Rising Rapidly

September 16, 1967, Appleton Post-Crescent

We first looked at this tower back in 2013 on the blog: 

http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/02/island-water-tower-takes-shape.html.  In this stage of construction, it looked similar to the Saturn rocket that took us to the moon.  But while it was built adjacent to the Washington Street parking lot, I always thought of it as an Ahnaip Street thing, for whatever that's worth.  And with the elimination of the old Second Street water tower in recent years, this is what's left to announce to the world that you've crossed over into Menasha. 

Yes Virginia, There IS a James Island

September 5, 1970, Appleton Post-Crescent

We've visited James Island in the past  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2015/02/james-island.html and http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2015/02/more-on-james-island.html but it took this article for me to discover it'd been left off official maps for a long, long time. (Sometimes I am so blind to the obvious.)

Nevertheless, it might have given Menashans a complex enough to secede, as Winneconne tried to do in 1967 after being left off the official state road map.  But obviously, cooler heads prevailed in our case.  In time, Menasha has taken ownership of the island, enough so that it is listed as one of its "Special Use Parks and Facilities" in the city's Open Space and Recreation Facilities Plan of 2007.

Foster Children

September 21, 1959, Appleton Post-Crescent

For a Wednesday this week, comes this human interest story.  Say what you will about your view of foster care or the way it's been depicted in the media for years, but I provide no social commentary here.  I'm just presenting it the way The Post-Crescent reported in 1959, a more intimate view of one of Menasha's families.

Now You Can Tape It With You

September 24, 1959, Appleton Post-Crescent

Long before the Sony Walkman and the digitized world of CDs and beyond, came this little "portable" gem.  Now, of course, if was portable only in the sense that it used batteries and was small enough to carry along from place to place. No, you couldn't expect to safely operate it while in motion, for example.  Not cheap by any measure either.  Using that inflation calculator I spoke of yesterday gives the price as $1637 in 2016 dollars.  But still...

Price War at an End

September 5, 1964, Appleton Post-Crescent

The recent change in gas prices is nothing compared to the gas wars of old.  We'd touched upon this subject several years back.  And while this doesn't seem a big deal, one of the inflation calculators I found online tells me that 32 cents in 1964 equals $2.45 in 2016, so does that mean we're paying less per gallon or approximately the same as we did back then?  A fascinating thought. 

Treatment Plant

September 19, 1973, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Wisconsin Tissue Mills is now known as SCA Tissue.  The Swedish company bought the plant from Georgia-Pacific more than ten years ago.  This new process of waste treatment and water recovery was revolutionary for its time.  We'll show more evidence of that in the future.

Student Protest

September 19, 1969, Appleton Post-Crescent

It was the late 1960's and student protests were commonplace everywhere.  So it may not have come as a surprise that students in Menasha might utilize this tactic to make their demands known in this manner.  Cooler heads prevailed and there was no violence or major confrontations involving students and police.  In upcoming days, I shall do more research to see if there was a compatible solution to the students' demands for open study halls. 

"A Handsome Ornament to the City"

September 28, 1969, Appleton Post-Crescent

It was a grand day indeed, as evidenced here, when the new library opened up for good in 1969. And although I remember the old library down on Mill Street, this is the library I remember as a boy, when I came in to my own as a lifelong reader.  I wasn't too happy that they decimated Racine Street Park to build the facility, but I eventually got over it.  After all, the city had been flirting for years with promoting commercial development on the site, perhaps even from 1936 when the old Menasha High School burned on the site. 

Jefferson Second Graders Tour Fire Department

March 20, 1963, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

I certainly hope ALL the kids got the chance to sit in the fire truck and not just the ones who's fathers happened to work there.  You can't tell me those firefighters' kids hadn't ALREADY sat in that truck, and probably others in past private visits to the fire station with Mom to visit Dad.  Heck, I'd bet they even slid down the fire pole too, for Pete's sake! 

Future Bill Waltons

March 28, 1973, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This picture probably has no relevance outside of the fact that I found it charming. Back in a day when kids weren't constantly bent over their smartphones, there was still time for physical play, and there was nothing better than unseasonably warmer weather to beckon kids outdoors.  And I say this at the risk of sounding like a crotchety old gentleman (you know the routine: "Things were better back in my day...")

Champions Again

August 27, 1940, Appleton Post-Crescent

As we close out a week featuring champions of various sorts, we applaud the victorious First Ward Reds, winners in the Menasha Junior Baseball League.  Such stoic faces for a happy occasion. 

Bulbs, Bulbs, and More Bulbs

September 13, 1965, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Not sure that this is done anymore but I recall it as a big deal growing up.  I always thought my father stocking up on light bulbs was a little odd, but at least it had a benevolent purpose as well. 

