by Betts Bodoh - Correspondent

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(Wabeno News) - Hi everybody.

Wow, the weeks seem to be flying by. Sunday while sitting in our kitchen with Lonnie and our friend “Doughboy” having coffee, we noticed a beautiful 1977 Red Oldsmobile 󈭈” convertible driving slowly by and the driver looking hard at the house. Maybe we knew him or he knew us someway, so out the door we popped. He drove down to the end of the block and returned pulling into the driveway. “Wow! What a beautiful car,” we all chimed. He got out and introduced himself. His name was Dale Smith-Roehl, pronouncing it like “Rail.” He lives near the Wisconsin Dells but many years ago he lived right here in Wabeno.

He had a nostalgic moment this weekend and decided to take off for Wabeno and visit his roots. His family used to own the building that is now owned by Dale Adams and where the Bottoms-Up Bar is now located. At that time it was called Melody Mill. He bought a collection a while back of bar tokens and in it were several names of towns he had never heard of. Googling them up on the Internet he found where they used to be. Selling one of the chips on-line to a fellow whose family had owned the bar of this now vacant town. Dale then started thinking about the Melody Mill in Wabeno. So that is where the story actually begins. He started purchasing old Wabeno items: post cards, old pictures and other memorabilia. He is looking for tokens from the Melody Mill bar right now. They seem to be the most illusive at this time. If by chance any of you have one of those tokens, let me know. I will let Dale know and he and you can wheel and deal if that is what you choose to do.

It is interesting how a sign sitting down on St. Ambrose property by highway 32 which reads “Antiques and Collectibles Open 10 to 5” gives me the opportunity to meet so many interesting people from all over the state. What a great thing that has been for me, and hopefully for them also.

Lynn LaRock e-mailed me about sending a couple to my shop to purchase a 100-year History book of Wabeno. I'm sad to say I didn't have one. I have the Heritage Cookbooks but not the History book. These people want to have one sent to them so I will see what I can do to help Lynn get one for them. It would be a good idea to have one of two for me in the shop. If I can get one and if there is more available I will let all of you know about it. The Heritage Cookbooks are $16 and the Wabeno History book is $20.

This is a wonderful town as I have said before. You can take yourself out of Wabeno but you can't seem to take Wabeno out of yourself. What a great place to live. Don't you just love it here? I do.

Any news or interest write to Betts Bodoh, P.O. Box 222, Wabeno, WI. 54566, e-mail lobolu@centurytel.net, or call (715) 473-3808.

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