Happy Thanksgiving!

 

November 28, 1970 NM Northwestern

 

While the photo quality might not be that great, I still hope the message gets across here- that it's holiday time once again and what better way to ring in the season than by going back in time 43 years and getting a taste of both Thanksgiving and Christmas, courtesy of the local newspaper. 

 

I'm taking some time off to enjoy the holiday.  Enjoy Thanksgiving and your time with your families.  I'll be back on Monday with more memories.  Have a great weekend!

MHS Band 1929

The 1929 edition of the Menasha High School Marching Band stands downtown.  In two short years, the band will take state honors as the best high school marching band in the state.  As we've seen in prior photos, notice the confusing parking near the circle.  And what does the "63" written on the photo signify?  The number of band members? 

Library

Pictured above is the Menasha Public Library around 1974, the replacement for the old library downtown on Mill Street that served the city until 1969.  This facility at First and Racine Streets was renovated, beginning in 2003, adding an additional 18,000 square feet, per the library's web site. 

Down the Boulevard

This 1925 postcard shows Nicolet Boulevard, the dividing line between the Twin Cities on Doty Island.  Once known as  "The Avenue," the street was renamed to honor explorer Jean Nicolet.   

Caboose

Despite appearances, this caboose is an older Soo Line wood caboose with cupola, donated by the railroad to the Menasha Historical Society in 1972, in recognition of the city being the birthplace of the Wisconsin Central. The car, #104, is painted in red and yellow and lettered as an early Wisconsin Central car.  Debate arose long before it reached its final resting place; should it reside in Jefferson Park or Smith Park?  Even an area behind the library on Racine Street was considered as well as the Railroad Museum in Green Bay.  The protective shelter was provided by George Banta, Jr.

 June 10, 1972 NW Northwestern

Bridge Construction

In the last few weeks, in this blog, we've discussed plans dating back to the early 1960's for construction of this bridge over Little Lake Butte des Morts.  But it wasn't until the early '70s, that actual concrete was poured and efforts begun in earnest.  This particular photo was featured in the 1975 MHS yearbook, The Nicolet.  

Bindery

This was the early 20th century bindery department in the "new" Banta facility on the island after leaving downtown.  So this dates the photo to about 1910 or 1915.  Everything was folded and bound by hand.  Eventually, this function would become automated with binding machines and the department would gain my father as a future 40+ year employee beginning in the early 1940s.  

Fourth Ward School

In 1891, a new school was built in the 700 block of First Street at a cost of $10,000.  At the time, local newspapers touted it as a "noble monument to the city's bounty and broad public spirit towards the cause of popular education."  It was known as the Fourth Ward School. The school had four classrooms and a large playground.  With eventual redistricting of the city, it then became known as the Fifth Ward School around 1924.  By the late 1920's it was known as the Jefferson School.  But overcrowding made a new school a necessity, so the present Jefferson School was constructed in 1933 on Ice Street near what became Jefferson Park.

John Chapman Insurance

1920 Menasha City Directory

In the early to mid 1920s, John Chapman was also the local Justice of the Peace and the president of the Menasha Club, as well an insurance man.  He worked in Room 5 of the Bank of Menasha building, 148 Main Street, per the city directory.  Later he became secretary-treasurer of the United Paper Corporation before passing away in the early 1930s 

Milwaukee Road

Another in our series of departed Menasha landmarks, this time on Racine Street, just north of Third. 

More Bridge News

November 13, 1963 Appleton Post-Crescent

 

With all the focus on President Kennedy and 1963 this month, I decided to look back fifty years and see what was going on in the area.  I found the above article about the Little Lake Butte des Morts bridge progress.  We'd touched upon it back on November 1st when I featured an article citing the formation of a committee in the summer of 1962 to promote the idea of a bridge. 

 

This story indicates that Menasha had been waiting for such a bridge since 1928 or so.  Interesting.  Guess my research isn't finished yet. 

Early Papermakers

 

Gilbert employees at the turn of the century

 

Heavy machinery run by barefoot workers amid exposed belts with no safety guards, yikes!  When we think of safety, we usually think of OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration which regulates workplace safety and health.  But although OSHA wasn"t formed until 1970, safety measures were already brewing in the early 20th century. 

 

In May 1911 Wisconsin became the first state to establish a workmen's compensation system. Nine other states passed compensation laws that year, three in 1912, and eight more in 1913. By 1921, 46 jurisdictions had workmen's compensation laws in force.

 

Additionally, the Wisconsin Safe Place Statute of 1911 required employers to furnish employment and a place of employment, in which workers' lives, limbs, health and comfort would, within reasonable limits, be protected. Two years later, in 1913, Congress created the Department of Labor and one of its main purposes was "to improve working conditions."

As most things go, safety was on an evolutionary track and the wheels of change turn slowly.  But these legislation efforts were some of the first steps in ending the days when sensationalistic newspaper reporting of horrendous workplace accidents was a daily occurrence. 

City Directory

Let's finish the week with a sampling of ads from the back of the 1979 Neenah-Menasha City Directory. 

Bundler

This employee is using a bundling machine to tie a stack of corrugated boxes at the Menasha Wooden Ware around 1940.   While considerably more labor-intensive than today, the papermaking industry nevertheless evolved over time to bring laborsaving automation to the workplace.  

Gilbert Supercalendering

 

Gilbert workers around 1910.  Pictured is the supercalendering crew of, from left to right, Art Gazer, Henry Elinger, Ed Arft, and Bert Schomer.  By essentially buffing the paper, this  generates an additional luster and enamel-like surface.  The result is paper with a high-gloss finish. 

City Garage Dedicated

November 3, 1963 Appleton Post-Crescent

Bottoms Shop

 

Two workers in the "bottoms shop" at the Menasha Wooden Ware in 1915, where bottoms were made for tubs, pails, and barrels.

Bridge Committee Formed

July 2, 1962  Appleton Post-Crescent

 

On the same day the Post-Crescent reported the formation of the Riverside Clinic, comes this news of a committee formed to promote the building of a bridge over Little Lake Butte des Morts.  I wonder what happened to THAT idea?