Special Luncheon

June 12, 1963, Appleton Post-Crescent

With Father's Day around the corner, perhaps a special meal at the Birchwood might have tickled Dad's fancy.  Nice inside view of the decor.   And lest we forget, it is "air-conditioned for (your) dining comfort."

Memorial Day 2022

I repost this every year. 

 

The VFW in 2013 said it well.  I cannot improve on this:

Many Americans have forgotten the true meaning of a holiday that we as veterans hold so close to our hearts. For too many, Memorial Day now signifies nothing more than the start of summer and is celebrated with holiday sales. Trips to the lake and shopping extravaganzas have replaced memorial visits, remembrance ceremonies or simply put, a day to reflect upon all of the luxuries—like freedom—that we as Americans enjoy daily.  

As proud veterans, we know the true meaning of Memorial Day. 

On Memorial Day, we honor our fallen comrades of the United States military in the form of remembrance. And with that, comes a deep sense of appreciation for both their selflessness in protecting the land of the free, and for their sacrifice in ensuring it stays that way. 

Each and every American owes a great debt to the courageous men and women who have given their lives to protect our way of life. While giving back to the extent they deserve is impossible, today, we merely attempt our repayment in the form of remembrance. We dedicate this day to them.

As we go about our activities, we should take the opportunity to not only remember the sacrifices of our fallen and mourn their departure, we should celebrate the spirit with which they served and reflect upon their contributions in making America, truly, the land of the free.

The VFW thanks all service members, veterans and their families for their contributions and service to the United States of America.

Let's Be Frank

 

Marathon does it again with innovative packaging for the food industry.  Like so many cigars with cigar bands, Marathon saw fit to identify each hot dog with its own distinctive band, something new for 1949!  And while we don't necessarily see individual banded franks anymore, I believe that plastic wrapper or something very similar is still in use.  By the way, those ideas for using hot dogs on skewers and whatnot is quite derivative of the convenience era that really gained a lot of ground in post-war America.  Fun, fast, and innovative...that was the watchword for a culture that brought you the tv dinner and other time savers.

Steeples

July 14, 1972, Appleton Post-Crescent

Almost fifty years ago,, the steeples came down from St. John's church.  The fiberglass domes were eliminated eventually too, though this fuzzy 1977 photo shows them as they were intended.

We first encountered St. John's in 2013:  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/04/st-johns.html, where you can see a photo of the church today.  

Gas, Of Days Gone By

May 30, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Now, I don't even remember where this station was located in Neenah, but that's beside the point.  To think the author of this caption was nostalgic a year later, after it had closed, for the prices then that were (shudder) hovering near a dollar.  Imagine if those same folks time- travelled to our present where the gas in my area is well over $4.17 per gallon.  Wow.

Order of March

 May 29, 1934, Menasha Record

Listed above is the order of march for the 1934 Memorial Day.  Let's hope there was no rain that day as it might have been rather crowded at the S.A. Cook Armory.  Needless to say, the Twin Cities did their best to honor those who gave all.

All the News....

May 25, 1889, Saturday Evening Press

Great rundown of local news of 133 years ago.  Of note, the fake vanilla scam perpetrated against unsuspecting individuals, the plans for the upcoming Memorial Day, and the warning about dark conditions in the vicinity of the Germania opera house.  The Press did a great job in keeping the citizens abreast of Menasha's news.

Farewell!

May 29, 1926, Menasha Record

1926 brings us what was considered then a large graduating class at Menasha High.  Just think...when these students were born, there had been no World Wars yet, manned flight was only five years old, and the Titanic disaster was still four years away.  They could even converse with Civil War veterans.  Sometimes people are born in times that straddle much heralded eras of history.  Most of these kids eventually saw men land and walk on the moon.  So much history came down the pike during their lifetimes and they saw it all.

Fun for Everyone

May 24, 1965, Twin City News-Record

While the artwork provided by Schwinn isn't exactly representative of the area serviced by the Menasha Bike Shop, we get the idea anyway.  Everything is better outdoors while riding a Schwinn and family fun can't be beat. We've been to this bike shop many times, the last time in 2020:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2020/04/if-its-spring-it-must-be-bike-riding.html

Just In Time....

 May 7, 1963, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Nothing like a grand entrance.  But if it had been me, I likely would have died from embarrassment on the train ride to Chicago.  Still, years later, it gives one a great story to relate to the kids or grandkids.   And hopefully, this was NOT the highlight of the trip.  

Make Menasha Shine

May 12, 1960, Twin City News-Record

Civic pride comes to the forefront as Menasha makes a concerted effort to beautify the city in 1960.  Though the motto might have been better used the year before, ("Make Menasha Shine in '59") we'll forgive the city fathers for that missed opportunity, as their hearts were in the right place.  And after all, who can fight the idea of making your city a better place to live?

The Little Engine That Couldn't

May 17, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

The caption says it all.  Sometimes things just don't go along the way they should, despite being okay for most of the day.  Sounds like a Monday thing, but occasionally the Monday blues occur on Wednesdays, too.

