New Free Service!

February 22, 1966, Appleton Post-Crescent

I don't deal much in using cash anymore (thanks, debit card!), so rarely do I have a pocket full of change, much less jars of the stuff collecting at home.  My local grocery store has one of these devices, right next to the blood pressure machine outside the pharmacy and it takes 10% of the amount sorted as its fee. I don't even know if my personal bank in 2017 would sort my change for free, or any banking institutions for that matter.  It just hasn't come up. 

Ready for Occupancy 9:30 p.m.

April 28, 1923, Appleton Post-Crescent

So thoughtful of the Soo Line crew that it allowed patrons to board and go to sleep at 9:30, instead of closer to the actual departure time of 2:32 am!  Guess that's why they could boast of "Service and Courtesy You Will Appreciate!" 

Engraving and Electrotyping

We first met this firm way back in 2013:  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2013/12/menasha-carton.html.  At that time, we detailed its early history and later acquisition by Marathon Paper and its longevity under that firm's successors into the 1990's. 

To quote the 1921 edition of Sterling's Menasha, Wis Directory:  "...its specialty is the printing of great quantities of soap wrappers, gum wrappers, and bread wrappers and the manufacture of practically 90% of the ice cream and butter cartons used in the United States. A half million and a million soap wrappers a day and single orders for billions of wrappers are indicative of the output of this one plant." 

April 28, 1923, Appleton Post-Crescent

The above, an extract from a new article, highlighting Fox Cities' industry.

full page ad, from the same newspaper

Catholic Book Week

February 19, 1963, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern (N-M Edition)

It's a slow news day at the blog, so let's celebrate 1963's Catholic Book Week.  I remember only too well, such "events" at St. Mary's.  The quotes they received for this story are worthy of inclusion in the Renard, St. Mary's yearbook, perhaps in the Library Club section. 

Having a Good Time By Myself

Regardless of what Elmer was doing on business, it's good to know his better half, Winnie, was having a good time by (her)self, taking in the town.  We hadn't seen this variation on the Hotel Menasha postcard before, though it has all the standard elements of previous versions- corner view, people milling about, even a glimpse of an auto.  The postmark looks like 1925. 

It's Simple to Save

February 21, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

This is your periodic check of the Bank of Menasha ads.  And yes, there is still the famous walk-up window, open late every afternoon!

Sweet Deal

February 21, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

When we were growing up, we celebrated George Washington's birthday on February 22nd.  That changed in 1971 with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act,  an act of Congress that amended the federal holiday provisions of the United States Code to establish the observance of certain holidays on Mondays. The Act was signed into law on June 28, 1968 and took effect on January 1, 1971.

 

The Act moved Washington's Birthday (February 22), Memorial Day (May 30), and Veterans Day (November 11) from fixed dates to designated Mondays, and established as a federal holiday Columbus Day to a designated Monday. Veterans Day was removed from this list of "always-on-Monday" holidays when it was moved back to its traditional date of November 11, by act of Congress in 1975, effective 1978.

Contrary to popular belief, the Act did not officially establish "Presidents Day", nor did it combine the observance of Lincoln's Birthday with Washington's Birthday. The perception stems from the fact that the act placed federal observance of Washington's "birthday" in the week of February 15 to 21 and, since that week always falls between Lincoln's birthday (February 12) and Washington's (February 22), but never includes either date, popular references have given rise to the title, which recognizes both Presidents.  Many ^[update]states officially refer to the holiday as "Presidents' Day."

Whomever you celebrate that day, it's still a great occasion for cherry pie. 

 

Suits

February 20, 1966, Appleton Post-Crescent

Nothing like a retro trend to buck the cultural norm.  Instead of mod or hippie influenced fashions, we get gangster-chic at the height of the sixties.  It reminds me a bit of the renewed interest in the 1950's era in the 1970's, thanks to the success of the movie, American Graffiti and its television cousin, Happy Days. 

Trip Winners

February 6, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

As if they were featured in mug shots for crimes they didn't commit, these lucky six, instead, earned trips to Florida.  I never had a route myself but I had assisted several of my friends over the years from time to time and was well aware of the various contests and promotions to reward hard working youngsters.  Congrats, one and all!

Specials

February 1, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

With the exception of actual snow blowers, this hardware store had winter all wrapped up.  Before the introduction of Gambles to the Main Street landscape, this address was the long time location of a revolving door of various pool rooms and billiard halls...Mission Pool and Billiard Hall in 1910, Palace Billiards in 1920, and Ciske Bros. in 1924.  All, just a few doors down from Tuchscherer's shoes.

