2023 LEISZ FAMILY REUNION IN TURTLE LAKE, WISCONSIN—A BIG SUCCESS!
Hank Leisz's Club 53 in Amery
Bowling alley and restaurant
Club 53 owners in later years
Club 53 owners in later years
Leisz Brother Anton's son Hank and wife Lucille owned Club 53 in Amery back in the 1950s. Here they're shown with bartender Jim, who was like a member of the family. THESE AND ALL PHOTOS IN THIS SECTION COURTESY OF JULIA LEISZ GREIL, DAUGHTER OF HANK AND LUCILLE.
Club 53 owners in later years
Club 53 owners in later years
Club 53 owners in later years
From left: Hank Leisz, his wife Lucille, Jim their bartender, and Hank's son Jim with his first wife Rose Novak, plus Jim's wife Ethel. Jim and Ethel bought Club 53 from Jim's parents. The establishment, now under different ownership, is still in Amery—and it's still named Club 53!
Night club, too!
Club 53 owners in later years
Night club, too!
Hank and Lucille also owned the Twin Town Night Club. It was in the country around Turtle Lake. Unfortunately, Twin Town burned completely in 1953. But look at those food prices! Click HERE to view the entire menu with some rock-bottom prices in delicious food.
World War II effects on Turtle Lake businesses
Peas and Prisoners of War
Labor was a shortage during World War II, in particular, at the canning factories. It was reported in the March 23, 1944 issue of the Turtle Lake Times that possibly 345 German prisoners of war would be used to alleviate this shortage during the six weeks of peak activity at the canning factories in Barron County. They would be accompanied by 100 soldiers, quartered either at the Barron City Park or the Rice Lake Fairgrounds in a specially built stockade, and be under strict surveillance at all times while working. None would be used for work where women are employed, but would fill in wherever civilian labor could not be secured.
Prisoners could not be required to work under International Law, but those who chose to work were paid $0.80 per day in script, which was paid to the government, who in turn paid the prisoners. The prisoners were to work eight hours per day and could not be absent from their quarters more than 12 hours at a time.
By June 1944, a prisoner of war camp was constructed east of Barron on Highway 8. In charge of "Camp Barron" was an officer of the U.S. Army and a detachment of U.S. soldiers.
— FROM "A TRIBUTE TO THE TIME," TURTLE LAKE, WISCONSIN, 1908-1998
rationing during WWII
Rationing was a standard process and shopping tokens started. Ration books were handed out to each family according to the numbers in the family beginning February 27, 1944. It was necessary for each family to register so they could receive each series of ration books. Each book contained stamps, and each stamp was worth 10 points. Tokens were introduced to save money and paper and were used in making change.
Red tokens and red and brown stamps were used to buy meats. Blue tokens and blue and green stamps would purchase processed foods. Very detailed instructions were printed on the front page of local newspapers informing people how to use both the ration books and the tokens.
Shortages were a common problem for everyone. Whether it was tires, gasoline, sugar, automobiles and parts—everyone was touched. Farmers worked together by sharing machinery when doing their summertime field work as the machinery and other farm equipment were rationed like other goods and services.
An example of how one such item, milking machines, was rationed. was when a notice was printed in local newspapers alerting farmers to the availability of milking machines. If a farmer milked 10 or more cows, he could qualify for a milking machine. A machine could also be justified for an aged or inexperienced milker.
— FROM "A TRIBUTE TO THE TIME," TURTLE LAKE, WISCONSIN, 1898-1998