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A Minute in Merrill History, presented by the Merrill Historical Society and Museum, and powered by the Edward A. Burns American Legion Post 46 on BlueJay 96.3.

6/29/2026 – Yesterday’s News – The Lady Cardinals

Today we turn back the pages to the 1940s, when a group of Merrill women became local legends as the Cardinals, one of Wisconsin's most successful women's semi-professional softball teams. Originally organized as the Badgers in 1940, the team became the Cardinals after joining the Wisconsin River Valley Ladies Softball League in 1944, competing against teams from Wausau, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Rapids, and Port Edwards. As many local men served overseas during World War II, the Cardinals gave hometown fans something to cheer about, drawing overflow crowds, going undefeated in 1943, and capturing championships. Their 1945 championship team was so talented that five players earned invitations to try out for the All-American Girls Baseball League, leaving behind a legacy that still ranks among the proudest chapters in Merrill's sporting history. The Cardinals are featured in the Merrill Historical Society Chatter from Left Field exhibit. (Tom Burg)

7/6/2026 – Yesterday’s News – Jack the Trolley Dog

The Merrill Advocate newspaper carried an article in 1901 about a dog named Jack who rode the Merrill streetcars. David Finney, a prominent Merrill businessman who owned Jack, lived on the east side near the east end of the line. Jack had a canine girlfriend that lived on the other side of the tracks on Merrill's west side. When the car would arrive and stop, he would jump on Ford. When the streetcar arrived at its stop on the west side, Jack jumped off, his girlfriend would appear, and they left together. In the evening, Jack waited by the car stop until a car arrived, jumped on board, and rode back to the east end of the line where he jumped off and ran home to dinner. In 2014, the owners of Blooming Wishes Boutique commissioned a painting on a mural on the wall of their building at 820 East 1st Street. This mural included a likeness of a Merrill Streetcar. No photographs or description of Jack could be Found so, a contest was held to select the official likeness of Jack from photographs of local dogs. The winner of the contest was Linda Berg's departed companion, Smokey, and his likeness was painted on the mural. The building now houses Emerald's Studio. (Laura B.)

7/22/2026 – Yesterday’s News – Queenie the Trained Bear

John Akey, a Merrill saloon keeper, rescued and adopted an orphaned bear cub at a logging camp in 1914. Akey also trained this bear, named Queenie, to roller skate. Akey drove a Model T Ford, which he equipped with hidden controls on the passenger side. Queenie rode in the driver's seat with her paws on the steering wheel, driving. Akey also took this act on the road throughout the country. When he arrived in a town, he would hire a hall, then with Queenie at the wheel, would drive throughout the city, shouting for people to come to the performance that night. Queenie traveled and performed until she died on one of their trips to the South in the 1920s. These and many more historical stories are available at the Merrill Historical Society, 100 East 3rd Street. (Tom Burg)

8/10/2026 – Yesterday’s News – Emerging Women's Roles

The term new woman first emerged in the late 1800s. The new woman challenged conventional gender roles, and her presence was increasingly noted in public arenas, especially jobs, politics, and the arts. The Pinkerton Detective Agency took advantage of this trend and in 1856 hired the first woman detective. This proved to be a very successful move. In 1920, when Pinkerton's was hired by Merrill mill owners to help prevent a mill strike, the agency recognized the importance of mill workers' wives and mothers to the success or failure of a strike. Two female agents from the Pinkerton Agency were brought in to visit local women in their homes. These agents solicited the women's opinions about the strike, while at the same time spreading critical anti-strike propaganda. These and many more historical stories are available at the Merrill Historical Society, 100 East 3rd Street. (Bea Lebal)