Sweets Time

January 17, 1969, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Here's wishing you a very fine and loving Valentine's Day today from the Menasha Sweet Shop, home of Bowlby's fine candies. 

How to Win Hearts

February 1, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, don't forget that the way to win hearts is through small appliances...1958-style, that is!  Okay, I realize this ad is representative of its time, so if the man of the house wasn't willing to pitch in some, then I suppose you could say that easing his wife's household burden was an act of love and affection.

Painting

February 11, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

This has elements of a familiar scene, all those years at St. Mary's...the Blessed Virgin Statue fronting Second Street in front of the school.  But actually, I think the statue used to be between the high school and the church, until the "62 building was put up, then it moved in front of the high school.  Here's a better view of the statue (though, from the rear, in 1970, with the '62 building to the left). 

Quench That Thirst!

February 4, 1958, Appleton Post-Crescent

We haven't featured our friends at Twin City Beverage for awhile now.  Back before the national brands took over everything, small regional brands thrived, the same way that small grocers lasted into the late '70s/early '80s before it all went bad for them.  I used to love getting to pick the flavors with my mom and fill a 24-count case to take home, usually from Doering's Super Valu, if memory serves me correctly.  I liked white soda, and I enjoy bringing up that name from time to time today.  It always tends to confuse people, especially here in the south.

Big Valentine Show

February 6, 1964, Appleton Post-Crescent

Remember when theaters would cater to kids with special event shows and prize giveaways?  I recall attending several of these events and, looking back, I cannot imagine what it took to corral so many young children at once!  Of course today, most parents wouldn't (and couldn't, if they wanted to) dream of dropping off an 8 year old alone or (perish the thought, with a younger sibling!) for an afternoon like this.  Not to mention the parental scorn from others, should one dare to give the kids some latitude.  Many articles have been written about this new "religion" of parenthood (thou shalt not criticize my child, my child comes first, etc.), but that's a discussion better left to another blog. 

Altmayer's Buffet

Altmayer's buffet was located on the north side of Main Street at 236, just a few doors down from the old Loescher's Hardware (240) on the corner of Main and Racine (current Club Liquors).  By 1920, Altmayer had moved his establishment to the south side of Main, in the Tuchscherer's (201 Main Street) shoe block, directly across from the Fox River House.  By then, the restaurant's name had changed to College Inn and by 1924, it was no longer in business, replaced by Streur & KIein Billiards.

A Must for Cold Cuts!

magazine ad from 1948

 

We first encountered Waxtex in 2012:  http://menashabook.blogspot.com/2012/07/marathon-corporation.html.  As with many product lines, this evolved into a whole variety of waxed paper products, to include the wax sandwich bags that were representative of my take-to-school lunches all those growing up years.  One of our kitchen drawers was always full of them, the one just to the right of the sink, and right next to that was the junk drawer with its assorted tools and what not.  Hadn't thought of that in years. 

Super Bowl I

January 16, 1967, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

In anticipation of Sunday's Super Bowl, I present you with Super Bowl I.  (With the current Packers falling a game short of making an appearance in the big game, this is the best I can do.) I know that I watched the game on TV, but my only exceptional memory of it was remembering it odd for the game to be broadcast on two networks at the same time.  Needless to say, as Packers fans, we watched the CBS broadcast as that was what we were used to and enjoyed their announcers, especially Ray Scott, who was sort of the de facto TV voice of the Packers in the '60s.  And to make this post legitimate, there's a couple small Menasha stories in there, to include the mystery person who hung the Packers' banner on the downtown flag pole in the aftermath of the game.  Packers fandom always shows itself in a big way.

Menasha Tug

February 1, 1965, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

from Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Vol. 4, edited by James L. Mooney (1969), Navy Department, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Naval History Division, Washington, D.C.

Further research indicates that on 15 June 1986, Menasha was placed out of service and transferred to the Maritime Administration. Other sources indicate that Menasha was transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet in 1986, St. Lawrence SDC in 1989, sold as Menasha in 1995, and is now known as Escorte. 

Boat Landing

From our postcard collection comes this missive from Lawrence to his beloved, Fran, with love to his "two little sweethearts," circa 1907.  This postcard predates the "divided" era, when postal regulations did not allow writing on the same side as the address, thus the small photo with much white space.  This photo is reminiscent of the one below, which was featured in my book.