Celebrity visitors/residents of the Antigo, Wisconsin Area

Antigo, Wisconsin Genealogy Gopher
City of Antigo and Langlade County, Wisconsin Genealogical Research Sources

Celebrity Visitors and Residents of the Antigo, Wisconsin Area Contributions are welcome if they have a reference source.
Date	Celebrity	Event	Source
1880's	Ludwig Motzfeldt	Early area pioneer whose family came from European royalty.	ADJ, April 5, 1933
1897-1977	James R. Durfee	Private practice, Antigo, Wisconsin, 1926-1951; District attorney, Langlade County, Wisconsin, 1928-1931; Court commissioner, Tenth Judicial Circuit, 1934-1950; Member, Wisconsin State Public Service Commission, 1951-1956; Chairman, Wisconsin State Public Service Commission, 1953-1956; Chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board, 1956-1960.	Federal Judicial History website Bio
1890's	? Brown	Nephew of the "John Brown" in Civil War song used to live near Antigo.	ADJ, June 8, 1939, page 3
1901	Ben W. Heineman	Son of Walter Heineman, famous lumberman, rose to leadership of the Chicago and NorthWestern Railroad.	ADJ, June 3, 1996, "PrimeTime"
Feb 1905	William Jennings Bryan	Presidential candidate during 1896 national election. Also known for his support of silver for our monetary system. On February 13th William Jennings Bryan gave a speech at the Opera House titled "The Value of An Ideal." He stayed over night at the Vivian Hotel.	Antigo Journal, approx. Feb 19, 1905 ADJ, November 1, 2006, page 1
1905-1915?	Winninger Brothers	Charles, Frank, John, Adolph and Joe Winninger played a one-week stand at the opera house. They went on to become famous on Broadway.	ADJ, December 1989
1906-1946	Alvin Linden	World-renown master craftsman of gun stocks.	ADJ, November 24, 2007, page 1
Oct 30, 1906	Buster Brown's advertising spokesperson	On Oct 30th Buster Brown, a midget, representing Brown Shoe Company of Iowa visited Antigo and advertised "Buster Brown Shoes" in front of Wigderson's store.	Daily Journal, November 1, page 7
1912	Jan Kubelik	Internationally known violinist appeared at the opera house.	ADJ, Dec 1989
1913	Madame Schuman-Heink	Considered the world's greatest contralto, performed at the opera house.	ADJ, Dec 1989
1914-1949	JohnW. Smith	Developed the best potato seed in the nation known as Smith's Triumphs	ADJ, May 17, 2008, page 1
1918-1936	Ullrich Vosmek	World famous master gunsmith who came from a long line of gunsmiths that some say date back to the Middle Ages	ADJ, December 6, 2008, page 1
1921-1969	Robert "Fightin' Bob" LaFollette	The Buena Vista Lodge on Pickerel Lake. Robert LaFollete paid regular visits during his life. Although the original lodge burned down in 1969 there are still rumors of high-powered visitors to the Pickerel Lake area from corporate, entertainment and political celebrities. The Volm family rebuilt some years later. Property now owned by a different private family that leases it out when they are not staying there.	ADJ, December 16, 2006, page 1
1923-1994	John Bradley	Antigo was the home of John Bradley, one of the six men who raised the flag over Iwo Jima's Mt. Suribachi in a scene immortalized by Associated Press photographer Abe Rosenthal.	ADJ, February 3, 1965, page 1 ADJ, February 22, 1947, page 1 ADJ April 11, 1945, page 1
1924-1944	J.L. Kraft	Antigo was the second cheese plant in the Kraft Cheese Company enterprise Kraft's family started Kraftwood Gardens on Enterprise Lake. The gardens are closed to the public now but the property is still owned by the Kraft family	ADJ May 2, 2005 PrimeTime ADJ, may 21, 2005, page 1 ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
Jun 17, 1925	Billy Mitchell	Col. Billy Mitchel visits Antigo.	ADJ, Jun 17, 1925 p.5
1930's	Thomas Edison	Thomas Edison came to Antigo. He came to visit Charles Ferguson. Ferguson had learned electrical science working for Edison and came to central Wisconsin to install a hydroelectric dame for General Electric in Merrill. He married in Merrill, had 13 children and settled in Antigo, living in a home and maintaining a shop roughly at the site of the Bradley Funeral Home today. Edison was traveling through Antigo on Highway 45 from one of his frequent outings with Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone at Ford's residence in upper Michigan. When Edison learned Ferguson was at a checkers tournment at Semetana's Hall in Neva he went to Neva to see his friend.	ADJ, February 6, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3 ADJ, March 2, 1998, "PrimeTime" ADJ, April 6, 1998, "PrimeTime" ADJ, January 3, 1948, page 3 ADJ, July 2, 1941, page 5
1930's?	Clarence Darrow	Lawyer (Scopes Monkey Trial). Scheduled to visit Antigo but backed out at the last minute.	ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
