Charlie Brown

April 19, 1968, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

The Peanuts comic strip was all the rage in the 1960s, fueled by frequent television specials and the Broadway musical, "You're a Good Man. Charlie Brown."  So is it any wonder that the Menasha Rec kids would get into the act?

Marquette Honor

 

April 15, 1970, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Although the Apollo astronauts were the first recipients of this medal as daring explorers, over the course of time, the honor has been given quite sparingly and mostly to those deserving of it in honor of their human rights work.  Among the four additional recipients since 1969 were Mother Teresa, the Reverend Desmond Tutu, and the Little Rock Nine, who challenged segregation in public schools by enrolling at the all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.

Television Service Calls

April 16, 1960, Appleton Post-Crescent

Great price for the service call, but woe to the home television enthusiast when it "has to go back to the shop." I recall the dismay I felt, coming home from school one day to find an empty cabinet where my TV picture tube had been.  No more Colonel Caboose, no more Saturday morning cartoons!  It was interminable, or at least it seemed that way for a child of 7 years old.  But evidently, I survived.  Who knows, I might have even opened a book!

In the Navy

April 22, 1963, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

As an employee of Banta's, my Dad would often bring home defective copies of the US Naval Institute's publication, Proceedings.   At the time, I thought it was just another document the company printed.  But this article gives some validation that it was a bigger deal than I thought.  I recall that there was really great art work in those magazines which I enjoyed; I'd occasionally make model ships as a kid, though airplanes were more to my fancy. 

A Look Back - Main Street, Travelling East

Yesterday marked the fifth anniversary of me starting this blog.  That was 1224 posts ago, if you can believe that!  I am most grateful for your attention, so thank you from the bottom of my heart for your indulgence, for your interest, and for your support.  Today, we embark on year six, so in keeping with the past four weeks, I'll rerun one more post from the past five years.  This one is from 2013....

After being situated next to the Hotel Menasha for many years, the 1st National Bank moved several doors west down Main Street, building on the site of the old Valley Theater in 1964.  This mid-1960s photograph of Main Street driving east looks very different from today, as the Marina Place apartments and marina have taken over this property.  The Bank of Menasha is gone, as is the Left Guard, but the memories remain. 

A Look Back - The New Menasha High School

With the fifth anniversary of the blog coming up on Sunday, I thought it appropriate to go back in time, if you will, and revisit some past postings.  This one is from 2014...

This postcard proudly features the new Menasha High School at Seventh and Racine Streets. Designed by the Green Bay firm of Foeller, Schober & Berners, the Menasha High & Vocational School was built between 1936 and 1938. Plans for the construction of a new high school were underway prior to the March 1936 fire that destroyed the existing high school building. Indeed, in July 1935, an application, complete with sketches, was filed with the Public Works Administration (PWA) for a grant amounting to $270,000 for what was anticipated to be a $600,000 building. Fourteen months following the submittal, and exactly six months after the fire, the Board of Education received in September a letter approving the funding. The Maurice Schumacher Company of Minneapolis was the low bidder and construction began on December 1, 1936. Approximately six weeks later, a labor strike occurred, which was settled on February 4, 1937. Because school equipment was lost in the 1936 fire, an additional $38,000 in funding was requested from the PWA. The final inspection of the four-unit complex occurred on February 19, 1938. An open house, which was reportedly attended by over 14,000 persons, was held between March 25-27. Actual dedication of the building occurred on Commencement Day, June 2, 1938.

The school exhibited a style known as Colonial Revivalism, incorporating Georgian detail with a neoclassical auditorium. 

 

source: HISTORICAL & ARCHITECTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY, Aug 31, 2009 Prepared for: Menasha Landmarks Commission  by: HERITAGE RESEARCH, LTD. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin 53051

Independent TV Blaze -1961

October 20, 1961, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

October 20, 1961, Appleton Post-Crescent

To put into context as to where this fire was some 55+ years ago, imagine the area across the street from the current Curtis Reed Square and City Hall downtown.  Yes, lots of changes over the years. 

Firemen Battle Blaze

October 21, 1961, Appleton Post-Crescent

Firemen from Menasha, Neenah, and Appleton battle this blaze that destroyed the Independent TV and Appliance Co.  Damage was estimated at either $60,000 or $150,000, depending on what newspaper you read.  Needless to say, the building was declared a total loss. I'll provide the newspaper coverage tomorrow.

