Happy New Year!

December 31, 1945, Menasha Record

The end of 1945 brought tremendous relief and hope for a war weary world and the best wishes of Menasha merchants echoed that sentiment. 

While we can agree that there is some degree of similarity, my intent is to not equate the end of this pandemic year with that of the end of World War II.  Yet I believe we can all agree that we collectively have undergone a year of deep crisis that I hope will be replaced with a more hopeful future very soon.  The dawn of 2021 makes me think that things just have to get better.  My wish is that your lives are greatly improved by the coming of the new year.  Thank you for supporting this blog through our bumpy 2020 ride.  Happy New Year!  See you in 2021!

A Study in Black and White

December 29, 1969, Appleton Post-Crescent

Like silhouettes against a vast expanse of white, Jefferson Park gives this day in 1969 to us an interesting study in light and dark, in perspective, and also in minimalism as Mother Nature does her usual thing.  I've often heard that the simplest things can be the most interesting, or most pleasurable.  When it comes to art, less is often best.

Happiest New Year

December 31, 1945, Menasha Record

Interesting, yet puzzling ad for New Years by Menasha Furniture.  The abandoned tank with the rays of a new dawn rising behind it obviously signify the end of the war, yet the text doesn't even mention it.  It's almost as if the words were an afterthought, using text that could have been used in any old year.  Still, I'm sure the sentiment was there as it was full speed ahead after the war. We all know how well that went, with the brighter days and economy to come.  The sky was the limit for most Americans as the country prospered.   

"Tapespondents"

December 29, 1963, Appleton Post-Crescent

While we're all familiar with the concept of pen pals, this took the concept one advanced step further. One wonders what Harry Kurowski would think of today's world where we can habitually (and mindlessly) connect electronically with friends via telephone, computer, or cell phone via emails, texts, social media, Zoom calls, etc.  Looking back at something like this is even more amazing when one considers all the steps involved- compile interesting notes and music, record the tape, mail it off, wait for a response, document the transaction, etc.  Today we get replies in seconds and, sadly, these communiques have as much depth as the seconds used to create them.  With all the record keeping involved, Harry's hobby reminds me a bit of ham radio where devotees would exchange postcards to commemorate their interaction and prove their connection.  While I marvel at his dedication to his avocation, I also mourn the loss of the whimsy of this activity, in a simpler era, where letter writing was a necessary skill and, by today's standard, is a lost art, indeed.  

Yes, Virginia....

December 24, 1935, Menasha Record

The Menasha Record takes a lesson from the famous "Yes, Virginia..." editorial.  Eight year old Virginia O'Hanlon asked the question in the September 21, 1897, edition of The New York Sun and the response has since become part of popular Christmas folklore in the United States. It is the most reprinted newspaper editorial in the English language. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The blog is taking what I hope is a well-deserved hiatus during the holiday season.  I will be back on the 28th of December to help us get ready for New Year's.  My wish for you is the best of Christmases, although I know there are so many limitations during this COVID time.  Be safe, be happy, and look forward, as I am, to a better 2021. Merry Christmas to all and to all, a good night!

Story of Christmas

December 23, 1964, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

A more traditional Christmas play was the subject of Menasha High's theater department this day in 1964.  Today, such a display might not ever happen due to political correctness and the fear of offending the non-believers.  But back in this day, it was still okay and MHS seniors did their utmost to put on a rousing and, I'm sure, a touching show.  

Christmas City of the Valley

December 7, 1964, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

A big draw for downtown for years was the gingerbread house that housed Santa.  Its location might have changed over the years, but it was always available to augment the shopping experience, courtesy of the downtown business association.  In 1964, it was near the public library, which was still located downtown.  In case you've forgotten, the gingerbread house looked like this:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2018/12/where-is-santa.html.

Sing Nowell!

 

December 23, 1943, Appleton Post-Crescent

I must admit, I wasn't aware of this show as a Christmas favorite.  But I did a little research and learned that it is based on traditional Anglo-American songs and carols.  Purportedly, the show always features two aspects of the season: the familiar Christmas story as recounted in the New Testament, and the visiting customs involving gift-giving, performing dances and plays, and sharing food and drink with neighbors and family. I'm sure their fathers, serving all over the world during the war, were justifiably proud to receive this photo clipped out of the newspaper and included in a welcome letter from home.