1930's	John Dillinger & Evelyn "Billy" Frechette	Gangster. Memory by resident of Voras Resort at Pickerel Lake of gassing up his car at her father's gas station.	ADJ, May 1, 2000 PrimeTimes ADJ, July 6, 2009 PrimeTime ADJ, July 23, 2009, page 1 ADJ, June 30, 2007, page 1
1930's	Al Capone	Gangster. An Antigo businessman/prohibition figure said he loaned Scarface a boat for fishing.	ADJ, June 30, 2007, page 8
Oct 26, 1934	J.C. Penney	Founder of J.C. Penney retail store chain visited his store and greeted customers. Store manager was C.W. Melgaard.	ADJ, Oct 26, 2009, page 1
Feb 15, 1935	Hugh O'Connell	Well-known actor of stage and Hollywood visited with friends and relatives. From Kaukauna he spent much time in Antigo as a youth visiting his grandmother.	ADJ, February 15, 1935
Feb 26, 1935	R.J. Dione	A resident of the Town of Norwood, R.J. Dione is the first cousin of the father of the famous Dionne quintuplets. R.J. Dione Americanized the spelling of his surname by dropping one letter.	ADJ, February 26, 1935
Feb 28, 1935	Cliff Thompson	The largest man in the world, Cliff Thompson, will visit Antigo and the M. Krom and sons Store on Thursday. Standing 8 feet, six inches tall, he weighs 344 1/2 pounds and is still growing.	ADJ, February 23, 1935
Jun 7, 1935	Charles Nash	Charles Nash was a visitor in Antigo over the weekend, stopping at the Fischer-Jicha Nash Co. He was traveling to his summer home at Mercer. He was the co-founder of the Buick Motor Company; General Manger of General Motors; and bought the Jeffery Motor Co., renaming it Nash Motors. Nash Motors produced automobiles in its Kenosha, Wisconsin plant from 1916 to 1938.	ADJ, June 7, 1935
Aug 1935	Green Bay Packers	Green Bay Packer trained at Elcho for 10 days in August of 1935. Thirty-five players and Coach Curly Lambeau worked out on the Elcho High School's football and baseball fields. They stayed at the Ye Ole Muskie Inn in downtown Elcho while showering and changing into their football duds in the locker room at the high school.	ADJ Jun, 1935
1935-	D. Wayne Lukas	Famous horse trainer born in Antigo, Wisconsin. Elected to National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1999. His horses have won the Kentucky Derby four times.	Book "Cats to Kings" by Lisa Haefs & Jeff Winter
1936	Charles Winninger	From vaudeville family, befriended by Father Saile of St. John Catholic Church, who became quite a figure in dramatics and musicals across the U.S. for many years. Appeared in 1927 "Show Boat" and 1945 "State Fair." Also appeared as Barney Kurtz in episode of "I Love Lucy" as a vaudevillian partner of Fred Mertz.	ADJ, May 24, 2011, Peeps at our Past, page 3
Nov, 1936	Ernistine Schumann-Heink	She was considered one of the greates vocal talents in the opera world. She paid a visit to Antigo for a performance and Elcho for the wedding of her granddaughter.	ADJ, November 16, 2011, Peeps at our Past.
May, 1937	Life Magazine	Life Magazine did a three page pictorial on the Antigo High School Class of 1938 Junior Prom. The magazine also covered the class's reunion on July 29, 1957.	ADJ, June 29, 1957
Feb, 11, 1938	Aunt Jemima	Aunt Jemima visited the Antigo Flour and Feed Store making her famous pancakes. Her real name was Anna Short Harrington and she died in 1955. Another appearance was Mar 6, 1960 by her replacement.	ADJ, February 11, 1938, Peeps at our Past
May 11, 1939	Jack McBride Clarence Darrow	The Town of Norwood dedicated a marker honoring Jack McBride a durable vistor for 35 years and avid trout fisherman. During this time he brought alone guests, including the legendary attorney Clarence Darrow, famous authors, and important businessmen.	ADJ, May 10, 2014, page 1
1940's	John Trever	Son of J.H. Trever, Antigo district attorney in the 1880's. He played a leading role in revealing the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. He took the first photographs of the scrolls that remain the best documentation of their original physical condition.	ADJ, January 23, 2010, page 1
1940	Kathleen McCarey	A newsreel filmographer who produced a film called "Life in Antigo." The ADJ is trying to locate a copy of this film.	ADJ, June 28, 1940 ADJ, April 14, 2007, page 1
1940's	?	Former Langlade County Man was Kin of Pike's Peak Discoverer.	ADJ, May 6, 1948, page 9
1940's	John Clark Adams	John Clark Adams, Son of One of Wisconsin's Earliest Protestant Missionaries Lived Here.	ADJ, December 8, 1948, page 1
1940's	Frank Suick	Frank Suick developed a musky bait called the Suick and prized by many anglers.	ADJ, March 17, 1949, page 1
1940's	Bob Hope	Bob Kommers, Antigo hardwareman had a link in '40s with Bob Hope.	ADJ, September 2, 2003 PrimeTime
