The Hiatus Continues

 

My hiatus continues while I navigate through flu season and some personal challenges as well.  I hope to see you soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 26, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Here's wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving and hoping that what's on your table rivals what was on the Hotel Menasha's menu back in 1968.   Please take some time to reflect on all the blessings bestowed upon our lives, big and small.  For myself, I give my sincerest thanks to you.  Your generous enthusiasm for Menasha history inspires me to seek out more and more interesting aspects of this great town of ours to share with you. 

I am taking a hiatus from the blog for about a week so I will see you again come the week of November 28th.  Please accept my best wishes to you for a joyous holiday.  I wish you family, fellowship, and friendship.

Brewed to the Taste of Our Region

November 19, 1948, Menasha Record

While it wasn't brewed in our town, everyone in the Fox Valley was still familiar with this beer.  I'm not sure what "the taste of our region" really was, but still it's a great ad gimmick to counter any arguments that Chief Oshkosh didn't taste like those big city Milwaukee beers.  

Holidays Are a Time for Art

November 18, 1978, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

As we continue this week's theme of Thanksgiving-related projects and events, we hearken back to that cornerstone of all November school art projects, the depictions of the history of the holiday.  I believe student depictions of Pilgrims interacting with Native Americans is second only to drawing a turkey by outlining your hand.  

Say "Thanks" With Flowers

November 23, 1948, Menasha Record

Linsdau's makes a good argument to gift the host or hostess with flowers or even a plant as a thanks for Thanksgiving dinner.   And it avoids the faux pas of bringing the wrong bottle of wine, or even offending them if they don't drink.    

New Friends

 

November 26, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

We start the week on a pleasant note with memories of the Santa parade.  And occasionally we encounter friends, new and old, which underscores the obvious fun.  Life is like that sometimes.

Veterans Day

November 12, 1979, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Today being Veterans Day, please take a moment to remember the sacrifices of the brave men and women who have given of their lives to keep us all safe and free.  

Vets Vent

November 13, 1983, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Marine Corps veterans speak their peace about patriotism and love of country in advance of Veterans Day.  It was a different era when these vets were interviewed; the atmosphere seems more politically charged now when it comes to these subjects.  After twenty years of war overseas and having lived through the controversies surrounding kneeling during the national anthem and other civil disturbances, one wonders what their viewpoints would be now.  No one will argue that flag waving is nice, but these vets were the truest of patriots for the service they provided.

Another Wall?

November 8, 1961, Oshkosh Northwestern

Humorous take by the Northwestern regarding the always out-there tensions between Neenah and Menasha and likening it to the then-current Berlin Wall being built.  

There is Still Time

November 4, 1958, Twin City News-Record

Heed Edmund Burke's prophetic words.  Vote.  No matter what your party is, vote.  No matter how much you feel your side has it "in the bag", vote.  Be a part of the democratic process and vote.

More Tubes

 September 24, 1956, The Times (Shreveport, LA)

Hearkening back to our post from last week mentioning TV tube testing machines that inhabited groceries and pharmacies nationwide, this article explains the concept more fully.  Of course, it wasn't as easy as it looked...one would have to first identify the suspected defective tube, wander down to the store, test it (or the many others you brought with you), then go home with the recommended replacement and hope for the best.  I recall my dad making many trips one night to that fateful machine in the Neenah Food Queen, grumbling the whole time because he'd picked the wrong one.  I think I stayed home during the second trip to the store for I feared he was wrong again, lol.

Again, We Learn....

 

November 24, 1999, Twin City News-Record

These "Back in Time" compilations are pretty neat.  From the archives of over a hundred years ago, we continue to learn something new.  Today's new word..."footpad."  As used in the first paragraph, a footpad is a robber who does so on foot, usually victimizing pedestrians.  His counterpart is the "highwayman," a robber on horseback, and one who is considered of a higher level, that is, as thieves go.  I will admit, I was aware of the term highwayman but had never heard footpad until today.  From my research, the word was popular until the 19th century, then fell out of favor, for whatever reasons.  

Plus, we get a swell Island view of the area between Ahnaip Street and Nicolet Boulevard from the vantage point of the Walter Brothers Brewery..

Guess Who Will Win

November 5, 1940, Menasha Record

Local theaters get in on the fun, using the national election to pull in customers.  Gimmicks ruled.  Remember, this was an era when they gave dishes away at theaters, among other goods.  So, what could be better than the chance for a free movie ticket, especially when the odds are fifty-fifty, though knowing the politics of the time could certainly move the needle in one's favor.  And just a side note, don't the prices for The Man Who Came to Dinner seem exorbitant for 1940?  I'd read that a movie ticket was a quarter during the 1940s.  So even if it IS one night only, that's still a hefty price.

The Alley Fleet

November 4, 1958, Twin-City News-Record

The alley behind Main Street houses the finest 1950s era service trucks and vans available to come service your television or antenna needs.  Remember the days of coming home to an empty tv cabinet because the repair man had to take the picture tube back to the shop?   That was traumatic for this little boy.  That's an era we'll never see again.  It disappeared along with those tube testing machines that some grocery and drug stores had.  I distinctly remember the Food Queen in Neenah having one.

October 10, 1957, Capital Times (Madison)

Winners, All

November 2, 1959, Twin City News-Record

Local schools held Halloween parties and the winners are shown above, for best costumes.  Despite the need to have a contest, really, all the kids were winners as how can you put a value on getting free candy?