Special Sunday Mother's Day

May 11, 1940, Menasha Record

Some leftovers from the recent Mother's Day celebration.  Point of note:  I'm surprised a little bit at the offering of a roast duck at the Valley Coffee Shop.  That's not exactly coffee shop faire, but I suspect they were in a bit of competition with the Hotel Menasha and its fabulous Sunday buffets.  Not to mention it was for Mom, so something special was definitely called for.

Plan Ahead

 

May 14, 1947, Menasha Record

It hadn't been that long since the war ended in 1945, so this timely ad showcases efforts to honor the service members who didn't make it home.  To be honest, I did not know this could even be done back then, but it must have been with great reverence and honor that local florists and greenhouses took it upon themselves to offer this service in conjunction with the international arm of FTD.  Yes, Memorial Day was weeks away, but planning ahead often takes time and this is such an occurrence.

Shave and a Haircut (NOT Two Bits)....

 May 8, 1947, Menasha Record

We last noticed a price increase in men's grooming in 2018 when we ran this post:  https://menashabook.blogspot.com/2018/09/shave-and-haircut.html.  At that time, 1943, it was 65 cents for a cut and 35 cents for a shave.  From this story, we gather that we somehow missed another ten and five cent increase in those four years for a cut and shave.  Guess the postwar booming economy will do that to a person.

Miss Menasha, 1928

 May 23, 1928, Menasha Record

May 25, 1928, Daily News-Times

Unfortunately, the hope and dreams of these young ladies and their supporters in Neenah and Menasha were dashed when Miss Janesville took the Miss Wisconsin crown, followed by runners-up from Fond du Lac and Oshkosh respectively.  But as they say, it's all in the game, and getting this far is often reward enough, not that winning it all wouldn't have been the better outcome.  Still, these representatives for the Twin Cities had their day in the sun.  Better luck next year!  (By the way, "pulchritude" is a fancy (and outdated) way of talking about how someone or something is good-looking.) 

Just a Day of Greater Gladness

May 12, 1922, Menasha Record

With Mother's Day yesterday, we visit 1922 and the good wishes the Bank of Menasha brings to mothers in Menasha and throughout the valley.  

Gilbert Employees

From May 8, 2013

This photograph was featured in Paper With a Presence, A Gilbert Century, published in 1987 to commemorate the centennial of the Gilbert Paper Company.  At the time of this photograph, Gilbert Paper was just 3 years old.   William Gilbert had been in business with George A. Whiting since 1881, but sold his interests in 1886 to found his own company a year later.

Aerial Menasha

From March 18, 2013

Continuing our series of aerial shots of our fair town, this postcard, taken from overhead near Jefferson Park reveals many landmarks, from the water utility on Broad Street and water tower on Second, to St. Mary's Church and High School, to downtown and many more.  If you know where to look, it's there.

George Banta

From June 25, 2012

From the Dictionary of Wisconsin biography:   

Born in Covington, Kentucky in 1857, George Banta graduated from Indiana University in 1876, and was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1878. He practiced law and sold insurance before moving to Wisconsin in 1884 as an agent for the Phenix Insurance Company of Brooklyn, New York.  After a brief residence in Madison, he moved to Menasha about 1885, staying in the insurance business until 1908, but after 1901 was primarily occupied with the George Banta Publishing Company, of which he remained president until his death. The company expanded rapidly and became one of the finest book publishing concerns in the state. In addition to book printing, the company specialized in the publications of learned societies and college fraternities, and, by 1930, it was printing some 130 periodicals. He served as alderman (1890-1891), and mayor (1892, 1895, 1902-1903) of Menasha.  An active businessman, he was president of the Central Paper Company of Menasha and a director of the First National Bank of Menasha. He died in 1935.

Menasha Lock

From June 28, 2012

The Menasha Lock is part of the historic Fox River lock system. Constructed between 1848 and the late 1870s, this system was once part of a twenty four lock system that connected the Great Lakes with ports on the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.  This hand-operated lock permits passage of boaters from Little Lake Butte des Morts to Lake Winnebago. In the early 20th century, Menasha and Neenah were among the world’s largest producers of paper. From the 1850s through the early 1900s, the steamboats, tugs, and freighters that passed through the Menasha lock fueled this industry, bringing in timber from the north and carrying paper to ports throughout the world. There is an unoccupied two story side gabled lock tender house at the lock site that is not on the National Historic Register.

The Menasha Lock has been operated continually from the 1850’s to the present. In the early 1970’s a major reconstruction occurred and steel gates were added. In 2004, the Fox River Navigational System Authority (FRNSA) was established by the State of Wisconsin to revive the system.

UPDATE:  The Menasha lock was closed in 2015 due to the discovery of the round goby, an invasive fish species populating the Great Lakes, and reopening any time before 2023 is uncertain at this time.

Jefferson Park and School

From May 21, 2012

I enjoyed our look back at ten years of the blog last week so much that I decided to extend the fun another week.  So, please enjoy these favorites from the blog's first year.

Jefferson Park was built in 1932 and 1933 as a project of the Works Project Administration.  Jefferson Elementary School, at the intersection of Second and Ice Streets, is adjacent to the park in the background of this photograph.  Completed in 1931 at a cost of $125,000, it had been built at the behest of the City Council in order to provide local employment during the Great Depression.  Its unusual styling is categorized as Tudor/Elizabethan revival.