1940's & 1950's	Joe McCarthy	Circuit Judge and U.S. Senator. Antigo part of his court circuit.	ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
July 11, 1947	Japanese submarine	A small Japanese suicide submarine was exhibited at 5th avenue and Clermont Street.	ADJ, July 11, 1947, page 3
Aug 19, 1949	Philip Morris' Johnny	Philip Morris cigarette advertising "little person" spokesperson Johnny visited Antigo.	ADJ, August 19, 1949, page 3
1950-60's	John Kolb	John Kolb, ex-Chicago 1920's gang member & owner of Nomad Trading Post, was intriguing northwoods character.	ADJ, Aug 7, 2006 PrimeTime
Feb 24, 1960	Jack & Jackie Kennedy	Presidential campaign visit. Webmaster remembers sitting in high school gym during visit.	ADJ, March 3, 2008, "PrimeTimes"
Mar 6, 1960	Aunt Jemima	The women advertising spokesperson Aunt Jemima made appearances around Antigo to promote her pancake products. She visited at Wesley Hall and several grocery stores and was interviewed by Walter John Chilsen on WSAU television.	ADJ, Mar 5, 1960
March 31, 1960	Robert Kennedy	President Jack Kennedy's brother and Attorney General of the United States.	ADJ, February 17, 2008, "Bit & Pieces," page 3 ADJ, February 31, 1960
April 5, 1960	Mrs. Hubert Humphrey	Mrs Humphrey and St.Paul Mayor Joseph Dillion visited Antigo just before an election between Hubert Humphrey and Jack Kennedy for the Democratic presidential election in November. Hubert Humphrey, Jack Kennedy, his wife Jackie, Robert Kennedy and now Humphrey's wife all have visited Antigo.	ADJ, April 5, 2010, Peep at our past, page 4
about Nov 15, 1960	Vladimir Horowitz	One of the greatest ppianists of the 20th century appeared at the Antigo High School gym as part of the Civic Music series.	ADJ November 13, 2010 "Bits & Pieces," page 14
1960's	?	Antigo Man's Father Inventor of Flight Recorder on Planes.	ADJ, March 9, 1963, page 3
1960's	Bart Starr	Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. Owned cottage on Bass Lake. Several "Glory Years" teammates also.	ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
Feb 11, 1963	Harlem Stars	The Harlem Stars clowned their way to an easy win over the local all-stars Saturday night.	ADJ, February 11, 1963, Peeps at our Past, page 3
1964	?	History of Japanese Rifles written by Antigo Native.	ADJ, November 10, 1964, page 6
Feb 1965	CBS	CBS Films Report on Antigo's Fluoridated Water Experience.	ADJ, February 4, 1965, page 1 & February 20, 1965
May 18, 1965	Adin Reynolds	Aniwa resident, Adin Reynolds appears on "To Tell the Truth" television show.	ADJ, May 18, 1965, page 3
July 21, 1965 also 1948 & 1967	Former President Eisenhower and wife.	Ike & Mamie Vacation at Minocqua Lake. Webmaster Note: Returning from this vacation by railroad they stopped at the Antigo Depot and both came out on the rear platform of their private car and waved to the people. I remember while they were waving seeing my father, who was a railroad car inspector, checking the wheels of Ike's private car for "hot boxes."	ADJ, July 21, 1965, page 3
Dec 27, 1965	Cornelia Mohr	Refugee (Cornelia Mohr) from Russian Czar once lived in Antigo.	ADJ, December 27, 1965, page 3
October 12, 1967	Charles Ferguson	One of Antigo's exteemed citizens, Charles Ferguson, celebrated his 95th birthday at his residence on Neva Road Oct 5. A recognized electrician, he worked with Thomas Edison and Steinmetz, two of the greatest in the field. Also see 1930's.	ADJ, October 12, 1967
Aprl 1, 1968	Paul Newman	Paul Newman appearance at Antigo Airport in support of Senator Eugene McCarthny Presidental Bid cancelled due to bad weather.	ADJ, Apr 1, 1968, page 3
May 17, 1969	Eugene Cernan	Astronaut, who walked on moon, Eugene Cernan Recalls His Antigo Summer Visits on his grandfather's farm. His grandfather, Stephen Cernan, lived on Thompson Lake Road south of Hwy AA in the Town of Norwood.	May 17, 1969, page 1
Mar 1970	Fuzzy Thurston	A cottage on Clear Lake owned by Fred "Fuzzy" Thurston of the Green Bay Packers was broken into.	ADJ, March 24, 1970, page 3
March 29, 1972	Pierre Salinger	Pierre Sallinger, press secretary of the late John F. Kennedy, came to Antigo on behalf of Sen. George McGovern's presidental campaign.	ADJ, March 29, 1972
April 19, 1979	Rudolph Nagy	Rudolph Nagy was an Antigo native and one of the Westinghouse scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project.	ADJ, Apr 20, 1979, Obituary, page 3
February 7, 1981	Heywood Hale Broun	The colorful CBS sports commentator was the speaker at the Antigo Area Chamber of Commerce banquet.	ADJ, December 26, 1980, page 1
1990's?	Jimmie Johnson	Race Car Driver. 2009 Associated Press sports figure of the year. Race here in his early career. Story about how he was not happy staying at the Cutlass Motel.	ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