First Place

September 3, 1965, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

The local police did the city proud in '65 with its shooting prowess.  One wonders, in those less crime-ridden days, how often that skill was ever tested outside the regular pistol matches. 

Youthifying Facial

August 28, 1939, Appleton Post-Crescent

Val must have been talking about the Labor Day holiday weekend, in which to "command the spotlight" with that new-fangled permanent.  Depending on the timing of the appointment, it'd be easy to later slip inside the theatre and enjoy the show, as well.  I wonder what was playing that weekend? 

Future All-Stars

 

September 2, 1939, Appleton Post-Crescent

Local "big little" football squad leads the way for those in advance of their high school years.  The concept predates Ralph McClone's 1000 Yarders of the early 1970s, of which I was a member.   

MVP

September 13, 1939, Appleton Post-Crescent

It seems young Mr. Marx was quite the baseball aficionado, being the best athlete on the field as well as having an all-consuming passion for the game.  And as his obituary below will show, baseball continued to be a vital part of his life, even after his heroic service in World War II.  Without the war in the midst of his prime years, who knows how far he might have moved up in his big league dream. Instead, he made it as far as Class A ball, an admirable feat in an era where there still were Class, B, C, and D leagues, from which he began his minor league career. 

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Elzer Marx
The Commercial-News

Saturday, November 26, 2011

 

DANVILLE — Elzer Marx, 86, of Danville passed away at 1:45 p.m. Nov. 23, 2011, at the VA Illiana Health Care System.

Elzer was born April 21, 1925, in Menasha, Wis., the son of Edward and Cecelia (Konkol) Marx.

He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served three years as an aerial navigator and officer in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Following his military service, Elzer signed a contract to play professional baseball in the Chicago Cubs minor league system.

Elzer earned his BA from Northwestern State University in Nachitosis, La., and his MS from the U of I, Urbana. In 1953, he became sports director for WITY radio and moved to Danville. He later became the general manager. He will be remembered by many for his play-by-play broadcasts of U of I football. Following his radio career, he was employed as a national sales representative with Peterson-Puritan and later General Electric. He retired in 2005 after a 30-year career in real estate.

Elzer married Marjorie (Burmeister) Nussear on Feb. 15, 1974, in Danville. She survives. Also surviving are three children, Christy Marx (Randy Littlejohn) of San Mateo, Calif., Eric Marx of Ashville, N.C., and Max Marx (Angela) of Peru, Ill.; and six grandchildren, Keaton, Brittany, Alexa, Ashli, Adriaan and Max.

Elzer was a loving husband, father and grandfather. His family will greatly miss his love, wisdom, support and sense of humor.

Elzer was active in the Danville community, coaching youth baseball, teaching part-time at DACC, and serving in many capacities at the Tennis Center, Kiwanis Club, Planning Commission, Vermilion Hills Country Club and other local organizations. He served as the master of ceremonies for many special events and will be remembered for his wit and sense of humor.

A celebration of life service will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, A Life Celebration Home, in Danville, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Per his wishes, cremation rites will be accorded. Pastor Drew Mentzer will officiate. Graveside services will follow at the National Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Pleasant Meadows Christian Village and the VA for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Danville Tennis Center or the Alzheimer’s Association.

The End Product

October 29, 1965, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

A new method of teaching industrial arts by showcasing the macro view of industry was what was in store for MHS sophomores in 1965. Designing a product, manufacturing it, advertising it, and selling it were all vital steps the students carried out in this program designed by what was then known as Stout State University, later to be known as UW-Stout. 

Judging Flowers

August 1, 1975, Appleton Post-Crescent

The pavilion at Smith Park got its annual workout during the gladiolus judging that summer and most likely, many others.  We all have different interests and to each, his own, as my Mom used to say. 

New Name, New Image

September 4, 1962, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

A little more than 54 years ago, the Menasha Wooden Ware changed its name and logo to fit the more streamlined world of packaging in which it was now servicing.  Within the next few years would come the devastating fire and relocation of corporate headquarters to our sister city to the south.  But still, the Menasha name remains known world-wide.

Watch for Them Along the Streets

September 2, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

In concluding our back-to-school themed week comes this ad from Meadowview Dairy extolling safety on the roads.  It makes good business sense, as the dairy's prime customers were school-aged children.  After all, their industry had a relentless campaign that daily consumption of dairy products was a necessary part of growing up healthy.

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In line with the Labor Day holiday, this blogger is taking Monday off next week.  Have a great extended weekend, and see you Tuesday!

A Good Deed

A good deed, as well as some street-side entertainment for a couple of curious kids in late summer.  And what kid didn't enjoy watching the local workmen patch up the streets?