150 Years Ago

Thursday, July 9, 2009 1:01 PM CDT

July 9, 1859

Population of the World. - The whole North American Continent has only 46,000,000 inhabitants, hardly as much as France or Austria. The whole of Central and South America has only 23,000,000, less, then, than Italy. European Prussia, with its 60,000,000, has as many inhabitants as America, Australia and Polynesia altogether. China Proper has more inhabitants than America, Australia and Africa put together, and India has nearly three times as many inhabitants as the whole of the new world. The result is that our planet bears 1,288,000,000 of mankind, of which sum total 522,000,000 belong to Mongolian, 369,000,000 to the Caucasian, 200,000,000 to the Malayan, 196,000,000 to the Ethiopian, and 1,000,000 to the American race. Divided according to their confessions, there are 335,000,000 of Christians, 5,000,000 of Jews, 600,000,000 belong to Asiatic religions, 160,000,000 to Mohammedanism and 200,000,000 of Heathens. - Pittsburgh Post

100 Years Ago

July 9, 1909

THE CORNER STONE of the new Congregational Church will be laid next Sunday. An elaborate program will be prepared, including music and addresses. Rev. Charles Parker Connolly, pastor of Plymouth Church, Milwaukee, will deliver the chief address. Mr. Connolly is a new man in the state but comes from Kansas with a fine reputation as an orator.

Superintendent Carter of the Home Missionary Society will lay the corner stone and will also preach at the Masonic Temple in the morning at the regular services. A platform will be erected at the front of the church and seats provided.

The services will be held at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

NEW TEACHERS APPOINTED. At a regular meeting of the Board of Education held last Wednesday evening, Miss Margaret Donovan of Madison was appointed teacher of history, English and civics in the Watertown High School at a salary of $65 per month. She is a graduate of the state university and a daughter of Judge Donovan of Madison. Miss Anna Jache was appointed teacher of 3d grade No. 3 school at a salary of $42 per month.

50 Years Ago

July 9, 1959

Africa, once the Dark Continent, is being discovered by more and more people who can afford it as a place to vacation, relax, enjoy the dangers of the jungle under the most comfortable circumstances. Among the men who are investing in the future of Africa is Watertown-born Ray Ryan, oilman-financier of Palm Springs, Calif. He has teamed up with Movie Star William Holden and the Swiss millionaire-industrialist, Carl Hirschman, in taking over a ritzy African hotel and converting it into a plus safari club for millionaires and people with lesser but adequate means. The three have organized the Mount Kenya Safari Club six miles outside Nanyuki in Kenya, British East Africa. They bought the hotel in February and are about to embark on their first season.

25 Years Ago

July 9, 1984

JEFFERSON - Jefferson County will end its involvement in special education after the 1984-85 school year, the county board decided at this morning's monthly meeting. Supervisors voted 25-4 to dissolve the Handicapped Children's Education Board, which runs the county program, effective June 30, 1985. At that time, school districts which now use county special education services will take control of their own programs. The board also approved a special education tax levy sufficient to fund the entire county program for 1984-85.

10 Years Ago

July 9, 1999

In its day, the old mill on South Water Street was the hub of activity for a farming community. Hundreds of gears turned as grain was pulverized into flour, generated by power from the Rock River. The fate of the historic landmark was sealed late last year when 70 mph winds whipped through the area, taking with them an entire wall of brick along the east side of the mill facing the river. What was a central supporting wall of the mill is now a massive pile on the shore. Owner Larry Mistele, who renovated a former lumber mill to create The Market across the street, said the loss of the wall made the building unsafe. Heavy equipment was on site this morning to tear down the old mill.