October 12-19, 2006	CBS	A CBS news crew spends week in White Lake, entire area, doing story for news show about bottle a 10 year old Josh Baker threw into lake. Segment tells story of Baker, his bottle and its recovery nearly a year after his death after returning from tour of duty in Iraq.	ADJ, October 19, 2006, page 1
Mar 1985	Kevin Hermening	Kevin Hermening, a Wisconsin native, and one of the hostages held at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981 was a special guest at the Langlade County Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner.	ADJ, Feb 19, 1985
Mar 8, 2000	Rosemarie Trapp	Rosemarie Trapp, the eight member of the Austrian Von Trapp family of which "The Sound of Music"" was based visited in Antigo. She gave several talks and visited area school children.	ADJ, March 9, 2000
Feb 14, 2010	Prof. Mike Leckrone & UW varsity band	The famous Univ. of Wis. band thrives on both a fun atmosphere, musical excellence and audience participation. Special local guests at the event were Mayor Bill Brandt, former UW football player and Dr. Ted Fox, former Bucky Badger mascot.	ADJ, February 12, 2010 ADJ, February 15, 2010
Summer 2010	Larry Gatlin Brothers Band	Larry Gatlin told story Dec 19, 2011 on FNN Fox & Friends Show about being in Antigo during the 2010 FuddFest and eating at the Heartbreakers Bar & Grill.	ADJ, December 24, 2011, Bits & Pieces, page 3
Mar 20, 2013	Pauly Shore	Pauly Shore is an actor, comedian, director, writer and producer. The first time he was in Antigo, he also was filming his documentary "Pauly Stands Alone." It contains footage of him having dinner with the Welnetz family at the Refuge and a few other shots of Antigo.	Twitter
Jul 2, 2014	Lukas Nelson/P.O.T.R.	Lukas Nelson (Willie Nelson's son) and P.O.T.R. appeared at the Edison Club.	eventful.com
Jun 3, 1015	Pauly Shore	Pauly Shore's second visit to Antigo was for an appearance at the Edison Club.	PaulyShore.com
Feb 2014	Al Berger	Al Berger of Antigo, who operates Bergerwerke Bicycle, specializing in WW II vintage bicycles supplied the 1940's era Army bicycle used in a key scene in the motion picture "The Monuments Men."	ADJ February 20, 2014, page 1
Jul 19, 2016	Tim Allen	Actor, Tim Allen, flew into the Langlade County Airport on a shopping trip. He was checking out a motorhome that he and his wife were interesing in buying.	ADJ July 22, 2016 page 1
Celebrities that traveled on the highway through Antigo on the way to other destinations or in someway have a connection to the Antigo/Langlade County area.
	Charlie Day	Actor Charlie Day from the TV show "Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia" wore an Antigo Wrestling t-shirt on one of the episodes. It's thought that he got it from CARR.	email and picture from Jesse Maher
	Tom Brokaw	Dr. Robert Cromer wrote a letter that was published in Brokaw's book, "An Album of Memories: Personal Histories From The Greatest Generation." about his WW II experiences.
	Elizabeth Taylor	Actress. She may have travel through Antigo as a teenager on her way to her uncle's place near Eagle River.
	Melvin Laird	Wisconsin Congressman & U.S. Secretary of Defense.
	Tommy Thompson	Wisconsin Governor & U.S. Secretary of Health I remember seeing him ride a motorcycle through Antigo.
1990's?	Willie Nelson	Willie Nelson's tour bus was seen heading north on Superior Street with a fishing boat in tow.	ADJ, January 23, 2010, Bits & Pieces
June 26, 2012	Robert Hays Steve Zucker	Hollywood actor Robert Hays "Airplane" and director David Zucker stopped off for a meal at the Dixie Lunch on their way to Eagle River to film a tourism commercial.	ADJ, June 26, 2012, page 1
February 15, 2014	ABBA	Band ABBA's connection with "Not Bob's" Bar. Also see above Larry Gatlin Band summer 2010.	ADJ, February 15, 2014, Bits & Pieces, page 3
April 18, 2015	"The Yearling" "Gentle Ben"	Langlade County animals have been used in Hollywood Movies and Television shows. Two examples are the deer in the 1946 movie "The Yearling" starring Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman and the bear in the 1967-1969 television show "Gentle Ben" starring Dennis Weaver and Clint Howard.	ADJ, April 18, 2015, Bits & Pieces, page 3
ADJ=Antigo Daily Journal

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Celebrity visitors/residents of the Antigo, Wisconsin Area
Antigo, Wisconsin Genealogy Gopher
City of Antigo and Langlade County, Wisconsin Genealogical Research Sources

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Celebrity Visitors and Residents of the Antigo, Wisconsin Area
Contributions are welcome if they have a reference source.