7/13/2026 – Yesterday’s News – Autos and Highways

In 1925, the U.S. operated 83% of the world's motor vehicles. Lincoln County registered almost 2,000 autos. Automobiles had become an integral part of society, and the first national effort was made to cut down on highway deaths. A Wisconsin assemblyman introduced legislation to confiscate licenses or autos of persons involved in quote, sin. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, immorality. Wisconsin introduced the first highway numbering system, soon adopted by other states. This included the renaming of Merrill's Highway 10 to Highway 51. Lincoln County now had 17 county trunk highways. Garages opened in Merrill with many different automobile makes for sale. The Buick and Nash dealers both built new garages. Wadham's opened a new second filling station in striking Japanese style and color at 2nd and Cleveland. Marathon Finance Corporation announced financing for automobile purchases, and the Merrill Daily Herald introduced a new spring automobile edition. The Merrill Historical Society and Museum has a new exhibit on the history of US 51 in Merrill. (Laura B.)

9/7/2026 – Yesterday's News – American Legion

The Edward A. Burns American Legion Post has been serving Merrill and Lincoln County for more than a century. But how did the post receive its name? According to the post's early history, Captain A.H. Smith and Harold Morgan organized the Edward Burns Post in 1919 when it was known as the Liberty Club and had just 15 charter members. The name was selected in an unusual way. The names of Lincoln County men who died in military service during World War I were placed into a hat and the first name drawn was Edward Burns. The post was officially organized on October 24, 1919. From the beginning, Post 46 supported good schools and roads and took an active role in Memorial Day and Armistice Day observances. beginning a legacy of service to veterans and the Merrill community that continues today. (Jeremy Gunther)

7/20/2026 – Yesterday’s News – Crapsey the Pet Bear

The late Merrill historian Ruth Drager documented Merrill's performing bears. Her mother worked for Mr. and Mrs. George Crapsey, who operated a tavern, dance hall, and boarding house at Schultz Spur north of Merrill. On a trip to Oregon about 1910, Mr. Crapsey brought back a female bear cub and raised it as a pet. The bear was named Alice and learned numerous tricks, including how to roller skate. Mrs. Crapsey sewed dresses for her to wear. Ruth Drager's uncle, John Casper, performed wrestling matches with Alice. The Crapseys developed an act for Alice and traveled throughout the country giving performances. The newspapers called her Alice Teddy, referring to President Theodore Roosevelt, namesake of the teddy bear. One year they toured Europe, even performing for the King and Queen of England. Evenings the Crapseys might be seen walking their bear, Alice, around town. In 1920 they moved to Oregon, where Alice continued to perform. These and many more historical stories are available at the Merrill Historical Society, 100 East 3rd Street. (Tom Burg)

8/31/2026 – Yesterday’s News – Merrill Post Office

Early mail to Merrill arrived by chance. Whoever paddled a canoe or walked the Ojibwe trails carried letters in and out of the village. By 1850, deliveries to Merrill from Wausau came in fits and starts by horseback, wagon, sled, and stagecoach. In 1870, Miss Etta Spade the postmaster's daughter, began the first regular service, riding horseback between Merrill and Wausau twice a week. Merrill's first post office opened in 1859 inside Cyrus Strowbridge's Jenny Hotel. There were five different locations on Main Street before the current federal building slash post office was completed in 1917. Today that building is the second oldest post office in Wisconsin and was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. The early post office was more than a mail center. It was where business happened, politics debated, and neighbors met. Even now it stands as a symbol of community and communication. (Pat Burg)

8/3/2026 – Yesterday's News – Early Radio Broadcasts

In January of 1926, three buses and a Buick sedan carried the city band, Cotter and Elks orchestras, and other talented Merrill musicians to their first ever radio performance on Stevens Point's station WLBL. It was the beginning for local musicians to become regular radio performers. A month after the Stevens Point broadcast, a new development in local radio broadcasting became available. A portable radio station, WHBL, was sponsored by the Merrill Daily Herald in cooperation with the Badger Hotel. It enabled Merrill to offer local broadcasts without transporting its artists over snow-laden roads. The first program from the Badger Opera House opened with a speech from Mayor Whitman. He named the broadcast Musical Merrill, City of Parks and Playgrounds. Radio had arrived as an important part of the community. The Daily Herald added a daily feature that listed the programming for all the stations in the United States, including hockey games and Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado. A newspaper article stated Mr. A. Wagner is the owner of a new radio. Radio had taken its place as a status symbol and the new means of communication in the community. These and many more historical stories are available at the Merrill Historical Society, 100 East 3rd Street. (Tom Burg)

