1968 Economic Forecast

February 29, 1968 NM Northwestern

This favorable economic forecast was predicated on the building of the Little Lake Butte des Morts bridge and the installation of a major department store to the downtown area by 1980.  And somehow, this would lead to a more favorable outcome that what was touted for our sister city to the south?  As we all know the bridge DID develop and WAS built in the mid-1970's but the major department store never materialized, as we've documented in this blog in the past.  (Something about too many taverns downtown....)

Personally, I think the bridge, while good for avoiding a trip through Neenah or Appleton to get to US 41, was never going to be the gateway to retail commerce that these planners thought.  Short of having a major store in sight the moment drivers crossed the bridge and an angelic choir with appropriate lighting effects, it just wasn't gonna happen. 

Instead they saw Calder Stadium and eventually, a few gas stations to complement the surrounding residential area.  And then having to drive down Racine Street for another mile and a half to even find downtown?  (We all know what it's like to exit a major interstate with the promise of, say, a Subway or other chain restaurant, only to find you would have had to drive two miles into a small downtown strip to find it instead of the convenience of it being right at the exit.) 

I think that that was some high thinking on the part of these economic advisors to put those two ideas together and come up with this forecast. 

And just WHERE was this 100,000 square foot store going to go? 

“For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'.”

- John Greenleaf Whittier (American poet, 1807-1892)