Company E

April 30, 1967, Appleton Post-Crescent

We first met these veterans back in 2012 when they had a fifty year reunion: http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/11/world-war-i-veterans-reunion.html.  The Common Council at that time saw fit to plan a special ceremony to honor these vets with the approach of the fiftieth anniversary of them being called into service. 

Get the Habit

April 27, 1968, Appleton Post-Crescent

Mainstay of Valley Fair and Fox Point for years.  I was always curious about the "broasted" chicken.  Apparently it is a trademarked process, available only to licensed restaurants.  As it turns out, broasting is a method of cooking chicken and other foods using a pressure fryer and condiments, a technique invented by a Mr. L.A.M. Phelan in the early 1950s and marketed by the Broaster Company of Beloit, Wisconsin, which Phelan founded.The method essentially combines pressure cooking with deep frying chicken that has been marinated and breaded.  This is obviously a northern thing.  The company still exists and from its web site, you can search for restaurants in your area that use the patented process.  I counted 45 locations in a 25 mile radius of Menasha that use this.  From my home in South Carolina, I found only one.

Just One More Minute

This is not the first envelope we've featured to tout the city's great qualities.  See this sample from 1932: http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/11/when-you-live-in-menasha-you-vacation.html.  This version of promoting the city is postmarked 1904 and comes courtesy of the personal stationary of Mr. John Schreibeis, one time policeman, grocer, postmaster, and local politician.  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/10/schreibeis-groceries.html. 

Service Calls $2.50

April 16, 1960, Appleton Post-Crescent

When did house calls to service one's television end?  Was it when everything became tubeless?  Remember those tube testing machines in hardware and grocery stores?  The cable installer coming to the house nowadays just isn't the same as having some tinkering guy working in the back of your walnut cabinet with a giant box of tubes in tow.  But nobody wanted to hear the dreaded, "I gotta take it back to the shop."  I remember very well coming home from school a few times to find the empty cabinet sitting there forlornly in the living room, devoid of its heart and soul.  How DID I manage without my daily dose of Colonel Caboose? 

Entering Our Fifth Year

Yesterday marked four years since I began writing this blog, using this postcard, which has become one of my favorites.  As long time readers know, this blog was an early attempt to publicize a book of Menasha photos I had published.  But this effort has taken on a life of its own.  You, the loyal readers, have showed such a keen interest in what I've been doing and have provided countless memories, anecdotes, and snippets of history of growing up in our fair city to supplement my efforts.  As I approach 1000 posts, I thank you once again.  You make this all worthwhile. 

Supply Limited!

April 20, 1965, N-M Daily Northwestern

When's the last time YOUR bank gave you anything free?  It used to be you'd get calendars, pens, coin banks, etc. just for showing up.  Of course, the "gift" had the bank's name and phone number plastered on it, as an advertising premium.  This goes beyond the norm, but one still wonders if the Jung Company printed up special packets of seeds with the bank's logo on them. 

Statue Wrecked

April 20, 1962, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

April 19/23, 1962, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

This poor Indian statue seemingly had been targeted by vandals for years, until it finally disappeared all together in the early 1970's.  Wish I had a nice color photo of it to feature.  If I recall correctly, I think there had been a color postcard of Menasha which featured it.at one time, but if so, I haven't seen one of those for a long, long while.    Subsequent research revealed no further stories on the vandalism nor on the origins of the statue.  I am sure it was a personal project and a source of pride for George Banta, Jr. as he was also the driving force behind the Red Bird statue at High Cliff.