Date Celebrity Event Source
1880's Ludwig Motzfeldt Early area pioneer whose family came from European royalty. ADJ, April 5, 1933
1897-1977 James R. Durfee Private practice, Antigo, Wisconsin, 1926-1951; District attorney, Langlade County, Wisconsin, 1928-1931; Court commissioner, Tenth Judicial Circuit, 1934-1950; Member, Wisconsin State Public Service Commission, 1951-1956; Chairman, Wisconsin State Public Service Commission, 1953-1956; Chairman, Civil Aeronautics Board, 1956-1960. Federal Judicial History website Bio
1890's ? Brown Nephew of the "John Brown" in Civil War song used to live near Antigo. ADJ, June 8, 1939, page 3
1901 Ben W. Heineman Son of Walter Heineman, famous lumberman, rose to leadership of the Chicago and NorthWestern Railroad. ADJ, June 3, 1996, "PrimeTime"
Feb 1905 William Jennings Bryan Presidential candidate during 1896 national election. Also known for his support of silver for our monetary system.
On February 13th William Jennings Bryan gave a speech at the Opera House titled "The Value of An Ideal." He stayed over night at the Vivian Hotel. Antigo Journal, approx. Feb 19, 1905
ADJ, November 1, 2006, page 1
1905-1915? Winninger Brothers Charles, Frank, John, Adolph and Joe Winninger played a one-week stand at the opera house. They went on to become famous on Broadway. ADJ, December 1989
1906-1946 Alvin Linden World-renown master craftsman of gun stocks. ADJ, November 24, 2007, page 1
Oct 30, 1906 Buster Brown's advertising spokesperson On Oct 30th Buster Brown, a midget, representing Brown Shoe Company of Iowa visited Antigo and advertised "Buster Brown Shoes" in front of Wigderson's store. Daily Journal, November 1, page 7
1912 Jan Kubelik Internationally known violinist appeared at the opera house. ADJ, Dec 1989
1913 Madame Schuman-Heink Considered the world's greatest contralto, performed at the opera house. ADJ, Dec 1989
1914-1949 JohnW. Smith Developed the best potato seed in the nation known as Smith's Triumphs ADJ, May 17, 2008, page 1
1918-1936 Ullrich Vosmek World famous master gunsmith who came from a long line of gunsmiths that some say date back to the Middle Ages ADJ, December 6, 2008, page 1
1921-1969 Robert "Fightin' Bob" LaFollette The Buena Vista Lodge on Pickerel Lake. Robert LaFollete paid regular visits during his life. Although the original lodge burned down in 1969 there are still rumors of high-powered visitors to the Pickerel Lake area from corporate, entertainment and political celebrities. The Volm family rebuilt some years later. Property now owned by a different private family that leases it out when they are not staying there. ADJ, December 16, 2006, page 1
1923-1994 John Bradley Antigo was the home of John Bradley, one of the six men who raised the flag
over Iwo Jima's Mt. Suribachi in a scene immortalized by Associated Press
photographer Abe Rosenthal. ADJ, February 3, 1965, page 1
ADJ, February 22, 1947, page 1
ADJ April 11, 1945, page 1
1924-1944 J.L. Kraft Antigo was the second cheese plant in the Kraft Cheese Company enterprise Kraft's family started Kraftwood Gardens on Enterprise Lake. The gardens are closed to the public now but the property is still owned by the Kraft family ADJ May 2, 2005 PrimeTime
ADJ, may 21, 2005, page 1
ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
Jun 17, 1925 Billy Mitchell Col. Billy Mitchel visits Antigo. ADJ, Jun 17, 1925 p.5
1930's Thomas Edison Thomas Edison came to Antigo. He came to visit Charles Ferguson. Ferguson had learned electrical science working for Edison and came to central Wisconsin to install a hydroelectric dame for General Electric in Merrill. He married in Merrill, had 13 children and settled in Antigo, living in a home and maintaining a shop roughly at the site of the Bradley Funeral Home today. Edison was traveling through Antigo on Highway 45 from one of his frequent outings with Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone at Ford's residence in upper Michigan. When Edison learned Ferguson was at a checkers tournment at Semetana's Hall in Neva he went to Neva to see his friend. ADJ, February 6, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
ADJ, March 2, 1998, "PrimeTime"
ADJ, April 6, 1998, "PrimeTime"
ADJ, January 3, 1948, page 3
ADJ, July 2, 1941, page 5
1930's? Clarence Darrow Lawyer (Scopes Monkey Trial). Scheduled to visit Antigo but backed out at the last minute. ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
1930's John Dillinger & Evelyn "Billy" Frechette Gangster. Memory by resident of Voras Resort at Pickerel Lake of gassing up his car at her father's gas station. ADJ, May 1, 2000 PrimeTimes