A Variety of Savings

December 14, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This hardware store would be resident on Main Street for another six years or so, but for now, with Christmas inching its way towards fulfilling all our wishes in 1979, Menasha Hardware offered an eclectic array of gifts, from the practical to the hardware-specific.  Even Christmas ornaments, lights, and decorations were available to complete that tree, making it a veritable, one stop general store of value. 

Satisfied

 December 18, 1958, Twin City News-Record

The Menasha Rotary Club couldn't have asked for a better result from their pre-Christmas dinner according to this roving reporter.  Children reap the magic of the season and it surely was evident that day, if little Eugene Johnson was to be believed. 

Christmas Spruce Up

December 23, 1954, Appleton Post-Crescent

A remodeled St. Patrick's was finished just in time for Christmas celebrations in 1954.  The elaborate mosaic, using imported Italian stones, took a lot of planning and assembly, even venturing so far as New York in its various stages of completion.  Such a great gift to the parishioners for years to come.  But this day in 1954 had even more great news for area workers as the mills gave their employees a three day weekend and the variety stores of Schultz Brothers gave a bonus to its front line employees.  Many people in the area had a terrific Christmas that year.

Closing Early

December 24, 1941, Appleton Post-Crescent

I'm assuming Ralph meant 10 pm on Christmas Eve, though that isn't specifically stated.  And nice to know we could still rely on him for Christmas Day libations in case we ran out.  Seventeen days earlier, we declared war on Japan after the disastrous Pearl Harbor attack; maybe Ralph knew how much we needed a stiff drink.  The blog first visited Ralph's way back in 2012:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/11/ralphs-beer-depot.html. 

Time for Change

July 6, 1929, Menasha Record

July 11, 1929, Menasha Record

July 3, 1929, The Daily News-Times (Neenah-Menasha)

Let's take a break today from holiday preparations to go back to a summer that saw the biggest change in US currency since its inception.  Apparently it took a lot of convincing with schematics and reassuring news articles in 1929 to soothe the anxiety our citizens had over the redesign of our paper money.  And while it was a big deal at the time, these changes soon became trivial as the stock market crashed later that year and the country plunged into a depression.  On a more personal note, we've also seen our paper money redesigned in the last twenty years, with the advent of anti-counterfeit measures, such as bigger portraits, special threads, watermarks, and color shifting numerals.

Not Too Late

 November 12, 1958, Twin City News-Record

Great advice for Christmas shoppers, to have had the foresight to put that special bike on layaway (remember that?) so as to have it paid off in time for Christmas giving.  My own Schwinn stingray came from this store, some ten years later, and the memories made with that bike would fill many blog posts.  I'm not sure kids clamor for bicycles like they used to...I'm sure cell phones and video gaming systems come in first nowadays.  But bikes are THE classic Christmas gift and Schwinn, at least during this era, WAS the Cadillac of bikes.

Whew!

December 20, 1948, Menasha Record

Either Santa has asbestos underpants or he really DOES have magical powers!  Assuming he DID come down the chimney, that kid who seems to be warming his hands is darned lucky Santa didn't skip his house altogether!  I'm too young to remember the Menasha Record, but I DO recall Christmas Seals and similar illustrations on the front pages of the Post-Crescent or Northwestern newspapers.

A One-Two Christmas Punch

December 20, 1948, Menasha Record

Even though the movie shown above actually debuted the year before (and in May, if you can believe that!), the Brin had the right idea, recognizing a Christmas favorite if ever there was one and booking it for Menasha to see once again.  What would become a perennial TV favorite this time of year, could, at that time, be seen only on the big screen in glorious black and white.  In the movie, little Natalie Wood wanted a forever home for herself and her Mom, but I'm sure she wouldn't have turned her nose up at the deluxe baby carriage Menasha Furniture was offering.

The Sign of Flavor

December 17, 1948, Menasha Record

Walter Bros. Brewery encourages us to once again "roll out the barrel" during the 1948 holiday season with Gold Label beer. And there's no trouble finding it using the handy list of bars and taverns, to include yesterday's blog subject, the Avalon Cafe Bar. 

Avalon Cafe Bar

We've visited the Avalon a couple of times in the past.  The links below reference those posts, in 2013 and 2016.   To refresh your memory, the Avalon sat next to the rear of the Bank of Menasha on Main Street.  In the early 1960's, the property was sold to one Fred Thurston and his partner who turned the bar into something called The Left Guard.  You might have heard of it.  

https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2016/10/avalon.html

https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/04/hustle-and-bustle-of-small-town-america.html