7/27/2026 – Yesterday's News – First Electric Trolley

Merrill had one of the first electric streetcar systems in Wisconsin. In 1886, Appleton constructed Wisconsin's first true electric streetcar system, collecting electric power from overhead wires. Appleton drew its power from water at the falls on the river. Merrill's prominent businessman looked at Appleton's source of power and realized they were already drawing power from the river for lighting the T.B. Scott Lumber Company. Merrill had a need for public transportation based on the city's long, narrow shape. The founders incorporated the Merrill Railway and Lighting Company in 1889, obtained A 30-year agreement for the city, and construction began in early 1890. The line began on East Main Street at Stuyvesant Street, ran down Main through the downtown area, jogged one block on Mill Street to First Street and then down Second to Polk Street, rejoining First Street and ending at the bridge over the Wisconsin River. (Laura B.)

8/17/2026 – Yesterday’s News – Merrill City Band

At the turn of the century, Merrill might have been called the City of Bands, as bands have been associated with the city's history since it came into being in 1911. Bandstands were scattered about the city. Riverside, Ball Schmieders, Kowalski’s, and York's Parks, the corner of West Main and Foster, and on Grand Avenue near Park Place, bringing music to the community. The present band is one of the oldest municipal bands in the state, an outgrowth of older bands, Malzans, Potters, Westside, St. John's, the Imperials, and the Merrill High School bands. During World War II, the city band played at the depot every time a group of men left for induction into the armed forces. Today's City Band gives concerts on Wednesday evening and performs for several parades, including Merrill's Labor Day Parade. The Merrill City Band continues to be an important part of the community, enjoying a long and colorful history, and voted one of Merrill's Seven Wonders in 2007. These and many more historical stories are available at the Merrill Historical Society, 100 East 3rd Street. (Pat Burg)

8/24/2026 – Yesterday's News – Merrill Rangers

The Merrill Rangers were a semi-pro baseball team, meaning that the players were paid by the Rangers organization. They played in Merrill from 1948 until 1962. He won the Wisconsin Valley Baseball Conference a number of times and qualified for the state baseball tournament many times, highlighted by winning the state championship in 1951, 52, and 53. Ranger teams were supported by a large, loyal fan base. Rivalry games and other games against state powerhouse teams from Milwaukee, Green Bay, and other baseball hotbeds played to local Rangers, drawing several thousand fans routinely. Traveling national teams visited Athletic Park on a regular basis. Satchel Paige pitched against the Rangers in Merrill, and Hank Aaron also played here while playing for the Eau Claire Bears. For over a decade, the Rangers were the pride of Merrill. Local stars for Merrill included Mike Hudzinski, Hal Sanders, Clarence Glenetzke, Warren Weckwerth, Roger Zuelsdorff, and Al Hehling. (Mike Weckwerth)

9/14/2026 – Yesterday’s News – Packers vs. Merrill

On August 31, 1935, Merrill's Fromm Foxes football team, a semi-pro organization, played their first game of the season at Athletic Park. Their opponent was the Green Bay Packers. Yes, the NFL team came to Merrill to play their last preseason game after completing their training camp. of which the final few days of practice were held in Rhinelander. Packer head coach Curly Lambeau brought a very formidable team to town. Their team would post an 8-win, 4-loss record in 1935 and would win the NFL championship the next year and again in 1939. Packer stars included quarterback Arnie Herber and Don Hudson, both now in football's Hall of Fame. Hudson came with the team but did not suit up. Herbert was the star of the game, leading the Packers to a 34-0 win. Despite the loss, the local Foxes were praised by Packer officials and the local media. At that time, the game was called the biggest sports event in the history of the city. 91 years later, it is still amazing. Green Bay Packers versus Merrill. (Mike Weckwerth)