ADJ, July 6, 2009 PrimeTime
ADJ, July 23, 2009, page 1
ADJ, June 30, 2007, page 1
1930's Al Capone Gangster. An Antigo businessman/prohibition figure said he loaned Scarface a boat for fishing. ADJ, June 30, 2007, page 8
Oct 26, 1934 J.C. Penney Founder of J.C. Penney retail store chain visited his store and greeted customers. Store manager was C.W. Melgaard. ADJ, Oct 26, 2009, page 1
Feb 15, 1935 Hugh O'Connell Well-known actor of stage and Hollywood visited with friends and relatives. From Kaukauna he spent much time in Antigo as a youth visiting his grandmother. ADJ, February 15, 1935
Feb 26, 1935 R.J. Dione A resident of the Town of Norwood, R.J. Dione is the first cousin of the father of the famous Dionne quintuplets. R.J. Dione Americanized the spelling of his surname by dropping one letter. ADJ, February 26, 1935
Feb 28, 1935 Cliff Thompson The largest man in the world, Cliff Thompson, will visit Antigo and the M. Krom and sons Store on Thursday. Standing 8 feet, six inches tall, he weighs 344 1/2 pounds and is still growing. ADJ, February 23, 1935
Jun 7, 1935 Charles Nash Charles Nash was a visitor in Antigo over the weekend, stopping at the Fischer-Jicha Nash Co. He was traveling to his summer home at Mercer. He was the co-founder of the Buick Motor Company; General Manger of General Motors; and bought the Jeffery Motor Co., renaming it Nash Motors. Nash Motors produced automobiles in its Kenosha, Wisconsin plant from 1916 to 1938. ADJ, June 7, 1935
Aug 1935 Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packer trained at Elcho for 10 days in August of 1935. Thirty-five players and Coach Curly Lambeau worked out on the Elcho High School's football and baseball fields. They stayed at the Ye Ole Muskie Inn in downtown Elcho while showering and changing into their football duds in the locker room at the high school. ADJ Jun, 1935
1935- D. Wayne Lukas Famous horse trainer born in Antigo, Wisconsin. Elected to National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1999. His horses have won the Kentucky Derby four times. Book "Cats to Kings" by Lisa Haefs & Jeff Winter
1936 Charles Winninger From vaudeville family, befriended by Father Saile of St. John Catholic Church, who became quite a figure in dramatics and musicals across the U.S. for many years. Appeared in 1927 "Show Boat" and 1945 "State Fair." Also appeared as Barney Kurtz in episode of "I Love Lucy" as a vaudevillian partner of Fred Mertz. ADJ, May 24, 2011, Peeps at our Past, page 3
Nov, 1936 Ernistine Schumann-Heink She was considered one of the greates vocal talents in the opera world. She paid a visit to Antigo for a performance and Elcho for the wedding of her granddaughter. ADJ, November 16, 2011, Peeps at our Past.
May, 1937 Life Magazine Life Magazine did a three page pictorial on the Antigo High School Class of 1938 Junior Prom. The magazine also covered the class's reunion on July 29, 1957. ADJ, June 29, 1957
Feb, 11, 1938 Aunt Jemima Aunt Jemima visited the Antigo Flour and Feed Store making her famous pancakes. Her real name was Anna Short Harrington and she died in 1955. Another appearance was Mar 6, 1960 by her replacement. ADJ, February 11, 1938, Peeps at our Past
May 11, 1939 Jack McBride
Clarence Darrow The Town of Norwood dedicated a marker honoring Jack McBride a durable vistor for 35 years and avid trout fisherman. During this time he brought alone guests, including the legendary attorney Clarence Darrow, famous authors, and important businessmen. ADJ, May 10, 2014, page 1
1940's John Trever Son of J.H. Trever, Antigo district attorney in the 1880's. He played a leading role in revealing the importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. He took the first photographs of the scrolls that remain the best documentation of their original physical condition. ADJ, January 23, 2010, page 1
1940 Kathleen McCarey A newsreel filmographer who produced a film called "Life in Antigo." The ADJ is trying to locate a copy of this film. ADJ, June 28, 1940
ADJ, April 14, 2007, page 1
1940's ? Former Langlade County Man was Kin of Pike's Peak Discoverer. ADJ, May 6, 1948, page 9
1940's John Clark Adams John Clark Adams, Son of One of Wisconsin's Earliest Protestant Missionaries Lived Here. ADJ, December 8, 1948, page 1
1940's Frank Suick Frank Suick developed a musky bait called the Suick and prized by many anglers. ADJ, March 17, 1949, page 1
1940's Bob Hope Bob Kommers, Antigo hardwareman had a link in '40s with Bob Hope. ADJ, September 2, 2003 PrimeTime
