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Monday, Wednesday & Friday between Community Scan and Our Town from the Merrill Historical Society powered by American Legion Edward Burns Post 46 ~ Thank You Post 46!

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

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.

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.

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

This is Yesterday's News, A Minute in Merrill History, presented by the Merrill Historical Society and Museum, and powered by the Edward A. Burns American Legion Post 46.

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.

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

This is Yesterday's News, 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.

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.

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

This is Yesterday's News, a Minute in Merrill History, presented by the Merrill Historical Society and Museum, and powered by the Edward A. Burns American Legion Post 46.

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.

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

This is Yesterday's News, 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.

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.

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

This is Yesterday's News, 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.

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.