before more closely matches their ages based on Nila's recollection of the day plus the fact it was only 2 blocks from the Kilbourn Inn Hotel. It would make an easy walk for her on a summer's evening. On a side note, Grover Olson, owner of Olson's Boat Company was the father of John (Jack) Olson who graduated high school with Nila. Jack later became Ambassador to the Bahamas and twice Lieutenant Governor of the State of Wisconsin. [8]
Indeed, I believe we have a better idea of where these two first met. We'll probably never know the exact date, but the place sure makes sense.
Wisconsin Dells Events, 09/14/39
Wisconsin Dells Events, 10/19/39
This is a shot taken sometime in late 30's of Broadway, looking west. The red circle identfies the Olson Boat Company on the northeast corner of Broadway and Eddy. Picture: Dells.com
Nila had a wonderful story of when she and Carl first met. She and a girlfriend would frequent a skate rink/entertainment center because that's what you did in those days. One day they were at the rink and Carl came in though the door, his laundry bag over his shoulder and slicked back bangs falling over his eyes. Nila's friend knew Carl and introduced them to each other. Nila didn't think too much of Carl at first. After all, he was just a kid of 16 and she, a woman of 19. But Carl fell head over heels for her and even admitted it to her later. He even wrote in his diary after this meeting, "I met the woman I am going to marry."
Wisconsin Dells Events, Nov 10, 1938
Liberty was a weekly, general-interest magazine, originally priced at five cents and subtitled, "A Weekly for Everybody." It was launched in 1924 by McCormick-Patterson, the publisher until 1931, when it was taken over by Bernarr Macfadden until 1941. At one time it was said to be "the second greatest magazine in America," ranking behind The Saturday Evening Post in circulation. It featured contributions from some of the biggest politicians, celebrities, authors, and artists of the 20th-century. The contents of the magazine provide a unique look into popular culture, politics, and world events through the Roaring 20s, Great Depression, World War II, and Post-War America. It ceased publication in 1950 and was revived briefly in 1971. Source: Wikipedia