1940's & 1950's Joe McCarthy Circuit Judge and U.S. Senator. Antigo part of his court circuit. ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
July 11, 1947 Japanese submarine A small Japanese suicide submarine was exhibited at 5th avenue and Clermont Street. ADJ, July 11, 1947, page 3
Aug 19, 1949 Philip Morris' Johnny Philip Morris cigarette advertising "little person" spokesperson Johnny visited Antigo. ADJ, August 19, 1949, page 3
1950-60's John Kolb John Kolb, ex-Chicago 1920's gang member & owner of Nomad Trading Post, was intriguing northwoods character. ADJ, Aug 7, 2006 PrimeTime
Feb 24, 1960 Jack & Jackie Kennedy Presidential campaign visit. Webmaster remembers sitting in high school gym during visit. ADJ, March 3, 2008, "PrimeTimes"
Mar 6, 1960 Aunt Jemima The women advertising spokesperson Aunt Jemima made appearances around Antigo to promote her pancake products. She visited at Wesley Hall and several grocery stores and was interviewed by Walter John Chilsen on WSAU television. ADJ, Mar 5, 1960
March 31, 1960 Robert Kennedy President Jack Kennedy's brother and Attorney General of the United States. ADJ, February 17, 2008, "Bit & Pieces," page 3
ADJ, February 31, 1960
April 5, 1960 Mrs. Hubert Humphrey Mrs Humphrey and St.Paul Mayor Joseph Dillion visited Antigo just before an election between Hubert Humphrey and Jack Kennedy for the Democratic presidential election in November. Hubert Humphrey, Jack Kennedy, his wife Jackie, Robert Kennedy and now Humphrey's wife all have visited Antigo. ADJ, April 5, 2010, Peep at our past, page 4
about Nov 15, 1960 Vladimir Horowitz One of the greatest ppianists of the 20th century appeared at the Antigo High School gym as part of the Civic Music series. ADJ November 13, 2010 "Bits & Pieces," page 14
1960's ? Antigo Man's Father Inventor of Flight Recorder on Planes. ADJ, March 9, 1963, page 3
1960's Bart Starr Quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. Owned cottage on Bass Lake. Several "Glory Years" teammates also. ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
Feb 11, 1963 Harlem Stars The Harlem Stars clowned their way to an easy win over the local all-stars Saturday night. ADJ, February 11, 1963, Peeps at our Past, page 3
1964 ? History of Japanese Rifles written by Antigo Native. ADJ, November 10, 1964, page 6
Feb 1965 CBS CBS Films Report on Antigo's Fluoridated Water Experience. ADJ, February 4, 1965, page 1
& February 20, 1965
May 18, 1965 Adin Reynolds Aniwa resident, Adin Reynolds appears on "To Tell the Truth" television show. ADJ, May 18, 1965, page 3
July 21, 1965
also 1948 & 1967 Former President Eisenhower and wife. Ike & Mamie Vacation at Minocqua Lake. Webmaster Note: Returning from this vacation by railroad they stopped at the Antigo Depot and both came out on the rear platform of their private car and waved to the people. I remember while they were waving seeing my father, who was a railroad car inspector, checking the wheels of Ike's private car for "hot boxes." ADJ, July 21, 1965, page 3
Dec 27, 1965 Cornelia Mohr Refugee (Cornelia Mohr) from Russian Czar once lived in Antigo. ADJ, December 27, 1965, page 3
October 12, 1967 Charles Ferguson One of Antigo's exteemed citizens, Charles Ferguson, celebrated his 95th birthday at his residence on Neva Road Oct 5. A recognized electrician, he worked with Thomas Edison and Steinmetz, two of the greatest in the field. Also see 1930's. ADJ, October 12, 1967
Aprl 1, 1968 Paul Newman Paul Newman appearance at Antigo Airport in support of Senator Eugene McCarthny Presidental Bid cancelled due to bad weather. ADJ, Apr 1, 1968, page 3
May 17, 1969 Eugene Cernan Astronaut, who walked on moon, Eugene Cernan Recalls His Antigo Summer Visits on his grandfather's farm. His grandfather, Stephen Cernan, lived on Thompson Lake Road south of Hwy AA in the Town of Norwood. May 17, 1969, page 1
Mar 1970 Fuzzy Thurston A cottage on Clear Lake owned by Fred "Fuzzy" Thurston of the Green Bay Packers was broken into. ADJ, March 24, 1970, page 3
March 29, 1972 Pierre Salinger Pierre Sallinger, press secretary of the late John F. Kennedy, came to Antigo on behalf of Sen. George McGovern's presidental campaign. ADJ, March 29, 1972
April 19, 1979 Rudolph Nagy Rudolph Nagy was an Antigo native and one of the Westinghouse scientists who worked on the Manhattan Project. ADJ, Apr 20, 1979, Obituary, page 3
February 7, 1981 Heywood Hale Broun The colorful CBS sports commentator was the speaker at the Antigo Area Chamber of Commerce banquet. ADJ, December 26, 1980, page 1
