Summer Scene

July 8, 1966, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

We at the blog, have stated before that we appreciate the simpler things in life...things like watching a road being paved, or observing the tearing down of a building, but definitely anything involving the water.  So it comes as no surprise to me that this intrepid group of friends would deign to spend a sunny summer afternoon observing a repair barge engaged in work. I was nine years old that summer; how did I miss this?  

Novel Court Case

 July 8, 1903, Evansville (Indiana) Journal

Interesting account of a prank played by the once and future mayor upon a gullible milkman.  My only concern with this story is the archaic phrase used at the end.  What does it mean to say "I stood treat?"  My research amounted to nothing.

Traffic Conditions

 July 5, 1924, Menasha Record

Automobile traffic was obviously out in force over the Fourth of July, this year of 1924.  Seems Menashans couldn't get enough of the beaches.  It was evident, albeit too late, that some might have been better served by taking a trolley ride to the venues.

Join Our Contest

 June 4, 1945, Menasha Record

The whole event sounds wonderful, to include the talent show and the softball tournament.  And I can only imagine the euphoria and the satisfaction of attendees celebrating the Fourth, secure in the knowledge that an Allied victory in Europe had occurred just months before and that we were on the cusp of defeating the Japanese threat in the Pacific.  Let freedom ring!

Come Fly With Me

July 2, 1936, Menasha Record

Assuming you have nothing better to do on the 4th of July, why not find your piggy bank and extract enough change to take a flight out of the Whiting Airport? You do know where that is, where Airport Road is today, the hardware store on Hwy 47?  Kitz and Pfeil?  Not sure why the price goes up as the day goes on, but what the heck.

Of Days Gone By

July 3, 1936, Menasha Record

Nestled among the real estate ads and ads for insurance and the offers of homeowner services, we find an especially archaic one, a special notice regarding ice deliveries.  The 1930's found some folks still maintaining an ice box, dependent upon an ice man to deliver a block of ice to keep perishables fresh.  The 20th century was filled with technologocial wonders, yes, but change is an evolving thing and some traditions just hung on longer than you'd think.

I'm Back

Many thanks to those of you who came out to the authors' event on Saturday, June 22nd in downtown Menasha.  It was an honor and a privilege to be invited to speak about my books and to be able to share in Menasha's 150th anniversary.  So grateful for the many interested folks who came by to meet me and to say hello.  And while the weather may have been stormy (which cancelled most everything else that weekend) this event came off beautifully.  Kudos to the sesquicentennial committee for pulling this off.