THE WAUPACA COUNTY POST

March 28, 1991

 

WHEN THEN WAS NOW

By Wayne A. Guyant

 

            Fred Nelson, in 1895, had already built up a good trade in his Waupaca cigar factory that was located near the bridge on Water Street.  There are few people who today realize just how much business was done in that little, modest cigar factory.

            His output in 1897 was 230,000 cigars.  In 1895, Mr. Nelson began to make a new brand, the “Legal Tender” which equaled the sale of the “K.P.” and the famous “Keystone” brand of cigars.

            A jobber in Grafton, ND, made arrangements to handle his cigars.  He had remarked that he could not get the quality of cigar, for so little anywhere else.  A firm in Minneapolis, Minn., also handled his “Keystone” brand.

            Mr. Nelson generally employed about six people in his factory and expected to hire more as business grew.  He made 14 brands of cigars, and his local sales in Waupaca alone were in the neighborhood of 5,000 cigars per week.

            In June 1895, W. N. Jersild leased the front of the Fred Nelson Cigar Factory, where he opened up a fruit and confectionary store.

            Mr. Harold Holly, who is now a resident of Bethany Home, recently told me that Al Born, who lived on Fifth Street, had a cigar factory in his home, and as a young man, he stripped tobacco leaves for him.  Al Born had two brothers, Jake and George who both had cigar factories in their own homes as well.

            Jesse Cohen, 1919 graduate of Waupaca High School and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Cohen, who were the former owners of the old Fair Store in Waupaca for nearly 25 years, won acclaim for his accomplishments at the piano.

            He played over WBBM every Sunday after the ball game.

            Jesse had a number of dance orchestra in Madison, before moving to Chicago, Il.

 

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            For the most part of 1933, Julius H. Halvorson was seriously ill and during his long months of convalescence he amused himself by writing music and verse.

            The song that won him the greatest acclaim was “That Wonderful Mother of Mine,” for which he wrote both the words and music.

            It was published by the DeVaignie Music Corp., Chicago, a firm with branches in London, England, and Melbourne, Australia.

            The cover sheet had a red background showing an artist’s conception of a doorway to a country home. Beneath the title was printed, “Words and music by Julius H. Halvorson.”  Beneath this was the picture of Miss Lora Sanderson.  She was the vocalist who brought the son to popularity by her renditions over the radio from a New York Studio.

 

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            Another Waupacan who went on to become a star in his own right was Ethwell (Eddy) Hanson, a nationally known master organist, composer, and pianist.

            Although Hanson was born in New London, on August 1, 1893, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Hanson, he spent most of his 92 years in Waupaca when not performing on the road.

            Eddy Hanson first gained fame at the organ in Chicago, Ill.  He was the first radio organist in Chicago, beginning in 1923, on station WDAP, which later became WGN.

            From 1924 to 1948 he became staff organist on Chicago stations WBBM, WLS and WCFL.

            Through the years Eddy played the organ in various theaters and supper clubs.

            Eddy Hanson was at the “Golden Voiced Baritone Pipe Organ” on the opening night of the Palace Theater here in Waupaca, October 4, 1920.  He also played the saxophone, and was a soloist with the John Philip Sousa Band and was a longtime featured performer at the Circus Inn and at Simpson’s nightclub here in Waupaca, besides writing and publishing many songs during his career.

            There are over 300 of his pieces which are listed with ASCAP.  Mr. Hanson passed away in 1986.