Dancin' In the Moonlight

July 22, 1987, Twin City News-Record

Let's end the week on a happy note, with smiling faces enjoying the summer night, the music, and of course, the company they keep.  And we cannot forget to mention the memories inspired by other past dances that come to mind.  It's mid-summer and life is happening.  Let's all enjoy it.

And with that, I bid you adieu for the next week.  At least.  We'll assess as we go on, depending on what a good time I'm having!  But seriously, I don't say it enough, so a big thank you for your support of my little blog.  I so appreciate all you readers out there.  

Hard at Work

June 19, 1996, Twin City News-Record

Taken from the "Looking Backwards" section of the News-Record, this photo of indeterminate origin promises some musty smells in the pre 1971 era before the new library at First and Racine was built.  Photos from the old library's interior are at a premium in my world, so I was excited to see this, despite the seemingly unexcited tableau of work tables and book shelves.  Still, it is the legacy of the old library, long gone, but never forgotten in the blog and by its faithful readers, so it still holds a special place in the blog's heart.

Looking Backwards

 August 5, 1981, Twin City News-Record

Local news from 1881,1901,1921,1941,1961, and 1971, courtesy of the News-Record.  It's fun every now and then to get a hodgepodge of headlines in search of something interesting. Stories from the world of work, sports, academics, politics, and human interest stories fill this column, spanning a hundred years of N-M history.  It's a grand tradition filling the pages of local newspapers for many, many years.

A Stilted View

July 8, 1975, Appleton Post-Crescent 

More summer fun here, courtesy of stilt walkers trying it out.  We at the blog always enjoy featuring young people enjoying themselves as they are the body and soul of summer recreation and good memories.  How many of us relive our own memorable past summers through the eyes of these young hopefuls?  I catch myself doing that all the time.    

Year After Year

 August 4, 1987, Appleton Post-Crescent

Currently a member of the Northeastern Wisconsin Baseball League, the Macs were known initially as the Menasha Merchants.  This article from 1987 gives us a little history lesson about the origins of the team associated with the city since 1948.  

Don't "Brush Off" This Opportunity

July 22, 1957, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

I ran across this item in the classifieds from this edition and I only bring it up because in the nine years we've done this blog, I think the Fuller Brush Company was mentioned exactly once, and that was in the context of the Green River Ordinance (look it up kids).  For those of you not in the know, this was exactly what it sounded like...door-to-door sales of brushes and cleaning gadgets and products by salesmen and saleswomen who covered the length and breadth of this country.  Now, the connection to Menasha as a result of this ad might be tenuous at best...it might just be a convenient mailing address.  But I can remember, as a child, a friendly man who came to our door and gave my stay-at-home Mom a sales pitch every now and then.  And for years, despite whether or not she bought their brushes, the company had a constant presence in our home, courtesy of the giveaway letter opener that featured the saleman on the handle (see below).  I wonder what ever happened to it.

Outdoor Art

July 16, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

A staple for any parent's scrapbook...the day their kids are featured in the local paper, participating in some program put on by the rec department.  There was a lot of value to those recreation programs for the younger set.  Some of these kids might have found solace in their art work and it might have become a serious endeavor for them.

Coaches' Choice

 July 10, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

It's always a big deal when a Packer player or coach shows up for a public appearance, even the successor (and not so successful one at that, we'd later learn) of a legendary coach.  But how can anybody follow Vince Lombardi anyway?!  Still, it had to be a thrill to meet the coach.  And hey, you might have even gotten one of those little footballs they were holding, just for coming in.  

Special Bonus with All Major Appliances

July 19, 1967, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Carrying the Prospector Days theme a little farther into this week, brings us to this Drucks ad from 1967.  Drucks was a fixture on Main Street from 1954 to 1974 and was the go-to place for appliances and anything electronic.  (Of course, fans of Tip Top will beg to differ, being an even greater place for higher end stereo products.)  But if you wanted a basic transistor radio or needed a refrigerator or were interested in the latest hot record, you'd do well at Drucks.  Why look at that photo of the record department and the line-up of fridges.  But I'm still wondering what that special bonus was.

July 4th Idyll

This is Main Street around July 4, 1915.  Despite the bad resolution on the right side, you can plainly see the various landmarks, to include the Hotel Menasha at the right of the photo and the usual downtown buildings on the north side of Main.  The town square was built up to support a band concert at that location. If you look at the center of the assemblage, you can see the conductor standing with his back towards the camera.   

Friends

Hmmm, I understand the faithful dog companion...but a bottled beer?  Why not, say the Walter Bros.  Well, it's not in line with ol' Elisha Smith's temperance policy, but then, the working man just wanted "a friendly flavor that's sparkling and light, yet smooth and full-bodied" as the ad copy says.  And there you have it.  

