Yesterday in La Crosse
A big-money award for a sawmill accident, 48 years ago
In May of 1969, a Prairie du Chien man won a federal lawsuit against a sawmill company, over an accident that cost him both of his legs. A jury ruled that faulty machinery at a sawmill in Onalaska forced Jack McPhee into the spinning saw blade in 1965. McPhee and his wife were awarded over $500,000 in damages. McPhee later ran a restaurant, and in the 70’s he was elected mayor of Prairie du Chien.
A future mayor of Madison made headlines by getting arrested during a neighborhood celebration. Paul Soglin was on the Madison city council, and was described as a ‘hippie alderman’ after his arrest during what has become known as the Mifflin Street block party. People attending the party threw eggs and pop cans at police who tried to take down barricades in the street. Officers responded with tear gas and clubs. Hundreds of people in Madison protested the arrests the following night.
Schmidty’s restaurant in La Crosse had a Friday fish special of walleye or pike for $1.25. The Circus Bar on 3rd Street offered a jumbo fish plate costing $1.35. And an American Legion chicken-que on French Island cost just $1.25. That was 48 years ago, 1969, yesterday in La Crosse.
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