1990's? Jimmie Johnson Race Car Driver. 2009 Associated Press sports figure of the year. Race here in his early career. Story about how he was not happy staying at the Cutlass Motel. ADJ, January 23, 2010, "Bits & Pieces," page 3
October 12-19, 2006 CBS A CBS news crew spends week in White Lake, entire area, doing story for news show about bottle a 10 year old Josh Baker threw into lake. Segment tells story of Baker, his bottle and its recovery nearly a year after his death after returning from tour of duty in Iraq. ADJ, October 19, 2006, page 1
Mar 1985 Kevin Hermening Kevin Hermening, a Wisconsin native, and one of the hostages held at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981 was a special guest at the Langlade County Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner. ADJ, Feb 19, 1985
Mar 8, 2000 Rosemarie Trapp Rosemarie Trapp, the eight member of the Austrian Von Trapp family of which "The Sound of Music"" was based visited in Antigo. She gave several talks and visited area school children. ADJ, March 9, 2000
Feb 14, 2010 Prof. Mike Leckrone & UW varsity band The famous Univ. of Wis. band thrives on both a fun atmosphere, musical excellence and audience participation. Special local guests at the event were Mayor Bill Brandt, former UW football player and Dr. Ted Fox, former Bucky Badger mascot. ADJ, February 12, 2010
ADJ, February 15, 2010
Summer 2010 Larry Gatlin Brothers Band Larry Gatlin told story Dec 19, 2011 on FNN Fox & Friends Show about being in Antigo during the 2010 FuddFest and eating at the Heartbreakers Bar & Grill. ADJ, December 24, 2011, Bits & Pieces, page 3
Mar 20, 2013 Pauly Shore Pauly Shore is an actor, comedian, director, writer and producer. The first time he was in Antigo, he also was filming his documentary "Pauly Stands Alone." It contains footage of him having dinner with the Welnetz family at the Refuge and a few other shots of Antigo. Twitter
Jul 2, 2014 Lukas Nelson/P.O.T.R. Lukas Nelson (Willie Nelson's son) and P.O.T.R. appeared at the Edison Club. eventful.com
Jun 3, 1015 Pauly Shore Pauly Shore's second visit to Antigo was for an appearance at the Edison Club. PaulyShore.com
Feb 2014 Al Berger Al Berger of Antigo, who operates Bergerwerke Bicycle, specializing in WW II vintage bicycles supplied the 1940's era Army bicycle used in a key scene in the motion picture "The Monuments Men." ADJ February 20, 2014, page 1
Jul 19, 2016 Tim Allen Actor, Tim Allen, flew into the Langlade County Airport on a shopping trip. He was checking out a motorhome that he and his wife were interesing in buying. ADJ July 22, 2016 page 1
Celebrities that traveled on the highway through Antigo on the way to other destinations or in someway have a connection to the Antigo/Langlade County area.
Charlie Day Actor Charlie Day from the TV show "Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia" wore an Antigo Wrestling t-shirt on one of the episodes. It's thought that he got it from CARR. email and picture from Jesse Maher

Tom Brokaw Dr. Robert Cromer wrote a letter that was published in Brokaw's book, "An Album of Memories: Personal Histories From The Greatest Generation." about his WW II experiences.

Elizabeth Taylor Actress. She may have travel through Antigo as a teenager on her way to her uncle's place near Eagle River.

Melvin Laird Wisconsin Congressman & U.S. Secretary of Defense.

Tommy Thompson Wisconsin Governor & U.S. Secretary of Health
I remember seeing him ride a motorcycle through Antigo.

1990's? Willie Nelson Willie Nelson's tour bus was seen heading north on Superior Street with a fishing boat in tow. ADJ, January 23, 2010, Bits & Pieces
June 26, 2012 Robert Hays
Steve Zucker Hollywood actor Robert Hays "Airplane" and director David Zucker stopped off for a meal at the Dixie Lunch on their way to Eagle River to film a tourism commercial. ADJ, June 26, 2012, page 1
February 15, 2014 ABBA Band ABBA's connection with "Not Bob's" Bar. Also see above Larry Gatlin Band summer 2010. ADJ, February 15, 2014, Bits & Pieces, page 3
April 18, 2015 "The Yearling"
"Gentle Ben" Langlade County animals have been used in Hollywood Movies and Television shows. Two examples are the deer in the 1946 movie "The Yearling" starring Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman and the bear in the 1967-1969 television show "Gentle Ben" starring Dennis Weaver and Clint Howard. ADJ, April 18, 2015, Bits & Pieces, page 3
ADJ=Antigo Daily Journal

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