Parading Down Main

July 20, 1967, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

We here at the blog have always had fond memories of summers in Menasha but we are especially nostalgic for the hoopla related to the annual Prospector Days celebrations in the 60's.  So, periodically we resurrect a photo or ad that conjures up recollections of some of those good times.  No minor thing was the parade that came down Main Street- marching bands, floats, and people in Western costumes and the like.  It was a grand time, and people did turn out.  If you'd like more, just search within the blog for "Prospector Days" by using the search function.  

Shopping Downtown

July 11, 1947, Menasha Record

We've been to Hedberg's before in 2013:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/01/hedberg-drug-store.html.  It later became Lang's Drugs.  Of course, we all know Tuchscherer's and have seen many posts about that store in the past.  And though camera technology has changed over the years, those shoes are positively timeless in their design and function.  The air cushion feature might be timely for 1947, but you can still spot a dependable pair of wing tips a mile away.  And easy to shop on Main Street, in close proximity across the street from each other.

Traffic Study

July 27, 1927, Menasha Record

Back when Highway 41 came through the center of Menasha, the city took a car census one day and determined the busiest intersection in Winnebago County was at Third and DePere Streets.  I love how the cars are still referred to as "machines" and also how there were still five horsedrawn vehicles that crossed the intersection.  I take it that "foreign" cars were from out of state?   In 1937, the former route of Highway 41 from Green Bay Rd west of Neenah through the city and into Menasha became an extension of WI-114, while the former route from Menasha to the corner of Richmond St and Wisconsin Ave in Appleton became an extension of WI-47.

Twin City Wheels

Not sure about the story behind this photo besides featuring the staff or family running the business of Twin City Laundry and Dry Cleaners.  The picture was for sale at a famous auction site and seems to date from the 30's or 40's.  Judging from the 41 Main Street address this business was listed as being at in a 1939 telephone directory, it is apparent that this morphed into Gunderson Cleaners at some point.  

Fun Around the Town

July 11, 1947, Menasha Record

Post-war Menasha has a lot going on, from movies for 42 cents per adult to that big party at Germania's on Saturday night.  And don't forget that charcoal for your backyard barbecue!

Strange Phenomena

July 11, 1947, Menasha Record

Call it an eyewitness sighting, call it hysteria, but no one can dispute that 1947 was a banner year for unidentified objects flying around the US.  At least 38 states reported sightings that year, and with the increased interest in the recent UFO resurgence by reclassified intelligence reports by the Pentagon, you can be sure the public will keep its eyes trained to the heavens from here on out.  We had some previous sightings in the 1960s as well:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2018/05/ufos.html and https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2016/04/ufo-sighting.html.  The Black River Falls find adds some illegitimacy to the reports, as if someone had constructed his own saucer to hoax people, but folks will believe their own eyes, despite the naysayers.

For Folks "On the Go"

 July 2, 1980, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

What a difference between 40 years ago in the banking industry.  You'd never see an array of premiums like this anymore to encourage you to deposit your money there.  I'm surprised there isn't a toaster oven in there but I know they were going with the theme of busy travelers who'd benefit from a travel alarm or a set of luggage, so I can forgive that.  I did some digging and learned that a three-month CD in December 1980 earned 18.65%, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.  Wow!  Today, you'd be lucky to get 1%.  And likely, you'd be investing for five years, not three months.  What a world we used to live in.

Lazy Days

 July 26, 1977, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

The blog features photos like this from time to time, meant as a change of pace or a mood or thought provoking piece.  Newspapers of the day were famous for letting their staff photographers let loose to pad their portfolios with shots like this.  Plus, they provided a much-needed slush pile on a slow news day.  When the annual awards came, it was often photos like this that commanded the respect of the juries who doled out the prizes.  And, they were often the favorites of the readership, as well.  

Happy Independence Day!

       

                         

I've posted this photo before, as it is a favorite.  A lot has changed but not your appetite for Menasha history.  Thank you for that!  I'll be back on Tuesday, July 6th.  Have a great and safe holiday weekend!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, I think I've solved the email problem.  Your emails should be moved without your intervention shortly.  But if you find you are not receiving the posts, let me know. Please give it a day or so for things to right themselves, thanks.

Atomic Drop

July 2, 1980, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I will admit, I had never heard the term "atomic swing" and I am having no luck finding another one on the internet, save for a Swedish pop group with that name.  And yes, this was in the former Town of Menasha, but close enough.  

I am still working on a replacement routine to allow you to have the blog posts sent to your email, for those of you who signed up in the past to access the blog that way.  I will have an announcement in the coming days about what to do.  I am certainly not a programmer so I may not have the bugs worked out as of yet.  In the meantime, you might want to bookmark the blog as a favorite so you are not shut out from daily posts while I work this email thing out.  Thanks for your patience.