Yesterday's News - A Merrill Minute in History

LISTEN for "Yesterday's News" - A Merrill Minute in History on Bluejay 96.3 ~ Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 8:30 a.m. from the Merrill Historical Society powered by American Legion Edward Burns Post 46 ~ Thank You Post 46!

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6/22/2026 – Yesterday’s News – Merrill’s Beginning

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.

This week we look back to June of 1881 when the village of Jenny became the incorporated city of Merrill in honor of Sherburn S. Merrill, general manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway. Merrill had been a growing lumber town built along the Wisconsin River. The river powered the mills. The railroad connected the city to the rest of the nation, and hardworking residents helped transform a frontier settlement into one of Wisconsin's leading lumber centers. Today, more than 140 years later, Merrill history still resonates in its neighborhoods, businesses, landmarks, and the stories passed down through generations.

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.

7/13/2026 – 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.

Contact

Merrill Museum
Headquarters of the Merrill Historical Society
discovermerrillhistory.org
merrillpast@gmail.com
100 E. Third Street, Merrill, WI 54452

(715) 536-5652

Hours 2026

Monday - Friday 9 am to 1 pm
We are happy to accommodate other times and days by appointment for research or visits to the museum, please call or email.

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