Worker's Cap

From the latest offerings of eBay comes this little... "Gem."  (I'm sorry, I had to.)  It's a worker's cap from the 1940s/1950s  I am impressed that it carries what was, for its time, the latest advertising pitch the company was using for its most popular product.  Though a bit expensive for my taste at a "buy it now" price of $70 or best offer, you could soon be in possession of this genuine Menasha artifact.  Imagine, some 60-70 years ago, coming into work at the brewery, a stack of these caps at the ready for workers to don, and presumably, pitch away after a day or two's use.  And now it's down to this one collectible cap, just waiting for your intervention.  Don't delay.  Act now. 

Jefferson Park Idyll

April 19, 1969, Appleton Post-Crescent

An early morning mood shot to start your work week.  I have always appreciated the atmospheric, artsy type photos that newspaper photographers would occasionally have featured in the paper.  After all, those were the ones that usually won the awards, not the snapshots of mundane city council meetings or a traffic accident at Third and Racine.

A Look Back - Down the Boulevard

With the fifth anniversary of the blog coming up in late April, I thought it appropriate to go back in time, if you will, and revisit some past postings.  This one is from 2013...

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.   

Happy Easter! 

From the Top of Winnebagoland

April 20, 1961, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

Looking back 56 years or so at some news items of the day.  In wondering if they even require bicycle licenses anymore, I searched the City of Menasha's web site and learned that now, licenses are good for the life of the bike.  Imagine that. 

Alger and Schlegel

In the long litany of dining establishments in Menasha's history comes the Alger and Schlegel Sample Room at 200 Main Street, circa 1910.  Jesse D Alger and Oscar A Schlegel partnered in this buffet that lasted for a few years.  In time, Mr. Alger abandoned this venture and became a cement worker.  As for Mr. Schlegel, he remained at this location for at least the next twenty years and ran a candy store. These photographs are from a 1913 promotional booklet for the city entitled "Menasha- City of Opportunities."  More about that in a future post.  The 1910 city directory below shows just how many sample rooms were in this city of about 6000 people.

Planning Ahead

March 16, 1967, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

No time like the present to make that reservation for the special Easter smorgasbord, get your Easter best pressed and hobnob with the other Menasha faithful on this day of days.  Maybe Mom will even wear her new Easter hat.  Yes, there was a time before all the casual-ness of dining out became the norm, when people got dressed up to go out, or to travel.  A time when newspaper ads abounded with sales for new Easter shoes and dresses and hats.  But then, I'm sounding like someone's old crotchety grandfather, so I'll stop now. 

Space Age Service

March 15, 1966, Neenah-Menasha Daily Northwestern

Everything related to space was all the rage in the 1960's, so is it any wonder than anything modern would be equated with the space age?  And when it was renovated in 1963, a couple of years before First National's new building across Main Street, comparisons between the two competing banks had to be like the difference between a shiny new, Mustang convertible vs. a horse and buggy.

A Look Back - Firemen

With the fifth anniversary of the blog coming up in late April, I thought it appropriate to go back in time, if you will, and revisit some past postings.  This one is from 2014...

Menasha city firemen pose in front of the combination city hall and fire station in this undated photograph.  As most of us already know, the building was constructed in 1885 and was located on Main Street. The fire department occupied the lower level and the city offices were on the second floor. This building was torn down in the 1980s. Originally, horses were stabled to the right of the building before motorized fire trucks became commonplace. Since 2003, the Twin Cities have been served by the Neenah-Menasha Fire Rescue, formed by the merger of the Neenah and the Menasha Fire Departments. 

A View Towards Downtown

This postcard dates from 1912, looking south towards downtown from the intersection of Broad and Milwaukee Streets.  I've been collecting postcards for years but I still marvel at the tranquility of the area, captured on film.  Maybe I tend to romanticize the past, but I still wonder what it'd have been like to wander the streets of those eras. 

"Termites"

April 29, 1964, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

Back in the early days of The Beatles, when establishment America was aghast at these long-haired interlopers from England, no amount of time or expense was spared to make light of the boys from Liverpool.  That included social clubs in and around the Fox Valley as well.  Here, Menasha's own Eastern Star chapter takes its own stab at it.  Mr. Holland, at right, can't believe his eyes.

News and Views

April 4, 1962, Oshkosh Daily Northwestern

A sampling of news items from April, 1962, to include the latest mayoral results.  This victory was Mayor Klein's second two year term. Popular Braves outfielder, Hank Aaron didn't fare as well.  Also, this day marks the origins of the Left Guard in downtown Menasha.  Evidently, the name would be revealed at a later date.

Fewer Dingers

March 19, 1959, Appleton Post-Crescent

This story is somewhat timely, in that Major League Baseball opened its season yesterday.  And just in time for the 1959 baseball season, comes this news...that home runs will be rarer than the season before, thanks to the new, higher fence in right field.  What I find more newsworthy is that the Foxes were able to rent out the park for only $50 per game.  But then it WAS 1959.