Thanksgiving Punch

November 24, 1909, Menasha Record

Before we leave Thanksgiving totally behind, let's peruse the menu at the Hotel Menasha, 1909-style, for the feast that day.  I must say, there ARE some things on this menu that I do not recognize at all, but it does remind me of those "Gilded Age" menus I'd seen in past reviews of the 1880s and 1890s in Boss Tweed-era New York, steamship round of beef and that sort of thing, feeding the robber barons and big bellied financiers with their pocket watch chains pulled snugly across their waistcoats.  I always found it humorous to dictate, down to the nth degree, those little things like mints and mixed nuts that one just assumes would be there but were felt important enough to be included by the maitre d.  One would not hinge his or her dining decision on such mundane details, but it mattered to some people evidently.  By the way, "Saratoga chips" are better known today as potato chips, a one-time specialty that we just take for granted now..

That Time of the Season

November 30, 1966, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

With Thanksgiving behind us now, can Christmas be far behind?  This is the time of the year when that next major of holidays is thrust upon us via the media, but also via little local reminders like this.  The decorations and the downtown itself may have changed over the years, but the meaning is always the same.  That clock is ticking and it'll be here before you know it!

Floral Gifts

 

November 23, 1948, Menasha Record

This florist makes a good argument to reward the host or hostess with a plant or flowers for having you over for Thanksgiving dinner.   And it's probably less controversial than bringing the wrong bottle of wine, or insulting them if they don't partake of the grape.  

The blog is going on hiatus for the next week.  So, until we return the week of November 29th, we wish you the happiest of Thanksgiving holidays.  Our best to you and yours!

Kiddie Time

November 23, 1948, Menasha Record

What a great babysitting service the Brin did by providing a kid's program in conjunction with the Thanksgiving holiday.  It wasn't touted as such, but it did give busy Moms a chance to do other things, like maybe putting more money into the local economy by doing some Christmas shopping while the kids were being entertained.  I'm sure somebody from the Menasha Businessmens' Association saw the benefits in that and practically begged the local theaters to open up for such a program.  Special note: notice all the neighborhood groceries that were still resident in Menasha, from where the free tickets were available.

The Best of the Aristocracy

 

November 23, 1931, Menasha Record

Keeping with our Thanksgiving theme, again from 1931, comes this ad for Beck's Meat Market.  There were many butchers and meat markets in Menasha but Beck's was likely the most well-known, if only for its prime location on Main Street, now housing the Weathervane restaurant.  Founded around 1873, the market lasted until 1960 and was noted for the steer's head at the top of the building.  That steer is long gone, but it certainly made for interesting architecture downtown for many years.

Elegant Tableware

November 23, 1931, Menasha Record

Mr. Swenson was a jeweler in Menasha at 209 Main Street for about thirty years until his death in 1939.  His shop was in the Tuchscherer's block where the ladies' shop, Polly Frocks, later located.  When it comes to jewelers, fine silver dinnerware doesn't exactly come to mind, for me.  So, it seems ingenious, from a marketing point of view, to tie this in to the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  Even a few sales would make the effort all worthwhile.  

Enjoyable Affair

 November 21, 1891, Saturday Evening Press

Veterans Day is now in our rear view mirror, but it isn't too late to reflect on this event which turned into a celebration of freedom for one of Menasha's own.  With so many historical events, the further back in the past it is, the easier it seems for me to forget that we're talking about real people with real life experiences to comment about.  It is hard for me to imagine living in proximity to an Andersonville survivor from the Civil War, much less being able to converse with him about his experiences.  But these Menasha residents from 1891 were able to identify with Civil War veterans because the conflict wasn't that long ago and many who served were still around, much like myself growing up around WWII and Korean War veterans.  God love 'em all, each and every one of them.